The Price of Beauty, A Pharma Rep's Abyss*

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I'm a pharma rep. For years, I've spent my nights weaving through the beds of powerful, older men.

I did whatever it took for the sake of my sales numbers. I used every dirty trick in the book.

Eventually, I stepped into the abyss. I destroyed others, but I destroyed myself too.

I have delicate features and skin as smooth as silk. Standing at five-foot-eight, I'm the kind of woman people call a natural beauty.

My legs are long, pale, and straight. I'm a total head-turner.

My parents are proud of me, and most men see me as an untouchable, wealthy socialite. Everyone thinks I'm a massive success.

But deep down, only I know the truth. I know exactly what kind of creature I've become.

Today, Mercy General Hospital was looking to buy ten million dollars' worth of medication. If I could land this deal, my commission would be five hundred thousand.

With that kind of money on the table, we pharma reps were like sharks smelling blood. We all swarmed the place, desperate for the big payday.

I was no different. I was determined to win this contract at any cost.

I drove to Mercy General and sat in my car for a moment. I pulled off my plain white tee, jeans, and sneakers.

I slipped into a silk halter top, a micro-skirt, and five-inch heels. I showed off my shoulders, my midriff, and those legs that seemed to go on forever.

Finally, I did my makeup in the mirror until I looked like a Hollywood starlet. I stepped out of the car and felt every eye on me.

Men looked with lust, and women looked with envy. I had a one-hundred-percent turnover rate.

I strutted like a runway model toward the office of the Director of Pharmacy, Arthur Sterling. A female assistant stood by the door, and about forty other reps were sitting in the hallway.

The assistant looked at me with a robotic expression. "You're here for the contract too, right? Take a number and wait your turn."

With so many people fighting for this deal, playing by the rules was a losing game. I needed to use "unconventional" methods.

I smiled at her and pushed a briefcase toward her. "I'm not here for the sales pitch. I have personal business with Mr. Sterling. Give him this, and he'll understand."

She looked skeptical. "If you aren't a rep, then who are you?"

I didn't answer. Instead, I slid a gold chain into her hand and whispered. "This would look stunning on someone with your grace. You should wear it."

She snatched the chain in a flash and beamed. "Wait here. I'll let him know you're here."

Inside that briefcase were my three secret weapons: protection, a morning-after pill, and some very lacy lingerie.

I also included a few of my most provocative professional photos. Honestly, I wasn't great at public speaking or actual sales.

I had made it to Sales Manager not because of my talent, but because of my willingness to please. In three years, I had slept with 156 men.

Every time I did it, I walked away with a profit ranging from thousands to hundreds of thousands. With my body, no man could resist the temptation.

I knew it was shameful. I knew it was filthy.

But I was a girl from a poor, rural town who grew up with nothing. Without money, there is no security.

I was terrified of being poor again. That fear drove me to do anything for a paycheck.

After every man, I felt a wave of crushing guilt. But the money always acted as a bandage for my conscience.

It was a vicious cycle. One man after another used my body, and I sank deeper into the hole until I couldn't get out.

Two minutes later, the assistant came back with a wide grin. "Ms. Vance, Mr. Sterling saw your information. He's very interested and wants to talk to you in private."

"Perfect," I said with a slight nod.

I gave the other reps a disdainful glance as I walked past them. I held my head high and stepped into Arthur Sterling's office.

Arthur Sterling was in his fifties, balding, and had a massive gut. His skin was sallow, and his teeth were stained a disgusting yellow from years of smoking.

He was repulsive. But he was also my client.

In my three years in this industry, I had learned how to lie to anyone. I could talk to an angel like a saint and a devil like a demon.

I walked over to him and knelt by his chair. I started lightly massaging his legs with my small fists. "Mr. Sterling, I'm Sabrina. It's such an honor to finally meet you."

He was holding one of my photos, comparing it to my face with an excited glint in his eyes. "You looked like a goddess in the pictures, but you're even better in person."

"So, are you satisfied with what you see?" I smiled and leaned forward on purpose.

I let my neckline gape just enough to show off plenty of skin. Since I was kneeling and he was sitting, he had a perfect view of everything.

I might be thin, but I have curves in all the right places. I made sure of that.

"Very satisfied. You're a rare prize," he said, staring greedily.

I stood up and sat directly in his lap. I leaned close to his ear and whispered. "I'm a pharma rep, Mr. Sterling. I'm here to get that contract signed."

I pulled the documents out and placed them on his desk. He chuckled, his hands already starting to wander over my body.

"Ever since the news broke, I've seen over a hundred reps today," he said. "Your drugs are the same as everyone else's. Your prices are the same. Why should I choose you?"

I leaned in and kissed his forehead softly. "How about this? Is this reason enough?"

He let out a loud, triumphant laugh. His hands became bolder, exploring every inch of me.

He had been in this position for nearly a decade and had slept with plenty of reps. But he had never seen anyone with my face or my figure.

"I've had many women," he whispered, his breath smelling like old tobacco. "But you're the most beautiful. If you take good care of me, the deal is yours."

I knew the drill. To get the contract, I had to handle the man.

I had studied certain foreign adult films to learn moves that most women didn't know. After 156 men, I was an expert.

Handling someone like Arthur was child's play. Even though his breath was foul, I pressed my red lips against his.

He was a lecherous man, and my sudden passion overwhelmed him. In less than a minute, he had me pinned against the desk.

He hiked up my skirt and roughly pulled aside my underwear. We finished right there on the mahogany wood.

He was out of shape and clearly lived a life of excess. Between his age and his poor health, he didn't last more than two minutes.

It was barely enough to even register as an experience for me. But I had to play the part.

I gave him a thumbs up and gasped. "Mr. Sterling, you were incredible!"

I pushed the contract toward him again. "I took good care of you, didn't I? Now, be a good boy and sign this for me."

He stared at the paper for a long time. Then, he looked at me with a strange, lingering expression. "Actually about the contract. Let's not rush it."

I was young and beautiful. He was old, ugly, and lived in a cloud of smoke.

The only reason I had endured him was for that signature. And now he was telling me not to rush?

He wasn't in a hurry, but I was. I swallowed my rage and forced a fake smile. "Arthur, I just gave you the best time of your life. Why won't you sign?"

He looked a bit embarrassed and avoided my gaze. "Well I feel like I didn't perform my best just now. It ended too quickly."

He leaned in closer. "Come to my hotel tonight. If you take care of me properly one more time, I'll sign."

I hated men like him. Once was disgusting enough.

Now he wanted a second round. I tried to decline gracefully. "Arthur, that's not how this works. One time is the deal. Just sign it, okay?"

His face went cold instantly. "If you sign this, you get a five-hundred-thousand-dollar commission, right?"

I nodded slowly. He continued, "I can sleep with a famous influencer for twenty grand. You're asking for half a million. Are you made of gold?"

He spoke to me like I was a product on a shelf. It was dehumanizing.

I was furious, but he had already used me. If I blew up now, I'd lose the contract and I would have been used for nothing.

I had to swallow the insult. He leaned back, lit a cigar, and blew smoke in my face.

"If you don't come tonight, there's no deal. The choice is yours," he said.

I clenched my teeth so hard they ached. But I was trapped.

"Fine," I hissed through my teeth. "I'll be there tonight."

"That's my girl," he said. "The Sunset Inn, Room 304. Seven o'clock sharp. Don't be late."

I went home to rest, and at seven, I knocked on the hotel room door. When he opened it, I put on my best "vixen" act.

I ran into his arms and kissed him, acting like I couldn't wait to be there. He squeezed me hard and gave me a cold command. "Get undressed."

I hated his arrogance, but I obeyed. Within seconds, I was standing completely exposed before him.

He smirked and looked toward the bathroom door. "What do you think? Is she a prime specimen or what?"

My heart stopped. He wasn't talking to me.

There was someone else in the room. I turned my head toward the bathroom.

A massive man with a jagged scar across his face stepped out. He looked at me like I was a piece of meat. "She's perfect. Better than a movie star."

"No!" I screamed, grabbing my clothes to cover myself. I scrambled into the corner, pointing at the stranger. "Who is he? Why is he here?"

Arthur laughed, his voice full of contempt. "Why are you hiding? You're a sell-out. You're just a public bus that everyone gets a ride on. Don't start acting modest now."

I knew I wasn't a saint. I knew I used my body for money.

But being talked to like that felt like a slap in the face. Tears welled up in my eyes. "I'm a professional rep! I'm not I'm not a street walker!"

"What's the difference?" Arthur spat. "You're a bird who trades her feathers for a paycheck. You use your body for sales instead of cash, but the dirt is the same. You're just a high-end hooker."

Every word was a dagger. I wanted to scream, to fight back, but I had no defense.

He was right. I had become exactly what he said.

Arthur walked over and ripped the clothes from my hands. He threw me onto the bed and looked at the scarred man.

"Vinnie, you don't see girls like this every day," Arthur said. "Let's make sure we both enjoy ourselves tonight."

Vinnie let out a predatory laugh. He started unbuckling his belt. "She's a dream. I'd die happy after a night with her."

He lunged at me, and his eyes were full of a hunger that terrified me to my core.