Olivia Bennett, Heiress

Olivia had been to dozens of gala dinners and usually managed to dodge the inevitable solicitors, but for some reason the man with the weight loss pills intrigued her. Perhaps his dashing smile and perfect black hair? No, she spent forty-nine years around attractive, charismatic men and they had no sway over her. She might have been born an industrialist's daughter in Charlotte, SC, but she had rubbed elbows (and other body parts) with powerful men from Milan to Shanghai. So why did she take Devin Deal's offer?

She tossed the pill bottle on her bed and unzipped her gown. A gown four sizes bigger than anything she wore ten years ago -- not that her tailor would admit it. It was true, she had begun to put on weight. Gone were the days of size fours (which she could pretend were twos). Still, she had stayed in shape, and, thanks to the smallest amount of plastic surgery, her girls were still shapely, if not as perky as they once were. She might not need a man in her life, but being desired by them was useful for any businesswoman.

Was that it then? She put on a few pounds, maybe started to tire out a little faster than once before, so she takes the easy way out with some pills? Well, if ten hours a week of spinning, yoga, and pilates could not do the job, then why not?

Olivia opened up the bottle. Three powder blue pills rattled inside. Then she looked at herself in her full-length, gold plated Italian mirror. She frowned at the paunch hanging over her panties, at the veins in her thighs, and the way her neck had begun to sag. Then she popped one of the experimental pills into her mouth and swallowed.

What could be the worst to happen?