Self Improvement, chapter 25

Previous chapter: https://www.patreon.com/posts/self-improvement-102283668?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

While remaining on her old academic path proved impossible, there are fortunately many other ways to carve out a life for oneself besides just pursuing a degree. Rachael had lost that sharpness she was known for. Things took much longer for her to figure out, the intellectual mind she'd prided herself with previously was no more. But she was no less driven than before. Her priorities and interests had simply shifted towards things that were more ..accessible to her. All the mental conditioning she'd underwent following the hypnosis was still very much present, making her carry herself in a manner that screamed "I'm a ditz" amongst other things. Her routine of working out and spending on her looks remained firmly in place as well.

As one would expect, Rachael's parents weren't big fans of her decision to drop out of school in pursuit of what they claimed to be hedonistic pleasures. It was, after all, this decision that sparked the need of counseling to begin with. They could barely tolerate turning a blind eye as her attendance and grades dropped, knowing full and well that a temporary lapse in her focus was possible to overcome. But when she dropped out officially, that's when the other shoe dropped.

Of course, they didn't understand where any of it was coming from, there simply was no reasonable way for them to explain any of it, chalking it up to their daughter collapsing from the pressure she'd put herself under. It was apparently not uncommon for people her age to have a sudden change of heart following a traumatic event, or at least so the psychiatrist claimed.

It only took a few appointments for them to fully give up on ever getting Rachael back on track, she was her own person and could legally do whatever she pleased. If they wanted to remain a part of her life, they realized it would be necessary to accept her for who she had become. It was no easy feat, any parent would be hard pressed to accept such a drastic change in the "wrong" direction. But to their surprise, Rachael was doing quite well for herself in spite of all her shortcomings.

Her modeling career had taken a new turn when a famous undergarment brand decided to sponsor her. They didn't mind her "other" activities, even going as far as considering them another good platform to advertise on. Once Rachael gained more traction on her more conventional form of online modeling, there was no longer any need for her to sell nudes. That isn't to say she didn't enjoy the attention it got her, on the contrary, she quite enjoyed it. But even she realized that she was better off focusing solely on the more respectable of the two paths. Besides, there are plenty of other ways for a girl like her to get attention and validation.

So while she didn't end up having the impact on the world that she'd envisioned and aspired for growing up, she did quite well for herself. Undergarments weren't the only thing she became an ambassador for. Various makeup brands, shoe manufacturers, even shampoo brands offered her lucrative deals. She became somewhat of an icon, growing her social media presence, offering makeup tutorials and the lot. It was however not the young audience of girls she wished to appeal to, it was her more ..risqué content that excited her. The thought of older men looking her up on her socials, having leaks and old nudes spread around sites like Reddit. It really got her engine going. The only sponsor she lacked was one that produced sex toys, but seeing that her current career choice didn't facilitate for that type of promotion, she'd have to settle for the various items she was gifted from extra dedicated fans..

Well into her twenties, and Rachael was yet to experience the joys of a committed relationship. Not like she couldn't have her pick of the litter, she could have practically any man she wanted. With her looks, fame and wealth, only those who desired a certain level of "intellect" remained out of reach for the maturing socialite. Seeing how she brought home a new hunk every other day, Rachael wasn't likely to settle down anytime soon. In her current state of mind, no man could hold her down for too long. Some did succeed in convincing her to another round or two, but not once had she seriously considered settling.

Commitment and responsibility were two words she wanted to avoid at all costs. Even keeping her sponsors satisfied proved a challenge occasionally, constantly battling her own impulses of indecency. Thankfully Rebecca remained loyal to her. Having helped her dear friend with her taxes and the lot as her career blossomed, she'd come to be somewhat of a manager for her ditzy friend. Rachael brought in enough dough for the both of them, and Rebecca most certainly took a pretty penny for her services. It wasn't the type of friendship she'd envisioned growing up alongside Rachael, but she realized soon enough that this was a great solution. With her newfound naivety, Rachael would definitely be prone to exploitation, and that was not a door Rebecca was willingly gonna let be unlocked.

And so the two friends became more than friends. They became partners ..in business. Neither one leaned that way sexually, despite many pondering the closeness in their friendship, even their parents were beginning to grow sceptical regarding the nature of their relationship. Not that either side would be against a romantic situation between the two, they simply wanted to know whether it was the case or not. Never truly believing them whenever the question was brought up and ultimately denied, as parents do.. The fact that Rebecca and Mark hadn't worked out long-term didn't help their case either. Their relationship didn't survive her constant babysitting of Rachael, which had caused Mark to feel like a second priority, something he could not accept in a relationship. The two proved incompatible in Rebecca's current situation, and she accepted the fact. Naturally, it'd stung then and there, but she couldn't see herself getting along with someone that required so much maintenance in the long-run anyway.

And so, with Rebecca acting as a de-facto guardian/agent, Rachael prospered. Under the guidance of her best friend, she could indulge in her desires while still making ends meat comfortably. She even had a savings account (that she didn't know about) setup in the event that she somehow fucked up and lost all her sponsors. It was also there incase her income dropped as she became older and less attractive to brands. Rachael was truly living her best life, not having to worry too much about the adult-stuff, and getting to spend a lot of time with her BFF, even though a lot of it was spent doing boring things. Rebecca was pretty satisfied with their arrangement herself, earning much more than she imaged if she were to continue on the path she'd paved for herself during Uni. Even without "love", the pair were happy and fulfilled. Love is long anyway, and there would always be opportunities for such things as they got older..

The end