A Familiar's Fate Ch. 16

The next morning it was less of an issue getting dressed. While I remained uncomfortable wearing a dress, I simply felt that bridge had already been crossed.

Karen was once again awake, and nearly finished her morning coffee and bagel when I arrived downstairs.

"Good morning sweetie." She spoke as though this was just a routine morning. No reaction to the dress or makeup beyond an appreciative smile.

I suppose for her it was. It dawned on me that I was wearing more makeup than her, and she was wearing pants. I guess this was to be our new routine. I was being rewarded for my acquiescence with her smile. That was certainly routine.

At work, I still had butterflies in my stomach. Like the previous day, I received compliments on my fashion choices from the ladies. Likewise, most guys didn't know how to react, or were mocking me behind my back.

That night, I mentioned to Karen that some of the guys were a bit stand-offish. To my surprise, she started to laugh. I stared at her in shock and confusion.

She struggled to compose herself. "Oh sweetie, you're so cute." She stroked my cheek. "You have no idea how attractive you are, do you?"

I shook my head. "I've never been attractive, believe me." I hated to admit it.

"That's because you've been thinking about it all wrong. You've been trying to be very manly to attract the ladies."

"Yeah, I told you, I'm only into women."

"Well, you have their attention now, don't you."

"Not like that." For a moment I was concerned that she would be jealous or resentful of my friends.

Her grin suggested otherwise. "Sweetie, you never did, and you never would."

I suppose I should have been hurt, but I was simply confused.

"Whether you want it or not, you are now attracting attention, but not from the ladies."

"Oh." I had a lump in my throat. I most definitely didn't want this kind of attention.

"You're very hot sweetie. It's no wonder the guys take notice."

My inner turmoil was evident. I was ecstatic that she thought I was beautiful. How could I not be complimented that a goddess like her might find me attractive in return? Yet, guys. That was certainly an unintended consequence.

"They are a little freaked out by this." She commented.

Now she had me really intrigued. "They're freaking out?" It didn't seem possible. After all, I was the one who was feminized.

"They don't know how to react because they find you attractive, and they don't know what that says about them."

I didn't quite know how to react. Did I want to believe her? It's nice to be considered attractive, but not by guys. "I don't know about that." I muttered, then looked her in the eyes. "What do you mean, 'what this says about them'?"

Karen shook her head, chuckling. How could I be so obtuse? "Well, if they know you are a man, biologically at least..."

Once again, I wondered if I should be insulted at her stating I was not really a man. I said nothing.

"... but are still attracted to you. Does that make them gay?"

"I'm not gay! That's the last thing I want!" I blurted out.

She put her hand on my shoulder, calming me. "It's not about you. You're just having to come to terms with the male gaze. Something nearly every woman is aware of. Whether you want it or not, you are attracting men, arousing them."

I suppose that sounded realistic. "What can I do about it?"

"Nothing. Just be aware of it."

Hardly reassuring. Yet, as she said, it did give some insight into women's lives. How many times would a beautiful woman such as Karen get 'hit on', or simply stared at like a sex object?

"Even if this is true," my tone confirmed that I had already accepted it. "... that doesn't explain the guys who are making fun of me. Mind you, they always treated me like crap."

"Me thinks thou doth protest too much." Karen laughed.

"I'm not making this up," I whined.

Karen was struggling to stop laughing. My indignation seemingly made it funnier. "Not you sweetie, them."

Seeing that I was now even more perplexed, she continued. "Do you really think they care how another man dresses?"

I shrugged. They seemed to care about how I dressed.

"Just think about it. I think you know what I mean,, you are just struggling to accept it."

I didn't quite believe her, but I trusted her.

I was still thinking about what she said the next day when Mrs. Simmons called me to her office. Once again, my natural timid nature assumed I was being reprimanded for something. Although, there was no rationale for my fear.

"Have a seat Christine."

I sat down, and nervously fidgeted with the hem of my dress. Perhaps we had gone too far with this, despite whatever she may have said to Karen last week. The fact that she called me Christine didn't even register.

"Relax Christine, you look lovely."

I registered the name this time, but it helped to relax me. I was not being reprimanded.

"I wanted to commend you and Karen for the work you have been doing. This project should really help her to advance."

"And me?" It felt good to be appreciated, but once again it seemed I was being taken advantage of.

She looked somewhat puzzled. "Well, yes. As her assistant, you will progress up the ladder as well."

It was evident from her tone I was dependent on Karen, and I should simply accept the compliment. Moving on pro forma. "Anyways, the reason I wanted to speak with you was to address an item of office decorum."

"Oh, I'm sorry." I blurted out, my hand once again nervously grabbing the hem of my dress. How could I have been so stupid to allow my kinky play with Karen to interfere with my job? "Karen told me she asked you if this was permitted."

She raised a hand to stop me. "Oh, she did, she did," Mrs. Simmons reassured me. "Truthfully, I didn't think you would do it. Yet, that's not the issue. You look lovely."

Her words did calm me.

"However, given your new, uh, identity, I think you need to make some changes. And I wanted to assure you that the company, and myself as your manager, that we support you."

She appeared uncomfortable, perhaps even nervous, having this conversation. I had never seen her like this before. She clutched a piece of paper from her desk. Without any context, she simply found the pertinent passage, and started to read out to me.

"In keeping with our policy of equality and inclusiveness, we recognize that employees who identify as transgender can use the washroom corresponding to their gender identity."

"Oh," I muttered in response.

This was about the washroom. She wanted me to use the women's washroom. I guess that made sense, someone wearing a dress doesn't belong in the men's washroom. Yet, was I really transgender?

There was an awkward pause as this sunk in. Somehow, this made it all the more real. This was all happening so fast. It was only my 3rd day wearing a dress in the office, and I was being recognized as transgender? Even if I had been feminizing my look for the past week, it felt sudden.

As a kid, this is one of the first things you learn in public, in schools, daycare centers, whatever. Which bathroom do you use?

"Is this really ok?" Of all the things I could have asked or said, this was my question?

"Yes." She appeared to be back to her confident self, now that the issue was out in the open. "I've spoken to some of the ladies in the office, and to HR, and they all agree this is more appropriate."

Oh my, she discussed this with other women, some of whom were likely my lunch buddies. "You talked about this?"

"Yes, I wanted to ensure that they would be comfortable with this as well?"

"And they were?"

"Yes. No woman likes a guy creeping into the ladies room, but that's not what this is. You belong in the ladies room."

Technically, the office policy didn't require me to use the ladies room, it simply stated that I could. If I was transgender? Well, I think that ship has sailed. I mean, what straight guy would ever wear a dress to the office? Yet, still, it felt more than that. Karen said early on that she believed I was transgender. Yet, still more, was the warm reception that I received from the ladies. It was as if they if they all thought it, and now it was confirmed.

I appreciated Mrs. Simmons warm silence as I came to terms with all this.

"Ok." I didn't know what else to say.

She smiled. Only now did I feel some genuine affection from her.

"You know Christine, and perhaps this isn't my place to say, but I think you and Karen are good together."

It felt nice to have someone compliment our relationship, rather than doubting it. Her reasoning was something I had never considered before.

"It's no surprise that the top brass in this company are virtually all married men. Pretty much anywhere really. And I truly believe that a big reason for that is the wives who stand by their men, and take care of the home front."

"Behind every great man is a great woman." I noted the old saying.

"Exactly. Now, I know it's too late for me to rise up much more in this company."

Given that she was in her late 50s, and had been in this same position for as long as I'd been working here, this was likely true.

"Yet, Ms. Townsend has real potential. I would like to see her rise to the top, to see a woman being successful in the company, rather than the old boys club."

"And you would like me to be the 'great woman' standing behind her."

"Exactly." She was relieved that I understood her meaning. Her concern about my earlier question for self advancement now clear. "I truly believe that to climb the corporate ladder, you need someone caring for you, your home, the kids. Traditionally, that's a woman's role."

"So, if Karen is going to reach the top, I need to assume that role," I observed.

A home and a loved one to care for? I guess I now had that for the first time in my life. Kids? Well, this was still early, but I could see that in the future. It warmed my heart in fact.

Mrs. Simmons nodded.. "I am a strong believer in women's empowerment. So, I really want Ms. Townsend to do well."

"So do I." My belief in women's empowerment went beyond what she could imagine.

"I hope I'm not putting too much pressure on you. I know you're just starting your relationship. Yet, typically a guy looks sharp in his suit, and his wife or girlfriend looks beautiful on his arm. People assume the guy has the authority. But, here you are. I really do think you look pretty in that dress."

The double meaning was clear. Karen wore the business suits, and I wore the pretty dresses. She was in charge, and everyone knew it.

"Thank you." I blushed.

We wrapped up the meeting, and I left her office a new man. Or more accurately, a new sissy.