A New Vocation
By Trish
Why is that that no matter what I did things just never quite worked out
for me. I was a dedicated student and got a good degree but could I get
a sniff of a half decent job. NO!
Yet my older sister who as far as could tell spent her time at
university more interested in chasing men and partying got just a 2.2
degree, and walked straight into a well paid job. Then just to rub my
nose in it, with in a couple of years of graduation she was jetting
round the world working for a successful Formula One team on a massive
salary with all the benefits that such a life offered.
Things as usual were very different for me, because I graduated just a
the banks screwed the worlds economy, triggering the worst recession
since the great depression of the 1920's! Even with a first class
honours degree in computing science could I find a job.
NO!
Obviously I was not the only one it this pickle because most of my
graduating year were stuck in the same trap and could not get jobs
either. After a couple of months of fruitless job hunting I was just
about to call it a day and head back up north to retrain as a plumber of
all things, when out of the blue I got offered a job working for a
specialist engineering firm in Luton.
Although the prospects for advancement were good, being honest it was
not much of a job but even a lowly clerical IT position was better than
alternative. The pay was not brilliant but it would just about cover my
overheads and keep the student loan sharks off my back. I was debating
whether to take it or not, when my sister pointed out that I would find
it easier to find a better job if I had a had one that was kind of in my
field, so on her advice I took it. Sure clerical inputting was not the
kind of thing I had trained for or wanted to do, but it kept the wolf
from the door.
As the recession bit deeper and deeper into the economy things began to
look black for my employers. The management had got greedy and the
company had overstretched itself to where 'we' were running into cash
flow troubles. For a couple of nail biting weeks it looked like it might
go bust but at the very last minute we were taken over. Not that the
take over made me feel any more secure as new management immediately
started swinging the redundancy axe left right and centre.
Over the next few weeks one by one my workmates were called into see
Shelia Gregory the new owners HR manager until there was only myself and
the soon to be redundant production staff left, oh and the office
manager and his PA, who already knew they were being transferred. I can
not say I was not expecting it when one Monday morning it was my turn
and I was absolutely shitting myself when I knocked on the the door, and
heard.
"Come on in Richard."
Pushing open the door I walked in and felt my self starting to shake
when sat along side Ms Gregory was the head of our new parent company
Janet Blake. Now I was really worried, my student loans situation and
the rises across the board in the cost of living meant the last thing I
needed just now was to get made redundant!
Although I had seen Ms Gregory as she scythed though the staff this was
the first time I had ever seen Mrs Blake. You could see it straight away
she had that look, you know the one, the cast iron 'Anna Wintour'
business bitch look. Wearing a smart designer suit and clearly
professionally groomed she was a good looking 50 year old woman who
radiated the kind of confidence that came from being a successful woman
in what was still a man's world.
Ms Gregory, gave me something approaching a smile or as close to it as
she could get saying, "Please take a seat, please Richard."
Preying that they could see my shakes I apprehensively sat down in the
chair in front of their desk saying sheepishly, "Hello."
"Thanks for coming in today Richard," Ms Gregory said, leafing through a
pile of papers, which looked awfully like my company file and most
recent performance review.
"Now let me see you are from Weardale in County Durham, and have a first
class honours degree in IT from Loughborough University correct?"
"Yes Ms. Gregory." I nodded, trying to keep myself almost calm.
"Now you have been with us for nine months, and have a good record, with
excellent reviews from both your line manager and the area manager." As
she spoke she passed the papers to Mrs Blake who said.
"So you are Richard Long?"
"Yes Mrs Blake," I answered her dry mouthed with apprehension, my
interview with Ms. Gregory had already gone on longer than everyone
else's, and no one had mentioned Mrs Blake being present when they got
chopped, so what the hell was going on?
Mrs Blake gave me a thin smile and said, "Now as you are aware business
has been difficult recently, and we have been having to tighten our
belts, which has unfortunately resulted in a decision to close this site
as part of the current restructuring."
"Here it comes," I thought, sure that she was about to say that with the
closure of the office I was about to be let go and before she could say
another word, I blurted out. "Please, Mrs. Blake I really cannot afford
to lose my job! I'm happy to work anywhere you need me doing what every
you want, just please don't make me redundant?"
"Oh I am glad to hear that, but please rest assured I have not come all
the way from head office today to fire you?" She gave me a wide smile,
"In fact I am here today to offer you a promotion!"
"Promotion?" I looked at her blankly.
"Yes dear, a promotion. As in a much improved job?"
Surprised I looked at her and said feeling confused, "Thank you Mrs
Blake, erm can I ask what's the job?"
"Well let me explain, oh and please call me Janet, if you accept the
position and the new terms of employment we will be working very closely
with each other." She gave me a beaming smile, "Now of all of all the
employees I inherited when we took over, you're quite clearly the cream
of the crop and I personally don't want to see you go as I can see a
great future for you with us."
"Thank you," I said, giving her a genuine smile before asking, "The job
Mrs Blake?"
"Well as you are no doubt aware our core business is engineering
contract management and design development?"
I nodded. "Yes, Mrs Blake."
"Now as my current assistant Wendy is stepping up to a new position as
head of human resources, I need to replace my assistant and I'd like you
to be that replacement?"
"I'd love to," I said eagerly. "Thank you?"
"Whoa hold your horses?" Mrs Blake said holding up her hand, "Now along
with having to move to head office, there are also a few minor issues
complicating things. Now I'll not lie to you Richard, the job as my
assistant will be very difficult and demanding on you, and it will
require a huge commitment on both our parts. If you decide to accept the
post and terms of employment I will need your assurance that regardless
of the demands I make on you, you would stick with me until the bitter
end?"
"Of course I would," I said, "Please do not worry about my commitment, I
will give the job my all."
"Slow down Richard," Mrs Blake said holding up her hand, "Let me finish
dear, now one thing you don't know about the company is we are currently
under the investigation by the EU equality Nazi's after being recently
accused of gender discrimination."
"Oh?" I said wondering where this was going.
"This is because several under-qualified female applicants are claiming
that they were denied jobs with us because of their gender. This is of
course complete and utter rubbish and although I tried to explain that
that our employment policy is based strictly on qualifications and
experience they did not see things like that." Mrs Blake shook her head
before carrying on. "It's frustrating really that they would not see
sense, even though it's well known in the business that there are simply
not enough women in engineering let alone women who have the right skill
set and background to meet my standards. That however does not seem to
figure in the policy's of the EU and its resulted in them imposing on us
a 50-50 gender ratio for all of our management and executive positions!"
"Oh my, I didn't know any of this, but what's it got to do with me, I'm
a programming graduate not an engineer?" I asked puzzled.
"That's true, but you have one thing that every girl I have looked at
lacks?" Mrs Blake smiled, "Let me demonstrate... can you tell me the
difference between a tap and die cut, and a lathed thread?"
I shrugged, it was GCSE metal work, "There isn't one? The tap and die is
for manual thread cutting while a lathe just the automates process?"
"Correct." She smiled, "And this leads to my problem, there are hundreds
of girls out there with your degree, but not one of them could have
answered that simple question, and in the current economic climate I
have neither the time nor the funding to train them it the kind of
information you already have?"
I nodded still not seeing where she was going.
"So here's the issue, I have just taken on a new male project manager, I
find that we do not have that 50-50 ratio in management slots, which
means I need to employ a woman to replace Wendy?"
"Oh so that's me sunk then?" I said feeling like I had just had the
cream snatched from before me.
Mrs Blake laughed, "Not necessarily Richard, because there is a loop
hole in the EU rules and as I really do need your skill set for this job
Shelia has convinced me that we should exploit this loop hole?"
"Loop hole?" I said feeling like the cream was almost back in range.
"Yes dear a loop hole," Mrs Blake said, "But if we wish to exploit, your
commitment to the company must be absolute?"
"It will be." I said anxiously eager.
"Well hear me out before you say so?" Mrs Blake said with a smile,
"Because I'll admit that Shelia's proposal is a little off the wall?"
"And that loop hole is Mrs. Blake?" I asked.
"Sheila?" Mrs Blake handed the interview over to Ms. Gregory who said.
"Well Richard, the loop hole Jan just mentioned is for you take this
position as a female, or more specifically a transsexual female."
My professional poise slipped as I said. "Eh?"
Leaving it hanging there for a moment, Ms Gregory smiled and said. "Its
quite simple really, if a little bonkers. There is a little passage in
the EU human rights act which makes it an offence to treat in terms of
employment a transsexual female any differently to a genetic female?"
I nodded recalling reading something about the brouhaha the legislation
caused in the paper a year or so back.
"Now if you agree, you will get promoted to Jan's office, with a
commensurate pay rise and all the perks, interested?" She looked at me
with a steady smile.
I blushed and nodded.
"Good!" Ms Gregory said with a steady smile. "Now as the treatment
program for gender reassignment is a long drawn out and protracted
business taking on average five to seven years, in reality all you're
actually doing is taking on a temporary feminine identity until natural
wastage opens a male vacancy for you. Obviously during this period,
you'd have to follow the real life test program and maintain publicly a
feminine appearance, and lifestyle?"
I nodded not sure I was hearing what she was saying.
"Naturally," Mrs Blake butted in, "Any costs incurred in obtaining a
female identity such as the wardrobe, makeovers, hairstyling along with
any of the required identity re-training programs that are part and
parcel of the gender reassignment process would be covered by the
company via our health care plan."
"But I am a bloke," I said blushing, "There is no way I could pass as a
woman, I'm the wrong shape?"
"Putting it bluntly," Mrs Blake said, "That's cobblers, you're what 5'7
tall, perhaps ten stone in weight which puts your basic figure well with
in feminine norm, and when we take into account your thick hair and face
as yet unblemished by whiskers, trust me my dear you will make a
smashing looking girl!"
Both set of eyes turned on me with "Well," written large on the their
faces and I was beginning to to feel a little pressurised and held up my
hand, saying. "Hang on a sec, I need a minute to get my head around
this?"
My brain was going at a 100 miles an hour, did I really hear that she
wanted me to dress and act as a girl to take this job?
Mrs. Blake had to have been able to read my emotions because she said
with a sheepish smile, "Please don't read more into this than we've
said, what we are suggesting is just a temporary measure to keep you in
the company, and if anything this is a compliment as I wouldn't dare
mention anything like this if I didn't need you so badly." She grinned,
"And anyway, it's really not as bad as it sounds. Wearing skirts, heels
and make up for work is not as horrible as you think, hell I've done it
every day of my working life and its not harmed me, and once we have a
male vacancy in your field you can have his slot and regain to your old
life! I'm sure it will only be for six months to a year at most. I
promise! Now what do you say?"
"Can I have sometime to think about it?" I hedged.
"Not really we want to get this office closed by the end of the week?"
Ms Gregory said with a faint smile.
"Oh?" I felt a little sick, "So you need to know now?"
"I am afraid so dear." Mrs Blake said.
I was on the spot, and lets face it, I was making a decision that was
going to have a profound effect on my life for the next few months. The
idea of having to live as a girl sounded awful! Sure I never really saw
myself as 'one of the lads' having been more interested in programming
and hardware than the beer drinking and skirt chasing that seemed to
prerequisites of laddish life, but neither did I see myself a ponce and
the last thing I wanted to end up doing was having to mince about in
high heels and skirts every day!
Yet on the other side of the argument was the cold financial truth that
I could not afford to lose my job, and that meant agreeing to their mad
scheme! Also when I considered how my sister's successful career had
kicked off as an assistant to directors PA and where it had got her. I
knew hooking up with a powerful and well connected woman like Mrs Blake
could open no end of doors in the future, which made it very tempting. I
sat there for may be five minutes mulling the bonkers offer over in my
mind, even though I knew that my financial situation meant I had no
choice, and more than a little reluctantly I eventually nodded my head
and said, "Thank you, Mrs Blake I think I'd like to take the position."
"You will!" Mrs Blake's face lit up with the kind of smile that Helen of
Troy must have owned, as she laughed delighted, "No thank you my dear,
because I just know that that will be the start of something great for
both of us!" She glanced at Ms Gregory and said, "Right then Shelia,
what do we need to do to get this ball rolling, because I need him now?"
"Well a few witnessed signatures is about it." Ms. Gregory said. "I got
everything set up and ready to go last week," as she started to pass me
forms, saying, "Sign that lot honey, and we can get you started straight
away!"
I was hardly given time to look at the papers as Ms. Gregory placed them
in front of me one at a time and told me where to sign. Jesus if I had
only a moment to read each document everything might have worked out
differently but I didn't!
"Right then, are we done Shelia?" Mrs Blake said impatiently.
"One more."
I did not even look at the form and just signed on the dotted line
before Ms Gregory and Mrs Blake, witnessed it, and then I found out that
when Janet Blake said immediately, she meant immediately as she stood up
saying. "Come along with me Richard," and led me from the office and the
life I had known.
By eleven I was in Mrs Blakes plush office suite at head office, and she
was introducing me to her current PA Wendy, who followed us in clutching
a tape measure saying as she started to measure me. "At a guess this is
my replacement?"
"Yes this is Richard." Mrs Blake said, giving me a smile as she said,
"Richard meet Wendy, my current assistant."
"Hi," I said as she measured me and commented in a cheery tone.
"Oh that's good, he's almost a perfect size 12," before adding with a
glance at Mrs Blake. "Oh and I cleared your schedule for today Jan, and
made the appointments you wanted arranging as soon as Shelia called to
say that Richard had said yes."
Mrs Blake nodded, and started telling me about her plans for the future
and that once Wendy had my sizes she was off to town to buy me my new
wardrobe!
Smiling at Wendy Mrs Blake handed her a company card, saying, "There's a
10 grand limit on that and don't be afraid to use it honey. I want my
new PA to look as good as 'she' will perform."
"Ten grand!" I gasped, "Umm isn't that going a little overboard Mrs
Blake, since I'm only going to be doing this for a few months?"
"Rubbish dear," Mrs Blake laughed, "Ten grand is next to nothing when a
half decent suit and shoes will set you back the best part of a grand!"
For someone who was used to spending thirty to forty quid on clothes Mrs
Blake' comment was clearly shocking and she saw it on my face as Wendy
slipped out calling.
"I'll be back in a couple of hours Jan."
"Quick as you can Wendy." Mrs Blake said, before turning to me and
saying with a light laugh, "Oh you have so much to learn honey, but it's
absolutely imperative that you look like you belong in my office and
that means wearing clothes and accessories from all the right shops and
designers."
"Oh?" I blushed adding uncertainly, "Okay?"
"And then," Mrs Blake said, "There is the simple fact that women's
professional fashions are more varied and far complex than for men. We
and I mean we," she smiled and patted my hand. "Since you're one of us
now, learn from an early age how to coordinate our outfits, accessories
and make-up so you have a lot of catching up to do and I expect you to
be a quick learner! Which reminds me that I must book you in with me at
a seminar on professional fashion this weekend and get you started in
the right direction about learning everything you'll need to know about
looking attractive and professional."
Bollocks, so much for the Cup Final! I had been planning on going to the
pub and watching the match over a few beers, but instead it looked like
I would be spending it with my boss learning how to make the most of
myself as a bloody professional woman!
While Wendy was buying my new 'wardrobe' Mrs Blake went through what was
I would be doing in my new roll as her Personal Assistant. Except for
the whole business of presenting myself in a female roll, the work sound
quite straight forwards and if anything actually intellectually easier
than my old job which involved having to keep a rickety database working
on an antique computer system. One thing that did become clear very
quickly, was keeping up with Mrs Blake's train of thought was going to
be a challenge, as she bounced from ideas to instructions and back to
ideas with very little warning. Oddly for all the embarrassment of
having to be a girl to do the job, I was actually looking forwards to
the work.
As Wendy had said she was back with in a couple of hours, clutching
dozens of bags and boxes. "Here we go?" She said with a broad grin,
"This is what you're going to be wearing for the next few months."
With signs of clear delight both women dived into the bags and boxes
holding up items and cooing over them as I felt my knees turn to rubber.
They cannot be expecting me wear that lot can they? Everything was
frilly, silky and at the girlie girl end of the spectrum, and it was
probably pretty clear on my face that I was asking myself, if agreeing
to this was such a good idea now I was seeing the reality of how I was
going to be dressing?
"I don't want to sound ungrateful Mrs Blake but is all this necessary? I
mean many working women wear pants and comfortable shoes for work, so
why all the skirts and heels?"
Mrs Blake laughed, and said in a kindly tone, "Take a look around did
you see any of the head office girls wearing pants? At this level of
business it's as much about image as ability, and I know dammed well
that a client distracted by a pretty pair legs in short skirt and heels
is worth 10% on a deal, so no one including myself in head office
dresses casually. Now I know I'm asking a lot of you, but lets face it
you are going to get very, very well paid for being such a good sport
about all this?"
She was right to, because I was getting a four fold pay rise, and that
shut me up. Telling myself, "Hell for 60k a year plus bonuses you'd come
to work naked!" I sat in silence as Mrs Blake rifled through the clothes
selecting a rose pink shiny blouse, a smart looking navy blue office
skirt suit, along with a pair of tights, blue three inch heels and a set
of matching rose pink lingerie. Handing it all to me she said nodding at
a door behind her, "Now, why don't you slip into my private bathroom and
try everything on so Wendy and I can get an idea of how you'll look as
Miss Long?"
Burning with embarrassment with my arms full of clothes I walked shakily
to the bathroom telling myself that they were only clothes for gods
sake. Undressing I picked up the panties, and asking myself as I put
them on. "Why me?"
Jesus it was humiliating, there was something deeply shameful about what
I was doing as I slipped the skirt up my nylon covered legs and it felt
like I was betraying my gender. I was breaking every taboo in the male
book, but what choice did I have... Sweet Fanny Adams, that's how much!
It was like a kick in the nuts to my male ego when I reluctantly looked
at myself in the mirror and saw that other than my male head sticking
out of the restrictive designer suit, I did not look bad in the outfit.
Feeling decidedly queasy as I studied my reflection and resigned myself
to dressing like this until Mrs Blake could find an engineering
qualified woman to square her employment practices with the equal
opportunities rules. God only knows how long I dithered there, before
Wendy chuckled through the door. "Either you come out or we're coming
in?"
Swallowing dryly I turned the door knob. Feeling like I was wobbling all
over the place in the heels I opened the door and said. "Please don't
laugh," as I walked out and faced them blushing brightly.
For a split second there was silence, and then Mrs Blake said in a
bright delighted tone to Wendy. "Wow! Just look at her!"
"Not bad!" Wendy said, with a nod, "Say a seven or an eight out of ten
from the neck down?"
"Not bad!" Mrs Blake laughed, "I think she looks fabby, and that suit
definitely looks the part, hell she's going to make me the perfect sexy
and professional PA!"
Having hoped, probably in vain, that they would take one look at me and
realise how stupid the idea was, hearing Mrs Blake comments was not what
I wanted to hear!
"Well, how do you feel honey?" Mrs Blake said grinning at me like a
loon.
"Truthfully?" I said blushing like crazy. "I feel embarrassed and
stupid, and uncomfortable."
"Well that's understandable." Mrs Blake said as I grumbled about how I
was wobbling round in my heels.
"How on earth are you supposed to walk in these shoes?"
"Practice!" Wendy said unsympathetically as I moaned.
"Why is everything so tight and restrictive? Couldn't you have got me a
loser skirt or something, I can only take a tiny steps and I feel half
naked from the waist down?"
"You'll get used to it and probably find yourself wanting to wear even
shorter skirts than that." Mrs Blake laughed, "And as for the comfort
thing, you'll get used to the simple fact that we girls have to dress to
impress, and impress is not usually comfortable when feminine fashions
are designed to appeal to men's sexual desires?"
"And don't tell me," Wendy chortled, "That you've never lusted in the
street over a nice pair of legs and an arse swishing from side to side
in a tight skirt and heels honey, because you were a bloke and all
blokes do!"
I blushed, she was right of course. I was a typical bloke and enjoyed
the sight of a tidy well dressed 'bird' just as much as any other man.
"However now that you're one of us!" Wendy giggled, "It's a case of
you'll just have to get used to dressing as a sex object!"
"Oh!" I gasped, it had not occurred to that by agreeing to this I have
to get used to being seen as a target for male sexual attraction.
Mrs Blake laughed at the look on my face. "Don't worry honey, it just
another thing you'll get used to, and in time like millions of 'other'
women you'll learn to just accept it, same as we all have had too!"
"And I supposed it's only for work?" I said seeing a light in dark, "So
at least when I'm home or away I'll be able to be me?"
"What on earth gave you that idea?" Wendy said with a strange look on
her face as Mrs Blake butted in a little nervously.
"Er, no dear not exactly, well not at all in fact. We've employing you
as a transsexual, and that's not just a dressing for work commitment,
you'll have to live 24/7 as a woman to qualify for the gender loop
hole."
"Your joking?" I said shocked, "Why?"
"Look, we're not the only engineering firm that's been caught out by the
EU equality laws." Mrs Blake said, "And not the only one who's ever
thought of getting a male employee to impersonate a transsexual woman
and the equality Nazi's know it."
"Oh?" I blanched as Wendy added.
"The last company who tried this raised the the equality commission's
suspicions when the reassignment paperwork was incomplete for the
supposed male to female transsexual, which attracted the attention of
the EU's corporate investigation branch, who followed this 'female'
employee around the clock. Anyway it didn't take then long to work out
that the supposed male to female transsexual employee was still living
as a man and it resulted in the company getting in to a world of legal
shit which pretty much ruined them. While the bloke who was pretending
to be the transsexual woman got done for fraud and was sent down for two
years. Now can you imagine what happened to him given that the press
were all over the story after the other inmates found out what he was
inside for?"
"Oh shit!"I said.
"I could not put it better myself, and having been accused once the
business can't afford to get into that sort of legal mess, hell at the
moment it would ruin us?" Mrs Blake said, "We simply couldn't afford it
and neither could you. Therefore to make this work we have to follow the
letter of the law, and for you that means following all the rules of a
male to female gender transition program and never ever letting anyone
know that living as a woman has not been your life long ambition, okay?"
"Oh." I muttered apprehensively, "Yes, I guess?"
"Look," Wendy said, "No matter where you are or what you're doing, you
must always look as feminine as possible. You can never wear a shred of
male clothing, or show any sign of masculine interest anywhere or any
time! Understood?"
"Yeah I get it," I said resigned to my fate.
"Good," Wendy nodded, "Because by the end of today you'll be officially
registered as a male to female transsexual, and that means you'll need a
whole new identity. Now I've already got our lawyers and computer
department on with all that and since Jan liked the name we've decided
that you're going to be called, Angela Louise Long from now on, that
okay Angie?"
I blushed and nodded, "I guess."
"Good, because I dropped off all your paperwork before I went shopping
and by now personnel should be well on with altering everything to
reflect your new status?"
"Such as?" I asked feeling like my life was being stripped from me.
"Just the usual," Wendy said, "Getting your bank accounts, school and
university records, and obviously your medical files transferred to your
new identity."
Seeing my face she added, "Now don't fret it will be just as easy to put
things back when we can legally employ your as a man, okay?"
"Yeah, I guess," I said, asking myself, "Jesus, could this get any
worse?" The darker side of mind answered, "Probably!" As I preyed that
this whole feminine thing did not go on to long.
Mrs Blake interrupted "Now since you're having to move to head office
and your current place is both to far from here and not really suitable
for your new life, I've arranged you a new one just around the corner
from here."
I nodded, "Thanks."
Mrs Blake smiled and nodded, "And don't worry about your things Angie,
Wendy will be getting everything picked up and moved, while we're
getting you sorted out this afternoon?"
"Well other than you male clothes, obviously," Wendy laughed.
"Obviously," Mrs Blake laughed, "It would be a dead give away if our RLT
girl, kept any of her male clothes, and any ways it not like you'll need
them for the foreseeable future, so you might as well as drop them off
at Oxfam when you're passing?"
"Already planned to Jan." Wendy laughed.
Now things were really getting out of control, and it finally hit me
that my whole life was going to be completely feminised! Shit, by the
time they were done there would be nothing to suggest that I had ever
been a man. Oh I knew intellectually that if I was going to live as
Angela I would have to present myself to the world as a female, but the
really scary part of it was the gut wrenching realisation I had no
control over when I would be able to go back to living as Richard!
Suddenly jumping to her feet Mrs Blake said, "Heavens just look at the
time Angie, we have an appointment at the beauty salon in twenty
minutes! Let's go!"
"Beauty salon? Is that really necessary?" I gasped, "What are you going
to do to me?"
"Nothing you wont enjoy dear, come along, we're already late!" Mrs Blake
said taking my hand as she laughed, "I'll explain everything on the
way."
"Erm, Okay, let me just get changed back into my clothes." I said
probably a little wild about the eyes!
"Angie, Angie," Mrs Blake chided, "These are your clothes now! You're
going to have to get used to skirts and heels, and sooner the better so
come along as you are, we don't have all day?"
I was somewhere between terrified and burning with embarrassment as Mrs
Blake chivvied me out of the private exit from her office and down to
the parking garage.
"Get in?" She said, blipping open the doors of her BMW, jabbering at a
hundred mile an hour about how much fun we were going to have. Not that
it sounded like fun to me! This next stage of my feminisation did not
sound very appealing at all as she explained how her hairdresser had a
side line in making over 'girls' starting their RLT (real life test) and
the way she was talking about what was in store for me sent my stomach
sinking to my toes.
Chortling that I would be getting hair extensions, so I could have a
long a feminine hairstyle, and my ears pierced. Mrs Blake told me that
the beautician would decide if I needed electrolysis on the few hairs
showing on my top lip when she shaped my eyebrows as part of the
complete makeover that would include a ceramic tip manicure to correct
the look of my short masculine nails. It all sounded pretty extreme to
me, and I was torn between a desire to run like hell, and the 60k plus
benefits and bonuses a year they were using as a carrot!
We must have spent hours in the salon and every time I attempted to
protest that they were going to far, Mrs Blake just said "Shut up,"
because she knew exactly what she wanted! In a very curt tone she made
it quite clear that she felt it was crucial that no one ever perceive me
to be a male, and that meant I had to look as feminine as possible. "Its
interpretive that we remove every vestige of masculinity from you
appearance so that if we do attract attention anyone looking at your
case will only see a good looking transsexual girl leading a 100%
feminine life, otherwise we could both be in the shit, out of a job and
up in court!"
When they finally let me go Mrs Blake and her friend had succeeded.
Jesus had they succeeded, my appearance from head to toe had been
completely feminised!
"I look like my sister!" I gasped when I regarded my reflection after my
makeover was complete.
"I think we can call that a success." The hairdresser said to Mrs Blake
looking me over with a pleased smile, "And its so nice to work with a
girl like Angie for a change, who makes a pleasing transformation first
time out!"
"Absolutely perfect." Mrs Blake said with an equally pleased expression
as they both looked at me.
Not much later we we left with my head trying to process all the hints
and tips that the beautician gave me as she did my make up. In my hand I
was carrying a book on basic make ups, which the owner gave me along
with even more advice on how to 'make the best' of myself. Advising me
to study the basic working make up in the book so I would have at a good
chance of doing it right myself the next day before we were shown out.
Mrs Blake had also been busy with her company credit card again, because
after she had got her hair and nails done she had left me in her
hairdressers hands and went and spent even more money on me!
"This is so cool!" She laughed, as she drove me to my new home, "It's
not that I don't love my son Steven to bits but I always wanted a
daughter to teach the arts of femininity and share girls days out with,
and I can see you're going to do wonderfully well at filling that void
in my life."
Listening to PM on radio she told me that everything was ready for me as
Wendy had called to tell her the she and a couple of the 'girls' had
moved all my stuff, and made sure my new flat was just perfect for my
new life.
After having lived in student dives since I left home I could not
believe the opulence of the place when we walked in. Sure it was clearly
a girls flat, with its feminine fixtures and decoration, which even my
old things did not dent. Not that there was much of my old stuff there.
Wendy had also not just taken all my male clothes as she had also
winnowed through all my possessions and replaced anything that did not
suit the girl they wanted me to become. Instead of the bike and car
magazines, there were, gossip, fashion and beauty magazines. In the
books case along with the sci-fi I chose to read for pleasure were
trashy romances and classic girls literature replacing my sports
autobiography and military history books.
Leaving me to have a look round Mrs. Blake quickly unpacked her round of
shopping as I noticed my collection of Dinky and Corgi cars had been
replaced with dolls and soft toys and seeing my face, Mrs Blake said,
"Like I said, there is a chance that the equality Nazi's might check up
on us. Lets face it, its kind of unusual for me to employ someone like
you in the head office, and I sure as hell don't want their suspicions
aroused if they decided to take a look at my new transsexual employee.
Hell in the past they have been know to spy through windows and root
through peoples bins if they get a sniff of someone breaking their
rules. So we need to completely immerse you in the feminine, okay?"
"Yes." I squeaked.
"Good now I'll be testing you to make sure you've read these books and
studied the magazines. If you're watching telly it's reality TV, soap
operas or chick flicks, and absolutely no watching anything like sports,
action film's or thrillers, well?" She giggled, "Unless it's with a
boyfriend!"
I went white, and mumbled, "That won't be the case."
Laughing, "We'll see." Mrs Blake added. "I mean this, until you're
completely confident in being Angie you can't risk anything that might
give you away! So putting it simply you must avoid anything that seems
even remotely masculine from now on and that includes your diet, which
you will find pinned on the fridge door!"
"Oh great!" I muttered, "Not only do I have to look and behave like a
woman, they are trying to make me think like one, eat like one and live
like one to the point that I can't even escape from living a feminine
life in my own flat?"
"Sorry dear, I did not catch that?" Mrs Blake asked.
"Nothing," I said, "Just thinking aloud," as I slunk on to the sofa.
"No time to sit still Angie," She laughed pulling a handbag from her
shopping and after dropping a few cosmetics, keys and a purse which I
assumed held the contents of my wallet she handed it to me saying, "You
be needing this from now on Angie, now come along dear we still have the
most important stop of the day to take care of before you can settle
in."
"What's that?" I asked as she led me briskly out.
"Surprise." She laughed, before driving me to the final appointment and
scarily that was to see a doctor. We were obviously expected as the
receptionist waved us straight in to see the doctor who said looking
from her desk. "Is this the girl Jan?"
"Yeah meet Angie." Mrs Blake said, "Angie meet Doctor Sally, she's going
to give you a long term hormone implant, which will officially complete
your change into a transsexual female under her care."
Like I was a piece of meat the doctor quickly examined me, doing the
usual tests pulse, blood pressure and the like before nodding to herself
telling Mrs Blake.
"Well there's nothing wrong with her Jan, she as healthy as a horse and
as she already clearly living in roll, there's not reason why I can't
accept her straight into the program."
"Wonderful Sally!" Mrs Blake chuckled, "I know Angie must be as pleased
about that as I am."
Like hell I was! I wanted to complain but I knew it would be useless,
and just did as I was told as the doctor painfully injected me with a
six month dissolving capsule that would slowly leech the feminising
hormones into my system!
"Hang on," I said as the doctor painfully injected me with the implant,
"Isn't this just a little bit drastic? You said this was only going to
be a few months, right? When I go back to being a man, I still don't
want these hormones taking effect. Aren't these changes going to be
permanent?"
"Look," The doctor grunted. "You can't be classed a pre-op transsexual
unless your on hormone therapy!"
Before I could get another word in Mrs Blake said reassuringly. "Relax
Angie unless you continue the hormone treatments regularly, there won't
be any major permanent changes. The only reason for the implant is to
qualify you as a transsexual woman, and I guess it could aid your
feminine portrayal in the long run. Please don't worry about this, as if
there are any changes they will be subtle and won't be permanent?"
"Changes?" I yelped.
"Yes," The doctor said, "Since you're not a completely sexually mature
male, that capsule will more than strong enough to halt the progression
of any further masculine development and eliminate any chance of you
developing any facial or increased male pattern hair. If in six months
time if you are cleared for the next stage, and you wish to proceed then
you will be given a more powerful implant, which will over a year or so
soften your voice and may be increase its pitch, along with triggering
the development of breast tissue, that given your age and maturity in
time should allow you to grow moderately-sized breasts, as well as
compounding the feminisation started by this first implant."
"Such as?" I asked.
"Oh in your skin texture, personality and emotional state." The doctor
said with an unconcerned shrug, as I looked at her shocked.
"Don't look at me like that young lady!" The doctor snapped, bringing a
beaming smile to Mrs Blake face. Giving me a firm no compromising look
the doctor continued in a sharp but matter of fact tone, "It's to late
for second thoughts now, your paperworks been filed, the name change is
legal and anyway that implant is embedded so it's not like you can turn
back."
I hated myself knowing she was right as I mumbled. "Yes doctor," feeling
heartsick when it hit me that it had taken less than a working day to
push this barmy idea way past a point of no return. I no longer had any
male possessions, my name had been legally changed and all my records
now indicated I was Angela Long a pre-operative male to female
transsexual.
"Well that all went with out a hitch," Mrs Blake said with a delighted
smile on her face as she drove me back to my flat. "You know when Shelia
first mentioned that I could keep you on and stay sweet with the EU if
we got you on a male to female transsexual program, I had my doubts
about it working but now I've seen how you are turning out I'm kicking
myself for not thinking of it on my own."
"If you say so." I said feeling depressed and more than a bit disgusted
with myself as I started to realise that even if wanted to quit, given
how much she must have spent on me already Mrs Blake might not be that
willing to restore my old life until she had recouped that investment.
She quite literally had me by the short hairs and any chance I had of
returning to my old life was in her hands, and I would only get that
life back when she was ready to let me. .
"Hey," she said, "Don't look like that Angie honey, its not that bad
honestly, being a girl has not done me any harm and I'm sure in a few
days you'll begin to see that."
Probably guessing how I was feeling she kept up a ready stream of chatty
gossip until she dropped me by the entrance to my new home and I
supposed it did kind of cheer me up somewhat
"There should be a couple of weight watchers meals in your kitchens
freezer compartment for dinner Angie, and I told Wendy to leave you
enough tea, skimmed milk and a box of options low fat hot chocolate to
tide you over."
I nodded, "Thanks," still feeling pretty depressed as I got out the car
saying. "Good night Mrs Blake."
"Night Angie, I'll see you in the morning at 8.30, and don't forget to
set your alarm early as you'll have to have be up with enough time to
get your hair and make-up done so you present the the right image to the
world." She smiled at me adding with a naughty grin, "After all you
would not want to be thought of as masculine would you darling?"
After the day I had just been through I was not hungry as I walked into
the corner block and took the stairs up to my new second floor flat.
Getting in feeling sick to the core I tossed 'my' handbag on the table
by the door and when I collapsed like a sack of potatoes on to the sofa
I kicked my heels off with a sigh of relief. For the first time since my
interview with Mrs Blake and Ms Gregory that morning, I was on my own
and able to consider the pickle I had got myself into.
Not that I had to think very much about it, all I had to do was look in
the mirror and when I did it was enough to make me want to throw up. My
once shortish, muddy brown hair had been dyed a golden blonde colour and
had been styled to brush my shoulders in a modern take on that classic
Egyptian hairstyle. Under the hairstyle my face looked ever so different
made up to highlight the feminine aspects and disguise the squareness of
my jaw, and in my throbbing ears I could see the glint of the four
golden studs that had been punched through my earlobes.
God knows how long I sat slumped there agonising over what I had agreed
to before I forced myself to my feet and went to make a pot of tea.
"Bastard!" I grumbled finding nothing that would hold a decent volume of
tea, and ended up drinking it from a measuring jug rather than messing
round with the poxy little cups in the cupboard! Mooching round the
flat, I could not complain about the fittings and fixtures which in
comparison to my old place were out of this world. Sipping my tea, I
walked into my new bedroom, asking myself how I was ever supposed to
feel comfortable in this palace of pink furnishings and lacy
decorations?
Actually frighted of what I was going to find, I pulled open the doors
of the walk-in closet to see who I had become. All my clothes were gone,
my rock concert tee shirts, my jeans and boxer shorts, along with my
comfy para-boots and trainers! Looking through what I was going to be
wearing from now on it quickly became clear that there was not a single
pair of pants anywhere! In there place was an endless selection of
blouses, casual tops, skirts, lingerie, nylons and more pairs of heels
than a shoe shop! Hell the closet thing to a pair of flats was a pair of
cork wedge heel sandals. I felt like screaming when I realised that no
matter where I was going or what I was doing, between Mrs Blake and
Wendy they had made dammed sure that I would be viewed as the person
they wanted me to be.
Laid on the bed was a sliver satin nightdress, and after cleaning the
make up off my face and applying the moisturising cream like the
beautician told me I got ready for bed. I suppose I could have slept in
a silky vest top thing with a pair of panties instead of the nightdress,
but afraid of what Mrs Blake or Wendy would do if they found out I
picked up the nightdress.
Watching myself in the mirror as the satin slithered down my body I felt
a little like Judas taking the thirty pieces of silver. I felt really
twisted up inside feeling like I had sold my soul with my gender for a
sixty grand a year job. With a cup of low calorie hot chocolate I went
to bed and as much as I hated myself for it I found the book on make up
techniques and read myself to sleep.
My alarm went off far to early next morning, and I just wanted to stay
in bed but what choice did I have? It was time for me face the world as
Angie and live my first full day in her world.
At least I did not have to worry about was what to wear as Wendy had
left a grey skirt suit, with a lilac coloured blouse hanging on the
wardrobe door above a matching pair of grey heels. Telling myself "Sod
the rules I need a mug that can hold a decent volume of tea in a
morning!" I sipped my jug full of strong tea and sat before my dresser
mirror trying to recall what the beautician had taught me about the
applying a simple work make up. It was just as well that I had set my
alarm early, as it took me an age to do my 'face' and hair, but
surprisingly I managed to make a pretty good job of it all.
Glancing at the clock I saw it was just after eight and taking a last
look in the mirror I knew I was ready. In truth I wish I had not
bothered because it left me feeling sickened by how feminine I looked. A
significant part of me just wanted to say, "Fuck it" and just run away
and hide because I really felt ashamed of looking like this and really
did not want to have to go out in public, but if I did that where could
I go? I was quite literally and legally not me any more, instead I was
a transsexual girl called Angie, who had nothing anywhere in her life to
suggest that she was ever male? Moaning with frustration I shakily
pulled myself together, picked up my handbag which felt really really
wrong, and wobbled out of my flat to faced the world.
Although it was at most only three quarters of a mile from my flat to
the office the walk into work was much more harder than I expected, both
physically and emotionally. As a bloke I used to walking quickly with
long, brisk strides in that no-nonsense masculine way, but wearing three
inch heels and tight skirt my stride had been tamed in to short hip
swivelling tripping feminine paces. It was not a very nice feeling when
I realised that from now on, how I was dressed would dictate how I
moved. I'll not deny that it was pretty scary when it hit me that if I
dressed like this for any length of time I would eventually get so used
to compensating for my tight skirts and heels that I would always walk
like this!
Making things even worse was knowing that most of the men who passed me
as I walked to the office were staring at me. I guess a part of me
understood why they were giving me the eye, and I could not really blame
them given I was dressed to attract male attention. Even so it came as
quite a shock to my already unsteady emotions when it occurred to me
that when I was a bloke, if I had seen a 'bird' dressed like I was this
morning, I too would have have given her a lecherous once over as she
passed.
It really twisted me up inside as I began to realise that just as Mrs
Blake had prophesied, I was being seen (to quote an old university mate)
as 'fuckmeat' and judged on my value as a sex object. I did not like it
at all and it made me feel nauseous when I realised that receiving such
looks was something I would just have to accept! God it felt so bloody
degrading knowing that from now on everywhere I went men would be
assessing me with such cattle market looks. With out doubt though the
worst part of the whole walk was when I walked past a gang of student
lads at the bus stop who nudged each other murmuring. "Phworr! Just look
at the arse on that," as they gave me the eyeball!
Although being perceived as a girl in public, was a humiliating and
embarrassing experience the worst part of that endless seeming walk to
work was the intense feeling of vulnerability. As a bloke I could be
reasonably confident that your average mugger would more than likely
ignore me, and if one did, so long as he was not built like a 'brick
shit-house' I knew I stood a fair chance of fighting him off for long
enough to either discourage his attack or give my self the space I
needed to run away. However now I was being viewed as a female, I knew
my chances of being attacked had just gone up astronomically, and having
to dress like Mrs Blake wanted in tight restrictive clothing and high
heels meant I could neither fight back or run. It came as an earth
shattering shock to realise that if someone did try to mug me, I would
be just another helpless woman!
The walk to the office which a day or so earlier would have taken me at
most ten minutes took me twenty five and it was a hell of a relief to
get in to the safety of work. Both Mrs Blake and Wendy complimented me
on how professionally attractively I looked, before I was shepherded to
my new desk outside Mrs Blake's office and spent the morning with me
going through my various tasks and duties Satisfied that I had a good
idea of what I had to do Wendy dumped a load of files on the desk and
said with a smile, "Well that lot's your problem now Angie," before
taking me round and introducing me to the rest of the executive office
staff.
Oddly that first day flew past and for much of the time I was so
engrossed in what I was doing that I pretty much forgot that as far as
everyone around me was concerned I was a the bosses new 'Girl Friday.'
Other times, like when Mrs. Blake had a business meeting in the
afternoon I was intensely aware of how I looked.
I was asked to bring a tray of coffee into the meeting and noticed her
smirk of pleasure when her male guests looked at me, or more accurately
my chest, legs and backside! It was pretty clear that getting looked at
by lecherous eyes was not going to stop and every time I felt such looks
it was like having another flake chipped off my sense of masculinity.
Walking home after work at the end of my first day I tried to put my
thoughts in order. Sure even with all the embarrassment of feeling at
times like I being lusted over, when all was said and done it had not
been that bad. The job although straight forwards was a challenge and
the tasks varied enough that I could tell that once I found my feet I
would likely enjoy the work even more.
After a rocky first couple of weeks I found myself starting to get in to
a routine, the feminine clothing no longer felt quite as wrong or as
unnatural and I found myself accepting that as a professional woman it
was how I was expected to dress. Sure there were times like when I
overheard the 'boys' planning 'lad's nights out' or trips to the
football and Grand Prix when I would secretly seethe with envy. However
the thing that got to me the most of all was how easy they had it with
non of the worries about coordinating outfits or needing two hours to
get ready for work. It was so simple for them, and the number of times I
yearned for the freedom to roll out of bed, have a quick wash, pull on a
pair pants and comfortable shoes and be out of the door in ten minutes.
I remember Wendy almost wet herself laughing when one morning after
'lads' had clearly had a heavy night out when I moaned to her over a
skinny latte, "If only they knew how hard we women have it!"
Although I attracted some attention from the 'lads,' my active avoidance
and careful formality with them in comparison to some of the other
'office girls' got me labelled as something of an 'ice queen.' To be
honest I did not mind as it meant I was 'passing' and as they had more
willing targets available it kept their interest in me at a minimum.
Even though I could see it happening, and at least consciously hated
myself for it, little by little I was becoming that professional 'girlie
girl' Mrs Blake wanted, and my gradual adaptation was driven on by the
fear in the back of my mind that I would be busted.
No matter how much I tried to shut it I could not forget their dire
warnings about how the equality Nazi's were likely to be keeping a close
eye on 'Blake' employment practices and me especially. The very last
thing I wanted was to get done for employment fraud and get sent to
prison, so I actively tried to stamp out any of my male traits. For
example, I made it a point to eat with the other girls at lunch, and I
eagerly joined in their conversations about make up, fashion, and the
newest chick flick.
Probably the thing that I found the hardest during those first few weeks
and months was having to see a psychologist (who had no idea of the real
reason for my transition) every fortnight. It was a compulsory part of
the gender reassignment program and having never felt comfortable about
discussing my thoughts and motivations having to talk to him was not an
easy thing for me especially as I could not tell him the truth.
It really twisted me up inside having to tell him that from an early age
I knew 'god' had made a mistake in making me a boy. How I had always
found it hard to relate to the other boys, and never felt comfortable
doing 'boy' things. As with everything else Wendy and Mrs Blake had
made sure I was well 'briefed' about what I needed to say to convince
him that I was a genuine transsexual but even so I still found myself
avidly devouring anything I could find about transsexual issues to
'round out' the party line.
Aided by the lessons seminars and transsexual treatment programs that I
diligently followed, I stated to find myself adopting a feminine
mannerisms, and body language until the ladylike gestures, posture and
habits started to become second nature to me. I do not think I could
have resisted the way I became increasingly more assimilated into living
and being Angie if I had tried, and a few months down the line I had got
to the point where I felt like I had always worked as a woman, which was
really, really freaky when I remembered I was actually a bloke!
What with adapting to my new life, new job and everything else the weeks
flew past until all of a sudden I had been living as Angie for six
months. Regardless of what was time tabled for the day, ever since I
started my first duty every morning was to make Mrs Blake, Wendy and
myself a pot of coffee which we would have in her office. It gave me a
chance to get things off my chest and ask for explanations about
anything that was troubling me. Having not really noticed the time
passing, it came as a gut wrenching shock when one morning Wendy said
over our coffee. "Your due for an examination with Doctor Sally Angie.
Mr Watson (the psychologist) has cleared you for stage two and as you
need a new hormone implant anyway I've booked you in for this
afternoon."
As I was just starting to notice effects of the hormones, I asked if it
was really necessary, explaining that I felt I had already become way
too feminine, and to take things any further would be unnecessary.
Obviously Mrs Blake disagreed, countering that my male characteristics
would reappear very quickly should I stop the treatments. After working
with them for six months when my comment was ignored, I knew that it was
pointless arguing because from the moment I signed on the dotted line I
had in effect relinquished control of my lifestyle to them and they knew
it. May be it was because I had tried to argue or it was like I was told
just a part of the gender reassignment program my new six month implant
was double the strength of the old one and the increased hormone levels
quickly caused a dramatic shift in the rate of my change.
With in weeks of getting the new implant I began to notice the effects
of the stronger hormones were showing. The first effect was on my
nipples which became very itchy and almost painful as tissue began to
form behind them. I was starting to develop breasts, which in time was
going to result in the replacement of the padding in my bra's with the
real things! They were at first just a pair of small A cups, but as they
started to sprout it came as something as a shock when I realised that I
was starting to actually need the support of a bra. The other big change
that came with the stronger hormone implant was how my emotions and
personality were becoming more feminine and less masculine. Although Mrs
Blake had banned me from watching sport, it did not take long for the
increasing levels of feminising hormone to make me lose interest in them
on my own.
As the second capsule started to trigger more overt physiological
changes it was also driving a fundamental psychological change deep down
in my psyche. Although I did not notice, it must have been pretty
obvious to Wendy and Mrs Blake that I was starting to enjoy life as
Angie, and that increased enjoyment even with all this going on in my
body meant I was actually leading a pretty normal life. I went to gym
and the hairdressers regularly with Mrs Blake and found myself genuinely
enjoying more than a few nights out with the girls. Most evenings, and
weekends when I was free I found myself wanting to watch the reality
television shows and soap operas I once wrote off as 'shite.'
One thing that did knock me for a six though was when as I found myself
starting to relate to the female characters and even began to find many
of the hunky actors attractive. Living as a woman and becoming
biochemically feminised was altering my subconscious mind, and as it
became increasingly more feminised it started to send strange desires
drifting in to my head at the strangest of times about having a man come
along and sweep me off my feet! Making matters worse was as I had
progressed from accepting that I had to live as a girl to actively
enjoying being a girl, I started to get hit on more regularly, which
resulted in Nick the 'cute' IT guy asking me out for a date!
When he asked the whole deck of cards that supported my life as Angie
seemed to momentarily collapse. For a split second I almost lost control
before I managed to pull myself together enough to deflect his offer by
telling him that I had a boyfriend in the military who was on deployment
in Afghanistan. Eventually Mrs Blake found out about his interest in me
and a day or so later when we were at the hairdressers she said, "Angie
you should have gone out with young Nick honey?"
The hairdresser overhearing said the same pointing out that as I was
becoming a very good looking young woman and I should make the most of
being hit on constantly, both in the office and elsewhere. Unbelievably,
they were both actively encouraging me to go on some dates with men,
saying that I would be lonely otherwise! I told her that I would think
about it, saying to myself that I would have to have gone totally
bonkers before I could ever contemplate entering into a romantic
relationship with a man.
I think the way the hormones were messing with my mind on top of Nick's
interest in me was what triggered me having some real misgivings about
remaining on the gender reassignment program. It was working just a
little to well and I can clearly recall tearfully telling Mrs Blake one
day. "It's one thing to dress like a girl, but I never agreed to start
growing breasts or having my mind rewired like a woman's?"
I was starting to panic, and told her that I wanted out of the
arrangement, thankfully Mrs Blake knew exactly what to do and managed to
calm me down as she reassured me that my feminisation was only
temporary, and that soon there would be an opening for another male in
the executive office and I would be able to go back to being Richard
again.
Just as I was approaching Angie's first birthday I heard over lunch with
the girls that one of the male program managers had handed in his notice
and I felt sure that with in a few weeks of him leaving I would be
getting back my male identity. I felt so excited! Sure there were things
about living as Angie I would miss but deep down I think I had about
enough of being a girl. It was about ten days after I picked up the
gossip that he was going, that Wendy asked Mrs Blake and I to join her
in her office. I felt like a dog with two tails as we trotted down to
personnel I felt sure that they were going to give me the good news that
they were restoring my old life.
With out any ado Wendy told me that the gossip was true and the male
program manager had handed in his resignation and that his that his
position was going to become available. "However," She added.
However? I felt my knees trembling, they wouldn't would they?
"At this time both Jan and I think it best that you stay working here as
a woman," Wendy said. "You do not have the skills to step into his job,
and being honest I have not been able to find a girl who can, which
means I am going to have to appoint another man putting us back in the
same situation we were in this time last year."
I just sat there gob smacked for what felt like an age, how could they
do this to me? They had promised me that as soon as there was a male
vacancy I could have it? I had done everything they asked and shown my
loyalty to the company in a way that was well beyond what they could
reasonably expect from an employee and now they were going to go back on
their word?
Seeing that I was close to tears, Mrs Blake said in a kindly tone. "Let
me explain Angie, I know that I promised you that I would let you have
your old life back as soon as I could employ you as a man, but as Wendy
said because the job is an engineering management slot it leaves us with
the same issue that started this. There simply aren't any qualified
women to take that place."
I tearfully nodded.
"Although we've advertised the post for the last three weeks and in the
last few days we've had perhaps fifty worth while applications," Wendy
said kindly, "But not one of them has been from even a remotely
qualified woman?"
"I so sorry that I can't let you leave your position Angie," Mrs Blake
said, "But if Wendy cannot find a appropriate replacement what can I
do?"
I mumbled through my tears. "I know Janet, but..."
Mrs Blake patted my hand and passed me a tissue saying, "I'm really am
so sorry about it working out like this Angie but you're simply too
valuable to me as a female employee. So again, for the time being, I
expect you to remain as you are now I know you're probably disappointed,
but you've been so good about things so far I just know that if you can
stay patient something will come up soon and when it does we'll be able
to give you back your old life. Please just trust me for a little longer
and everything will work out for the best!"
So that was it, they were screwing me. Obviously I was bitterly
disappointed and a part of me just wanted to lash out and scream about
how unfair they were being, but what would that do except piss them off?
They held all the aces and would only let me have my old life back when
they were ready and as much as I hated myself for it I knew Mrs Blake
was right. The only way I could get back to living as Richard was
patiently wait it out until she found a woman with the kind of project
management experience and qualifications she needed. Even if I walked
out today it would not change a dammed thing, well other than to
guarantee the permanence of my feminisation because even with what I had
saved from my wages I could not afford to reverse some of the changes
that had taken place in my body with o