At last ‘A life’

By Julie D Cole

Chapter 11 Back to work!!
I turned around and saw Ms Harper getting out of her car that was parked in her Executive parking place. It was a big BMW 7 series that seemed awfully big for a woman to drive.
She had opened the car boot and waved me across to her so that I could carry a file to her office. So it was funny that because I’d helped her previously I’d been christened Christine and now here I was arriving at work as Christine.

She told me that I was looking nice today and that I looked much happier than last time I’d seen her and so had something nice happened such as a new man in my life. I blushed and mumbled back that I’d just had a wonderful weekend with the girls and said Jane had been celebrating her forthcoming wedding. She said she’d contact her to send her the Companies best wishes and that she would arrange a wedding gift if I could find out what she wanted.

As we were going up the lift she said she’d spoken to Jessica about me to see what job I’d been doing and how long I’d worked for the Company because she’d not had much chance to talk to me when she'd met me before. I was very nervous talking to her and especially when we’d walked past reception and Shirley on the desk had smiled and looked over her glasses at me. She'd obviously been watching out for me judging by the smile and no doubt it would have been Anne who told her since they are close friends.

We arrived at her office suite and nobody was at her PA’s desk so I assumed she must be on leave. Ms Harper said she was a little annoyed because her PA, Catherine had taken leave to attend to some urgent personal business without arranging any cover.

As I looked around her office I was really impressed. She had a massive leather topped desk and her office had a nice soft light grey carpet. The walls were all paneled with light oak wood and had soft lighting incorporated. She had a big red Chesterfield settee and two high back leather chairs and a coffee table with beautiful pink lilies decorating it. Quite different from our modest office and the small workstations with restricted space. I said wow and she smiled. She said “It looks good doesn’t it but I wish I had more time to appreciate it”

Ms Harper has long beautifully conditioned light brown hair down over her shoulders with soft curls and it looked like she has an excellent stylist to look after her. Her nails were beautiful. She was dressed in a smart black business suit so she looked very elegant and I felt we should all be proud that she is the face of our Company. Who could not admire her?

She asked me to put the file on her desk and she rang Jessica to tell her that I wasn’t late and that I’d helped her carry something and had been very sweet. I blushed and my tummy was churning. I suppose that I was worried since in case I got found out and I thought she would be very angry if she knew. She shook hands with me and I noticed she had a very nice diamond ring on her right hand on the third finger that looked like it had been an engagement ring. She noticed my eyes focus on the ring and said it was from her ex but eventually he’d found her too much for him because she could not relax and she had a very strong personality.

We were similar height and I she then put her arm around me and escorted me to the door thanking me for my assistance. Then she said she’d be in touch about the wedding gift for Jane and to pass on her congratulations.

I was feeling a little bit nervous as I took the lift down to our floor because this was my entrance. As I walked through the door it went quiet and then everybody stood up and clapped. It was obviously pre-arranged and I blushed and stopped. Tears filled my eyes since it was a complete shock. Anne came over to me and walked me to my work station where they’d placed some flowers and hung a band. ‘Welcome to Christine’.

I had several good luck cards and they’d put some photographs on my small notice board at the side of my desk that were from the weekend. I just burst out crying and they all surrounded me hugging me and offering me tissues. Then Jessica came out of her office and asked everyone to sit down. She then told everyone that they should be as discreet as possible and make me as comfortable as possible. She announced that by unanimous decision I’d been granted use of the ladies bathroom. I was delighted since this was a big relief.

Then Liz produced a cup of coffee in my own mug which had my new name Christine. I had just time to switch on my computer and drink it before Anne and I were called to Jessica’s office so that I could run through a few things with them about extra duties I would be undertaking and a small promotion and salary increase. They wanted me to look after 2 key supplier accounts and be involved in the weekly junior management meeting that was due to start in 30 minutes time.

I was surprised and relieved to be treated so well and felt that this was all down to my courage to dress as Christine and form better relationships with my workmates. I sighed heavily and they both smiled and said that I’d really fitted in over the weekend and that face [my lip] looked a lot better. In truth Julie had done an excellent repair job and changed the color of my lipstick for a darker shade that was a little more like my blood color. She said the color was a little older but better anyway for work.

So I was feeling really good by now since at last I had chance to return to a real job even if I’d had to become one of the girls to get the chance.

The office atmosphere was so much happier than normal because everybody was laughing about some of the events and the glass of water and how well I’d adjusted. They all wanted to go to the wedding party now and asked what I would wear. To be honest I’d completely forgotten about it since I’d been invited as Chris but now maybe I’d be going as Christine with the chance to buy some new outfits. I pinched myself to stop getting carried away. I still hadn’t told mum.

Then about 11 am Jessica called me into her office and said that Ms Harper had called her to invite us to lunch. I’d already arranged to meet Julie but I couldn’t say no and thought she’d be OK about it.

So about 12-30pm Jessica got a call and we met Ms Harper in reception. I’d done a quick repair job and touch up in the ladies bathroom and sprayed an extra bit of perfume between my boobs. I think I was beginning to like life as Christine and somehow I hadn’t had much difficulty convincing people that I was female.

Ms Harper was very friendly and she asked me to use her first name of Kate like Jessica did. I said ‘Yes Ms Harper’ and she laughed.

I sat in the back of her car and it was fabulous. Some of the girls from the office waved as we drove past them and Lisa put her nose in the air in fun. Jessica was chatting away in the front telling Kate about our weekend. She was smiling when she heard that Jessica had sprung to my defence and asked me if I’d led this guy on. Of course I denied it and she just said ‘YeahYeah we believe you.

She had reserved a table at a Chinese restaurant and they seemed to know her very well. We got a quiet area almost like a separate room and then she proceeded to order a selection of items and some Chinese flower tea. She kept looking at me and asking if I liked Chinese food.

The dishes were quick to arrive and since Kate insisted we tried chopsticks I struggled a little bit so she took my hand and showed me the technique. I started to get reasonably proficient and at least good enough not to spill.

Then part way through devouring some prawns Kate said that she’d discussed me with Jessica the week before after I'd helped her and was surprised to find out that I was Chris who’d she’d heard of but never noticed. I went extremely red and wanted to sink under the table. She touched my hand and said not to be embarrassed since her fiancé had been a transvestite but was also very animated in bed. She said he’d eventually met another man that she couldn’t accept so she’d terminated the engagement.

But I said I didn’t feel like a transvestite I felt natural when dressed as Christine and I was really seeing life in a different way. Then she asked if I intended to always dress as Christine or if I was going to revert to Chris. I didn’t know and so I couldn’t answer and anyway I said I might be dead or crippled tomorrow when mum found out.

After we finished the hot food Kate ordered some coffee since none of us wanted sweets. Then she said that she’d wanted to meet me to see if I was the right sort of person to help her out since she wanted a PA from within the Company until her full time PA was able to return to work. She said it would be effective immediately and she would compensate me very well. Jessica looked green with envy.

I thought about it very seriously for about 30 seconds and then said ‘Yes Ms Harper’. She laughed and turned to Jessica and said ‘ OK Ms Walker that’s it then’ and then Jessica laughed and then Ms Harper shook my hand and said 'Come see me tomorrow.'

My head was in a whirl as we travelled back to the office and I couldn’t wait to let Sally know so I sent her a quick text message. She sent one straight back saying ‘ Will you still talk to me now you are elevated to Business Class?” I sent a smiley face back saying HaHa lover!!

So the rest of the day was full of chatterboxing. Nobody could believe it and everyday remarked how much my personality had changed.

At 5pm everybody started to pack up for the day and at 5-15pm we were all rushing to the lift. Jessica and Anne had organized a small celebration to welcome Christine at the local pub, and everybody came along.

I didn’t need anything to eat and it was only snacky things anyway. Then Jessica proposed a toast to their new colleague and a second one to say goodbye to poor little Chris. I stuck out my tongue of course.

I didn’t want to stay too long because I wanted to see mum so I sent her a text message to tell her where I was. Her reply was pretty quick for once and was short and sharp.

OK Christine!!!

To be continued….