Chapter 8: Party Time - "You look mahvelous, dahling!"

---

 

Jamie, the White House Press Secretary, also Kat's best friend, had been watching the coverage of Effie's confirmation hearings every free moment she had, and she was delighted how well Effie had been managing. And now that the hearings had concluded, the start of speculations about her chances to be confirmed had started.

She had heard from her Columbia friends that the bookies in New York had started to take bets on whether the committees will confirm Effie as the new VP. The odds for her confirmation were reportedly high, so she decided not to ask her friends to bet for her, since her winnings would be quite low, or she'd probably not make any money at all.

Her own opinion, just like most of the rest of the country, was that Effie was going to be the next VP, and was impatient for the Senate and the House Judiciary Committees to vote and finally declare it. Of course, there were still a lot of homophobes and whatnot out there that still wanted Effie to do a faceplant, politically speaking, but Jamie was confident that wasn't very likely.

At the moment, Jamie was watching a piece on CNN that was reporting on Effie's and Kat's outing - it seems that, since the House Committee hearings ended early, the sisters decided on a bit of shopping and sightseeing today. Jamie so wanted to join them, but aside from the fact that she had work, she and Kat had agreed to minimize being seen together, otherwise, their link would become obvious, and Effie's nomination might be considered some kind of collusion or something. But, even if it was, that wasn't illegal, or even improper - after all, the selection of a VP, by definition, was a totally partisan decision, so how could it be an "improper collusion?"

In any case, rather than go through the bother of having to defend themselves in the public arena, she and Kat agreed to not see each other for now.

Last night, she saw Senators Oakes and Birch give an interview where they explained that their very incendiary comments the previous week regarding AG Xander, and of the "LGBTQ agenda creeping into mainstream society" was deliberate - so that they could test if society was indeed accepting of LGBTQ citizens. They also mentioned several senators, including Senator McLaughlin, the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Congresswoman Nuuane, one of the most senior people in the House, were part of this so-called experiment.

Congresswoman Nuuane was also asked about this statement that the two senators made, and, though she said she wasn't part of this "social experiment," she believed that forcing people to show their colors this way, the way Oakes and Birch did, was an effective tool. "I mean, how can including LGBTQ facts in our children's textbooks be bad?" Nuuane said in the interview. "Facts are facts. It's only the people with an ulterior motive or agenda that would stoop so low as to give these facts color."

In almost no time at all, social media lit up and ridiculed the two senators, with a lot of Internet folks saying how stupid the two senators' extremely transparent attempt at back-pedaling and trying to take back what they said. A lot of ridicule was also heaped in front of Congresswoman Nuuane, that if she believed fomenting discord in the public arena was a justifiable means of taking the people's temperature with regards to LGBTQ issues was reckless in the extreme and totally lacking forethought, and just showed how clueless and lacking in sensitivity Nuuane was. To instigate such a thing showed how inconsequential Congresswoman Nuuane thought people's feelings were. Someone from the Internet, a "BC Abbott," posted the following: "surely someone as smart as Congresswoman Nuuane claims to be would be able to gauge the people's sentiments about LGBTQ better than deliberately causing controversy and hostility. If she really wanted to gauge people's opinions, she should have thought of something else instead of causing divisiveness, all for the sake of an experiment."

In about an hour, the other senators and congressmen mentioned by Oakes and Birch, provided interviews to most mainstream media outlets, all vehemently denying any involvement in Oakes' and Birch's "social experiment," and that they had nothing to do with the two Senators and Congresswoman Nuuane, at least in connection with with LGBTQ issues, and such behavior was, at best, reckless, and, at worst, just a transparent and lame way of taking back their mean-spirited statements.

At that point, a signature campaign was started by some LGBTQ proponents to actually recall them. However, a constitutional expert went online and said that the Supreme Court has already made its position clear - that members of Congress cannot be recalled. He suggested, instead, that the campaign should be a petition directed at the Senate, petitioning the members of the Senate to remove the two senators by way of expulsion, and if they can get a two-thirds vote, then Senators Oakes and Birch would be removed from the Senate by way of expulsion. (That's because expulsion was a legal thing.)

The people behind the campaign thanked that person and modified the campaign as he suggested.

The petition was now circulating on the web, and online signatures reached over fifty thousand in a matter of days.

- - - - -

Jamie thought of all this as she worked. In fact, she was so busy, she couldn't watch her TV program. So she decided to raise the volume of the TV in her office so she could listen to Molly Crosby, the pretty afternoon anchor of CNN, while she worked.

"The Attorney General," Molly said loudly over Jamie's TV, "and her sister, Kelly-Ann, or 'Kat' to her friends, had decided to take Thursday off to do a bit of sightseeing and some shopping in the capital, since the House committee hearings had concluded early."

"Betcha they went to the Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials," Jamie giggled to herself. "Aunt Effie is boring like that."

"The two visited the Newseum, the International Spy Museum, the Washington Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, the Jefferson Memorial, and then they checked out the nearby cherry blossom trees near the West Potomac tidal basin."

Jamie hooted. "I thought so!"

"They went on to the National Gallery of Art, but before they did, there was a bit of a crisis."

Jamie stopped typing on her computer. "What!" she exclaimed. "Crisis!" She went to the TV and watched the program.

"The pair was unlucky enough to have encountered Monroe Westhill, a Washington DC native," Molly continued. "Mr. Westhill, a troubled man, has had an unhealthy obsession with beautiful women for years now, and has been arrested several times in the past for stalking. In fact, he currently has one stay away court order still in effect.

"A week ago, according to police records, Mr. Westhill purchased a 2000-era AR-15 assault rifle. He was able to do so since present gun laws, dating back from the early 2000s, provide no restrictions for individuals with the same type of record as Mr. Westhill to purchase such weapons.

"Today, Mr. Westhill had gone to the Jefferson Memorial 'trawling for babes,' as he put put it.

"AG Xander is a retired ex-Marine, as everyone knows, and is a highly-trained military woman, and is also licensed to carry a weapon. Ms Xander and her personal bodyguard spotted Mr. Westhill as he was bringing out his assault rifle.

"The two drew their weapons. Ms Xander's bodyguard, Mr. Peter Stone, identified himself as a federal officer, and scared the man off. Mr. Stone then gave chase."

Blurry CCTV video from the cameras around the memorial was then shown on-screen, and Effie and Pete could be seen drawing their weapons, and then Pete giving chase when Westhill ran.

"As Mr. Westhill ran, DC police officers saw them and caught Mr. Westhill. He was then brought to the nearest police station - the DC Park Police District One police station.

"CNN had a chance to interview him from a holding cell in the police station."

The video cut to a picture of Westhill in the holding cell. "What can I tell you," the crazed-looking man said. "I just love the babes."

"Why were you carrying a rifle?" the off-camera interviewer asked.

"Lots of women are snooty, you know - so full of themselves. They think they're too good for regular folk. Folks like me. Well, I'm gonna show them. They shouldn't say no to Monroe Westhill!"

The TV cut back to Molly.

"Among other things, Mr. Westhill has been charged with aggravated possession of a firearm, and is waiting for arraignment."

Jamie watched some more, but muted the TV after a minute or so. She felt relieved that nothing more happened, but wondered why the Secret Service didn't help. She called her assistant.

"Gil!" Jamie bellowed through her office door, and Gil went to her office.

"Yeah, Jamie?" he said.

"Can you find out who's the agent in charge of AG Xander's Secret Service detail?"

"Right away!"

"Where was the damned Secret Service when that weirdo showed up?" Jamie mumbled.

In a minute, Gil was back. "Boss," Gil said, "I can't find the agent. Apparently, there's no security detail assigned to AG Xander."

Jamie looked at him for a moment. "Okay," she said. "Can you get me the director of the Secret Service, please?"

"Okay." Gil went back to his desk.

Jamie sat on her desk, and in a minute, Gil rang back.

"Secret Service director Halversham is on Line One, Jamie," Gil said over the phone's speaker.

"Thanks, Gil," Jamie replied, lifted the headset and pressed One.

"Good afternoon, Director Halversham - Jamie Summers here, from the White House."

"Good afternoon, Ms Summers. What can I do for you?"

"Can you please tell me the name of the agent in charge of the security detail of Attorney General Freja Xander?"

The director didn't answer right away.

"I don't have that information available at the moment," he eventually replied. "I'll look it up and let you know."

"Thank you. From what I know, the Secret Service is required to provide a security detail for an official presidential or vice-presidential candidate, as well as appointees to the office, until he or she is voted in or confirmed. Isn't that correct?"

"You are correct," he said, although Jamie detected some hesitancy in his voice.

"The reason I am asking, sir, is because I wanted to know why Ms Xander's security detail wasn't in evidence during a potential shooting earlier this afternoon."

Again, there was no response.

"You know?" Jamie said "That crazy guy with the assault rifle near the Jefferson Memorial earlier today while AG Xander was there playing tourist?"

After several moments, the director finally replied.

"Thank you for bringing up the matter," Halversham finally said. "I'll investigate and let you know within the day."

"Thank you, director. I need to brief the press later at 4PM, and it would be great to have the information before then as it may come up. Also, I am fairly sure that the President will want to know as well."

"Of course. Good day, Ms Summers."

"Good day, Director Halversham."

"Dammit!" Jamie thought, now with an idea what had happened. It was so frustrating to find bigoted... people... in high places. She had half a mind to call the Secretary of Homeland Security - the Secret Service was part of Homeland, after all - or even report it directly to the President.

But she was afraid of rocking the boat. Actually, she was more afraid to find out that the Secretary and the President already knew, but didn't do anything about it.

She sighed and decided to just wait for Director Halversham's call. And if he decided to call Jamie's bluff by calling after four, she had already thought of a way to let the cat out of the bag without lying or rocking the boat too much.

She called her friend, Tom Flaherty.

"Hi, Tom? This is Jamie. Listen, did you hear about that crazy guy earlier today? The one who tried to bring out an assault rifle near the Jefferson Memorial? You did? Ah, Good. Listen, I have to tell you something..."

- - - - -

Effie and Kat stepped out of the hotel-provided limousine, and made their way to the party venue's main entrance. Kat was expected but Effie wasn't, and when she came out of the limo arm-in-arm with her sister, there were some murmurs among the crowd standing behind the line by the red carpet, wondering who the other redheaded hottie was.

But recognition eventually came, and the clapping and cheering resumed.

Kat and Effie made a distinct impression, even among the glitterati and the beautiful people of the fashion world that were there: even though the place was practically splitting at the seams with beautiful people in beautiful dresses and suits, Kat and Effie, especially their outfits, were particularly striking - Kat had especially picked their outfits to suit them, making their outfits natural extensions of their beauty. So they definitely (and literally) stood out - they were both beautiful natural redheads with bright, coppery hair set in very effortless and breezy styles (care of Kat and her blow-dryer), light but expertly-done makeup (again care of Kat), very fetching, light smatterings of freckles across their cheeks and the bridge of their noses, and pale strawberries-and-cream complexions. They were also probably the tallest among all the women there, with Effie especially so at over six feet: they literally stood out among the crowd, Effie being taller, or at least as tall, as the tallest of Sarah's guests.

The two had put on short, stylish, matching thermal evening capes against the evening DC chill before stepping out of the limo. Kat put on a shiny, white satin cape over her dress. It was edged with white mink, while Effie had a shiny lemon-gold crepe one edged with yellow-white sable fur. The fur on both capes were humanely-harvested from ethically and sustainably farmed stock - the only kind of fur Blumenfeld used. The capes kept them warm as they walked the line, and made them even more spectacularly elegant-looking besides. There were no other women with drapes or stoles or capes - yet another thing that made them apart from the rest.

As expected, when they walked the line, there were lots of Kat's fans there, and they had pictures of their favorites designs of Kat's in their hands, and Kat obliged and autographed the sketches, making sure to include the fan's name in the autograph. Effie, being the "dutiful date," smiled and stood patiently as Kat entertained her fans.

Surprisingly, however, one fan tapped Effie on the arm.

After a small expression of surprise, Effie looked down.

"Yes, my dear," Effie said in her low, smokey but very attractively feminine voice.

"Ms Xander," she said, "would you, ummm, sign my picture, too?"

"Do you know who I am, dear?"

"Yes. You're Freja Xander, our next vice president."

Kat and Effie looked at each other in delight.

"Of course, I will sign your picture!" she said, and reached for the pen.

Below Kat's autograph, which said, "with love - Kat," she added "and Effie." She also added her usual little cat doodle - a smiling cartoony cat's head, similar to an emoji.

"Here you go, dear," she said as she gave the picture back, and gave the girl a small peck on the cheek. "But it's not sure yet if I'm going to be the VP - we'll have to wait for Congress to finish voting."

"I'm sure they'll vote the right way, ma'am," the girl said. And Effie gave her another peck.

After everyone heard their exchange, and seeing that Effie was so friendly and accommodating, all the other fans asked for autographs as well.

Beside them was Pete, observing all of the people by the line. At least no one looked suspicious and tried to pull something. Actually, Pete made it easier for Kat's and Effie's fans to get near by directing most of the red carpet traffic around the two.

- - - - -

After an interminable time of signing autographs, chatting with folks and posing for selfies and pictures, Kat and Effie finally cleared the line. Liezl O'Brien from E! Entertainment was next, though, and Kat and Effie obliged by coming over.

"Hey, guys!" the pretty reporter for E! said. "So good to see you!"

"Hello, Lizzy," Kat said, calling her by her pet name, and gave her air kisses. Liezl proffered her cheek, so Effie also gave her air kisses. The two vamped in front of the camera.

"So," Liezl began. "Fancy seeing you here, Kat!" Kat nodded, giggling. "This is, what, your seventh year to be here in one of Sarah's shindigs?"

"Well, as you know, I'm a big supporter of Blumenfeld House, and Sarah, too, so I'm very pleased to be invited again."

"I know. I'm surprised that you brought along your sister, the famous political fox, Freja Xander."

"Fox?" Effie whispered to Kat.

"From your initials," Kat whispered back, and she turned back to Liezl.

Kat shrugged. "My boyfriend and I split several months ago, as you know, so I decided to make Effie my plus-one tonight. Ain't she sexy?"

"Kelly-Ann!" Effie protested, and blushed furiously. Kat and Liezl laughed at her embarassment.

"But you are!" Liezl said. "Tell me, Kat," she said, "Effie's gorgeous red outfit - one of your bespoke designs?"

"Ah, yes," Kat said, "it's mine, actually, but it's not bespoke. Effie is against bespoke, haute couture and custom designs, unlike the rest of us." She smiled so Effie knew Kat was joking. "She is actually wearing one of my pret-a-porter designs for Blumenfeld," Kat continued, "and it should be coming out in select Blumenfeld and other stores next week."

"What do you call the design?"

"It's called the 'Freja Red Carpet' cocktail dress." Effie tried to hide her giggle. "Sure, sure," Effie thought with some amusement, "that's its name."

"We'll be watching out for it then. How about this sexy emerald green number you're wearing?"

"This is mine, too, but it's not coming out in stores. Just something I made for me." She smiled at Liezl mischievously. "How do you like it?"

Leizl gave her a humorous wolf whistle, making Kat giggle. "Thank you Lizzy," Kat said, and gave her a small peck on the cheek.

"I do have to ask, though, before I let you go," Liezl said to Effie. "how do you think the Senate and House committee hearings went?"

"I think they went pretty much okay," Effie said.

"So can we expect you to be the country's new vice president soon?"

Effie shrugged. "I don't really know. I guess we have to wait for their vote."

"Any guesses, then?"

"I don't think it would be polite nor proper for me to second guess Congress."

Liezl nodded. "Well put, Effie. Well anyway, I'll let you two go to the party now. Thanks for passing by."

"It was our pleasure, Liezl," Effie said, and they bussed her cheek again.

But as they were walking away, Effie jumped a little - Liezl had playfully squeezed her butt!

But, in order to avoid making a scene, Effie just continued walking. But when they were some distance away, she looked back, and caught Liezl's eye while she was interviewing one of Sarah's other invited celebrities in front of the TV cameras. Looking back, Liezl gave her a salacious little wink.

- - - - -

As they fell in line to the doors, Kat noticed Effie's preoccupied, worried expression.

"Hey, sis," she whispered. "What's wrong?"

"Liezl," Effie whispered back, "the girl who interviewed us?"

"What about Liezl?" Kat smiled. It was like she knew already.

"She pinched my butt!"

Kat giggled. "Yeah, I know. She did it to me several times before. Liezl is known for doing that, but no one minds it."

"What do you mean she did it to you!" Effie started making moves to go back, most probably to confront the girl, more for doing that to her sister than to her. Kat took hold of Effie's arm and pulled her back.

"Effie! Stop!" she whispered.

"But..."

"She's harmless! Believe me! If it were someone else, I'd probably have popped her one. Or him. But this is Liezl."

Effie huffed. "Explain better. And faster."

"Sis, Liezl has been in the business for a long time now. At least twenty years, I think, and she's done that to people she likes - both men and women - and she never means anything by it, except maybe to say she likes you, or thinks you're very pretty, or something like that. But that's the extent of it. It's just the way she is. For those who take offense, Liezl will apologize and not do it again - she knows she shouldn't be doing it, but forgets sometimes. And for those who misconstrue her fanny-pinching as something more, well, there's many a person who've been on the receiving end of one of her legendary punches in the face or gut, or a resounding slap. And if the person persists, well the lady is a black belt in Karate. Plus, her company has one of the best legal departments in the industry."

"But..."

"Take it as a compliment, Effie! Really! She doesn't mean anything by it! Everyone knows that about her."

Effie sighed. "Okay, kid. I'll trust you."

Kat reached up and gave her a sisterly kiss. "Thanks, sis."

By that time, they had reached the door, where Alexandra Ambrose, the famous, drop-dead gorgeous Brazilian model who did a lot of modeling for Blumenfeld House, all decked out in a sexy version of a majordomo outfit, was checking guests off a checklist with the help of Brooke Decklin, another one of the famous models of Blumenfeld House. Aside from modeling for Blumenfeld, Brooke now stars on the popular sitcom "Friends Like Us." Brook was dressed in a super-sexy version of an eighteenth-century butler's uniform, and the effect the two had was such that they got more attention than the guests.

The sisters finally got past the two models, turned their capes over to the cloak girl, and made straight for the bar - Kat had told Effie about the lavish bars that Sarah always had in these parties. Kat only drank occasionally, and Effie minimized drinking because people on HRT can increase their risk for breast cancer if they drink regularly. But the sisters do, occasionally, drink, especially when there's good champagne to be had.

They asked the sommelier (Sarah had an honest-to-goodness sommelier helping to tend the bar) what was available for the night. The man gave them a quick once-over, and, noting that they were probably VIPs, suggested either Tattinger's, Henriot or Dom Perignon 2029.

Kat preferred the fruitier and sweeter Tattinger, while Effie went with the classic Dom Perignon. And when a waitress passed by with a tray of caviar, cheese and little triangular pieces of toasted French bread, Effie got a couple of saucers and loaded them up with food.

Pretty soon, they were having themselves a fancy little picnic at the bar, with fancy-pants Beluga caviar (it was actually Beluga hybrid caviar since the real kind was illegal to import into the US), fancy-pants Burrata cheese, and fancy-pants toast points made from French bread, and their champagne. As usual, Pete was just a few feet away drinking ginger ale out of a tall collins glass and pretending to be a guest while he kept watch over the two.

As they chatted and giggled, they caught the eye of most of the men (and some of the women), and pretty soon, the bar was surrounded by people. Many came over to supposedly introduce themselves to the famous Attorney General, and to inquire how her hearings had gone, or to say hi to the famous fashion designer, and that might even be true for some of them, but most of them were actually more charmed by the sisters' beauty.

To be fair, though, the ballroom was full of beautiful people, but to see a pair of tall, redheaded hotties in beautiful cocktail-type gowns that bordered on being club clothes, the two couldn't help but stand out.

Effie was having a great time because everyone was being nice and complimentary, a lot of them were actually too friendly and complimentary, almost fawning, although there were a few that were fairly hostile - they obviously had issues with her being a transgender girl, and, not surprisingly, many of those were women.

That wasn't new to Effie and Kat, and they were able to keep being polite to these guests. Of course, when they found that Effie was almost sure to become the Vice President in a few weeks, they became a lot more friendly.

As Effie was pretending to be nice to one of these people, an arm snaked around her waist.

"Gotcha!" the man said.

Effie whirled, and saw it was Matt Reynolds, the popular ex-governor of California, and one of her best friends.

"Matt!" she exclaimed, and hugged the man - he was almost as tall as Effie. "What're you doing here?"

"I'm supposed to be here. How about you? What're you doing here?"

"Kat invited me to be her plus-one."

"Matt!" Kat exclaimed when she finally saw him.

"Heya, squirt!"

"Squirt!" Kat said, trying to sound offended, but wasn't too successful, especially when she giggled. The "squirt" was ironic, of course, given Kat was just a few inches shorter.

"Is Ann here?" Effie said, asking about Matt's wife. Ann was a little cool towards Effie (she suspected that Ann thought Effie was being sweet to her husband, and was therefore a little hostile), but Effie genuinely liked the girl.

"Present!" someone said, and Ann came over, bringing along her sister, Natalie, and they both hugged Effie.

"Ann! Nat!" Kat cried, and gave them hugs, too. "I heard about you getting married?" she said to Nat.

Natalie giggled and showed off her wedding and engagement rings. Kat and Effie ooohed and ahhhed.

"Where's your new husband now?" Kat asked.

"Jake should be around," Natalie said, and then pointed to a tall, handsome young man standing and chatting with some people. "There he is!" She waved and beckoned him over. He smiled and started walking towards them, bringing the people he had been chatting with.

"Jake is working with his Uncle Edward," she said, "the owner of Blumenfeld House. He's currently taking a designer internship with Uncle Edward."

Natalie explained that the people he was with were Sarah Rhodes, the lady who organized the party, his uncle (and Sarah's boss) Edward Blumenfeld of Blumenfeld House, and his dad, Ambrose Blumenfeld, the owner of California's current, most successful corporation, BMC - the current leading manufacturer of electric vehicles.

"Hey, honey," Jake said and kissed Natalie.

"Jake, I'd like to introduce you to some people, this is..."

"Of course! I'd know Attorney General Xander. How are you, ma'am? How go the hearings?"

"Call me Effie, Mr. Blumenfeld. The hearings are over, actually. Congress finished interrogating me yesterday." They all laughed at the word.

"And, of course, I know Kat, her genius fashion designer sister." Jake continued. He then gestured to his companions.

"This is my dad, Ambrose - he runs the Blumenfeld-Tate Motor Company, or BMC, and my uncle Edward. Uncle Ed runs Blumenfeld House." They all shook hands.

"And this is..." Jake cleared his throat, "or rather, that was Sarah, our host." Sarah had taken Kat's arm, and had dragged her to meet some people.

"You have to pardon Sarah," Edward said. "She and your sister are very close friends, and she's excited to show Kat off."

Effie nodded. "I expected as much," she said, laughing. "I knew Kat would disappear as soon as she got spotted." She turned toward Reynolds and his wife.

"So, how's it been, Matt?" she asked. "Haven't seen you and Ann for a while."

"It's been quiet but nice," he said. "It's a chance for Annie and I to enjoy life for while. We now have a place in Manhattan Beach, and, I mean the one in LA," he chuckled. "Our place is a pretty nice place, if we do say so. And secluded - you and Kat should visit: the beach is very nice, and no one would be around to bother you."

Effie sneaked a glance at Ann, and Ann nodded. She seemed to be fine with the idea. Effie thought her staying away seemed to have done wonders for her relationship with Matt's wife.

"I might not have a chance to anytime soon, though..." Effie said

"Yeah," Ann giggled, "you're gonna be vice president soon."

Effie waved that away. "There's no guarantee of that," she said, "especially if Senator McLaughlin gets his way." She looked at the both of them. "I envy you - you two have not a care in the world."

"Not for long," Ann responded. "Matt's already plotting his return to politics," she said in a joking, conspiratorial tone. "Right, dear?"

"Oh, honey..." Matt sighed.

"Notice how he didn't deny it," Natalie said, giggling.

"But not before we start a family," Ann said.

"What!" Effie exclaimed. "You mean you're..."

"Pregnant?" Ann grinned. "Yep."

And Effie congratulated and hugged her, and peppered her with kisses.

"I am so pleased for you," Ambrose interjected, "but, speaking selfishly, I have to say, it was a sad day when California lost it's miracle worker. And it'd be great to have him back." He turned to Effie.

"How about you, Ms Xander? What are your plans?"

"Me? Well, I think I'll stay on as Wyoming's AG as long as they want me. I'm pleased to be of service."

"Ummm, I meant your plans for the vice presidency?"

Effie shrugged. "Like I said to Ann, tht's not guaranteed at all. I'm not gonna plan for it until Congress announces."

They chatted some more, and more and more people started to cluster around them, listening in or trying to be part of their conversation.

Effie and Matt didn't mind, and made no effort to exclude anyone from their little chat, and it went well.

However, an older lady, one of Blumenfeld's top models during the early 2000s but now clearly past her prime, was being very... disruptive. It was like she was picking a fight or something.

Edward Blumenfeld had been trying to keep his simmering anger at bay as this... "lady" continued to be disagreeable to his friends and guests for no particular reason. And he realized that this was his fault.

He had been insisting that Tasmin Brown always be invited to their yearly parties, even though the last time she modeled for them, or any other fashion house, magazine or whatever, was more than twenty years ago. But Edward felt a kind of loyalty and gratitude to her, because she was partly responsible for the success of Blumenfeld House, and because she was a friend of his dad.

But her erratic behavior had not endeared her to any of Edward's friends, or, indeed to Blumenfeld House. Not anymore. And, tonight, it was like she was trying to piss off the potential VP of the country just because she resented her looks and her youth. Actually, it was Edward's personal opinion that Effie looked tons better than Tasmin did, even during her heyday. And he felt Tasmin thought the same, too, especially given all the catty remarks she was throwing Effie's way. Even so, Effie seemed to be keeping her cool, and, wonder of wonders, she was actually getting Tasmin to tone down a bit, and even be friendlier to her and everyone else.

But then, Tasmin saw one of her "old friends," and went over to say hi.

Almost as if synchronized, as soon as Tasmin left, everyone sighed in relief. And then noticing it, everyone laughed.

Hearing the laughter, Tasmin looked back and felt bad that she was missing out on a good joke or something, but she resolved to ask her new friend, Effie, later, and what the joke was about. Fomo was something Tasmin never could deal with.

One of the ladies, a lovely girl named Sally, giggled.

"That was pretty great, Ms Xander," Sally giggled. "You have to teach people how you do that."

"Do what, my dear?"

"You know - kill with kindness."

And everyone laughed.

Most of the people in the group started to leave, but the girl, Sally, stayed and chatted a while. Effie found out that Sally was one of Blumenfeld's models, newly-hired to model their YA line. Effie congratulated her, and they had a pleasant discussion on fashion, which everyone in Effie's remaining group seem to be able to follow, except, perhaps for her, Matt and Jake's Uncle Ambrose. But even so, it was like watching a foreign language movie without subtitles for her - it looked interesting even though one only got half of it, and only because of context.

It was with some regret that Effie saw Kat waving to her, signalling that the "mini" fashion show was about to start and, therefore, ending their chat.

Everyone dispersed so that they could get to their assigned seats. Effie went over to Kat and got to sit at the very edge of the runway since she was Kat's plus-one, and she found herself surrounded by Hollywood's "who's who" and the fashion world's movers and shakers. She was the only political person there, however - she had discounted Matt since, because of his wife, he's been in similar events multiple times before, and people were used to him already - and felt a moment of dread when Kat joked that this'll be more and more common if and when she became vice president.

When Sarah and Edwin Blumenfeld came out, applause rained down. They stepped in front of a couple of mic stands, and started making some opening remarks before the start of the show, and when she and Kat were mentioned by name, they stood up and acknowledged the applause.

As they sat down, Effie felt a vibration in her tiny clutch, and brought out her smartphone. She had told everyone not to call her unless it was an emergency, so, when the phone rang (or buzzed, rather - the ringer was off), she feared the worst.

But when the number wasn't in her phone book, she decided to ignore the call. But whoever it was rang a couple more times. She wanted to turn off her phone but she couldn't, in case Max or someone else needed her.

While Sarah continued her speech, Kat's phone buzzed this time. She took out her phone and looked at the number, and answered. "Text" she said to the other person very curtly, and hung up.

The phone buzzed again, and Kat started texting with the person on the other end.

"Kat, what are you doing?" Effie whispered. "We're in a thing. You shouldn't be texting. It's rude."

Kat shrugged as she texted. "I know," Kat whispered back, "but this is a lot less rude than talking on the phone. It's Jamie."

"What's she..."

"Shhh! Okay. Jamie texted she didn't know we were doing a thing before, but now she knows coz we're on TV, and she says she's sorry, but she says this is important. Jamie also says she's texting you in a bit and you better reply."

"But..."

Kat put her finger across Effie's lips. "I know, but she says it's important. Just say you'll answer."

"Okay!"

Kat texted her back and put her phone away.

In a few moments, Effie's phone buzzed again. Yep, it was Jamie.

"Sorry to bother you, Aunt Effie," Jamie texted, "but I saw that news item about that gunman at the park. Were you assigned a Secret Service detail?"

"No," she typed back curtly.

"I understand," Jamie replied. "Presidents, vice presidents and appointees are required to have one. I suspect you weren't assigned one, for the usual reasons." There were no italics in the text, of course, but Effie could readily imagine Jamie italicizing the word. Effie sighed.

"Of course," Effie thought. "Secret Service was required to provide a security detail! Why did I forget that? Having prejudiced people in positions of power..." That was starting to become a kind of mantra for her now.

"I've put something in motion," Jamie texted, "so you should have your own Secret Service detail in a while. I'd appreciate it if you can let me know as soon as they show up. Just text 'Y' if you understand."

Effie sighed. "So it's started," she thought, and texted back "Y."

"Thanks, Aunt Effie," Jamie texted. "I won't bug you anymore. Enjoy your evening. Tell Kat to call me back when she can."

Effie put away her phone, looked around and, aside from Pete, she couldn't find anyone that looked like Secret Service, and she was sure she'd recognize them.

She noticed that Ed had gotten off the stage and music had started. "Guess the show's starting," Effie said, and clapped along with everyone.

One of the things many "normals" assume with gays, transgendered and transsexuals all had an attraction to clothes, fashion, and anything connected to clothes and fashion, and it was hard to explain why that was for many of them. Early on, even before her transition, Effie tried to parse that particular out as part of her trying to understand herself, and she thought she could articulate it now - at least that particular one.

She couldn't speak for others, of course, and she knew it was different for every person, but for her, the clothes were part of what it was to be female, and that was what she desperately wanted to be. So if clothes, fashion, makeup and all the accoutrements of being female was important to females, then therefore it was important to her. Of course, she never parsed it down so logically and coldly before, but, when she did, she realized it was true.

But, if she looked at it not so coldly and not quite so logically, all she knew was she just liked pretty clothes, and, by extension, she liked looking pretty. The big difference, her therapist and doctor said. was her motivation was more in line with what "normal" women felt, as opposed to the ones who wear female clothes... recreationally, whose motivation was more-or-less sexual gratification - at least to some degree.

And though she felt sexy and pretty and all the good things that cisgender women say when they're all dressed up, sexual gratification wasn't the thing. And she supposed that was the big difference, even though, after her transition, dressing sexy has led to some... sexual encounters.

- - - - -

One of the bigger revelations to her about being female was that most everything was talked about and shared with fellow female friends, and for Effie, friends meant Kat, Max and her "residential manager," Andrea (though her little circle of post-transition friends was, and still is, growing). And her female friends now know all about her... sexual dalliances, and she theirs, and almost anything of consequence in their lives, and for these four women, they would die a thousand deaths for each other.

Effie thought that if having these lifelong sisters in her life was the prize for going through what she went through (though the older Andrea felt more like an aunt than her sister, and Kat was literally her sister), she thought it a fair exchange.

- - - - -

Effie watched the show, and because it was her first fashion show, she didn't know what to do. So she took her cues on how to behave by looking at her fellow audience members, and clapped when they clapped. However, as soon as the tenth or eleventh model started sashaying down the runway, she didn't need cues anymore - she looked at the wonderful clothes and how beautiful they made the models look, and wondered how the outfits would look on her: she was totally engrossed in the show now, just like all the girls there.

Kat looked at her sister and giggled. Effie was fitting in as a girl more and more everyday. Kat had a surprise for her sister, though, and was so excited for the surprise to walk down the runway. She set it up with Sarah earlier, and she was anticipating it so much.

Kat caught Effie making notes on her phone and on a little scrap of paper, and she looked at what she was writing.

"You know, Effie," Kat said conversationally, "everyone's gonna be given a catalog later. So you should just sit back and enjoy the show."

Effie smiled at Kat embarrassedly, blushed and put her pen and phone away.

After roughly three-fourths of the show was done, Sarah nodded subtly at Kat, and Kat nodded back. Her surprise was next. She elbowed her sister, and Effie looked at her.

Kat gestured to the runway, and Effie looked.

"Up next is Jasmine," Sarah said, "wearing yet another Kat Xander design."

With that cue, the a 1990s pop classic song, "I'm Too Sexy," by a one-hit wonder band called "Right Said Fred," started blasting rom the speakers, and a tall girl with red hair came out wearing exactly what Effie was wearing...

"Jasmine's fabulous new dress is a strapless, figure-hugging gown in lipstick red, as you see. The material is a spandex mix, which allows the dress to follow Jasmine's spectacular figure to the the millimeter. "

The girl walked down the runway, her yellow, fur-trimmed cape swaying over her dress.

"It has a wonderful shiny-yellow crepe cape, perfect for those nippy nights, with sable fur edging. You will be pleased to know that the fur is humanely harvested from ethically and sustainably farmed sables, just as all Blumenfeld House furs are."

The girl, as she walked down the runway, doffed the cape, and everyone oohed and ahhhed, as they saw the sexy, red outfit underneath.

"You now see the dress in its full glory," Sarah continued. "It features a mermaid/trumpet silhouette. It's strapless, and features a very daring decolletage that any girl with even a moderate figure will find it showcased in spectacular fashion.

"The draped details at the skirt adds more drama to the mermaid cut and tail, but there's enough of a cut in front to let your tootsies, and your legs, too, pop out as you walk." Jasmine accommodated Sarah, and started walking again.

"The ensemble matches up well with the high-heeled shiny lemon-gold stiletto pumps she is wearing, also by Kat." The redheaded girl stopped and pointed the toe of her shoe out from under the skirt.

"Hey, wait!" someone exclaimed. "That's the same dress Effie Xander is wearing!" And then, after a short intake of breath from the crowd, everyone laughed at the exclamation, and then the applause rained down.

The model stopped right in front of Effie and Kat, and clapped as well, as she bowed towards the sisters. Obviously, it was all arranged, and Ellie, blushing a mile a minute, stood up and waved to everyone.

There were several wolf whistles and Effie blushed an even brighter red.

"And here you see, also wearing the 'Freja Red Carpet' cocktail dress is fashionista, war hero and Attorney General of the great state of Wyoming, Ms. Freja Xander, the inspiration for sister Kat Xander's newest creation."

Sarah motioned her to come up the runway, and Effie, escorted by Kat, went to the short steps on the side of the stage, and climbed up.

Jasmine, the model, embraced Effie and hand in hand, the two walked to the very front of the stage. The cheers and applause just continued to rain down as they turned and walked back.

Once they reached the other end of the runway, the two stopped, turned to the crowd and waved.

"Ladies and gentlemen," Sarah said, "Blumenfeld House's own Jasmine, and our new vice president, Ms. Freja Xander!"

And the crowd's applause trebled as they gave her a standing ovation.

- - - - -

After the fashion show and the sit-down dinner that followdd, and hours of after-dinner cocktails and chats, the event finally ended.

Most of the fashionistas and guests, after saying goodbye to their hosts, departed for other parties. For Effie and Kat, they made their goodbyes, and, before departing for the hotel, were met by a couple of big men (not as big as Pete, thought) just outside, wearing what Effie, Kat and Pete recognized as FBI-style nondescript suits.

"Good evening, ma'am," the blond one said, "I'm special agent Tim Colton of the Secret Service. This is Sam Jenkins, my partner. We're part of your Secret Service detail."

"Glad you guys finally showed up," Effie said. "We could have used you guys earlier. Good evening, Agent Colton."

"We know about that incident near the Jefferson Memorial. In behalf of the Secret Service, I apologize, ma'am. We were only assigned as your temporary detail just an hour ago. We'll be with you until your real detail replaces us."

"Real detail?"

We're just the alert team, ma'am. There's always an alert team on standby just in case a security detail needs to be deployed on short notice. Your real, perm team will eventually replace us. At the latest, that would be tomorrow morning."

"All right." She and Kat put their capes back on. Kat put her arm through Effie's, and walked to their limo.

"Ma'am," Colton said, "we prefer that you ride in our own car..."

"Sorry," Effie said. "You weren't around earlier, and we hired this car. You and your guys can just follow us."

Ma'am..."

"Tomorrow, you guys can call the shots. Not tonight. Tonight, you get to follow us." Colton had the good grace to blush in embarassment, and that made Effie feel a little better.

"Ma'am?" Jenkins, Colton's partner asked, "where are we going, exactly?"

"We are going to go back to our hotel."

Jenkins did that FBI thing, and talked to a mic on his wrist, and a car parked out in the driveway.

Colton and Jenkins moved to try and usher Effie and Kat into their limo, but the sisters were intercepted by Peter opening the limo door.

"Agents," Effie said, "let me introduce you to my one-man security detail, Sergeant Peter Stone. Pete, these are agents Colton and Jenkins."

Pete nodded to them.

"Sergeant!" Colton said, and saluted. He elbowed Jenkins, and Jenkins saluted as well.

"At ease boys," he said and handed the girls into the car. They watched passively and watched Pete rush to the front passenger door and get in.

As soon as he did, the two rushed to their own car, which was nearby, idling.

"Who was that, Tim," Jenkins asked.

"That, my friend, is the legendary Marine Sergeant-Major Peter Stone."

"Ohmigod!" Jenkins said. "What's he doing being Xander's bodyguard?"

"We can try to find out later. Right now, we need to go follow them to their hotel."

to be continued...

 

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