The Women's Job - Part 2 (Patreon)

OTHER PARTS | ALL STORY LIST

It was a short drive to the condo. She did most of the talking and the topic of conversation was me. She wanted to know all about me, my personal life, my interests, hobbies, ambitions.

I was surprised that a woman as busy and important as she was, was even interested. I answered all her questions and as I did, I began to relax. She carried my overnight bag up to the condo while I took my suitcase.

She took great pleasure in showing me around the small apartment. It was beautifully decorated and completely furnished.

I was surprised to find clothes in the closet, girls’ clothes. She explained, "Sometimes when I work some of the girls very late, they use this place instead of driving all the way home. Karen, Trish, and a few of the models keep some clothes here. There's still plenty of room for your things.

She made a pot of coffee and we sat at the kitchen table. The questions continued. She wanted to know about my family, any girlfriends. Some of the questions about my relationship with Tina were very personal but I felt compelled to tell her everything. There was something about her that just made me open up.

I was a little surprised when she asked me about what it was like for me in jail. I suppose I should have known that she'd know about that too. There wasn't much to tell. My size, being short and skinny, was a definite problem for me. I spent almost the entire six months in self-imposed lockdown. It was safer than being out among the rest of the population.

"It must have been awful for you." She said with concern.

"It was, I'm on probation now though and I have to be careful not to get in any kind of trouble," I admitted.

"I know. I'm the one who called your probation officer and arranged for you to be able to come down here."

I knew that someone from the company had called but I never imagined it was her. "You did that?"

"Of course. I needed you and I knew about your problem. I assured your parole officer I'd look after you and keep you out of trouble. I take care of my people." She said with a reassuring smile.

"Ms. Sackett, I really appreciate your confidence in me and the chance to show you what I can do." I really wanted to please her. She had gone out of her way to take a chance on me.

"Jeffrey, when we're alone you can call me Connie. It's when we're around others that I expect you to address me as Ms. Sackett." She continued to try to make me feel more at ease. I knew then that I was going to enjoy working for her.

"Thank you. I won't disappoint you."

"I'm sure you won't Jeffrey. We're a team here and we each do whatever we have to, to get the job done. If you just remember that, we'll do just fine."

She stood up to go. "I'll be by at seven to pick you up. Karen and I always had breakfast at the office to go over the day's business and I like doing that."

At the door, she turned back to me, "Jeffrey, I couldn't help but notice that your clothes are a little out of fashion. Did you bring anything more stylish with you?"

I was embarrassed. In New York, I got away with it. "No, I'm sorry."

"Don't be sorry dear. We'll go shopping Saturday and get you some more appropriate outfits. We do have to show our customers we're on the cutting edge of fashion." Again, the reassuring smile. "I'll see you bright and early in the morning. Sleep well."

I was more excited than ever about the opportunity. It was nearly midnight when I finished unpacking my things. In the bathroom, I had to put my toiletries on the back of the toilet because there was no room in the medicine cabinet or drawers for all the girls’ toiletries and cosmetics.

It must have been one in the morning before I fell asleep in the big queen-sized bed. The alarm was set for six. I was going to be ready and outside when Connie pulled into the parking lot in the morning.

Breakfast was served in her office. It wasn't the type of breakfast that I was accustomed to. "You don't mind that we eat light?" It was more of a statement than a question. "We all need to watch our weight around here, especially me."

I wasn't about to say anything. I certainly didn't need to diet at 140 pounds but the food was tasty and filling.

I couldn't help but notice the bottles of vitamins in her drawer when she went in for her diet sugar. She apparently saw me look. "I'm a vitamin freak. I take a half a dozen different ones a day." She explained.

"That's a lot," I commented.

"But they're all very good for you. You take vitamins don't you?"

I admitted to her that I hadn't taken them since I was a kid.

"Don't you know how important your health is?" She sounded like my mother. "I'll get you some of your own. I'll get you a set for your desk and some to keep at the apartment." She looked at me very seriously. "You will take them every day Jeffrey."

She was very serious. I agreed that I would. They couldn't hurt.

Talk over breakfast was all business. She had an unbelievable schedule with customer meetings, staff meetings, photoshoots, and the endless stats and data to be reviewed. My job was to review everything before forwarding it to her and to schedule and make sure everything was in place to meet her needs.

My first thought was how could anyone do all this. "Don't let it scare you, Jeffrey. I'll help you at first." She assured me.

I couldn't imagine how anyone could think of this woman as an ogre.

My day went by unbelievably fast, I was so busy. The traffic in and out of Connie's office was constant. I met dozens of people, her associates, and a few customers.

The models were the only ones who seemed uncomfortable with me. I didn't know if it was because I was a man or that they were accustomed to working with Karen. They had to pick up their schedules from me but had little to say.

The phones rang off the hook all day, constantly interrupting me. I managed to get most of my work done but I had to skip lunch to do it. It was seven-thirty when Connie was done for the day and took me back to the condo.

"Shouldn't I rent a car or something so that I don't have to inconvenience you?" I asked on the ride home.

"Don't be silly Jeffrey. I don't mind. Besides, we work the same hours and the condo is on my way home. I only live a few blocks from there." It made sense at the time. It didn't afford me much personal freedom though. I couldn't go much of anywhere without her driving me. I let it drop.

The refrigerator was not stocked with the kinds of food I was used to and I had no way to get out to shop. I took one of the diet meals from the freezer and heated it in the microwave. As I ate, I finished the work that I had brought from the office.

I called Tina and talked for a half-hour about how exciting my job was. She didn't like the idea of my working so closely with beautiful models. I tried to joke about it but she wasn't amused.

I called my mother and told her everything too. She was worried about me taking care of me. She was relieved to hear how Connie was looking out for me.

After flipping the channels on the TV for a few minutes, I showered and went to bed.

Friday went much like the day before. I was unbelievably busy all day. I had to go to a shoot in the afternoon that didn't end till eight. Connie had dinner brought in for everyone.

When she dropped me in front of the condo, she told me. "You can sleep in the morning, Jeffrey. I'll come by around noon and we'll go shopping.

It was generous of her to take the time but I was worried how I'd pay for new clothes, particularly if they were the latest fashions, they would certainly be very expensive.

I did sleep in. I didn’t get out of bed till ten. I was ready to go at 11:00 and waited nervously for Connie to arrive.

She was consistently punctual, pulling in the parking lot at exactly noon.

No one had done my shopping for me in years. Not since my mother used to buy me my school clothes. Connie took over completely. She knew exactly where to go and knew where in the stores to find what she wanted. The salespeople all seemed to know her by sight. "You have to know what people want, what they're buying, in this business." She explained.

I would never have bought the kinds of things she picked out and had me a model for her. I bit my tongue as I modeled the silk shirts with their bright colors and patterns. She sought out bright-colored pants to match. The pleated leather pants were almost too much. Even new shoes to go with everything. They looked more like girls’ flats than men's shoes. The socks were brightly colored and sheer. All with patterns. I had seen them in the stores but never gave a thought to buying them for myself.

When she was satisfied with her selection of clothes, she turned to me and said. "Now we need to get you earrings."

That surprised me. She had obviously noticed that my ear was pierced. I had done it when I was in jail. Everyone there seemed to have an earring so I wanted to fit in. I continued to wear one in college because all the kids did. I stopped wearing it when I started my job search because I thought it was inappropriate.

As with everything else, Connie picked it out from the displays in the jewelry department. I had worn a small hoop before, but the earring she picked out was larger than I was accustomed to. She had to buy the pair and did so without giving me taste any consideration.

"These will look perfect." She decided, holding them up to my ears.

These, I questioned to myself? "Both?" I asked.

She looked surprised at the question. "Of course. All the fashionable young men your age are wearing two these days. You're going to look fantastic" She said beaming.

I was in her hands. They pierced my other ear right there in the store and we went to the register with the half-inch gold hoops in my ears. My old one was only about a quarter inch.

I pulled out my credit card, not at all anxious to hear the total of the purchases the girl behind the counter was adding up.

"You just put that away, Jeffrey. This is my treat." Connie said when she saw me lay the credit card on the counter.

The salesgirl looked over at me, then to the woman who was buying me my new wardrobe. She didn't say anything, but I saw the smirk on her face as she turned back to the resister. I knew I looked foolish, standing there next to Connie in my earrings, wearing the bright purple silk shirt and black leather pants. I was quite an odd sight. We made quite a pair as she completely overshadowed me.

Outside, on the sidewalk, I felt even more conspicuous.

"Now we need to do something with your hair." She informed me. "I made a four o’clock appointment for us at Gregory's."

I turned to her as we climbed into her car, "My hair?"

"Certainly! We have to do something with it. You have lovely hair but that style of yours is more appropriate for Wall Street than for someone in the fashion industry."

"I don't think . . . "

"Jeffrey, you'll learn in this business that impressions are everything. Our customers are the most fashion-conscious in the business and they expect us to be the same. You're part of the team now, you don't want to look like you don't know anything about fashion do you?"

What could I say? "No of course not. I wasn't thinking." I was going to have to go along.

The hairstylist made me uncomfortable. 'Jimmy' was as feminine as any girl I'd ever known. He was obviously a flaming gay.

I sat there, speechless, while Connie instructed him as to the look she wanted for me.

My hair had always been long but neatly pulled to the back. I had been wearing it covering my ears for years, ever since high school. Now I was getting it permed.

I looked in the mirror in shock when 'Jimmy' was finished. Connie stood behind me absolutely beaming. "Jeffrey, you look wonderful."

He had taken almost no length off my hair and the body perm gave it more fullness, the volume they called it. Instead of being pulled to the back against my head, it hung down to the sides from a part almost at the center of my scalp. Just below my ears, it curved slightly forward on my cheeks. If they had given me bangs, I would have been indiscernible from a girl. It made me feel very self-conscious. He had also put something on it that made it shinier than it had ever been. "Are you sure?" I asked skeptically.

"Trust me, Jeffrey, you look fabulous," Connie remarked, looking quite pleased.

Fabulous? I looked ridiculous! Tina came to mind. What would she think if she saw me like this? I put the thought out of her out my mind. She would definitely not approve.

Connie instructed Jimmy to show me how to fix my hair myself and I learned how, using a blow dryer and rounded brush to achieve the same effect he had. I was happy to get away from the guy, finally.

"I feel like everyone's looking at me," I said as we walked out of the salon to the car.

"They are Jeffrey, and that's what they're supposed to do."

I was almost afraid to ask, "You don't think I look like a girl?"

Connie laughed, "No Jeffrey, don't be silly. You look very handsome. The girls are going to love it. I bet your girlfriend Tina will be thrilled."

Not Tina. This look would not thrill her at all.

We drove back to the Condo. Connie picked up the package that lay on the front seat since she picked me up. I had been curious about it. "Here, this is for you."

I opened it to find a bottle of prescription lotion. "What's this for?"

"All of the men at the office are using it. It's to help your complexion and keep your skin looking young."

"Moisturizer?"

"Yes, it's moisturizer. It's as important in this business to look young as it is to dress with the times. I want you to put it on your face and hands every morning and evening. You'll like the way it makes your skin feel." She used her persuasive tone again.

"Alright, I will." I agreed.

Connie helped me put everything away in the closet. I had enough new clothes that I would be able to wear a different outfit, as Connie referred to them, every day for almost two weeks.

"Wear this one on Monday. This is my favorite." Connie instructed me setting out a brightly flowered shirt and bright blue slacks. She even picked out my shoes and hose.

"I can't wait till everyone sees the new you on Monday." She added smiling.

I wanted to say, 'I could', but I didn't.

It was about six when Connie left. She had a date she told me and had to go home and get ready. "I'll see you Monday morning." She said joyfully as she left.

I remember how I felt as she left me there. I had grave doubts about her assurances considering the way I looked. She had been very convincing about my not looking like a freak but I wasn't so sure.

I tried for two hours to find a way to style my hair that didn't look so feminine but gave up. There was nothing I could do with it to make it look better, short of putting it in a ponytail.

I didn't go out once over the weekend. I tried to get used to the way I looked but it wasn't easy. I followed Connie's instructions and used the lotion she had bought me. It didn't have any noticeable effect but it did make my skin feel good. She was certainly right about that.

Monday morning came too quickly. I didn't stand outside to wait for her. I waited by the window instead. I hurried down when she pulled in and I got in the car quickly.

She was delighted with the way I looked. "I knew that was the perfect outfit. You look incredible."

"Thanks," I said in response.

She must have sensed the anxiety in my voice. "What's wrong Jeffrey?"

I didn't want to hurt her feelings. After all, she had spent a lot of money on me and was obviously thrilled with the result. "I'm just not used to the new me yet."

"You'll get used to it quickly. Just wait until everyone sees how wonderful you look."

I was skeptical but to my surprise, the reactions were amazing. It started when we walked into the lobby and the receptionist's, Bobbie's, face showed how impressed she was. "Jeffrey, you look wonderful."

Everyone we passed on the way back to Connie's office had a similar reaction, the men as well as the women. By the time I reached my desk I was starting to be convinced.

"See Jeffrey, I told you there was nothing to worry about. Everyone loves your new look."

"I shouldn't have doubted you," I told her. It was the first time since Saturday that I smiled.

"That's more like it. You look much better with a smile on your face. Now we better get to work." Our breakfast arrived as we sat down in her office.

Everyone who came into the office through the day approved of the new me. Even the models, who had snubbed me last week, seemed to open up. I received quite a few compliments.

As the week wore on they didn't fuss over me so much. They still complimented me on my new wardrobe each day.

By mid-week, I did start to see a little difference in my complexion. My skin was looking better and smoother. My hands looked better too. I started bringing it to work and put it on during the day too.

The week sped by. There were three photoshoots and we worked late all three nights. I was making new friends as we worked those long hours. It was nice to be accepted and my concern about how I looked melted away over the days.

Tina was beginning to ask when I was going to come home. There was no way I could get away, as busy as we were. We had even put in a full day on Saturday.

I still had my reservations about what she'd think of the new me. I was fairly used to myself and comfortable with the look but what Tina's reaction might be still worried me. Tina was a simple girl with simple tastes. Her idea of getting dolled up was a white cotton blouse and jeans skirt. She wouldn't understand real fashion. "I don't think I'll be able to get away for a few weeks yet," I told her.