Note: This story was dynamically reformatted for online reading convenience.
 
 UGLY, STUPID, & FAT

   By D.  Holzer

   Peg realized right from the start that she wasn't one of the pretty
girls.  By the time she got to high school she was able to figure out that
she wasn't too smart, either.  She had to struggle and work and try and try
and try just to pass the tough classes with a "C".  Sometimes she got lucky
and managed a "B", but all the extra effort in the hard subjects meant that
she didn't have time enough to devote to the easy ones, and "C's" and "B's"
were the best she could do in those subjects as well.  She had never, ever,
gotten an "A".

   Peg spent all her high school years anxious and worried that her very
best efforts were just barely enough to get by.  She didn't have many
friends, and certainly no boyfriends.  She ate too much, and gained weight.
By the time she finally squeaked through graduation, she was looking at a
bleak future.

   Peg was Ugly, Stupid, and Fat.

   Peg's Father told her "You can be anything you want to if you try hard
enough, princess".  Her Mother said "You're beautiful, and you're also
pretty on the inside, where it counts".  They weren't rich.  Peg was going
to have to make her own way in life somehow.

   Peg got a job bagging groceries at the big grocery store.  A short time
later she worked her way up to running the cash register.  She was extra
nice to everybody because she was terrified they would all find out she was
in over her head.  She would chat pleasantly with the customers to hide how
slow she was ringing up the sale.  She made mistakes, sometimes, and had to
ask the supervisor for help a lot.

   Peg didn't get fired.  Everyone liked her too much for that.  They were
just going to move her back to stocking shelves for a while.  Then her
friend Julie offered her a chance at a better job.  Julie was smart and
pretty; she was a little younger than Peg, and still in high school.  Julie
was very popular and had already been accepted to a good college
out-of-state.  Sometimes, when Peg was feeling bitter and sorry for
herself, she suspected that Julie only hung out with her to look even
prettier and smarter by comparison.  But she had to admit that Julie had
always been nice to her, and the job offer was sure a ray of hope.

   Peg would go to work for Julie's Mom, as the cashier in her new Candle
Shop.  Julie was working there for the summer, but would be leaving for
college soon.  Peg really liked Julie's Mom, and loved the job.  The
register was simpler, and, unlike the big grocery store, nobody was in a
big hurry to grab their candles and get home.  Peg chatted with all the
customers, and whenever Mrs.  Charterer (Julie's Mom, the Shop owner)
wasn't there, it was like Peg was assistant manager.  (Well, she didn't
have that job title, but when you're the only employee in the store, that
means you're in charge, doesn't it?) Mrs.  Charterer bought her a nice
blouse printed with the store's name and logo, and "Peg" embroidered on it
as well.

   Peg put in a lot of unpaid hours.  She arrived early and stayed late and
worked hard.  Business was slow - the Shop was really a hobby for Mrs. 
Charterer, her husband was a partner at a big law firm.  Peg didn't want to
lose this job, too.  She was happy to see that business was picking up,
ever so slowly, as people found out they were there.  Peg did everything
she could to make sure everyone wanted to come back.  She wanted to justify
Mrs.  Charterer's faith in her, and pay her back for giving her the job.

  
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   Brian entered The Candle Shop on impulse.  His Mom loved that sort of
aroma stuff, and so did his sister.  He could always use a thoughtful gift
to give them on a birthday, Christmas, or odd holiday.  Unlike chocolates,
flowers, or a fruit basket; a candle could be set aside for later and
wouldn't get moldy or go bad.  He ended up staying longer than he thought
he would, because he kept surreptitiously checking out the pretty girl
behind the counter.

   Brian probably would not normally have approached the counter girl at
all.  She was young and pretty and probably already had a hot boyfriend,
and Brian hadn't had much luck with women in his life.  That was an
understatement - Brian hadn't had ANY luck with women unless you counted
bad luck.  The few girlfriends he had dated briefly had all somehow decided
his quiet and passive nature spelled "doormat" or possibly "kick me".  Each
of them thought a relationship meant "Brian, buy me things"; "Brian, take
me places"; "Brian, meet my demands".

   Brian was tired of it.  He had diagnosed his own problem - he dated the
wrong women.  OK, there might be more to it than that, but it was a good
starting point.  He wanted a girl who would do what HE wanted.  He wasn't
even trying to flirt with Peg - he had been burned dating young and pretty
girls before.  But Peg was chatting with him as she rang up his order, and
then it began to rain.  There was no point in walking all the way back to
his car in the midst of the sudden downpour, so he just stayed and talked a
while with Peg, till the rain let up.

   Brian learned, after almost an hour, that Peg was actually Ugly, Stupid,
and Fat.

   Brian would not have figured it out on his own.  He thought she was
witty, charming, well-read, cute and pretty.  She would probably look
better if she dropped a few pounds, but he would describe her as only
"slightly overweight" at worst, and more like "deliciously voluptuous". 
She looked just fine even if she never lost an ounce.  Brian considered
himself something of an intellectual, and Peg didn't seem the least bit
slow or ignorant.  As he encouraged Peg to tell him about herself (she was
quite talkative) she confessed to being "U S & F".

   Brian left The Candle Shop when the rain let up an hour later.  He kept
thinking about Peg.  Somewhere along the line, Peg and Self Esteem had
parted company; and now they didn't even nod as they passed each other in
the hall.  Not only had someone hit Peg with the "Humble" stick, they had
rented a couple hours in the batting cage and whacked her black and blue
with it.  Apparently not too many guys went into The Candle Shop, but
sooner or later some guy would find her, tell her she was actually
beautiful, and she would fall for him big time.

   Brian was first in line to be that guy.  But that would be too easy.  He
wanted more.  Peg not only had a poor self-image but she was also young,
inexperienced, innocent, trusting, naive and gullible.  In other words,
just perfect for Brian's cruel plan.  He became obsessed with the
incredible opportunity that she presented.  He plotted and schemed and
planned his every move, and fantasized about the ultimate outcome.  Then it
was time to put his dream into action.

  
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   Peg couldn't believe how lucky she was now.  Brian had come back to The
Shop to buy some black candles, and they had talked some more, and he had
asked her out.  They had been out several times now in the last few weeks,
sometimes for dinner, or a movie, or both.  He had learned her schedule and
had made a lot of effort to find interesting things for them to do
together, activities and events and adventures.  He was so nice to her.  He
said he really liked her and liked being with her, but something was
missing.

   Peg could tell he was put off by how Ugly, Stupid, and Fat she was.  He
was very kind about it, but she was exquisitely sensitive on this issue,
and she could tell.  When he complimented her appearance, he would say "You
have a wonderful smile" or "I like that outfit"; but never "You look nice"
or You're so pretty".  When he said something about her personality (which
he did more often), it was "I admire your loyalty" or "You really are
persistent" or "That takes a lot of self-discipline"; but not "That was
smart (or clever)".  (He was really impressed with her loyalty.  When he
offered to get her a job as his assistant, she'd told him she couldn't
leave Mrs.  Charterer in the lurch.)When they ate out, he subtly suggested
the "light" items on the menu.

   Peg agonized over her decision not to sleep with him.  He must be
expecting something out of this relationship, and since she wasn't pretty
or smart, he must be thinking she was easy.  She was determined to say
"No", at least for now.  Maintaining her high moral standards, and being a
"good" girl, were just about the only points of pride and self-respect she
had left.  Besides, she was probably lousy in bed, too.  Surprisingly,
Brian hadn't even asked her yet, or pressured her in any way.  He was
probably repulsed by her appearance, and had a hard time bringing himself
to "do" it with her, even if that had been his plan from the start.

   Peg worried that when Brian finally asked her for sex, if she turned him
down that would be the end of it.  She would never have a great boyfriend
like Brian again.  He was nice, and charming and considerate, and he was
trying so hard to make her feel special, even though it was obvious how far
below average she actually was.  It was sometimes almost amusing to watch
him pause and try to come up with a tactful compliment that wasn't an
outright lie.  Brian was rich, too.  He had lots of money, though he didn't
show it off; and he was self-employed and could work his own hours.  She
wondered which of them would break down first - Brian deciding sex with her
wouldn't be so awful if the room was dark and she had a sack over her head,
or her deciding to give in and say "Yes" when he asked, because she had no
one else to save herself for.

  
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   Brian thought he might be too subtle on the first phase of his scheme to
enslave Peg.  He had to be the "nice guy" and make her want to be with him,
while at the same time cruelly destroying her self-image even further.  He
used faint praise, and significant little pauses, slightly sarcastic tones,
looks and gestures; all aimed at reinforcing her abysmally low opinion of
herself.  He worried that she might not pick up his clues, but Peg was
sharp and observant and nothing went by her unnoticed.  The hardest part
was the way she kept coming back, like a lost puppy, hoping that this time
he wouldn't kick her again.

   Brian also steered their conversations to every difficult and obscure
topic he could come up with.  They discussed cellular mitosis, Schoenberg's
12-tone method, cosmology and dark matter, deconstructionism and the Modern
Language Association, corporate governance and weighted voting schemes,
deteriorating property rights in Zimbabwe, the Napoleonic Code, and Quantum
Mechanics.  She didn't understand Quantum Mechanics, but neither did he -
(no one really does).  On everything else, Peg contributed interesting
insights and comments.  The idea was to make her feel out of her depth
(Brian smart, Peg stupid) and it had that effect on her.  The effect on him
was more pronounced.  He found her to be brilliant and fascinating.  It was
staggeringly mystifying to him how she'd avoided good grades in school.  He
could only presume it was some combination of self-destructive attitude and
extreme test anxiety.

   Brian found it ironic that the subtle message he had the most trouble
getting across to Peg was that he was filthy rich.  He didn't dress flashy
or wear a Rolex.  He drove an old car and lived in a modest home.  Leaving
a bank statement lying around for her to find was just too obvious.  This
was all amusing because, unlike everything else he had told her, or planned
to tell her, this was actually true.  He had millions - it was what all his
previous girlfriends had been after.  Peg liked him even before finding out
he had money, and he found himself worrying she would think he was lying
about it.

   Brian found it almost too easy.  Peg was just so suitable for what he
had in mind.  He was incredibly lucky to have found her.  He found that
thought ironic as well.

  
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   Peg thought Brian had to be the nicest person alive.  He would start
talking about some really important and interesting topic, and when she
made some silly, inane remark, he would look at her, for just a brief
moment, in surprise and fascination, like she had said something actually
smart or clever.  He would go on again, after that one appreciative glance,
and act like nothing had happened.  He was trying, ever so subtly, to make
her feel like she wasn't such a dunce.

   Peg finally resolved to do anything that Brian asked of her.  If all he
wanted was a "sure thing" to satisfy him physically until he had a real
girlfriend, she would be that for him.  If he wanted to continue to sleep
with her on the side when he had another girlfriend, or even a wife, she
would be that for him, too.  When he dropped her, she wouldn't whine or be
disappointed.  At least she would be able to look back someday and know
that some guy had once found her at least a little bit desirable.

   Peg was ready to tell all this to Brian when they next met.  She had
made up her mind to do this - her biggest fear was that Brian would be
unwilling to be demean himself by sleeping with such a grotesque creature.
Maybe he spent time with her out of pity, he was such a sweet guy, and she
was aspiring too high to dream that she could ever be more to him.  Being
nothing more than his sex toy had become the most she could imagine hoping
for.

   "Peg, I have something very important to ask you," Brian said, as soon
as the met again.  "But first, I have to confess I haven't been completely
honest with you.  We've kind of wandered into an emotional minefield here,
and I don't want you jumping to any sudden conclusions till I've had a
chance to explain everything."

   Peg's heart was racing, but she nodded calmly, "Yes, Brian.  What is
it?"

   "First you have to promise never to reveal this to anyone." Brian said
solemnly, "Do not tell your best friend, or your Mother.  Don't write it in
your diary.  Don't speak it loudly, even to me, if someone else might
possibly hear.  You have to swear that you will take this to the grave with
you."

   "Are you in some kind of trouble?"

   "No, it's nothing like that.  This secret doesn't involve anything
unethical or immoral or dangerous or criminal or anything like that.  It's
just very private and personal." Brian explained, "I'm completely serious
about you keeping this to yourself."

   "OK." She promised, "I swear I'll never tell anyone."

   "Before I can get to that, I want you to know - you are what I've always
looked for in a girl.  You're honest and you try your best at everything
you do, and most of all you are loyal and faithful.  These are the very
qualities I prize, and they're so hard to find these days."

   "But I want even more than that." He continued, "I want someone who is
very smart and who is also beautiful almost beyond description."

   Peg was all but paralyzed with disappointment.  Brian had been so nice .
. . .

   His voice dropped, and he leaned in toward her.

   "I happen to be a very powerful Wizard, a master of the occult arts.  I
can cast a magic spell on you to transform you into someone incredibly
smart and pretty.  But I have to know that you want it.  That your reaction
will be joy and gratitude, not bitterness and resentment." He looked at
her.

   Peg had almost missed his last words; lost in her momentary despair. 
Wizard?  Magical Spell?  What the hell was he talking about?  It would
explain all the black candles, and the strange books - "The Golden Bough",
"Necronomicon", & "Fey Sigaldry".  Maybe.

   "Which would it be?" Brian was asking, "Would you be happy to be
transformed into someone astoundingly, supernaturally, beautiful; or would
you resent me forever for not just accepting you as you are?  Remember, the
important things - character, loyalty - you already have."

   "Yes." She finally answered, "Yes, do it.  I would love it." This was
NOT the conversation she had imagined.

   "Uh, there is one other thing," he added, "this particular spell - a
very strong and permanent enchantment - would also force you to become my
abject slave for all eternity."

   "How is that a problem?" Peg asked.

  
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   Brian had debated not offering her a choice, but ultimately decided to
go ahead.  First and foremost, he'd waited until he was absolutely sure she
would answer "Yes".  Her agreement to surrender would also be a huge help
later in overcoming any resistance she might have left.  And this way he
had her sworn to secrecy.  There was no chance for her friends or family to
point out how outrageous and silly his Big Lie really was.

   She'd swallowed it, hook, line and sinker; after that the rest was no
challenge at all.  He avoided staging some phony "spell", instead he got
from her a picture of herself and a lock of hair, then went off in private
"to perform the necessary ritual".  When he saw her next, he was ready to
firmly fix the whole idea in her mind.

   "Everything was a complete success." He told her, "You should already be
changing."

   "I don't feel any different?"

   "With this sort of sympathetic magic, an essential part is a real,
physical, object to act as a symbol.  I used this in my ritual, and I think
it is nicely emblematic." He handed her a velvet case.  "Here, put these
on."

   She had been hoping for a ring, and when she saw the case she was
thinking necklace.  Brian had said "these", so maybe earrings?  She opened
the case and was surprised to find a pair of glasses.

   "I don't wear glasses . . . ."

   "You do now.  Go ahead and put them on." Brian urged.  "They symbolize
the New You, beautiful and smart." He felt like the all-powerful Oz handing
out tokens to the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion.  As far as he was
concerned, Peg was transformed already.  Wearing her new glasses made her
look confident, professional and sharp.  He had a major weakness for girls
in glasses, so when it came to providing Peg with something to symbolize
his "spell", the choice was easy.

   Perhaps, if Brian had been a pure artist, he would have left it at that,
letting his one giant deception do its work, and observing its effects on
Peg.  But he was much too thorough and systematic to just sit back and
watch.  In the days and weeks that followed, he set about reinforcing
everything he wanted her to believe.  He'd purchased a book - Dr.  Quirk's
"Hypnotise Anyone: IN 4 EASY STEPS!".  One quiet evening at home, soon
after his "spell", he made his first attempt at hypnosis.

   He had forced her to give up her apartment and move in with him.  She
did everything he asked of her.  Brian was really nervous about the
hypnosis, though.  Being compliant and submissive didn't necessarily mean
suggestible.  He had no experience at this, either.  He needn't have
worried.  Convincing Peg that she was actually beautiful and smart was like
rolling downhill with the wind at his back.  She WAS beautiful and smart,
by any objective measure.  And she was so convinced of his "magic" powers
that she was halfway into a trance as soon as he told her what he wanted.
Hypnotising her turned out to be easy.

   "Peg, now that you have relaxed completely, I want to re-assure you
about the transformation you are undergoing.  I don't want you to feel
uncomfortable or have any anxiety about this.  You know that you are
growing ever-more beautiful.  You can feel yourself getting smarter.  And
as you grow more desirable, you also grow more and more obedient.  You live
only to serve me, to please me, to obey me.  You are my property to do with
as I wish.  You have no separate will of your own, your only desire is to
obey me in whatever way will please me the most."

   Brian hypnotised Peg over and over.  At first he claimed the hypnosis
was to help her "adjust", but after a while he didn't bother with
explanations.  Peg now existed only to serve him.  She was perfect.  Before
he found Peg, he had tried finding a "sub" in the BDSM internet community,
but, oddly enough, he found them too demanding.  "Punish me in this way,
for these infractions"; "Learn these postures and make me use them in these
instances"; "Do these sorts of scenes, this often, and not those, according
to prior agreement"; it was all about meeting THEIR needs.  Everyone said
that's not how it was supposed to work, but Brian found all the rules and
rituals frustrating.

   Peg, on the other hand, had no agenda other than what he gave her.  In
addition to the hypnosis, he punished her severely when she failed to obey
quickly or completely enough.  He also began to punish her for failing to
anticipate his desires and moods in advance.  Soon he found, though, that
she was receiving almost no discipline from him at all.  Not because he had
let his standards lapse, (he was stricter than ever) but because Peg had
acquired an uncanny ability to judge just what he wanted.  She was
incredibly sensitive and observant and could switch from a friendly and
familiar tone; to submissive obedience; to pitiful grovelling; to stoic
endurance; all without Brian having to speak a word.  She always got the
nuances just right.

   And as far as Brian was concerned, the glasses would have been enough on
their own.  He loved the new look they gave Peg.  He enjoyed having her
dress up in a suit as a business professional, or in a white lab coat as a
scientist or doctor, or as a studious college co-ed; or sometimes wearing
nothing at all, just her glasses.  Her glasses added just the right touch
of seriousness to her increasingly beautiful face.

   She was so perfect, it was almost frustrating in itself.  Brian began to
punish her on almost any excuse, or even at random.  One day, Peg was
kneeling silently near at hand as he read a book.  She was looking at him
(through her new glasses) with unblinking adoration.  For no particular
reason, he suddenly reached out and slapped her across the face, really
hard.  Even as an ugly red handprint began to appear on her cheek, her face
got a look of shame and confusion.  She didn't say anything, but the
unspoken question was "What did I do wrong?" or "What was that for?"

   He didn't have to answer.  Peg was now incapable of even forming the
thought that it wasn't somehow entirely her fault.  She would just try
harder to please him in the future.  Brian enjoyed demonstrating his total
power over her.  He decided to go ahead and tell her: "No reason.  It just
felt good." A smile brightened her face as she realized that she had
pleased him.  She continued to look at him adoringly.

   That was when Brian had his epiphany.  Any drop-out, ex-con, un-employed
asshole could come along and abuse a girl like Peg, making her life a
living hell.  Brian had achieved his dream of absolute control over her,
and he wasn't doing anything that a substance-abusing creep with anger
management issues couldn't be doing with a lot less thought and effort. 
Sure, he got to use her whenever (and however) he wanted.  But he had her
totally convinced that he was a Wizard who could supernaturally transform
her into a Princess.  It would be a true challenge now to see how far he
could take it - his own little Pygmalion project.

  
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   Peg was frightened by what was happening to her.  Once Brian had cast
his spell over her, she found herself obeying his every command.  And he
changed.  He began to boss her around for no reason, and "punish" and
"discipline" her for any little thing.  Fortunately he was absurdly easy to
please.  He was very consistent in what he wanted, and even his "random"
demands and punishments were quite . . . .  predictable.  And his
discipline was always proportionate to her "infractions", which were always
minor.  She was never really frightened by his punishments, he wasn't ever
mad at her, he just seemed to enjoy being in control.  She was frightened
by her own reactions.

   She loved it when he hit her.  She hated it when she loved it.  She
couldn't seem to stop herself from her own bizarre response.  She decided
she had to get out of this relationship, but somehow she never could do it.
On several occasions early on she was going to leave him, but chickened out
at the last minute.  Then she found it was a struggle to TRY to leave him.
She would resolve to herself to at least go through the motions, but then
wouldn't do even that.  Finally she got to the point where she had to fight
for enough willpower to even THINK about just trying to leave him.  Then he
would punish her for something, and she would love it even more than
before, and hate herself for loving it.

   She hadn't thought it would be like this.  She thought Brian was really
nice and actually wanted her.  She didn't really believe that being his
slave would mean having her own thoughts and desires turned against her
like this.  But she WAS getting more beautiful.  She had lost weight, and
now her waist was narrow and her stomach flat.  Her cheekbones were a
little more prominent as her face became a bit less round and slightly more
angular.  Her complexion had cleared up and her teeth were whiter, and her
hair was . . . .  well, better.  Most of all, Brian looked at her
different. And he began to have sex with her, a lot.

   Of course the sex, for her, was astoundingly good.  Better - much, much
better than she could have ever imagined it would be.  She figured that it
had to be the hypnosis.  Peg was getting smarter as well as prettier and
more obedient.  Brian's spell was transforming her as promised.  Now, when
he assigned her a difficult task, she didn't worry if she was up to it -
she was confident that she would figure it out.  Another sign that she was
getting smarter - she had figured out why Brian kept hypnotising her all
the time.  If his magic was changing her, why did he bother with hypnosis
as well?  The hypnosis was to help her attitudes keep up with her magical
transformation.  When he put her into a trance, he told her to LIKE being
obedient, to NOTICE that she was getting prettier and smarter, and to ENJOY
having sex with him, a lot.

   With this realization, (that Brian was trying to make things easier for
her with his frequent hypnosis), she finally caved in.  If Brian wasn't
everything she had hoped for, he was probably still better than what she
deserved.  If he wanted her to enjoy her life as his slave, she wouldn't
fight enjoying it.  And if he wanted sex, a lot; well, that was working out
just fine anyhow.

   One day she was sitting by his side, gazing at him adoringly (he loved
that), when he suddenly slapped her face, hard.  Afterwards, he was looking
at her funny, like he had never really noticed her there before.  Then he
was smiling, and seemed happier than at any time since they had first met.
He had some sort of plan.

  
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   PHASE 2 Brian took several days to implement the first part of his new
plan.  During that time he was scurrying around, making arrangements,
setting things up and making sure that everything would go as intended.  A
big part of that involved hypnotising Peg several times, longer and deeper
than ever before.  That was when he found out, almost by accident, that Peg
clearly remembered all their prior hypnotic sessions.  He had thought that
people just naturally didn't remember stuff that happened to them in a
trance.  "I need to get a couple more comprehensive books on this stuff,"
he thought.  Thankfully, he had always referred to his "Magic Spell" as a
True Event, and the hypnosis as supplemental.

   The great thing was, even though he had screwed up, Peg had just
rationalized his hypnosis as an effort to be nice and to help her.  She
became more devoted than ever.  Jeez, she was so perfect, he would make
double sure not to screw up Phase 2.  When everything was ready, he gave
Peg her instructions.

   "Peg, I have another difficult task for you," he told her, in a serious
tone, "but I am confident that you are up to it.  I have booked you for 10
days into a local world-class Resort Spa & Salon.  I want you to relax and
have fun, but also be assertive.  Anything you want - tell the staff.  If
anything doesn't please you, be sure to speak up.  Try to give me a call
every evening with a progress report.  Now pack anything you think you'll
need.  They'll pick you up in an hour and a half."

   Brian soon helped Peg into the limo from The Resort, and reviewed with
her the instructions he had given the Spa staff.  In addition to a daily
facial and massage, he had arranged a total makeover by hair and make-up
experts, including manicure and pedicure, a personal dietician and several
fashion consultants.

   "She been through an emotional trauma, so she's very fragile right now."
He had told them,"Pamper her, but I'm hoping this will be educational as
well as relaxing.  Teach her skin care and hairstyles and fashion choices.
Remember, she's not used to having people do things for her."

   They had quoted an outrageous, all-inclusive fee, and he had calmly
doubled it.  "Pamper." He repeated.

   Brian had let the experts and consultants all know what sort of look he
was seeking for Peg.  He had also been sure to give the same guidelines to
Peg.  Just to be on the safe side, he had drilled into her subconscious a
dislike of those types of clothes and hairstyles that he didn't want to see
her adopt.  Most importantly, any new look she tried had to work with her
glasses.

   The Peg that got out of the limo 10 days later was almost
unrecognizable. She had always been beautiful and graceful, now she seemed
confident and self-assured; (well, almost, anyway.) She was certainly well
dressed and had nice hair.  While always neat and clean, Peg's clothes used
to look like she salvaged them from the dumpster behind the thrift shop. 
Now her simple and tasteful outfit accented perfectly her wonderful figure
and personal style.  The smile she was giving him was bigger and brighter
than any he had seen.  (Hadn't she been trying hard enough before?  Or was
she just more inspired now?)

   When the limo driver had unloaded all her stuff (there was a lot more
luggage returning than the little overnight bag she had taken) and driven
off; Brian put Peg to the test.  At his gesture, she instantly sank to her
knees and turned her face down.  The complete change in her demeanor came
without hesitation or transition.  He'd worried that her conditioning might
have lapsed while she was away from him.  It wouldn't do to have her break
free just as his program was getting started.

   "I hope you paid attention." He told her, "I expect you to be impressive
whenever I display you.  If you managed to get relaxed and refreshed as
well, that will help.  Tomorrow your life is going to get much harder.  Now
get to the bedroom and get out of those clothes, we have a lot of time to
make up."

   By the next morning he had no doubt that Peg was still (or once again)
completely under his control.  He drove her down to the local gym he had
selected.  There he introduced her to her personal trainer, who would
supervise her low-impact workout, swimming, and weight training program
every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning.  Then they went to the Yoga
school where Peg would relieve stress and increase her flexibility on
Tuesday and Thursday mornings.  Afternoons Peg would be at the Dojo
studying multi-disciplinary Martial Arts.  Brian believed there was nothing
quite like an ability to Kick Ass to boost Peg's self-confidence.

   After meeting all of Peg's new instructors and going through her
rigorous new weekly schedule, they headed back home.  On the way, Brian
broke some more news.

   "That junky hatchback that you drive - I got rid of it." He informed
her. "It was an embarrassment."

   Keeping her car had figured prominently in Peg's plans to escape - back
when she was still able to think about just trying to actually leave Brian.
She felt a numb and dreadful panic slowly building inside her, and fought
to suppress showing any dismay to Brian.

   When they pulled up in front of the house, there was a convertible
parked in the driveway.  It was a candy-apple red Italian sports car that
was probably worth more than what Peg's parents earned in ten years.  She
wondered who could be visiting, that would drive such a flashy automobile.

   "Here, take these," Brian said, handing her a set of keys, "It's
registered in my name, but it's for you to use.  I expect you to make sure
it gets regular service and maintenance, as well as having it washed and
detailed often." He handed her the business card of an exclusive garage.

   Peg was just barely able to nod, as she stared, overwhelmed, at the
expensive, gleaming machine sitting before her.  Eventually Brian had to
gently tug her by one arm to get her to go inside.

   When Peg began to start dinner, Brian continued the day's assault on her
equilibrium.g

   "We're going out to eat.  Wear something nice."

   A few weeks before Peg would have been in a panic.  Brian had kept her
in the house, wearing very little, and what little she did wear was
intended to be revealing and easily removed.  But one of the items that she
had gotten at The Resort had been a little black party dress, so she ran
and put it on for him.  When she was ready, she returned to find him
waiting, holding the velvet case her glasses had come in.

   "You seemed a little disappointed the last time I gave you this, I
thought I might try again." He handed it over to her.

   She opened the case and gasped to discover a pair of earrings with
diamonds the size of her fist.  Well, a bit smaller than that, but still
quite large.  She'd wondered why Brian had asked them to have her ears
pierced on her first day at The Salon.

   "These are more than just decorative," Brian was saying, "If you look at
the back, they mark you as mine."

   Before putting them on, Peg examined them closely.  The back of the post
was a flat disk, almost the size of a dime, custom engraved with Brian's
monogram.  He had a stylized initial that he put on everything.  He used
sealing wax and a custom-made seal on all his letters, he stamped all the
books in his library with a special stamp and ink pad, he even had a signet
ring.  He had something of an obsession with marking all his things - from
time to time she found his little monogram affixed in the most unexpected
places.  Just putting on the earrings, and secretly marking herself as his
property, sent weird shivers down her back.

   They had dinner at an expensive SteakHouse, and Peg felt like everyone
was looking at her.  They were.  Brian had her drive, (an adventure,
re-acquainting herself with a stick-shift), and heads all turned as they
entered.  She was actually out in public and for once wasn't trying to
sneak by unnoticed.  Everybody noticed her.  For the first time in her life
she didn't feel like she was an embarrassment to whoever she was out with.

   Halfway through the meal, Peg ventured a respectful comment on how much
everything must cost.

   "You're paying for dinner tonight," Brian replied, "I didn't bring any
money."

   Peg had no money either.  Brian had finally forced her to quit her job
at The Candle Shop.  Tonight she was quick to adapt, though, and recognized
the strange mood he was in.  After a quiet, slightly startled gasp, she
waited for the other shoe to drop (meanwhile, she gazed adoringly through
her glasses at him).  He sighed, shrugged, and handed her a platinum credit
card.  It had her name on it.

   "Effectively, there's no limit on that." He said, "You could buy
commercial real estate with it, if you wanted.  I expect you to handle any
purchases I direct and to be reasonable in using your discretion on
incidental expenses."

   Within a few days, Peg began to receive deliveries of custom-made
clothing, provided by the fashion consultants who had met and measured her
at The Spa, and advised her on fabrics, colours and styles.  She modelled
everything for Brian as it arrived, and it all fit perfectly.  Of course,
Peg had the type of tall and slender frame that would make anything look
great.

   Brian was finding irony in a lot of things these days.  Before Peg,
every woman he had ever known had just wanted him to spend money on her. 
Now he had dropped more cash on Peg than the wildest dreams of all his
ex-girlfriends combined.  It didn't feel quite the same as giving away a
gift, it was more like re-furbishing your house - not something you did to
make your house happy.  Investing in "Peg upgrades" was HIS project, and he
enjoyed the process and expected excellent results.

  
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----

   Peg was a little late on the first day of the new semester.  Class
hadn't started yet, but she had wanted to be early to get a nice place up
front.  As she scanned the room looking for an open seat, she realized that
every guy in the room was openly staring at her.  As they should.  Nothing
about her - nice but conservative clothes, modest demeanor, demure
expressions, glasses - seemed to indicate she was permissive, promiscuous
or provocative.  In the last year and a half, Brian had enjoyed showing off
his new trophy, so Peg had mastered a very subtle art of driving men (and
some women) to extremes of lust and desire for her.  She had an incredible
talent for reading people, and reacting with slight changes in her posture,
or gestures, or body language to tease everyone looking at her into a
frenzy of sexual arousal and make them completely crazy to have her.  Brian
liked it when Peg got admired, and so she practiced quietly drawing
people's attention and subtly signalling her desirability whenever she
could.

   During class, she concentrated her attention on the lecture as the
instructor outlined the course and what would be expected.  Ever since, at
Brian's urging, she had enrolled in the local community college, she had
gotten straight "A's" in all her classes.  She would be transferring next
semester to the State University for her degree.  After class, half a dozen
guys tried to get her phone number.  She was kind and polite, but firm in
declining all their advances, showing her wedding ring and letting them
know she was happily married.  Turning them down gently was important.  Peg
might strut and flirt and tease a bit, but she belonged to Brian only. 
Tactfully refusing, while being clear and direct, actually took more
thought and effort.  She had gotten so adept at saying "No" sweetly to her
suitors that many of them joined her wide circle of good friends.

   Peg's amazing talent for observing and analyzing people and deftly
tailoring her reactions was one accomplishment that Brian didn't claim any
credit for.  Brian made it clear every day that he thought Peg was a
fantastic super-babe, all-but-perfect in every way.  Obviously he had
decided that he could take control of her life and run it better than she
had been doing.  For the most part, she had thrived.  She loved obeying his
strict demands and earning his praise when she excelled at whatever he
asked of her.  If intense happiness could cause heat, she would have burst
into flames long ago.  There were two small clouds of doubt that lingered
at the edges of her perpetually sunny days, though.

   She knew that Brian was manipulating her thoughts and attitudes, trying
to make her happy.  And she was very happy.  She tried to think back to the
hopes and dreams and beliefs that she had before she met Brian, and her
life now was everything she had ever wanted, and better.  But she was left
with a nagging little doubt that maybe even her memories were suspect, that
she loved everything in her life now, only because Brian wanted her to.  A
strange loop - the only flaw in her happiness was her uncertainty that it
might not be genuine, and yet the very idea that Brian manipulated her
thoughts was itself a secret thrill for her.

   Not the only flaw, actually.  She liked it when he hit her.  Peg was
sure that enjoying her own abuse was screwed up, but she didn't know if her
attitude was a result of Brian's mind games or was there all along.  Brian
seldom punished her anymore, she wasn't even sure if that was good or bad.
Peg realized that she was extremely, even pathologically, submissive. 
Brian had exploited her, he had taken over her life and given it a rigid
structure of his own choosing.  She was now dedicated, every waking moment
of every day, to pleasing him.  She worked with fanatical intensity and
focussed commitment to improve herself in any incremental way that might
please him more.  She loved the demands he made, and his incredibly high
expectations.  If only he would punish her more.

   This semester she had a more specific goal than Brian's desire that she
continue her education.  She had managed to sign up early, and make the cut
for, the limited slots available for two controversial classes - Human
Sexuality; and also Pornography in Literature.  She had been so ignorant
about sex when Brian first claimed her.  Instantly doing anything and
everything he wanted had gotten her through so far.  Now that she had
become beautiful and intelligent, she had higher expectations for her own
performance in bed.  She would learn everything she could, and apply
whatever she thought Brian might like.  He didn't like surprises, but was
usually open to new ideas.

  
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----

   Brian had a bizarre dilemma, and he had no one to blame but himself. 
Peg had become perfect.  When she was pathetic and miserable, he had felt
little guilt at manipulating and dominating her.  Now Peg was healthy,
powerful, sleek, strong, slim, confident and accomplished.  She was soaking
up new skills and experiences like a sponge.  Her life had gone from a near
stall to full throttle forward.  Even though he was the one behind the
wheel, pushing his foot to the floor (to continue the analogy), he hadn't
realized how much horsepower was under the hood.  Peg was smarter than he
was.  She was more beautiful than, well, than just about anyone.  She was
self-disciplined and ambitious.  Granted, he had shoved her into all that,
but now he felt inadequate.  She no longer needed him.  She had left him
behind, in her dust.  More and more, Brian felt that his control over her
was the only thing that kept her around, as well as the only thing holding
her back.  He didn't want to let her go, and yet he didn't want to hold her
down.

   Brian took pride in Peg, his project.  He was well aware that all the
outstanding qualities that now made her so superb were there in her all
along.  It was like finding a valuable antique teapot at a yard sale.  He
had recognized the value there, he had bought it, cleaned it, restored it
and lovingly displayed it to the world.  Sure, he was not the artist who
had created beauty originally, but no one would appreciate it if not for
his efforts to bring it out.

   Lying to her was just no fun anymore.

  
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----

   As Peg walked across campus she noticed a table set up along the mall. A
sign overhead read "Model Search" and several students were talking to the
recruiters.  As she did with her every thought and action, she applied the
"WWBW" rule - "What Would Brian Want?" He enjoyed it when other people
admired her, so a model tryout would probably be fine with him.  As she
approached, Peg thought she recognized one of the girls taking
applications.

   "Julie?" She asked, "Julie Charterer?"

   Julie looked up and gave her a blank look.  With a slight shrug she
asked; "Do I know you?"

   "It's me, Peggy." Peg replied, "We worked together at the Grocery when
you were a senior.  You got me the job in your mom's Candle Shop."

   "OH MY GAWD!  PEG!!" Julie screeched, everyone turned and looked at her.
She calmed down and continued.  "You look incredible!  You've lost some
weight - I can't believe its you!  Mom said you quit the Candle Shop to
move in with some boyfriend.  Are you a student here?  What have you been
doing?"

   Peg held up her hand and showed Julie her wedding ring.  It had Brian's
monogram engraved inside.  It, and Peg, were His.  Peg felt a shiver of
delight at the thought, just as she did every single time.  "I'm married to
the most wonderful man on earth.  Now that I have my life better organised,
I'm going back for my degree.  I'll be at State University next year."

   The two of them chatted and caught up.  Julie was working for the
modeling agency as an intern, not a model ("too short").  She had jumped at
the chance to come home when the agency put together a campus recruiting
tour.  Julie's Mom was fine, and the Candle Shop was still in business. 
"After you left, Mom could never find anybody half as good," Julie told
her, "Customers still ask about you."

   Julie and all the recruiting staff agreed that Peg was the most
outstanding candidate they had seen yet, by far.  They told her she could
probably be a success on the runway in New York, Milan or Paris, rather
than settle for newspaper ads and catalog work locally.  Peg took their
card, but told them she was too old to start a modelling career.  She
couldn't wait to tell Brian about the offer when she got home.

  
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----

   "Are you really considering that modeling job?" Brian asked her, after
she told him the story.

   "I already turned them down.  I just brought it up with you because I
know how much you like it when other people admire me.  I couldn't leave if
I wanted to.  I couldn't stand to be separated from you.  Besides, you made
me beautiful just for you - I can't even imagine my life not serving you,
or being away from you.  I see everything differently through these." She
tapped her glasses, and gazed at him intensely through them.

   It was everything he had feared.  Peg was giving up the opportunity of a
lifetime.  If he denied her this, and kept her as his personal plaything,
it would just make him miserable.  He had to confess the truth, for both
their sakes.

   "I can't keep up the pretense any more and watch you throw away your
life.  It wasn't me that transformed you - it was all just the power of
suggestion and a little light hypnosis.  You've always been smart and
beautiful, I just got you to believe it yourself.  You're not my
"enchanted" slave at all and never have been."

   "Duh." Peg adjusted her glasses again.  "I figured that out a long time
ago.  Maybe I've changed to conform with what you wanted, but I don't think
so.  I think it was there in me before we even met.  You are just about a
perfect fit for me, I doubt if I could find someone better if I looked for
years on end.  We both know how submissive I am - I need to be told what to
do.  You've struck just the right balance between excitement - as you force
me to do things I never thought I could do - and structure - as I
obediently follow the routines and protocols you demand.  I love it when
you punish me and hurt me.  Some hard-core pain-slut would laugh at your
mild efforts, but I think it's just right.  I can enjoy the sensation
without ever being afraid or doubting your control or concern."

   "I've thought about this answer a lot lately." Peg continued, "You're so
easy to read.  I knew you were about to break down and confess sometime
soon.  If I walked out on you (assuming I even could) I would end up alone
or hooked up with some abusive creep.  I'm not some wild animal that you
captured and keep in a cage.  I'm a domestic pet that wandered up looking
for food, and stayed for a kind word and a pat on the head."

   "I really have no right telling you what to wear, how to schedule your
day, who to talk to, what to think." Brian observed, "I've been taking
advantage of you."

   "But I agree with your choices, and I get off on being ordered around."
Peg answered, "Quit being so insecure.  Do whatever you want with me, just
take charge.  You've been a fantastic lover, you are a great Master, and
you're going to be a wonderful father." Peg guided his hand to rest over
her still-flat tummy, looked him in the eyes, and nodded "Yes" to his
unspoken question.

   "I love being yours!" She pouted, "I don't want to leave, ever!  I don't
want to be anything else.  Don't you want me any more?"

   "Of course I do!  You have to understand, though, that I never cast any
magic spell to make you my smart and beautiful slave.  I'm not really a
magician."
   "Yes, you are.