Page 1 of Damian’s Conquest

1

“Do you think I should have breast reduction surgery?” Naomi Sutton asked.

Heather, her best friend since high school, stared at her. They were having lunch in the food court of the Westfield Shopping Center just around the corner from Naomi’s office at the San Francisco Chronicle, where she worked as a news reporter. It didn’t happen often that they had time for lunch together, because Heather worked in Mission Bay at one of UCSF’s new medical research buildings. But today, Heather had to run errands downtown, and they’d gotten together for an impromptu lunch.

“Why would you do that?” Heather asked, her dark-brown eyes boring into her.

“Well, wouldn’t you in my shoes?” Naomi gestured to Heather’s perfect figure. “You’re a size six, and look great, but look at me, I can barely fit into a twelve as is, and with my boobs, I always look like a cupcake with frosting spilling over the top.”

Heather laughed. “You don’t look like a cupcake. You’re just… uh, voluptuous.”

“Voluptuous, my ass. People stare at me all the time.”

“You mean guys check you out,” Heather corrected her.

“I get so self-conscious, you know. I always have the feeling I should cover up.”

“Don’t do that, Naomi. You look gorgeous. You have beautiful blond hair. I wish I had that, instead of dull brown. And on top of it you’ve got blue eyes. No wonder guys look at you, you’re pretty. So what if you’re a little larger than other women? Not everybody can be model-thin. And guys like boobs. I wish I had more up top.” She gestured to her breasts, which to Naomi looked perfectly proportioned. “Just because your ex is now dating a skinny bitch doesn’t mean that he dumped you because you’re…uh…”

“Fat?” Naomi helped.

“You’re not fat. Your figure is more like what women used to look like, you know, in the fifties. Besides, Marilyn Monroe wasn’t skinny either. There. You’re basically like Marilyn Monroe. And nobody ever told her to get a breast reduction or lose weight.”

Naomi forced a smile. “You sure? It’s just, I haven’t been on a date in months… and I figured maybe it’s because guys want a slim girlfriend.”

Heather chuckled. “The reason you haven’t been on a date in a while is because you intimidate guys.”

“I don’t intimidate guys.”

“Yes, you do. You’re bossy, opinionated, and you don’t take shit from anybody.”

“Well, in a guy those characteristics would be positive. He’d be seen as assertive.”

Heather shrugged. “Yeah, but that’s the world we live in. Guys want women who’re easier to handle. Whereas you are Capital-T grade trouble. You’ll just need to find the right guy who’s up for the challenge.”

“Hah!” Naomi blew out a big breath. “Guess I’ll be single and dateless for a while then.”

Naomi’s cell phone chimed. She looked at it and saw a message from her editor, Wei Guo. “I’ve gotta get back. Wei wants to see me.”

She quickly typed a message to let him know that she was on her way.

Heather sighed. “Bad timing. I wanted you to come to the Halloween store with me. I still need a costume for Carrie’s party tonight.”

“Sorry, no can do.”

“Why don’t I buy you an outfit, and you’ll come to the party with me?”

Naomi rose and grabbed her jacket. “You know how much I hate costume parties. Or parties in general. It’s just another excuse for everybody to get shitfaced and behave badly.”

“Mr. Right could be at the party, waiting for you,” Heather teased.

“More like Mr. Right-Now,” Naomi said with a chuckle. “I’ll think about it, okay?”

“Just don’t wait too long to make a decision. The stores are all pretty much out of decent costumes already.”

Despite her claim to think about it, Naomi knew it was doubtful that she would go to the Halloween party with Heather. She would most likely curl up in front of the television and watch a horror flick while eating ice cream.

Naomi rushed back to the office. Her editor immediately called her into his office.