In which we learn more about Nikki, and Jackie investigates a change of department.

The Boss - 6 of 8 - Revelation

“What! All of it?”

“Pretty much, yes.”

“You are twins then?”

“Yes.”

“No, I mean, twin sisters?”

“Yes and no.”

“But… you know… in the office…?”

Nikki sighed again and snuggled into her sister, who conjured a box of tissues from somewhere and handed a bundle to Nikki, who took full advantage of them.

“As a child, I lived as much as I could as Nikki; I had to revert for school and university, as the name on my birth certificate was Nicholas and I’d have had big problems with my family if I’d gone for reassignment. When I left university, with an MBA and a degree in Marketing, I had trouble getting a job; no one would take me seriously. I’d managed to get my degrees in, what for them, was record time, but it counted against me because I looked a lot like your archetypal teenage blonde bimbo. Then the job at GSD came up and it was Debbie who encouraged me to apply. She wasn’t working there at the time, but I got the job, as a male.

“I enjoyed the fact that I was respected for the knowledge and fresh ideas that I could bring to the job. I quickly found that I could make a difference, and was able to progress through the company. My age and appearance didn’t seem to be relevant to them; although it’s always hurt that I couldn’t be myself. In my early teens, my body took on a more female appearance — I paid for this at school - but I still had male bits. I prefer to present as a female, as that’s what I feel I am; my tailor deals with my unusual body shape when I wear a suit for work. I thought about transitioning; I know that I probably wouldn’t have trouble working, but am scared stiff that clients wouldn’t take me seriously. I’d also get a lot of aggravation from my family.

“I sometimes need to be a bit creative when I travel on business. For example, when I went to Ireland, also on my tour of the North-West of England, I drove as Nicolas, as that’s what’s on my licence and insurance - but in unisex clothing. If I need to be Nick for a meeting, then I dress accordingly; otherwise I’m Nikki. Many people can’t work out what I am and usually take me at face value, although I’m sometimes challenged as I don’t always look my age.

“You reserved me a suite. That was simply so that I had a lounge area where I could entertain potential clients; that saved me hiring meeting rooms.”

“You think of Nick as a separate person?”

“It’s easier; Nikki is the real me. Nick is an act just to get through work and to deal with the family; it’s easier if we keep our identities separate.”

“Well, that explains…”

She nodded and again burst into tears.

I staggered in the door and bumped into Judy.

“JACKIE, WHAT’S HAPPENED?”

“Please don’t shout! I’m okay: I just want to go to bed,” I said as I headed straight to my room, threw my bag into a corner and flung myself onto my bed.

Sleep didn’t come easily. My mind kept replaying all that I’d been told that evening. In addition, I was wondering if I’d misunderstood something. I awoke as dawn was breaking and I realised that I’d made a decision.

I spent the remainder of the weekend in my room, or watching television and cuddling Spook, when he was in the house, and in the mood. I hardly saw Judy, who was mostly out with Kevin. Monday morning saw me in the office early enough to catch Nick on his own.

He smiled thanks as I took him a cup of coffee, but he didn’t mention the dinner.

“Nick, is it possible for me to have a confidential talk with someone in Personnel?”

“Of course; I’ll set something up for you.”

“Thanks. You didn’t ask why.”

“It’s none of my business.”

That wasn’t strictly true, but I didn’t go into detail. I returned to my desk, and just hoped that I could see someone soon.

“Hello; I’m Megan Taylor.”

She waved me over to a small settee and I sat down. She had a cupboard where she kept the ingredients to make tea and coffee, and I sat spellbound as I watched her make drinks for us, and then join me. A simple task for me; I just spooned coffee or plopped a teabag into the cup, but for Megan this took on a whole new significance.

The dog merely confirmed my initial impression; Megan Taylor was blind.

Of medium build, she had shoulder-length auburn hair and an oval face. She appeared to be in her early forties, and wore a pale grey skirt suit with a jade sleeveless top. I noticed that she wore a wedding ring and that her nails were nicely manicured, but with clear polish.

“You would like a confidential chat. Before we go any further, please let me assure you that whatever you tell me is strictly between us two, and will not go outside this office without your permission. And I can vouch for Pippa,” she smiled as she put her hand down to pet the dog, “she’s the soul of discretion. She’s highly intelligent but, I warn you, she has a tongue like sandpaper and likes to wash your hands for you.”

That comment put me at ease and we both chuckled. Pippa merely shifted position so as to take up even more floor space.

Megan seemed easy to talk to; perhaps that was because she couldn’t see my facial expression. I soon found myself pouring out the sordid details of my disastrous marriage. I ended with “I told myself when I came here that I’d never get myself tied up with a relationship again. Now I’ve a man trying to date me; I’m still not certain that I haven’t got another woman interested in me as well.”

An expression that I couldn’t identify flitted across her face, and then quickly cleared. She smiled encouragingly at me; almost willing me to go on, but at my own pace. After a short silence, she said, “Would you like to try and explain what you mean?”

I sighed and began my tale of my life since I joined GSD. When I’d exhausted that subject, I hesitantly told her of my childhood.

Her empathy with me seemed almost tangible: I got the distinct impression that she’d also had a troubled childhood. Finally, after making significant inroads into a box of tissues, and when I was all talked out, she asked what I wanted to do.

“I don’t know; should I try and transfer to another department?”

She extended her hand and I tucked mine under it. “Only you can decide that but, if you really see no other choice, I’ll support you as best I can.” She produced a large sheet of paper, with lots of raised dots; I recognised Braille when I saw it. She quickly ran her fingers over the paper. “There are three administrator vacancies at the moment. You’d be working for Bernadette Obodu, the Premises Manager, Glyn Matthews, the IT Manager, or Erica Wolfe, the Finance Manager, although I know that she’s looking for someone with experience of working in a finance department. It isn’t always possible, but we try to fill vacancies from within, hence the openings. Do you want to think about it for a day or so and then have another talk?”

“Yes please; that sounds like a good idea, although I’m not sure about the IT Manager; I don’t know if I want to work for another man — err….”

I blushed, although of course she couldn’t see it; did she know about Nick? This woman seemed switched on; I suppose you had to be if you were a Personnel person?

“Okay, I’ll make the arrangements, and hold the positions until you decide. My daughter is Assistant HR Manager, so that’s no problem.” She smiled, and then said, “Leave it with me.”

“Thank you ever so much.” As I took my leave, I rather stupidly waved to the dog, then left to return to my desk. I had a lot to think about.

The next morning, I took Nick a cup of coffee.

He asked, “How did the talk go with Megan? I don’t want to know details; just whether or not she could help you.”

“You know her?”

“Yes; we’ve known each other for several years. She’s very good at her job, despite being virtually blind.”

“Yes, I sort of met the dog. M…Megan and I talked for a long time. I’m considering asking for a transfer to another department.”

He looked downcast. “Oh. I’d be sorry to lose you, but I do understand.”

“You do?”

“Yes; you don’t know how to deal with me, and you feel that a move to another department might help you to decide what to do. I don’t want to lose touch with you, and neither does Debbie. We both consider you to be a good friend.”

“”Well, err… I’ll get back to work then.” I walked quickly back to my desk and immediately looked in my computer inbox for something to do.

I went back to see Megan Taylor the next day. “I’ve decided; I’d like to pursue the idea of a move. May I speak with the Premises Manager?”

“I’ll arrange it.”

Megan Taylor first appears in "There's Life in the Old Dog Yet."