The Temp
Belladonna
Constance Dawson shook her head as she thought about the call she was
going to have to make. She had retained a divorce lawyer, but she
wanted to be the one who let her husband know it was over.
Although she felt it was more than she owed him, given everything she
brought to their marriage, as well as the circumstances under which he
was forced from their home, she still wanted him to hear it from her
and not a process server. As Sebastian Dawson phone started to ring,
Constance felt more venomous as she thought about the long hours she
was putting in at the temporary staffing agency that her mother founded
and left to Constance and her husband.
The company was her mother's pet project while her father made a
fortune running a multinational company. All that money had come to
her when her parents died, but it was her mother's company that
Constance felt was the family legacy that she and her husband were
trying to protect and keep building.
She shook her head, almost in disbelief at how her husband had betrayed
her after years of marriage and two children who had grown up and moved
out of state to live on their own. The telltale signs of an affair
started to arise shortly after her children left the home. She found
traces of lipstick and other makeup on Sebastian's clothes.
The scent of perfume lingering on one of Sebastian's shirts was the
final straw for Constance. She waited for her husband to come home one
weekend and confronted Sebastian with all the evidence. Despite his
stammering claims of not having an affair, he offered no credible
explanation for what Constance found.
The fallout was swift for Sebastian. He moved out of the home to live
with a friend while he tried to regain Constance's favor. His efforts
were for not, however, as Sebastian realized that his wife's anger was
not dissipating in his absence, but growing instead.
Within a week of moving out of the home, he was removed from his
position as president at the temp agency. His wife appointed herself
to the position as the sole stockholder and CEO.
Cleaning out his office was among the most humiliating things Sebastian
ever went through. The sight of his ex-employees angry and
disappointed faces while he carried his belongings out the door were
burned into his memory. He knew that Constance had poisoned them
against him given the evidence she had presented to them.
Sebastian's inability to formulate a credible explanation for what his
wife found also had the effect of turning his two grown daughters
against him. Sebastian had always been close with them, since they had
long favored him over their mother. The evidence of his betrayal,
however, turned them against him and put them in their mother's corner
for once.
Sebastian picked up the call and said, "Hello."
"Sebastian."
"Yes," Sebastian replied, recognizing his wife's voice.
"I wanted to let you know that I've hired a divorce attorney,"
Constance replied coolly.
"Oh," Sebastian responded with more than a hint of resignation in his
voice.
"I suggest you hire one as well," Constance replied.
"Can we talk about this?"
"What's there to talk about?" Constance retorted as her anger began to
make itself known to Sebastian.
"A divorce."
"There's no other way, Sebastian. You can't undo what's done. You
blew it."
"I know I blew it, but I didn't have an affair," Sebastian replied.
Constance shook her head at her husband's claims before she responded,
"So what's the truth then?"
"Don't make me say it."
"Say what?"
"You know."
"No. I most certainly do not know, Sebastian!"
"Yes, you do. You know I would never have an affair," Sebastian
rejoined.
"How would I know that?"
"We were married for 25 years, and I never once even flirted with
another girl."
"So you say, but the evidence says otherwise."
"You know what that is," Sebastian retorted.
"I do?" Constance replied, laughing in disbelief.
"I know you told everyone what you thought it was to protect yourself
and the girls, but you know the truth."
"What truth?"
"Don't make me say it!"
"Say what?"
"That it's mine."
"I know there your clothes."
"No, the makeup!"
"The what?" Constance replied, stunned as she held the phone away from
her ear.
"The makeup."
"Why were you wearing makeup?" Constance asked.
"You know."
"No. I don't," Constance replied, confused by her husband's claims.
"Like you didn't know when we met."
"Know what?"
"The way I kept my body shaved when we first met. Remember?"
"You were on the swim team. What was there to really think about it?
Besides, it kind of felt nice at the time."
"I kept shaving it until Miranda was born."
"That's when you stopped swimming so much...," Constance replied,
trailing off as the realization hit her. Her eyes widened as she began
to understand what her husband was trying to tell her.
"I wanted to spend more time with the kids, and I would die if they
found out," Sebastian added, filling the silence.
"Are you a cross-dresser?" Constance asked her husband for
confirmation.
"Ha, ha, very funny," Sebastian rejoined, shaking his head at what he
believed was his wife's mockery.
"I'm serious," Constance retorted.
"Like you don't know."
"Oh, my God!"
"What?"
"You're a cross-dresser!"
"And you're surprised?" Sebastian asked shaking his head.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
The sound of his wife's tone made Sebastian think that she might be
serious. 'She really didn't know?' Sebastian thought before wondering
if she had been in denial about it for years.
Sebastian searched for answer before he responded with the truth, "It's
humiliating. I didn't think you'd want to talk about it. I thought
you knew, but didn't want to touch the subject."
"I didn't know."
"I thought you did."
"How could you keep this from me?" Constance replied as her anger rose
up again for entirely different reason.
"I thought you knew, but didn't want to talk about it. How could you
not pickup on it?"
"I just didn't."
"I'm sorry."
"This changes everything," Constance replied.
"That's why I never discussed it with you. I knew that if we got into
it, your perception of me would never be the same."
"It's certainly changed, but at least I know you weren't sneaking
around on me."
"It took this to get you there."
"Yes. I never thought you'd cheat. It didn't seem like it's in your
nature. That's why I was so shocked by it, but this...this I might be
able to live with."
"I promise that I'll stop."
"You'll do no such thing," Constance countered.
Sebastian was silent in response to the strong tone of his wife's
response. Constance continued, "I'm going to call my divorce attorney
and tell him to hold off on drawing up any papers, but I want to meet
the woman inside of you."
Sebastian blushed at the thought, happy his wife could not see him
sitting in one of his cross-dressing friend's apartments wearing a cap
sleeved, white lace dress that came to a rest above his sheer, white
stocking covered knees.
"Do you think you're ready for that?" Sebastian asked as his hand
clasped the tonal grosgrain ribbon trim that tapered the waist of his
dress.
"It's something I need. I need the full truth from you if we're going
to fix this," Constance replied, curious about how Sebastian looked en
femme.
"Okay," Sebastian replied with a nod.
"You can move back home, but, first, I want to see how you look in a
dress, Sebastian. Wait, do you have a name for the girl in you?"
"Yes," Sebastian admitted.
"What is it?" Constance inquired.
"Ariel."
"Well, I wouldn't have guessed that name for you, but it's a pretty
one."
"Thanks," Sebastian replied, blushing deeply.
"How quick do you think you can come on over as Ariel."
"Come over as Ariel?"
"Well, I told you I'd have to see you. Beside, you can find somewhere
to dress. If you need a motel room, I'll reimburse you."
"No. That won't be an issue," Sebastian responded truthfully.
"Well, then, I'd like to meet her this afternoon. If that's okay."
"Ariel will be right over," Sebastian replied.
"I can't wait to meet her," Constance responded.
"Me too," Sebastian lied.
They soon hung up and Sebastian stared down at his clothing and
thought, 'This is really happening.'
Sebastian paced about the apartment for a few moments as he wondered if
his wife was setting him up. He wondered if she was just trying to get
a few humiliating pictures of him to better her position in the divorce
proceeding. Still, it was the only chance he had at getting his family
and life back.
Living cutoff from his wife and daughters had been the hardest thing
Sebastian had endured in his life. That he lost his job in the process
only made it worse. Sebastian figured that if the truth came out, he
would at least get his girls back into his life, as they both had gay
friends. Sebastian figured that it would be difficult for them to deal
with his cross-dressing, but he felt that they would come to terms with
it and reconcile with him once they realized he had not been unfaithful
to their mother.
Sebastian walked into the bathroom and touched up his makeup before he
grabbed his purse. After changing out his red, peep toed pumps into a
pair of silver ballet flats, Sebastian wrote a note to his friend,
telling him that he had to go out for a couple of hours.
Sebastian stared at the door for a few minutes, trying to work up the
nerve to step out of it en femme during the daylight hours for the
first time. Sebastian soon realized, however, that he would never feel
comfortable doing it no matter how long he waited.
Sebastian memories were consumed by the many instances in which his
friends always told him how passable he was as a woman. While
Sebastian felt that he was more believable than the rest of his
friends, he was not sure he could pass himself off as a woman.
After putting on a pair of women's sunglasses to hide his eyes,
Sebastian stepped out the door. He walked towards the parking lot and
headed for his car.
Sebastian was happy that he encountered no one on his way through the
suburban parking lot that rested to side of the apartment houses.
Sebastian got into his car and then pulled out of the spot.
Once he reached his wife's home, Sebastian pulled into the driveway.
He called his wife to make sure that she would open the door for him,
since he did not want to be standing around en femme in the full view
of his neighbors of more than 20 years.
Constance answered the phone and peered out her window. She could make
out that Sebastian was sitting in his car, looking little like the man
she had kicked out of her home.
Constance told him to come to the door as she approached it and drew it
open and hung up her phone. Her jaw dropped as she saw her husband
swing his legs out of the car and scamper towards the porch.
Constance's eyes scanned over her husband's long and lean, tights
encased legs before they drifted to the dress that hugged his faux
curves. She shook her head as she realized that her husband's zeal for
fitness had little to do with his health and everything to do with
looking the way he wanted to in a dress.
"That's why he stayed from weights," Constance muttered thinking about
her husband's cardio heavy exercise routines.
Sebastian walked in through the door feeling vulnerable as he stood
before his wife en femme for the first time. Sebastian shut the door
behind him and let his wife look him over as he stood in silence, sure
that she was judging every inch of him.
An alarming thought came into Sebastian's mind as his wife inspected
him, 'She thinks I'm a queer!'
Constance gawked at him in silence before Sebastian removed his
sunglasses. Constance saw the fear and nervousness in his eyes as she
moved towards him.
After wrapped her arms around him, she said, "It's okay. It's okay."
Sebastian was silent as he hugged her back, feeling happy to feel her
embrace once more. As the hug ended, Sebastian asked, "So, what do you
think of Ariel?"
Constance smiled slightly as she said, "You're a much prettier girl
than I expected."
Sebastian squirmed uncomfortably, unsure of how to respond to the
comment before Constance added, "I love your dress too."
"Oh, this old thing," Sebastian replied with a smile.
"I might have to borrow that," Constance said, knowing that she was of
a similar size to her feminized husband.
Sebastian blushed at the idea, but he knew that he had secretly dressed
in her clothing for years whenever he got a moment alone. That was the
main reason he was in such disbelief that she was not aware of his
secret.
"I can't believe that this is you," Constance said shaking her head.
"It's all me, and it's all fake," Sebastian replied with a half smile.
"This is not what I expected at all."
"What did you expect?" Sebastian inquired, raising his eyebrows.
"A man in a dress."
"I'm still a man," Sebastian responded. His heart was racing as his
wife seemed to be confirming every fear he had about broaching the
subject with her.
"It's just uncanny. You seem like a real woman."
"Well, I'm not," Sebastian replied while squirming.
Constance reached for her phone and snapped a quick picture before
Sebastian shrieked, "What did you just do?"
"I took a picture for myself. I want to remember this moment."
"Why?"
"You finally showed me your true self. It's an important moment."
"Delete it!"
"Why would I delete it? I want to remember this."
"Then, remember it. Commit it to memory," Sebastian pleaded.
Constance gave Sebastian a strange look as he wondered why he was so
nervous about her having a picture of him en femme. Constance shook
her head and said, "Ariel, I'm not looking to divorce my husband
anymore."
"You're not," Sebastian replied as his heart began to beat slower.
"No."
Sebastian breathed a sigh of relief before Constance realized just how
much control the picture gave her over her husband. She smiled as she
said, "But there's going to be changes if he's going to move back in."
Sebastian nodded, understanding that his revelation had undeniably
changed their marriage and relationship forever, as well as his wife's
perception of him. Constance stared at her husband for a moment before
she said, "I want to get know my little mermaid a lot better.
Especially now that she's grown such shapely legs"
"I can make that work," Sebastian replied with a half smile, happy for
the chance to spend more time en femme without having to hide it from
his wife as he rubbed his smooth legs.
"We'll spend some time together, and when we go out..."
"Go out?" Sebastian responded, cutting her off.
"Yes. If I'm going to have a new girl living with me, I expect her to
go shopping with me like a good girlfriend. It'll be nice. I haven't
really had the chance to do it since the girls moved out."
Sebastian face turned white as he thought about going shopping with his
wife en femme. Sebastian shook his head and said, "Honey, that would
be great, but I can't do that."
"Why not?"
"Everyone can tell that I'm not really a woman."
"You don't give yourself enough credit," Constance replied, shaking her
head.
"There are tells."
Constance nodded her head, slowly looking over her husband before she
replied, "There are a few, but we can cover them up. It's also about
slight of hand. We just got to draw attention away from them."
"Constance, please. I can't."
"You can't? Well, maybe I can't stand to be married to a pussy who's
too afraid to show the world who she really is?"
Sebastian blushed and squirmed. Constance smiled, knowing that her
challenge to her husband was having its intended effect before she
added, "If you can't show her to the world, maybe I'll just post a
picture of you on Facebook so we can get it out of the way."
Sebastian shook his head as he begged her not to post the picture.
Constance smiled as she felt that she had more control over her husband
than ever before.
Constance relented, "Fine, but you have to do me these favors. I
expect you to be a helpful girlfriend. You picked out a nice dress,
and you were actually pretty good at picking out clothes for the girls
when they were younger."
"Thanks," Sebastian responded blushing again as he remembered being
conflicted over the praise his wife showered on him whenever he
returned from shopping with his daughters.
"Are you ready to go then?" Constance asked.
"Go where?"
"Shopping," Constance answered.
"Now?"
"What better time? You're already dressed up, and I'm good to go.
I'll grab my bag."
Sebastian stared at his wife, dumbfounded while she picked up her
purse. Sebastian shook his head as he muttered under his breath, "I'm
so fucked."
As Constance pulled out her car keys, she then said, "I'll drive."
Sebastian nodded sullenly as he followed her out the door to her car.
Sebastian got in the passenger's seat before Constance started the car
and pulled it out of the driveway.
After a short drive, they arrived at a local outlet mall. Sebastian
gave the place a wary look while sensing a nervous feeling growing
within his stomach.
"Don't worry, you'll be fine," Constance said with a smile as she
parked the car.
'Easy for you to say', Sebastian thought.
Sebastian and Constance exited the car before they started towards the
mall. As Sebastian saw the crowds of people in the buildings,
Sebastian realized that he had never been out en femme around so many
people before, let alone during the daylight hours.
'This is not good', Sebastian thought, sure that someone would see
through his feminized disguise.
Constance led Sebastian into a store that catered to older women.
Sebastian was nervous as he entered the store, but he quickly realized
that no one was looking at him, save for the staff members of the
store. A female clerk asked if he needed any help, Constance replied
for him before the girl continued towards another shopper.
Constance smiled at Sebastian's response to the clerk and the clerk's
response to him.
"Did you see that?" Constance asked.
"What?"
"She totally thinks you're a girl."
"When did you become a Val?"
"80's flashback. I had fun that decade."
"If you can remember it, you weren't really there," Sebastian
countered.
"Oh, I love this," Constance said as she picked up a lace bodice banded
sheet dress with a lace overlay against the surplice, empire-waist
bodice that ended at the black, banded pencil skirt.
"It'd look great on you," Sebastian replied.
Constance smiled and said, "Thanks, but I was thinking about it for
you."
"For me?"
"Yes, it will look great ON YOU. Why don't you try it on?"
"Here?"
"Yes!"
"In the ladies' dressing room?"
"This place only sells ladies wear, so there's no men's dressing room,"
Constance replied in a whisper.
Sebastian began to panic before Constance handed him the dress and
said, "I can't wait to see you in this."
Sebastian forced a smile on his face as he took the dress and went into
the dressing room. Sebastian saw the security camera as he walked into
the dressing room and prayed that there was not a security guard
watching his particular stall when he changed.
Sebastian felt exposed as he stood in his undergarments with his pads
clearly visible in his reflection in the mirror. Sebastian quickly put
on the dress. As he straightened it out over his legs, Sebastian's
mind began to race as he wondered again if this was all trick.
After a few silent prayers, Sebastian stepped out of the stall and
walked out towards where his wife had been standing. She waved to him,
prompting Sebastian to feel a sense of relief.
Constance nodded as she said, "That looks great on you."
"Thanks," Sebastian replied before a saleswoman came over and seconded
his wife's assessment.
Constance nodded along with her before Sebastian went to change back
into his dress. After he finished, he carried out the dress Constance
handed him before she said, "Are you ready?"
"Ready?"
"Yes, I don't see anything I want."
"You don't?"
"No. I was more shopping for you. It's nice to shop for another girl
every once and a while."
"Oh," Sebastian replied, somewhat surprised by his wife's words.
Constance took Sebastian by the arm as they sauntered toward the
counter. The cashier smiled at them before Sebastian went to pay for
the dress.
"Oh, no. It's my treat," Constance said.
Sebastian watched as Constance removed her credit card and paid for the
dress before she led him out of the store.
"What was that about?" Sebastian asked.
"What?"
"You're paying?"
"You wanted to pay with your credit card? Good luck with that,"
Constance replied.
Sebastian blushed as he nodded in agreement with her assessment before
he asked, "So where are we off to next?"
"I'm famished; do you want to grab dinner?" Constance answered.
"Sure," Sebastian replied as he carried Constance's bag alongside her.
They headed for Constance's car before she drove them to a diner that
was located a short distance from the outlet mall. After spending
several hours passing as a woman in public, Sebastian's initial
nervousness had dissipated by the time he entered the diner beside his
wife.
Sebastian and Constance were seated at a small table and ordered their
meals. They made a little small talk while they waited for their
dinner.
As the waitress placed down the plate in front of Sebastian, Sebastian
thought that she made a face at him. Once she walked away from the
table, Sebastian asked, "Did you see that?"
"See what?"
"She made a face at me."
"I didn't see it."
"She knows," Sebastian said.
"Calm down. She doesn't know. Maybe she's just jealous."
"Jealous? She has an actual pussy."
"Penis in a skirt envy then," Constance whispered with a smile.
Sebastian blushed before Constance put her hand on his and said, "Don't
worry about it. Even if she does know, you'll probably never see her
again."
Constance's word soothed Sebastian a little before he began to eat his
dinner. Constance and Sebastian made small talk while Sebastian tried
to subtly watch the waitress. He was relieved that she did not seem to
show any other hints that she knew what he was when she dropped off the
bill.
After Constance paid for the dinner, she drove them home. Sebastian
was excited by what had happened during the course of the day as his
eyes periodically drifted from the windows to his wife. It was only
enhanced by the feeling of Constance's hand rubbing against his tights
covered legs as she drove them home.
As Constance parked the car before their home, Sebastian smiled as he
asked, "So can I move back home?"
Constance smacked her lips against his before she answered, "What a
stupid question, thank God for your looks."
Sebastian smiled at her insinuation before he followed her into the
home. Constance pointed him towards the stairs. As Sebastian headed
up them, he felt his wife pinching at his bottom as they made their way
up to the second floor.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
The next morning, Sebastian awoke and opened his eyes. A smile came
across his face as he felt his wife's head nuzzled up against his
shoulder. He looked around what had become his bedroom once again and
let out a contented sigh.
Constance stirred beside him and said, "It's early."
Sebastian checked the clock and said, "It's not really early," seeing
that 10 o'clock had already passed.
"Can you make breakfast?" Constance asked.
"Sure."
"Thanks, Ariel," Constance replied.
"Ariel?"
Constance smiled as she kissed his cheek and slapped his rear and said,
"I want my wife getting used to that name."
Sebastian's manhood swelled as he remembered how she called him her
wife during their foreplay the night before. The way it aroused him
was not lost on his wife as she practically pushed him out of the bed
and sprawled out underneath the covers.
After putting on his wife's red cotton robe at her insistence,
Sebastian headed down the stairs and made breakfast for the two of
them. He called up to his wife after he put her plate on the table.
Constance came down the stairs in a nightgown before she sat at the
table and ate across from Sebastian. As Constance sipped on her tea,
she asked her husband, "How are you feeling?"
"Better than I have in a long time."
"Me too," Constance replied with a smile before they leaned over the
table to kiss one another.
"It feels so good to be back with you."
"I'm glad, but there's still some more things that I want you to do."
"Can it wait? I still have to pick my stuff up from Phillip's
apartment."
"Oh, it can wait for that."
"What were you thinking?" Sebastian asked, somewhat excited.
"I want you to experience your femininity more."
"Oh heaven forbid. Not that," Sebastian replied with mock terror.
Constance grinned before she responded, "I'm glad you're all in because
I want this to be more than just a game."
Sebastian's smile dissipated as he inquired, "What are you getting at?"
"I want being a woman to be your job."
"I don't think they pay for that," Sebastian replied.
"Not just for that," Constance responded.
Sebastian felt nervous as he asked, "What would they pay me for?"
"For whatever job you did as a temp."
"You want to hire me out as a temp?" Sebastian asked as his heart
started to race.
"I've got just the spot for you. We got the request in last week. A
firm in the building to the south of ours, needs a girl just for a week
to help fill in because two of their girls are out."
"That sounds like bad planning."
"Well, one of them had a baby. You can't expect the other girl not to
take a vacation just because the other was pregnant. That's not very
fair."
"I get that, but isn't this kind of risky?"
"How so?"
"You're hiring out your husband to be an office girl for a client."
"Oh, there's definitely a risk, but no one there knows you."
"They may not know me, but what if they figure out that I'm a man."
"I will be shocked, shocked, if they bring that to my attention."
Sebastian gave his wife a nervous look before she said, "They're a
small company anyway."
"That doesn't matter. What if it gets out?"
"We have a reservoir of good will built up. We'll weather any tempest
your testicles can conjure up."
"I don't think I want to do this."
Constance shook her head at her husband's tepid reply as she rejoined,
"It's not about what you want anymore, Ariel. It's about what we
need."
"What do we need?"
"We need for me to be convinced that this isn't some silly phase for
you."
"I can assure you that this isn't a phase. I think I would have grown
out of in the last 30 years or so if it was."
"These are my terms. If you want to move back in, you've got to show
me that you're willing to do what it takes to address this tendency of
yours head on."
Sebastian stared into his wife's eyes, hoping that she was bluffing.
Her steely look, however, told him that she was not before he relented.
Constance smiled and nodded as she said, "Excellent. I'll let them
know that you're coming aboard."
"Won't they ask about my experience?" Sebastian asked.
"To some extent, but you're a temp. They don't check you like a full
time employee. They expect you to put your head down and get things
done for a week."
"But what if I can't do it?"
"You've ran an office before Ariel. You know what a secretary has to
do."
"But I haven't been one."
"It'll be just like when you were president, except instead of giving
orders, you'll receive them. Just invert everything you know about the
workplace and you'll be fine," Constance replied with a smirk.
Sebastian stared blankly at his wife, searching his mind for a way out,
before he asked, "Wait, won't I need some more clothes?"
"You're going to tell me you don't have enough pretty blouses, skirts
and dresses for a week. That doesn't sound like my husband," Constance
answered with a laugh.
Sebastian blushed and noted that she was right. Constance smiled
before she said he could go and get his things.
Sebastian nodded before he cleaned their plates and cups and went back
up the stairs. He dressed in the outfit that Constance had ripped off
him the day before.
"I'm going to get walk of shame jokes for sure," Sebastian thought as
his mind drifted towards facing Phillip at his apartment. Sebastian
put on his makeup and fixed his hair before he told his wife he was
heading out to get his things.
Constance gave him a goodbye kiss before he scurried towards his car
hoping the neighbors would not see him. As he pulled his car out of
the driveway, Sebastian started to wonder if his revelation was going
to cost him every vestige of his masculinity when all was said and
done.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
The first day of Sebastian's scheduled stint as a temporary office
assistant arrived with the sound of his alarm clock beeping. Sebastian
got to his feet with a moan before he turned it off and went down to
the kitchen.
After grabbing a quick breakfast, Sebastian headed back up the stairs
and into the shower. Sebastian washed himself and inspected his body
for any stray hairs he may have missed when he shaved it the night
before. Satisfied that he was hairless everywhere that could be seen
beneath his outfit, Sebastian stepped out of the shower and dried
himself off.
As Sebastian walked into his bedroom to change into his outfit for the
day, his wife was rolling out of bed. She gave Sebastian a smile and
said, "Going so soon."
"Some of us have to be on time," Sebastian replied.
"Boss's privilege," Constance retorted with a smile.
Sebastian nodded, knowing how many times he had arrived late at the
office merely because he could when he had been the president of his
wife's agency. Sebastian did not have time to dwell much on the past
though as he put on his gaff and covered it up with a pair of panties.
After making sure that his straining manhood was tucked away snuggly,
Sebastian took hold of a pair of black tights. Sebastian rolled them
down as he had become accustomed to before he slowly unrolled the up
his legs. The sensations along his legs caused his compressed member
to try to free itself from his tight confines, but it remained snugly
in place as Sebastian pulled the control top of his tights to his
waist.
Sebastian then went over to his dresser and removed a gel-padded bra.
He slipped on the bra once he finished affixing a pair of breast forms
to his shaved chest.
With his underwear taken care of, Sebastian went to his closet and
removed the dress his wife suggested he wear for the first day.
Sebastian was excited to wear it to the workplace, even as he was
concerned how he would be greeted and accepted by his temporary
coworkers.
Sebastian slipped the cobalt blue, jersey-knit dress fashioned with a
surplice V-neckline and sleeves that fall just below the elbow on over
his head before he zipped up the rear zipper with some effort.
Sebastian smiled as he caught a glimpse of his reflection in his wife's
dressing mirror.
"I look good," Sebastian said to himself with a smile while examining
the dress's shutter pleats that enhanced the curve hugging silhouette
of the dress, unaware that his wife was listening as she stood at the
base of the stairs.
As Sebastian strolled towards his closet, Constance reentered the room,
struggling not to laugh at her husband's self-satisfaction with his
feminized state. She gave him a grin as she watched her husband bend
from the knees to pickup his shoes.
"So lady like," Constance felt compelled to say.
Sebastian turned to face his wife and retorted, "It comes with
practice."
Constance laughed as she went into the master bathroom. As he heard
his wife turn on the shower, Sebastian placed his pumps into his
oversized, leather purse before he put on a pair of black, patent
leather flats.
Sebastian then turned and went into the bathroom that had once been
reserved for his daughters. Sebastian took his makeup out of his purse
and put it on. His years of experience made the process more of a
chore than something that excited him. Still, he could not help but
smile at his feminized reflection when he finished.
Sebastian then grabbed hold of his brush. He brushed out his hair a
little before he tied it back in a ponytail that he felt would look
respectable on an office assistant. Sebastian was satisfied with his
reflection as he stepped out of the bathroom.
Constance caught a glimpse of Sebastian as he exited and called out to
him. Having already revealed himself to his wife en femme, Sebastian
did not hesitate as he walked into their bedroom en femme as Constance
stood before him dressed in her robe. She smiled as she looked him
over from head to toe. Sebastian sensed that she was excited as she
began to compliment his outfit.
"I could use a girl like you," Constance said with a laugh.
"You've got me."
"No, I mean at work."
"Well, then keep looking, because I've got to get to my job," Sebastian
retorted with a smile before he kissed his wife goodbye.
Sebastian headed down the stairs before he started the rental car that
Constance had got for him for the week. Sebastian felt that he could
explain away his luxury vehicle by noting that he had a successful
spouse, but Constance advised that she did not want any of the girls he
was going to be working with to think that she was any different from
them.
After letting it warm up for a minute, Sebastian looked around for his
neighbors before he stepped out of his house and closed the door behind
him. Sebastian hurried to the driver's side door before he stepped
into the Ford Focus.
Sebastian pulled the car out of the driveway and began the drive to the
office. Sebastian's mind wandered as he made his way to the building.
He wondered if he could keep up the ruse that had seemed to fool so
many people during his excursion with his wife. The thought of seeing
the same people every day for a week filled Sebastian with a sense of
foreboding as he figured that his slipups would eventually give him
away.
Sebastian pulled into the building's parking lot and took a few deep
breaths before he put on his black, three-inch heeled pumps and made
the long walk towards the door. As he walked towards the building, he
looked across the parking lot towards the neighboring building where
his wife's agency was headquartered. He saw the empty spot that was
reserved for his wife and thought about how much she seemed to enjoy
the fact that he had to be punctual.
After entering the lobby of the building, Sebastian looked at the
directory on the wall before he headed to the office that had
contracted for his services for the week. Sebastian collected himself
for a minute and stood up straight as he stared at the door to the
office. He then drew it open, walked in and introduced himself to the
receptionist.
The girl smiled before she told him that he would have to report to the
manager of the branch. Sebastian thanked her while she began to lead
him to the manager's office. As Sebastian followed behind her, he was
relieved that she did not indicate that there was anything strange
about him.
When they reached the manager's office, Antonia stood up to greet her
temporary employee. After exchanging salutations, Antonia asked
Sebastian to take a seat.
Sebastian sat down in the guest chair before Antonia's desk, while she
sat in the executive's chair that was similar to the one he once had.
As Sebastian crossed his legs, Antonia gave him a brief overview of his
responsibilities and the company's various procedures. Sebastian
listened carefully to Antonia. Although she looked no older than he
was, Sebastian knew that she was in a position of respect in the
company. He hated when his subordinates crossed the line with him and
was careful to give Antonia all the respect she was due, since he did
not want his wife's company to look bad.
When she was finished with the introduction, Antonia took Sebastian
over to the desk he would call his for the week. She then introduced
him to Stevie, the office manager, and Gerri, a full time
administrative assistant with the company, who were both seated near
his desk.
They both greeted Sebastian warmly to his evident relief before Antonia
turned and walked back into her office. Stevie chatted with Sebastian
for a few minutes before she told him to get a pen and a legal pad to
take down the first set of tasks that she was assigning him.
Sebastian got a pen and a legal pad from the supply closet before he
returned to Stevie's desk and wrote down his assignments. Stevie
informed Sebastian that he would be doing a significant amount of
copying due to the backlog that had accumulated because one
administrative assistant had left on maternity leave.
Sebastian nodded before he asked, "They didn't get a temp for her?"
"No. They don't want to pay someone for six weeks. They'd rather just
let it all fall on the rest of us."
"At least they got me to fill in for the other girl," Sebastian
replied, trying to console the irritated girl a little.
"Yes, for a full week," Stevie replied, unable to conceal her sarcasm,
before she gave Sebastian directions for his first copying job.
Sebastian listened closely before he took hold of the large stack of
papers and followed Stevie to the copier. Sebastian paid special
attention to Stevie as she gave him the instructions on how to use the
machine.
Sebastian nodded along as he committed the details to memory before
Stevie went back to her desk. Sebastian shrugged as he began sorting
the documents, thinking, 'This shouldn't be that hard', as he began
running off the copies. As the sets printed, Sebastian began to place
them on the floor to sort them.
After the first hour at the machine, Sebastian's ankles and feet began
to ache. His back too began to bother him as the constant bending to
move documents and feed other papers into the printer caught up with
him.
"This is a young woman's game," Sebastian muttered to himself as he
began to wonder if he was in over his head.
A few minutes later, even Sebastian's fingers began to ache as he
punched in another number for the required set of copies. Sebastian
shook his head in disbelief and wondered if the girls at Constance's
office experienced the same sort of things when they worked beneath
him.
"I can't believe they haven't figured out a better way to do this yet,"
Sebastian muttered as he ran off and sorted another set of documents.
Once he finished printing each set, he bundled them with rubber bands
before he took hold of the sets that needed to be bound. Sebastian
brought them over to his desk before he took hold of the Velobinding
machine that the office had. Sebastian listened as Stevie gave him
suggestions as he set it up. Figuring she knew better than he did,
Sebastian followed her instructions closely as he bound the various
sets that required it.
After finishing, Sebastian got to his feet and began to carry the
various sets out to each of the employees they had been created for.
Sebastian walked them into the various offices as each step grew more
painful. The pain ran up from his feet through his lower back making
it difficult to keep from grimacing. Upon delivering each stack of
documents, Sebastian found it necessary to clutch at his back while he
walked back towards his desk. Sebastian wondered if it was all worth
it, since most of the employees took the sets without a word of thanks
or only token thanks for his efforts.
'Was I that much of a dick?' Sebastian found himself wondering.
A small stack of papers with a post-it note on top of it greeted
Sebastian's eyes as he walked back to his desk. Sebastian clutched the
note and read it before he sat down at his desk and began to type up a
fax cover sheet for the small document set.
Sebastian finished typing the document and retrieved the completed
cover sheet from the printer before he headed to the fax machine.
Sebastian stared blankly at the machine for a moment as he noticed that
the machine was placed on a high countertop. Even with his heels,
Sebastian could not get a clear view of the numbers on the machine.
'What the hell is with this?' Sebastian wondered.
Gerri smiled as she saw Sebastian struggling to hit the right numbers
before she said, "We have a stepstool for that."
"You do?"
Gerri nodded as she brought it over to him. Sebastian thanked her
before he asked, "If you need a stepstool to use it, wouldn't it just
be smarter to put the machine on a lower counter?"
"That would make too much sense for corporate. This is what they want.
Don't ask me why?"
Sebastian shook his head before he stepped onto the stepstool, careful
to securely situate the heels and toes of his pumps upon it. Sebastian
leaned over a little as he inputted the numbers before he sent the fax
out.
Once he received the confirmation page, Sebastian returned the document
set and the fax confirmation to the employee who had left it on his
desk. He then walked back to his desk and began to work on the next
task that Stevie had assigned him.
As Sebastian sat at his desk, working on inputting the stack of order
forms that had been handed to him, he listened as Stevie and Gerri
chatted while they worked between answering phone calls.
Sebastian interjected where he could before the girls decided to try to
get to know him. They asked him some personal questions that he
answered as truthfully as he could, in light of his circumstances and
the lie he was trying to maintain.
"So, do you have any kids?" Stevie asked.
"Sure do," Sebastian replied.
"How many?" Gerri chimed in.
"I've got two beautiful girls," Sebastian answered.
"Oh, you've got girls," Gerri replied.
"I sure do."
"You're so lucky I've got boys."
"Why am I lucky?"
"Well, boys are easier to deal with, but they're so messy, and they go
through food like you can't believe," Gerri replied.
Sebastian smiled as he thought back to his time in high school and
thought, 'Tell me about it.'
"How many boys do you have?" Sebastian asked.
"I've got three boys."
"Three?" Sebastian said with a laugh.
"Yes, me and my husband had our first boy and thought, 'Hey, let's try
for a girl.' Then the second boy came and we were like, 'Okay, two
boys is nice, how about trying again for a girl.' Then my third son
was born. I love him to death, but me and my husband we just look each
other some times and say 'What the hell did we do?'"
Sebastian laughed at her comment before Gerri pulled up pictures of her
three sons on her phone. Sebastian looked them over before he said,
"Oh, they're young."
"Well, the youngest is 8 and the oldest is 14."
"That's young," Sebastian replied.
"Only the little one is really little," Gerri replied.
"And by little, she means still cute," Stevie interjected.
Sebastian laughed along with the girls before he said, "Well, my
daughters are older."
"How old?" Stevie asked.
"They're both out of college and living on their own."
"Oh, my God. That sounds like heaven," Gerri replied.
"It takes some getting used to just being you and the...umm...husband
again," Sebastian responded catching himself before he referred to
Constance as his wife.
"Are they living with someone else?" Stevie inquired.
"Miranda, my oldest, is engaged."
"What's he do?"
"He's an orthopedist."
"A doctor?"
"My...husband wouldn't stand for her marrying anything less," Sebastian
responded with a laugh.
"What does your husband do?"
"He runs a business," Sebastian replied with a half-truth.
"How about your daughter?" Stevie asked.
"Well, Miranda's a physicians' assistant."
"Is that how they met?"
"No. He wasn't her boss or anything like that, but they met through
her boss."
"That's nice," Gerri replied before Stevie said, "I'd kill to marry an
orthopedist."
Gerri and Sebastian nodded before Gerri asked, "How about your other
daughter. What's she up to?"
"My younger daughter is living with a girl friend while she finishes up
nursing school."
"Another one in the medical field! What's your secret?" Gerri
responded with no hint that it was anything other than a demand.
"Just have good kids," he replied.
"That's it?"
"Well, it helps that their...father is quite smart," Sebastian replied,
thinking about his wife.
"And when you say your daughter is living with a girl friend...," Stevie
began to ask, trying to feel better about herself.
"She's a friend, nothing more! My Iris's been dating the same guy for
eight months," Sebastian replied, shooting down Stevie's insinuation.
Stevie seemed to realize that she had touched a nerve before she went
to answer the phone. She handled the call while Sebastian and Gerri
went back to their tasks.
As lunchtime came, Sebastian looked over to the girls and asked where
they got lunch. Stevie responded for the both of them, "We both bring
our lunch."
"Oh," Sebastian replied.
"It's so much cheaper," Gerri responded.
"Not to mention healthier," Stevie added.
Sebastian nodded, knowing that most of his wife's administrative
assistants brought their lunches to work for the same reasons.
Sebastian decided that he would do it too for the remainder of the
week, since he was sure that the girls expected him to not have the
disposable income to afford to buy lunch each day.
Since the building had an in-house cafeteria, Sebastian decided to go
down to it to grab lunch. There were a few people there, including two
that Sebastian recognized as people he had met in passing.
Sebastian tried to keep his distance from them as they waited for their
lunches to be prepared. He placed his order before he drifted to the
other side of the mostly empty room, as most of the cafeteria's
customers picked up their lunch and returned to their offices.
Sebastian was relieved when the two men he recognized did the same
without acknowledging his presence.
After Sebastian paid for his lunch, he decided to return to his desk
and ate at it while he worked through lunch beside Stevie and Gerri.
Once he finished eating, Sebastian felt the urge to go to the bathroom.
"Do we need a key for the bathroom?" Sebastian asked Stevie.
Stevie nodded as she answered, "Yes, I have the key."
"Thanks," Sebastian replied as he got to his feet and took it from her
before he asked, "Is there only one key?"
"No, but there's just one key for us and our guests. We're not
important enough to get our own keys, apparently," Stevie retorted.
From Stevie's tone, Sebastian surmised that he had come across another
source of the evident displeasure that Stevie had towards her employer.
Sebastian nodded as he thanked her again while he took the key and
headed for the common ladies' room on the floor. Sebastian unlocked
the door, feeling like a pervert as he entered a ladies' room for the
first time.
Sebastian tried to avoid eye contact with the woman washing her hands
in the sink as he slinked towards the stalls. Sebastian muttered to
himself as he saw that the only open one was located between two closed
stalls.
Sebastian prayed that nothing he did would give him away as he stepped
into the stall. He scrunched his face as he closed the stall door
behind him and stared at the toilet seat. He knew that he would have
to sit, even though he preferred to avoid doing so on communal toilet
seats.
Seeing no toilet seat covers, Sebastian sighed as he unrolled toilet
paper from the dispenser. Sebastian lined the seat with toilet paper
before he moved towards the bowl. He pulled his dress up and his
panties and hosiery down as he backed towards the bowl, almost tripping
over it in the process.
Sebastian braced himself against the stall's walls as he righted
himself before a girl in a neighboring stall inquired, "Are you okay in
there?"
"Yes, just a little malfunction," Sebastian replied, blushing as his
freed, sweaty member began to surge in front of his body.
Sebastian quickly sat down on the seat and relieved himself. The sound
of girls rolling out the toilet paper dispensers reminded him to do to
the same to make it seem as if he was wiping himself dry before he
stood up.
Once he was satisfied that his member was properly tucked away in his
gaff, panties and hosiery, Sebastian let down his dress and cleaned up
in the stall. He then walked towards the sink and washed his hands
before he touched up makeup.
After returning the key to the bathroom to Stevie, Sebastian sat down
at his desk and noticed that the telephone was ringing as the two girls
in sight were preoccupied with calls of their own. Sebastian reached
for the phone and answered it and took down the message before he tried
to figure out how to transfer the call.
Sebastian called over to the intended recipient and asked her how to do
so before she instructed him on the process to do so. Sebastian then
transferred the call and turned his attention to the mail that had been
dropped on his desk while he was in the bathroom.
Sebastian sorted the mail while Stevie and Gerri continued on their
telephone conversations. Once he finished, Sebastian handed out the
mail to the various staff that it was addressed to.
As he handed it to Antonia, she smiled and said, "While you're here,
can you get me a cup of coffee?"
"Sure," Sebastian replied while he took the coffee mug that Antonia
held up from her.
Sebastian carried it into the kitchen and waited for the cup of coffee
to brew. As he waited, Sebastian stared around the kitchen and thought
about his day for the first time. He had worked harder than he had
expected to, but there was a lack of stress that accompanied it that
seemed strange for the workplace. Having grown used to giving orders
and having the ultimate responsibility for everything fall on him and
his wife, Sebastian found it relaxing to take orders and have the
responsibility for things falling on those above him for a change.
Once the coffee finished brewing, he added the creamer and sugar that
Antonia requested and carried the cup back to her office. He handed it
to her before he returned to his desk to take hold of another batch of
papers to copy.
Sebastian knew that the task would likely take him through the end of
his workday as he headed for the copier. Sebastian spread the
documents out on the floor to ensure that the bundles did not get mixed
together and that he did not run off more copies than he needed.
The constant bending and standing was even more painful than it had
been when he did it in the morning. The overall soreness in his back,
ankles and feet grew more pronounced with each set, and Sebastian found
himself wishing that he could work in flats.
Stevie noticed his discomfort as she walked by him and asked if he
needed any help. Sebastian politely refused her, not wanting his tasks
to fall on her since she he knew that she was clearly overworked.
Sebastian then asked, "Is it alright if we wear flats to work?"
Stevie gave him a strange look before she said, "You didn't notice that
Gerri was wearing them?"
"Well, I did, but I didn't know if she had a medical excuse," Sebastian
lied.
Stevie laughed as she said, "Of course you can wear flats. We're
secretaries. Only the higher ups have to wear heels."
Sebastian nodded as he replied, "That's good to know."
Stevie nodded too before she added, "But keep a pair of black pumps on
hand, just in case the boss wants to make a good impression on a
client."
"Can do," Sebastian replied with a smile that masked his pain while he
went back to his copy job that took him through the end of his workday.
As Sebastian's first day at the company ended, Sebastian said goodbye
to his temporary coworkers and headed back into the parking lot. As he
caught a glimpse of his wife's car parked in her spot at the building
next door, he thought, 'I'd better start dinner when I get home.'
Sebastian got into his car and changed back into his flats before he
began the drive home. Sebastian moved slowly with traffic until he
reached his exit. He then took the various back roads he new to avoid
the local traffic before he reached his neighborhood.
Sebastian turned into his neighborhood and slowly made his way past the
suburban houses that lined the blocks. Sebastian pulled into his
driveway before he reached for his keys and pulled them from the
ignition.
After looking around at his neighbors' homes, Sebastian felt reasonably
assured that no one was looking at him before he exited his car and
hurried towards the door. Sebastian fiddled with his keys with his
trembling fingers before he pushed them into the lock and let himself
inside.
Sebastian closed the door behind him and took off his flats, thankful
that he would get a chance to wear them to work the next day. He then
headed for the kitchen before he placed his bag and his keys down.
Sebastian felt the warm wood floor beneath his pantyhose as he moved
about in the kitchen and smiled at the feeling that still struck as so
usual, but still alluring.
Once Sebastian decided on what to cook for dinner, he began to make the
meal for him and his wife. Sebastian cooked the meal for over an hour
before his wife returned home.
Constance smiled as she entered the kitchen and said, "Something smells
good."
"Thanks," Sebastian replied before he gave his wife a kiss.
"You're welcome. Do you need any help?"
"No. I've got it covered, and you probably had a long day," Sebastian
answered.
Constance smiled as she patted him on his rear and said, "That's a
sweet little wife."
Sebastian blushed in response to what his wife referred to him as
before he said, "That's funny. I actually had to call you my husband
today."
"What?" Constance asked with raised eyebrows before she said, "Tell me
all about that."
Sebastian told his wife about the stories he had exchanged regarding
children with the other two secretaries at work. Constance smiled as
she heard her husband talking about the small talk he made with the
other women before she asked, "How did calling me your husband feel?"
"Weird," Sebastian admitted.
Constance nodded with a smile as she said, "I'm sure it did, but it's a
nice word, isn't it?"
"I guess," Sebastian replied as he took the meal out of the oven.
"Wife's a nice word too," Constance replied with a smile.
"For a woman," Sebastian retorted with a smirk.
"Whatever," Constance responded as she walked towards the table that
Sebastian had already set.
Sebastian carried the meal over to the table before he got drinks for
himself and Constance. Constance looked at Sebastian as he sat down
and said, "Aren't you going to serve us, dear?"
"Serve?" Sebastian replied.
"Yes, you're the lady of the home tonight," Constance responded.
The smirk on her face made Sebastian smile before he said, "Anything
for you."
Sebastian stood up and served them both before he sat down and began to
eat beside his wife. Constance told Sebastian a little about her day
at the office before she asked, "How was your day?"
"What you'd expect it to be," Sebastian answered.
"No. I want every detail," Constance replied.
"What's there to say?"
"You tell me," Constance rejoined.
"Should I start at the beginning?"
"No start the story from the middle. That's always the best place. It
does away with all that silly context stuff," Constance retorted before
smiling.
Sebastian rolled his eyes before he told her how he arrived at work and
how he felt. Constance nodded along as he informed her about the
various tasks he had completed that day and how Antonia had spoken to
him.
"That seems a little different than what you're probably used to at the
office," Constance responded as she raised her eyebrows.
"A little?" Sebastian said with a laugh before he began talking about
his conversations with the girls. The smile on Constance's face grew
as she listened to the details of her husband's conversations with the
permanent secretarial staff of a neighboring office.
Once they finished eating, Constance said, "Why don't you clean up
around here? I'm feeling a little faint."
"Are you okay?"
"Oh, I just need to lie down for a moment."
"Let me help you?"
"No, I've got it, honey. Just clean up."
"Okay," Sebastian replied before he cleaned the table. Sebastian
washed the glasses, silverware, plates and pans before he walked
towards the stairs.
Sebastian headed up the staircase and opened his bedroom door. As
Sebastian pushed the door open, he said, "Honey, how are you feeling?"
"Just fine," Constance replied as she greeted him dressed only in a
pink chemise with floral lace at the bodice, hem and across the body.
Sebastian stared at her in silence for a moment, taking in her
appearance.
"Do you like it?"
Sebastian nodded.
"That's great. I got it just for my little, Ariel."
"Ariel likes. Ariel really likes," Sebastian responded.
"Then, get your sweet little ass over here, wifey," Constance replied
with a smile.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
The next morning, Sebastian arose and got himself ready before he made
himself lunch. After putting his meal into a lunch bag he bought for
trips to sporting events, he drove to work wearing a dress, pantyhose
and flats.
Once he arrived at work, he fell into the same routines that had been
ingrained in him the previous day. His day became predominated by
copying jobs, faxing documents, sorting mail and answering telephone
calls. The monotony was only broken up by the small talk he made with
Stevie and Gerri and the various minor requests that came his way from
the staff during the day, such as requests to call in lunch orders or
for cups of coffee.
Sebastian embraced the requests that broke up the repetitiveness that
defined his workdays. Even filing documents and retrieving them from
storage, struck Sebastian as a relief from his typical workday
activities.
Most of the tasks, however, revolved around Antonia and the higher ups'
meetings. Sebastian called in their lunch orders and was tasked with
keeping the conference rooms clean.
Before each meeting, Sebastian was sent into the conference room to
clean the tabletops and make sure that everything looked spick-and-
span. He felt that he was almost the firm's part-time maid as he wiped
down the tables. When the food arrived for the lunch meetings,
Sebastian would bring it into the room and hand it out to his
coworkers, bosses and the company's guests and clients.
Despite his many years of being in such meetings, his employer thought
of him as a low skilled, temporary employee. Accordingly, it was
always Gerri or Stevie who was brought into the meeting to take notes
and not him. Sebastian understood the reasoning behind it and knew
that he could not make an issue of it.
As the days of the week went by, Constance began to be more forward
when they discussed their workdays each evening. Sebastian realized
that she was struggling to emphasize just how different their roles
were in their respective workplaces, even as he struggled to understand
why the emphasis on those differences aroused him.
On Thursday evening, Constance decided to double down on her mild
references to it over the prior days as she asked, "How was your day?"
"You know, same old, same old," Sebastian replied.
"Is that all?" Constance asked,
Sebastian shrugged before Constance replied, "So you were answering
phones and running off copies and doing whatever your lovely boss told
you to do?"
Sebastian nodded before Constance smiled and said, "I almost envy you."
"Why?"
"You have no responsibilities. You should see what I had to do today.
I was up to my neck in paperwork and administering the girls."
"I could help with that."
"I suppose you could," Constance said with a smile.
"So, how about it?"
"Coming back to work with me?"
"Sure."
"Well, I could use another good secretary, but are you sure you could
take orders from me, you know, in front of others," Constance asked.
Sebastian nearly choked on the dinner he had cooked them before he
replied, "You want me to come back as a secretary?"
"Well, what other work experience do you have, Ariel?"
"I didn't mean come back to work for you as Ariel," Sebastian retorted,
knowing that his wife was aware of his intent all along.
Constance grinned as she said, "I figured as much."
"So what do you say?"
"I'll think about it."
"What's there to think about?"
"What I tell the girls at work about it."
"What have you told them?"
"They know, that we've reconciled."
"Good," Sebastian replied before he began to panic as he inquired,
"What did you tell them?"
"I told them the truth."
"Which truth?" Sebastian asked as his knees started to bang together.
"That I've forgive you."
"So, they still think I'm an adulterer?" Sebastian inquired.
"Well, I didn't correct that assumption. I could tell them the whole
truth, if you're ready," Constance answered.
Sebastian shook his head as fast as he could. Constance smiled in
response as she said, "That's what I thought. The girls figure that it
will take time for me to trust you again to bring you back on."
Sebastian nodded, understanding his wife's position before Constance
said, "And talking about the girls at work leads me to another point."
"What?"
"What do we do about our girls?" Constance asked.
Sebastian's eyes opened wide before he answered, "Nothing. There's
nothing to say."
"They don't know we've reconciled. They should know, and they'll have
to know eventually."
Sebastian nodded as he replied, "We can tell them that."
"We can tell them that, but I don't want them to still be mad at you
for something you didn't do."
"I'm not happy about either, but..."
"We can't lie to them, Sebastian. They're family."
"We lie to them all time. Don't you remember Santa Claus and the
Easter Bunny..."
"And don't forget the Tooth Fairy, but that one wasn't so far off from
the truth, now, was it, twinkle toes?" Constance responded with a
laugh.
Sebastian squirmed uncomfortably as he responded, "We can't tell them
about this. What will they think?"
"It's got to be better than their dad's an untrustworthy leech."
Sebastian was unnerved by the prospect of his daughters being told the
truth about him. He said, "Can we put it off for a little bit? This
is all too much at once."
Constance nodded while she replied, "I can agree to that, but we'll
have to tell them before the next time one of them visits. I can't
have them showing up and seeing Ariel scurrying around the kitchen
without an explanation."
"You want them to see me like this?" Sebastian asked, incredulous.
"How else will they believe the truth?"
"I think the admission would be humiliating enough for them to realize
I'm not lying," Sebastian retorted.
"All another issue for another day," Constance replied with a
dismissive wave of her hand as she finished eating. She then stood up
and went to the living room, leaving Sebastian to clean the table.
Sebastian cleared the table and cleaned up the kitchen before he joined
his wife in the living room. After watching the television for a few
hours they turned in for the night.
The next morning, Sebastian awoke and headed back to the office to
spend his last day working for Antonia. He smiled as he greeted the
girls dressed in a taupe colored, above the knee, pencil skirt, a
colored, long sleeved, white poplin shirt with tonal floral embroidery,
black, sheer pantyhose and black flats.
After settling in at his desk, Sebastian noticed that the phones were
ringing constantly. He started to pitch in for Stevie, Gerri and the
receptionist as he directed the calls. He soon realized that the
meeting scheduled for that morning was important.
Sebastian handled the calls as best he could before he stood up and
went into