Chapter 14 – A Break-up

In the weeks that followed, any issue over Corrine's gender seemed to fade into the background; there were no further media stories developing by the second week, and any issue with the community (or evangelical church members) was either forgotten or not mentioned. It appeared the prospect of a budding industry that promised jobs in the neighborhood outweighed any further spiritual objections.

In the workplace, only a few of Creations’ staff exhibited a concern with Corrine's gender; almost immediately, they saw her as the capable young woman they always knew her to be. One of the workers, a young Hispanic mother, confronted Corrine in the shop a few days later and said, "I can't see you could ever have been a boy, Miss Corrine."

"Yes, Miss Corrine, you are the loveliest of girls," echoed her co-worker, a tall, statuesque African-American woman.

Shaundra Means quickly returned to treating Corrine as she had before the revelation in the newspapers, and production purred on, though not without the usual glitches and challenges. If anything, the publicity seemed to have spurred sales, as more and more calls for appointments for custom dresses piled in, a good number of them from affluent black women in the Milwaukee area, as well as a number from Chicago.

Corrine became overwhelmed in trying to service all of the customers and soon found she was forced to hire two skilled dressmakers, luring one back to her Milwaukee hometown from Atlanta and another being a recent graduate of Drexel Institute in Philadelphia. Both were African-American and were partly lured by the fact that Creations was a company that was based in the once-decaying neighborhood.

"This is my hometown where my mom and sisters live and I love how you’re bringing some class into town," Danika Drew said. "It's not fashionable and upscale like Atlanta, but this city is real. You're a great shot in the arm, Miss Sullivan, and just what the city needs. I'm glad to be a part of it."

Danika was a thirty-something, elegant woman, who had once been a model. Her once-sticklike body had filled out, favoring her overall femininity. The three women, Corrine, Danika and the young Sharon deLouge, easily dazzled their wealthy customers. Many of the women, particularly the white women, took their trip to the Creations site in the depressed neighborhood as an adventure, a bit of bravery on their part to enter into the area; Corrine pictured many of them exclaiming to their friends over tea about the experience.

For its part, Creations made every effort to make the customer feel at home; from the two men who greeted them at the door and maintained safety for their cars to the well-dressed staff, the women were treated with dignity. They entered a showroom lined with some dozen outfits on mannequins, comfortable chairs and refreshments from cold drinks to tea and coffee and from exotic cheeses to paté.

The prices were outrageous, Corrine knew, but she assured all her customers, "We promise to make you happy ma'am, or else no sale." Most were happy to pay for such assurances as well as the fact that they could tell their friends that their gown was from Creations by Corrine. In short, Creations had become an almost instant craze among the fashion-conscious women of the Midwest.

Meanwhile, Creations had created a label to market its clothing to a larger customer base; the label read simply "Corrine – Made in USA." As a pilot project, one of the largest big box stores in the nation began selling the new line in select stores in the Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Denver areas. The outfits were all designed by Corrine Sullivan to sell mainly as prom dresses or for other special occasions, and all were designed with the help of Victor Xiong, the veteran tailor, to insure that the design could be efficiently produced in quantity.

Corrine found she enjoyed seeking to create outfits that could be worn by large numbers of women, particularly those with limited income. "I love creating custom designs for the wealthier women of the area, but to create something that the ordinary family can afford is even more exciting," she told Larry as they began the project.

To promote the new line, the big retailer enlisted Corrine to introduce the line in television advertisements and in their print promotions. "You're such a lovely young woman and you are really quite appealing," said the ad agency art director that designed the promotion. "People will believe you when you tell them about making clothes so that every woman be beautiful and special."

In Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Denver, Corrine's image began showing up on television screens, billboards and newspaper ad sections. The pilot project was a success, even though outfits with the label "Corrine – Made in USA" cost a bit more than the usual dresses in the retailer's stores.

*****
"I'm exhausted, Adam," Corrine complained to her boyfriend in a late night call.

"You're working too hard, darling. You've got to slow down," he said.

"I can't. The business is growing so fast and we're now hiring another thirty workers to keep up with the orders. I'm behind on my designing, since the publicity tours and all that have taken so much time."

The two were chatting by Skype; Adam wore only briefs and a tee shirt that showed his firm, muscular body, while Corrine wore a creme-colored baby doll. Even the sight of the manly Adam failed to arouse Corrine as it did most nights; she was just too tired.

"You're getting so skinny, dear. Your body looks like you're thirteen. Soon there won't be anything to love," he exclaimed.

She smiled. "I'll make sure there's enough of me to love, honey."

"I'm counting on that," he said, licking his lips with his tongue in a suggestive manner.

"Adam, I wish I were in your arms right now," she said, finally realizing she was growing hot. She felt the nipples on her smallish breasts harden as she looked at him.

"That's where I want you, next to me, feeling warm and comforted, my sweet defenseless little girl."

"Oh Adam, when can we be together again? I need you."

"April's just a couple of months away and then I'll be down to Milwaukee and we can spend a week together," he reminded her.

Suddenly she began crying; she got up and walked away from the computer and flopped on her bed, not realizing that she was still visible to Adam as she gathered the pillow to her and sobbed uncontrollably.

"What's wrong, Corky? Darling, don't cry. Please," she heard him plead.

"Just hang up, Adam," she yelled at him, her voice breaking up as she continued crying.

"I won't 'til you tell me what's wrong."

Finally, Corrine composed herself and sat up on the bed, her legs folded and looked into the computer.

"I won't be here then," she said. "We've been invited to the big summer fashion show in New York then, and it's too important to pass up. We've got to keep building the business to keep all these workers on the job."

"Do you have to be there?"

"Yes, Adam," she said, fighting back tears. "You know the whole brand is based on me; in fact, I'm even modeling several outfits myself."

"You mean you'll be on the runway, and all?"

"Yes, plus I'll be interviewed on several TV shows and the New York Times and Fashion Times wants interviews."

"You're getting to be quite a celebrity, aren't you?"

Corrine sensed a bit of sarcasm in his comment.

"Adam, don't be mad. I don't wanna be a celebrity, I just want to be simple old Corrine," she said honestly.

"But you are a celebrity and you are a perfect model, so slender and beautiful, Corrine," he said, failing to use her nickname for the first time.

"That's not me, Adam, it's just the image we've built, and now too many people depend upon me," she argued. "Do you know that our business is going to be one of the first new industries in this neighborhood and we're changing this whole area? They need me."

Adam was quiet for a minute and Corrine roused herself from the bed and returned to the computer.

"Talk to me Adam," she said, finally.

"What about? You’re such an important person and I'm just an ignorant backwoods bum. It'll never work between us, Corrine."

The words came out in a matter-of-fact litany, as if he had come to the conclusion that they weren't suited for each other. Corrine looked at him; he was serious, she realized.

"You're wrong, Adam. I'm the same girl you've always known," she pleaded.

"No, you're not. Let's not kid ourselves. This will never work between us."

"Adam, please don't say that. I love you darling and I want to marry you if you'll have me."

He shook his head. "It won't work. I thought I wanted to marry you, but maybe my mom is right. You're just not right for me and I'm not right for you."

"Did you want an excuse to break off our affair, Adam? Did you want to drop me 'cause I'm not a real girl? You know, I'll be getting my reassignment surgery this July and then I'll be all the girl you need. But, now, you have your old girlfriend back in your area, a real girl? Not a fake and freak like me."

"No that's not it, Corrine. I accepted you as you were and what you were going to become and Theresa and I are certainly not interested in each other," he assured her, referring to his old high school girlfriend.

"I know you wanted children that I can't provide and I thought you accepted that."

"I did."

"But your mother was against us, wasn't she?"

"Yes, but she would have accepted you," he said.

"That's OK, Adam, let's break it off," she said, her voice displaying the anger she suddenly felt.

"Don't take it that way, Corrine, it's just that we both have such different types of lives, me in the woods and a nobody and you in the big city and now a national celebrity. We just don't fit."

"Good night, she said sharply, moving the cursor to "End" and tapping the mouse to terminate the conversation.

She cried herself to sleep.