Groves free porn video

Authors note. I've been playing with this idea on and off for ages and have never felt quite happy with the ending but I'm flummoxed as to what to do with it so any idea's would be more than welcome. It was written more as a way of putting an idea down, so if anyone wants to take the idea of the graduate repayment scheme I have come up with and run with you are more than welcome. Groves By Trish The Graduate Repayment Acts were brought in as a response to the growing number of graduates who left university but never reached the educational loan repayment threshold. The principal behind the act was simple, if a graduate did not find sufficiently rewarding employment to begin repayment of their education debts with in one year of leaving university, then the individual either entered government service (the military) or had their debt sold on to a business in exchange for the graduates indentured service. Naturally the adult entertainment industry was immediately interested in a ready supply of trained technicians and fresh meat, but at first they were excluded from the program. Claiming that they were being blatantly discriminated against the industry loosed their lawyers on the act aware that adult market was a highly profitable area for taxation. Although it was seldom mentioned the industry was worth nearly 6 percent of direct revenue and that meant they were able to put an immense amount of pressure on the government to change the law. The industry eventually got their way when the Tory's finally got back into power and passed the thorny issue over to the high court who had little option but to settled on the side of the industry. The only restriction the court put on the industry was that they were not permitted to compel or coerce graduates into performance rolls. It was a nice idea but given the terms on which most graduates were indentured they were left with the stark choice of going in front of the camera or spending 20 years indentured with absolutely no say in any aspect of their working lives. Ricky Watson was prime indenture fodder having graduated from University with a worryingly low 2:2 in Media Studies. If he had got a 2:1 he might have stood a chance of getting onto a Masters course but that was not to be. In the fiercely competitive world of the Media business Rick was just too self-effacing to impress at interview. Day by day his fears steadily mounted as the weeks counted down until one morning he found his mother staring at the official envelope. He could tell the sight of the pink envelope upset her and he hid his own anxiety saying brightly. "Don't worry mum... It'll work out fine. Look at Jason over the road, he's under indenture and loves it?" Two hours later Ricky was sat out side the employment office starting at the notification of his indenture to 'Groves Productions.' In place of his passport, driving licence and bankcards, which he had to surrender at the employment office, he had a half-inch wide sliver bracelet heat sealed about his wrist. The bracelet not only contained all his personal data but also insurance policy for the company who bought his debts, because it contained a GPS transmitter that would sound an alarm should he attempt to evade his legally binding commitment. Knowing that if he told his mother whom he had really been indentured to she would likely have another stroke so Ricky glossed over what Groves produced by telling her that they were a Production Company in London. Although unable to talk to his mother about why an adult studio had bought his indenture, he did have an older sister. Susan was the successful one. Although frightfully intelligent she had ignored the attraction of a university education and decided to train as a hairdresser and beauty therapist at a high-end spa/salon in London aiming all along to eventually open her own salon. "Look Ricky." Susan said on the phone later that night after he called her with his news, "I'm not mum, don't bullshit me, is it in the adult business?" Ricky groaned. "I'll take it that as a yes then." She giggled, "Who with." When it became clear to Susan that her brother would not find sufficiently lucrative job in time to escape compulsory indenture she had hopefully enquired about buying his debts. But unable to afford the down payment required Susan had done what any hairdresser would do, and mentioned her brother's situation to someone who could. In a tight-embarrassed tone Ricky muttered, "A company called Groves Productions and it's not far from your shop." Susan silently cried 'yes!' punching the air as she said "Oh?" Ricky thought he could hear an underlying current to her tone, but before he could really take note she laughed. "Groves eh? They are one of the big porno studios. They dabble in the lot, straight and gay, but their reputation is for doing expensive hard core fetish stuff." Ricky groaned again. "So why me pick me? I'm not exactly stud material am I?" "True." Susan laughed, "But somehow I don't think the Groves Productions I know would have bought your indenture just to put files away?" "Thanks" Ricky dryly grumbled. "Still could be worse." Susan laughed. "If there is one thing I do know it's that they are about as up scale as the Adult Industry gets, and best of all from your point of view they really know how look after their staff." "How?" Ricky gasped to the sound of his sister laughing. "Didn't you look at the address? The studio's and offices are just up the road from my salon. I've quite a few of their girls as clients and my shop does very well from providing on set make up artists when they are busy, so we'll get to see each other." The thought of seeing Susan chilled Ricky. Like many indentures going into the adult industry he was not sure if he wanted to see his family while he was 'working.' Susan tone changed when she said bluntly, "Listen. Now I'm not going daft or anything, but if they offer you performance indenture take it!" "Susan! No I couldn't, it would break mums heart!" Rick hissed. "Hang on, just think about it a sec, when is mum going to see porn?" Susan giggled rudely, "Well not unless I showed her the DVD's and shoots I did the make up on?" She calmed her giggles at her brothers squawk of horror, and said, "Look I'm serious. If you perform you could be out and clean of all debt in five or six years." "The rep from the company said seven to ten?" Ricky hesitantly answered. "So it's seven, at least you'll still be in your twenties!" Susan pointed out. Knocking over Ricky's ever more flimsy excuses why he could not appear in porn, Susan banged on about the merits of her suggestion. She knew her bother well enough to know that he tended to make logically reasoned decisions and thought she was doing rather well until Ricky stopped her in her tracks by admitting. "I'm a virgin for Christ's sakes Sue!" "Oh...?" His admission surprised her. Ricky was an attractive kid, and had always had lots of girl friends, sure he had always been uptight when it came to talking about sex but Susan had always assumed that sometime during his years at university he had got laid. Collecting herself Susan giggled, "I guess that makes my next point somewhat moot?" and changed the subject asking. "Have you filled in their forms yet?" "Forms? Only the ones at the employment office when I turned in all my bank cards and ID." Rick said still stunned by his response to his sister's stomach churning suggestion. "Probably not then. Okay. Well when you start they'll do all the usual personality profiling malarkey, which is all slanted to get an idea of your sexual experience, orientation and tastes." "What experience?" Ricky groaned. "Well yeah." Susan smiled down the phone. Now she thought about it she had always been the outgoing gregarious one. "But when the time comes for god sakes promise me that you'll be honest." "Why shouldn't I?" Ricky asked, wondering why she was banging on about them, psychological profiling tests were part and parcel of employment these days. "Rick, its me Susan. I know how uptight you are about sex, and they won't beat about the bush about asking some pretty intimate questions?" "Oh?" Ricky blushed. "How intimate?" "Very..." Susan said, adding kindly. "And Ricky? I might take the piss, but I'm your sister and I'll always be there for you regardless." "Yeah." Ricky said feeling choked. "And when I say honest little brother, I mean about everything including that dirty little secret you don't think I know about." Susan said, and with that enigmatic comment she had to end the call as her Dave her boyfriend shouted in the background "Suzy we're going to be late?" Two weeks later with five others, four girls and another bloke Ricky was apprehensively shown in to a comfortable conference room. Each of them wore the same uncertain yet faintly relieved expression. Everything they had seen so far had been very slick and professional, and the business like surroundings went a long way towards easing the tension they had all felt. Although none of them admitted it they they had expected to find a dark atmosphered place and instead they were in an office and production complex that could have been the hub of any media business in the country. The employees were all smartly uniformed, and displayed the kind of professional attitude which reminded Ricky of his university placement at ITN in Manchester. Only moments after they had been shown in to the conference room a scantily dressed blonde strolled in and looked them over with a sultry smile flickering on her enhanced red lips before saying. "Well hello everyone I'm Melanie Parks, but call me Mel and I'm going to be your guide and group mother for the next week or two. Now who wants a coffee?" Mel had an open friendly manner, and as she handed out the coffee her cheerfulness automatically endeared her to the new group. Although she might have been dressed like a hooker Mel's tone was very articulate and university educated. "Now one of the reasons why I'm asked to do this is because I know how you all feel. You see five years ago I was sat where you are now, as one of the first compulsory indentures in the industry." Mel could feel her admission relaxing them even more and saw some of the apprehension she saw fading from the eyes of the new indentures. Used to performing this task she said with a laugh. "I'm 27 years old, I'm from Luton and I graduated with a 2.2 in maths and a first in partying from Bristol in 2012." In a light, witty and teasingly rude way Mel introduced herself before getting them introduced to each other. She felt it was important that she demonstrated that working in the adult business had not destroyed her intellect or ruined her personality. After all the horror stories in the press she believed that before she could ask any of them to introduce themselves she had to get them to understand that this business was a real career and that the rewards on offer were plentiful. She could tell that they were all on edge and embarrassed, but her open manner and friendly approach broke the ice enough to get them to introduce themselves and as she hoped her naked wrist attracted attention. "Now as the more sharp eyed have noticed?" Mel held up her bare wrist and said, "I've paid off and obviously it was by performing." She looked round deliberately jiggling her breasts as she indicated to her dress. "But no surprise there?" "Now for me it was an easy decision." Mel smiled at the provocatively dressed girl sat next to Ricky and broke from her usual script adding. "If you already enjoy sexual experimentation it's not a hard choice. Now sure I had a few issues about doing it at first, but the reward was worth it, and it only took me 48 months to pay off a 40 grand debt." Mel watched the question igniting in all six faces faces, and laughed saying rhetorically, "So why am I still in the business? Well because I can, and with my debts paid off in another four of five years I'll have earned enough to live a comfortable life." Mel hid her smile as she saw the surprise in their eyes. She knew as well as they did that even very highly profitable high technology industries top performing indentures were tied for at least 8 years before paying off. Unfortunately pay off usually resulted in getting the boot, and since almost everything they had earned went towards paying off their debt the newly realised from indenture were generally broke. Giving everyone a moment to do the maths she ended her introduction by adding. "Now the really good news for me is that now I'm out of indenture I'm a free agent and entitled to both performance and appearance royalties. These are on top of my day rate and contract price, so after tax and costs this year I should earn somewhere round the 80k mark and that's take home after tax and the rest." Six jaws hit the table! Early pay off with the potential of the job at the end was a big carrot, which Mel wanted to let sink in before explaining just what she had to do to pay off! "Right then." Mel said with a cheerful smile at the expected embarrassed reactions to her blunt explanations of just what she had done to pay off so soon. "I'd like everyone to fill in this form." She handed out a printed sheet. "Is just like a normal personality profiling questionnaire except it's got a couple of extra parts." She smiled kindly as she added, "And please everybody? Even if you've already decided that there is no way in hell that you're going to perform do be honest about your experiences and sexual interests when you reach the relevant sections." Mel read the 'whys' and grinned with an impish giggle. "If you're like me and gay male BDSM turns your stomach then you won't be much good if you get offered a place on such a shoots production crew. Okay?" The way she said it so casually gay BDSM sent a chill round the room, and with a slight shake in his hand Ricky, read the forms title Personality and Sexual orientation. Bellow that was his name and indenture number... Recalling Susan's insistence that he told the truth Ricky swallowed his embarrassment and started ticking boxes. It was not difficult until he reached the sexuality and gender section. The questions there sent embarrassment burning through his veins as he ticked yes and interested to more than he ticked no. Ricky knew if he had not promised Susan that he would be honest he would not have made himself tick quite all the boxes he did. A single glance round the room reassured him that he was not the only one with a bright red face when he put his pen down. "All done?" Mel said, seeing that everyone had finished They all nodded. "Great! In that case why don't you make your way down to the staff canteen for a coffee while I'll run these over to personnel. If you could all be back here in say a half hour. Any questions?" The other bloke confidently asked. "I don't suppose there's any chance I could go for a run at lunch time?" "Sorry, Peter isn't it?" He nodded, "Pete." "I cannot let you into the performers changing rooms, and I won't know your temporary room allocation's until after you've been processed by personnel." "I'm Pete." The other bloke said walking out beside Ricky. He was big burly guy from the hearty rugby player side of society and the kind of bloke who Ricky in general avoided like the plague. "Ricky." Ricky answered realising that they could well be stuck with each other's company for a few years. Since there were just the two lads it was obvious that they would be roomed together. Chatting about how they came to be here, Pete grumbled that a serious back injury the previous year had ruined his chances of making the grade as a professional rugby player or being accepted by the military. It was clear that he was pretty bitter about it, but when you graduate with a technical 3rd Pete had even less chance than Ricky of finding a job before he was indentured. The caf? was crowded and the moment the group walked in they attracted attention. Ricky could feel eyes examining them with assessing looks as he collected a coffee. Swapping a look with Ricky, Jen snickered, "Just look at them?" Ricky felt himself blush brightly as she hungrily looked round eyeing up a couple of muscular blokes who were wearing very little! Other than Jen's predatory interest, the rest of the new intake was sticking together trying to avoid the curious eyes as they found a table. At first they all looked at each other in silence before Pete said breaking the ice. "So anyone made up their minds yet?" They all knew what he meant and of the four girls Wendy looked terrified, Sally and June shrugged, and said they were undecided about performing. Even so Ricky could tell that the carrot of an early escape from indenture to the company was as tempting for them as it was for him. The only one who had made up her mind was Jen who had decided before she signed in that she wanted to perform. It was pretty obvious she would get offered a performance deal as she already looked like a porn star with her large boobs and short revealing dress. After about fifteen minutes Mel joined them, saying that they would be interviewed in two groups starting at 2pm. "You're going in groups of three. Ricky, Sally and Wendy are up first. June, Jenny and Pete you're in at 4." The rest of the morning and early afternoon was spent doing ever more embarrassing introductory games. Once Mel had the accustomed to each other's company she got them to watch an explicit video of clips. From straight heterosexual sex through to wildest fetish porno, Mel's uninhibited way of explaining in detail what was happening had everybody including Jenny blushing. As she showed the different varieties Mel explained about the various markets the company aimed at. "Right then!" Mel said, "Having shown you some of what we do here brings me to one of the peculiarity's about this industry. Now fetish and sexuality is our business, and here at Groves we like to use the lifestyle restrictions and staff uniform clauses for indentured staff to insure that everyone explores their fetishes and kinks." As she explained she made it perfectly clear that if the psychological tests discovered any hidden kinks or fetishes then the company would insist they brought it out in the open. "Why?" Pete asked looking frightened. "Just company policy." Mel shrugged, "The idea is that if the staff are confident about their sexuality they won't be to embarrassed when they get an idea that might work for a shoot or production." "And what doses that mean?" Wendy asked hesitantly, "Bringing it out into the open?" "Well being honest it's usually only crossdresser's that get the full lifestyle immersion," Mel answered, "Tranny's are normally naturally reticent about their kink and very adept at hiding their secret. However for Groves the tranny market is very profitable, and because we never have enough performers we 'encourage' all our indentured tranny's to dress and perform." She saw Jen, and surprisingly Wendy glance at Ricky before swapping a smile as they noticed the others look. Both immediately started giggling, attracting the attention of the other two girls, and before she lost control Mel held up her hand saying. "Let me finish and then you can thrash it out between you. What I'm trying to explain is that, we all have a sexual side and we want you to show it. So if you're sexually dominant, submissive or what ever, then your makeover or restyle will show it. I know it sounds a little extreme but experience has told the company that some of our best performers have come from enforced acceptance of their hidden kinks." "Now I can tell I've embarrassed you." Mel said after letting what she had said sink in before continuing smoothly. "But I had to show you what we make, and how we find who will fit in what roll before I can explain how the repayment structure works." Like Jen and Wendy she had seen Ricky Watson's blush of alarm when she said closeted transvestites would be made to dress feminine, and noted that her inside information about him was likely true. Through out the day Mel had made copious notes and had already put together a few points about each to discuss with psychologist after she passed them over to personnel. "Now you all have an average of a 60k indenture. On non-performing Indenture 4 grade, which is minimum wage and what every one starts on, it will take you approximately 20 years to pay off. Although usually here a non-performing lowest grade indenture works out at around 15 or 16 years, which is at least a five years longer than the lowest grade performer. The reason for this is as a non performer, they get a flat repayment rate linked to their indenture grade." She passed out a sheet showing the non-performing indenture repayment structure, and explained how 50 % of earnings went to repay the government, 40% covered living and health care leaving 10% to the individual. "Generally as I4 you'll have about 20 to 25 pounds a week, which being honest is not a lot when you have to get casual clothing and food. Now I know the canteen is free, but trust me after a while the food gets monotonous! I3 are far more comfortable having about 35 pounds but even an I1's is only on about about 50 quid, which gives a pay off in around 13 years, but be warned very few straight indentures ever reach the I1 grade. "Also as a non-performer you have no say in what you're doing. You get an assigned to a branch and that's it. There are four non-performing options, office, which is business stuff, accommodation, which is mainly hotel and catering work, manufacture which is basically warehouse work and packing mail order, which is piss boring but is mainly staffed by those who cannot handle the uniform/lifestyle requirements. Finally we have production, which is open to non- performers but hard to get into unless you're a film school graduate. Of all the non performing jobs obviously production is best, in terms of conditions and promotion prospects, but as many performers dabble in production there are not many available positions above I2." Mel again waited for her words to sink in, before saying, "Which brings me onto performance or IP for Indentured Performer grades. There are five grades, 5 being the lowest paid, and 1 being the highest. These are like the non performing jobs fixed payment, but should you be prepared take everything offered or dabble in script writing and production, then what you would be paid for the extra work is taken directly off your indenture amount." She looked round and saw that the idea of paying off early attractive and said. "Now even the lowest paid heterosexual male IP5," she looked straight at Pete, who had found watching the homosexual and transsexual clips unpleasant. "Should pay off in 10 to 12 years." "Obviously full performance female or TS IP1 are the best paid. That is stills, video, on line and public appearance." Mel smiled at the girls, "And in this business girls, as a rule women are worth more than men. So a female IP5, doing stills only with no sexual contact or public appearance will get you out in under ten years. While at the other end of the scale I know a few really busy IP1's who have paid off a 50k indenture in under three years." "But to get back to the point, most are happy at IP3 and usually end up doing around seven to nine years, depending on gender, girls and TS shorter, boys longer." Mel included Ricky in her glance at the four girls before she added, "Bisexual non hormonal tranny's tend towards the lower female rate for the same sort of work." She grinned round the room and added, "Next up are the hormonal but not surgically feminised t-girls, and fetish/gay performers who end up doing around seven years or so on an IP2, which means if you perform regardless of what you do, you'll be done and dusted in ten years or so from today." "Obviously with what we do we encourage our staff to fuck, make home movie's and take naughty photographs and will even provide suitable partners for those of you who have not yet fully discovered the joys of sex or wish to extend your experiences." Jen's eyes lit up at that! "BUT, not yet," Mel grinned at Jenny's reaction cautioning, "You are not permitted any sexual contacts until you've been cleared by the doc's, and any breaking of that rule is an automatic extra year on your indenture regardless of grade. So for now keep you legs closed." Jen nodded pulling a face, as Mel continued. "Which neatly brings me to the company health scheme. This gives you all full cover from today, that's optical, dental, physical and mental. Naturally the company wants all their performers looking good so all performers get general beauty therapies and a personal trainer to keep that way. Also for female and tranny performers the health scheme includes a great rate on any boob jobs, lip enhancements or other body alterations that a performer or studio might desire." Mel grinned and added. "However if you agree to some body mods because the studio requests it, then they pay and you get a bonus! Although in this industry its generally girls who get the best deal, we do lose out to our tranny sisters when it comes to studio body mods because T-girls who're willing to accept any studio requested alterations during their career can very easily knock a couple of years off their indenture." "What do you mean when you say body mods Mel?" Wendy asked blushing. "Well for a genetic girl, it usually minor procedures like say a boob or a nose job, but if we're talking about a tranny it's more extensive and usually starts with hormonal feminisation treatments and then surgically enhancement of the developed feminine characteristics. Now I know this all sounds kind of freaky" Mel looked pointedly at Rick as she continued with a smile. "But if it is what you want and the shrinks agree then you might as well as take the studio offer as not only will it reduce the time of their indenture but you'll also get the best treatment this side of Thailand." Mel grinned, "Now to put that into context it was my agreeing to a body mod that acted as the spring board for me to pay off early... The studio wanted my tits bigger for a DVD production, and I agreed, which got me up a grade and a bonus along with the company agreeing to pick up the cost if I want to have my implants removed when I decide to quit." "Now the decision about performance is your choice and I'd like you to all think about it over the next day or two but," she looked at Jen again. "If you already have decided let personnel know and if the shrink says yes, they'll mark you as apprentice on an IP5 the moment you finish induction next week and instead of you doing the departmental milk round two months we can get you straight into performance training." "And that is?" Jenny asked. "Learning the tricks of the trade, how to look good on camera, if you go sexual the right way to suck cock or pussy and obviously fuck. It usually takes a couple of months, by which point you'll have been on set doing bit parts and walk-ons for a while and for us girls, bi- tranny's and the homo men fluffing..." Mel grinned "Now fluffing is an optional rather than an indentured task, so you get a wee bit directly whittled off your debt over your repayment rate. Fluffing by the way, is keeping a performer ready for camera and a chance to put your new skills into action." There were a few shocked faces and Wendy looked like she was going to faint as Mel ploughed on. "If they fancy it, new performers learning the ropes can spend a lot of their lives just off-set sucking cock, pussy or both if you're that way inclined. This has two functions one it gets you used to doing sexual things in front of an audience and over any inhibitions." She looked at Pete who had gone white in the face. "To perform you have to learn how to keep on the boil." Mel winked at Jen and giggled, "Now personally I like the feel of a pulsing surge in my mouth, but that's not what you are there for and if your performer blows early, you don't get the extra pay and the director gives you hell!" After five hours of Mel's rudely cheerfully company Ricky felt almost cheerful as he walked to personnel with Sally and Wendy. The burning embarrassment he had felt on learning that he would be forced to crossdress if he did not admit it had faded, and at first the personnel interviews were more of the same. He was asked if he any office experience, he mentioned ITN, and expressed an interest in production before he was passed on to the doctor. The hour long medical and full physical was beyond anything that he had ever experienced and left him physically exhausted when he was wheeled in to meet the company shrink. No sooner had he sat down than the psychologist started asking him about his positive answers in TG section and it scared Ricky when saw how much his ticks had already told them about his formally secret crossdressing desires. With what Mel had said earlier about the company having the right to compel tranny's to dress feminine. Ricky forced himself to answer the psychologist's insistent questions even though he found talking about it embarrassing and uncomfortable. When Ricky left the interview he had the slightly sick feeling that perhaps he had been a little too honest and was still in an embarrassed daze when he finally found his allocated room. Although he had walked back with them Ricky had hardly noticed Wendy or Sally as they returned together in silence with matching embarrassed expressions. The law dictated that all indentures had to live in secure company provided accommodation, which for Groves's staff was a converted hotel at the other end of the same road as Susan's shop. For non-performing staff it was shared twin rooms in the hotels old staff block while performers got single rooms in the main hotel. However from IP4 up they were comfortable self-contained flats that came equipped with every mod con imaginable. Just looking one look round the differing accommodations clearly showed the benefits of performance. If Mel knew how they were profiling she gave no indication as to what anyone's said, and it soon became apparent that most of the first week was a desensitisation to perversion exercise. The other feature of the induction phase was a daily dance and movement sessions, and repeat visits to the company shrink's. When Ricky asked Mel about why they were called back she said with her usual honesty. "The company needs the shrinks approval to make a performance offer, and their ongoing support until they say the new performer is capable of making work choices for themselves." After seeing the head doctor three times already Ricky was getting a little blas? about it as he kind of liked the shrink, and chattering through his fourth session he discovered that the shrink was not an employee, but a government appointed assessor. He made it perfectly clear to Ricky when he asked that his roll was to sign off on the suitability of the candidate for performance, and insure that no overt compulsion was taking place. Covert compulsion was a different matter and that ranged the above the board better accommodation and pay, to the deliberate manipulation of them with the types of DVD's that were provided in their rooms, and to the shoots they would be assigned after their induction period. One by one Mel made them stand up in front of the group and explain why they had ticked what during their initial preferences forms. June all but admitted that she did not find men attractive, and had been involved in a lesbian relationship as an under graduate. Scarily Ricky found himself standing up and admitting that he had crossdressed as a boy and had fond memories of dressing in his sister's school and guides uniforms. It was one of the hardest things for all of them but by the end of the third day even Pete and Wendy who had been the most uncomfortable about sex, could watch and discuss pretty much any porno with out noticing that it was kinky. As a group they were getting used to discussing sex and it had become almost normal to chatter about what did and did not turn them on as they watched or paged thorough every title in the current range. Starting on the Wednesday afternoon the four girls were sent one at a time for a makeover, and the changes were dramatic. Only Jenny who went first came back looking pretty much the same only better. She already knew how to make herself look good and had been totally open about her sexual nature. June and Sally both came out looking like sex kittens although June's look only lasted a day, because the Friday morning when Wendy went in, so did she for the second time. Any speculation about why June, who had looked stunning had been called back was forgotten when they Wendy reappeared just before lunch. Although he shared a room with Pete, Ricky had seen very little of him away from classes as he was always in the gym and of every one in the group Ricky was probably closest to Wendy. Since they arrived they all had loosened up and Wendy most of all. The horror she had felt during the first day at the having to look at pornography had faded, and as her confidence increased she had started to take an increasingly forward roll in the group's activities. When they had first been told that all the girls were automatically to have a company makeover Wendy had been the only one who did not like the idea. Joking, "Go in my place then," after Ricky admitted with out realising what he was saying that he felt a little jealous of the girls. That had changed by the time she reappeared, Wendy looked like some raven-haired leather clad goddess. Her sandy brown hair had been dyed a glossy black and had been done up in a tight high ponytail which complemented her vivid make up. Her look reflected a change that was taking place in her personality. It was a change that Ricky suspected came as much from sharing a room with Jenny as it did from the exposure to the company's products. Aping Jenny's confidence Wendy strutted her stuff before them all when she walked in, clearly lapping up the uninhibited comments her look generated. "Wow Wendy! I knew you were good looking girl!" Mel declared, "But that's a result!" "Is, isn't it!" Wendy grinned slipping back into her seat beside Ricky with smile and a creak of leather. Glancing down at her notes Mel grinned and looked over at Ricky. With an anticipatory giggle in her tone she announced to everyone, "And now one I'm looking forward to, and it should be equally dramatic as well... Ricky you're up next for a full feminisation make over! " Deep down Ricky had resigned himself to this a few days earlier, but now that the hammer had fallen he looked at Mel in astonishment. She grinned at him and laughed that because his personality profile and psychological assessments all said he was a tranny, the company rules said he had to go for a compulsory makeover. "But I've not hidden it?" Ricky grumbled looking somewhere between shocked and resigned. "Catch twenty two honey." Mel bright laughed saying, "I know you've admitted you liked to crossdress, you didn't ask if you could dress or have a makeover when you learned that tranny's were entitled to the same perks as the girls. The management consider this as closeted behaviour and can therefore insist you to go for one." "Oh bollocks!" Ricky worried, blushing even brighter when Jenny giggled. "That's a drink you owe me June, I said Ricky would be in a skirt before the end of the week!" "Be worth it to!" June laughed, "Don't supposed we can watch him being waxed can we Mel?" "No... Not yet, at any rate, mainly because we shave the trannys first time out as waxing a novice TV makes good copy either on film or print." Mel laughed, calling the group back to some sort of order. "Let me finish please?" Turning to Ricky she added, "If you wait for me after I'm done. I'll show you where to go." Ricky was almost crimson, aware that the girls were giving him knowing delighted looks. All of them at some point or other in their lives had moaned that men had it easy, and expressed a friendly desire for little revenge when they had heard of the company's peculiar attitude to crossdressers. Moving on Mel informed Peter that he also had to go for makeover and image consultation. Pete looked distraught and only calmed down after Mel laughed, "Relax Pete, you're seeing the male consultants down the hall on the right. Which leaves me with just one last thing to finish up for today. Your tests are all back and you're all clean as a whistle, just in time for your welcome party. It kicks off 7pm in the bar and you're expected to come as you have been styled, so the make up studio is available from half five to half six if any of you need a hand with your hair or make up. There will be a drinks for you behind the bar so relax and enjoy yourselves it's your party, but don't expect to play wall flowers because you're expected to mingle once it gets going." Calling as everyone filed out, "Oh yes and before I forget, you should find your final accommodation allocations are at reception, okay?" Jen gave Ricky a sultry wink. She had predicted that he was likely to under go feminisation after he had admitted his childhood history of crossdressing. With the consequences of his words coming back to haunt him Ricky saw Wendy was examining him with the sort curious smile of interest on her face that only a five days ago she would never have shown or probably felt. Pete on the other hand avoided Ricky's eyes. He had been terrified that he would come out a transvestite and crept away blushing brightly. He still freaked about any thing that verged on homosexuality... and as he left Ricky had a funny feeling that Pete was going to be made to face his fears. Mel waited until everyone else had gone before asking Ricky curiously. "You're Suzy W's brother aren't you?" "Erm yes..." Ricky blushed shrugging, "I am..." "Thought so, but I did not want to ask in front of everyone because you've been pretty reticent about talking about family." "Yeah." Ricky nodded, "My mum, she not well." "I know," she smiled, "I saw Suzy last night and she told me how worried about things you had been but from what she's said and what I've seen of you this week, I think you'll do all right here and from what she said last night likes what we have in mind for you, if you take the profitable option?" "And that is?" He asked walking out beside her. "A surprise?" She winked and said, "Come on, lets go see Suzy. She's working on stage 3." "Working?" Ricky gasped. "Not like that! She's is doing the make up on shoot, and." She giggled rudely and slipped her arm round his waist, "I said I would bring you over if she came in today." "Oh?" Ricky did not know if he wanted to see her. "Don't look like that honey," Mel grinned. "Suzy's knows all about what we do here, and she's been bending my ear all week about seeing you." "Ricky!" Suzy bellowed dashing over the set. The nerves he had felt about seeing her vanished as her calming presence eased his anxiety about what was coming next. Hugging her close he felt almost weepy. Having seen the results of the company make over he was finding it a rather scary proposition to know that next time he saw her or his group mates he was not going to look anything like had! Suzy pulled back from the hug giggling. "You okay?" "Yeah." Ricky said smiling at her. She gazed into his eyes asking, "About everything?" "Not really but." He shrugged. "Oh?" Suzy said giving Mel a worried glance when Ricky would not explain. "Its what you suspected, Suzy." Mel answered with a shrug, "And you know the rules when it comes to CD's with potential." "How long?" Susan asked, sticking a finger over her brother lips when he tried to speak. "Assuming the shrink doesn't pull the plug next week, the standard three months." Mel said. "He's getting the makeover and fem-style this afternoon." Suzy jaw dropped a little at the suddenness, "You said earlier you did not know?" "I didn't know for sure until you were on set." Mel answered, "And I did say it was likely?" "Yeah you did!" Susan laughed, smiling at Ricky with an assessing look in her eye that made him blush a little, as she hopefully offered, "Any chance of me doing it?" Mel shook her head and said, "Best not Suzy. You have to many preconceived notions he's your brother after all, and your idea's might not necessarily agree with the company's needs." "Oh!" Suzy's face fell a little. "Who's doing it?" "Coral of course." Mel said, "She doses all our initial transgendered work." "Pity... Okay fair enough. I'll let you have the makeover but want to name him?" "May be?" Mel hesitated, "What do you have in mind?" "Emma." Suzy smiled and hugged Ricky to her side. "It was what mum was going to call him if she had another girl." "I cannot see Personnel complaining there." Mel said unilaterally agreeing, "Emma it is." Ricky finally found his tongue and asked sheepishly. "What are you talking about?" "I told you its policy that all indentured transvestites work in feminine roll for a minimum three months, and during that period you're expected to live fully in roll, and that includes a name." Mel said. "You know I've always I wanted to be the one who turned you into a girl." Susan grumbled punching Ricky lightly in his stomach adding with a giggle. "I guessed years ago that you liked wearing my things and even mentioned it to mum, who ignored it." She hugged her brother close and said, "I'm glad you've told the truth and at last come out." "Come out... I'm not sure I'd put it that way." Ricky half laughed, "Because..." "Because nothing!" Susan laughed, "Trust me I'm your big sister, just relax and I know you'll enjoy this afternoon." "I'll try." Ricky groaned, realising that Susan was as interested in how he turned out as the girls in his group when she laughed. "Ricky lose the groan love. I know you to well not to know that you've probably been dreaming of being turned in to Emma, and hell it's only for a few months!" "Susan?" A short-tempered male voice called, "On set please." "Coming," Susan called, giving Ricky a kiss on his head saying, "I've access card for the accommodation so I'll pop in tonight for a while before Dave whisks me out on the town." She winked, "Coz I'm itching to see how my little sister turns out," and dashed back onto the set. Mel gave Ricky a half-minute to watch his sister working on the models before saying quietly, "Shall we?" Surprisingly Mel led him out of the down to the reception and signed him out under her authority. Instead of heading back to the accommodation she turned the other way and along the street past Susan's glitzy shop and into the building containing the dance studio's and company spa next to the office's. "So who's this?" A waiting short harassed looking woman said. "This is or will be Emma," Mel said winking at Ricky. "Emma this is Coral and she's going to teach you over the next week or two how to be a convincing girl." "Shouldn't be hard." Coral said to Mel eyeing Ricky up like a piece of meat. "She's slender and not fully developed as a male." "Thanks." Ricky almost groaned. At his reaction, recognition flared in Coral's face and she laughed at Mel, "I guess I best not fuck this one up eh Mel or I'll never hear the end of it from Suzy!" "To true." Mel said, adding, "Right I'm off to wardrobe to find an outfit, when do you want me back?" "Be back for five." Coral said sounding distracted as she played with Ricky's shoulder length hair. Five minutes later Ricky felt like he was on a production line. He had some idea of what to expect from what the girls had said, but having it done to him was something else. His hair was first on the list and with a sharp "Sit down," he was pushed into a hairdresser's chair, and the process began. "Emma? Pretty name," she said, "Who gave it you?" "My sister." Ricky said. Coral was amusing, entertaining and very rude company as she washed snipped and dyed his hair. As she worked she chattered brightly about girlie life and almost gushed how he was going to make a wonderful girl. Determined to get her way Mel went straight to personnel and said barging in. "Ricky Watson in the new intake?" "Yes?" The hard face I2 who ran the personnel's administration office said. "He's getting the tranny makeover and I need to know if you've done the paperwork and name assignment yet?" "Why?" "Because, he's already got a feminine one!" "It wasn't on the form," Even in the porn business there was bureaucrats and Mel snapped. "He didn't know about it! Suzy just told me, it's what he would have been named if he had been a girl!" "Suzy?" The woman said blankly. "Susan Watson the make up artist?" Mel snapped, "Its her brother!" "Oh all right what the name?" The woman muttered, deciding that the fight was not worth a blob of Tipex. It was not like any of the new intakes details were in the computer yet. "Emma and I think Louise sounds good." Mel said, "Emma Louise Watson has a nice ring to it." "Cute." The woman grunted knowing that Mel was going to sit in her office until she had seen that Ricky's personnel file was in the computer how she wanted. Handing over the form she said. As she said printed off the notification of name change, for Ricky's bank, the DVLA, Inland Revenue and Council Tax registrations. "But the management might have something to say about it?" "Let me worry about them!" Mel said firmly scribbling her name on the authorisation and only minutes later she was in the Phil the bosses office arguing her case. Philip Groves was used to Mel's explosive nature and knowing how close she was to Susan, and therefore by default his wife Anne, he had been willing to let Mel have her way before she even arrived. He knew it would save on earache at home! When Suzy had mentioned while doing Anne's hair, that her brother was likely to fall into indenture his wife had bent his ear about it. Not that it needed bending that much, Phil had seen the potential of Suzy brother when she mentioned to him after doing the make up on transvestite shoot about her suspicions of her brother. Once he saw a photograph of Ricky he knew that the lad was perfect material for transgendered or fetish work and after his wife had mentioned Ricky's situation Phil immediately put out feelers. Even if he had not been Suzie's brother Groves would have made an offer for his indenture on the strength of a cursory examination of Richard Watson's education department file. Unsurprisingly the offer had been snapped up by Ricky's educational debt officer and Phil had him. "So do you think, Emma did you say, will he perform?" Phil asked after Mel's tirade fizzled out. "Emma Louise actually," Mel said sitting on the edge of his desk with an apologetic smile. "Possibly. Suzy thinks he will. If Coral gets him looking good which I'm sure she will and more importantly he takes to it, then 'she'll' perform yeah?" She nodded, "To what level I don't know, but I think he'll do it." "Okay then." Phil nodded, "Emma eh?" "Yeah," Mel nodded, "Suzy said it was what he would have been called if he had been a girl, and it's a pretty name, so I said yes as he'll be given a performance name if he goes that far?" "Fair enough," Phil nodded "Who do you want to place Emma with?" "Well this might sound odd but I think we should room him with Wendy and let Karen mentor them both." "Bit unfair on Karen?" Phil noted not wanting one of his harder working performers tied up with to much training. "Yes but I'll be doing most of Emma's," Mel smiled adding, "I had to promise Suzy that, so she didn't get nosy about what Coral was doing." "Not surprising." Phil nodded knowing full well that Susan's hell-cat temper was not worth rousing. She was too useful as a contractor and friend. Also he trusted Mel's judgement, if anyone was could convince Ricky to perform it would be her, because he could remembered how as Mark, she had not wanted to perform or get a makeover either! Ricky could not work out if he liked or loathed what was happening. It felt bloody silly with his hair under a plastic bag and yet it was hard not to like Coral or enjoy what was happening. She was funny and her chatter kept him distracted as she deftly removed every scrap of hair on his body. Having spent all week looking at naked and bodies, Ricky did not feel that embarrassed when she asked him to strip off. It was a little strange to stand there with out complaint let her cover his body in a smelly slimy gell, but he was laughing that much at her jokes he did not notice until she had him half covered. God the stuff stank and he almost said thank you as Coral took a straight edged razor to his skin. Ricky shivered with pleasure as she worked her way down his body before chivvying him into a shower stall and rinsed him off and with it went his body hair except for a small feminine triangular patch above his penis. Which reacted to her ministration in typical fashion, and embarrassed the hell out of him! Ignoring his hard on, Coral made sure he was hairless before returning her attention to his hair. After rinsing out the stuff she had washed in she clucked delightedly at the result and started to snip away. In next to no time Ricky hair was in rollers and Coral had started on his face. He was toned, moisturised and worked on until he felt like a model. Plucking his eyebrows and having false eyelashes felt really strange, as did the sensation of her painting make up onto his face. "Assuming the psychologist passes you next week for a three month transition now that you're dressing as Emma, along with the other girls in your group you'll be coming to see me during the next few weeks to learn how to use cosmetics properly." Coral told him as she extended and painted his nails a glossy pink. "And if you ever need to go out in public before you can do it yourself, either ask one of the girls for help or if I'm right your sister?" "Sue? Yes she is... Thanks... I think?" Rick muttered absolutely sure that he would never dare to go out in public looking like this! Coral laughed, and with out any warning produced a piercing gun. "Hold still, I have to pierce your ears," and with out any fuss fixed two gold studs in each ear lobe, saying as she placed the last one. "They will be healed in a couple of weeks." She smiled kindly. "Lets get you dressed. Gosh look at the time! We had better get a move on my dear otherwise you will be late for your party. Firmly she pushed him back on to a massage couch and carefully measured and marked his chest. Opening a box Coral removed a pair of very realistic false breasts, and after checking the boobs matched the marks she had made on his chest she glued each to position giggling. "Yeah thought 38c tits would look good on you Emma." As Ricky started to move Coral held him down saying, "Not yet the adhesive takes about six minutes to go off and is hypo-allergenic so you'll only have to remove them for one night a week." Checking her watch Coral eventually she handed him a skin-tight padded girdle. "Slip this on dear and I will show you how to fit it all in." They were tight and without any embarrassment on her side Coral grasped hold of Ricky penis and showed him how to slip it in to the rubber sleeve in crotch. The girdle held him back and up between his legs totally hiding all sign of his manhood. "You don't have to remove them for a pee." Coral reached between his legs and demonstrated. "Just undo the catches and sit down and have a pee like another girl. The rubber insert is washable and you'll find a couple of spares in your new room. OK?" "Yes I understand." Ricky whispered looking down at his smooth crotch in shocked amazement. "Wow!" Mel exclaimed walking in with an armful of clothing. "You're really looking good Emma." Giggling she added. "I've put another couple of outfits in your room along with a company skirt suit for Monday morning, but I think this will look lovely on you tonight." She held up a short red skirt, and matching sparkling top. "Thanks I think Mel?" Ricky muttered wishing he knew what he looked like. When the girls had mentioned the frustration they had felt during the make over he had laughed but now he was in the same boat and he felt just the same, because he was not going to get to see what had been done to him until the both Coral and Mel were satisfied. "Trust me you will." Mel said handing Coral a corset that she started to clip about his body. Ricky thought he was going to fainted when Coral started tightening the laces but he had to admit that when he finally saw his reflection it was worth it! He felt the same about his hair when he saw what had been done to that. For one thing it was no longer brown nor was it the same shape. He now had what Mel enthusiastically called a pretty blond bob as she helped Coral dressing him into his outfit. The feeling of female clothing brought back pleasant childhood memories but the sensation of stockings on his hairless legs was awesome and more than made up for the painful side effects of having to wear 'come fuck me' heels. By the time Mel was down to fussing with him, Ricky was beginning to consider that having to crossdress might not be so bad after all. "Hell you are looking stunning Emma," Mel commented handing him some jewellery to put on. "Just a few finishing touches and I think we'll be done." There were two necklaces, an ankle bracelet, a slim feminine watch, and a sliver bracelet and a couple of rings. "Well what do think?" Coral said when they were both finally satisfied with how he looked. "I feel stupid." Ricky said blushing. "I wasn't talking to you love." Coral said with a kind smile. "Better than mine I'd say." Mel laughed, "Certainly as dramatic a change!" "Lips need work though." Coral mused, "As does his skin but its nothing that a few months on the regime and a collagen job or two, won't sort out!" Ricky felt like he was catch fire with embarrassment when Mel finally showed him his reflection for the first time. Croaking, "Oh my god...What have you done?" Ricky gazed at his reflection in shock! He was looked totally different, and wearing a short red skirt and heels he might have felt stupid but he did not look it because the blonde in the mirror looked like she dressed to attract looks! "God I look like our Susan!" Rick eventually gasped stunned that in three hours he gone from an untidily dressed young man in to a busty sexily dressed blonde. It was like they had removed almost every trace of the original male and replaced him with this feminine creature. It was such a shocking change in appearance that until Rick saw the girls pink nailed hands waving in the mirror he found it hard to accept it was really him! Coral let Ricky take in his new appearance for a little while before starting to teach him how to move like a woman. In front of the mirror for the next hour or so both Mel and Coral demonstrated and made him endlessly repeat walking across the room in his heels, sitting down and crossing his legs, before standing and repeating the process again. Once he had the hang of it he was given a handbag shown how to hold it and then more of the same. "We'll be doing lots of this over and over again next week, and don't look so worried, all you girls will be going through deportment training." Mel said nod and a pleased smile at his improvement. "Oh?" Rick said, suddenly realising that he was now one of the girls! "Ready?" Mel asked delighted with Ricky's performance. "For what?" Ricky said "Walking back to the hotel of course?" Mel said helping him in a short jacket. "Oh Christ!" Ricky gasped he had forgotten that he had to walk 800 yards thought the busy street back to the hotel. "I can't?" "Course you can." Mel said, "I did it after mine!" "Yeah?" Ricky said looking at her, "But you're a girl!" "I wasn't then though!" Mel laughed, "I was just like you... And it scared the shit out of me!" "So you're a tranny?" Ricky asked shocked by the revelation that he did not notice that they were now stood in the main salon and in view of everyone. "Yep!" Mel nodded, "I'm staying Pre op at the moment as I earn more, but come my retirement that's going to change." She had saved telling him about herself until now to distract his fear of public exposure. Being a once closeted tranny herself she knew how hard that first step in public was and she had him out in the evening sunlight before he realised what she had done. Part Two- Feminised. Dazed by his dramatically altered appearance, Ricky was stood in the street before he was aware of being in public and when it did sink in he bolted for the relative safety of the spa. Or rather he would have bolted except Mel had anticipated his reaction and slipped a tethering arm through his. "Relax! You're only drawing attention Emma." With a hidden smile of reminiscence at her own state when this had been done to her, Mel felt the indecision running though Ricky as he wobbled in his high heels. Firmly held by her arm he had no choice but to accompany her as she said, "Come along Em," and led him up the busy pavement. Expecting cries of 'drag queen' and disgust Rick at first felt like he was going to explode with embarrassment. Walking in public dressed as a girl was a little like having one of his dreams come true, but the reality of it, from the way he was looked at by people around them, to the sensation of tottering along in high heels feeling like he was barely dressed was also equally awful. Although he knew he was wearing more individual garments than if he had been wearing his suit he still felt half naked! At the end of the road he could see the safety of the entrance to the main studio's and the formally intimidating doors now took on an appearance of salvation. Instead of walking straight back Mel scared the crap out of him by turning him in the opposite direction and walking him back the long way, deliberately putting him in public view she browsed the shop windows making numerous girlie comments, which she obviously expected him to respond. Chipping away at his embarrassment as she chattered Mel felt rather than saw him beginning to calm after they had been in public for ten or so minutes. Mel's stop and start meandering doubled the time, it would normally have taken to walk round the block, and although walking such a distance in heels was getting to be a painful experience it was nice to be out in the fresh air after being cooped up inside all week. Everything felt so strange, and the strangeness was seemingly amplified by the abnormally sensual feeling of the breeze running up nylon- covered legs and under his skirt. It might have been scary but there was a genuine thrill in seeing his almost unrecognisable reflection in the rush hour crowds as Mel stopped to look in the passing shop windows. Mouthing to his new reflection in one of the windows, "Perhaps it will be okay after all?" When he admitted to himself that for all he had been forced into looking like this, there were a few defiantly a pluses which almost made up for his pained feet! Feeling his fears and anxieties slowly ebbing in response to Mel's cheerful company, Ricky was almost starting to enjoy the experience when he took note the looks they was getting from passers by. From their dress and make up it was obvious that they were from the porno studios, and the people spewing out of the offices knew it. Deep down he was still expecting to be read as a transvestite and have to face the barrage of derision and scorn he had been fearing all his life if he should he step beyond the door! Only the reality of it was very different! He could tell he was being read mostly by women, he could see it in some their faces, some looked embarrassed, some envious but most simply did not care. Turning back towards the studio along the high street Mel led him past some road-workers who's blatant examination of them as they passed almost had him wishing the looks were derisory! Ricky had spent twenty two years as a male and embarrassingly knew exactly was going on behind the road workers eyes when they looked at him with that eye candy alert expression! It was a rather brutal demonstration of how much his life was going to change and brought into stark focus his so far ambiguous understanding that at Groves he was going to be judged as 'Emma', solely on his looks and his sexuality. Trying to make sense of this revelation about how he was going to be judged, Ricky's train of thought was disrupted by some of looks they were getting from women. It was a totally different to the way blatantly undressing looks many of the men gave him. Since Groves made no secret of their presence in the area many of the younger women looked for the tell-tale bangle, and tended to give him a look of pity rather than the 'great I know its going to like to fuck' smirks he was getting from men who noticed his wrist. "Shit Mel." Ricky whispered after she chased off a couple of young business warriors who blatantly tried to make a move on them. "Is it always like this?" "The looks and the passes?" Mel giggled, "Yeah pretty much and it does take a bit of getting used to, but trust me it's harmless and after a while you'll probably sort of get to like them... I did." "Oh J... Jesus!" Ricky muttered as Mel told him that he would be spending a large amount of time in public next week or two running errands between the office and studio, when he started the office part of his training. "Relax Emma, you'll like working in the office. Miss Smith the manager is a bit of a dragon but she's really good at bringing the girl out in novice t-girls like you before you have to do your two weeks in production, then its two weeks working as a cleaner at the offices and chambermaid at the staff block followed by a fortnight of misery down at the warehouse." "It usually takes the government shirks a couple of weeks before they are ready to give us permission to offer you a performance deal, and until they do you're stuck in that two week rotation until you either say yes and perform. or your three months induction period is up." Mel told him as she pointed out a an outfit in a window that would suit him. "That's nice?" Ricky was not interested in the outfit and asked, "And if you have not made a decision after the three months?" "Well you get assigned to a department and unless you later accept an offer that's where you stay for the rest of your indenture. Of course once the shirks pass you to perform and you decide to take it then you can pretty much start straight away, beginning with six weeks of acting lessons to get you used to being in front of a camera. Then you move up to doing stills or bit parts, which get increasingly more sexual, until you reach your comfort level. Ideally if you're aiming for a quick pay off you'll be wanting to be in a couple of months confident enough to work as blow job girl or the like in the background of an orgy sequence." "Jenny will enjoy that!" Ricky naughtily giggled. Mel laughed, feeling rather pleased with how her carefully planned public 'ice breaker' for Emma had gone. "Well?" She said as they got back to the studios, "Ready to face your group mates, they should be waiting in the bar?" "Not really." Ricky admitted. "We've time to take a walk round the block again if you think it will help?" Mel offered feeling a shiver of pleasure when Ricky said with a resigned shrug. "No, best get it over and done with." Mel had hoped he would say that, and was about take him in when a familiar voice squawked from the doorway. "Oh my god!" Spinning on their heels both Mel and Ricky looked round to see Susan stood there with her jaw on the floor! Embarrassed Ricky went as red as he was dressed. Susan was gazing at him in shock with an expression of amazed disbelief her face. As she gazed at him he felt instantly reassured as a pleased smile broke over on her face as she dashed over and kissed his cheeks. Deep down Ricky had been dreading seeing her, but he could not stop himself laughing at her expression. It was not much of a laugh but