Death By Vanity
CHAPTER 1
She gave herself a long self-critical look in the mirror.
There was no doubt about it. This was the best body that money, cosmetic surgery and an obsessive training and diet regime could buy.
She leaned in towards the mirror and noted some slight drooping of the eyelids. Dr. Maloni had advised her against further work to her face but a pre-emptive action was warranted, she thought. If Maloni didn't want to do it, she surely had a roster of top name docs who would. There weren't that many who hadn't contributed to what she saw before her now.
Caroline Masters looked a decade younger than her 38 years and the confidence she exuded came from the quiet satisfaction of knowing that she turned heads. She would take delicious pleasure in turning a few more later in the week when she played Mother of the Bride to her slighly overweight and Plain Jane step daughter.
She finished toweling off . Plain Jane, and the Kiwi she had apparently lured into marrying her, would be arriving any time and she wanted a word with The Father of the Bride before the happy couple arrived.
As usual, Mark, her husband of five years had risen early and was no doubt enjoying his ritual morning coffee and newspaper. She wanted a final word about groundrules for the week. With the wedding to be held right here, Mark's mother would be a whirlilng dirvish of a presence and Caroline was determined to make sure Madelaine Masters was neutralized - at least to the extent that it was possible to neutralize that insufferable woman.
Carefully selecting clothing that would make her step daughter drool and her mother-in-law wince, Caroline rehearsed in her head how she would deal Mark on the delecate subject of Madeline. Usually, any discussion of Madelaine led to argument and tension between them and The Witch-in-Law knew that and fostered it.
Madelaine had never accepted Caroline - never would, Caroline supposed. Not that Caroline cared particularly - except when it came to family finances. Madeline still excercised control over the publishing business that Mark's father had founded and which helped Caroline keep the cosmetic surgery business thriving.
She gave herself a long self-critical look in the mirror.
There was no doubt about it. This was the best body that money, cosmetic surgery and an obsessive training and diet regime could buy.
She leaned in towards the mirror and noted some slight drooping of the eyelids. Dr. Maloni had advised her against further work to her face but a pre-emptive action was warranted, she thought. If Maloni didn't want to do it, she surely had a roster of top name docs who would. There weren't that many who hadn't contributed to what she saw before her now.
Caroline Masters looked a decade younger than her 38 years and the confidence she exuded came from the quiet satisfaction of knowing that she turned heads. She would take delicious pleasure in turning a few more later in the week when she played Mother of the Bride to her slighly overweight and Plain Jane step daughter.
She finished toweling off . Plain Jane, and the Kiwi she had apparently lured into marrying her, would be arriving any time and she wanted a word with The Father of the Bride before the happy couple arrived.
As usual, Mark, her husband of five years had risen early and was no doubt enjoying his ritual morning coffee and newspaper. She wanted a final word about groundrules for the week. With the wedding to be held right here, Mark's mother would be a whirlilng dirvish of a presence and Caroline was determined to make sure Madelaine Masters was neutralized - at least to the extent that it was possible to neutralize that insufferable woman.
Carefully selecting clothing that would make her step daughter drool and her mother-in-law wince, Caroline rehearsed in her head how she would deal Mark on the delecate subject of Madeline. Usually, any discussion of Madelaine led to argument and tension between them and The Witch-in-Law knew that and fostered it.
Madelaine had never accepted Caroline - never would, Caroline supposed. Not that Caroline cared particularly - except when it came to family finances. Madeline still excercised control over the publishing business that Mark's father had founded and which helped Caroline keep the cosmetic surgery business thriving.
posted by cynthia at 8:05 AM
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