I awoke first the next day. I quietly got up, took a shower, and slipped
on a sheer top, miniskirt and heels. Seeing my full breasts through the
top, it was difficult to believe the reflection was me. My image was
both titillating and embarrassing. I briefly considered getting a bra,
but I needed some coffee to clear my head after last night. Also, I had
a feeling Dani would like the show I provided. Again the mixed messages
that my look gave me, made even simple acts more complicated. Finally,
heading down to the kitchen, I made coffee and started to cook Dani's
breakfast. I took it to her, laid out on a tray. As I entered the
bedroom, she was just awakening, having smelled the sweet aroma of the
coffee. We talked as we both ate from the tray, feeding each other
toast, bacon, and fruit. I had never felt so loved, or so complete. But
shivers of uncertainty also intruded as the enormity of what we did
yesterday began to appear. We talked about last night, our feelings when
we were with the guys, how involving someone else in our lives might
affect our marriage, how open we should be from now on with my
transition, and what other changes we might be headed for. As part of
the discussion, it dawned on me that I had nothing really professional
to wear for work on Monday. All my outfits were too sexy for business
wear. That got Dani excited about going shopping for some proper clothes
for me. She also was pretty bullish on how I should be up front from now
on. She saw no reason for me not to dress as a woman all the time and
proposed several events where my new image could be exposed. She was
adamant that I should dress sexily everywhere but at work and maybe even
there, if I could. When she told me that, she emphasized it by caressing
one of my breasts through my blouse. But most importantly, she was
determined that we should continue to date Tim and James.
In her mind, our marriage would not be impacted by our explorations of
our new found identities. For her, it meant completing a long-time
fantasy of being with a childhood crush. For me, it meant exploring the
full realm of being a girl. Dani loved the idea of us double-dating and
even taking it further. Apparently, facing my condition had released her
from the bonds of being conventional, especially sexually. She had been
so fulfilled in her new role as a dominant sex partner, that it
encouraged her to push her boundaries. That was one reason she wanted to
pursue some sort of relationship with James, as it had been a hidden
part of her for a long time. She reassured me that she had no desire to
totally replace me with him, as we were too different now. She saw his
role as more of a supplement to our relationship. That is how she saw
any relationship I might have with Tim too. She was thrilled when I told
her of the conversation Tim and I had as we left the reunion. She loved
that we had kissed too. That made her even more determined to follow
this new path. Her commitment to a new lifestyle for us, seemed solid,
even though it was frightening to me.
During our conversations, Dani made it clear that I after I passed on
entering her pussy last night that I should forget about putting my cock
in her pussy at least for a while. She wanted me to be girl-centric.
When I asked what she meant by that, she bluntly told me I was to think
as a woman, act like a woman, and be fucked like a woman. My cock was to
be considered like a clitoris, only a bigger, which could be rubbed but
not used for intercourse. She was convinced that if I limited my sexual
actions to what a woman could physically do, then I would be modifying
my feelings, desires, and emotions to emulate a woman's. So for the time
being, my cock was gone. That discussion worried me immensely, and
brought back my concerns that I had wrongly abandoned my masculinity in
response to my condition. Those thoughts still haunted me, making me
feel the enormity of my error and the more she talked the more I became
uncertain. Although I had reacted to Tim's advances in the parking lot,
the idea of doing more with a man, especially sexually, seemed wrong. I
guess I still saw myself as a straight man, despite my curvy female
appearance. I would need to deal with that conflict at some point. But
first things first, we needed a full shopping day so I would be prepared
for Hanna's appearance at my company. I would have to delay any push to
reclaim my masculinity until a time when Dani would be more receptive to
my wishes.
After she took a shower, we did our makeup, and got dressed we headed to
the local mall. Dani wore a simple shorts and top outfit, with low-heel
flats. She insisted I needed to wear heels, as I would want to wear them
to work, so I had on a tight, short skirt and a print low cut top. She
did allow me to wear pantyhose rather than stockings, as it would make
trying on outfits easier. Dani loved to shop, so we spent all day there
and at several strip malls that featured specialty clothing stores that
she liked. The emphasis was on nice, business-friendly outfits. She
started me out with several jacket and skirt suits in simple black,
gray, or navy blue colors, in solid, small check, or pinstripes. We
paired these with classic silk blouses in pale pastels, with either a
small tab collar, a flouncy bow, or a double ruffle front. I tried to
convince her that I needed something less feminine, but her argument
that I needed to embrace my new femininity won out. That translated to a
couple of dresses as well; one in a flowery print and the other in a
vibrant abstract design. Both had tight sleeves that reached to my
elbow, rounded necklines, feminine but decidedly different from the full
cleavage-baring looks she had chosen for me before. The length of the
skirts seemed short to me in the suit choices, but she told me my legs
were killer and even at work, a girl likes to show off a little. The
dresses were a bit longer, but still a few inches above the knee and
with a flare and a tight waist that with my large bust gave me a very
hourglass silhouette. I did attempt to pair the suit jackets with the
matching dress pants, but she refused all except for one pair that
featured a rear-zip, had no pockets, and was only ankle length. When I
tried them on with my pumps, she thought they gave me a nice look. Even
though, I won that battle I almost regretted it, because the style and
short length were definitely a female pant and emphasized my rounded
butt and smooth crotch, as my cock was tightly held underneath my
pantyhose. I felt it signaled my switch from male to female as much as
wearing a skirt did.
When we had several appropriate work outfits, Dani insisted I needed
more shoes. So we shopped another two hours for more heels. Once more I
argued that flats would look more professional, but Dani wouldn't hear
of it. Besides she argued, I was so used to heels, it would be silly to
buy me flats. We wound up buying three more pairs, all pumps, although
they had nice design features that made them unique. The final stop was
a jewelry outlet she liked, where we got several plain but matching
earring, bracelet and necklace sets as well as two more watches. Dani
didn't think my glittery diamond ensemble would do for work as it was a
bit flashy. To celebrate my new purchases, we stopped at small Italian
restaurant for dinner. As a sort of exclamation point for my new look,
the waiter flirty constantly with Dani and I. He seemed to really enjoy
placing items in front of me, as I could see him eyeing my cleavage with
every move. As we left, he thanked us both, by taking our hands and
kissing them. Dani had to laugh as we drove off, telling me, that maybe
next time we should go out for drinks first, as she was sure I could get
some free drinks from the guys with my new looks. Once at home, we
changed into our nightgowns and spent the rest of the evening, kissing,
cuddling and watching a romantic comedy in bed as I leisurely licked her
pussy.
Sunday Dani insisted we go to her church, me wearing one of my new,
conservative dresses, but otherwise made up as a complete woman. I was a
bit terrified to be on display at such a conservative place, but she
told me we needed to embrace our new life and not hide. I had to admit,
I felt good seeing how well I matched the other females in the
congregation. The preacher said nothing more than it was good to see us,
as he shook our hands at the exit. Dani took us to a nice restaurant for
brunch before we headed home. There she had me strip for her, so she
could become better acquainted with my larger breasts. She also fucked
me twice. Once from behind, so she could reach under me to fondle them
as they hung from my chest and once in missionary style, so she could
lick and kiss them. She was entirely supportive of my complete
transition. With her curiosity satisfied momentarily, I dressed and
began to get caught up in the household chores that had gone undone
while I was at Annette's. It was clear to me that even though Dani had
moved back toward her more feminine self, she was still in charge and
housework was now all mine. I didn't mind, except for when she got a
call from James. She curled up on the sofa, giggling and whispering as
they talked. I could see she was excited, as she absent-mindedly played
with her hair or stroked her upper thigh. I tried not to overreact, but
hearing the emotion in her voice made me jealous. It also made me
embarrassed that she was openly flirting with a man while I was doing
household chores in a dress and apron. I berated myself mentally for
being such a wuss to accept this change and for being so stupid in my
attempt to have everything surgically corrected. At one point, as I was
mopping the kitchen floor, I definitely heard Dani giggle and tell James
that she'd like to do that too. It was the kind of open ended answer
that made me imagine all kinds of possible questions, most of them
sexually oriented. So by the time she hung up, I was mad, jealous, and a
worried all at once. But she didn't give me a chance to cross examine
her on her call, but pointedly told me she needed some attention.
Dani sat back in a chair, whisked off her panties and indicated I was to
kneel between her legs. I spent the next 40 minutes or so licking,
kissing, and sucking her pussy, while she rubbed her clit, until she had
multiple orgasms. She didn't admit it, but it was obvious that talking
to James had gotten her so horny she needed me to please her. When she
finally told me that I could stop, I wanted to question her about it,
but she brusquely told me I should go make us something to eat. She
thought we should perhaps go to bed earlier than usual, as I had a big
day tomorrow and would want to be as refreshed as possible. That
reminded me of the huge change I was starting in my life tomorrow, which
I had forgotten about due to her interaction with James. All the
emotions I had built up faded away as I thought about how my life was to
change radically tomorrow. We ate later than normal and it went quietly.
After I cleaned up the dishes and did a few other of my normal chores, I
took a long soothing bath to both relax and allow me to shave my legs
and body. I wanted to be as convincing as possible when I made my first
appearance at work so Dani helped me decide on my outfit before we went
to bed.
Surprisingly, I slept well and woke up refreshed the next morning. But I
immediately got nervous. My job had always been so separate from my home
life. I didn't allow problems or concerns to cross the boundaries, in
either direction, so in many ways it allowed me to live two lives. At
work, I occupied a secure, well-respected position of authority. I
directed actions and expected others to do as I asked. I knew what I
needed to do and everyone knew how I would interact with them. Now I was
unsure about my role and I assumed I would get a lot of astonished
stares and create a storm of whispered gossip. I expected that the
rumors had already started, since some of my work associates had seen me
on Friday. But my biggest concern was how Tim would see me and deal with
our supervisor-employee roles. I had kind of compartmentalized his
feelings for me as it seemed so unreal. I told myself, that after he
reflected on it, that he surely wouldn't still feel that way toward my
new identity Hanna. The doubt was greatly influencing my anxiety. These
thoughts filled my head as I went through the process of getting
prepared for work. Dani had insisted I wear one of my suits, gray with a
pink pinstripe. She had coordinated it with a ruffled blouse and 4-inch
high heel pumps in a matching pink, light steel gray pantyhose and some
pink stone jewelry. Of course, my bra and panty were a soft pink as
well. I knew it wasn't coincidental that she had chosen pink for my
debut outfit. Dani wanted to make it clear, I had become a woman. It was
much more than just embracing a feminine lifestyle, so the most feminine
color was needed. After I was dressed, she helped me with my hair and
makeup, so that when I left for work I was as perfectly female as I
could be.
The drive to work was a mess as I was getting more nervous with each
mile and I almost drove past the site, as my nerves were failing me. But
I parked in my usual spot and headed toward our building. I normally
went to my office at the back of the second floor, but today I was to
head to the HR department, as Tim had told me to start there. As I
entered the building, he saw me. He had been waiting in the lobby, I
guess to be sure I came and to help me with the adjustment. His presence
both calmed and worried me. As I walked toward him, he moved to meet me.
"Good morning Hanna, I'm so glad to see you. That's a very attractive
outfit, I think you found just the right look for work. I've alerted HR
about your decision and they will be ready to meet with you. I've also
consulted with management and we've got a plan to move forward with,
that I think will meet everyone's needs. So after you finish at HR come
to my office and we can proceed."
He put his hand on my upper back as we waked toward the hall leading to
the Human Resources Department. Again, this was a totally different
approach he took with women as compared to men. I guess he just felt
more at ease making contact with them. As we reached the point where he
would turn to go toward our offices and I would continue toward HR, he
leaned in, so his face was close to mine. He whispered softly in my ear.
"I want to tell you again, how much I enjoyed Friday. It was hard to not
call over the weekend, as I really wanted to continue our interaction. I
hope you feel the same, but in any case I'm happy we connected as we
did. Once you get settled in at work, maybe we can talk about us getting
together."
I didn't want to talk about it in the open hallway, so I just smiled and
told him I'd see him in a little bit. I walked away, knowing or at least
anticipating that he was watching me. It was hard to imagine, but my
heart had sped up when he mentioned Friday again. I had half expected
him to act as if nothing had happened at all. It took just a few minutes
to get to HR and the receptionist reacted as if she had seen me before,
smiling and telling me that Ms. Jenkins would see me in a second. She
buzzed her office and quickly told me I could go ahead to room 129. I
thanked her, and knowing that with each step I was changing my life in a
way that I wouldn't be able to take back. But after seeing Tim, I was
less nervous about the changes. Ms. Jenkins knew me or at least knew
Hank and when I entered told me to be seated. The next hour was a
thorough examination of my new life. She made it clear that company
policy was very open to my decision, but that we had to follow certain
steps to be sure that all resulting changes met government and company
regulations. Of course there was a bevy of paperwork to fill out and
sign. She made it clear that I needed to officially change my name if
the company was to use Hanna as my new identifier. We could go forth
with a provisional name change, but I would need to file legal paperwork
with the state to get my new name. I would also need to change other
legal paperwork, like driver licenses and voter registration. She
suggested I get a lawyer to help with these requirements. Because I had
company health and life insurance as well as retirement plans, I would
need to send them copies of my name and identifications approvals once
they were finalized. But I would be given a new name tag, although on a
temporary form, until then.
We also discussed how management would like to modify my work
assignments. She made it clear that my responsibilities would change, as
upper management had selected Justin to take over the group leader spot
I had held. She admitted that in reality the company had hired Justin to
move into my position, as they wanted all group leaders to have full 4-
year college degrees. He was being groomed for the change but the switch
was accelerated due to my condition. It was just coincidental that my
lifestyle change coincided with their plans, as a change would have
occurred anyway. Based on their discussions and input from Tim, it was
decided to offer me a position that would be combination of a technical
assistant and a secretary. That prompted me to ask if I was changing
supervisors. No, I would stay in the same group, reporting to Tim.
Again, a move had been considered but because Justin would be a new
leader and could benefit from a supportive assistant with knowledge of
operations. I was a logical choice. I cringed at that announcement
because it was my worst fear. It would appear immediately to everyone in
my old group that I had been demoted because of my gender switch. It
also meant I would have to practically admit that Justin was better than
me. I know it wasn't a written company policy that each group leader
have a female assistant but it was generally how it was setup. Most
group leaders had a secretary, female of course, and a technical
assistant, again female, who did a lot of the busy work and drudgery
associated with the leadership position. I had fended off being assigned
such an assistant because it seemed to be a demeaning position. I had
spread the duties out among the staff, but knowing him, Justin would
enjoy having me handled them for him.
The group had also been stuck with temporary secretarial help, as all
the hiring had focused on adding new engineers, like Justin. I was
concerned that now I would be given secretarial duties as well. Ms.
Jenkins confirmed that for 'a little while' I would indeed handle that
as well as being Justin's technical assistant. She smiled and told me
that Tim had confirmed that I had excellent word processing skills and a
pleasant office voice that would serve me well in handling that aspect
of the position. She continued by complimenting my voice, as it sounded
wholly female. Ms. Jenkins had agreed with him, that by saving the
temporary secretarial costs, I could remain close to my current pay
scale and the company could reward Justin with a pay increase for taking
over the group leader position. That told me that I would likely be
required to handle both positions for some time. It wasn't the amount of
work that made me aggravated, but how the whole process was going to
look. I had become a woman, so now I could only handle women's duties.
Plus Justin would be getting a big raise after only a few months on the
job.
I could already tell that working as a woman meant settling for less and
having to like it. That aspect was strengthened when Ms. Jenkins
informed me that because of my job title I would drop from being a
salary position to an hourly position. Which meant I would need to clock
in and out each day, could not leave without permission from Justin or
Tim, and could not work outside of normal business hours without pre-
approval. She told me that my current salary exceeded the maximum for a
technical assistant and was way out of line for a secretary, so it would
have to be adjusted. That didn't sound good, so I asked if that meant I
was getting paid less. I was promised I wouldn't see a drop in pay. She
said that she had no choice, as the guidelines were rigid and whomever
promised you that, didn't quite understand HR's lack of flexibility. The
maximum pay I could receive for straight time pay would only be about
60% of my current salary. However, she could approve automatic overtime
for me. By working an additional 8 hours a week, I could stay at 75% of
my current pay. She told me this as if management had done me a favor,
but I realized it really meant I would be working longer hours at lower
pay. It steamed me inside, but I knew I had no recourse but to accept
their offer.
Then, as a parting shot, Ms. Jenkins gave me some 'unofficial advice'.
She told me, that although the company was open to diverse lifestyles,
they had never had a trans-gender worker before. She suggested that I be
as accommodating as possible, avoid any conflicts, and perhaps accept a
few unsavory actions if necessary. If I caused any troubles, management
might decide it was best if they let me go rather than deal with a lot
of controversy. That was particularly possible now that I was no longer
a group leader. Clerical workers and even tech assistants were not
unique and I might be easily replaced if I was a problem. She concluded
by suggesting I strive to say 'yes' whenever possible. Once I had become
someone who was seen as 'regular' again, then I wouldn't need to be so
worried about my being kept on. When I finally left HR, it had taken
almost the whole morning. I made my way to Tim's office in a bit of a
snit because of how it had all worked out. I wanted to ask why I wasn't
moved like he promised and what happened to keeping me at the same pay
level. But I was also concerned about her advice. I knew I would have to
be very careful going forward.
When, I got to his office, Tammy his secretary smiled at me as she gave
me the once over. I knew I would be getting that look often in the next
few days, as co-workers checked to see how much Hank had changed in
becoming Hanna. She was very obvious in how she looked me over, but also
very friendly. She immediately told me how nice my outfit looked and
came around her desk to give me a big hug. I was caught off-guard by
this degree of intimacy. Her following comment that she always thought I
was uneasy being a man also surprised me. She laughed lightly, as if she
was sharing a joke with me and told me congratulations on my
improvement. But she also told me that I would find life as a woman not
only much different with lots of rewards but challenging. She then
buzzed Tim's office to tell him, she was sending in Ms. Stevens. Hearing
myself referred to that way, was another eye opener. I had indeed
stepped across the line.
Tim was standing when I entered. I felt very awkward being in his
office. Before I felt like his equal, even though he was technically my
boss. I knew my job and was confident that I held the respect of
everyone who worked for me or with me. Now I felt like I was standing on
uneven ground, being unsure how the other workers would see me. I also
felt strange being alone with Tim, as I couldn't help but remember how
soft his lips were and how it felt to be held tightly in his arms. My
heart was racing, but I tried to remain calm as I knew we had to be
professional. He moved around his desk and pointed to the chair next to
it. I sat down, smoothing my skirt as I did so. Tim took that
opportunity to sit on the edge of his desk, his legs spread open.
Inwardly, I smiled as I saw his positioning as a subtle, but effective
behavior for clarifying his power over me. Because, this put me slightly
in between them and looking up at him, an obvious difference in status
reflected by our relative positions. I wanted to ask so many questions,
but felt strangely timid, a new feeling for me at work. I reflexively
smiled at him, and clasped my hands together on top of my skirt to keep
my fingers from shaking. Tim reached over and squeezed my thigh just
above the knee where it emerged from my skirt. I knew instinctively that
this was a move he must use only with women, as he would never touch a
man that way.
"I see HR has your new badge, Hanna. I assume you talked about how your
work situation is changing, but I want to encourage you about your new
life. I think you will be absolutely the perfect complement for Justin.
He's got all the training, but lacks your work experiences, so you two
will make a great team. I know I mentioned moving you to a new group and
it was discussed seriously. But after I thought about it, I wanted to
keep you on my team. I see tremendous potential for you, plus the fact
that the group needed both a tech assistant and a secretary seemed
tailor made for you. Just seeing how you look now, professional but very
attractive, certainly fits how we want that position handled. I also
selfishly wanted to keep you close by, so we can spend time together at
work. I'm sure whatever happens in our personal life will not affect how
we work together. So, for the rest of today, I just want you to get
settled in, meet more staff, and try to adjust to all these changes.
Justin has been informed he will be the new group leader and will be
getting set up to do that. He's been at HR this morning as well, taking
much of the supervisor training he needed. I went ahead and took the
liberty of having your stuff moved from your old office to your new
location, but you'll need to sort things out I'm sure. There won't be
any surprises for your new technical duties, but you will need to get
some briefings and probably take a course or two to handle your new
secretarial responsibilities. Things, like proper document prep, how to
answer phones, and what you need to do to support the other staff.
Nothing overwhelming but just guideline awareness. I suggested to Tammy
that she get some of the other girls together so you can eat lunch with
them today. I think the sooner you integrate into the women's groups
here at work, the better you'll do as Hanna, okay? I mean I'd love to
take you out for lunch myself, but it's probably too soon for that.
After that you can meet with Justin to start getting your new
relationship with him ironed out. That's all I got for now, but do you
have any questions?"
The whole time he talked to me, he rubbed his hand up and down my thigh.
Occasionally he even moved it up under my skirt. I had a hard time
concentrating on what he was telling me, as I was both surprised by his
boldness and a bit turned on. I could see how my intimacy the other
night with Tim might cause work problems, but I found myself
surprisingly attracted to him. But I put those feelings aside, as I
realized how drastic the changes for my new role at work would be. I
loved my old office, it had great views and was large enough to convene
meetings or just allow me to pace as I tried to solve problems. I wasn't
aware I would have to move, so even before I found out what all I needed
to do, I wanted to talk about that.
"Tim, no one mentioned me moving. Why wasn't I asked about that? I had
everything the way I wanted it and had been in that room for more than
seven years. Can't I stay as I was?"
He chuckled and moved his hand off my leg and with his other held my
hands securely between his. Tim was looking me in the eyes intently, a
cross between a forceful stare and a lustful gaze. It was unnerving in
so many ways and reminded me how different my relationship was now that
I had assumed a woman's role.
"Hanna, that office was designed for a manager, that's why you got it in
the first place. It is centrally located and larger than most, to
accommodate all the needs of a manager position like group leader. Plus
it has a nice alcove area attached to the main room. I know you used it
as extra storage space for references and older records, but it was
designed for a secretarial work station. Now that you have that role for
Justin, it made sense for you to take that area and let Justin take the
larger room. I mean even the phones are connected which will make you
job easier by the way, when he wants you to screen or answer his calls.
You've got to remember your new role. Most of the items in your old
office would be given to Justin anyway, outside of your personal stuff,
so there wasn't much to decide. It was just more expedient to move you
and let him have your office. I expect you'll have many more situations
like this as you adjust to being support staff rather than part of the
leadership team. But don't worry, the other girls will give you lots of
pointers. One of the reasons I wanted to keep you on my team, besides
having you close to me, was that I knew you could adapt to this new role
for Justin. You've always done what is best for the company and been a
team player. You've got to understand that by accepting your position
and willing supporting Justin as he learns his new role you're helping
not only him and the company, but yourself as well. Seeing you in a
traditional woman's role in business will make it easier for everyone to
accept your transition. As far as your new space, we will set you up
with the best, including the latest desktop computer with all the
software you'll need to do your new job responsibilities. I know you
liked the flexibility of the smaller laptop computer, but that is
designed for managers. The desktop set will feature a printer, large
screens, and will making data entry and word processing easier and more
ergonomic. Also, I had Tammy order the deluxe secretarial desk,
credenza, typing chair, and file cabinets. She picked a lovely pastel
shade she knew would go well with the wall color and you can have a
small allowance to buy some decorative items. I know women like their
work spaces to be attractive, homey with a personal touch, so I've
allowed for that. It won't be bad I swear."
It was even more crushing hearing Tim describe it. Not only was I losing
my big office, but the small room attached to it had no window, limited
space and virtually no privacy. Plus I knew the furniture he described,
rather than the rich walnut desk and chair I had before, I would now be
working on a plastic coated inexpensive set. I just hoped Tammy hadn't
selected the pastel pink, as I felt like I was being stereotyped enough
already. The final straw had been the change in computers. I loved the
small surface type computer. I could take it with me and could make
drawings, as well as notes, to help iron out production problems. But I
guess realistically, I wouldn't have those problems anymore. My office
had always been a safe retreat, but now it was gone. I was feeling so
anxious about my transition from Hank to Hanna, that I had taken
consolation in knowing I could be alone most of my work day. But now, I
would be sandwiched between Justin and anyone walking down the hall. Any
expectations of privacy were gone.
Not to mention that many of my new duties would be catering to Justin. I
imagined he would be like the other group leaders, who used their
secretaries as status symbols. All of them had their 'girl' answer the
phone, as an example, as if they were too busy to do routine chores like
that. It was widely known that most group leaders had their 'girl' do
personal errands, like bring them lunch, pickup dry cleaning, or drop
off packages. I was sure Justin would like that. I had avoided having a
secretary or even a tech assistant for that reason. I had come up
through the ranks of the company and saw how many managers abused their
support staff, just to make themselves look more important. Now my fear
was that as Hanna I would be in that position. The little I had worked
with Justin, convinced me that he had a penchant for grandiose moves
that made him look good. I imagined that he would love the idea that his
former group leader was now at his beck and call. That reminded me that
Tim had mentioned lunch with the other 'girls'. Did he mean just
secretaries, or were some, all of the tech assistants included? All
together there were about 15 women in the building assigned to one of
those job classifications. I had hoped, again, to remain a bit hidden
today, so the idea of presenting myself and my new feminine image to a
group of women was not what I wanted to do.
"Tim, do I have to eat lunch with the group? I was hoping to just get
settled in a little slower. I'm still anxious about my transition. Plus,
who all is joining me?"
"Oh, it will be fine. I think once you get with the other women, you'll
relax. I mean they can help you adjust to work I'm sure. Plus you can
chat about clothes, shopping, and all the stuff that ladies like. Let's
check with Tammy about who is coming. Tammy, what are the plans for
lunch today?"
I heard Tammy get up from her chair and come to us. She was carrying a
folder of papers for Tim. As she got to his desk, she placed the folder
down and turned toward us. I could see her look at me, with a kind of
mix between sympathy and unease across her face.
"I thought we'd go next door to the sandwich shop. I didn't want to take
too long, as all of the assistants and a majority of the secretaries
would be there. I just want Hanna to meet everyone, casually you know. I
mean everyone there will have known Hank, but like you said Hanna is a
new person. I don't expect it will be long, as we normally keep lunch to
around a half an hour. But I do want to have Jenny schedule a time when
all the support staff can get together. We need to coordinate how we
will handle duties that span groups and set up some regular system to
cover the phones for one another. We've got something like that now, but
with a new person we certainly want to work her in. By the way, the
supply company hopes to deliver Hannah's furniture at the end of the
day, and the tech group said they would show up first thing in the
morning to get her computer online. So she should be all set up by mid-
morning for Justin. I hope you don't mind Hannah, but I got you a nice
pale sky-blue color. I thought you'd like pink, but they didn't have it
in stock and blue would work with the wall colors. But it is a pretty
shade. I'll let you two wrap it up, and we can meet you in the lobby
Hannah in about 15 minutes."
With that she left, I felt a knot in my stomach. I could tell it would
be awkward meeting the other women. I imagined that most would be like
Tammy, torn between curiosity at what I looked like now and confusion
about why I would make such a radical change. They would be uncertain on
how to interact with me now, and for some there would be disgust at me
for doing this. I knew not everyone understood or accepted trans-gender
people and I certainly would be a challenge given that as Hank I
portrayed a straight, typical male. For me it would be tough too, as
everyone would see this as a step down in rank. Before I had been among
the upper levels of the company. Now I was one of the staff, someone
whose job it was to please her boss. I could see how the other women
would think I was crazy to do this, and might even be threatened by me
'playing' at being a woman. Like most of society, our company had a mix
of liberals and conservatives, so I could imagine there would be a bit
of judging and distrust, at least under the surface. I just resolved to
be myself, or as much as I could as Hanna, be pleasant, and try to get
along. I mean to be truthful, I was still conflicted inside about why I
was allowing Dani to push me this far, especially since I really didn't
feel I was a woman, but only accepted this change because of my
condition. Tim and I talked a bit more, I felt like he wanted to be with
me longer as I could sense his attraction to me. Finally it was time to
go meet the other women. I stood up and he came to me to give a light
hug and a quick peck on the cheek, smiling as I left.
I made my way down the hall to the lobby. As I approached I could hear
the women talking, the higher tones of their voices ringing through the
space, although I couldn't distinguish any specific conversations. When
I came into view they immediately fell silent with all eyes turning in
my direction. I quickly scanned them and realized I recognized everyone,
but didn't remember all their names. I blushed as I knew it was because
I hadn't seen them as my peers before. I also saw that I was dressed
much differently than most of them. Only three of the women had on
dresses or skirts. Jenny, the most senior technical assistant who was
about 60, had a conservative dress, low heels, and hose. The other two
were younger secretaries in skirts with higher heels but like most of
the younger women these days, they were bare legged. The rest of them
were in slacks and even jeans. They all looked nice, but in a more
relaxed way. I immediately felt over dressed in my skirt suit. I also
saw a range of reactions on their faces included shock, smirks, sympathy
and support. As I reached the group, they sort of formed a semi-circle
around me, with Jenny stepping forward.
"Hello. I'm glad you can join us on your first day here as Hanna. I'm
going to be honest with you, your change is a bit hard for most of us to
understand. But we will try to do our best and accept you as you want to
be seen. I must admit I am impressed with your appearance. I didn't have
much expectations for Hank to really look like a woman, but I was
totally wrong. I also like the fact that you selected a nice business
appropriate outfit. I'm not sure you really need a suit in your new job,
but if it helps you feel more comfortable you are free to go that route.
What I will expect is that you follow the procedures for your new
position. As you might have heard in HR, you are now an hourly, so be
sure to get here on-time and enter the back of the building so you can
clock-in and -out. Your time card will be there tomorrow. Since you are
filling a dual role position, you'll look to me for guidance on the tech
support role and you can check with Annie and Tiffany for secretarial
information. They will have a few courses for you to take once your
office is setup. Of course, the main person to keep happy will be
Justin. He'll be like your office 'husband' and you need to meet his
needs in the way he prefers. But for now, why don't we do some quick
introductions, I'm betting you're not familiar with all the ladies'
names now."
I heard a twitter among the group when Jenny used the phrase 'office
husband'. It was new to me, but I immediately saw how it applied based
on what I had seen from the relationships between other group leaders
and their support staff. As we went around the group, each woman told me
her name, shook my hand, and told me who they worked for. I knew about
half of them, but was glad to hear all the names just the same. I was
pretty good at associating names and faces once I knew someone was
important for me to remember. I especially logged in who were Annie and
Tiffany, as I would be expected to meet with them tomorrow. As I met
each woman, I again saw the range of reactions and in fact a couple
seemed very reluctant to even shake my hand. When they had finished
introductions, everyone looked at me as if they expected me to speak. I
did, starting out a bit shakily, my voice climbing from my false lower
tone to the higher octaves that were in my actual range. I saw several
ladies react to this change, so I decided to address more private issues
than I originally planned.
"Hi everyone, thanks for meeting like this and asking me out to lunch. I
know this comes as a real shock to almost everyone here. My change was
not done lightly or without a lot of consideration. It was something
precipitated by a medical condition, but I took the final steps as a
result of my inner feelings and how my spouse felt about it. I know this
may make some of you uncomfortable, and I apologize in advance for your
discomfort. I will do my best to fit in and represent my new job
positions to be the best of my ability. I do realize I have a lot to
learn, perhaps starting with how to keep an 'office husband' happy. I do
want you to know that I will be honest about all my changes and if you
need to talk more with me to better understand I will be glad to open
up. By the same token, I won't force anything on anyone, as for some of
you I'm sure you rather not know or be involved. If you are really
uncomfortable, tell me and I will keep any interactions with you as
limited as business needs allow. I will tell you I have not had a
complete sex change surgery, or even been on hormones. But please know
I truly feel more at ease and comfortable as Hanna than I ever did as
Hank. For example, as Hank I had to artificially speak in a lower
register. A tone more appropriate for a man, but now as Hanna, I can
talk using my real voice. So I want to thank you all for being so
welcoming to me."
Everyone had been listening, so as I finished talking a silence settled
in on the lobby. Tammy took that opportunity to suggest we go eat. The
group followed her lead and we went next door. There we sat around
several tables and I talked with many of the women. Several told me they
understood and applauded my courage, while a few others did ask for a
few more details. Jenny asked how I had changed my voice so easily. I
told her, loud enough for others to hear, that this was my real voice
and had been this way since I was a teen. Mine never dropped to a lower
octave like most men did when I passed through puberty. I had purposely
lowered my voice and learned to speak that way for most of my adult
life, as it made adjusting easier. So that was one aspect of my
transition that was very easy and a relief in many ways. The more we
talked, the easier it became to see who might be more open about my
condition and who would be best to avoid. By the time we headed back to
our offices, I had talked with Tiffany and set up a couple of classes to
get the inside scoop on my secretarial duties. I was feeling better now,
but it wasn't all positive. I did hear a couple of the middle-aged
women, both tech assistants, whispering about me. In particular they
seemed offended by how I had gotten surgery for 'fake boobs' so I could
fit in. It seems they decided I was really gay and had chosen to play as
a woman to cover my desires. I had to shake my head, but I knew I would
face more of this. But what really got me was how I had expressed my
desire to become a woman as if I had always wished to be one. I knew
that was wrong, as I only reluctantly agreed to do what Dani had pushed
on me. I felt I was being false but I knew I had few other choices. If I
wanted people to accept me as Hanna, they had to feel my change was
authentic. By the time I got to my old office, I was feeling really down
about how my life had changed and where it was headed.
Seeing my new work space, didn't help my emotions any. I hadn't remember
how small the space was. Even without furniture it looked tiny. I could
see where they had removed the stored material to create floor room for
my desk and accessories. I would be facing the open doorway, as
secretarial offices didn't have a door that closed. I walked past my new
space to look one more time at my old office. The movers had rearranged
my desk and two shelves, I guess at Justin's request. I gazed out the
window, where I had stared many times before as I made plans for the
group and solved problems presented by the production schedule requests.
Now it was like looking at my past life. At a life I would never see
again, at least as a man. I was getting overwhelmed by sad thoughts,
becoming depressed about my choice to become Hanna. Just as I was about
to cry I heard someone behind me. I turned to see Justin, standing there
looking at me and his new office, his hands planted on his hips as if he
were surveying a new kingdom. In some ways he was. I couldn't help but
see his big smile and knew for him this was a great day, the exact
opposite of what I felt. I softly said hello.
"Well hello Hanna. I was hoping to see you today. Tim mentioned you were
here, but likely out at lunch with the ladies. We've got a lot to talk
about. How we're going to work together, what I expect from you, and
details about how I am going to run my group now. I have to thank you,
for stepping aside to let me take the reins of the group. Although I
understand from your standpoint it was more about you finding a role
that was more comfortable for your new identity. I realize that it will
be a big adjustment for you and I want to be as supportive as possible.
I must say, Don was right. He told me he saw you this weekend and that
you looked like you had been a girl all your life. Although, he
described you as wearing something a bit more revealing and flirty than
a suit. Tell you what, let me help you slip off that jacket. I don't
want you to feel that you need to dress that stuffy for me."
Justin moved behind me and placed his hands on either side of my jacket.
I was surprised he focused on me wearing a suit, but if he had talked
with Don then he knew about the skimpy outfit I wore to the reunion. He
helped me slip out of the jacket, pulling it off my shoulders, then
folding it to place on a side table. Somehow just removing it made me
feel more exposed and vulnerable. I knew my large breasts were partially
hidden by the jacket and the silk blouse conformed around them. I also
knew the blouse material was thin enough that he could likely see the
bra outlined underneath. Because I had been in Justin's shoes before, I
knew men would check out such things, inwardly assessing my feminine
attributes. But I wasn't sure if women knew that men checked them out in
such detail or not. I had always assumed that women wore sexy clothes so
men would indeed look, but after being in them myself, I wasn't as sure.
I shook those thoughts off and turned to face him. He placed his hands
on my upper arms, as if holding me in place. I felt like a young girl
facing a principal. His smile spread and his eyes focused down and then
up my body as if he was a machine scanning me. Finally, looking me in
the eyes, he lightly squeezed my arms as he continued to hold me in
place.
"Yes you are more than I expected, quite attractive, sexy but with the
hint of the innocent wife next door. I couldn't have asked for a better
representative for my group. You know you're the first person most
people will see when they interact with me, so I do want you to maintain
a certain standard of appearance. You'll also have standards for
behavior and speech too. Again, I couldn't be happy with your voice,
however you came by it. I can be sure that when you answer the phones
for me, or when people come to your desk to see if I am available, you
will present a totally feminine picture. But I would like you to
consider something a little less boring, so to speak, for your outfits.
I mean, your skirt is fine. I like how it is short and tight. The heels
and pantyhose are a nice touch too, I admit I enjoy seeing a woman's
legs presented that way. But your top could be a little more revealing.
From Don's description, you presented a much sexier image at their
party. Something along those lines would do. I mean, you could wear the
jacket, if you dropped the blouse."
His laugh seemed threatening and insincere. I felt my insides tighten
up, as I felt he was treating me like I was a slut or a mindless bimbo.
I knew he couldn't legally ask me to dress that way, but I'm sure he
felt like the laugh made it seem like a joke. I also knew I was
vulnerable, so it wouldn't be smart to disregard his preferences. The
warning from HR still rang in my mind. I would need to talk with Dani
about possible solutions. I wanted to break free of his grasp as it made
really uncomfortable, but Justin had more he wanted to tell me.
"As I was saying, just don't be afraid to show off your beauty, okay?
That leads me to how I want you to act when you represent my group. I
expect you to show me, and the other men working for me, the utmost
respect. I know as a group leader you believed in a more team approach,
with everyone being more or less equal. That will work, but only so far.
I think a group responds much better to a strong, forceful leader. That
style fits best for me. And the base of any leaders' strength is respect
from those that serve him. That's where you come in. I want you to
either address me as Mr. Poston or Sir. The same goes for the other
salaried employees in my group. I want the support staff to demonstrate
that they understand how their salaries are tied to the success of the
management and production leaders. Since for the time being, you are the
only support staff and also the only girl in my group, it is especially
important that you do as you're told and show your respect by word and
deed. I expect that the guys will enjoy having you serve them and making
them happy will increase our productivity.
I also feel that the top manager should be given perks not available to
the others in the group, as a sort of confirmation of his worth. For me,
that means I want you on the job before and after I leave. I saw your
pay schedule and by adjusting your time that way, you can use your
automatic overtime. Using your extra hours to focus on my needs will be
a good use of your time. You are to knock before entering my office and
you aren't to leave without being dismissed. You will attend my
meetings, but only to take notes and serve any refreshments. If we go to
a meeting in another room, I'd prefer if you walk next to me, but
slightly behind. That way I can call for you if I need, but you won't be
in my way. I will have errands for you to do as well, which you can do
on your lunch break. You can expect to fetch me coffee, cokes or
whatever I want. When I give you an order, I expect you to get to it
right away. If I don't hear those high heels clicking around as fast as
you can go, then there will be hell to pay. I know officially you are a
technical assistant, as well as a secretary, but I think your real
contribution will be in handling all the trivial crap so I can
concentrate on my job. Talk with Don's girl, Beth I think her name is.
She does a good job for him and she probably has some pointers on how to
be a good secretary. Finally, I want you to be cheerful, bubbly, and
enthusiastic. I want you to realize how lucky you are to still have a
nice position in this firm, given your unique condition. So how about we
try out our new relationship? Are you clear on what I expect?"
I knew what he wanted. He wanted me to basically grovel for him, to fawn
over his pronouncements and act as if invented the sun. I hated the idea
of submitting to him. His ways of running the group would be horrible,
but with his luck would likely produce better results. The description
he painted of how I was to 'serve' him, made it clear that he saw me as
less than him. I'm sure he felt his promotion was validation of his
superiority over me. So I would just have to make my way through this
until I could find a way out. So, as he released my arms, I smiled and
slowly unfastened the top two buttons of my blouse revealing a hint of
cleavage. I then tugged lightly on the hem of my skirt and used the
other hand to move one of my curls from the side of my face. I knew
these subtle feminine movements would appease him.
"Yes Sir, Mr. Poston I think you've made it clear what you want. I'll do
my best to support you so we can all be successful. And, please if I am
not doing exactly what you want and need in the way you want it done,
please correct me as I'm sure you can help me get better. May I be
dismissed now? I should check with Beth and a couple of the other girls,
so I can start getting everything ready to better serve you."
Justin smiled, please both by my actions and sniveling behavior. He
waved me away, with a mild admonition not to waste my time chatting
away. But before I could go, he wanted a coke from the vending machine.
I told him I would get it right away. Remembering his description, I
moved quickly, grabbing a few dollars from my purse since he hadn't
offered me any money. I felt silly, but I nearly ran as I left his
office, my heels clicking loudly on the tile floor as I scurried to get
his drink. I returned in the same manner, knocking on the frame of his
open door before he told me to enter. I could see his pleasure across
his face, which told me I would be repeating this kind of subservient
act often. He waved me in and I stood there a moment with the coke in my
hand. He was looking at something, I think delaying to make me stand
there waiting on him. He seemed to really like the expensive manager's
chair that I had handpicked for myself. Finally, he looked up but as he
did, he put his left hand on my leg sliding it up the back, past my knee
until it was at my mid-thigh. The feel of his hand across my silky
pantyhose gave me goosebumps and made my skin crawl.
"Thank you Hanna. Next time, be a dear and go by the cantina to get some
crushed ice. In fact, buy a set of nice drink glasses to keep in your
office for my drinks. I prefer them on the rocks most of the time. I did
want to tell you something that I forgot to mention earlier. You made
the right choice. That is choosing to be a woman. You're much better
suited to be female. Your personality and behaviors fit well with being
a girl rather than a man. Even though we only worked a few months
together, I saw enough of your low-key, accommodating behavior as a
supervisor to know that it was more feminine than masculine.
Surprisingly, your body is better suited to it as well. As I said
earlier, you are very attractive, especially since you felt compelled to
get such large breasts. Plus your voice is soft, sweet, with the hint of
a sexy tone when you talk. You make quite the pretty package. I can't
wait to see you wrap yourself in some clothes more suitable. So indeed,
you did right by abandoning being a man to become a woman. I just wanted
you to know that and to know I'll be appreciative of all your feminine
skills. That's all, you can go now."
While he talked to me, he rubbed my leg through the nylon and as he
explained why I made the right choice to be a woman, he even moved it up
higher, so his hand was under my skirt, just below the curve of my ass.
I so wanted to scream at him and tell him to move his hand, but I knew I
couldn't so I just smiled and thanked him for the kind words. Finally,
free to go I headed out to talk with some of the other secretaries. By
the end of the day, I was exhausted. I just couldn't believe how wrong
everything had gone today. So wrong, I didn't even drop by Tim's office
to say goodbye. I just got in my car and headed home to Dani. Pulling
into the garage, I was ready to break down. My nerves were shot, my
emotions at a peak, and I just was ready to release all my anguish. I
dropped my purse and briefcase on the hall table and when I saw Dani
come from the living room to greet me, I broke down. I began to sob and
hysterically try to explain what happened. I was crying so hard my body
was trembling. Dani came to me, wrapped her arms around me in a hug, and
pulled me to her so I could rest my head on her shoulder.
"Oh Dani, it was horrible. The whole day was horrible. I hate work now.
Everything that could go wrong, did. I lost my office. Tim assigned me
to work for Justin. He's just an arrogant asshole. The women judged me
already and some of them seemed set on making my life miserable. I
wasn't even dressed right. The lead technical assistant said I didn't
need a suit and Justin that pig, just wants me to dress so he can ogle
me. The HR lady said I was overpaid and would have to work extra hours
and even that wouldn't match my old pay. Everything was just awful."
I was really bawling now, letting out all my frustration, anger, and
despair. Dani held me tighter, kissed my cheek, rubbed my back, and
whispered in my ear to try to calm me.
"Oh Hanna, I am so sorry you had such a rough day. Go ahead and cry. Let
it out. I know it feels bad to be treated that way. You didn't deserve
to be put in such a bad place. It's not your fault, you had no choice
but to do this. But it will be okay, we can make it work."
She held me tightly for almost ten minutes as all my emotions poured
out. As the tears flowed out of me, so did my anger and disappointment.
The energy expended by bawling drained me and I finally reached a place
where I could regain control. When she felt me slow down on my crying,
Dani pulled back a bit to wipe some tears off my cheek. She lightly
kissed my lips, which were wet with salty tears. She took my hands in
hers and squeezed them softly.
"Honey it will be okay, I'm sure. I know occasionally a girl has to just
let it all out. A good cry is the best medicine sometimes. Tell you
what, why don't you go upstairs, get out of those stuffy work clothes,
and put on something pretty and flirty for me. I know you'll feel better
in something cute. Then we can have a drink and talk about this more. I
want to hear everything in detail, so we can plan what you need to do. I
have some news to share too, which I think will make things much better.
So go on, change for me and we can work on solutions."
Dani gave me another kiss, and let go of my hands. I felt embarrassed
now at how hard I had cried and felt like I must have looked like a
silly teenage girl. I was well aware of how totally turned around our
life was now. Before, Dani was the emotional one, fixated on feelings
and conversations, while I was logical and aimed at finding solutions to
all her problems. How had my life so completely flipped over? I turned
and went upstairs to get some tissues. In our bedroom, I kicked off my
heels, immediately feeling the relief in my feet. I had worn heels a lot
lately, but not for a full day of walking and standing. So it was nice
to stand flatfooted. I took off my suit, putting it in the dry cleaner
basket. I unbuttoned my blouse and peeled out of my pantyhose. I had
been so tense and emotional downstairs, that my underwear was wringing
wet, so I dropped them and the other clothes in the laundry basket.
Sitting down to pee, I felt better but still depressed. Seeing my nude
body in the wall mirrors reminded me of how my life had changed, but
what I really noticed was how my crying jag had ruined my eye makeup and
streaked my blush.
To be honest, all I wanted to do was wash my face, put on a big tee
shirt and loose sweatpants and just pig out on some chips and a beer.
But I knew Dani expected me to look pretty for her, so I just wiped off
the messy makeup and began to repair my face. Luckily my crying hadn't
unglued my false eyelashes and by reapplying mascara, eye liner and
shadow I could make my eyes look nice again. The same with my powder,
blush and lipstick. I fluffed out my hair and applied some more perfume.
Now my face had the look that Dani liked me to show. I went to the
dresser, to get my lingerie. Again, despite my desire to just relax, I
picked out a bra, panty and garter belt set to wear. I put on the bra,
leaning forward to allow my breasts to lay on top of the push-up pads. I
hooked on the garter belt and slid the thong panty up around my hips. As
I reached to pull back my penis and tuck it into my thong, I felt the
regret at how my life had changed. Even in the sanctity of my own home,
I had to abandon being a man and hide the last part of my masculinity. I
sat down and worked up the silky dark stockings to attach them to the
garter clips. With my lingerie on, I looked through my closet to find
something right to wear. I settled on a short mini-dress in a flowery
print. Its low cut top framed my cleavage and its flared skirt was
really too short to fully cover my stockings, but I knew Dani would love
how they peaked out. All I needed now was some shoes. I picked up the
pair of pumps that we had bought to go with this dress. I dreaded
putting them back on, as the heels were almost 5 inches high. But once
more, I did what was expected for me, and slipped them on my feet. I
could feel my calves tighten as the high heel tilted me forward and my
toes ached already from the tight pointed front of the shoes. Maybe
after dinner, I could get Dani to take me to bed. At least that way, I
could take off my shoes. I checked my body once more in the full length
mirror. In the reflection, I saw what I knew Justin wanted to see, a
sexy woman dressed to flaunt the assets of her body. But I also knew,
ironically, that this was the image that Dani wanted as well.
I knew I looked the way she expected, so I headed down to the kitchen to
get us both a drink. I saw her relaxing on the deck, wearing a simple
blouse and Bermuda shorts with flat sandals. I had been so emotional
when I got home, I hadn't even noticed how she was dressed. The contrast
in her look versus my outfit, almost made me cry again, but I was so
emotionally drained I just smiled weakly at the difference. Following my
training, I put the drinks on a tray and quickly tied on an apron,
before walking out to serve her. Previously, I would have been so
nervous being exposed outside my home. Now I didn't even give it a
thought. I gave her the wine glass and took mine and sat next to her.
She smiled at me, complimenting on my outfit.
"You look so good Hanna. I know it can be cumbersome to dress this way,
especially at home, but I love how you look. Now please tell me again,
about your day. I think I can help you deal with your issues, or at
least understand them better. I know it is difficult, but please try to
keep your emotions in check as we talk about them, at least keep your
crying under control so you don't mess up your makeup, okay? Why don't
you start with how your job has changed?"
I went over everything again, this time giving her every detail as well
as how it made me feel. She was very sympathetic, giving me feedback
where she could. As we talked, it made me realize many of the problems I
faced today weren't specific to me, but were more indicative of my new
gender than me personally. Certainly, issues like the pay differential
between male and female-stereotypical jobs and the sexual harassment by
Justin were more common for women than I knew before. With each one,
Dani made me feel better. The loss of my office would soon fade,
especially because my job would be more social and the greater
interactions would take my focus from the furniture to the people around
me. I would learn to handle Justin, in fact waiting on him, doing
errands, and placing his needs first were things I had already learned
to do for her. Plus he was a man, I could learn to manipulate him pretty
soon. For example, she suggested I wear my new abstract dress tomorrow.
True, it didn't have a really low cut top, but if I wore a garters and
stockings under it, I could probably play him like I had Tom. She told
me most guys have a real thing for women in stockings and garters. I
would find the work itself would keep me occupied without all the stress
of the manager position and give me more variety keeping me from
becoming bored. That would help me further by making the absence of the
window less important. Finally, she smiled, she might have a nice
solution for my reduced pay.
"Dani, how can I replace the money we lost through my pay cut? I can
only work so much overtime and I don't think I can handle a second job."
"Who said you had to replace the money? While you were at work having
such a terrible day, I got a call from James. He had to see me, so I met
him for lunch. He bought me a nice meal and we talked about lots of
things. First even though he lived here before, the area was so
different, he needed help learning about it, especially the layout of
the business community. Second, he needed to move from his hotel, as the
company wanted him to arrange a more permanent location. We talked about
rental options, but there were conflicts. He didn't like apartments,
preferring the layout of a home with its more relaxed feeling such as a
deck and a nice backyard. But his work was so demanding, he couldn't
handle the upkeep of his own house. Plus this was the first he had ever
lived alone, having married while in college. So the loneliness was
becoming a big issue. As we talked, and I told him more about my life
experiences, he became excited. The company