Chapter 8

The next day, Annabella got out of bed early and dressed in her best gym outfit.

She stood in front of the mirror to admire herself. Any male would have said she looked great. However, she saw something entirely different.

More often than not, whenever she looked into a mirror, ‘Big Bella’ stared back. Because Annabella Reed was now, and always would be, a fat girl shoved into a skinny woman’s body.

She moved away from the mirror. She could still feel the lasagna and the garlic bread in her stomach. There was no reason to wonder if she had any laxatives in her cosmetics bag or if she should go on a juice-only diet until the whirling madness went away.

Actually, there was a reason. Because she didn’t want juice; she wanted mashed potatoes, spaghetti, bread or brownies.

She moved away from the mirror and climbed down the stairs to have breakfast.

“You better talk about your pay with your new boss,” her mother said instead of good morning. “And work your skinny ass off to earn it.”

Bella gulped down a cup of coffee, grabbed another apple and rushed out of her home without bothering to answer her. Her mother would lash her out if she knew she was working for minimum wage.

Derek was already at the gym when she arrived. He supervised her with the first clients, but very soon, it was obvious that Annabella knew what she was doing.

Derek went to his office and busied himself behind the computer instead of mingling with the clients. Bella took care of that pretty well by herself, and he was pretty sure some of them were relieved not having to deal with the ugly beast.

He’d instructed her to call him if she needed help.

Around noon, Annabella entered his office. “We are closed for lunch, boss.”

“Hungry?” He rubbed his neck absently, looking at the clock.

“Not really.”

“Have you eaten today?”

She experienced the annoyance that usually came on the heels of such a question. “What are you, a cop?”

He laughed. “That’s me, the food police. I thought we could have lunch together again. Talk about your day.”

“I think I’ll stay here if you don’t mind,” Bella was feeling weak and tired.

“I don’t.” Derek turned his attention to the computer screen again.

She’d skipped dinner the night before and didn’t have a proper breakfast that morning. Her stomach hurt because it was so empty.

Her ears began to ring, and her body trembled as black dots formed in front of her vision. Suddenly it was as if the floor had come flying up to meet her, then there was nothing but blackness.

Derek heard the sound of her body hitting the floor. He was kneeling at her side in seconds.

He quickly checked her pulse. He could tell that it was weak. He swiftly placed his hand behind her neck and made sure that her airway wasn’t obstructed. She was breathing fine.