Chapter One
“All it takes is discipline.”
Norris Brownell studied her friend Kendra who’d spoken so emphatically. Since she’d last had dinner with Kendra and her husband Paul, Kendra had dropped out of sight and reemerged looking svelte, chic and twenty-five pounds thinner. “I can’t believe it,” Norris said. “Between the two of us, we’ve tried every diet known to man, and then some.”
Kendra’s eyes sparkled. “Not every one.”
“So tell me.” Norris twirled spaghetti carbonara onto her fork as she leaned over the restaurant table. “How did you do it?”
“I can’t tell you. I promised I wouldn’t divulge any er…trade secrets.”
“Not even a hint?” Norris coaxed though a glance at Kendra’s salad of mixed greens and raw vegetables gave her a huge hint. Before Kendra’s spa experience, they both would have been eating pasta, drinking wine and anticipating a slice of tiramisu.
Kendra glanced around, scoping out eavesdroppers. “It’s not the usual diet program. It’s demanding, tough and I cried a lot,” she whispered. “But it was worth it.”
“Whatever you had to do, you look fabulous.” Kendra’s skin looked soft and lustrous. Her eyes were clear and bright, shining with confidence. “How does Paul like your new look?”
“He adores it. He can’t keep his hands off me.” Kendra leaned closer. “And the sex is terrific! You wouldn’t believe some of the things we’ve tried. I never dreamed sex could be so wild, so…” She rolled her eyes.
Norris got the point. In fact, her imagination could supply any number of fantasies.
She was glad for Kendra, of course she was, but hearing hints about her friend’s fantastic sex life wasn’t easy. Not when she wasn’t getting any. Not as much work as she wanted, either.
Very few people wanted to hire a consultant to advise them about management practices if she couldn’t manage her own weight. When she’d branched out on her own and started her consulting practice, she’d worked such long hours, she’d had no thought for food. It hadn’t been necessary to watch her weight, but as her practice grew, and she hired staff and associates, her schedule was less frantic and there were a satisfying number of successes to celebrate with wine and food. The pounds had crept back, so stealthily she hadn’t noticed until her clients and associates started giving her disapproving looks. Business was still good, her long-time clients were loyal, but new ones were harder to attract. Her business wasn’t growing. And she had ambitions, 4
Sweet Discipline
dreams and goals she wanted to make happen. She needed more work, big-name, prestigious clients, to make that next move up that slippery success ladder.
If she had to change herself to make that climb, then she would. Once she was slim and bolstered her willpower, she’d have no trouble convincing clients she could make their problems go away, too. And when she was slim and sexy, Jack Rodriguez would do more than nod when they met around a conference table. Eat your heart out, Jack.
“How can I get into it, too?” she asked eagerly. “What’s it called?”
Kendra toyed with her salad. “It’s not for everyone. They’re discreet, they don’t advertise and they don’t take everyone. They’re very strict and you’ve never liked anyone telling you what to do. I’m afraid you’ll either quit or be asked to leave.”
“To look like that,” Norris gestured at her friend’s sleek figure. “Add sex and I can take anything!”
“I don’t know.” Kendra looked dubious. “The first few days are very hard. I didn’t think I could do it.” She dipped her fork in her dressing, then shook most of it off before spearing an arugula leaf. “You won’t be able to. You get ticked off at something and then—”
“C’mon, Kenny. I’m not that bad.”
“Sure you are.” She eyed Norris speculatively. “Look, you’re my friend and I think the world of you. You’ve got a loving heart, but you’re obstinate. It’s a good thing you excel at what you do or your clients would go somewhere else.” She softened her critique with a smile. “You can’t stand not doing things your way.”
“That’s why I’m a consultant. I tell my clients what to do. Whether or not they implement my recommendations, they have to pay me.” She grinned, then turned serious. “I’d get more business if I lost some weight.”
Kendra nodded. “I know. It stinks.”
“So help me out. Please.”