Animal Magnetism, Part 3

This fictional account contains adult language and themes.  If such language
and themes offend you, please do not read further.  The persons and events
described in this work are purely fictional.  Any similarity to actual
persons or events is strictly coincidental.  Copyright 2001 by SSTORYMAN.
All rights reserved.  Permission is hereby granted to reproduce this story in
any form and for any purpose as long as this notice is reproduced and no
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reproducing it.

ANIMAL MAGNETISM

3.	The Third Session - Bill and Beyond.

   Sheryl sat in her desk swivel chair.  Bill was in the chair beside her
desk.

   "Okay, Bill, let's review.  I told you about my meeting with Carolyn.  By
the way, she's sweet, and just as pretty as you said.  She's clearly
influenced by you and your opinions, very much so.  Clinically, I must say
I've _never_ seen a woman so powerfully influenced by her significant other.
But I must also tell you that nothing suggests the presence of any
inexplicable psychic power.  Both Carolyn and her mom were intrigued by and
drawn to her Aunt Cynthia's rebellious lifestyle, including her smoking.  I
believe seeing you smoke triggered a predictable reaction in them both,
bringing to the surface dormant desires.  That explains their unexpected
embracing of your smoking habit.  Carolyn admits she's actively bi-sexual.
That started after she began dating you.  But there again, her aunt was
openly promiscuous, and Carolyn greatly admired her aunt.  In short, I
believe your worries about animal magnetism are totally unfounded.
Everything that happened can be explained in a perfectly natural way."

   Bill shrugged.  "Wow!  Okay, you're the professional, Doc; I mean, Sheryl.
If you say it's okay, I guess it is.  That's why I'm paying you.  I guess the
attraction of Carolyn's Aunt Cynthia was a background factor that made her
feel positively about smoking, and open to sexual experimentation.  So you're
saying I triggered it, but I didn't cause it?"

   Sheryl smiled.  "That's right.  You're influential, but other factors
explain what happened to Carolyn and her parents.  I have a suggestion that
may help further prove my thesis.  It's late in the afternoon, but I suggest
we take a little road trip.  Let's visit a fast-food restaurant.  I want to
try an experiment.  What happens if we stand in line waiting to order, and
you suggest to the others in line they order something unusual?  If your
animal magnetism is real, they'll follow your advice and order it.  But if
I'm right, and your influence over people like Carolyn and her parents was
simply the result of natural persuasiveness and charm, then nothing odd will
happen at the restaurant.  The people will still order what they originally
intended to.  That should prove once and for all that you don't control other
people.  Okay?"

   Bill laughed.  "You mean we should go to McDonald for a Big Mac and fries
together?"

   "Sure, why not?" the pretty psychiatrist answered.  "It'll be a test.
What do you say?"

   He shrugged.  "Okay, let's go."

   Sheryl and Bill walked out of her office into the reception area.  Her
assistant and office manager, Paula, sat behind the desk as they came in.

   "Paula, Bill and I are going to get something to eat.  We'll be back in
half an hour or so.  I believe he's my last appointment.  Will you still be
here?"

   "Yeah, I'm staying till six."  Paula was a tall, thin redhead with big
eyes and an infectious smile.  "Bill, I meant to tell you.  This new computer
system is great!  You said we'd like it, and we do.  It's a big improvement
over our old system."

   "That's great, Paula," Bill acknowledged.

   "Yes, Bill," Sheryl cut in.  "The time you spent with Paula showing her
how to use the program was a real time saver, too.  It was above and beyond
the call of duty.  We appreciate it."

   "No problem," Bill smiled.  "Customer service is what we're about.
Customers who can use the systems are happier customers.  Happy customers
give referrals.  That's how I get paid."

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   Bill and Sheryl returned half an hour later.  Paula was still at her desk.

   "There, Bill.  You see?  Of the six people you spoke to in line at
McDonald's, no one ordered a fish sandwich like you suggested.  That proves
your supposedly magical, animal magnetism is nothing more than a figment of
your imagination."

   He nodded and smiled.  "Yeah, you're right.  And it's a big load off my
mind.  I even suggested that you order a Big Mac and fries, which is what I
got.  But you didn't.  You ordered chicken nuggets instead.  I feel very
relieved.  You're a great shrink!"

   She smiled.  "Thanks, Bill.  I admit your Big Mac looked good, but I still
got nuggets.  However, I want you to know that fears such as yours aren't
unusual.  Men like you, who are naturally talented and influential, often
think or hope that they have some strange, almost mystical, magical powers.
But there's almost always a completely natural explanation."

   He grinned sheepishly.  "Yeah, well, I had to find out, just to make sure.
By the way, Sheryl, I've been handing out your business cards like crazy.  I
tell everyone you're great.  I suggested to several people who're having
problems that they should call you."

   "Yes, I know.  And thanks.  We've already had a couple calls from people
you spoke to.  I appreciate the referrals.  It's how a new psychiatric
practice like mine gets off the ground, and God knows I need the business!"
She turned to her assistant.  "Paula, give Bill some more business cards.  As
a satisfied patient, I want him to have plenty of cards to tell others about
us."

   Paula gave him a fresh stack of cards.  "Sure, Bill.  Here you go.  Tell
everyone what a great psychiatrist Sheryl is," she laughed happily.

   "Oh, I will," he laughed.  "Sheryl, thanks again.  I'm so relieved to hear
your professional opinion that I'm normal.  It's a real relief.  I look
forward to getting your bill, as soon as the medical office management
software I sold you generates the statement.  Trust me, I'll pay it!"

   "And we really appreciate that!"  Sheryl laughed, shaking his hand.
"Bill, it's been a pleasure.  I'm glad I proved to you that though you're a
hell of a salesman, and a really great guy, there's no magic involved here.
But keep handing out my business cards anyway!"

   He grinned.  "Right.  I will.  Thanks again."

   He left the office.  Sheryl and Paula stood silently, waiting.  Finally
they heard a "ding" in the hall, indicating that the elevator had arrived to
take him down to the first floor.

   Sheryl sighed out loud.  "Oh my God!  That went better than I expected.
He bought it, thank God, hook, line and sinker!"  She looked at Paula.  "And
Bill was my last appointment this afternoon, right?"

   Paula grinned.  "Yeah, he sure was."

   Sheryl walked to the door and pushed the button to lock it.  "I don't want
anyone coming in," she said with a mischievous grin.  "Not now."  She reached
into the pocket of her blazer and removed a pack of Marlboro 100's and a
disposable lighter.  "At McDonald's we sat outside, and Bill smoked," she
sighed, placing a long, cork filtered cigarette between her smiling lips.
"It was all I could to eat my chicken nuggets.  Fuck!  I wanted a Big Mac and
fries, like he was having.  And I don't even like Big Mac's!  Then it drove
me crazy to watch him smoke," she added, clicking her lighter and lighting
up.  "God, I couldn't wait to do this!"  She took a hard drag and sucked
smoke deep inside her lungs.  The smile on her face testified to the ecstasy
she felt.

   "But why not tell him you're smoking now?" Paula asked.  "Why keep it a
secret?"

   Sheryl released a thick stream of smoke through her nostrils.  "I don't
want him to know that he _does_ have an inexplicable influence over others.
He thinks Carolyn's transformation into a woman obsessed with smoking, and
with girls, is just the result of her aunt's influence.  Of course, that's
pure bullshit," she added with a grin.  "I knew no one at McDonald's would
order a fish sandwich when he told them to.  I felt sure his influence only
works if it's something he truly believes in, like smoking.  But if he knew I
started smoking after seeing him, he might guess the truth and then not refer
new patients to me.  And I _need_ those referrals.  Every fuckin' person he
gave a card to has called for an appointment.  Isn't that right?"

   Paula nodded.  "It seems that way.  Having Bill as a cheerleader may be
the best possible advertising," she laughed.  "Everyone he recommends calls
for an appointment."  She pouted.  "Hey, aren't you going to let me have one
of those?"

   "Oh, damn, of course.  Sure, here you go," Sheryl muttered.  She gave her
assistant a cigarette.  "God, I'm sorry.  I should've known you'd want one."
She smiled.  "I'm so glad you finally told me you're a smoker, Paula.  That's
great!"

   Paula eagerly put the cigarette in her mouth and leaned forward.  Sheryl
lit her up.  "God, thanks!  Ever since Bill walked into office, smoking is
all I've been able to think about!"

   Both women drew on their cigarettes, then simultaneously exhaled smoke
into the air.

   "Paula, you never did tell me.  Exactly _how_ long have you been smoking?"

   Her red-headed assistant shrugged.  "Only a few weeks.  It happened right
after I met Bill, and recommended he call for an appointment.  I said I knew
you had plenty of openings."

   "Oh?  You knew him before he came in to see me?"

   "Yeah, didn't I tell you?  I met Bill at a party.  He lives in the same
apartment complex as me and my roommate.  He was complaining how hard it is
to find a psychiatrist, and I told him I worked for one who just started her
practice.  Yeah, I was the one who suggested Bill call you."

   "No, you didn't tell me," Sheryl said.  "What else happened the night you
met him?"

   Paula took a long drag on the Marlboro 100.  "I thought he was _so_ cute,"
she said as she inhaled.  "We chatted awhile, and then he lit up a cigarette.
He asked if I smoked.  I said no, but told him my roommate Gina did.  Well,
he was _very_ interested in hearing me talk about Gina after he heard she
smokes."  She continued exhaling as she spoke.  "It was odd.  Until I talked
to Bill that evening, I was _so_ down on Gina smoking.  But later that night,
as soon as I got back from the party, for some reason I told Gina I wanted to
smoke, too."

   "So Bill's animal magnetism is responsible for _you_ starting to smoke,
too?"

   "Yeah, I guess so," the pretty redhead said with a smile.  "Since then
I've been smoking every day.  Of course, I didn't tell you, Sheryl.  I
figured you wouldn't approve.  After all, you're a doctor, for God's sake!"
She laughed.  After all, her physician friend had a cigarette in her hand.
"One other funny thing happened.  Gina smokes Marlboro Ultra Lights, the
short ones.  But for some reason I wanted to smoke Marlboro 100's instead.  I
guess that's because ...."

   "Because Bill smokes Marlboro 100's, not ultra lights," Sheryl said,
finishing her assistant's thought.  "Yes, sure, of course.  Bill likes
smoking; he smokes Marlboro 100's; and he likes pretty girls who smoke.
After talking to him, you simply _had_ to begin smoking yourself, and you had
to smoke his brand."  She looked at the cork tipped cigarette between her own
fingers and sighed.  "Back when I was a nurse and I smoked, I was a menthol
girl exclusively.  But after learning that Bill smokes Marlboro 100's, these
are the only cigarettes I want.  God, they're _so_ bad for me.  But God,
they're damn good!"  She sighed again.  "What was Gina's reaction when you
started smoking?"

   "Oh, she was delighted," Paula laughed audaciously.  "Mostly because it
meant I stopped giving her shit about her habit, and because I was smoking,
too, as much or more than her."  She hit on her cigarette.  "He really _does_
have some weird psychic power, doesn't he, Sheryl?"

   "Yeah, he sure does," the psychiatrist agreed.  "Sure as shit!  And I
experienced it.  At our first session I told Bill I wasn't surprised Carolyn
smoked, even though she's a nurse.  That's because before medical school,
when I was a nurse, I smoked.  I knew first-hand how many nurses are addicted
to nicotine."  Waiting for her words to sink in, she seized the opportunity
for another drag.  "I quit when I started medical school.  I knew it was bad
for me," she smiled, exhaling with her words.  "But after my first session
with Bill, I had this weird, uncontrollable desire to go out and buy myself a
pack of cigarettes, and to smoke again.  I couldn't shake it.  I hadn't had a
cigarette in years, but I couldn't stop myself.  That night I went to the
store and bought a pack of my old menthol brand and an ashtray.  Bingo, I was
smoking again!  The odd thing was, I didn't feel bad about it.  I still
don't.  I absorbed Bill's devotion to the habit, and he doesn't feel bad
about being a smoker.  He likes it, so I do, too.  But it doesn't matter.
All I know is, now I want to smoke!  After meeting Carolyn I learned she and
Bill both smoke Marlboro 100's.  So that very night I bought myself a carton
of these," she smiled, turning her cork filtered cigarette in her hand and
admiring it.

   Sheryl raised the cigarette to her lips, hit on it, and pulled more smoke
deep inside.  "Actually, smoking isn't the only thing I've been mulling
over," she muttered.  She walked up to Paula and put her arm around her.
"You know what I mean, you pretty thing?"

   Paula nodded.  With no hesitation she kissed Sheryl directly on the mouth.
"Yeah, I know _exactly_ what you mean, baby," she breathlessly replied.
"When Bill mentioned how cute he thinks you are, it was like my eyes opened.
I felt like I really saw you for the first time, Sheryl.  You're so
beautiful, so sexy.  And it turns me on that you smoke now!"

   "Of course it does," Sheryl giggled.  "Bill loves pretty girls, especially
those who smoke!  Therefore, we like the same thing.  He said he thought you
were a real babe, and I had precisely the same reaction.  Right away I
couldn't wait to get my hands on your beautiful body."  They kissed again.
"We're completely under his spell, Paula, but I don't fuckin' care!"  She
gently touched Paula's large breasts.  "I'd really like to get Bill into
bed," she went on.  "But other than that, I can't think of anything I'd
rather do than smoke and make love to you, beautiful!"

   They kissed and cuddled, carefully holding their cigarettes off to the
side.  Suddenly, the phone rang.  Sheryl groaned and made a face.  "Fuck,"
she muttered.  "Let the answering service pick it up.  After all, it's almost
five."

   "It may be one of Bill's referrals," Paula sighed, pulling away from her
grasp to reach for the phone.  "Hello," she said in her most professional
voice.  "This is Dr. Richardson's office."

   Sheryl lit up a second cigarette while waiting for her assistant to finish
the call.  Paula handed her the receiver.  "It's Carolyn, Bill's girlfriend,"
she said with an naughty grin.  "She wants you."

   Sheryl cleared her voice and took the phone.  "Hello?" she said.  "This is
Dr. Sheryl Richardson."

   "Hi, Sheryl, this is Carolyn Finley.  Bill Johnson's girlfriend?  Remember
me?"

   "Hello, Carolyn.  Yes, of course I remember you.  It's very nice to talk
to you again."

   There was a pause.  "Do you have a cold or something, Sheryl?  You sound
congested."

   "Oh, yeah," the psychiatrist fibbed.  She cleared her throat.  Damn!
Smoking so much was already affecting her voice!  "I've, uh, had the
sniffles; nothing serious."

   "God, I'm so glad to hear that.  And I'm glad you're willing to talk to
me.  Bill just called.  He told me how much your session today eased his
mind.  You're so attractive, Sheryl.  It's hard to believe such a beautiful
lady is also so fucking, kick-ass smart!  Bill went on and on just now,
telling me how fabulous you are.  So I just thought, ....  God I don't know
how to say this ....  I was, uh, wondering if maybe you'd like to get
together, like, for a drink tonight?  It's just social, not a professional
visit.  I hope maybe we can become friends.  I don't usually get together
with non-smokers, Sheryl, but I'd like to do something for you, I mean, with
you, after all you did to help Bill.  What do you think?"

   Sheryl grinned and winked at Paula.  "Carolyn, I'd very much like that.
You know, I was a nurse, too, before I went to medical school.  We have a lot
in common.  And I'll share a little secret with you.  Promise not to tell?
When I was a nurse, I used to smoke.  And I still smoke some.  I love
smoking.  So I'd be glad to indulge with you, if you don't mind.  And I must
say, I'm glad you think I'm nice-looking.  It's very flattering coming from a
pretty girl like you.  You're one of the most gorgeous, sexiest women I've
ever met.  Yeah, I'd love to get together.  In fact, I can meet you for a
drink in half an hour, if that's okay.  I'm done for the day now."

   "Wow, great," gasped the blond on the phone.  "Yeah, that's super.  God, I
can't believe that you smoke!  Shit, that's really so cool.  You know, after
talking to Bill just now, I can't seem to stop thinking about getting
together with you, Sheryl.  And the fact that you smoke, and that you'll
smoke with me over drinks, well, it makes it even better!"

   "Yes, I understand," she purred seductively.  "I'm sure you can't stop
thinking about it.  And I can't either.  But you know what?  For now, I think
it's best not to tell Bill about our new friendship.  It'll best for him if
it stays our little secret for awhile.  Does that sound okay?"

   "Oh God, yeah, sure," Carolyn whispered into the phone.  They agreed on a
trendy bar in the heart of downtown where they'd meet for a drink.  "I'll see
you soon, Sheryl.  I can't wait.  Bye."

   Sheryl hung up, and Paula frowned.  "Damn!  I thought we were going to
fool around tonight," she pouted unhappily.

   "Don't worry, we still will, Paula," Sheryl smiled sweetly.  She gave her
assistant a kiss after another puff from her cigarette.  "Come along.  Both
Carolyn and I are going to smoke, and she's a _very_ pretty girl.  If we play
our cards right, we might end up in a three way."

   "But you'll use Carolyn to eventually get into bed with Bill," she whined
jealously.  "I just know it."

   "I hope so," she laughed.  "But Bill likes you, too.  He's attracted to
you, you beautiful redheaded goddess!  If he weren't, I wouldn't feel about
you the way I do," she added, giving Paula a little kiss and fondling her
breasts.  "I'm attracted to you because Bill thinks you're sexy.  So, go
after him!  He wants you, and he lives in your apartment complex.  Invite him
to have dinner with you and Gina.  I suspect that before the night's over,
two things will happen.  First, Gina will start smoking Marlboro 100's, like
Bill and the rest of us.  Second, all three of you will be in the sack
together fucking your brains out!"

   Paula grinned lecherously.  The idea of it began to excite her.  "Cool!
But Sheryl, do you really think Bill always gets whatever he wants because of
these strange powers?"

   She nodded.  "Yes, absolutely.  And now we want what he wants.  We want to
smoke, and we also want Carolyn.  And tonight we'll get what we want.  Count
on it."  She let out an evil laugh.  "We need to put this ashtray away and
spray air freshener.  Then we'll meet Carolyn.  Bill probably told her he
thinks we're both attractive, so this will be a very pleasant, productive
evening.  My psychiatric practice not only gets a jump start from his
irresistible referrals, but our newly expanded sexual interests will find
lots of opportunities for gratification, beginning tonight with Carolyn!" She
laughed again.  "Bill now thinks he's normal.  But he's not, and he hasn't
seen the last of me, or of you, either."  She took a final, powerful drag on
her cigarette and inhaled a last lungful of smoke into her chest.  "God, I
_do_ love to smoke now!"

   "Me, too," Paula eagerly agreed.  "It's weird, but like you, Sheryl,
smoking turns me on now!  I'm so glad Bill came in.  I'm also glad that we'll
get to know each other in a new way."  She playfully patted Sheryl on the ass
and gave her a quick kiss.

   Sheryl reluctantly crushed her cigarette in the ashtray.  Paula then
dutifully put it inside her desk drawer.  After carefully covering up the
last traces of their smoking with several blasts of air freshener, they
walked arm in arm from the office to the elevator to find Carolyn.

THE END

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