Chapter 20

Three weeks later, Colin was holding the back door of a glorious dark blue A8 for me to get in, while Brendon and Jeff put my things in the boot. In the meantime, I had been subjected to one major surgery and several minor ones. I was now classified as a genuine replica of a woman. One that was still a bit slow moving and still had minor horrors at my reflection.

They had told me that the bruises would leave, the way that most of the swelling already had. I now had a nice pair of breasts if you liked multi-coloured ones. I had been lipo-sucked and now had a much better waist. They had added some filler to my butt, and did a minor adjustment to my larynx, so that I couldn’t drop into a bloke voice anymore. That, alone, was a relief. I just hoped I snored prettily.

Colin had test driven the A8 and loved it. He had loved it even more when they took him to a test track to try and put one out of shape. He was in a uniform that Ruth and Jim had come up with. Ruth had spent two weeks back in cooking school, to catch up with some new trends. Larry had been in a private school for butlers, on a crash course, and I was assured that he had scrubbed up very well. Brendon had been on a crash course in body-guarding and looked buff in his suit.

To my mind, the break had been well worth it. I was now swimming in hormones and ready to test my new equipment, although the doctor had told me to hold off, and just to keep dilating, for another couple of weeks to allow all the stitches to fully heal. The last had only been taken out yesterday. I had been visited often, while in hospital, and had read the screenplay for ‘Gone with the Gale’ several times, with a lot of notations. I was ready to sit down with David and talk about it if he still wanted me to be in it.

It was a lovely summer day, and I was in my orchid sundress that I had worn at the screen test, all that time ago. The fact that it fitted me better was nice, but it was the way I felt in it that mattered. I wasn’t wearing it as a costume, to project the notion of femininity, I was wearing it as a woman. The last few weeks had been a learning curve on how I would be living, and I was determined to live my life to the full.

Jeff came and sat beside me and held my hand. He had been in to see me, almost every day, and had seen me at my worst. Jim and Belle had been in, a few times, as had Cynthia and Moyra. I even had a visit from Horatio – but that one included signing the papers he had brought with him. He had told me that the first payment of six million dollars had gone into my account, with half going into my investment fund. My little break, so he told me, had stayed under the radar, with any enquiries being told that I was studying screenplays.

As we left the hospital, I waved to the nurses at the door. They had been wonderful. They had also told me that I was wonderful, and most were registered on the fan club website. I had been kept in the loop while I was there, with all the goings on. Kurt and Kym wanted me to join Tony as soon as I could, and I thought that if Jeff and I could marry, we could make Tallahassee as a destination for a honeymoon.

Jeff had been working with the vicar, and it was all set for the wedding in two weeks. Jim had organised the wedding party, and had asked Agnes, as I had suggested. She had been told that it was a great honour and that I had asked for her to keep it quiet until the issue went out to the newsstands.

The car was gloriously quiet as we glided home. At the house, Larry, now in a good suit, came and opened the door for me, and held out his hand to help me out. Tonight, Jeff and I would be sleeping in the big bed, although sex wasn’t on the cards. Ruth was there and told me that I would be eating proper food for dinner. Brendon took my cases through to the master, and Jeff took my bag with the screenplay into the office.

I stood in the lounge and wondered at the difference. We were now a tightly knit team, with me at the center. Jeff would join me there once we got the film out of the way. I wondered when I would be contacted about the other screenplays, only to find that out as Larry came in with some notes in his hand.

“Julia, a David Masterson and a C.J. will be calling on you, tomorrow at ten, if it’s convenient. They said to let them know if you want to postpone.”

“That’ll be all right, Larry. What else do you have for me?”

“The Fan Club would like to talk to you. It seems that Jim has organised some posters and photos for them, and they want to thank you. The thing is that they want to meet you at their school, for a special visit. They’re on their summer break, but have organised a party, next Saturday evening. They asked if you and Jeff would join them for a while. It’s semi-formal, and Cynthia and Moyra have said that they will come along to help.”

“All right, let them know we’re coming. Other than that, I’d like to catch up with normal living, and to get ready for the wedding. Right now, I see that we have a huge TV in this room. I think that all my new computer equipment must be in the office. I’ll go and have a look at that, then I’ll be unpacking my case. After that I may try out the bed for an afternoon nap.”

I went to look at the office but didn’t power up the computers. The screenplays were on the desk, waiting for me to look at them again. I emptied my case, putting away some items and adding others to the empty laundry basket. I then undressed and put on a gown, then lay on the bed, and allowed my body to totally relax. I was home!

I was woken by Jeff sitting on the bed and running a hand up my leg. I opened my eyes and gazed into his.

“If you’re a good boy, you can join me here, tonight. But no nookie, doctors’ orders.”

“Ruth and I have already cleared the two spare rooms and everything’s here, my love. All the more perfect with you here.”

I held my arms out and he swivelled to lay next to me so we could kiss. Before I knew it, he was kissing my neck and working down to my new breasts, which had stood to attention.

“What an amazing colour,” he whispered. “If you wore Anna’s dress, they would be invisible.”

That started me laughing and then he silenced me with another kiss.

“I truly love you, Julia Leigh Curtis.”

“I love you, too, Jeffery Thomas. It will be sad that I will still have to use my stage name, after we’re married, but that’s the movies for you.”

“I could always become Jeff Leigh.”

“No, you don’t, you stay your own man, as well as being my man. What’s the time?”

“Time for you to get ready for dinner. Ruth has done something nice. Let’s face it, I’ve eaten better since she arrived. She’s better than my mother.”

“All right, let me up and I’ll get dressed. Do we go formal or informal in the house?”

“With just the six of us, it’s informal. Breakfast in gowns, dinner in jeans. Ruth will be making something for our visitors tomorrow, so semi-casual should work. I wonder what David and C.J. want to talk about.”

“Probably their project. I’ve read the screenplay of ‘Gone with the Gale’ a few times. It will be a powerful piece of film. It’s not a big cast, only five main characters and a few minor ones. Our input will depend on who he has signed for the main five. I did leave a message that I wanted Gayle if they want me in it.”

He left me to redress. I put a skirt on, as jeans were still too tight around the nethers. With a light sweater and my fluffy slippers, I was ready to see what the new dynamic looked like. Colin, Larry, and Brendon had changed into slacks or jeans, Jeff and Ruth stayed as they were. We all sat in the kitchen and Ruth put out bowls of vegetables on the table, then handed out plates with pork chops on. We helped ourselves and tucked in, the conversation ranging from current politics to the weather.

As the talk swirled, I realised that these had done this for a couple of weeks, and I was still the newcomer. I tried to stay focussed, and they answered any queries I had about the last few weeks. I found out that the garden furniture had all been pulled out and cleaned, then put back with covers on. The garage had been thoroughly swept, and had a new surface put down before any cars went in. The outside toilet, in the party area, had been serviced, as had the barbeque. We had the big TV’s, and both annexes had been added to with personal items.

Larry had just left home, while Brendon needed to leave his rental. Jeff told me that my lease had been closed, with the refund going into my account. Colin and Ruth had put their home up for rent, as a security for their old age. When I heard that, I realised that they would probably retire and go back there, sometime in the distant future. It was coming home to me that Jeff and I were the employers, and that these four depended on us for their future.

“Julia, you’re very quiet.”

“Just thinking how nice it is to be home, sitting here with you all, Ruth. I feel that I’ve lost three weeks of normal living and may take a little while to get back together.”

“Knowing you, my girl, you’ll be your usual dynamic self in a couple of days.”

“I like the big Audi, Colin. What else do we have in the garage.”

“There’s your Sportback, with just delivery mileage on. Jeff’s has a bit more, as I think he has enjoyed himself a little. There’s the A8 we picked you up in, and there’s another, on order, that will be suitable for high protection, with extra bodywork, bullet-proof windows, and run-flat tyres, in case someone tries to kidnap you. Jim suggested that one. Then there’s an A4 Estate, for Ruth to use for shopping. Your Ford was taken away, and the guy that took it told me that they had been offered ten thousand for it, as long as it had the old registration papers. Other than that, there’s my old Ford and Brendon’s new Jaguar. We now have everything on an insurance that Horatio organised, along with the house and contents. I have to say that when it comes to getting things done, the agency is second to none.”

“Yes, Horatio has a lot of very good friends. Tomorrow, I’ll have the two visitors. Ruth, could you organise a light lunch if they stay? Brendon, do you have a passport?

“Yes, Julia, I applied for one as soon as you offered me the job.”

“Right. The remark about being kidnapped has made me think. Can you organise some exercise equipment for the rehearsal room? It was used as a gym before, and there’s plenty of outlets. A walker and rowing machine will fit, easily, and I did notice a hook in the ceiling for a punching bag. I’m sure that you’ll need to maintain your own fitness.”

“I’ll get on to that, Julia. Thank you for thinking of it.”

“After the wedding, in two weeks, Jeff and I will be going to Tallahassee for a working honeymoon. I want you and Larry with us as a driver and bodyguard. Colin, you, and Ruth can live in the place as if it’s your own while we’re away. I expect it will be about two months, or so. It will be a pity if we can’t have a garden party this summer, but we’ll hope for a mild Autumn. We will be in the studio for quite a while after that, with another film to do in Spring.”

“There’s some mail for you, Julia, through the agency. I left them in the office.”

“Thanks, Jeff, I’ll have a look at that tonight, then turn in. Try not to wake me up when you come to bed.”

We all helped clear the table after we had a baked dessert and coffee. I discovered that we had two dishwashers, on top of the three fridges and warmers, adding to the three ovens. This was some party house!

I went to the office to see what I had received. There was account statements from the agency, along with all the paperwork for the company. There was a copy of my contract with Kym for the two films, and an unopened package from the airline. When I opened it, I found a nice letter, thanking me for helping put the airline in the minds of cinemagoers everywhere. There was a photo, of me, with the boss, with all the crew behind us. There was another, taken on that terrace, of us all hamming it up in our Real Housewives dresses.

What made me sit back and think was a laminated card, for me to put in my purse, which gave me a lifetime usage of the airline, in first class, for me and a companion. That meant that Jeff and I could fly free, with just the others needing us to buy business class tickets. Even then, I knew that a good accountant would put these down as expenses against earning a living. That meant that everything we do, from now, with travel, accommodation, and other expenses, will have to be organised through the agency. There was a letter, from Burberry, with the official appointments of both Jeff and I as ambassadors, with a request to organise a proper photo shoot. That led to the last letter I opened.

It was on Agency letterhead, and it informed me that they were employing another staff member, to be paid for from our accounts, who will be our contact person for all our dealings, effectively our PA. The applicants will be interviewed during this week, with Jeff and I invited for any second interview in the week after. Until they start, Michael would remain our go-to person.

I looked at the desk, realising that it was much heavier than usual. There was a bottom drawer with a combination lock that was unlocked. I reset the combination to something I would remember, then put the paperwork into it and set the lock. I took the Burberry letter, the pictures, and the pass through to the lounge, where Jeff was watching a movie.

“Have a look at these, darling.”

He smiled at the two photos, and his mouth dropped open when he looked at the airline pass.

“These means that we can go anywhere, free, for life!”

“That’s right. It’s certainly a bonus. ‘Turbulence’ is a film that keeps giving. It does mean that whenever we fly, we will have to look like film stars, to uphold the company image. We won’t have much trouble doing that, seeing that we’re now Burberry Ambassadors.”

He gave me the items back, and I left him to the film, after giving him a goodnight kiss. I looked at the clock as I put them back on the desk, then went into the bedroom to undress, cleanse and put on a sexy nightie. I was only a few minutes out when he came in.

“That movie was getting silly, so I thought I’d turn in.”

I giggled, quietly, as he went into the bathroom, coming out in his pyjamas. He got into bed, then saw me in the nightie. When he turned out the lights, he snuggled close and kissed. It was the first time we had slept together, but there was no rush. He knew that we couldn’t have sex, but I plucked up enough courage to satisfy him, for the first time. We went to sleep, entwined in each other’s arms.

He did wake me when he got out in the night, and I followed him in to use the toilet. It made me realise that sleeping in one bed is something that takes a learning curve. In the morning, I was out before him, and had a good shower going when he joined me. It was the first time that we could see each other, in a bright light, and totally naked. He didn’t disappoint.

I let him have a good look at my new body, complete with the mottled look around the breasts and groin. We washed each other’s backs and giggled a lot. As we dried ourselves, he said that he might go with Brendon to look at gym equipment, to give me privacy with David and C.J. I took my time getting dressed, content to watch him dressing. I have to say that he had shopped a lot while I wasn’t here, and everything he had was new and good quality.

I opted for a simple shift, with tights and slides for inside the house. When we were ready, we went to get breakfast. Obviously, the ‘breakfast in gowns’ concept was for when the boss was away, as everyone was dressed for the day as we walked into the kitchen. We ate and cleared up. Colin and Ruth said they were going shopping, and Brendon got his Jaguar out of the garage. Jeff joined him, after giving me a kiss, and they went off to look for a walker. Colin and Ruth left, not long after, in the A4.

I told Larry that I would be in the office and went there to have another look at the screenplay. I had looked at it a lot, and there were things that I thought could make it better.

Around ten-thirty, Larry knocked on the office door to tell me that the visitors were here.

“They’re in the lounge, and I’ve given them a drink. Shall I bring you something?”

“Thank you, Larry. I’ll just have some soda water.”

I went into the lounge and the two of them rose to give me a hug. Larry put a glass next to an easy chair and I put the screenplay on the coffee table and sat. There was some general chat about recent events, and David told me that our film has passed the two hundred and fifty million mark in box office returns. He proposed a toast to ‘future success’.

When we got down to it, C.J. looked at me with a serious face.

“Julia, you know that I can be a little imperious, at times. I have watched your film and I’ve spoken to others in the business. You have a reputation as a girl who knows what she wants and knows what buttons to press to get it. Please tell me what you think of my screenplay, and what you would do to make it better. Don’t hold back.”

“Thank you. I’ll try not to ruffle your feathers too much. Over the last few weeks, I’ve read it over, and I’ll try to simplify the plot. You have a happy couple who are planning a holiday in a cliffside cottage. With them are their two daughters. You have the wife planning to kill the husband so that she can live with her lover. They kill the husband, and then the lover plans to kill the daughters, who manage to kill him, instead. The wife goes crazy, so they have to defend themselves, killing her. All this takes place, in the cottage, in a roaring storm.”

“That’s it, in a nutshell. What’s wrong with it?”

“It’s too simplistic, with not enough tension. Sorry, but I do have some changes which shouldn’t need a lot of rewrites.”

“All right, lay it on me.”

“Right. First, the married couple. We make the father a lot older and it’s his second or third wife. The daughters are both from a previous marriage. We make him an abusive husband which lets his death be some kind of justice. It will also send a message to abusers that there could be consequences.”

“That sounds doable, carry on.”

“His death could happen before the storm, perhaps the wife and lover could do it, together. The wife introduces the girls to the lover, saying that he’s staying until the storm has passed. We find out that the lover is after the widow’s money and is planning to get rid of the girls. There are scenes in the house, during the storm, that set the tension. Then there is an eye in the storm and the wife and lover tell the girls to join them to look at the view. The girls have realised that their lives are in danger and have made their own plans. At the cliff edge the younger one points out to sea and cries, “Look at that”, or something similar. The two murderers turn around and the girls push them over the edge of the cliff, just as the back end of the storm is coming in. They go back into the cottage and discuss how they would tell their story as the storm rages. The phones come back on, and they ring the police to tell them that their parents went out to look at the storm but never came back.”

“Has anyone told you that you have a very devious mind?”

“More than once, What did you think?”

“I like it. We can change the title to ‘Lost In A Gale’ and it does make what we have come to talk about a little easier.”

David nodded.

“Our questions were to ask you about a likely cast. We are very limited, or were very limited, with age ranges. If we put you in as Gayle, we already have a verbal agreement from Samantha Zeering as the younger daughter, Carol.”

“She will be playing Jeff’s love interest in Kym’s film.”

“So, she’ll have some more exposure before we open.”

“Quite a lot of exposure, actually. I’ve yet to let Jeff know what some of the scenes call for. I’ll let us get married before then.”

“We’re looking to make it a British film, in a British location, with a British cast. With you showing us what Eric can do, I think that he would now be perfect for Marshall, the abusive father.”

“I agree. Cynthia will be looking for more work and is of an age where she could play the wife. Jack’s a good age as Murray, the lover. Jeff could reprise his police persona as the country copper who comes to investigate the disappearances. It could end with Gayle telling Carol that she has a boyfriend, with Carol ending the film by saying “Well, you know what we can do if he hurts you.”

C.J. sat for a while, and then started laughing. He was tearing up and it was infectious. As he came back down, he picked up my copy of the screenplay.

“You won’t need this, now. We have had sessions when we tried to work this into something better, and you’ve just laid it out for us, and solved the casting problem as well. Any more insights?”

“Well, from my reading, pretty much all of the film will be shot in the studio, with just a few outside shots to be in the lead up to the murder, and then after the girls leave the cottage. You’ll need some general outside shots for fitting in at appropriate moments, and I would have a second crew on stand-by to go west as soon as they hear a weather report of a storm heading across the Atlantic. That way you can have a bank if real-time shots, in the actual locations that you used for the other fine weather shots. About the only scenes where the cast are at the location will be getting to the cottage, the first murder, the second murders, and the girls showing the policeman where they saw their parents before them leaving the cottage. I want to be a shareholder in this, if the final screenplay is as good as I know you will make it. We can work out the details later. Now, I saw Ruth coming back with the shopping, I believe that she’s arranged a light lunch. Will you stay, please.”

Marianne Gregory © 2024