While Alicia still presented as Leslie at work, as soon as the workday was over Alicia came out to play.

She made lots of mistakes with her makeup but after two months, she settled on a look that worked for her. Corrine wasn’t altogether sure about it but admired her chutzpah for adopting it. It was far more ‘out there’ than she’d thought when she let Alicia loose on the world, but deep down, she understood her reasons for experimenting and at the same time had her own regrets that she’d never gone through that phase when she was growing up.

What made the ‘it’ work were the six different wigs that Alicia had bought. While they weren’t the sort of thing that Corrine would wear, she was growing to appreciate what Alicia was doing with her look.

Things came to a head a few days before the sale of the house in St Johns Wood was completed. Corrine was at home looking at potential properties in the Cotswolds for her and Alicia. Alicia was out doing the grocery shopping.

Corrine was nervous because this was Alicia’s first shopping trip as the ‘new’ Alicia and on her own. Alicia had left their home wearing a long blue wig, full war paint and glossy black lips and nails. She was also wearing some green contact lenses. She looked stunning and that was a big part of the problem. Corrine, even the enhanced Corrine looked dowdy by comparison.

Alicia had told Corrine on the way out of the door that this was how she was coming to work that Monday. Leslie would be no more. Corrine wasn’t sure how her look would be received by her clients, but she was going to give it a go, after all, it was her that they were coming to see not her assistant. She hoped that they would just dismiss Alicia as a temp, and ignore her.

Using the word ‘assistant’ was becoming hard for Corrine. Alicia was more of a partner than anything. If it all went pear-shaped, then it was her fault for seeing that there was far more to Leslie than he presented to the world.

She couldn’t settle with Alicia out on her own. The creation of Alicia had been largely down to her. She was her ‘baby’ and was worried about her. Unable to do anything productive, she ended up in the bedroom that had become their dressing room. One side was Corrine’s and the other was Alicia’s. She saw one of Alicia’s wigs hanging over a wardrobe door. It seemed that Alicia had changed her mind about the colour at the last moment as there was an empty wig stand on the shelf inside the wardrobe. This particular wig was a vibrant red.

“Why not?” thought Corrine to herself.

She sat down at her makeup desk and brushed her hair back. Then she put on the wig and brushed it into place.

A very different Corrine looked out onto the world. For the first time in her life, she had hair that was longer than a ‘bob’. To her surprise, it made her fairly round face a lot longer and thinner.

She didn't know how long she sat there daydreaming before she heard Alicia returning. She dashed out of the dressing room to help her with the groceries forgetting that she was wearing a wig.

Alicia let out a little shriek before bursting out with laughter. Corrine realised what she’d done and joined in the fun.

“Sorry,” said a breathless Corrine when they’d calmed down.

“Don’t be. It was just a bit of a shock that’s all.”

As they put the groceries away, Alicia said,
“It suits you. Add some makeup and the right clothes and you would be all set.”

“All set for what?”

“Looking at least ten years younger. You have great skin, a lot better than mine.”

“Oh that?”

While Corrine was nine years older than Alicia, she was feeling a lot younger with Alicia in her life.

Over lunch which Corrine made while still wearing the wig, they talked about potential houses.

“If you remember, I did suggest going house hunting with you looking something like me. It would be a hoot.”

Corrine was beginning to understand what Alicia was talking about.

With a sigh, she said,
“Ok, ‘boss’”

“Are you being straight with me?”

“I am. I’m gradually starting to get used to your look. It will certainly brighten up the office.”

“Then lets’ get you dressed and made up and we can head out of the city.”

---

An hour and a half later the two women left the flat in Earls Court. Corrine Mk 2 was almost unidentifiable from the Mk1 or Mk 1a version. Only her shoes gave her away. She didn’t have any boots like the ones that Alicia was wearing instead, she had on a pair of flats.

“Don’t worry darling,” said Alicia.
“We can stop on the way and buy you some boots.”

Corrine was dreading the whole experience but at the same time, adrenalin was flowing around her body like it hadn’t for years.

Following Alicia’s directions, Corrine drove them to a branch of a department store on the outskirts of High Wycombe. Alicia disappeared inside and returned fifteen minutes later with a cardboard box under her arm.

“Try these on. I got some extra insoles as they are my size not yours,” said Alicia as she handed over the box.

Inside was there was a pair of mid-calf lace-up boots with purple sections.
“This was the only colour they had in my size,” said Alicia.

Corrine was silent as she put them on. Her only words were,
“They’ll do.”

Her adrenaline rush was starting to subside.

“Having second thoughts darling?”

“I am now. Dressing up at home was one thing, but being out here in the wild is another.”

“Who is the impostor here?”

“Ok, ok. Lets’ get going.”

“No rush darling. While I was waiting for the assistant to get the boots from the stockroom, I took the liberty of booking us a Hotel Room in Broadway for tonight.”

“Using what for payment?”

“The company credit card. Don’t worry, that’s just to reserve the room. I drew out more than enough cash while I was in the shop to cover the room and dinner.”

“Dressed like this?”

“A few touches on your lippy and you’ll be fine.”

Corrine looked at Alicia and for a moment, wondered who had let this demon into her life.

---

As Alicia had suspected, several agents didn’t want to give them the time of day until Alicia said,
“My friend here has just sold a property in St Johns Wood. You could check with the selling agents to confirm. Oh, and if… if there is anything suitable for her needs, it will be a cash purchase and no chain.”
She handed over the flyer about the property that had been produced by the agents in London.

That changed everything and they had three properties lined up to visit the next day. One more visit was waiting for confirmation which came late that afternoon.

That evening over dinner, Corrine said,
“You do know that I’m going to have to look like this from now on until we move in.”

“And? Is that so bad? Besides, you walked right past one of your clients on the way back from the loo and you weren’t sussed.”

“Who?”

“Pearce Fogarty.”

Corrine’s heart stopped for a second. Mr Fogarty was head of executive recruitment for one of the top London Banks. Corrine had placed five people with that bank in the past year.

“Fuck…” she said quietly under her breath. Despite that, she resisted turning around to look for Mr Fogarty.

“No darling, that’s good, really good. That means you can operate without talking shop or interrupting his weekend with a woman might very well not be his wife. She’s not wearing any rings for starters and is at least twenty years younger than him.”

Corrine smiled.
“I have unleashed a demon onto the world, haven’t I?”

“A friendly one I can assure you…”

---

Corrine became her usual self for her return to work on Monday. They'd visited four properties the previous day. One was promising but needed a second viewing. That had been scheduled for the next Saturday.

On the journey back to London, Corrine admitted to Alicia that the previous two days had been fun.
“I forgot how much fun dressing up can be. It has been a long time since…”

Alicia reached over and took her hand.
“Life isn’t meant to be all about work. You have to leave some time for having fun.”

Those words hurt Corrine.
“Are you trying to say that I’m a workaholic?”

“I am. I’ve seen you at three in the morning answering emails on your phone. Getting you away without your laptop at your side was all part of my plan.”

“Ok, ok. I get you. All work and no play, makes Corrine a dull girl.”

“Look darling, I’m not saying that what we did this weekend should be commonplace but once in a while would make a change wouldn’t it? We could even go proper Goth and attend a Dracula weekend in Whitby.”

“Yes.”
Alicia wasn’t convinced by her ‘yes’ so she looked at her lover.

The frown lines on Corrine’s head told Alicia that her mind was working overtime. She didn’t press her, because she knew that eventually, something would pop put the other end.

---

It was the end of the following week when their orderly if slightly unorthodox life was turned upside down.

The agency didn't get many 'walk-ins' but Alicia recognised Corrine's mother, Judith, from the wedding.
“Is Corrine available?”

“She is. Please go on in.”

“Don’t you need to know who I am?”

Alicia grinned, her black lips reflecting the light.
“You look just like an older version of her, so you must be her mother.”

Judith smiled and went straight into Corrine’s office.

Alicia could hear much of the conversation even though the door to Corrine's office was closed. Judith had gone to their old home in St John's Wood to park her car while she and her husband did some business in the city. The new owners had taken umbridge at her parking and told her to 'sling her hook' in some foreign language.

Judith didn’t let Corrine get a word in edgeways so Alicia decided that some moral support was needed. She went into the office and sat on Corrine’s lap. She didn’t say a word but it had the effect of shutting Judith up.

“Mum, this is Alicia. She’s my assistant and lover.”

After some drowning fish impressions, Judith said,
“Whatever happened to that nice young man that you brought to the wedding? Leslie, wasn’t it?”

Alicia looked at Corrine who smiled back.
“I’m still here,” said Alicia.

Judith was stunned.
“Just you wait until I tell your father about this. He’ll know what to do.”

“Mum, he knows all about Alicia. I told him a while ago. I have his blessing.”

“Not for much longer you won’t.”

“Mum, stop right there. I’m not a little girl any more. I’m how old? I’m nearly thirty-five years old and since Leslie and even more since Alicia came into my life, I am enjoying my life. We will get married but I won’t ask Dad to do it because I know how much you value your cosy life in the country. Alicia is my life now, just like your life is supporting Dad in his work.”

“I won’t…” muttered Judith.
Then she stormed out leaving Alicia still sitting on Corrine’s lap.

Eventually, Alicia got up and made sure that the outer door was closed before returning to Corrine. She was on the phone with her father, giving him a heads-up about the tsunami that was heading his way.

It was clear from the one-sided conversation that Corrine was leaving him a message. She hung up looking sad.

“I had hoped that we could have visited them before something like this happened but…”

“Don’t worry darling. It is done now and the genie can’t be put back in the bottle.”

“Did you mean what you said about us getting married?”

“I did. It sort of came out but it feels right. Besides, I’m not getting any younger am I and I’d like to have a baby before it gets too late.”

Neither of them had discussed marriage and the prospect of having children. It was almost like they were the forbidden subjects. That was then. Now it was out in the open.

“Ok. Lets’ do it.”

Alicia’s response surprised Corrine.
“I mean it,” said Alicia.
“Sell your business and we can retire and live off your investments.”

Corrine looked anywhere but at Alicia.
“I know about the offer that is on the table from ‘Going Places Recruitment’.”

“How?”
“Doh… I’m your assistant, aren’t I? I am there to know everything and more about the business. Alex told me about it the day before she left. I’d say ok, but add at least half a million to the sum that that they are offering for ‘goodwill’. That would go a long way towards paying for that house we saw last weekend and not have to touch the money from the St John’s Wood property sale.”

After a struggle, Corrine managed to get her brain into gear.
“I don’t know… about selling the business.”

“So… I’m to be the stay at home, mum then?”

Alicia had put her foot right on Corrine’s throat.

“No… Oh shit. I didn’t think this through, did I?”

“No, my darling, WE didn’t think this through, did we?”

Corrine smiled.
“Why can’t I get angry at you?”

“Because I’m your other half in life.”

“You knew that when?”

“That drawing is what sealed it for me. That’s why I put it in a frame. That’s when I knew that my life had changed for good.”

Corrine shook her head in disbelief.

“I’ve done the sums about retiring. Provided we don’t spend too much on the new house and get at least one point four million for Earls Court then we can live very comfortably for the next fifty years,” said Alicia.

Corrine shook her head.
“I need to think about this.”

“Wrong.”

“Ok, we need to think about this and look at all the downsides as well as the upsides.”

“True, and it is not something to rush into. Besides, we have a wedding to organise, don’t we?”

“In the meantime, I have a business to run.”

Alicia smiled.
“Why don’t you go and touch-up your makeup while I make us a cuppa. We have twenty minutes before Mr Jackson comes in for his interview.”

“You love directing me, don’t you?”

“Errr? Isn’t that exactly what an assistant is supposed to do? I’m here to make your life easier so that you can make the right decisions that earn the big bucks.”

Corrine grinned,
“Yes Boss!”

---

The visit of Judith proved to be something of a watershed for them. Now that the ‘M’ word and the ‘B’ word was out in the open, their out-of-office relationship bloomed.

The next weekend, Corrine got dressed up again and the couple went to visit three more properties and to re-visit one from the previous weekend.

As they got back to their car after the second viewing, Alicia said,
“That’s the one, isn’t it?”

Corrine didn’t even hesitate.
“It is. I just felt comfortable there. This time, a lot more than the last. It has everything we need including that huge dressing room.”

Alicia grinned.
“Yeah, that one room was almost as big as my old flat. Four bedrooms as well.”

“Plus, that annex. If I wanted to start a small business that would be ideal for it. No rent to pay either.”

“Ok, shall we go and make an offer? If so, how much?”

“Twenty under the asking should do it as we don’t have a chain and are a cash buyer.”

Alicia grinned as she got into the car. Life was starting to get interesting.

---

That night in bed, Corrine said,
“Is it time for you to get some work done?”

Alicia knew exactly what her lover was talking about.

“Yeah. Just my boobs to begin with. Once we get everything else sorted then the rest.”

“What if I get pregnant sooner rather than later? That will screw things up big time.”

“No, it won’t. There will be six to eight months before the happy day in which all those loose ends can be dealt with. If we can’t do it ourselves then we can find someone who can.

Corrine had no answer to Alicia’s logic.
All she could do was shake her head and mutter,
“Where were you when I was a twenty something?”

Alicia took that as a compliment and gave her a nice reward for it.

---

Their offer on the house was accepted early the next morning. Corrine instructed her legal people to handle the sale and sent them the amount for the deposit a few hours later. She also instructed them to get a full structural survey done within three weeks. Both sides wanted a quick sale so she didn’t anticipate any major problems until it was time for the contracts to be signed.

Alicia began to collate a list of jobs that needed to be done to their current home before it could be sold. She presented it to Corrine who just smiled as she produced her own list. They were remarkably similar.

---

Corrine brooded over the idea of selling the business for a few days until she said,
“Can you find out if Tony Moran from ‘Going Places’, is in London. Discretely.”

“Sure thing. But?”

“I know, how will I meet him?”

“Something like that.”

“Tony Moran is a man of habit. When he is in London, he goes to watch Fulham Football Club and mixes with the fans in the Riverside Stand. That’s where I’ll meet him.”

Alicia was surprised by this level of detail.
“How…? How do you know all this?”

Corrine went a little red in the face.
“He and I were a thing before he did the dirty on me with a big motor manufacturer. I found out that he’d bugged my phone and computer. That deal allowed him to set up his ‘Going Places’ empire. He’s a thug when it comes to business. No ethics at all.”

“And you would consider selling the business that trades on being ethical? Isn’t that a big slap in the face for how you have built up this place? I looked up his recruitment business on Trustpilot. The reviews are terrible.”

Corrine sighed.
“I know but…”

Alicia took hold of Corrine’s hand and smiled.
“There must be other agencies out there who work on the same principles as you have done since you set it up.”

Alicia squeezed her lover's hand.
“Let me do some work before you do anything with that bozo.”

Corrine smiled and gave Alicia a small kiss.

With every day that passed, Corrine and Alicia grew closer and closer.

Corrine was the sort of woman who would not let something rest once she had a mind to do it. That tenacity was how she’d gotten her foot in the door with some of the top FinTech businesses in London. She’d followed that up with results. The candidates that she put forward to these companies were top notch and that reputation soon spread around the City of London and then to the other financial services centres in the UK.

Alicia could see that the mere name 'Tony Moran' rankled with Corrine. Alicia was certain that there was more to it than what Corrine had revealed but she remained tight-lipped about whatever it was.

Everything with Corrine was about working within her sphere of influence. Mr Moran was way outside it and that worried Alicia.

Alicia spent a lot of time trying to work on a list of possible buyers before giving up and looking at the problem from a different point of view.

That produced a result sooner than she’d anticipated.

“Corrine, I have a possible answer to the problem of selling the business to someone with the same sort of ethics as you do.”

“I’m all ears,” said Corrine but her body language was telling Alicia otherwise.

“I’m going to run through Earls Court Tube naked,” said Alicia.

It took a second for what Alicia had said to register. Then she cottoned on to what Alicia was doing.

“Ok. I was miles away when I should be listening to you. Sorry.”

“Apology accepted. Shall I continue?”

“Please.”

“We are in business to help clients find the right person for their organisation. Correct?”

“Yes… get to the point… please.”

“I found a company whose aim in business is to find the right company for another company to buy them. Sort of like broker for companies.”

Slowly, it dawned on Corrine exactly what it was that Alicia was saying.

“How big a cut would they take?”

“A percentage or a flat fee that is subject to negotiation. My guess that a flat fee would be around a hundred grand. I’d add that to the selling price so we come out even and don’t have the worry of finding the right company ourselves.”

She left Corrine to think about the problem and got on with sifting through the latest set of CVs that had arrived that day.

Alicia had learned to sift most of the wheat from the chaff and to spot the obvious lies. Alex had taught her well and soon the CVs with lies were outlined in blue felt tip joined the pile of good CVs with green markers and the time wasters in red.

It was mid-morning when Alicia took the pile of CVs into Corrine’s office. Her boss was staring into space and hardly noticed Alicia’s arrival. It was then that Alicia noticed that Corrine had been crying. This was the first time that she’d shown that sort of behaviour since the two had met on that fateful Friday afternoon.

Alicia put down the pile of CVs and found a handkerchief in Corrine's bag and gave it to her. Then she sat next to her lover and put her arm around her shoulder.

“Thank you,” muttered Corrine.

“Why the tears?”

“I’m just being silly.”

“Silly? About what?”

Corrine didn’t answer so Alicia said,
“Is it about losing your baby?”
Alicia was referring to the business.

“No… It is about our baby…”

It took Alicia a couple of seconds to grasp what Corrine had just said.

“Are you sure?”

Corrine nodded her head and pointed to a pregnancy test that was lying on her desk.

Alicia could see that it was showing positive.

She leaned over and kissed Corrine.
“Isn’t it time for both of us to make a new start? A new start as a family?”

“Yes but…?”

“This little baby has grown up,” said Alicia.
Corrine nodded.
“It is hard.”

“It is yours and its success is all down to you. Isn’t it time to move on to new opportunities?”

“It is but…?”

“Don’t worry darling, I’m here right by your side. Together we can take on the world!”

Corrine laughed and then she kissed Alicia.
“I knew…”

“Don’t think back. Just think about our future together with our baby.”

Corrine looked at Alicia through reddened eyes.

“You are so good to me and for me.”

Alicia smiled.
“You are so good for me, and to me,” she echoed.

Both of them held each other and laughed.

---

The next nine months of their lives were full on. Alicia took control of Corrine’s life with the aim of taking as much stress as possible off her lover. Two months later, the business was sold to an established agency and the building in Earls Court sold in two days for almost double Alicia’s guestimate. The profits from that very astute investment would give them more than enough to live off for the rest of their lives.

Both of them continued to experiment with colours from top to bottom. Alicia settled on bright blue hair and as soon as her own was long enough, she discarded the wig and had it dyed. Corrine settled on wearing a jet-black wig until she could have long black hair of her own.

Once the news about Corrine’s pregnancy reached her parents, all the objections that Judith might have had over Alicia simply disappeared into the ether. Corrine had strong words with her mother about being fussed over as they moved into the new house near Broadway.

Alicia married Corrine at a simple ceremony in Evesham in the fourth month of her pregnancy. Her father left his dog collar at home and gave her away while Judith played the part of the ‘Mother of the Bride’ to both of them perfectly. After the reception, the newlyweds went to Scotland for a week in a cottage on the island of Mull. A week with no phone or TV was just what they needed.

Corrine gradually adopted a more colourful and vibrant wardrobe and appearance. Without the need to dress relatively soberly for work, she let Alicia have most of her way with her. Even in the late stages of her pregnancy, she wore bright colours. After her initial reluctance to dress more flamboyantly, she gave in and adopted it with a happy acceptance. She'd always known that letting Leslie and later Alicia into her life would lead to a lot of changes but not in the way they had developed.

Corrine gave birth to a baby boy that weighed just over 7lbs 8oz. Despite some initial objections, he was given the name Leslie John. John was her father’s name.

Corrine’s deepest fears came to a head when she didn’t really bond with the new arrival. Alicia stepped in and without question, became the de-facto mother.

Even Corrine's mother, Judith, praised Alicia for her nurturing and care of the baby. Once Corrine had accepted that she was not the mothering sort, she relaxed and began to enjoy playing second fiddle with the baby lovers in the community. Very few of the other new mothers twigged that Alicia wasn’t the birth mother.

Corrine began to think about starting a very local recruitment agency and using the annex as an office. Alicia supported her all the way and by the time it was time for Leslie John to be christened by Corrine's father, she was getting her agency known around the Broadway and Evesham areas.

They were out shopping for office supplies when we ran into Pearce Fogarty. He was trying to guide a pushchair that contained a baby about the same age as Leslie. Corrine said before thinking,
“Pearce? What are you doing here?”

“Do I know… Corrine? I heard that you had quit the city.”

"Long time no see eh, Pierce. This is Alicia and our son Leslie."

“You have really changed, haven’t you?”

“I was stuck in a huge rut. All work and no play. Then Alicia came into my life and it all went to pot.”

Pearce smiled.
"Same here. All work. I neglected Eve and eventually, she went off with someone who could give her the attention that both she and our children deserved. Then I met Nicole. She got me out of my rut and we were married a year ago. Now, I run a small firm of bookkeepers. Only ten of us and a lot less pressure. I employ mostly young mothers who need to work around the demands of their children. If you are looking for a job?"

Corrine laughed.
“I’m in the process of setting up shop again Evesham. Strictly local or within 30 miles excluding Brum.”
Then Corrine said,
“I think that you are needed over by the checkouts.”

Pearce looked at where Corrine was pointing.
“That’s Nicole. I need to go.”
He opened his wallet and pulled out a business card.
“Give me a call. We should have dinner.”
Then he dashed off.

Alicia who had been silent throughout the encounter smiled at her wife.
“Was that the woman you saw with Pierce before?”

“It was. They look like a happy couple.”

“Are you insinuating that we aren’t?”

“I wouldn’t dare to suggest that darling,” replied a smiling Alicia.
“It is more like… it takes one to know one.”

Corrine grinned back at her wife.
“Just checking.”

Alicia could not have been prouder of Corrine when she made a small profit after less than six months of trading. It took her mind off the issues they were having with Leslie who was teething.

That first meeting had heralded a slightly radical new start for both of them. It was almost as if fate had decreed it.
[the end]