The Women's Job - I Don't Have a Choice - Chapter 5

OTHER PART | ALL STORY LIST

The alarm clock woke her up at 6:30 and she immediately got up and started to get ready for the day.  For some reason, she felt a lot more relaxed, until she focused on what waited for her, both looking presentable as Ashley, as well as Mr. Austin coming to pick her up and take her to work. 

She read the notes Jen sent along which gave suggestions on cosmetics and appearance, and spent some time trying to get her make-up just right, as well as her hair, both before and after dressing. The make-up was only a little problem as she just touched it up.  She was less happy with what she could do with her hair, but it eventually looked presentable.  

She again used the toilet with fewer problems than the night before and accepted that was how she would be using it for the near future at least. In the bottom of that envelope that Jen had provided with helpful hints on dressing and applying cosmetics, she found a small prescription-type bottle.  

She looked at the papers again and found a note where Jen had written, 'Take one of these each day until they're gone. They're similar to the drink Lisa provided. They won't hurt you in the least and will actually help you through the day.  

You don't have to take them, but I would strongly suggest it.'  

Ashley thought about it for a few moments, then quickly poured herself a cup of coffee that she had made using the hotplate and took the pill. She would rethink all this tomorrow morning depending on what happened today.  She also heated up a mini-bagel and adding cream cheese, ate it. She finished and put everything away as it was now close to 8.  

She then went back to the bathroom to make sure she was presentable.  When Brad showed up several minutes later, she was as ready as she could imagine and met him at the door, walking out to his car with him. 

She was wearing a two-piece cranberry-colored outfit, skirt, and matching vest, with a white long-sleeved blouse and fluffy polka-dot-looking bow tie, which when she had looked in the mirror earlier, she saw that the outfit appeared very slimming on her.  

He appeared quite pleased to see her and they exchanged friendly greetings.  Brad complimented her on her looks saying, "That's a very attractive ensemble, and like yesterday it's perfect for what the company is looking for."  

She smiled, and replied softly, "Thank you."  

She liked him more and more with the compliments he was giving her.  She was now starting her second day of work, still a little surprised she had a job, and even more so that she had been kissed by a man, by this man sitting next to her and with whom she would be working for and next to for some time. 

And more so even if the kiss itself was only a little one, she didn't refuse it in the least and maybe in a way, sort of returned it. And mostly that she was now in the second day of being a young woman.  

"Should I bring lunch?" she asked him after they greeted him.  He thought for a moment, and then replied, "No, not today, you can start bringing one next week if you want. 

 Today, I can take you to a great place to have lunch, nearby, and it's quite reasonable.  It's up to you what you'd like to do."  

"Okay, thank you, I guess that would work," she replied, not wanting to cause any delay. She then closed and locked the door, and they went to his car again with him slipping his hand onto her lower back and more or less directing where to go.

 She still wasn't sure what it all meant and even if it was acceptable, but she didn't say a word.  At the car, he held the door for her and helped her, then got in the driver's side and they drove to the office, with both keeping the conversation light but continuous.  

During the day, it became more and more apparent to Ashley that Brad was now expecting a lot more from her, mostly more intimacy.  

He continued staying very close to her, as in immediately next to her at her desk, patting her more, holding her hand more, getting in quite close as he continued showing her things, either at her desk or calling her into his office. 

Having absolutely no experience in this sort of workplace arrangement, she could only let him continue, although it worried her more and more throughout the day.  

Around 9:30, he came to her desk, with a bag in his hand, and said, "I'm going to get really busy for the rest of the day, working on some projects that are getting hot as well as helping you, so I'd like you to go to the dry cleaners for me and pick up my clothes. 

 Here's the ticket. And I want you to drop off these clothes to be cleaned. Can you do that for me?"  

"Um, oh, yes, sure...um, right now?"  

"Probably a good idea.  The cleaners are just down the street around the corner, from the café next to us.  Here's some cash and the key access to my car, put the cleaned clothes in my car if you would."  

He pulled out two twenty dollar bills from his wallet which looked to Ashley like it was stuffed with lots of twenties. 

He also gave her the key access to his car.  "Okay, Mr. Austin," she said and stood up and took the bag and bills from him.  "Please, like I asked, here in the office, call me Brad."  She smiled and nodded, and went to the cleaners as requested, and it didn't take that long.  

She was at first a little shy about being outside, by herself. But after a few moments, she did like being there and walking, as it was a very pleasant late Spring day with a comfortable temperature.  

Because of how the day before where she was seen and seemed to be accepted as a normal female, she now gained somewhat more confidence about herself as she made the trip. Eventually, she just enjoyed the walk, especially hearing her heels black open-toed slings with three-inch heels click on the sidewalk.  

She was wearing the waist cincher again beneath her outer clothes and was thinking far less about it than before as she was now just more naturally breathing higher in her chest. 

She noticed that several males she passed, glanced her way, even smiling a little, and including the women, none seemed at all shocked or surprised or did second takes, and there were no pointed fingers that she could notice.  She hoped it was because they just saw a young woman.  

If she was going to continue like this, she also hoped she would stop thinking about how others saw her.  'Maybe this isn't so bad, living as a young woman,' she considered, 'maybe it might work out for me just to stay Ashley, well, for a while, at least.  I suppose I can live this way for the weekend and come back in Monday morning and decide if I want to continue.  

But things will work out so much nicer if Mr. Austin doesn't spend so much time with me.'  She had felt a little good about getting out of the office, but she sort of wished she could see who else worked there.  

Mr. Austin, Brad, had introduced her to the receptionist, whose name was Brenda, in the lobby, so she had no trouble leaving and entering the building again, or going to Brad's car and hanging the cleaned clothes on one of the hooks in the back seat.  

Returning to her desk, she pulled out one of the documents that they had looked at the previous day and again worked on learning what she was to look for. 

However, to her dismay, Brad kept coming out to see her quite often, which continually made her worry about what he seemed to be wanting and how he was treating her.  They went out to lunch around 12:30 and as the café he suggested was just a little over a block away and it was a nice day, they walked.  

As before, Brad quite often had his hand on the back of her skirt, just above her hips, sort of directing her which way to go.  

She had no idea what to do about it, and let him pretty much do what he wanted. 

As he had mentioned, he talked to her about what he was expecting from her, how much he appreciated her apparent desire to learn as much as she could, and where he wanted his future to go, which would include her. 

He also paid for both meals, explaining that it would be charged to an expense account, which made her feel better about not contributing.  

She had had dinner the night before and was now having lunch with Brad, and Mr. Austin.  She began to seriously consider that this could be leading somewhere.  Was he interested in having some kind of social relationship with her and they would start dating? How could she do that? she wondered.  

Or were they already dating? And how could she get him to stop being so close to her, at least in the office?  

She was beginning to think that what he was doing may not be totally appropriate.  

Or, maybe that's how he just normally was. Maybe some people were like that.  But she began considering that, even though she didn't know how she shouldn't let it continue.  Coming back from lunch, she now totally felt that his attention to her was almost overwhelming her, as he barely left her side once they were back in the office.  

After a few moments, she said, "I do have to go the restroom if that's all right?"  "Of course it is, anytime you need to, that's fine."  She grabbed her shoulder bag and walked to the women's restroom, hesitating for a moment outside the door, for as Ash, she had never been in one before.  At that moment, the door opened and another young woman came out, which startled Ashley a little.  "Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't see you there," the young woman said, then continued, "are you Ashley by the way?"  

A little surprised that someone else knew of her, Ashley answered, "Um, yes, Ashley Miller.  I just started working yesterday in Mr. Austin's office."  

"Hi! I'm Lauren Samuels, I work down the hall for Mr. Relsly."  

"Hi, um, Lauren," Ashley replied and they shook hands.  

"Deirdre mentioned that she thought you started working here.  Maybe we'll see each other around.  Have a great day!"  

"Oh, yes, thank you, you too!"  Lauren walked back down the hall, as Ashley went into the restroom, thinking that there was another person who seemed to fully accept her as Ashley. 

Maybe she really was passable, she thought.  

She went into a stall, and coming back out several minutes later, checked herself in the mirror, took a breath, and, thinking about it a little, pulled out her lipstick and touched up her lips a little.  'That wasn't so hard,' she thought, 'and another hurdle crossed.'  

Even though she wanted to, she had mixed feelings about meeting the other employees here. Would they all be as nice as Deirdre and now Lauren seemed? 

Would she fit in? She guessed women might be more discerning of what other women looked like.  Maybe they would look her over and correctly see that she wasn't really female, just masquerading as one.  

She hoped that wouldn't be the case.  She finished up, sighed, wondering what she could do about all the attention Mr. Austin was giving her, and walked back to Mr. Austin's office.  

She then remembered that she had not called his, no, her, no, Ash's mother to tell her about the job. She had wanted to the previous evening, but of course, going to dinner with Mr. Austin, and getting back late as well as the moment of intimacy had her forgo the call.  

She ducked into what looked like an unused doorway, pulled out her cell phone, cleared her throat trying to find her lower voice, and called.  

"Hi, Mom?"..."Yes, I'm doing fine, great even. 

I got a job!"...

"Yes, and it's for a really nice salary and benefits."...

"It's way across town on the east side, an office of Johnston Industries.  I had an interview yesterday and they hired me and I, um, started today."..."Thanks, Mom, for your confidence in me."...

"Oh! How do I sound? I think I might have, um, maybe a little cold coming on?"..." Yes, I'll take care of myself. I promise."...

"Yes, lots of fluid, and early to bed.  I'm sure it's nothing. Don't worry about it."...

"Oh! Dinner Sunday? I'm not sure, because I, um, have, uh, lots to study, to learn about my...new job. Maybe next week?"

..."Ok, that might work. Oh, gotta go, get back to work now."...

"I love you too, Mom.  Tell Dad, please."...

"Okay, goodbye."  She was happy she made the call, it would ease her mother's worries. But now Ashley had a bigger worry, how to even begin to explain that for the near future anyway, they have another daughter instead of a son. 

She'll have to think of an excuse for next weekend if she keeps up being Ashley.  Which she pretty much now assumed she would most likely have to do.  

Once back at her desk, to her ever-growing concern, Mr. Austin's presence close to her did continue into the afternoon, as he came to her a little after 2PM and asked, "Say, I have two tickets to that new play at the theater in town and if you're not doing anything tonight, I'd like you to come with me."  

He again stood almost right over her, with his hand on the back of her chair, such that if she moved even slightly, it was fully against her shoulder and upper arm. 

 "Oh, um, when does it start?"  

"Around 8.  We can drive downtown right after work, there's a small place we can get a bite to eat and then it's only a block to the theater. What do you say?"  

"I...I don't, um, know," she said as she thought, 'Would this be the third date I would have with him?' 

 "I really plan to see it and these tickets were quite hard to get, center section 8th row which is the best location.  I'd really like you to come with me, but if you can't I'll need to know pretty quick."  

She didn't like being rushed like this, but at the same time, still felt that even if she didn't owe him something for hiring her (which she still felt a little like she did), he was still her boss, and she should continue having him like her, so she replied, "Oh, um, okay, then yes, I...I guess I'd like that, thank you." 

 "Good, good.  We can head out right after work for a little supper, and then see the play."  That only seemed to encourage him even more to stay very close to her, as she now began to imagine what could happen that evening.  

They'd go to the diner, then to the play, then no doubt he would take her to some place for drinks afterward, and then, based on what she imagined would often happen in situations like this, he'd take her back to his place, or he would encourage her to invite him into her place, and since it was a Friday, they'd spend serious time together perhaps whole the night, maybe the whole weekend and...  No, no, that couldn't possibly happen. Not at all. He would find out about her, and there would be all sorts of problems.  

She would never consent to that.  But, well, she had seen herself in the mirror a lot in the past 24 hours and she surely began to accept that she looked attractive.  And he was a man and he was certainly showing some serious interest in her....  

As she began to consider all sorts of possibilities, it made her increasingly nervous and even more worried as she realized he'd eventually find out about her, and probably get very upset. 

By around 3PM his constant presence by her along with her worries and concerns were now becoming so intense as to cause her to be almost in tears when he would leave.  

She finally decided she had to tell Mr. Austin (she also felt she couldn't really call him 'Brad' in the office, for sure), to not try to be so close to her, and, more importantly, to tell him the truth about herself. And she had to do it soon, like within the hour, probably.  

Not that long after she made her decision, now only wondering exactly when to do it, he called her to come into his office.  She decided now was the time and, upon entering and before he could say anything, she said, "Mr. Austin..."  

He cut her off, asking as sincerely as possible, "Please, like I've asked before, call me Brad. I'd really like that."  She sort of ignored that and continued, "I...don't know how to say this."  

"Just go ahead, Ashley.  It's all right.  I find I like you an awful lot, and I hope you like me.  I am looking forward to going to the theater and everything this evening. I hope you are too."  

"I..I do like you, and the theater sounds really nice, but...I really have to say this, please let me."  

"I'm glad you do, so, okay, just go ahead, I'm listening."  "Well, um, it's about...me."  She gathered up all her courage, took a breath, and said, "Um, well, I. I don't know how exactly to say this, but, well, you see, I'm, um, I'm not exactly...what I appear to be."  

He smiled at her, a warm, inviting, friendly smile, and said, "Ashley, Ashley, you don't have to tell me anything!  Johnston Industries is a very open-minded company, and it welcomes diversity.  

I appreciate what you're trying to say, that maybe there's something about your appearance or yourself that you feel I might not find acceptable.  

I only care for what's deep inside of you, and how you're trying to express that. Everything you've done today and yesterday since we met, has told me that you are exactly as you appear, and more so, that you are perfect for the position that I've been looking for. Which is why I hired you.  

"Ashley, I want you to know that I understand there are those that have gender-related issues, and that there are differences in people.  

I personally have found that transgendered women are more dedicated to doing the best job they can, and are more willing to do what is necessary to be that exemplary employee. 

 I truly appreciate that in people I hire, and you are everything and more than I had hoped for. I'm really pleased that you applied for a job here and that I got to hire you."  She blushed slightly at the compliment, eventually replying, "Oh! You. you know?" 

 "I only know that you appear as a very attractive young woman and I am more than willing to treat you as that woman, and I only expect you to treat me as a man who is interested in that young woman's best interests and future.  Excuse me for a moment."  

He picked up his desk phone and put on a voice response saying, 'Hello, you've reached the phone of Brad Austin, Johnston Industries. I will be unavailable for the rest of today and until Monday morning. I will be checking my voicemail, so if you would like, please leave a message at the tone and I will reply at my first opportunity.