Laid (Off)

by Jennifer White

 

I shook my head when my boss told me it was time to meet in his office. Over the past few years, our department had become smaller and smaller, as they send more and more jobs over to India. Now it was my turn to be eliminated. I had been secretly looking for another job, knowing this day would come. But my whole industry was suffering. There just weren't the jobs anymore.

"I'm sorry Ralph" said my boss. "But I've got to let you go too. It breaks my heart to see this office die. But there is nothing you can do."

"Don't worry" I said. "I know this isn't your fault. Don't worry about me. Brooke has a good job, so its not like we're going to be out on the street. I'll find somewhere else to work. We'll get by."

"Have them give me a call if you need a personal reference" said my boss. "You've been a great asset to us for all these years. I wish there was something else I could do for you. If you need anything, call me."

"Thanks boss" I said.

 

He really was upset that I was leaving. He had been a great manager to work for. But his hands were tied. I couldn't be angry with him, even if I was angry with the company for cutting out my position.

 

* * *

 

At first, I decided that I'd treat it like an extended vacation. I send out a bunch of resumes, applied for a bunch of jobs online, and went golfing every day. Or I'd work out at the gym. I felt guilty watching Brooke go into work every day, while all I brought in was unemployment. My lovely wife was a middle manager and a fast rising star, while I was at home, playing golf. The man should be the breadwinner in the family, I felt. So besides guilt, I also have to admit that I was feeling a sense of shame.

But I was confident that something would come through. I'd find a job somewhere. But the days turned to weeks, the weeks turned to months, and before I knew it, my unemployment insurance ran out. With our large house, two cars, and our lifestyle, suddenly we were starting to fall behind.

I cashed in the rest of my company stock (which I had been saving for retirement), but that only helped us for a month or two. It was clear that I needed a job.

 

"You might have to settle for something that pays less that you used to earn" said Brooke.

"I know" I said. "I've applied for lower level jobs, but they say I'm 'overqualified', and they won't hire me either."

"I hate to do this" she said, "but I know someone in the human resources department at work. I'll talk to her, and see if there is *any* job we can get for you."

Great. My wife was going to get me hired at her company. I wasn't good enough to get a job on my own; now I needed her to do that for me. I'd be working, but I'd still feel ashamed. But hey, we really needed the money. So I agreed to do it. Debt was starting to pile up. I was desperate. I felt that I had no choice.

 

* * *

 

I went into the office, and met Mariah, the boss who I would be working for now, at my new position. The official title was "Executive Office Assistant". But within five minutes, it was clear that I was to be a secretary. I would do whatever work Mariah needed to get her job done. It might be answering her phone, and taking messages (since she didn't believe that an executive should have her phone answered by an impersonal answering machine). I would type her notes. I would file her documents. Fax reports. Fill out spreadsheets. Whatever was needed to run her office.

Walking in to work my first day, I noticed that I went right by Brooke's office on the way in. "Brooke Foster" read the brass plate on her door. I felt proud. My wife was in management, and a rising star. This wouldn't be all bad working at her firm. I'd get to ride in with her, and back home. I'd get to have lunch with her. Not bad at all.

 

I reached the "administration station" where the other executive office assistants worked. As it turned out, (and as one might expect), they were all women. I was the only man working as a secretary. I introduced myself, but it was clear that the girls felt that I was invading their private club. I got a lukewarm reception at best.

I just didn't fit in with them! I didn't have much to say on the topics they liked to talk about. I didn't know anything about the latest office romance gossip, their kids, their hair, their nails, their makeup, and such. And they didn't very much appreciate what *I* wanted to talk about. You know, sports, politics, important things like that.

So right off the bat, I was an outsider, treated almost like a leper. But I needed their help, since I was new. And we would be working side by side all day. So I needed to do something. I decided that I'd ask Brooke for some advice when we had lunch together. Being a woman, she would know what to do.

 

"You need to bond with them" said Brooke. "Show them that you're not a threat. Make them feel comfortable with you."

"And how am I supposed to do that?" I asked.

"Why don't you treat them all to lunch?" she suggested. "Or go out with them for drinks after work one day."

 

That sounded reasonable. Not that we were rolling in the dough, and could afford a big lunch like that. But hey, if it made things easier at work, I was all for it. And so after clearing it with Mariah, my new boss, I invited the girls out to lunch. I was met with some skepticism at first, but soon they all agreed to join me the next day. I told Brooke about the good news, as we ate our lunch together.

We were both so busy at work, that we wouldn't see each other, although we were in the same office. So our lunchtimes were the only moments we could see each other at work. I thought it was great, being able to have lunch with my wife. But the next day when I ate with the girls, I was surprised at how they viewed it.

 

"First of all, just because you're a man, don't think that you're better than us" said Diane, a short sassy redhead.

"I don't think that way" I said. "I realize that I'm just starting, and you've been here longer than I have."

"Good" she replied.

"And don't think that just because your wife is a manager here, that you're going to bypass *us* when a position opens up for a promotion" said Katie, the tall blonde with short hair. "I've worked hard for years, and I'm not about to let a *man* just waltz in, work for a month, then get promoted over me!"

"That's not my intention" I said.

In reality, I *did* want to get out of there, and into a more skilled position.

"I see how you have lunch with your wife every day" said Jamie, the brunette, and perhaps the hottest looking of the trio. "I'm sure you'll find a way to get her to exert her influence, and bump you up."

"It's not like that!" I said, bewildered. I hadn't realized that I was such a threat to these women. I hadn't known that they thought I was using them like that, and how they would feel if I did get promoted after them, when I was the newest in the group.

The topic changed (mercifully!), and we chatted as we ate lunch. I thought the hard part was done, but before we returned, the girls ganged up on me again. I had to do something.

"Look" I said. "I know you don't trust me. I'm new here, and that will take time. What do you say we make plans to go out after work once a week, and maybe have drinks or something? If we spend some time together away from work, we'll have a chance to get to know each other, and you'll see that I'm not as bad as you think."

"I'll think about it" said Katie, in a huff.

"Maybe. I'll have to check my schedule" said Jamie.

They didn't say 'yes', but at least they didn't say no!

 

* * *

 

After that day, the girls weren't quite as cold to me as before. They weren't exactly friendly either. It was disconcerting to return to my desk, and have their conversation suddenly stop. The silence literally was deafening. What were they talking about that they didn't trust me enough to hear?

 

The next week, we all had lunch together on Tuesday. And on Thursday, I was invited to go out with them for drinks after work! I was happy. They were finally warming to me. I told Brooke of the latest developments that night.

"See? I knew they'd start to accept you, in time" she said.

 

That week on Thursday was really fun. Away from work, and with a few drinks to loosen them up, the girls were actually a lot of fun. We were all laughing, joking, and having a good old time. And now I knew enough of the people in the office that when they made a joke about someone, or told a rumor of who was seen dating who, I had some idea of which person they meant. They really "let their hair down", and it was a fun, relaxed atmosphere. I was surprised to find that they all smoked. I had no idea. But I thought it was great; they were letting me see who they really were.

We had such a good time, that they agreed to make it a weekly event, when schedules allowed.

 

* * *

 

The next week, I was invited to go with them to lunch three times. That meant not being with my wife, but she didn't mind. In fact, she encouraged me.

"That's wonderful" she said. "Yes, you should go with the girls. You're a part of their group now, and it is important that you all get along well. Go! Have fun! See you tonight!"

I had been afraid that she would be mad that I was ditching her to be with other women, but it turned out to be the opposite reaction. I was relieved!

 

Things were going very well. I was getting pretty good at my job by now, and I was getting along very well with my coworkers. In fact, the next week while we were having lunch, I was invited to a party!

"Friday night, at my place" said Jamie.

"What time?" I asked.

"Eight O'clock."

"I'll have to see what Brooke's schedule is."

"It isn't for her. She's in management. This is just for our group."

"Oh, I see" I said, as I wrote a note to myself in my day planner.

I got Jamie's home address, and her personal cell phone number.

"What should I bring?" I asked.

"Just yourself. And maybe your favorite bottle of wine."

"Great. I'll be there" I said.

 

Again, I was unsure how my wife would take it that I was ditching her on a Friday night, but she was delighted that the girls had accepted me enough to invite me to a party like that.

"If you didn't show up, they'd never fully trust you" she said. "You *have* to go."

Wow. Brooke was great. She wasn't jealous at all.

 

And so Friday night, I found myself at Jamie's apartment, with her and the other two hottie girls I worked with. We were all drinking and talking, when they started to break out he cigarettes. They all smoked, but I didn't. So when Katie offered me one, my first instinct was to say no of course. But what if that offended them?

I decided it would be best to accept it, take a puff, and leave it to smolder in the ash tray. I took the cigarette from her, and she lit it for me. I was surprised how mellow it tasted. It was good in fact. And not being a smoker, I wasn't ready for the way it went right to my head.

I began to wonder what in the world I had just smoked, as the room started to spin, and I felt a need to sit down, before I fell down. At that moment, things changed. I was seeing everything through a haze, but the girls all seemed to have full control of their senses. They put their drinks down, and went to work.

I was taken to a bedroom, where I was stripped naked. I was too weak and mellowed out to resist as they pulled off my clothes. Nor could I do anything as they started to dress me up again, in clothes from the dresser and the closet.

Katie pulled panties onto me, as Jamie attached a bra. Diane stuffed the cups of the bra full, with two large lumps of silicon that looked like real breasts. Now I could feel pantyhose being pulled up my legs. Once they were in place, I was sat up, so that Jamie could put me into a thing like a corset, which pinched my waist in tight.

I was stood up, and I could barely hold my balance. It was harder to stand too, because of the flashing lights. I caught of glimpse of Katie, holding a camera.

"What are you doing?" I managed to mumble.

"Be quiet Jenna" said Jamie. "You're too drunk to talk."

Jenna? Who was that?

 

I was led to a mirror, so I could see myself as they put me into a white blouse, a blue pinstriped pencil skirt, and a smart matching jacket. My feet were moved, and black high heels shoes were placed on my feet. Now it was really hard to stand.

They kept taking pictures, as I was led to a set. There, they attached a wig, and then started to apply makeup to my face. My nails were painted red, and they put jewelry on me.

"You look so pretty, Jenna" said Diane.

"Yes Jenna. You're one of the prettiest secretaries I've ever seen" added Jamie.

"Yes, she is really something" said Katie.

 

Jenna was me! They were calling me Jenna! And referring to me as 'she' and 'her'! And whatever they had put into my cigarette had made me helpless to resist. They were making me look like a girl, and referring to me as one. And there was nothing I could do about it.

They took a lot more pictures, and then we returned to the livingroom. My head started to clear, but I was afraid about what I should do. I decided to go to the bedroom, and change back. But my clothes were all gone!

"You will stay dressed like that, until we say you can change back" said Jamie.

"Where are my clothes?"

"Those are your clothes now, Jenna."

"Why are you doing this!"

"So you learn what it is like to be one of us. If you're a good girl, at the end of the night, we'll help you change back. But if you're bad, then you can walk home. Like that."

 

They had me over a barrel. I *had* to do as they said now. And so, for the next two hours, I was literally one of the girls, as we talked, drank, played board games, and watched a TV show. I was *so* thankful when they allowed me to change back! I took a long shower, scrubbing off all traces of makeup and perfume. What if Brooke smelled a strange perfume on me? How would I ever explain *that*?

Thankfully, she was already asleep when I got home. I crawled into bed, thankful that one of the worst nights of my life was over.

 

* * *

 

Monday at work, I didn't know what to expect. I was going to tell the girls that I had learned my lesson, and that I wouldn't be bothering them anymore. I was going to call off lunch plans and everything. I would just avoid them, even if they did treat me poorly. I wanted nothing to do with them.

But I wasn't given the chance to do that. Because when I sat down, Jamie walked up to me slyly. She took out a picture from a computer photo quality printer. It was me, all made up as a woman.

"I thought you might like to see this, Jenna" she said.

I looked up to her with fear in my eyes.

"Now you understand your place in our group. At the bottom. You wouldn't want copies of this winding up on Mariah's desk would you? Or your wife's mailbox?"

"No!" I said.

"Good. Then you understand your place" she said.

She walked away, and I wasn't sure what I could do next. But before I could think of anything, Katie walked over to me.

"Hey Jenna" she said sweetly. "You look like you could use some coffee."

"Yes" I replied. "But please don't call me that."

"Why not Jenna? It's your name. When you hear it, you'll remember this weekend. And you'll remember that you are here to serve *us* now. Don't worry. We'll be careful. We won't call you Jenna in front of others. Just when we're alone."

That was of small comfort to me!

"So Jenna, we were talking about coffee, weren't we?"

"Yes" I said.

"I'll take mine with cream and sugar. Jamie?"

"I'll have an espresso."

"Diane?"

"Make mine a latte, with skim milk."

"Very well then" said Katie. "Off you go!"

And so I found myself going to the cafeteria, to bring back coffee for the girls. But that was just the start.

"Jenna, go to the supply room, and get a new ink jet cartridge."

"Jenna, see if my package came in from the mailroom."

"Hey Jenna, we're running low on staples."

"It's going to rain Jenna, and I need to go to see my doctor. Go pull my car up so I won't have to get wet."

 

They ordered me around, as if I worked for them! And I had to do my job too. I was really looking forward to lunch, so I could tell Brooke all about it. Or could I? How could I tell my wife that I was being blackmailed by the girls, who had drugged me, and dressed me up as one of them? But even if I couldn't tell her the details, being away from them for a while would be a welcomed break.

I stood up to leave them.

"And where do you think you're going?" said Katie.

"To lunch with my wife" I said.

"No you're not" she replied. "Call her now, and tell her you're going with us."

"But...." I started to say.

Jamie held up another photograph of me, made up as Jenna.

"Are you coming with us, or do we need to use this?" she said.

I growled, then picked up the phone. I made an excuse to Brooke, and then turned back to the girls.

"There. Are you satisfied?" I asked.

"Come on Jenna. Get in the car" said Jamie.

 

I rode with them past the lunch shop we usually went to. Instead, they drove me to the mall. There, I followed them inside.

"What restaurant is here?" I asked.

"Oh, we're not eating lunch today" said Diane. "We're shopping."

 

They led me to a store which was perhaps the worst one they could have picked in the whole store: the one that sold women's lingerie.

"Can I help you?" asked the saleswoman.

"Yes" replied Jamie. She pointed at me. "Our friend here has been borrowing our panties, and we think that if he is going to wear them at work, he should have his own. I don't want to be in panties that *he* has worn."

"I understand" said the girl, who now turned to me. "What kind of panties do you like to wear sir?"

I stammered, not sure what to say.

"He'll feel more comfortable if you call him 'Jenna'. That's his name when he's a girl" said Katie, just loud enough for all of us to hear.

"Sure. So Jenna, what do you like? Soft cotton? Frilly lace?"

"You looked wonderful in my black lace panties" said Jamie. "Why don't you get yourself fitted for those, and for a matching bra?"

 

I wanted to die. The salesgirl was measuring me, and explaining how bras and panties were sized. Prodded by the girls, I ended up with six pairs of panties, two bras, a couple of packs of pantyhose, along with nylons and a garter belt. I rang it all up, and I was *really* glad to get out of there.

But they weren't done yet. Next they dragged me to a store that sold "women's" sizes. Or in other words; ones large enough for bigger women. Or for a man.

 

Again, they totally embarrassed me by telling the saleswoman that I liked to dress up as a girl, and that I wanted to be fitted for something I could wear to work. They picked out tan slacks and a white blouse, which weren't particularly feminine or intimidating. In fact, they were androgynous enough that you might not notice that I was wearing women's clothes. But *I* would know.

I was just fuming as we drove back to the office. The girls were all chatting as if it was all nothing. I decided that as soon as work was done, I'd head back to the mall, and return all the crap they had made me buy. But I guess they knew I might do that, so they didn't give me a chance for that.

"When we get back to the office, you will try on all your panties" said Jamie in a very authoritarian voice. "They won't take them back once you've tried them on. Same for the bras. Do you understand?"

"Yes" I said quietly, feeling completely ashamed.

"Every day from now on, you will come into work wearing your panties" said Diane. "We will check, so don't try and sneak out of it. Do you understand?"

"But Brooke might see me. I can't do that!"

"That's your problem" said Katie. "Be glad we aren't making you wear your bras. Yet."

I swallowed hard.

"Oh, and tomorrow, you'll come into work wearing your new outfit" added Katie. A secretary should be wearing a blouse, and women's pants. Don't you agree?"

"Oh yes" said Jamie. "Maybe soon she'll come in wearing a skirt."

Now *that* was frightful beyond anything I had ever experienced!

 

Back at work, things went from bad to worse. There was a memo on my desk, telling me to go see Brooke right away. I hurried down the hall to her office.

"What's the matter Brooke?" I asked.

"Have a seat" she said. "And close the door."

I did as she asked, although it was very formal of her. That wasn't how we acted together.

 

"What's the matter Brooke?" I asked.

"Do you realize how hard I've worked to reach the position I'm in?" she said. "Do you realize what sort of damage you're inflicting on my career?"

"I don't understand!" I said. "What have I done?"

"Look. You work here now. I can't have you just waltzing into my office, in front of everyone, and calling me by my first name. None of the other lower workers address management that way. But today, twice I've had people who report up to me call me 'Brooke'. They said that they heard you do it, so they thought it was okay."

"Why is that bad?" I said.

"Now my boss thinks that I keep too loose of a hand on my employees! You're undermining my authority at work. Things need to change."

"What can I do to help?"

"First of all, we're going to start to drive in separately. And secondly, while we're at work, you need to start addressing me as Ms. Conway."

"But that's your maiden name" I replied.

"Yes. To keep my name and career separate from yours. I can't afford to be perceived as a weak manager. I can't afford to fall off of the fast track. Do you understand?"

"I see" I said.

"I see, what?"

"I see Ms. Conway" I replied.

"That's better. Now when you leave my office, there will be people waiting for my 2:15 appointment. I want you to tell me 'right away', and call me Ms. Conway. Get it?"

"Okay" I sighed, standing up

 

Brooke opened the door from me, and smiled.

"Yes Ms. Conway. Right away, Ms. Conway" I said as I turned to leave. The people sitting in the waiting area could not help but to have heard me say it. In a day full of embarrassments, that was perhaps the worst one yet.

 

* * *

 

The next day, I waited until Brooke was in the shower, before I quickly dressed. I made a spot at the back of my T-shirt drawer, which was rarely used, and place all of my new female undergarments there. I put on a pair of my new panties, and the tan slacks, along with the white blouse. I felt like a fool.

I looked up to see Brooke, who was walking out of the bathroom. She had a towel wrapped around her head, since she had washed her hair. She always looked so pretty when she got out of the shower.

"I like your new outfit" she said. "It looks much better than your usual clothes. More professional."

"Really?" I said.

"You were never much of a dresser dear. But you look wonderful today. I can see that those girls are a good influence on you."

I let out a nervous laugh. That was hardly my opinion of them!

"I thought a suit and tie was proper business attire" I said.

"Not for your position dear. It made you look like you were reaching for something that wasn't obtainable. But now, you look like you have the right outfit for the right job. A much more sensible approach. I think you should dress like that every day."

Great. I was wearing women's clothes, and my wife *liked* it.

"But one small detail" she said. "That style of shirt doesn't get tucked into your pants. Let's me see how it looks on you if you pull it out."

I did as she asked, although I had *always* tucked in my shirts.

"Much better!!" she said, lighting up.

"I don't know" I replied. "That's how I've always worn my shirts."

"But you've never worn one as fashionable as that. But I've got a problem: I'm running late. Would you be a dear and make my breakfast?" she said sweetly.

"Sure thing, Ms. Brooks" I said, half-joking.

She laughed out loud, as I headed downstairs to whip up something for her.

 

At work, the girls all made a big fuss over how wonderful he looked.

"What did your wife think?" asked Katie.

"She actually said it was a good look for me" I admitted.

"Great! We'll go get you some more outfits!"

Oops, I shouldn't have let that slip. To make matters worse, my boss, Mariah, complimented me on my outfit too.

"Now you're really getting into a proper professional look" she said.

I sighed. It looked like *everyone* preferred it when I dressed that way. At lunch, the girls helped me pick out more pants, a blazer, more tops, and a pair of black shoes that Jamie called "flats". I had to admit they were comfortable, but I didn't feel very confident wearing them in public!

 

In the car on the way back from the mall, Jamie made me unzip my pants in back a little, so that she could verify that I was wearing my panties.

"Good girl" she said. "But you know, it just seems wrong for you to go around like that."

"Like what?" I said.

"Braless. No other girl in the office goes around without her bra. So from now on, you will wear one too."

"Look" I said, feeling angry. "Nobody has noticed what I'm wearing so far, but if I wear a bra, I'll get caught! Someone will see me, and they'll all think I'm a freak."

"They'll really think well of you then, when I publish your pictures. Jenna."

 

Great. I had no choice but to go along with her evil plans.

"Look" I said. "What if I just quit? Go home now, and leave you all alone? You'll never have to worry about me threatening your position, or anything. I'll just leave, and pretend that nothing ever happened."

"Oh no" said Diane. "You can't do that."

"Why not?"

"We have plans for you."

 

Those words rung in my ears, as if I had been hit with a sledgehammer. I was trapped in my new job. I was trapped by women, who were trying to turn me into a girl too.

 

* * *

 

Over the next few weeks, I felt even more trapped. The girls were always ordering me around in the office. They would make excuses to have me go do something where I might run into my wife.

"Hello Ms. Conway. Here are the reports you requested" I would say.

"Thank you" she would say, as if talking to an intern, not her husband. I noticed that the door plate on her office had been replaced too now. It was like I was being cut out of her life.

 

I was eating lunch with the girls every day now. And every second or third day, it seemed that they'd have something new that I had to do. For example, one day Katie applied a light coat of foundation to my face, while we drove off to lunch.

"You'll wear makeup from now on" announced Jamie. "Just like Katie is teaching you to do. Do you understand, Jenna?"

"Yes Jamie" I said, feeling ashamed.

"I don't think you should call me that anymore" she replied.

"What now?" I asked.

"Just as with your wife, I think you should call me by a more respectful title. From now on, I am Ms. Carter to you."

"Yes Ms. Carter" I replied.

That made me feel even lower. Now I wasn't even on a first name basis with the other secretaries. And I returned to the office with makeup on my face. So naturally, they made me take a printout to my wife, so she'd see me like that.

"Here you are Ms. Conway" I said.

"Thank you" she said, as I handed the report over. "By the way, your skin has a very healthy glow today."

"Thanks" I said, feeling ashamed. I was wearing makeup, and she had *complimented* me on it!

 

As I walked back to my desk, I thought of a big problem (as if I didn't have enough already).

"Look. This has to stop. There's a problem" I told Diane.

"What is it Jenna?" she replied.

"I can't keep wearing these clothes. When Brooke does the wash this weekend, she'll see that they are all designer lines for women's clothes. So you see, I can't wear them anymore."

I was deathly afraid that she'd notice I was dressing in women's clothes. So far, I had been lucky that she hadn't noticed. But if the girls kept pushing me in that direction, sooner or later I'd be in trouble.

"There is a simple solution" said Jamie.

"What?" I asked.

"*You* start doing the laundry at home. She'll thank you for it. And then she won't notice the fact that you like to dress up as a chick now."

"I don't like this!" I said.

"You will" she replied. "You will."

 

* * *

 

That weekend, I ended up doing the laundry, as well as the cooking. Brooke did in fact thank me for it, but that was no small comfort. At least I was wearing male clothes. The girls couldn't control what I wore at home, on the weekend.

But after a weekend with Brooke, work didn't seem like something to look forward to. And sure enough, it got off to a bang. The girls had me dressed up in my newest outfit, with dark blue pants, and a light blue top. It was the most feminine looking outfit yet. And I had to carry a report to Brooke, after they helped me put on my makeup. Diane also painted my nails, a very light pink color, which was so close to the color of my nail beds that you'd never notice I was wearing nail polish, except that the coloring was too even.

So here I am like that, delivering a report to Brooke. I see her and smile.

"Hi Brooke. I have your report" I said.

She smiled back.

"I like your outfit. Very cute" she said. "But how many times have I told you to call me Ms. Conway at work? You keep slipping up. From now on, you're going to have to call me that at home too."

"Do I have to?" I said.

"Yes" she replied. "Now tell me you're sorry."

"I'm sorry" I said. "Ms. Conway."

"Now go" she said, dismissing me.

I felt crushed. I was going to have to call her "Ms. Conway" at home too? This was getting out of hand. But I couldn't quit. The girls wouldn't let me. What could I do?

 

The next day, my lunch break was spent at a hair salon, as Jamie directed them how to cut my hair. It was a lot like the way Katie's was styled. I had a woman's haircut now. So of course when we returned, after I fetched coffee for the girls, they sent me to deliver a printout to Brooke.

"Here's your printout, Ms. Conway" I said.

"Thanks" she replied. "What have you done with your hair?"

"Oh, I had it cut at lunch. Do you like it?"

"Like it? I love it! It's so cute."

 

Great. Cute. Just what I didn't want my wife to think of me. This was so terrible. The girls were pushing me further and further, and soon Brooke was going to discover what they were doing to me. I was amazed that so far, she still hadn't noticed how the girls were trying to turn me into a woman. It had been so gradual I guess, that she just didn't catch on.

But now things got even worse for me. On Tuesday, when I arrived at work, Katie handed me a razor.

"I already shaved today" I said.

"Not where I'm going to shave you" she replied.

Thus started the loss of my body hair. At first, it was my arms, which nobody would notice. But over the next few days, I had to gradually shave off more and more, until the only thing that remained was the hair on my head, and my eyebrows.

But starting then, each day, Jamie would pluck a couple of hairs from my eyebrows. They were getting thinner and thinner. She was making me start to feel more and more like a woman. I was dressed as a woman. Wearing makeup. And women's shoes. With a woman's haircut. And now, my body had no hair.

 

"Ooh, that's so sexy. I like how smooth your skin is now" said Brooke, after we made love one night.

"Thank you Ms. Brooks" I replied. I wasn't even allowed to call her by her first name in bed. And once again, as with everything the girls did to me, she seemed to like that I was hairless now! It was just a matter of time before she caught on.

 

* * *

 

Two more torturous weeks went by. Today, I was wearing silk stockings and a frilly fancy garter belt under my clothes. And Jamie had made me start to use a silicon breast pad, that was supposed to add one cup size, to help fill out my bra. Someone was going to see! I felt so self-conscious. But even Brooke didn't notice.

 

And then came the worst day yet. Let me explain. The day started out as usual. I cooked Brooke's breakfast, made our bed, and got her underway to work. Then I put on my panties, my nylons, my bra, and the breast pads. Then I did my makeup, fixed my hair, and put on my shoes for work. These had an ever so slight heel to them, and a slightly pointy toe. My shoes were getting more girly all the time.

I drove in to work, and walked to my desk. The girls all ordered their morning coffees, and I went to the cafeteria to get them. I returned, and did some typing and filing for them, as they drank their coffee. Then I went to Mariah's office, and got my list of tasks for the day.

I was in the middle of pulling some numbers into a spreadsheet, when the phone rang. Diane answered it.

"Jenna, Ms. Conway wants to see you in her office. Now."

"Thanks" I said.

I got up, and walked down the hallway towards my wife's office. Today I had on the most feminine outfit yet. I felt like everyone was staring at me as I passed by. I *hated* this so much. I felt so weak, so powerless, and so trapped.

I knocked on the door.

"Come in" said Brooke. "Close the door. And have a seat."

"Yes Ms. Conway" I said. It was automatic now.

 

"I have a chance for a big promotion" she said.

"That's wonderful!" I replied. "Just what you've been working towards."

"Yes" she replied. "But there is one crucial test. One of our upper executives from HQ is going to pay a visit today. I need to convince him that I am firmly in charge, and show him how far employees will go for me."

"You do a great job" I said.

"Thank you" she said. "But this is something where I need your help."

"Certainly" I said, hoping I could do something to get into her good graces. She had seemed a little cool the past week or so. "I'll do anything to help."

"I'm glad you feel that way, Jenna" she said.

 

My heart stopped beating. She had called me Jenna. I felt like I was going to faint. No! She had found out my dirty little secret!

"Oh Jenna, don't be so naive" she said. "Do you think I wouldn't notice that for the past few months, my husband has been turning into a woman? I've been watching your progress. You're doing excellent. Just as I had hoped."

"You knew?" I said.

"I didn't just know silly" she said. "I planned it all."

I was in utter shock. I had been hoping to hide my feminization from her. But *she* had been the one who had planned it all, from the start! It was my wife that had been turning me into a woman!

 

"I have some presents for you" she said.

Brooke went to her cabinet got out a gift wrapped box. She handed it to me.

"Open it" she said.

I opened it, and I was surprised to see what was inside. A pearly necklace, and clip-on earrings. She showed me how to work them, as she put them on me.

"There" she said. "Very pretty."

 

Now I had gone past cute. Now I was pretty?

"And now, I think you've worn this before" she said, opening her coat closet.

There, hanging neatly, was the outfit I had worn that first night when the girls had dressed me up. The pinstriped pencil skirt and matching jacket. A perfect business suit - for a woman that is.

 

"What are you waiting for?" she said. "Put it on."

"I don't know. I can't go out like that..."

"You've been dressing as a woman for months. Everyone in the office is talking about how you look like a chick now. They already know Jenna. Nobody is going to say anything. They already look at you as one of the girls. Now put on your outfit for me."

"Please!" I said.

"I'm asking you to do this for my career" she said. "Don't you want me to succeed?"

"Yes" I said.

"Then put it on. Don't be shy. I've seen you naked before."

She giggled as she said that. I felt so humiliated to undress in front of my wife, so that she could see my bra, panties, and nylons. I put on the outfit, and stood in front of her. That was when I noticed the shoes in the coat closet. Heels. For me, obviously. Brooke pointed to them, and I put them on.

If that wasn't enough, now she gave me a purse, which was full of cosmetics and stuff.

"Go ahead, fix your face. Lets see a darker lipstick, some blush, and some eyeliner to start" she instructed. I put it all on, making my face look more and more feminine. Then she had me put on mascara, and some eye shadow. Now my face was fully made up.

 

"Follow me, Jenna" she said.

I followed her down the hall to a conference room, which was full of people I didn't recognize. Their ID badges told me that they were from headquarters. These were the executives. She handed me a yellow legal pad.

"Sit over there, and take notes Jenna" she said.

"Yes Ms. Conway" I replied.

 

I sat there, and took notes during the meeting. At one point, she instructed me to get coffee for everyone, which I did. I felt so weird walking the hallways at work wearing a skirt and high heels! That also meant I needed to walk slower than normal, taking little steps.

When I returned with the coffee, I handed the cups out to everyone.

"Thank you Jenna" said Brooke. "We have important confidential things to discuss now. You can go back to your desk, and start working on the report for next Friday."

"Yes Ms. Conway" I said.

 

As I closed the door to walk out, I could hear a man talking to her.

"Remarkable. If you can control him like that, I have no doubt of your ability to....."

 

She had been showing me off to the executives! Showing them how tame I was. They all knew I was really a man. I wanted to find a hole, and climb in. But I did as she asked. I went back to my desk. And something remarkable happened: the girls had a new attitude towards me.

"Hi Jenna. Nice outfit" said Jamie.

"Thanks" I said.

"Hey, I'm going for coffee. Would you like to come and chat?"

"I've got a lot of work to do" I said.

"Okay. I'll bring you back some. Cream and sugar, right?"

"Yes, thank Jamie" I said.

 

And it wasn't just her. They were all nice to me all of a sudden! They made such a fuss about how pretty I looked, and how good my outfit was, that I almost felt proud somehow. It was like they had been my mentors, teaching me how to be a woman, and now I had somehow passed a test. And they were all being so nice all of a sudden. Like I was one of them.

It kept up all day in fact. And that night, when I got home, I was in for another big shock. I went to get out of my skirt, and into something more appropriate for being at home. I found that my entire closet had been cleared out, and all of my clothes replaced with ones for a woman.

"From now on, you'll dress like that, at home and at work" said Brooke.

I looked up to her, shocked.

"What did you do with my clothes?"

"You won't be needing them anymore" she said.

That spooked me. I had heard that line before.

"The bosses were very impressed with you" she said. "I'm getting promoted. And it is thanks to you, Jenna." She kissed me, and I melted. I loved her so much. I couldn't be mad at her. Even if she was turning me into a woman.

 

* * *

 

It was less than a week after wearing a skirt into work every day, when Brooke next surprised me. One morning when I was ready to put on my bra, she gave me a box. I opened it up, and inside were two very large fake boobs. Realistic in every detail, including the dark ring of color around the nipple, which poked out at the top.

"You'll really look pretty Jenna, with your bra filled out all the way."

"I don't want to look pretty" I said. "I want all this to stop."

"It doesn't matter what you want. I'm the boss. In fact, since you've got such a bad attitude about your new boobs, you will wear them around the house too."

"No, please!" I said.

"My decision is final. Do you understand?"

"Yes Ms. Conway" I said.

"Plus, with large ones like those on your chest all day, it will be easier for you to adjust when I get you implants. Oh yes. You're going to have breast implants soon. Don't look so surprised Jenna. You know that you're becoming a woman. You've been on female hormones, and you haven't even realized it. Soon, you're going to *want* to have real boobs, once the estrogen has rewired your brain."

 

I felt like crying. But I didn't want her to see me like that. I silently inserted the large breast forms into my bra, and went about my usual routine, preparing for work.

 

* * *

 

My birthday came, and what did I get? More pretty things to wear. More jewelry, including real earrings, and a coupon for getting my ears pierced. My nails and hair were getting longer. My skin was getting softer, from the hormones that Ms. Conway had been secretly giving me. But nothing had prepared me for her next step.

 

"I have an old friend who is coming in from out of town" she announced that evening. "I want to show you off."

I had to admit, that when she praised me for being so pretty, or showed me off, it made me feel proud in a way. I didn't like feeling that, but I couldn't help what I felt. Maybe it was the hormones. I don't know. But all of a sudden, I felt excited that Ms. Conway wanted to show *me* off.

I met her friend that day, when *he* came to visit her at work. I showed him to her office, but I didn't like the way he was ogling me. When Ms. Conway wasn't looking, he gave me a light slap on the behind, which made me jump. At that moment, I felt *so* vulnerable. But he seemed so strong. My emotions were so conflicted! Again.

Now I had to sit there as Ms. Conway flirted with him. As she dictated a note to me, he was all over her. She had to push him away, as she giggled, and tried to finish what she was saying for me to write down.

"Jenna, I won't be going out to lunch today. I'll be staying in. Lock my door, and close it on your way out."

 

I did as she asked. I always did. I heard her laugh out loud, and say "Oh stop it", as he put his hands on her. I didn't even want to think of what he would do to her in there. I sat at my desk, typing in the note that Ms. Conway had just dictated, while she fooled around with that man in her office.

That got me to thinking: when was the last time I had intimate contact with her? Months? I couldn't really remember.

 

* * *

 

After that day, her gentleman friend called often at work, or at home. They were often touching, or holding hands. I had to admit that he was rather cute, but I looked at Ms. Conway as being mine!

 

"Ms. Conway" I said that night, "Why are you with that man? Don't you love me anymore?"

"Oh Jenna, I love you more than anything" she said. "My relationship with Charles is strictly business."

"I don't understand" I said. "It doesn't look like business to me."

I was more than a little hurt, to say the least!

"Listen Jenna. Some people think I play favorites with you, because you and I are an item. By doing this, people will think I'm with him, and all that talk will stop. This is just to help my career. You want that, don't you?"

"I guess" I said.

"Good. So it's settled. I'll keep publicly dating Charles."
"Well then can we have lunch together sometimes? I miss that."

"No Jenna, it would send the wrong message. You will just eat with the girls, since you're one of them now."

 

I hadn't fully accepted being a girl, nor becoming a girl. But what could I do? I felt so helpless, trapped in my life. The hormones and all the time living as a woman were working away at me, eroding away my maleness, turning me into a woman inside and out.

"Don't look so hurt Jenna" she said to me. "Look. I think of you as a girl now! So even if it wasn't a work thing, I couldn't be with you anymore. I need a man. Maybe once you're completely female, you'll understand."

 

* * *

 

On Friday, Ms. Conway come to my desk right before lunch. She had an errand for me.

"Go out, and buy yourself a pretty party dress" she told me. "You'll need it for tonight."

 

I was so excited! At last I'd be going out with her! I went to the mall, and found this really pretty little black dress. With my corset in place, and my breast forms attached by glue, it looked like I had a pinched waist. It looked like I was stacked. I looked like I really was a girl. I was *so* ready to go out with Ms. Conway and have fun!

But it didn't work out like that at all.

 

"You look very pretty Jenna" she told me.

"Thank you Ms. Conway" I replied.

"Now listen. Jamie and Katie will be here shortly. You're going with them to a bachelorette party."

"You're not coming?" I said.

"No. I have a date with Charles.

 

I was in such a daze now. She wasn't just hanging out with that man at work. Now they were dating, while I was with the girls. At least the party was fun. We drank a lot, played silly games, and had a blast. They had a male stripper, and I gawked as he undressed. Had I been like him once? That seemed so long ago. I felt so much like a woman that I almost wanted to reach out and touch him on his muscular chest. But fear filled me, and I refused to let that kind of feeling well up in me.

 

I went home feeling upset and confused. I got into my nightie, and waited in bed until Ms. Conway returned. When she did, I could tell that she had been with him. She smelled of sex.

"It's not fair" I said, my hands on my hips. "I'm loyal to you, and you're dating another man!"

"No, I'm dating a man" she said. "Not 'another' man. There is only one man in my life. You're a woman now."

"But that's not the point!" I said, angrily. "I'm still loyal to you, and you're with someone else."

"Okay Jenna, if you feel that way. I give you permission to date someone else too. It is time that you found yourself a man."

"But I don't want to date a man!" I said. "I want you!"

"I'm not a lesbian" she said coolly. "So I have no use for a woman like you in my bed. In fact, from now on, you'll be sleeping in the guest room. I will not share my bed with another woman."

 

* * *

 

I soon got used to sleeping in my own room. It wasn't all that bad; now my clothes and Ms. Conway's clothes didn't get mixed up anymore, since we were wearing similar things all the time now. And it allowed her privacy with her male lover. So it wasn't all that bad you see.

 

Days went by, and I settled into a routine. But one day I realized something: living as a woman was starting to feel *normal* for me. It wasn't like I was being turned into a woman anymore; I felt like I *was* a woman, but with a body that needed to catch up with my heart.

Let me give you an example. Back in the old days, when I was first told that I was going to have real breasts one day, I had freaked out. But now, I had a different argument with Ms. Conway. Since my boobs had budded and had started to grow, I had wanted to stop wearing the breast forms, so that my natural boobs could fill out my bra. But she had insisted that I keep them in, to get used to having boobs that size.

The day finally came when I was taken to the doctor, to get breast implants. They brought me up to a full D cup size, perfectly filling out my bras. It took a little while to get past the soreness from the operation, but once I was fully heeled, I felt so good about my chest.

I didn't have to bother with gluing on my breast forms anymore, or washing them to keep them nice. I could wear low cut tops without worrying about how my boobs would look. And I could wear the cutest corsets now for support, if I was in the type of dress where I wanted maximum cleavage and support. Of course by now, I had enough laser hair removal treatments that I no longer had any body hair growing, so my boobs looked really pretty when I wore something to show them off, like my new red dress.

 

Another example was how I wanted to let my hair grow out longer, but Ms. Conway didn't like the idea. But with enough pleading, she finally gave in, and said I could grow my hair out longer, on the condition that I do her a favor. She asked if I would start to wear a maid's outfit, when I did my housework, because I looked so silly dressed as a business woman, doing house work.

"Sure, that doesn't sound unreasonable" I said.

I was really happy when I saw that she bought me a maid's uniform that really showed off my legs and had a deep v-neck to show off my big boobs. I would wear dark pantyhose and black heels with it, just because it looked so sexy and cute that way. But it was cut so high that I felt embarrassed. You could see that nasty bulge between my legs.

That was when I started begging Ms. Conway to let me have it removed. I wanted to be just like her, and it was getting in the way. Plus, I felt so self-conscious in the lady's room at work. I was the only one with something sticking out between my legs. I wanted to get rid of it. Now.

 

* * *

 

"So you're a secretary?" asked Thomas, my date for the evening. We had met at the gym, where I take an aerobics class to help keep my weight down. Ever since I went on estrogen, it became so hard to stay thin!

"We prefer to be called Administrative Assistants" I replied, giggling. It isn't nice to correct your date. Plus, men feel threatened for some reason if you point out what they did wrong. I had found that laughing like the silly girl that I am helped to diffuse the tension.

"A nice title, eh?" he said with a laugh.

I was perfecting the art of dating a man. The girls had been teaching me all sorts of tricks they used to manipulate their guys into doing what *they* wanted. Most were so subtle, so sly, that the man never even realized he was being made to do something he didn't want.

Ms. Conway said she was so proud of me now, how I had bloomed into a beautiful woman, and how a girl like me could go far in the office. She even hinted at giving me a promotion. I but I had to turn her down.

"Jamie has been here longer than me" I had told her. "And if anyone deserves to be promoted, *she* does."

"All right" said Ms. Conway. "You will work for her now. Mariah is moving up to my spot, and I'm going on up in the company. From now on, you work for Jamie."

"Thank you for understanding" I had said.

 

I was telling Thomas about my job, and how much I loved it.

"Jamie is the best boss a woman could ever ask for" I said. "Everyone at work has always been so kind to me. I just love my job."

Thomas reached under the table, and put his hand on my knee. A shiver when up and down my spine. He had been undressing me with his eyes all night. He had been doing all the right things, all night long. And I really liked him. If he didn't blow it by doing something stupid like getting drunk and loud, I decided that he just might get lucky tonight.

  

  

  

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