The Office Party - Alter Ego - Chapter One (Patreon)

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The main problem with the office in which I worked was that if you didn't go to the parties, you tended to find that you were frowned upon for not being a "team player". This, in turn, tended to affect your standing in the eyes of the bosses and therefore the chances that you would ever be considered for promotion were very slim, to say the least.

The Christmas party went past without mishap for once, my naughty vicar outfit going down quite well. I don't know why we had to have another party at Easter, I don't know but there were about eight of us as Easter bunnies, and the suits were so hot that we all drank far too much. When the notice went up, for a "Grand   Summer Ball" went up my heart sank. It didn't help that everyone else was so up for it.

I decided that I'd put in for a holiday to cover the Saturday night that the ball was going to take place, so I submitted my application and didn't think too much more about it until two days later, I was summoned to, Melinda Bowen's office.

Bad enough that I'd been pulled into her lie, doubly bad when I'd been summoned to answer questions, regarding my sudden avoidance of the Summer Ball. Not that she asked me that directly of course.

Now Miss Bowen is one of the new generations of managers, all management degree, corporate strategy, and business environment.

It didn't help that she was stunningly beautiful with an iron hand in a velvet glove. Tall and busty, but lithe with it, her long auburn hair and sparkling green eyes had the capability of compelling and capturing at the same time.

"You've put your holiday request in at short notice, haven't you  Keith?" Her eyes pinned me to the chair and I felt like I was shrinking.

"It was one of those last-minute deals Miss Bowen," I explained,  rather lamely as it turned out.

"Where to?" She asked.

"Erm, Cyprus."

"Really? I went to Cyprus last year. Which part?"

"Erm, Iraklion."

"Isn't that in Crete Keith?"

"Erm is it? Oh, well, it sounds something like that." Oh dear,  I thought, okay, so Geography isn't my strong point.

"You realize you'll miss the Summer Ball?" She asked, those emerald eyes burning into mine so hard that I had to glance away, which only served to make me look shifty. An exercise in damage limitation seemed to be my only course of action.

"Oh! That's a shame."

"Indeed it is Keith, especially as the Technology Support Department is going to be restructured in August."

"Is it? I didn't know." I replied, restructuring usually meant job losses.

"Yes, I'll be running the new department actually, we're combining your Technology Department with Operations. Oddly enough your name came up."

"It did?" That could be either good or bad.

"I'm going to need someone to back me up on the technical side,  we'd thought of you, a real promotion Keith, then again Nick  Collins has similar qualifications, even though he hasn't been  with the company long."

Nick Collins, sucked up to management, life, and soul of the party and a serious whiz kid. Dangerous to my long-term prospects and God knew I needed the job after having lost my last one under a hugely embarrassing grey cloud.

The cloud? Ah, well that tends to tie in with me not being able to wear the kind of outfit I'd have liked to wear to a fancy dress party. I used to work late at my previous company you see.

That afforded me an hour or so to pretend I was a sexy secretary or office girl. I'd got away with smuggling clothes in and out for months, up until they'd installed an internal closed-circuit television system without any of us knowing. Apparently, the videotape showed me getting undressed, doing my makeup, and then dressing in a short black mini skirt and white blouse. Crowning my head with a long tumbling curled blonde wig.

They'd been all right about it really, it could have been a lot worse but they still wouldn't have a transvestite working for them, apparently, I'd have been a target for any self-respecting industrial espionage agent. Not that there was anything they'd have been interested in. So I'd left the company under a cloud and gone back to live with my parents for a while, losing the job meant I couldn't keep up with the rent on my flat. It had also curtailed my dressing and I'd had to dispose of my wardrobe, this had been than losing the job.

When I'd got this job I'd been able to get another flat and rebuild my wardrobe. The possibility that I might lose it all again was too terrible to imagine.

"I suppose I could cancel," I said for the want of saying anything.

"Really? Well, if you think you should Keith, don't feel I'm putting any pressure on you." The smile she gave me had no humor or pleasure behind it.

"Of course not Miss Bowen."

"That would mean you could go to the Summer Ball as well." Her bright smile didn't fool me but I couldn't let on that I knew what she'd been up to.

"Well, that's something to look forward to."

"Of course it is Keith, certainly more fun than burning to bits on a beach, in Cyprus, or Crete, or anywhere else, don't you think?"

"Certainly Miss Bowen."

"Well thanks for popping in Keith, you've only got two weeks to get to the fancy dress shops, you'd better hurry, everyone else has been buying up everything they can get their hands on."

Thus dismissed I had the thought that Miss Bowen would no doubt be arriving at the Ball as the Countess of Bathory. Due to her love of bathing in the blood of her victims.

Sitting back at my desk I had the sudden thought that I had somehow been outmaneuvered. Where the hell was Iraklion? How come I had found myself gibbering like an idiot, well, more or less. There was something about the whole episode that I couldn't quite put my finger on. Something had happened in there and it was going to rebound on me, of that, I was absolutely sure.

When I got back to the flat that evening I was still cursing my luck. I drank a little too much whisky and one of those muddled, tipsy, semi stupid ideas came to mind. Dare I risk it? Could I  get away with it? Was it possible to get to the ball and get out again without being noticed? If so how? I grabbed a pen and paper and jotted down a few idiotic ideas until one shot out of the back of my head and then stared back at me from the page.

Use the office network system on the computer to send an invite to a new temporary employee. Someone who didn't actually exist but would appear to have done so, merely by their appearance in the system. It would be the administration department that would issue the invite and if there were an extra name in the long list it would scarcely be noticed. Would it?

It might, in which case, how do I do that?

And, as with all stupid ideas, the answer is just too simple for words. I would receive the invite on "her" behalf. "She" would go to the ball and if asked, "she" would say that "she" had come with me. I guessed there would be at least one Fred Flintstone, so "she" would say I was one of them, then "she'd" find a corner to hide in.

So Kathleen Forest was born, Kathleen as it was my own adopted femme name, Forest as it was close to my own surname, Wood. Now if that wasn't clever I didn't know what was and downed another glass of whisky in a celebration toast.

I made an effort during the rest of the week to let all the guys who'd failed to find costumes yet, that the fancy dress hire shops had plenty of Fred Flintstone costumes left, telling them to keep the secret. For myself? Well, I paid a visit to a local charity shop that was an absolute treasure-trove. The staff in the shop was used to seeing me poking about in the dresses, skirts, and tops and often shared secret knowing smiles with me.

I'd found all kinds of good quality clothes in the shop, even some designer labels. I considered my best buy to have been a knee-length black dress in the softest of leather. It was in a halter neck style and I had to wear it without a bra. I felt that I looked my sexiest when wearing it, especially with my ankle-high boots with their spike heels. Not that I'd ever had the chance to wear it outside of the flat. Not even for the Summer Ball, it was a fancy dress but my leather dress was for something much better than an office party. Besides, I wasn't going to the Ballas me in a dress was I? No, I was going to be Kathleen Forest; Keith Wood was going as Fred Flintstone.

I continued to look through the rails knowing that one member of staff was taking note of what I was looking at. In the past, she had often produced the perfect item of clothing from a rail or rack, like a magician lifting a rabbit from his hat.

On entering the shop I'd been glad to see she was behind the desk. She had smiled but hadn't approached me then, presumably as there were other people in the shop. I wandered over to a high rail that contained a selection of evening gowns. One, in particular, caught my attention.

It was in a shimmering sparkling red, covered in sequins from the single broad shoulder strap to the hem. It was ankle length with a slit almost to the thigh along the right leg. I checked for size but there was no label. I was about to lift it from the rail when I heard the door chimes. Glancing guiltily over my shoulder I saw the woman closing the door behind the other customers, calling out that the shop was closing for lunch. I happened to know from experience that the shop didn't close for lunch and a knot of worry tied itself up in my stomach.

The knot grew when she turned from the door and came over towards me. By the time she was beside my side and looking from the dress to me and back again my legs were close to jelly.

"No need to worry, I think we both know, that we both know."

My voice didn't want to come out so I just gulped.

"First things first. Your Adam's apple isn't too pronounced but you'd probably want to think of wearing a scarf around your neck.

Not hanging, folded over on itself as if it wear more like a choker."

"I see." I managed to squeak.

"It's all right, my brother is a dresser, looks quite good but I think you'd be a lot more convincing."

I gulped again.

"Are you a stockings and suspenders kind of girl?"

I mumbled a yes.

"Not in this dress darling, the split is too high. If you walked round in it your stocking tops and suspenders would be flashed to the world and their Uncle."

"Right."

"What's your name? I'm Grace."

"Er, Keith."

"No silly! Your real name, the one you dress for?"

Either she had a better understanding of me and my cross-dressing than I had, or her interest in her brother went further than just knowing that he dressed.

"Kathleen," I said, it sounded rather pathetic.

"Do you want to try the dress, Kathleen? I can't keep the shop closed too long."

"Yes, please." I almost choked.

"Come on then, there's a room at the back we can use."

We? So she intended to watch. My feet refused to budge for a second until they took a nervous step to follow her. My mind ran through what I was wearing under my loose-fitting sweatshirt and jeans. Black teddy and hold up stockings. My silicone breast forms securely fixed with their special adhesive for the weekend. Hidden under the way too big sweatshirt.

I stood in the middle of the room, surrounded by boxes and shelves all holding clothes yet to go on display. Grace closed the curtain separating the room from the shop and watched me. I reluctantly pulled the sweatshirt off over my head without looking at her then dropped my jeans to the floor, stepping out of them with my face bright red in embarrassment.

"Very nice, I was worried you'd be a little full around the waist to carry the dress off."

I looked up, more than half of me had expected to hear her burst out laughing.

"Do you shave or use cream?"

"Er... cream actually, I find shaving dries my skin too much. It grows back too quickly as well." I blurted this out, then realized I felt better for having said it.

"Are you going out in the dress or are you still hiding at home?"

She said this with a good-humored knowing smile.

"Out, it's an office fancy dress party."

"Really? Which office? We get them all in here you know. All the ones that can't face wearing a hired costume. It makes me wonder what they turn the clothes into."

I told her where I worked and in which department, then wondered why on earth I'd done that? If she felt like it, she could make life very difficult for me indeed.

"I take that nobody there knows that you've someone else wandering around inside you?"

"Sorry? Oh, I see, I've never looked at it that way before."

"Perhaps you should? Let her build a character around herself. I bet you'd get a lot more out of dressing if Kathleen developed opinions and a life of her own to enjoy when you allow her out."

"I suppose I'm worried that I'd like Kathleen more than I like myself." I forced a laugh, which sounded so false I regretted it straight away.

"Or perhaps you're afraid that Kathleen will be such a wonderful girl that you allow her to take over?"

I was seriously becoming uncomfortable with the way the conversation was going.

"Hardly, she's not very convincing," I mumbled.

"Well, let her work it out for herself, give her more time to develop and I'll bet you'll be amazed by the results."

That seemed to be the end of the analysis as she then asked me if the Ball would be my first time out dressed.

"No, I've been out for walks at night and a few drives."

"What color is Kathleen's hair, and the style?"

My own hair was of a medium brown and fell to the bottom of my neck; my femme side was totally different.

"Long, blonde, and curled," I replied, wondering what she was thinking.

"How blonde? Light, dark, or peroxide?" She giggled.

"Quite light."

She shook her head, "Too obvious, hang on a minute."

She left me for a few minutes going through a door behind me that I hadn't noticed. When she reappeared she was carrying a bundle of wigs.

"Let's have a look, turn round, there's a mirror on the back door of that cupboard."

I opened the door and saw my flushed reflection looking back at me. Grace fitted a wig to my head, much like the wig I had at home.

"See? The beach babe look just won't go with that dress. It's too light and it looks too tarty."

The next wig was a short blonde bob that just dropped past my ears, curling in towards my face.

"Too informal, you need a little more length."

The third wig was the winner, in honey blonde, styled with loose waves that fell just to my shoulders, a fringe fell to the front, cut in a feathered style. I liked it immensely and saw her beaming a smile over my shoulder.

"That looks more like Kathleen doesn't it?" Grace reached behind her and returned to clip cascading waterfall earrings in place, silver and sparkling. Adding a matching inverted diamante triangle of a necklace that lay flat on my upper chest.

"Now, try the dress." She held it for me and I stepped into it.

All embarrassment had left me now and I did so eagerly.

Grace eased the long zip from the small of my back up to the slashed neckline. The dress sheathed me like a second skin and as she'd suggested when I walked my stocking tops were clearly revealed.

"Go for light skin tone tights, very sheer with a touch of shimmer to them. Now then, where did Margie put the shoes."

She disappeared again, leaving me looking at my reflection, wish mirrors were full length and not just head and shoulder.

When she came back she handed me a pair of high-heeled court shoes covered in a shining red material that matched the dress perfectly. They were a little tight at first until the material eased; they were suddenly very comfortable and barely peeked out from under the hem until I moved.

She wound a silver-grey silk scarf round my throat until it

fitted snugly.

"Would gloves be going over the top? Let's see." She slid elbow-length, finger-less gloves in red satin along my arms and then slipped a large sparkling costume jewelry ring onto my finger.

"Wow!"

She stepped back, holding my hands at arm's length.

"You really do look stunning,

I'd love to see the finished product!"

"Thanks, you've been very kind," I whispered, hiding my eyes under the fringe.

"Don't overdo the flirting Kathleen, you'll only encourage them!" She laughed and before I knew what had happened she had me in her arms, hugging and kissing me. I found myself responding, tilting my head back for her to explore. When she snaked her tongue into my mouth I sucked on it and made her shiver. The zip at the back of the dress lowered slowly and then slipped off my shoulders to the floor.

"I think you'd better get dressed Kathleen if you don't then I'm afraid I might just ravish you!"

I was a little bit disappointed, to tell the truth, actually, that's a lie, and I was absolutely gutted!

She left me to dress, going back into the shop with the dress, gloves, shoes, and the wig. I got ready and then went through to find her behind the cash desk with a large bag on top of the desktop.

"Now then Kathleen, this lot will make a woman of you." She suddenly asked. "What's your name?"

"Kathleen," I answered in a half-whisper, not sure where she was going.

"Such a pretty name darling, such a pretty girl, a lovely girl!"

"Er... thanks Grace, how much do I owe you?"

"How about you work it off in kind?"

"How do you mean?"

"If you agree to come in and help out every now and again you can have the gown for free."

"I don't know Grace, I mean, I'm kind of busy."

"You'd get first pick of all the clothes that come in, and get to spend time out in public as Kathleen?"

She'd caught me there and I found myself saying I'd do it before I even knew it. We exchanged phone numbers, Grace telling me she'd call when she wanted me in. When I got home I found the diamante jewellery was in the bottom of the bag.

Next day in the office I was summoned into Miss Bowen's office almost as soon as I arrived.

"Ah Keith, all set for the party?"

"I think so Miss Bowen," I replied guardedly.

"Good, you do know that there's a slight change to the plan for merging our departments, had you heard?"

This had me a little worried and I asked what the change was.

"Well, I thought it was going to be a straight fight between you and Nick. However, the powers that be have decided to look outside the company. So there will be a few more names on the shortlist. Does that worry you at all?"

"Not really, Miss Bowen, I didn't think I had much of a shout as it was. A few more candidates just mean I've even less of a chance."

"A little defeatist aren't we Keith?"

"I'd have said more realistic, I'm not exactly a company man in your eyes am I?"

"Would you be shocked if I told you I was going to favor your chances over Nick?"

I sat there stunned; I'd just blown myself completely out of the water. Once dismissed I slink back to my desk and went through the motions for most of the day. The only bright point is when the internal mail delivered Kathleen Forest's party invitation.

Seeing it set off a firework display in my imagination. Of course, I'd never pull it off, would I?

I searched through the office system and found the brief details I'd supplied it with concerning Kathleen. It already had my National Insurance number and the rest of the information needed for payroll purposes. As it was I was going to pull it out just before the party, which was a week before the next pay date. I embellished her C.V. with my own and invented a virtually untraceable career path. The companies I named were real enough as were the agencies I said she'd worked for. The addresses were false, and the companies had gone bust so I was fairly safe

there.

Now, who could I put down as her references? I called in at the charity shop on the way home and took Grace for a drink and outlined my plans.

"You're going to go full time as Kathleen!"

"No! I just want to get a look at the kind of interview the real me is going to have to go through, it might give me an edge."

"Sounds like a good idea when you think about it. Quite fun too.

How can I help?" Grace asked with a broad smile.

"Be a referee for Kathleen, a contact should anyone follow it up. I'll make out that you were her boss at a previous employer. I'll give you a letter to cover it, all you'd have to do was sign it and sit back in case they phone to check."

Grace agreed to suggest that I used her address as Kathleen's on the understanding that I'd help in the shop on Saturday morning.

By the time the weekend came round I had everything set, Kathleen's application was posted off, as was my own through the internal mail. On a Friday afternoon, Miss Bowen surprised me by coming out to my desk and handed me a pile of papers.

"Can you get Kathleen to update the logistic files for me, Keith?

I've been called into a meeting."

"Sure, she's down in accounts at the minute, they've borrowed her for an hour. I'll call her back up and get her to sort them out." I lied glibly and then waited until Miss Bowen had disappeared before doing it myself.

The Saturday morning at the shop passed off without incident and Grace rewarded me with a tailored tunic dress and jacket that she said would be perfect for the interview.

"Presuming she gets one Grace," I added and then went to try it on.

"Very much the businesswoman Kathleen, now remember, you're going to have to wear the same wig for both the party and the interview,".

She showed me how I could style the wig up in various ways. Not just the style I was to wear at the party. In a French plait, a very stylish bun, a softly ribbon and scarf tied ponytail, and more. She also insisted on taking me out to a wine bar, coaching and teaching me all the while. By the time we got back to her house, I was quite exhausted and I fell asleep in her arms on the sofa in the lounge.

She kissed me, then I followed her upstairs to her bed.