P L A T O   V O L T A I R E
BLOSSOMING 
  BODIES
   T H E   B E G I N N I N G
   
 
C H A P T E R   4
   
 

Allison decided to take a break after fixing up the bedroom. The real estate agent had had the foresight to stock the refrigerator with lollywater and citrus drinks. Sitting at the kitchen table, Allison greedily drank half a can of grapefruit juice.
     Thaddeus stepped inside the kitchen. Around his neck was a well-used sweat towel. "I could use some of that." He opened the fridge, pulling out a can of diet lollywater. "A good thing we're not a bunch of pack-rats."
     "We didn't have the room in our old apartment back in New Darwin." Allison sipped from her can. "This house has three times the space. I'm sure we'll fill every nook-and-cranny soon enough."
     "I agree." Thaddeus sat next to his wife. "According to the background material, there are several excellent furniture and accessory shops here in town. We'll find enough tacky book stands and end tables to suit our needs"
     "You should be the last one to talk about tackiness." Allison kissed Thaddeus on the ear. "A good thing I was around when you almost chose cream-colored drapes."
     "Just what is wrong with cream?"
     "Nothing, except it'll remind you of ice cream. Both of us know where ice cream ends eventually." Ally patted Thad's stomach.
     "I know. But remember what I usually end up doing after thinking of ice cream." Briskly, Thad kissed his wife on the lips.
     "Yum. That tasted good. It'll taste even better after we get some more work done. Agreed?"
     Thaddeus helped his wife back on her feet. "Agreed. We both need massages after all of this unpacking and sorting."
   
   
   
  There had been five housing locations available for the young couple to chose from, and the Eddings had selected the one closest to their place of employ. On the surface, this decision meant savings on recharges for the aircar. A two-kilometer walk to and from work made for perfect exercise. It also allowed people along the route to see Allison on a frequent basis. Over time, the appearance of Allison and her notable bustline would be accepted as a normal occurrence.
     Gwyneth Dornheim might never get used to Allison's presence. She watched Allison and Thaddeus leave for work. She wanted to see for herself if her busty neighbor wore a cleavage-exposing blouse or a side-spilling halter top. Instead, Allison wore a full blouse that morning. Though filled by its owner's bust, the blouse kept the young woman's breasts out of sight. Gwyneth was sure that one day Allison would slip up and wear a damning piece of clothing. In her heart, Gwyneth knew that the new neighbors were up to no good.
     Allison spared only a moment thinking about her neighbor's discomfort. What held sway in her mind was the abrupt change in scenery. She was 500 meters shy of the Blossoming Bodies property. The sight before her appeared to be the work of a draconian city-zoning manager. Behind them were typical homes, and in front of them were grass-filled tracts of land. Maintained with care by the City Beautification Bureau, the land had clusters of trees to break up the otherwise plain looking terrain.
     Vicious storms had ravaged Omaha in 2170 and 2173. Centuries-old housing was utterly destroyed, and many of the survivors decided to live in housing towers that could withstand anything nature had to offer. In the intervening 336 years, there had been other structures on the property. Without fail, they were torn down and their foundations filled as required by law. Until now, one would be forgiven for thinking that the land had lain undisturbed since time immemorial.
     Further down the sidewalk, Allison saw the Blossoming Bodies building proper. Standing one story high, the ivory-colored structure looked on the whole unremarkable. A five-meter signpost stood at the entrance of the access road leading to the business. On top of that post was a sign, on which the words "Blossoming Bodies" were written in a decorative script. It was only a temporary affair until the official opening of the business next week. A more attractive sign was slated to be revealed at that time, but for now, the public at large would know where the Blossom store was.
     Walking hand-in-hand, Allison and Thaddeus approached the double-doored main entrance. With a large measure of exhilaration and a dash of trepidation, Allison entered the building. Her building... her building to manage and run, as well as all the employees it contained. For the first time, Allison hoped she could handle the responsibility of running the store that she so eagerly accepted two weeks before.
     "Hello, Mr and Mrs Eddings," said the receptionist at the front desk. "How are you finding the morning so far?"
     "It's pleasant enough, thank you." Thaddeus replied. Both he and Allison shook the woman's hand. "You're Miss Challman, correct?"
     "That I am, Mr Eddings." The pleasant-looking woman focused on Allison. "Miss Eddings, you'll find the staff waiting in the meeting room down the hall." Challman pointed the way. "If you hurry, you might be able to snatch the last batch of donuts before they're gone."
     Allison waved a dismissive hand and grinned. "Oh, they know better than to inhale all the donuts and leave nothing for the boss. It wouldn't make for a good first impression. I'll make sure you get a donut for holding the fort."
     "Thank you for the offer, Mrs Eddings, but I don't eat donuts. They disagree with my tummy. Fruit juice would be nice."
     "Done and done. See you later." With Thad by her side, Ally went down the hallway and stopped in front of a door simply labeled 'meeting room'. With a collected breath, Ally opened the door and stepped inside.
     The people standing next to the conference table had obviously been informed of the Eddings arrival. Miss Challman had sent a prearranged signal the moment Ally and Thad entered the building. As if standing for a barracks inspection, the staff of the Blossom building waited for Ally to speak. With natural charm and grace, Ally held out her hand toward Jason Misner, her assistant manager, and the dark-haired man accepted the gesture. "Nice to meet you in person, Jason. I would've been here earlier, but our superiors seem insistent on opening stores faster than they can staff them."
     Jason's mobile face easily conveyed his smile. "I certainly agree, Allison. The people upstairs could've gone the simpler route and used automation. But I give them credit for using this approach than opting for a storefront in an obscure mini-mall." Still smiling, Jason motioned to the man standing next to him. "Allow me to begin the introductions. This fine fellow is Gerald Stout. He's in charge of our sales department, and has lived in Omaha all his life. He held a sales job at a clothing store before the Conyers Corporation made him an offer he couldn't refuse."
     "Nice to meet you, Gerald." Allison said warmly. "I read the sales record you compiled at A Fashionable Fit. Your talents will be given a strenuous workout here at Blossoming Bodies. I'm sure that you'll succeed."
     The blond-haired Gerald blushed. "Thank you. I always strive to do my best."
     In turn, Jason introduced the rest of the staff. Next came Hana McDaniels, who was in charge of the combined advertising/marketing department. Mahogany-colored hair made Hana's Arabic origins seem all the more exotic. Standing a head taller than Allison, Hana had a modest bosom when compared to her new boss. What Hana lacked in size she made up for in show, for she wore a vest that didn't even try to flatten her E-cup bust.
     Then came Nathan and Jorie Rothschild, the head tailors. The couple had been married for ten years and had an 8-year-old son to their credit. Like the Eddings, the Rothschilds were eager to accept the challenge of their new jobs. Their family recently immigrated from Angelica, a world where large bosoms are an accepted fact of life. Nathan and Jorie saw it as their duty to show the people of Terra that a big-bosom lifestyle can be a wholesome and productive one. The couple knew the potential hassles that might occur due to Jorie's size, but they were willing to face all that.
     Lyssa Sonser was the nanite and wetware doctor of the store. She was taller even than Hana, and her light blond hair complimented her fair skin. Like all doctors, she wore a form-shrouding white coat, but it didn't obscure the fact that Lyssa had a worthy chest on her lithe frame.
     Last but not least was Flora Khols, the chief health and fitness instructor for the exercise portion of the business. Flora wore a dress instead of her usual exercise outfit. Her 32F bust, though, was certainly making its presence known past the fabric of her blouse.
     Allison had her staff take their seats. "I'll meet with everyone else later today. For now, however, I want to hear your department reports. We'll start with Mr Stout." Allison listened attentively as the reports were read. As the meeting continued, Allison could tell that the Conyers recruiters had done their job. The staff had confidence and believed in the Blossom philosophy. As manager, she knew that friend and foe alike would scrutinize her standards and conduct. More than once, she hoped she had sufficient fortitude for the job. Allison knew Mrs Remmix had chosen her for the job because she believed in her. More than anything, Allison wanted to prove that Mrs Remmix had made the correct choice.
   
 
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  model: WIFEY
photopainting: GONZO