From The Bottom Rung: A Sequel To Life At Ann Taylor free porn video

From the Bottom Rung: A Sequel to Life at Ann Taylor Belladonna Chapter 1 - Beginner's Luck In my last two years of college, I had completely given in to my female alter ego. I lived exclusively as a woman. I told everyone at school that I was undergoing a sex change. That was a lie, but it made life a little easier. People don't look highly upon transsexuals, but they really scorn transvestites. Neither conforms to the neat classifications that people expect men to adhere to, but there's a little more understanding out there for the former category. My living arrangements involved a bit of surprise for those who knew me. My mother learned of my cross dressing after she busted me out in public working as a woman alongside my best friend and my girlfriend. She had her suspicions before, but I confirmed them to her. After that, I started to live predominantly as a girl. The semester that followed was when I told everyone that I was pre-op transsexual. My sister Constance had found out about me shortly before that. She had some difficulty accepting my lifestyle, but she eventually came to terms with it. Telling my father was a bit harder. He always had suspicions about my sexuality given the way I handled myself. I always had feminine mannerisms, but they really started to become more pronounced when I started spending more time en femme. Eventually, I couldn't hide it any longer. I told him about what I had been doing. He wasn't surprised in the least. He wasn't happy, but he didn't take it that badly. I know he was disappointed to hear what I said, but he said he'd support me. My interactions with him became more uncomfortable after that, but he didn't disown me or scorn me. I would have liked him to be more accepting, but I understood his response. My classmates definitely treated me differently. I was more of a freak around school than I'd been before, but I didn't care. My friends still treated me the same. My best friend Clarissa never treated me any different when I dressed as a girl than she did when I was her effeminate behaving guy friend. My girlfriend Denise never knew me as anything other than as Ashley en femme. Consequently, my surrender of my male life meant little to her. As my college graduation date passed, I began to look for a job. On the second Saturday after my graduation, my mother offered me a job at the family business. Mom had started the business and built it up. She had over 200 employees spread out over four offices. Mom had wanted Constance to take it over, but she had her own plans. She wanted to make her own way in the world. I was mom's last chance to mold her child to eventually take over the business. I was hesitant to take her up on her offer since I wanted to have a career of my own, independent of my family. However, a bad economy made her offer more attractive. I didn't know what going to work for mom would entail. So I asked. Mom looked at me and said, "You're straight out of college, and your primary work experience is as a salesclerk at Ann Taylor. What do you think you'll be doing?" "I don't know. That's why I am asking!" I countered. Mom nodded and said, "You're going to start on the bottom like everyone else I hire." "Okay, that's fair", I answered. I was hoping for something better, but beggars can't be choosers. Mom continued, "I'm going to start you out as a file clerk. Where you progress from there is up to you. If you work hard and show me some initiative, you'll end up in my shoes someday. If you slack off, I'll have to keep you in the lower levels." "A file clerk?" I answered. I figured I was qualified to do more than that. Mom nodded and responded, "It's imperative that you learn this job from the bottom up. You'll get a lot better feel for the company this way." "I understand completely, mom." "Good because you're going to need to keep perspective about this job. I mean, you'll be one of the last to work at that position." "What do you mean?" "File clerks are on their way out, hun." "Why?" "Productivity increases and computers, it's making their job really unnecessary like secretarial pools became when I started out." "Well, why do I have to work that job?" "Being beneath everyone at an antiquated job will really give you some perspective if you get to the top. I essentially need two girls for the job to finish up the last work that needs to be done to get our older records completely electronic. I think you'll enjoy working with the other girl I'm offering the job to." "Who is it?" "Clarissa." "Really? That would be great." "I knew you'd like that, that's why I want to offer her the job. I know she's having a hard time finding one too. If you take the job, I'll hire her too." I was already inclined to take the job, but when mom brought Clarissa into this, I had to say yes. Mom was ecstatic that I took her up on her offer. After Mom hugged me, she said I had to adhere to the dress code. I knew she had one, but I was surprised when she told me that I had to wear either a dress or skirt to work everyday. "No pants?" I asked, surprised by the dress code. It seemed wholly out of place with the reality of modern times, not to mention female fashion. "Girls in my office have to earn the right to wear pants. My file clerks and secretaries have never been allowed to wear pants. It's a neat, visible dividing line in their appearance from the female staff that has earned more responsibilities and privileges. You've wanted to be treated like a girl these last few years. Well, I'm not going to treat you any differently than any other new girl. It wouldn't be fair, and it wouldn't be right." "I understand that, mom", I replied. As everything sank in, I realized that I hadn't discussed this with Denise. I didn't know how she'd take it. I explained to my mother that I needed to talk with Denise before I took the job. Mom was a little deflated by that, but she understood. I called Denise. I left a message for her to get back to me. She called back ten minutes later when she was on break. She still worked at Ann Taylor. I had worked there with her until recently, but I foolishly quit before I had another job lined up. I slowly explained to her what my mother had offered me and asked for her opinion. Denise responded, "You should take it. Are you stupid? Why are you even asking me about this? You silly girl! Did you really think I'd hold you back? You never cease to amaze me with things you come up with." "I'm sorry", I answered. "I know you are, baby. I don't blame you for asking. I know you partly a man. It's a part of you. Useful as it sometimes is, it makes you ask stupid male questions. It's a tradeoff I'll gladly take though." I thanked Denise and said goodbye before I went into the kitchen to see my mother. I told her I'd wanted the job. She was thrilled to hear it again. After I took mom up on the job, she gave me a copy of the office dress code and had me invite over Clarissa. Clarissa was quick to come over given that I told her that my mother was considering her for a job. She was just as desperate as I was so I knew that she would take it, if offered. Mom offered Clarissa a job as a file clerk with a possibility of advancement. Clarissa was interested, and she saw the dress code I showed her. Having worked at Ann Taylor as long as she did, she was used to being dressed up. It wasn't much of a change for her or me for that matter. There were other differences though besides not being allowed to wear pants. We couldn't have bear legs either. We had to wear stockings, tights or pantyhose everyday. Clarissa was never big on that stuff, but I wore them frequently anyway. There was also a high heel requirement. We had to wear heels between 3 to 5 inches everyday. That wasn't very different from what we wore at Ann Taylor, but it was a unique requirement at my mother's business. Only the lower female staff had to wear high heels daily. We were strictly restricted in colors to. We had to wear white, cream, tan, black, gray, dark red or dark blue skirts or dresses daily. The same color restrictions applied to our shoes as well. We didn't have any color or design restrictions on the blouses or sweaters we were allowed to wear besides not being allowed to wear tops with words written on them. Mom said the restrictions were in place to make us look demure and in our place. Clarissa and I accepted that we were to be on the lowest rung of the female staff. Clarissa and I then gave mom the information she required to have us start work the following Monday. Clarissa left soon after that to meet up with her boyfriend. I excused myself and went to my room to set up my outfits for the coming workweek. Mom came in not long after and gave her two cents on what I should wear. Wanting to advance in my job, I listened closely. When my first workday came, I dressed in the clothes my mother recommended after I showered. That was a black sleeveless dress with a rolled collar and matching black belt. I also went with the plain charcoal grey tights she recommended. I finished off my ensemble with a pair of grey, patent leather pumps with a 4 ? inch heel. Mom had spoken highly of them whenever she saw them. I loved the way my feet looked in them and how tall they made me seem. I walked into the kitchen and showed myself off to mom before I made myself a bowl of oatmeal. Mom really complemented me and said that I looked like I was a young woman who was serious about my job. I thanked her before I ate my breakfast. We went to work together in her car. We parked in mom's reserved spot and headed into the building. Mom then brought me to meet my new boss Miss Clark. Mom introduced to me to Miss Clark and said, "Louise, this is one of our new file clerks, Ashley." "Pleasure to meet you. Miss Tweedy has said great things about you?" I smiled at mom before I looked at Miss Clark and said, "It's a pleasure to meet you to, Miss Clark." Clarissa joined us shortly thereafter. She came in, and mom headed off for her office on the other side of the building. Miss Clark gave Clarissa and I the rundown of what we were expected to do before she left us to get to it. Clarissa and I both took a few folders full of old records that had to be uploaded into the company database. We set about typing it in at the computers that Miss Clark assigned us to. Our work area was in a common area of the office. Our desks were on the far wall of the large room. There were offices all around us and a few secretaries on the other side of the room. As I uploaded material onto the computer, I would periodically look at the secretaries. I knew that was the next step so I watched what they did. Two of the three girls did work for the seven employees directly above them. The other secretary did work solely for Miss Clark, who was the head of their division of the company. When Clarissa and I would finish with a file we would stamp it to indicate that it was uploaded onto the system. After we finished with the files, we went down into the storage room together and picked up a number of other files that had to be retrieved and entered. It was mind numbing work, but Clarissa kept it bearable. We would talk whenever we could. It was like being in school together. We talked about fashion, TV and our relationships when we weren't bantering about the job we were doing. The monotony of our work was broken up by the little tasks we were assigned to do throughout the day as well. When the mail came, we had to bring it over to our desk and sort it. We split the mail in half and delivered it to the various offices throughout the room. That didn't seem like that big of deal, but I was a little nervous about it because it was the first time I would be dealing with male coworkers as a girl. I found that my trepidation was unnecessary. The men who I handed the letters to couldn't have been kinder. I realized that this wasn't the type of office that was more like a frat. The presence of a female boss kept these men in line. After making our deliveries, the secretaries came over and handed us some forms to type up and some papers to make copies of. Miss Clark told us we would help do the secretaries overflowing work so it wasn't a surprise. Clarissa started to type up the forms while I made the required copies. I put the papers into the machine and wondered if I ever thought I'd be working beneath a secretary when I got out of college. I suppose life rarely goes as planned though. I brought the copies over to the secretary who handed me them in the first place, Dora. Dora was a 35 year old mother of two. She dressed like the other secretaries in unadorned clothing. She was complementary of mine, showing a little jealousy. I thanked her and went back to work with Clarissa. Clarissa and I finished with the forms before Clarissa carried them back to Dora. After Clarissa and I grabbed lunch together, we went back to work inputting information into the system. We sorted the new files we received from Miss Clark's secretary into those that could be discarded when uploaded and those that required continued storage such as contracts. After work, I had dinner with Denise in a restaurant. She ate slowly and didn't have many words to say as I told her about my day. Finally I asked, "What's wrong? Why are you so quiet tonight?" Denise smiled for a moment before she said, "I'm a little nervous." "Nervous? About what?" "I'm afraid you're going to leave me." "Leave you? For what?" "You know, baby. You're educated, and you're moving on. You got a new job with a future. I'm still stuck at Ann Taylor. That's all I'll ever be, a retail worker. Maybe I'll be a manager sometime, but that's it. I'm stuck." "I don't care about that", I responded. "You don't care about my future", Denise retorted. I hastily clarified, "No. No. I mean yes, I do. I love you. I love you. I care about your future. I want it to be with me. I meant that whatever job you work, it doesn't make a difference to me. I'm never going to leave you. You mean everything to me." Denise smiled and said, "Thanks. You mean a lot to me too, but I can't help but feel that I'm not up to your standards anymore." "What?" "I kind of feel inferior to you, now." "I'm a file clerk for God's sake", I said exacerbated. "Yes, but not forever." "Listen to me. I want you. I only want you. I don't think I'm better than you. Who else am I going to find that accepts me?" I looked around as I finished and realized that a large number of eyes were on us. I tried to put that out of mind as I listened to Denise say, "That's it, huh? You're staying with me because I'm the only one who accepts you." I was struck by her response. I pled, "That's not it at all. I like to talk with you. I like to spend time with you. You're the total package for me. You're everything I ever wanted." "I can't believe that you would want to marry to some lowly salesgirl." "It's not lowly. It's a job. I do want to marry you. I mean come on. If there's one of us who should doubt being enough for the other it's me." "How's that?" Denise retorted before she took another bite. "Think about it. We were watching TV last week and you had all these lusty looks at Nate Archibald." "He's a character." "A character you apparently find handsome?" "I can't help finding guys attractive, especially pretty ones." "That's it. You don't see that. How does that make me feel? What do you think? I see you look at guys that I can't compete with." "That's not it, Ash. You're not competing with them." "If I'm not competing with them, why do you think you're competing with someone else?" She shrugged her shoulders. I put my arm around her for a moment and kissed her on the cheek. She smiled, and we finished eating. We paid the bill and hurried back to my place. We said hello to Mom before we went into my bedroom. We made love, and she spent the night. The rest of the workweek, me and Clarissa kept doing the same stuff we did the first day at work with a little more work on the transition of the files. We gathered files from beyond the storage room. I had to walk all over that building to collect the materials that needed to be filed. I found that some of the male employees were not as reserved as the ones I most frequently had to deal with it. I got my share of lusty looks, not anything like Clarissa got, but it was an awakening for me. As a low level girl, I was thought of as eye candy by these men. Some dropped things in their office when I asked them for files. They expected me to pick them up. I knew what they were trying to do. I didn't give them the satisfaction. I picked up the items, but I bent from my knees like a lady. Those horny dogs weren't getting a good view of my bent over ass our tits. All they would get of that from me was the view they got when I walked in and out of their office. Clarissa and I followed the guidelines as we transferred the data. We even had to destroy the unnecessary files towards the end of the week. Shredding all those files was time consuming work that we tried to break up with marginally more stimulating tasks like typing and copying documents as well as talking. As the workday on Friday neared its end, I realized that there were no more files to input. It wasn't long after before mom came over to talk to us. Miss Clark came over to us with her. Miss Clark smiled and said, "Girls your position is now obsolete, but we knew that would happen when we hired you. I've been pleased with your work so you're being promoted to secretaries." Clarissa and I squealed in excitement. We both hugged before we got our new work addresses. We were both being sent to other nearby branches. I pouted when I realized we wouldn't be working together anymore. Still, I was excited to be moving up so quickly. I could only hope that my ascent up the corporate ladder could stay on such a fast track. I knew that was unrealistic, but I still hoped it was true. After work, mom decided to take me shopping at Bloomingdales to celebrate and get ready for my new job. The dress code wasn't any different in my new position, but she wanted me to look even better around employees she was less familiar with. Mom said a lot of life is about presentation, and I was inclined to believe her given that everyone I met thought I was girl because I presented myself as being one. Bloomingdales was in the same mall that Denise worked, so I figured I might be able to swing by to say hello while she was on the clock when me and mom were done. However, shopping was really the main thing on my mind at the moment. Mom led me into the store and we headed for the women's department. Mom picked out a few black and grey suits with A-line, pencil and ruched tweed skirts in various designs. The only constant among them was that their hems all rested comfortably above my knee. The suit jackets varied from three quartered sleeves to puff length sleeves. When she was satisfied that they fit, she insisted that she buy them for me. I wasn't complaining. She also bought me a red sheath dress with elbow length sleeves. Mom even bought me a brown, halter, Ponte draped dress for when I went out somewhere nice with Denise. I was thrilled with what she got me. I carried the bags out into the mall and dragged mom down toward Ann Taylor. Mom wasn't happy about this. She never shopped there. I think the only time she went into that store was when I worked there. It wasn't that that they didn't carry her style of clothing, it was that they didn't convey the message she wanted to send. Mom liked to say that clothes convey power among women, and that the more expensive clothes she wore, the more impressive she would seem to be. Mom stayed outside the door as I walked into the store carrying some of my bags while mom held the others. I walked up to Denise and said hello. She responded with a smile and a hug before she looked at my bags. Denise kind of became a different person after she saw the name on the bags. She got quiet after she asked about the bags. I answered by telling her that mom had taken me shopping. I wanted to tell her everything that happened that day, but her new manager kept a close eye on her to prevent social talk when customers where in the store. She motioned for me to leave the store. I kissed Denise on the cheek and said, "Come by after you get off from work, I've got big news." She smiled halfheartedly and said, "I'll see you then." I didn't read much into it as mom and I headed out of Ann Taylor and back into the mall. We went to her car, and she drove us toward home. We stopped at a salon the way. Mom said she made an appointment for me to get my hair done. I wasn't really eager to get a haircut, but mom explained that I'd be taken more seriously with a shorter style. She said I looked too girlish with my wavy brown hair running halfway down my back. I understood her point. I wanted to make a good first impression on my new bosses that would dictate my advancement in the company to some degree. Thus, I decided I'd get my hair cut shorter even though I loved it long. As I got into the stylist's chair, I hoped that Denise would like my new hairstyle. The stylist trimmed my hair down while she talked about various things with my mother. They tried to include me in the conversation, but I had no idea who they were talking about. I watched as my hair grew got shorter and neater. I really looked older and more refined when she finished with my hair. Mom paid for my cut and we headed to a Chinese take out restaurant to pick up dinner. We ate together as anxiously waited for Denise to come by. Denise drove over to my place after her shift ended. Mom let her in. I walked over to Denise and embraced her. She gave me a strange look as she looked at my now shoulder length hair. "Do you like it?" I asked. She nodded, but there was concern in her eyes. She asked, "What did you cut it for?" I frowned and said, "I got promoted to secretary today. Mom said that I needed a more proper haircut for the workplace if I wanted to be taking seriously to get a chance to be promoted again. "Your mom's the boss", Denise responded with out emotion. "Yes, but I won't be working in her building anymore. I'm going to work in a different office, where they don't really know that I'm mom's kid. We have different last names, and Smith is pretty common so they won't know for sure I'm her kid even if they knew my dad's last name too." Denise nodded and said in a sullen voice, "That's great, babe. Really is." "What's wrong?" I asked. "Nothing. You're just moving on without me." "No I'm not! How can you think that?" Mom hurried out of the room after I shouted that. "How can I think that? Look at you. You cut your hair to look some office girl; you're shopping at Bloomingdales. You're over my pay scale." "That's ridiculous?" "Is it? Come on. You're telling me if you couldn't find another girl with the same kind of success as you, you wouldn't leave me for her." "Of course I'm saying that. I don't care about what you do for a living. I don't care what you make. How much clearer can I get? There's no class issue here!" "How can I believe that you won't leave me when you find a girl with better prospects? "You can believe it. It's easy! I don't care that I make more than you. It doesn't matter if I think I have a brighter future than you. None of that means a thing to me! If you're too stupid to understand that's not my problem! If you don't get it, why don't you just go?" I saw the look of hurt in her eye as she asked, "Did you call me stupid?" I froze for a moment before I said, "No. That's not what I meant." "But you said it", she said sullenly before she turned and walked towards the door. I stood like stone as Denise left. I felt like my world was tumbling down around me. I felt like I had just destroyed the thing I treasured most in the world. My mother walked into the room and put her arms around me. I started to cry. She asked if there was anything she could do. I shook my head and stood there contemplating my future. I wanted it to be at mom's company, but I wanted Denise more than anything. I thought about quitting, but I had a better idea about getting my devotion across to Denise. I headed out of the house to do a little shopping before I went to Denise's home. She opened the door and stared back at me with reddened eyes. I begged for her forgiveness before I dropped to one knee and asked for her hand. She nodded and helped me up off the floor. She kissed me for a good minute before our lips parted. We stood staring into each others eyes as we pondered our future together. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 2 - The Next Step My first day as a secretary came, and I got ready for it as best I could. I dressed in one of my more conservative suits. I paired that with a plain white blouse, black patent pumps and black, sheer pantyhose. I didn't want to look flashy on my first day. I wanted to look demure until I got a feel for my new surroundings and bosses. I drove to work that day and parked in the lot. I made the 50 yard walk to the door and sought out my new supervisor, Mr. Carter. He showed me around and introduced me to my seven bosses who worked under him as salespersons. Three were female and four were male. He then introduced me to the secretary I would be working with as well as his private secretary. The secretary I'd be working with was named Desiree. She was about 30 and dressed a little suggestively. Her skirts were well above her knee and her tops showed a lot of cleavage for the workplace. I knew it was inappropriate, but that didn't stop me from enjoying it. I quickly learned that Desiree was Mr. Carter's favorite secretary even though she was not his own one. Connie, his own secretary, was more than happy with that. Connie was an older woman who dressed in conservative skirt suits. She wore nothing reveling and did not wear much makeup at all. It was an interesting contrast to look at Desiree and Connie. Connie looked reserved, neat and prudish. Desiree looked like the office tramp. My own clothing choices leaned more towards Connie's even though I was more similar in age to Desiree. However, I was not as eager as her to get the leers of men to put it mildly. I got to work beside her typing up forms and running errands for my bosses throughout the day. Those were my principal tasks while Desiree handled their calls, which was about all Mr. Carter would let our bosses make her do. I had to pick up the slack, but Connie helped me out. She explained to me that my predecessor had to deal with the same thing before she left. I knew then I had to keep Connie on my side to really succeed at my new job. As the day went on, I realized just how lowly I was in that department. I was the junior secretary there and I felt it. I ran myself ragged in my heels fetching my bosses cups of water and coffee. I was rewarded with indifference and the leers of my male bosses. The men their treated me like I was a mixture of eye candy and a horse they could flog. The girls looked at me like I was a threat when they bothered to look at me. They knew I was young and educated so the older ones tried to keep me in my place perhaps out of fear that Mr. Carter would dismiss them and put me in their jobs. I think that's why the women treated me worse. They made me do their personal errands like picking up their laundry and calling for appointments with beauticians. I was the sole secretary they referred to as 'girl.' I had led a pretty privileged life up to that so I was not prepared for any of this. On top of that, I had to go to six different places to get my bosses their lunches. I brought it back to them and received a thank you from only one of the women. All three of the men thanked me, but I think that was because of ulterior motives. I caught them all watching my butt as I left the room. They stared at my chest throughout the day without any fear of the consequences too. I didn't care too much about them because it was Mr. Carter that controlled my advancement in the company. He was the one I had to impress. I didn't get much opportunity though. The most I got from him was a couple of leers when Desiree wasn't around for him to stare at. I was the person he seemed to most ignore. He'd give the saleswomen the time of day, even if he was almost as much of frat boy around them as he was Desiree. None of them complained about it though. Maybe they thought it helped them out or maybe they liked it, but they didn't report Mr. Carter's conduct. I guess he had some redeeming feature that was not evident to me. The men faired better. I saw Mr. Carter joking around with them about women while Connie and I made copies within their earshot. They didn't care we were there hearing about their conquests and their critiques of women. They all agreed they didn't show enough leg, breast or ass. As much as I shared his like of those things too, the man disgusted me. I couldn't believe I'd have to work for such a horny prick. For the first time since I started dressing fulltime, I really wished I was a man. I knew Mr. Carter would take me more seriously if I was one, but that part of me was in the past and buried. After work, Denise came over to see me. Mom knew about our engagement and she approved despite our ages. At least, I thought so. Denise had her doubts. She always told me that she thought that my mother didn't think she was good enough for me. I said that her opinion didn't matter and that many mother's feel that way about their children's spouses. She agreed with that, but she didn't like it when it was applied to her. I embraced Denise as I let her into the house. Mom heard us talking and decided she wanted to talk to us. She called us into the dinning room. I sat next to Denise at the table I held her hand as Mom looked at us and said, "I want to make a suggestion for you two. Will you let me?" "Of course. Go ahead", I replied. Mom smiled and said, "I think that Denise should move in with us." "That's a great idea, mom", I said before I looked at Denise and saw her half a smile. She looked hesitant. I decided not to push her and said to my mother, "We'll talk about it and get back to you." "Take your time dear. I hope you'll take me up on my offer. It will let you two save up for a place of your own." Denise nodded before my mother stood up and exited the room. She looked at me and said, "I don't want to move in here." "Why not?" "It's your mother's house. Why don't you move in with my mom? I can get her to go for that." "Your house doesn't have as much as room as this one. We have space here." "I know, but..." "But what?" I asked knowing full well that it was my mother that concerned her. "I'm a little worried about what your mom will say to me if I live with her." "Don't worry about her. I can keep her under control." Denise looked at me skeptically, but she moved in not long after that. Her concerns went away not long after the move. She enjoyed being able to spend each night with me and liked that my mother didn't impose restrictions upon her. Denise and mom really stayed out of each others' way most of the time. I was surprised how easily they coexisted. They were cordial when they talked as well. Denise told me that she was really warming up to my mother. Denise always felt my mother was manipulative, but she said that she really liked her now that she got to know her better. Two weeks after I started as a secretary, I was walking around the office when I saw Clarissa in the building. I went over and said hello. I asked her what she was doing there. She answered, "I was promoted. I'm over in Mr. Panuchi's department. Where are you?" "I'm in Mr. Carter's department, but you were promoted?" "Yes. It's great." I tried to be chipper when I responded, "That's fantastic. I'm so happy for you." She thanked me, but she then told me she had to get back to work. I think she felt uncomfortable talking about it with me since I was still a secretary. I believe that she picked up on how dejected I was that I was no longer keeping pace with her. She knew I felt that I was being left behind in my mother's company. I walked back to my department and saw Mr. Carter staring at me. He asked, "Do you know Clarissa Peterson?" "I have known her most of my life. We're great friends." "That's good for you." "Why's that?" I asked. "That girl has some future ahead of her. I heard that she's Miss Tweedy's, the big boss around here, prot?g?e." "Really?" I asked in a tone that failed to hide how dejected those words made me feel. "Yes, she's ascending like a rocket. I wouldn't be surprised if she ends up taking the company over after Miss Tweedy retires." I nodded and said, "I've got to get back to work. Do you need anything while I'm up, Mr. Carter?" "No. I'm good at the moment. Thanks for asking though." I went back to work typing up letters to the companies clients. As I typed, I kept thinking about Clarissa. I felt that Mom was grooming her instead of me. I wonder if she had a hand in her promotion. I also wondered if it was done to light a candle under me. I didn't know why though. I had been giving it my all and going beyond what was expected of me, but I wasn't going anywhere. It seemed no matter how hard I worked or how well, I was just being ignored. Mr. Carter overlooked me all the time. I was just another girl to him. He knew my education. He knew I gave ideas to his subordinates that they used. Still, it got me nowhere. I got no praise from the sexist prick. He probably figured I was just some good girl secretary who would put her head down and plow forward in a dead end position. A part of me wondered if this was all a game to my mother. Maybe she was grooming Clarissa to be her replacement. Maybe she didn't think I was up to it. I figured my quick descent into skirts was the reason. I gave up my gender identity quickly when I got the chance to do something I wanted to do. That might be it I figured. As I fetched my bosses' meals at lunch, I began to give serious thought to living as a man again. At that moment, I remember thinking, 'If I was a man' before I had to laugh at myself. I was a man under my clothing after all even if I didn't want to be one in most contexts and had no desire to look like one. As I ate my own lunch, I really considered going back to what I was. However, I knew that it was really out of my grasp. There was Denise after all. She loved me as a woman, I was sure that she wouldn't go for me if I went around looking like some ordinary guy. That was not what she wanted. I loved her too much to destroy what we had. I was also kept in my position by my love of being en femme. Nothing in the world gave me more satisfaction than going out into a public as the woman I passed myself off as. I never wanted to wear men's clothing again, but it seemed the only way to advance was to shed the girly veneer I had encapsulated myself within. I knew, however, that it wasn't a veneer anymore. My girlish qualities were more than skin deep. I had always thought more like a woman than a man, but I know carried myself like a woman. I would look effeminate to an extraordinary degree if I went around dressed like a man. I doubted that I would ever be able to keep up a ruse of engaging in solely male gestures. The way I walked, talked and stood would all have to change. It was all natural to me now, but I'd have to keep up a fa?ade to pass myself off as the straight man I was born as. Beyond that, there was my work history problem. I'd spent so much time as a girl that every recent job I had was as a member of the fairer sex. How could I explain my time at Ann Taylor or a file clerk or secretary if some employer found about them if I was even considered for a job? There was no guarantee that mom would go along with me going back to being a man. I wasn't guaranteed any chance of coming back to the company as Ashley the man. No. I knew I had to accept what was happening around me. I would have to keep working hard in a skirt and hope that something would come of it. Life at home did not provide much relief for me. Mom and Denise were always busy planning my wedding. Denise treated mom like a proxy for me when they would go to visit places because she was paying for the wedding. Denise was always coming to me with her little worries about this or that about the wedding. I tried my best to calm her fears, but that didn't always work well. She got a little demanding about it. It's a once in a lifetime thing if you're lucky, so I largely went with whatever Denise said without argument. As the weeks drew on, I finally confronted mom about my work situation. She smirked at me as I complained about Mr. Carter. I carried on about how I felt stuck and underappreciated at my position. She responded, "Oh, come on. You can't figure out how to deal with him?" "What am I supposed to do?" "Well, what do the women he's promoted have in common? I'll give you a hint, three of them work directly above you." I thought about that for a moment as I thought about their short skirts, high heels and frequently low cut tops. I realized that the girls all dressed suggestively. They were playing off his perversion. I looked at mom and cringed before I said, "You can't seriously expect me to do what they did?" "What's wrong with a little skin?" "It goes against what you told me earlier!" "What was that, dear?" "You said I should dress to be taken seriously." "And you did when you worked under Miss Clark. There are new rules under Mr. Carter." "How can you let this go on?" I shouted. "Go on? Oh, why do I keep Mr. Carter around? That's easy. He's the best I've ever had at it his position. He keeps his hands to himself and his dick in his pants. Women may feel objectified by him, but they exploit him. That's why no one complains about him. They all play the game." "So you're telling me I have to play his game to get promoted." "That's the way of the world, Ashley. It's business. You're not in college anymore. Merit doesn't mean everything in the business world. You have to make inroads, and you have to adapt to situations if you want to get on top and stay there." I took her words to heart. I knew she was telling me the truth. She had given me a roadmap, but it was of a road I didn't want to go down. However, I knew she was right. I had to show her I could adapt. It's an important skill when it comes to having success in business. I had to prove to my mother that I could do it. I told mom she was right. She was happy to hear me say that, she always was. She put her arm around me and said, "We'll have to get you some new skirts so go get your pocketbook." Denise walked into the room after hearing Mom's statement. "You're taking Ashley to shop at Bloomindales again?" Denise asked mom. "Of course. Where would you shop?" "Well, I shop at Kohl's and Wal-Mart except for my work jeans. I get those at my job." "Oh, we can't do that, dear. Ashley needs to convey a certain image that you just can't get from clothes from Kohl's." Denise nodded and headed away from us. I went to invite her with us, but Mom started pulling on my arm. I got my pocketbook and followed her to her car. She drove us to Bloomingdales, and we went inside. Mom went through the racks looking for the shortest skirts they sold. She pulled out a skirt suit and smiled. She handed it to me. I looked over the dark blue, boucle pleated skirt of the suit. I looked at the hemline and almost did a double take. It was a mini-skirt. Mom pushed me towards the dressing room and told me to try it on while she looked for other skirts. I nodded and stepped hesitantly into the dressing room. I pulled the stall door closed and disrobed. I put the skirt on first and looked with a slacked jaw at how high it rested on my thin thighs. I put on the nipped-in jacket with a shawl collar that went with it and left the changing stall. I came out wearing the skirt suit feeling rather exposed. Mom walked over to me and said, "You look, fantastic. That's what you're wearing Monday. No doubt about it. Pair it with four inch pumps and black tights. He likes opaque black tights. It's kind of his fetish, so embrace it." "Yes, mom", I answered before I turned and went back into the dressing room carrying a few skirts she handed me a long with another skirt suit. I put on the skirt suit first, which had a black, body-hugging, ruched, tweed skirt. I put it on and felt it was slightly longer than the first skirt Mom picked out. That made me happy, but it was still very short for business wear. I felt that I looked a little trampy like my female bosses did when they wanted to curry favor with Mr. Carter. I put on its puff-sleeved jacket and showed myself off to mom. She was impressed with it as well so I knew it would soon be mine. I put on a black, soft knit, well above the knee pencil skirt next. I walked out and showed mom, feeling more comfortable in the short skirt the longer I wore it. Mom also bought me a charcoal, high waist, tweed, paper bag skirt and a form fitting black miniskirt. I was a bit upset about how much it showed off my rear, but I knew I had to get over that. Buying revealing office clothing for me was the point of the shopping trip after all. After buying the two suits and a few skirts, we then went home, and I started to lay out my clothes for the following week. Denise saw me doing it. She came by to give her opinion when she saw the hemlines. "Are you kidding?" She asked. "No. My boss is a dog. This is what I need to do to get ahead." "Getting ahead isn't the only important thing in life. There's having a little dignity." "I can't afford dignity, Denise. If I want to get to the top, I have to dress for success." "By dressing like a slut?" She retorted. I nodded and said, "It's not the best life, but you make the best of what you got." Denise shook her head before she said, "Sometimes, I feel that I don't know you anymore." "Why?" "Why? Because the girl I fell in love with never dressed like a tramp to get ahead." "Well, I'm not really a girl. So think of me as a man dressing like a tramp to get ahead." "Very funny, Ashley. See me laughing. Ha." "Do you still love me?" I asked. "Of course", she answered. "Then why do you put us through this? I love you, and I need your support on this." "I know. I'm sorry, Ashley." "Don't be. I understand your concerns, but maybe when you see me in one of those skirts you won't be so bothered by this." Denise just shook her head with a smile and walked away from me. I later found her planning our wedding with mom. I put in my two cents where I felt it was necessary, but they frequently out voted me. That how we planned it. I got a vote, Denise got a vote and mom got a vote because she was pay for it. Mom was really a tie breaker, but she always sided with Denise so I knew my disagreements weren't worth much. Their taste was more similar than either liked to let on. I knew it, but they each had to come to terms with that on their own. I'd let them deal with that alone because I had more important things on my mind. I practiced my new office demeanor at home before I tried it out in the workplace. Denise loved to watch wiggle my butt in front of her and coo into her ear. I went back to work dressed in my skirt suit with the miniskirt. I paired it with a blouse with a plunging neckline, black opaque tights and a pair 5 inch pumps. I walked into work and received stares like you couldn't imagine. I still felt exposed dressed like that in public, but it made my bosses take notice of me. My male bosses were really nice to me all day after that. They made a fuss about how good I looked, and I flirted with them like I actually thought they were attractive. All the while I kept thinking to myself that I finally knew what girls that work in Hooter's had to go through. It's hard to keep a smile on your face and a perky demeanor around guys only interested in your body. It made me sick to my stomach as I worked that day feeling as if I was playing the female part in a soft core porno. The exaggerated wiggle in my step caught Mr. Carter's eyes. He walked over and said, "You look great, Ashley." "Thank you, Mr. Carter", I said as gently brushed his chest with my fingers. He smirked and asked me for a cup of coffee. I went and fetched it for him. I turned my head to look at him as he leered at my barely covered ass. He saw me catch him. I got eye contact, smiled and winked. The grin on the dog's face was a mile wide. I carried it back and handed it to him. Mr. Carter looked down at me and down my top before he said thanks. He gave me a little suggestive grin as I walked away from him. It took all I had to keep that fake smile on my face. I felt demeaned and wanted to puke at the mere thought of what I was doing. I hated flirting with men and acting like some little slut, but it was my best option. I didn't want to end up like Connie and spend the rest of my life as a secretary. My plan already seemed to be working. Mr. Carter was quite vocal about how good I looked as he walked around the office. He even said I had a bright future with the company. Mr. Carter's full throated acceptance and praise of my new clothes, demeanor and prospects was not lost on my female bosses. They knew not to criticize my looks after what Mr. Carter had been saying. However, they treated me even worse. They made me do things that they didn't need done just to make me walk a little longer in my sky high pumps. My calves and feet were aching by noon each day, and they just kept pouring on the demands while the men cut back on theirs. That became my new reality at the office. I accepted it as part of the game I was playing. I knew what it took to get ahead. There was good and bad that came with my gender choice. That's what separates me from born women even more than the sex between my legs. It's the choice. I had it, they didn't. I choose to look pretty and had to accept the occasional problems that it caused, born women are burdened with that by birth. I had made my choice to be like them, and I was stuck with the bad that accompanied the choice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 3 - Love and Marriage It took me six weeks of acting like a slut before Mr. Carter promoted to a newly open position among my bosses. I was kept in the department, and my office was placed directly next to his. I knew I had to keep up my act even though Mr. Carter would play no role in my further advancement. I had to impress a new group of bosses if I wanted to do that. Still, I had to keep myself in good standing with Mr. Carter to have any chance. That meant I needed to find a balance of good work and the slutty image I had cultivated for myself within that office building. I was to start at my new position right after my scheduled vacation, which was in actuality my honeymoon. Only the highest people within the company knew that I was getting married. It was kept among my mother's top executives under an order of secrecy. The night before my wedding, Denise went home to her mother's for the night. Early the next afternoon the two people on my side of the wedding party arrived. One was my best man, Vern. Denise insisted on men in the wedding party over my objections, but I relented. Vern was her gay brother. He was a nice guy who had some issues with my chosen lifestyle and his sister's participation in it. He simply didn't understand us. He was still better than the other groomsman. My mother insisted that I put my cousin Dave in it. My Aunt made sure that he accepted my request. My cousin Devin and my Aunt Katie came over to my mom's house with him. They were both dressed in their dresses when they arrived while I was finishing putting mine on. My clothing was nothing special. It was a simple white, halter-top, cocktail dress. I hardly felt formal wearing it. Mom and Denise insisted that I pair it with black tights and pumps. Mom told me her reasoning. It was that black conveys power. I know they both thought of me as the man in my relationship with Denise, but that wasn't a powerful position. I hardly felt like a man at all as well. Aunt Katie and Mom helped me with my makeup. I kept it the way I normally did it, just a little mascara, eyeliner and lipstick. They helped style my hair into an updo. I had never really worn my hair like that for an extended period of time so I wasn't sure about the choice, but I went with it. When the day of the wedding came, we drove to the Wedding Reception Hall where I was scheduled to marry Denise. I waited up front for the brides' wedding party with Dave, Devin and Vern. Denise wedding party consisted of Clarissa and my sister. Clarissa was her maid of honor. As we waited, I caught Devin giving me peeved stares. Dave caught it to and asked, "What's your problem? You're not even in this freak show?" I shook my head a little before Devin answered, "I can't believe that my male cousin that dresses like that beat me to the altar." "Life's a bitch", I retorted. "You can still beat Constance", Dave added. Devin had enough of us and walked over to our parents to greet the incoming guests. Vern then looked at Dave and said, "Can you believe that some girl is marrying a guy dressed like this?" Dave started to laugh and shook his head. I turned my head to Vern and responded, "What's your problem with me?" "Nothing, really. This is just a big change for me, Ashley. Think about it. How can the queer not be the gayest member of the family?" Dave started to snicker with Vern. I went to shout, but Vern put his hand up and said, "I'm just messing with you, Ashley. You make my sister happy and that's enough for me." Vern turned away from me as he saw his mother, Blair, approaching us. She hugged and kissed Vern and I before I introduced her to David. Blair was a nice woman. She never treated me like a freak even though she knew what I really was. She was always supportive of my relationship with her daughter. She never criticized Denise's life choices or my own. She was as accepting of it as she was of Vern's sexuality. Even though I know she'd be happier if Vern were straight and Denise had married a more conventional male, she went out of her way to make sure that she made us feel accepted by her. She wished me luck before she turned and went to her seat. A few minutes later, I heard the music start up. I saw the flower girl who was one of Denise's cousin's kids. Then came my sister walking before Clarissa. They were dressed in identical yellow satin gowns that I instantly envied. When they reached the front, the music changed as we awaited the bride. Denise came out dressed in a long white strapless gown, white tights, pumps, tiara and a veil. The dress was beaded at the waistline. She looked as stunning as I had ever seen her. She looked like the real bride that she was. Denise's was escorted down the aisle by my father. Her father had died when she was 10, and she asked my father to do it. He was happy to do it for her. She always kind of assured him that I was the man in our relationship. That was big for dad. She reached me, and I took her hand and removed her veil. We exchanged smiles before we waited for the minister to marry us. The standard vows were exchanged before we got to share our first kiss as a married couple. After the clapping ceased we headed into a larger room for the reception. It was a small gathering of a 100 people. The top ten executives of the company besides my mother were there with their wives. Most of them were unaware of my birth gender. They thought it was commitment ceremony between two lipstick lesbians. They all came over and congratulated Denise and I. They also wished me luck in the company. I made my way and said hello to everyone in the room as I worked the room. My high school friends with Clarissa came even though we only hung out with them a handful of times a year. We all got a picture together before we started complementing each others' outfits. Vern overheard that. I saw him smirk and shake his head before he started to walk way. My family all came and congratulated me and Denise. Denise's family was equally courteous with us. They had all come to accept, most reluctantly, the life that Denise and I had chosen to share together. As the reception ended, Dave walked up to me with Aunt Katie by his side. Dave smirked and said, "I hope Denise makes a girl out of you tonight." I went to respond, but Aunt Katie smacked him upside his head. I smiled as I heard Dave say, "Ow, Mom!" He was still rubbing the back of his head as Aunt Katie pulled him towards the exit. After the reception, Denise and I headed to our hotel. We went up to our room after we checked in. I carried Denise over the threshold with some difficulty that made her laugh at my feminized weakness. I laid her down on the bed and kissed her as we lay together.