Leslie went home that Sunday morning with a lightness in his step. After the discussion with the swimming group, he had decided to accept the job offer, even if Corrine did have him by the short and curlies.

At that moment, her offer was the only thing on the table. It was an awful lot better than the alternative of hanging on where he was and hoping that he escaped the next round of headcount reduction. He felt that the odds of that were pretty slim.

He chuckled to himself as he thought that if it didn’t work out, Corrine should be able to find him a new job. The prospects of advancement with his current employment were decidedly bleak. Nine months before, his current job had both interest and opportunities to move onto better things within the company. That all came to a crashing halt with the recent takeover of the company by a Chinese Conglomerate. It was clear that none of the jobs in the UK were safe. All the senior managers had already been replaced by Chinese nationals and it was assumed that they were here just to close down the operation and move the whole shooting match to Guangzhou leaving just a sales office in or around London.

His joy was short-lived because when he arrived home, he found the road up outside his home. There had been a small leak from a water main for several weeks. As he turned the corner, there was a fountain of water and a huge hole in the road.

Three Police Officers were directing traffic and a fourth appeared as if from nowhere to stop Leslie from going into the building where his home was.

“Sorry Sir. We have orders to evacuate the whole street. There is a chance that a gas main will fracture due to the soil around it being washed away by all that water. It has been exposed by the water main burst.”

Leslie sighed.

“Can I at least dash in and get a change of clothes and some money? I only have a couple of quid on me.”

The officer looked at him. Then he smiled.

“Be quick and make sure that you let me know that you are out of the building.”

Leslie dashed into his flat and grabbed a few clothes and some money. He was about to leave when he suddenly stopped. He realised that he’d left something important behind. He dashed back into his bedroom and pulled a small suitcase out from under his bed. He tucked it under his arm and left the flat making sure that the door was double locked behind him.

He found the Police Officer waiting outside for him.

“The Church Hall just down the road is open. We’ll keep you updated but I think it will be tomorrow at the earliest before the road is repaired.”

“Thanks Officer.”

Slightly depressed, Leslie found the Church Hall. Some women were manning a Tea urn and making sandwiches.

“You look as if your life is over?” said one of the women.
For a second Leslie wondered who the woman was talking to. Then he saw three faces looking at him.
He smiled.
“It has… well, it will if the gas main explodes.”

“That’s the same for all of us. Why don’t you have some tea. It will calm your nerves,” said another of the women.
He hesitated for almost a second before smiling back at them.
“Thanks. Milk no sugar please.”

Leslie took the mug of hot liquid and sat down. His mind was a total blank. All the good thoughts that had been going through his mind over breakfast were long gone.

---

Leslie found a chair in the far corner of the hall and began to drink the tea. He wondered about the things he’d left in his flat. Many of those things would have to be disposed of before he took up his new job. That was the worst part. He’d struggled to collect them over the years since… since he and Donna had broken up. Leslie had a strange feeling that this was fate trying to tell him something.

His internal musings were interrupted by someone coming to sit next to him. The perfume told him that it was her.

With a feeling of inevitability, Leslie turned to face her.
“You were a million miles away?” said a smiling Corrine.
“S… Sorry. Corrine? What on earth are you doing here?”

Corrine grinned.
“I was on my way to the shops from my morning run when I heard about the road closure and that the local residents were being evacuated. I came to offer you somewhere to crash tonight.”

“You really don’t have to do that.”
“But I do. You came to my rescue with the wedding. Now I can repay you. Isn’t that fair?”

Leslie turned his head away. He felt trapped but something inside him was saying ‘stop hiding’.

“Thanks for the offer. It looks like the only alternative is the Church Hall so yes, I’ll accept.”

---

Corrie’s home was impressive. Leslie guessed that it was in the 2-3 million price range and impeccably furnished. St Johns Wood is one of the most expensive places in London to live. Everything exuded money but it was far from garish as so many homes are when they are purchased by someone who has zero design and even less in the design of a room. He’d come to expect nothing less from her. She was a perfectionist in her work and it seems her whole life. He felt so small and out of place.

“This is a lovely place.”

“It is. I had hoped that… well someone would have settled down here with me but they decided that a younger model was more attractive.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

“All part of the rich tapestry of life I’m afraid. Win some, lose some.”

“True, so very true.”

She smiled at him.

Once Leslie had settled into his room which was about the same size as his whole apartment, he went downstairs where he heard Corrine busy in the kitchen.

“Can I help with something?” he asked as he saw her busy over a pot of something on the stove.

“This is almost ready. You could open that bottle of wine?”

She pointed to a bottle and some glasses that were on the table.
“No problem.”

He was about to go looking for a corkscrew when he saw that it had a screw top. That told him that it wasn’t an expensive vintage but honestly, given the confused state of his mind, it didn't matter in the slightest.

He poured two glasses of wine as she dished up some pasta with what looked like a rich tomato and basil sauce.

“As I said, I was going to the supermarket when I heard about your plight, so there is not much in the larder that isn’t frozen,” she said as she sat down at the table.

“Thanks for that. This looks great.”

They chinked the glasses and to his surprise, the wine was very drinkable. The food wasn’t half bad either.

Leslie insisted on doing the washing up. Corrine suggested doing the drying and putting things away.

While I was cleaning the pot that had contained the sauce she said,
“I know about your other persona.”

Leslie froze stone cold. He gripped the pot handle as if it was going to save his life.
“I don’t know what you mean.”

“Come on now Leslie. The female side of your life.”

“How… how did you find out?”

“You should know by now that I am very thorough when looking into the backgrounds of my clients and even more thorough with my potential employees.”

“What do you want from me?”

She smiled.
“Nothing more than you to be yourself and in time, to be my assistant and lover…”

He looked at her in the face.
“Are you serious?”

“When am I not serious? I know that you can do this.”

“And if I can’t? Then what? Out on the streets?”

“No Leslie. I don’t do that sort of thing. You have not lied to me in anything that you have said or done. If you had then you would still be in the Church Hall. I make it a point of being well briefed about all the people I do business with and for those that I employ, that briefing is far more thorough. Not saying something like that is perfectly understandable and acceptable. We all have little secrets, don’t we?”

“What’s yours? From everything I’ve seen, you are as near as perfect a person as I’ve ever seen.”

“My secret is why I told you that I know about your secret. I am attracted to transwomen. I happen to believe, not think that you can be a very good woman and together we can go places. My… my last assistant before Alex, was trans. She worked for me for almost a year and blossomed but… She fancied men more than women. We parted on good terms and I went to their wedding just after the new year. Alex was always temporary and I would have found another temp then you came along.”

His mind was a mess. Here she was offering him a chance to fulfil his dreams and he was having doubts, major doubts.

“Let me give you an offer. Learn the job until Alex leaves then I’ll close the office for a couple of weeks. Then we can see how your other side shapes up. I know that it will be Alicia who returns to work after that time. How about it?”

Once again Corrine had put Leslie on the spot. How she knew about his en-femme name was beyond him, but he had started to get used to how this woman worked. She was full-on or nothing.

“I don’t know.”

She smiled at him again. Her eyes were so alluring.

“Why don’t you take the time while you are here to wipe the slate clean and think about what you want for the future if by some wizardry, every door that you thought was closed to you opened up as you approached?”

“Is that some sort of fantasy game or my every word will be exposed on social media?”

She chuckled.

“Not at all. I often ask my clients that instead of the usual ‘where do you see yourself in five years’ claptrap. How about it? Willing to have a go?”

“Ok…” he replied not altogether sure about where this would go.

“Good. I’ll finish the dishes. There is a pad on the desk by the phone in the hall. Let your imagination run wild for once. Remember… there is only one rule and that is ‘nothing is impossible’. Dare to dream.”

Leslie dried his hands and found the pad and a pen. He sat at the kitchen table while Corrine finished the washing up and cleared away. Then she left him alone to work on the list.

At first, he was just too scared to even think then he said to himself, ‘what the hell’ and began to write. It was just a jumbled list of the things that he had dreamed about over the years.

After a while, it began to make some sense. All sorts of little things were added to the list right down to wanting a handbag just like the one she’d carried to the wedding. He almost put a line through it but decided that if she wanted a wish list then that’s what she’d get.

Leslie looked up at one point and saw Corrine sitting in a chair in the lounge. She was busy with something but what that was, he couldn’t see. He wondered if it was her wish list for him. He put that out of my mind and added a few more items to the list.

After an hour of thinking and writing, Leslie ran out of steam. He pushed the chair back and went to see Corrine. She covered up whatever it was that she was working on as he entered the room.

“How did it go?”

“Probably a load of rubbish but here it is,” he replied as he handed his list to her and sat opposite her.

She read it and judging by her eyes, she did it at least twice. What was remarkable to him was that she showed no emotion while she read his ramblings. That was either the sign of a woman with a stone-cold heart or one who could control her emotions perfectly. He hoped it was the latter.

When she’d finished, she looked up at him and smiled.

“Stay there. I’ll be right back.”

She got up and went out of the room. I heard her going up the stairs. A minute later, she was back clutching that very handbag.

“This is yours. That’s the first item on your list crossed off.”

“But…?”
“Alicia, I have at least thirty or more handbags. This is not an expensive one by any means. Please take it as a sign that I’m with you on this.”

“But why?”

“When you applied to become my assistant, I almost dismissed it right away but for some reason, I thought ‘why not’. Then I began to look into your history. If you had lied on your CV, I would have torn it up and put it in the bin but you didn’t. You didn’t even enhance your experience when most people do almost without thinking that if come back to bite them. Are you with me so far?”

He nodded his head.

“All you did was leave a lot of things out, none of which were game changers until after an extensive search I was led to Alicia’s social media pages. That was an eye opener. I saw the real you or rather the you that you wanted to be. Those thoughts interested me which was why you got the interview.”

She let those words sink in before adding,

“Believe me when I say that going to the wedding with me was not planned. I truly did get the brush off from my partner for the day just before you arrived, but it allowed me to get to know you a lot better. Everything that happened that day is why we are here now. I hope that you have understood me enough by now to know that I plan everything I do very carefully. Since your interview, I have been winging it. You have tossed my life upside down and through the wringer. Believe me, that is not how I normally operate.”

She’d stunned him into silence.

“This list is far more than I’d hoped for and gives us a lot of things to work towards.”

“But Corrine, why do you want to do this? Why do you want to invest so much time and energy into me?”

“It goes back to the reception at the wedding. You treated my parents as if you had known them for years. That is so unusual. Dad remarked on it while you were getting our things from the vicarage. Mum gave me the thumbs up. I got this vision of you by my side as your real self and nothing that has happened since has been able to dislodge that vision from my mind. To have the approval of my parents is a welcome bonus.”

“What they have seen is the current me. What if they don’t like the new one?”

Corrine grinned.
“All they want is for me to be happy regardless of who that person is.”

She leaned forward and showed Leslie what she had been working on.

“This is how I see you.”

What he was looking at was her sketch of … the new him/her of the future. While the features were hers the face was different and far more feminine. She had long hair which had always been his dream.

“Do you like what you see?”

“I do. But…”

Leslie sat there looking at almost exactly who he’d dreamed of becoming but deep down, knew would be impossible without an awful lot of money.

Without thinking, he clutched the drawing to his chest.

“I think I have captured what is on this list perfectly although there is a lot more that needs to be added but we seem to have a good understanding don’t we?”

“We do but what then?”

“What do you mean?”

“What happens when my work in progress is done and I am complete or as complete as your image of me would allow?”

“Didn’t I say that my vision was for you to be by my side?”

“Yes… but…?”

“That’s where I see you, my partner in life. I wasn’t sure at first, but after the wedding, I knew that you were the one for me. The way you tackled something unknown was impressive. Besides, you have good taste when it came to selecting something to wear for the day. When we walked into the church, I felt very comfortable with you right there beside me. That had never happened before. I was a bit shocked at first but then I watched you during the reception and you just worked the floor without knowing it. I was proud of you for doing that and I’m still proud of you for giving me a chance to be in your life.”

“What about other people? Have you ever done anything like this with others like me?”

His question momentarily stunned her.
“No. No other person like you has ever caught my heart like you did at the wedding. I knew right there and then that I wanted you or, the hidden you to be at my side for life. If that means marrying you then I’d do it tomorrow. That is how serious I am about wanting you in my life.”

Her words shocked him. No one had ever said anything to him that was remotely like that ever before.

Corrine got up and came and sat beside him. Her perfume was as usual alluring.

She took his face in her hands and kissed him. It was light at first. Gradually, it got more emotional and he responded and that was it.

---

Leslie woke up with the birds the next morning. Corrine was asleep beside him. It had been quite a night and was certainly a night to remember at least for him.

He slid out of her bed and found the toilet. Corrine came up behind him and kissed his neck.
“Careful. I don’t want to miss the bowl,” he muttered.

She laughed.
“Then let that be the last time you pee standing upå then you won’t miss the bowl.”

They both laughed.

[to be continued]

Leslie went back to his old job the next day and handed his notice in.

The company was still in a mess from the last round of redundancies, so no one minded that he was giving only a week’s notice instead of the customary one month. His excuse that he needed to learn the ropes from the incumbent was accepted, and it was agreed that he’d leave the following Friday.

While he was at work in body, his mind was not on his current job. Corrine had given Leslie the drawing that she'd made of him. He’d found a cheap frame and it was now hanging on the wall in his kitchen diner or whatever you liked to call the one-room plus bathroom and bedroom that was his current home. The handbag that Corrine had given him had been lovingly wrapped in tissue paper and put away in a drawer for safekeeping.

As he packed it up the previous evening, he felt a shiver going down his spine. The way that Corrine had seen into his inner core and dissected him in no time at all was unnerving if not downright spooky. While finding all there is to find out about the candidates that she put forward for top jobs in the city, was her business, unnerved him at how easy it was for her to have penetrated his defences so easily.

He calmed down when he began to understand that for once in his life, a woman was not freaking out about his inner desires. Over lunch on the Monday, he decided to give her a chance and roll with the flow. The alternative wasn’t looking that good from where he sat.

His next task was give the required three months’ notice to his landlord. He wasn’t sure where he was going to live, but as his whole life was going to change, where better to start with a new home? That was his reasoning and deep down, he was pleased to be getting out of the building. Two new tenants in the house loved to play loud music well into the early hours so he'd resorted to sleeping with earplugs in place for the last few months. His salary would pay for a much better place… one that didn’t have rising damp in the bathroom and kitchen.

---

One day before starting as Corrine’s new assistant, he panicked about what to wear to go to the office. In desperation, he called Corrine. They’d spoken every other day since they’d spent the night together because of the water leak, but those conversations were more about the long term and her expectations of him in the job, rather than the here and now.

She told him that until Alex left and there was time to work on how his other self, Alicia presented herself to the world, he should be Leslie and dress ‘smart casual’.

---

Alex welcomed Leslie into the fold at the agency as if he was her long-lost brother. She’d prepared a whole schedule for the handover. This was typical of the way that the whole place worked. He hoped that he could continue to uphold the reputation that Corrine had built up over the five and a half years that she’d been in business on her own.

There was a lot of ‘homework’ for Leslie to do. Much of it was related to employment law. It would be his job to do the initial research into and the vetting of a new client, and part of that process was to examine the draft contract. Corrine had made it clear during their phone conversations that she was very much against NDAs, and post-employment restrictions and wherever possible, she had them removed from potential contracts. She described how she would politely tell a client to ‘get lost’ and the reasons why. In another conversation she had told him that at least 60% of those clients came back with new contracts that did not contain the offending parts.

His Sunday swimming group were impressed when he told them who he was going to work for. Corrine had a reputation for finding the right people for the job. Then he dropped the bombshell that he’d be moving and would not be attending their events for much longer. Everyone wished him well in his new job.

Leslie was introduced to Corrine’s lawyer, John Nichols. He was the employment law expert but Leslie enjoyed looking at some of the draft contracts, and what was agreed to by the new employee. He could see the changes in action. Many of Corrine's fingerprints were evident in his employment contract.

Leslie soon began to get the hang of the work but a week after starting, the very same messenger in his distinctive red and black leathers arrived. He feared that it was another writ from Corrine’s ex-husband.

“Can you give that to the boss?” said the messenger.

“Don’t you want to give it to her yourself like the last time?”

He shook his head.
“This is just a letter.”

“Ok,” said Leslie as he accepted it. The messenger beat a hasty retreat.

Leslie went into Corrine’s office and gave her the letter.

“Ah good. I was expecting this.”

Leslie turned to leave the office when Corrine said,
“Stay, this concerns you. Is Alex around?”

He shook his head.
“She’s out getting lunch.”

Corrine nodded and opened the envelope. Instead of reading it herself, she gave it to Leslie.
“You read it and give me a summary.”

He read it through silently twice before saying,
“He’s capitulated. Your last letter that reminded him in no uncertain terms reminding him about the terms of the divorce that he freely signed, has finally done the trick. There will be no more demands for half the business, should you sell it.”

“And?”

For a moment, Leslie was confused so he looked at the letter again.
“There is a copy being sent to your lawyers.”

Corrine smiled.
“Give them a call in the morning to confirm that they have it. Then collect everything up that relates to his attempts to extract money from me by false pretences. It is in the filing cabinet under the label ‘Hubby’. Package it all up and take it to the storage locker. There is no rush though.”

“Ok boss.”

Leslie began to live up to Corrine’s expectations. Soon, he was effectively running the office under the supervision of Alex who watched on to make sure that he didn’t make too many blunders. After four weeks and therefore, two weeks ahead of schedule, Alex pronounced herself to be redundant.

Corrine agreed and Alex left with her salary paid for another two weeks. Then it was just Leslie and Corrine.

“Why don’t you come to dinner tonight and we can plan the next steps?” suggested Corrine.

“Ok, but I’m viewing a new flat at six. I can be at your place by eight?”

Corrine smiled.
“Why don’t I come with you? Then we can eat out somewhere near to the flat?”

“Ok,” replied Leslie not altogether sure about the whole thing but she was the boss and he wasn’t going to argue the toss this early in his employment at the agency.

---

“That place was not worth the money,” exclaimed Corrine as they emerged from the viewing.

Leslie had to agree with her.
“That place was only slightly better than the last two. At least this one didn’t have black mould in the bathroom.”

“Didn’t you smell the bleach? It was everywhere. They are hiding something, probably rising damp if the smell in the entrance hall was anything to go by.”

“Yeah.”

Corrine looked me in the eyes.
“Why don’t you come and live with me?”

Leslie had hoped that she’d offer but not yet. He hesitated.

“Is it a bit too soon?”

He nodded his head.
“I have a possible solution. It can wait until tomorrow. Let’s eat?”

Leslie was amazed at how she could compartmentalise her life. It seemed just so effortless.

“Ok. I saw an Indian place just around the corner.”

“Good choice,” replied Corrine.

---

Leslie had to wait until lunchtime before Corrine came to him with her solution to his problem of where to live.

“A couple of years ago, I was thinking of expanding the operation and I had the opportunity to buy a building not far from Earls Court Tube station. Before I had the opportunity to move in, the lease on this place came up and I jumped at the opportunity to have a Bond St address. I kept the existing tenants in place in the other building. The thing is that there is a large penthouse flat. I had all sorts of grandiose schemes to move there, sell my home in St Johns Wood and buy a weekend place in the country. A messy relationship got in the way but seeing the what they wanted to fleece you for rent last night, reminded me of the place in Earls Court.”

“Sounds interesting.”

“Our last appointment is for 15:30 isn’t it?”

He knew the diary for the day. Part of his job was to memorise her schedule for the next few days at the start of every work day.

“Yes, Ms Chancellor, is coming in to review progress or rather the lack of it for her new CTO.”

“There is nothing much to report. Her requirements are just too specific for all the candidates we have on the books. I told her that at the outset but she was not going to budge.”

Corrine thought for a moment.
“Can you pull out the file on Phil Greaves? He is the nearest we have. If she won’t even consider him then I’ll show her the door. How much have we spent on her job?”

Leslie had to look that up.
“Just over six grand give or take a few twenties.”

Corrine smiled.
“I’m prepared to write that off. If she won’t play ball then we can at least walk away with some pride.”

“That’s your call. Alex briefed me on her demands. It seems a tad unusual to demand that a CTO is fluent in Chinese, Arabic and Russian.”

“It is. When I’m done with her, we can close up for the day and visit the other building. How does that seem?”

He smiled.
“Sounds like a plan.”

“Good. Why don’t you head off and get some lunch? I have a few calls to make so could you bring me something back?”

Once again, he smiled.
“Your usual?”

“Why not surprise me for a change?”

“Ok but don’t complain if you don’t like it ok?”

She grinned and went back into her office.

Leslie sat back and remarked on how their relationship was developing. Even though Corrine was nine years older than him, he liked and had always liked women who knew what they wanted from life. His problem was that there were not that many around who also had a softer side to their personality. The two others that he’d known briefly in the past were all about making money or trampling all over men both in the office and out of it. Corrine was… was just different.

Her whole attitude during office hours was that of being efficient and in control of the situation. He'd begun to see a much softer and more amenable Corrine after hours. If they were working late then it was not past her to flirt with him. Then there was her choice of attire. For the office, it was always a tailored skirt suit, black tights and black heels, not too high but just enough to be noticed in an era when most women wore flats or low-heeled boots. Outside office hours, she would often change in the office into something far more delectable at least that was how he saw her.

Since Leslie had come on the scene, her makeup had become a lot more defined. Even Alex had remarked to him that his influence was making Corrine sharpen her game when it came to her appearance.

---

After work that day, Corrine changed into a new dress and jacket. He was impressed. Like the choice of outfits for the wedding, she had good taste. After closing up the office they went to the property in Earls Court. The building itself was no different from any of the others in the street. He estimated that it had been built in the late Victorian era. The four stories were occupied by tenants but the top floor was empty.

There were two flats on each floor but only one on the top. Leslie gasped at just how big it was. A huge lounge and three large bedrooms impressed him.

Corrine noticed this.

“This is far too big for me.”

“Then it shall be for us.”

“Us?”

“As I said earlier, I had planned on living here and buying a place in the country for the weekends. Two can live as cheaply as one…”

He didn’t say anything so Corrine continued.
“One of those phone calls I made while you were getting lunch was an estate agents. My place in St Johns Wood will be listed with one of them tomorrow. They have the photos from when I bought it and haven’t really done much to it since. Going by other properties in the street, it should only take a few weeks to sell. The other call was to the movers who will come on a week on Saturday and move me in here. That gives me time to get the cleaners and decorators in first. Then, there is yourself… Are you in?”

“Yes… I’m in but…?”

“You have a lot of questions but can’t think of them yet?”

“Something like that.”

“That’s good. I know that I’m moving fast but the more I work with you, the more that I know that we are good together.”

“I have paid my rent for the next four weeks…” muttered Leslie.

“Then we’ll get you moved the following weekend.”
Her tone said that it was done and dusted as far as she was concerned.

Leslie thought about trying to question her but he’d developed too much respect for Corrine in the weeks that he’d been working for her. She knew her own mind and he liked that.

---

The following Friday morning, Leslie was busy working out what jobs could be delayed for two weeks when a courier arrived at the office.

After signing for the package, he took it to Corrine. She was on the phone with a client as a follow-up to a placement she'd made with them about six months before. He waved the package at her. She motioned for him to open it.

With a smile, he opened the package.

His smile grew even bigger when he read the letter. Corrine saw his reaction as she ended the call.

“Ok Alicia, out with it? What is the surprise?”

“It is from Ms Chancellor and the cheque is payment in full, She, has hired Mr Greaves.”

“As CTO?”

He shook his head.

“No. As her No 2.”

Corrine grinned.
“Wonders will never cease.”

“No Boss, she bowed to your greater intellect…”

“Nice one Alicia.”

“Corrine, what’s with the Alicia thing?”

“That’s who you want to be isn’t it?”

“Yes but?”

“Then from now on and when we are alone, I’m Corrine and you are Alicia. Got it?”

Leslie smiled.
“Got it.”

---

[three weeks later]

“That itches,” said Alicia.
She was trying on a cashmere sweater. It was one of Corrine’s but was fairly old by the standards of her wardrobe. Alicia had marvelled at just how many clothes Corrine had.

“Ok, that’s not for you,” she said as she selected something else.
She placed it against Alicia’s body.

“That won’t work on you.”

They spent the rest of the morning with Alicia trying on all sorts of items. Gradually Corrine developed a picture of what styles and colours worked on her partner to be.

What was left was a pile of clothes that could look good on Alicia.
“What’s next?” she asked as they began to hang them up again.

“Now we know what to look for when we go shopping.”

“Can’t we just buy some online to start with?”

Corrine smiled.
“Getting cold feet?”

“Not really but it would help me to become comfortable wearing something like this… here at first.”
She held up a grey business suit.

“That would be perfect for the office.”

“I know but I need to get used to wearing it. The skirt is a bit tight.”

She grinned.
“Ok. We can get you some casual wear for here off the internet.”

Then she took Alicia’s hand.
“I have something for you. Stay right there.”

Corrine disappeared into her en-suite bathroom and returned with a box.
“These are for you… until…?”

Alicia opened the box and found two breast forms.
She held them to her chest and kissed Corrine.

“Thank you.”

“They are meant to be glued on but I thought that until you become Alicia full time, they could just sit in your bra.”

“That’s something else that I’m going to need. I have one but… it is well past it’s use by date and is too small for these beauties.”

“True but first we need to know your size. I’ll measure you later. I did sort of guess with these but the shop will exchange them if they haven’t been used”

Alicia kissed Corrine again.
She was feeling happier than she had for a long, long time.

---

A week later on the Friday night, Alicia as Leslie was now called when they were alone, couldn’t sleep.

"Ok, darling, what's troubling you?" she was woken by Alicia's constant tossing and turning.

“I’ve…” began Alicia.
“It can wait until morning. There are some things that I need to show you.”

Corrine gave her lover a slow blow job and Alicia soon fell asleep.

---

Corrine unusually made their breakfast. The frown lines on Alicia’s forehead told her that something big was troubling her.

“Ok darling, take your time and tell me what is on your mind.”

Alicia looked at Corrine and almost cried.
“Please don’t take this the wrong way but aren’t we trying to get me to run before I can walk?”

“Am I rushing things?”

“Yes, but… You know that I’ve been watching some makeup video’s on YouTube?”

“Yeah. So?”

“It came to me after watching one that there is so much that women go through in their teenage years that I’ve missed and because of that, I won’t have those experiences of both success and failures to fall back on.”

Corrine chuckled.
“Like getting acne?”

“I went through that phase but just think back to when you started trying to apply makeup. After a while, you developed your own look but I am sure that there were many huge mistakes along the way. Am I right?”

“Yes. I think that I get where you are going with this.”

Alicia shook her head.
“It is more than that. Remember when we had that session with all your clothes and we tried to find out what suited me?”

“Yes. That was a lot of fun.”

“It was but thinking back, the results were heavily influenced by your style. Lots of muted colours like the clothes you wear to the office. Mostly greys and blacks.”

Corrine was about to object but Alicia put up her hand.
“I’m not saying that you are boring but the business world at large is dominated by men in suits. You have evolved your style to fit in with them, be one of them. That is natural because they are your clients.”

“I sort of get what you are saying, but carry on.”

“Look at your office. It is all contemporary colours. Grey furniture and not a flower in sight. The impression I got that first day that it was the office of a man. Alex was the same. She dressed in muted colours. Both of you only ever wore white blouses that look like shirts.”

Corrine sniggered.
“I sense a rebellion in the ranks!”

“Not a rebellion but I have worn work drab since I left school. As a woman or a wannabe woman, I’d like the chance to express myself just like you did as a teenager. I don’t want to look like another you, as you currently do. Even the addition of something like a Hermes Scarf to your business suit would make a huge difference. It would say to me, here is a woman who works in a male dominated world but remains a woman.”

Corrine smiled at Alicia.
“What do you propose?”

Alicia hesitated before replying.
“You might not like this but… I want to be very different from you at work. I read this study about how appearances affect people’s attitude to others. If a visitor only saw the colour and not me then things like my adams apple would not be important. Perception is everything.”

“Here, let me show you.”

Over the next two hours, Alicia showed Corrine the sort of ideas that she was having.

“Wow! I seem to have released a Lioness on the world.”

“You are the leader of the pride and I won’t forget it.”

Corrine sat back and interlocked her fingers. That was a sign that she was thinking.

“Ok, what do you suggest for me?”

“Some subtle changes to the look that you wear to the office and if I may say so, here as well.”

“Go on…”

“As I said, some flowers on your desk would change the whole vibe of the room. For some clients, they could be moved to the cabinet that is on the left of your desk.”

“Good idea. What else?”

“A bit of colour on you. As I mentioned a colourful scarf or a coloured blouse that is not a copy of a mens shirt. The sort that button up at the back.”

“They are a pain in the neck…”

Alicia smiled.
“Not when you have someone to do them up for you.”

“Good point.”

“Then your nails. Clear varnish went out with the ark or at least that is what I’ve observed. Don’t go for those fashionable pale colours especially white.”

“Black?”

Alicia grinned.

“Black is for me. No, a colour that shows maturity. A deep ruby red or something like that and some extensions. You are a woman… show it. We have nails and should be proud of them.”

“And a matching lip colour. Not matt but gloss. It does not matter if you have to touch it up five times a day, but apparently those 24 hour lip colours work.”

“I love these lips.”

Alicia showed Corrine the black lips that a YouTuber wore in a video about her 60+ wigs.

Corrine laughed.
“You are going to be high maintenance, aren’t you?”

“I have to get the teenage experiments out of my system. But look at me… I don’t have a well defined lip outline. That means making one and… if it looks horrible I can say that at least I tried.”

“You can and I’ll be honest with you. Is there anything else for my makeover?”

“You should ditch those glasses so you’ll need lenses. I saw these and thought that they’d be perfect for you.”

Alicia showed Corrine some lenses that would make her eyes appear larger and more friendly without appearing unnatural.

“I’ve never tried contacts before. I’ve learned to hide behind my glasses.”

“You look a totally different person without them on. Add some falsies or have some lashes glued on, mascara and define your brows a bit more and you will be ready to take on the world as a confident woman who is more than capable of beating men at their own game.”

“This is all going to require some thinking about.”

“We have the weekends to have some fun, don’t we?”

“What about finding our dream home in the country?”

“We dress up to the nines and go for it. From the long conversation you had with the estate agent that is handling the sale of St Johns Wood, I get the impression that a deal is imminent. Am I right?”

“Something like that. A client wants to buy the place but at three hundred grand off the asking price. I told the agent that it has only been full listed for two weeks and I’ve had other agents sniffing around with potential offers. I want the full price or nothing unless it is a guaranteed cash sale with no chain.”

“Ouch. I bet he went away with a flea in his ear.”
Corrine smiled,
“I said that I’d be in on Monday to review their work.”

“And a perfect time to show the new you?”

That put Corrine right on the spot.

“Ok. I’ll give it a try.”
“Don’t forget the heels.”

She sighed.
“I won’t...”

---

"How do I look?" asked Corrine as she prepared to visit the offices of the Estate Agents who were handling the sale of her old home.

The changes that Alicia had managed to ‘inflict’ on Corrine were nothing more than dramatic.

Corrine presented the image of a woman in control of her world and not one trying to be a man.

“Apart from the hair you are good to go.”

The subject of Corrine’s hair had occupied them for most of the previous day. She’d had her hair pretty short for years. Eventually, she admitted that she’d never had long hair.

“Ok. There is no need to labour the point. I’ve agreed to get something done about it.”

“Thanks for doing my nails. I’ve always been a klutz with the polish.”

Alicia grinned.
“All part of the service, boss. Now get going otherwise, you will be late.”

Corrine grinned as she left the office.

---

Corrnie’s first outing as her Mk 1a version went well. She made it clear that the agents only had an exclusive agency for one month and if they were to earn their money then they needed to get their finger out and do it.

She returned to the Office pleased with her morning’s work.

Her smile when returning to the office told Alicia everything about the trip that she needed to know.

“Ok, I pummelled him into a pulp. At first, he thought that I was a pushover but he soon regretted it. My point was rammed down his throat.”

Alicia grinned.

“Did Alex ever propose something like what I did?”

Corrine shook her head.
“No why?”

“I was just wondering that’s all. It is a bit different between us, isn’t it?”

“It is, and that makes the difference.”

“Boss… I’ve booked you into the salon for your hair work. Today at five thirty.”

Corrine kicked off the heels that she’d worn all morning and disappeared into her office without commenting.

---

Three days later, two large packages were delivered to the office. They were addressed to Alicia Deveraux. Seeing her new name in print for the first time was a surprise. She’d only signed the ‘Deed Poll’ documents at their solicitor’s office two days earlier.

After signing for them, Alicia went into Corrine’s office. Her next appointment wasn’t due for almost half an hour.

“Do you know anything about two packages that have come for me. They were addressed to ‘Alicia Deveraux’. I take it that you know nothing about them? They are from different suppliers.”

Corrine grinned.
“You wanted to experiment. Now’s your chance.”

Alicia stood there open-mouthed.
“Go on, open them,” teased Corrine.

Alicia returned to her desk and opened the first package. It was a complete set of makeup. The only thing was that it was all conventional colours. Her heart sank.

“Try the other one,” suggested Corrine who was watching from the door.

The other package contained the sort of makeup that Alicia had been dreaming about.

“Thanks, but?”

“But you can’t choose at the moment?”

“It is not that but I’d like to choose my own stuff from now on? If I’m going to make my own mistakes then it should be all my own fault, shouldn’t it?”

“Ok. Point taken. Pack them up and I’ll arrange for them to be collected.”

Alicia came over to Corrine and kissed her.
“Only the first one. We can both have some fun with the other one.”

Corrine wasn’t sure what she’d meant but life was certainly getting interesting. She knew that she’d have to change in order to get Alicia in her life for the long haul. However, to her surprise, she was beginning to enjoy the changes that Alicia was suggesting for herself.

[to be continued]

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]