2 months to be size 12

Queen stared at the presentation on her laptop for the tenth time that day. Every slide was perfect. Every number had been checked. Every detail had been researched.

For the past six weeks, she had been working tirelessly to secure one of the biggest contracts of her career. A luxury hotel chain was looking to acquire a prime waterfront property, and Queen had done everything herself. She found the lead. Built the relationship. Prepared the proposal.

Scheduled the meetings. Even the client had personally complimented her work during their last phone call. Her phone buzzed.

James: Hey, beautiful. A second message followed immediately.

James: Did you skip meal? Then another.

James: Remember, consistency is key. Queen sighed.

Before she could reply, her office phone rang. “Queen, Mr. Henderson wants to see you.”

Her stomach fluttered with excitement. This was it. The contract. Grabbing her tablet, she quickly made her way to her boss’s office.

“Come in.”

Mr. Henderson didn't look up from his desk when she entered.

"You wanted to see me?" She smiled, taking the seat across from him.

"Have a seat." His tone was wrong. Her stomach dropped before he'd said anything at all.

He folded his hands together. "I've reviewed the hotel account. Her heart raced. "Okay."

"You've done excellent work. On paper, you're the best analyst in this building."

Relief loosened something in her chest. "Thank you. "But paper doesn't close deals like this one. People do. "What do you mean?"

He leaned back, and something in his face shifted. "I mean the final presentation will be handled by Melissa." Queen was certain she'd misheard him. "Melissa?"

"Yes." "But I've been working on this project for six weeks."

"I know." "I found the client."

"I know. And I'll be honest with you, Queen, since you clearly want honesty." He straightened his tie.

“Do you know why you’re still working here, Queen?” The question caught her off guard.

“Excuse me” He leaned back in his chair. “Because you’re smart.”

Queen frowned. “I don’t understand.” “No, I think you do.” His eyes swept over her body.

Slowly. The same way people had been looking at her for years.

“You are one of the best agents in this company.” For a moment she thought he was complimenting her. Then he continued. “Unfortunately, brains only take you so far in luxury real estate.”

The knot in her stomach tightened. “Sir—”

“Look at Melissa.” Queen didn’t need to. Everyone knows Melissa.

Slim waist. Long legs. Perfect smile. The type of woman luxury clients loved.

The type of woman Queen had spent years being compared to.

“Melissa walks into a room and people listen.” The humiliation burned.

“But i bring results sir,” Mr. Henderson laughed. “A phone can bring results.”

Queen froze. “A report can bring results.” Every word hit harder than the last.

“But luxury clients buy people first and properties second.”

She stared at him. Unable to believe what she was hearing. “You’ve spent six weeks working this account.” Her throat tightened.

“Yes.” “And that’s exactly why I’m giving it to Melissa.” Queen frowned.

.“ when a client spends fifty million dollars, I don’t want the first thing he remembers to be your size.” Silence. Complete silence. The words punched the air from her lungs.

Queen couldn’t speak. She held back every tears in her and said “ i understand sir”

“If this were any other industry, you’d have been replaced years ago.” Tears threatened to spill.

She refused to let them. “The only reason you’re still here is because of your brain.”

His eyes swept over her body again. “Because let’s be honest, it certainly isn’t your looks.”

Queen sat frozen. Humiliated. Ashamed. Broken.

“Now go back to your desk.” His attention returned to the paperwork in front of him. Conversation is over. She stood on shaking legs.

Then walked out of the office before he could see the tears gathering in her eyes  and trembling legs. Past the coworkers who suddenly avoided eye contact. Past Melissa who was smiling like a fool. Past the reception desk. Past every reminder that she wasn’t enough.

She spent the rest of the day at her desk, pretending to work while she fought to keep herself together. Every insecurity she had spent years learning to quiet came roaring back at once.

Too big. Too ugly. Too much. Not enough. Never enough.

By five o'clock she was hollowed out. All she wanted was to go home, shower, and let the day disappear behind her. Instead, she found James waiting outside her apartment building, hands in his pockets, that easy smile already in place.

Despite everything, some small, stubborn part of her was still glad to see him.

"Hey, beautiful." He said it like it cost him nothing.

Beautiful.

"Hi."

His smile faded as he studied her face. "Tough day?"

"The contract I've been working on? The hotel one."

"Yeah? "They gave it to Melissa. “He frowned. "Why?"

She looked away. "Take a guess."

Understanding flickered across his face — and that was the part that hurt. Not that he understood. That he wasn't surprised at all.

"I'm sorry."

She stood there a moment, waiting. Hoping. Wanting him to tell her the company was wrong. Wanting him to tell her she was beautiful and it didn't matter what size the dress was. Wanting him to tell her she deserved better than this.

Instead, James said, "Maybe this is the motivation you need."

She stared at him. "What?"

"You've been upset about your weight for years, you hate your size but you do not want to admit it"

"James…" "I'm serious." He softened, reaching for her hand as if that would take the edge off. 

"I actually came because I have news." She rubbed her temples. "What news?"

Queen looked up. “You have good news?” “I do.”

For the first time all day, she felt a spark of excitement. Maybe he had planned a date.

Maybe he wanted to apologize for the other night. Maybe he had finally realized how much his words hurt her. “What is it?” A grin spread across his face.

“My sister is getting married.” Queen gasped. “What?” “Emily said yes.”

“Oh my God!” A genuine smile broke across her face. “That’s amazing.” “I know.”

“When’s the wedding?” “Two months.” Queen laughed. “Emily must be so happy.”

“She’s already driving everyone crazy with wedding plans.” Queen shook her head, smiling.

“That sounds exactly like her.” They started walking toward her apartment.

For a few moments, everything felt normal. Comfortable. Safe.

Then James spoke again. “You’ll need to start taking your diet more seriously.”

Queen stopped walking. The smile immediately vanished from her face. “What?”

James looked at her as though the answer was obvious. “The wedding.”

“What about it?” 

“There’ll be a lot of people there, people that I haven't seen in years. My uncles, aunties, distant 

relatives, cousins, everyone will be there and i won’t want them thinking that i am dating an 

older woman" Queen felt a familiar knot form in her stomach.

She frowned. “James, what’s your point?” He sighed.

“The point is that you have two months.” “For what?”

James studied her for a moment. Then said it. “To get down to at least a size 12.”

Queen stared at him. Waiting for the joke. It never came.

“You can’t be serious.” “I’m completely serious.”

She laughed. Not because it was funny. Because it was absurd.

“A size twelve?”

“Yes.” “James, I’m a size 28.” “And?” Her smile disappeared.

“And that’s impossible.” “No.” His tone remained calm.

Cold. Matter-of-fact. “It’s difficult.” “It’s unhealthy.”

“It’s necessary, Queen” “Necessary for who?” James sighed dramatically.

James sighed dramatically.

“Queen.” “No.” Tears were already gathering in her eyes.

“You don’t get to do this.” “Do what?”

“Stand there and act like this is for me.” James laughed.

“Everything is always an attack with you.” Her chest tightened.

“What?” “You want honesty, then you cry when you hear it.”

His eyes swept over her body. Slowly. “You want me to pretend?”

Queen felt herself shrinking. “James…”

“No. Answer me.” His voice sharpened.

“You want me to lie and tell you everything is fine?” She couldn’t speak.

“Look at yourself, Queen.” The words landed like a slap.

“James…” “No.” His eyes hardened.

“Look at yourself.” Tears spilled down her cheeks.

“You think my family doesn’t notice?” Every word felt deliberate.

“You think people don’t stare at me?” “Stop.”

“You think people won’t  whisper?” “Please stop.”

James shook his head. “No.”

His voice became colder. “Because I am the only one willing to tell you the truth.”

Queen wrapped her arms around herself. Trying to disappear.

“You’ve completely given up on yourself.” “I haven’t.” “Really?” He laughed again.

“Then explain this.” His hand gestured toward her body.

“I spend my days photographing women who take care of themselves.”

There it was. The comparison. “Women who are disciplined.”

Another stab. “Women who don’t make excuses.”

Another. “Women who actually care how they look.”

Queen’s face burned with shame. “You don’t mean that.”

“I do.” The answer came instantly. “You know what people ask me?”

Queen didn’t answer. Unfortunately, James told her anyway.

“They ask how I ended up with someone like you.” The tears came harder now.

“James…” “They do.” “I defend you.”

Queen laughed through her tears. “You defend me?”

“Yes.” His voice rose. “I defend you every single day.”

“As what? “James stared at her.

“If you love me and you care about us then we shouldn’t be having this conversation.”

“silence”

“Do you think women don’t throw themselves at me?” His ego dripped from every word.

“Do you think I don’t have options?” Queen lowered her head.

Immediately hating herself for it. “I could leave tomorrow.”

“I could walk away and have another woman by next week.”

And kept going. “I am here because I care.”

His voice softened. Manipulative. Dangerously soft.

“I am here because I see what you could become.”

There it was again. Could become. Never who she was.

“I love you enough to be honest.” Queen felt dizzy. Her entire body shaking. 

“But i am a human being, i can’t survive without food and its not even possibly to go from size 28 to size 12 in 2 months” 

Then James took a deep breath. As if he’d reached a decision.

“If you’re not serious about changing…” Queen’s chest tightened.

“…then maybe we should rethink this relationship.” Her entire body went still.

“What?” His face remained expressionless.

“The wedding is in two months.” “I’m not taking you to my sister’s wedding like this.”

The words felt like a slap.

“Please.” “If you can’t commit to this, then maybe we’re wasting each other’s time.”

Queen stared at him. Horrified. He couldn’t mean that.

He loved her. Didn’t he? He want to marry her.

Didn’t he? “You said you loved me.” “I do.” “Then why are you doing this?”

“Because I love you.” The words sounded twisted.

No workout, no wedding.”

Queen stared at him. Unable to breathe. Unable to think.

“And no relationship.” The tears became uncontrollable.

“No.” Her voice cracked. “Please.” James looked away.

As if she were discussing the weather. Not her heart.

Slowly, Queen sank to her knees. James looked down at her.

And didn’t stop her. Didn’t pull her up. He simply watched.

“Please.” Her voice trembled.

“I’ll do it.” Silence. “I’ll join the gym.”

More silence. “I’ll diet.” “I’ll stop eating if that’s what it takes.”

A sob escaped her throat. “I’ll do whatever you want.”

James remained standing above her. Like a king receiving loyalty from a servant.

“I love you.” The words poured out desperately.

“I love you so much.” Tears streamed down her face.

“Please don’t leave me.” For a long moment, James said nothing.

Then finally, he smiled. Satisfied. Victorious smile.

“That’s better.” His hand brushed her cheek. “As long as you listen to me, we’ll be fine.”

And somehow those words felt less like love…

and more like a warning.