Think Like a Man – Chapter 2
By
Julie D Cole

‘ If men are from Mars and women are from Venus, it is little wonder that the two genders have a hard time understanding what the other thinks. Why not let the man in your life try life in your shoes?’
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Just a short chapter to see if the story attracts interest.

For the rest of the day I was totally distracted away from the day job. I couldn’t help but focus on the list of things I wanted to do to change my approach and create a level playing field by changing Carl too.

My secretary kept reminding me I had some important actions to complete knowing I’d take an age to work my way through them. I wanted some Project Carl time so I thought ‘this is it’ and decided to clear the list quickly with her and make impulsive decisions. Right or wrong I could change them later anyway.

Lisa couldn’t believe that it only took 30 minutes to run down her list. I gave all the actions and follow ups to her rather than worrying about putting her under pressure and told her to report back the following morning for an update. I felt guilty since Lisa was clearly going to struggle and was likely to be up half the night worrying about the tasks as I have been many times. But it gave me free time. If this is a mans life bring it on down.

Carl stopped by but I removed files from my desk and closed my notepad so he couldn’t pick up any ideas.
‘Are you leaving Babe? ‘

‘Please don’t call me Babe it’s an awful word. Would you like it if I called you Babe?’

‘Whatever. I think you are hot and you look great today. You can call me what you like when we get up close and personal. I answer to anything.’

‘OK I’ll call you Carly then if that’s your sexist attitude. Yes Carly fits quite well. I can make a drink after work if you like.’

‘Great I’ll see you in Reception at 6-30pm.’

‘No I’m good to go anytime. I’ll be in the Irish bar over the road and aim to leave on time.’

‘You never leave on time, How come today?’

‘I decided we needed to talk. I want to help you get the area job if you’ll look after me and promote me too.’

‘Sure Babe. Great idea. Wow. Great idea’

‘Carly please.’

‘Whoops sorry girl.’

‘Not much better but it’s progress.’

I sat at the bar and Carly was surprised to see me waiting. His eyes were immediately distracted towards the leg show as I crossed my legs and turned towards him.’

‘You look sensational. You let your hair down.’

‘Thanks. That’s the advantage of long hair you can change your look easily depending on your mood. You should try it sometime. What are you drinking sweetheart?’

‘Same as you please. What is it?’

I ordered two tall Jamesons with extra ice and a dash of dry ginger and suggested we move to a table in the corner. I put the drinks on my tab and picked them up to move. I insisted he went first and picked up his briefcase with my free hand ensuring he sat down first before sitting opposite.

‘We ought to change this it’s a bit old fashioned. If you’re going tto get noticed and rise to the top you need a slim bag big enough for a few notes and your notebook. We ought to change that too. You have to keep up to date and the investment will be worth it.’

‘OK whatever you say is good for me. I’m not exactly the type to worry about what’s in vogue. Just point me to the till after you choose.’

‘No I will not. I want you to be involved and to take more interest and I’ll just guide you as and when.’

‘OK I’m good with that. Cheers. This is a nice surprise. What happened?’

‘Nothing happened. I just felt like treating you. You look nice today and maybe we can have a pasta or something. Will you join me? ‘

‘Sure.’

He almost fell off his chair. I headed for the powder room and his eyes followed me all the way. .

‘Mmm you smell nice. ‘

‘Thanks I just decided to freshen up. This place is ok in short spells but we should take in a wine bar before dinner. Are you up for it?’

I could see he was as he stood up if you see what I mean. His tail was wagging again.

‘Here why don’t you freshen up and use this spray that I like. It always turns me on.’

He shot off and was soon back.

‘That’s nice. Much better.’

I insisted he keep it and wear it regularly. I stepped forward and kissed him taking care to leave some of the extra lippy I’d applied on his lips.’

‘Mmm you taste great.’

‘Yes you don’t know what you’ve been missing. I spend a lot of time on my appearance. We need to get you a makeover and maybe I can coax you to buy some male cosmetics.’

‘I don’t think so hon.’

‘Carly please. Hon is just as bad. Let me decide and you do as I say. You never know what effect a restyle might have on me. Come on get your butt in gear I need a glass of SB’

‘What’s SB?’

‘Sauvignon Blanc you wooly head. Come on It’s my treat tonight. I can drop you off in a taxi later on my way home. Leave the car.’

We had a good time and Carly was following my advice. He agreed to a lot of my ideas but then he was only focused on one thing.

We were both feeling good after another bottle of wine and the taxi diverted to my place. Another drink and I decided to take the lead. He was like putty in my hands. I even persuaded him to sleep in the nightdress he’d donned as we giggled in the build up to his night of pleasure. He never made it to the winning post and I smiled as I looked at him. I ensured I stored a few shots on my i-phone for future benefit.

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Think Like a Man – Chapter 3
By
Julie D Cole

‘ If men are from Mars and women are from Venus, it is little wonder that the two genders have a hard time understanding what the other thinks. Why not let the man in your life try life in your shoes?’
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Next morning was a bit of a blurr for a while but more for Carly than me. Luckily I was using a few tricks to buy short measures for me and top up Carlys with the balance as well as his doubles. I watered down my wine whilst he was swigging his down that was why I selected SB. It keeps its light colour . Some went into a plant pot and at the end of the night they looked a bit droopy but then so was Carly.

So as I said he failed to reach the winning post and even the whip wouldn’t have worked. [Just my little joke of course- The use of the whip is banned.]

It’s amazing what effect alcohol has on a man. First he is up for anything and fees he is Tarzan or something then the drink kicks in, finds its way to the chorizo. It just shrinks as fast as it grows and ends up as a chipolata. Sometimes it disappears frightened of the light. Not that I’m an expert in these things of course but I do like it to hold its shape.

Carly took a while to come around and I smiled to myself. He looked quite cute with his firm butt barely covered and I was a bit envious if truth be told. The look on his face when he realized he had slept in a nightdress was priceless. He even seemed to have little boobies that was quite cute. If he had been sober enough or freshly bathed I might even have been tempted to sort his sausage out.

As it was he looked completely beyond his sell by date and whilst he was no Desperate Dan his stubble was showing. His chin stubble I mean. Down below needs a trim when I get him to the Spa day. I feel sure two girls with a Ladyshaves could tackle bush like his. No need for the cut throat razor and strap.

I’d found his underwear and socks that were soiled and they were immediately discarded to trash. His undershirt just about survived but his suit and dress shirt had been splattered with the after effects of his desire to finish with 2 large glasses of Port. Looking at the contents of the bottle in daylight made me realize this hadn’t helped. It was cloudy and had a lot of residue in the bottom. Why do men insist to show off and think they can drink anything?

He disappeared to the bathroom and after more wrenching I heard him in the shower. He appeared 20 minutes later. At least he had some colour by now although hot water plays tricks. He covered his manhood more out of embarrassment than anything and asked if I’d call his housekeeper to bring him some clothes. I tried of course but it was a weak attempt and I hardly gave her chance the reach the house phone. I had a plan. I wanted him to be taken down a few more pegs yet and next peg had some of my clothes hanging there.

I made him an offer to wear some of my underwear and a pair of black trousers that fitted him even if they were opposite hand so to speak. His own shoes matched but I couldn’t resist telling him they were a bit butch. Pity he hadn’t been sick in them since I had no excuse to offer him mine. That is another day.

With a loose fitting blouse shirt he would safely pass until he arrived home but pass as a man or as a woman? He looked like he could pass either- way He was surprised at his own femininity for such a macho man. I told him he could keep all the clothes and especially the underwear and the knee highs that I would have thrown in the bin anyway. He was reluctant but had little choice.

It was Friday and soon we had a weekly Management meeting and it was already 9am. It was impossible for him to attend dressed as he was so he headed home and I took a cab to the office and presented his report alongside mine apologizing for his absence.

His report went down well because really it was mine and I’d decided to switch. Mine that was his wasn’t commented on. Was this prejudice or just Carlys lack of skill. I didn’t want to upset him so let it ride. I reckoned if I didn’t tell him what I’d said in his report he’d have some questions and difficulty answering them. If there was any detailed follow up he’d have to hand over to little old me to help him out.

I was feeling smug. By the time he arrived to the office the meeting was over and our Director had headed to the golf course with two of the Senior Managers. It always seems to be a man thing to discuss things whilst stroking a few balls so to speak. [sorry I should behave myself]. Carly was put out to miss the invite but he didn’t look like he’d have lasted long anyway. I’d have to invite him out again to take his mind of the snub. He’d like it and in truth it was fun and went much better than I expected.

After lunch we were drinking coffee in the rest area when he finally dare look me in the eye.

‘Sorry about last night Jules but I went a bit too far. We drank too much and I can usually handle it. Did you feel OK this morning?’

‘I was fine but I must admit it was a bit of an anti-climax. You do realize don’t you that you didn’t even do the anti bit never mind the climax. ‘

‘Are you sure? I’ve never failed yet. Come on you’re teasing. Was I good or what?’

‘ You were more what than good. You faded quickly and you fell to sleep on top of me. It was awful because you were snoring and you reeked of alcohol. ‘

He hung his head in shame until I felt sympathy. I relented that was part of the plan. I said we might have another go sometime and I could invite him to a fancy dress drinks party as my partner if he promised to do something cute for me. He couldn’t resist the bait.

So he accepted my idea that for the following week he would wear my underwear and I sorted out a weeks supply. His target was to show me his failure to perform was a fluke and to lure me back to the bed sheets . Mine was to remove some of his macho style but also to then leak out the information. I would tell a select few that I suspected he was wearing panties and hose. The bush fires spread quickly.

So a few girls immediately took up the task of looking for glimpses of his underwear or hosed legs. It wasn’t difficult to start rumors and news like this soon spreads as I found out later in the week when I had meetings on Floor 5. It seemed he was the talk of the building.

He had a lot of trouble answering questions about his projections the following few days. Whilst he struggled and got himself in a fluster I stayed focused and concentrated on preparation for the next Friday management meeting. I produced a follow up action plan that I gave to him in the meeting to help him and he fell for it. True to form he used it skillfully and made out he knew what he’d presented the week before bluffing his way as usual.

When it came to the accolades and chance to expand he panicked and almost burst into tears in panic. I stepped in to help him and he recovered his confidence. He obviously appreciated it and at last he was starting to understand he needed me and he couldn’t bluff his way through to the top job without support.

He looked relieved and waved his papers as a fan to cool himself down. But as soon as he sat down I shocked him by telling him that he had a problem. He displayed a prominent VPL beneath his tight trousers. They were tight because he liked to display his manhood to the girls in the office. Today it was working against him. his pantie line was obvious and at the front he was obviously well tucked in.

I smiled to myself when he bent down to retrieve a pen from the floor it was easy to see that he was wearing tights when his trouser leg rode up his leg. He went bright when I told him he'd attracted the attention of several people at the meeting and he hung his head in shame as we left the meeting room carrying his notes behind him. I stepped aside to let him go first and he rushed away to his office.

For once in the meeting I didn’t have to take care of the coffees. Since I was allowed to speak out I changed my presentation style and I made a conscious decision to hit the key points in a confident and authoritive manner. I avoided looking at faces to seek approval or reaction. I got several plaudits.

Carly was unusually quiet and was doodling on his pad. He was probably planning how to get chance to stay over again at my place or even sulking I supposed. At the end of the meeting I asked him if he’d like to call by and discuss my ideas for his apartment or I could go to his place if he didn’t mind. He preferred the latter. I agreed as long as he cooked dinner and I’d bring the wine.

It was a deal. He couldn’t contain himself and dashed to the bathroom. The meeting wrapped up and the Director came over and for the first time he gave me some recognition. He asked where Carly had gone and jokingly I said it was that time of the month and he’d dashed away to the bathroom. I never saw him laugh before. Pity was he had to put his arm around me and pat me on the butt. Horrible man!!

Carly apologized for disappearing and was embarrassed again since our Director made some comment to him. ‘Womens problems eh?’

I managed to calm him down and reverted to the dinner together. I said I hoped he would make a special effort and that I’d dress for dinner and expected the candles and soft lights etc. That set him a new challenge. Later he asked a few of the girls for advice about what I liked to eat and how to prepare different dishes. I was satisfied with the work in progress.

He was starting to worry about things and take more care and so I focused more on how to develop my working relationship with our Director and looked back at my notes ‘Think Like a Man.’

It was not as difficult as I expected especially since my secretary had done a great job since I’d started to shift work-load to her. She was keen to show her skills and I found myself encouraging her to use her initiative as I’d always done. She is a great worker and very committed. She noticed the change in me and one thing I started to do was to buy special treats to encourage her to work late or finish things at home that I needed the next day. I took her to lunch and bought her flowers. A little cost with a lot of gains. This was a great life. Delegate, delegate and sit back to enjoy free time. It’s a mans world.

I was changing my image hourly rather than daily or weekly and went for more of a mannish look. I liked it and so did Carly. His tongue was hanging out whenever he looked to my office and if I wore a skirt I ensured it had a slit up the side. I undid an extra button on my blouses. A little bit of bra and a touch of cleavage always works.

I started to spend more time strategizing and I used my secretary to file things and tidy around rather than doing it myself like before. She’d obviously had an easy time with my style of working until I’d switched on the man button. So she has less time to chat and shorter lunch breaks.

I even had Carly running small errands for me by now and he seemed quite willing. I complemented him a few times and even had him calling at the perfume counter in Boots. I briefed my friends at the local dry cleaners that I was feminizing him and they teased him when he called to pick up my laundry by saying they'd kept his silk undies separate from mine.

He questioned me when he got back to the office and I laughed it off as a joke. He was still intent on getting his way with me and I was exploiting it to the full. But somehow I got the feeling he was really enjoying this experience. Maybe his macho style was just a front and he'd never really been successful with girls. It was difficult to put my finger on.

I wanted to take this further so I booked the Spa day and confirmed that he had started his diet. Now to see if he could cope with preparation for our dinner party together and in the meantime I'd make my plan how to tease him again. I wanted to leave him more frustrated and more worried about his prowess.

I felt great and more confident. It was noticeable at work and also with some of our clients. I was spending much more time talking to them over the phone and both my mobiles were flashing messages constantly. I started to use one for business and the other for personal use. Even my girlfriends seemed to be keen to meet up. I was changing just as much as I was changing Carly. I wanted more.

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Think Like A Man – Chapter 4
By
Julie D Cole

Strange but over the next few days I was frequently called to the Directors office ‘ for a short chat’ with him. I was encouraged to give my opinions on a lot of things affecting the Financial market and my views about our key clients and our overall business strategy. He said he wanted some fresh ideas instead of listening to people who just agreed with him and I had impressed him and he had noticed I had been assisting Carly. He wanted to know just how keen I was to take extra responsibilities. I must have answered correctly.

From that point on I felt I could speak out and I challenged some of the decisions that had been made. The more times I met him the more I realized he wasn’t so bad after all. He said he’d like to introduce me to some more important clients who might prefer to work with a woman who could think like a man and he would help me and mentor me if I was committed to the Company and was not focused on wedlock and babies and the like.

A bit sexist but then I could understand the problem he had. He was quite open. After a while I found myself nodding and before I knew it we were shaking hands on a change in my role. I’d got a 30% raise and a new job title as Non Executive Director and Key Client Relationship Manager. A bit of a mouthful but for now that didn’t bother me. I had been noticed after my change in approach. Maybe I could work with this man and show the other managers the best man for the job really is a woman.

So Mr Wagner, this Director who was also one of the main shareholders, soon had a new contract arranged and I was to be appointed to the Group Board. He formally announced this at the Friday management meeting after insisting that I sat alongside him. Carly was at the other end of the table and he just stared at me and shook his head. It was a job he’d have liked and the promotion he was looking for and I’d beaten him to it.

He looked down hearted and I just thought it served him right. He should focus on his job and not be ruled by the thing between his legs. Maybe this is why women have the edge these days.

I had to hang back after the meeting to receive congratulations from the other Non Executive Directors and they had all agreed with the decision. Wagner ensured his decision was blessed by all of them before he confirmed. It took a while for the meeting to break up and as I left the Board Room Carly was still hanging around by the lift.

He surprised me by shaking my hand and saying he was sorry that he hadn’t listened to me more in the past and how he thought I’d grown more confident. It wasn’t like I was his boss or anything even after the promotion but I was several grades higher already by now. I could sense some envy in his voice and I wasn’t sure if it would affect our relationship or not. I did rather fancy the idea of him feeling inferior.

Whatever he felt it obviously didn’t stop his advances and he was intent on developing our relationship. We had drinks after work to celebrate and he asked me if I was still available if he cooked dinner. I accepted for the following night provided he took the rest of the day off to visit the Spa to prepare himself properly in case anything happened between us and I encouraged him to get rid of his body hair that I didn’t like.

He was on the phone immediately and just had enough time to promise to call me. I smiled since he’d forgotten he was wearing new underwear and tights. Maybe he’d gotten used to the nice feeling. He was looking much different too and was using a man-bag rather than stuffing things into his pockets and I’d complemented him on his new black business suit that was nicely tailored and very snug. It was clear he’d tucked himself well in.

I called him to ask if he’d forgotten what he was wearing and he thought about it before deciding to press on. I suggested he called for a hair appointment after his treatment and I made a reservation and suggested a style to Mandy who looked after me. She was keen to help and I promised to take her to dinner the following week on her day off. I’d often fancied her and she used to flirt a lot and knew I was interested when she asked me to meet her sometime and have a girly night.

Mr Wagner called by my office and said he’d had a thought and he wanted to introduce me to someone he’d been trying to attract as a client who might prefer to deal with a female advisor but he had difficulty persuading him because his wife was a strong influence. I agreed to help and he left my office.

He rang me 15 minutes later and said he’d arranged for me to attend a Group Seminar in London and then join him at the next Shareholders meeting when he hoped we could present some sensational news. This was on the basis I’d snare the new client and he said I had no choice but to clinch a deal. The Seminar was to be followed by a relaxing weekend with several events lined up and a dinner with a Guest Speaker who was a Sporting Celebrity. I suspected this would be the target.

I didn’t hear anymore apart from his secretary reminding me to bring my spouse or partner along. I told her I was dating Carly and I’d bring him along. She fancied him a lot and just said ‘Mmmm..nice one girl.’

I had a lot of calls to make that afternoon but I did find out the Sporting Celebrity would be some ex International Footballer by the name of Dale Peckham. He played soccer for England and Manchester United and they’d paid him a lot of money to play and he now had a lot of wealth. He’d made a bomb out of personal appearances and supporting male underwear and aftershave. He was quite pretty for a guy.

I was told my partner and I would be joining my Director and his wife and we’d be entertaining Mr . Peckham and his wife for a private lunch or afternoon tea that still needed to be confirmed once Mr Peckham consulted his wife. She was very busy and more difficult to pin down than him. I checked her profile on the internet and she seemed a bit aloof and full of herself.

I checked and found out as much information as I could about Dale Peckham . I’d seen him in lots of advertisements for products he represented. He looked good in underwearon the large posters and had quite a lunchpack. I smiled as I thought of Carly and his little snackbox in my underwear.

Peckham had done very well for himself because he had become a fashion icon as well as a football star and young women loved him. He was just a local schoolboy from the outskirts of London when he was spotted by a scout and he was developed into a star. As he became famous he’d this girl who he later married. She had made it clear from their first date that she was his and he never had a chance. They were married in no time. She definitely wore the trousers.

It was not easy to see what he saw in her but then I realized women have many ways to snare men even though I had little success so far. Maybe I’d just never found the sort of man I wanted but hopefully I could develop Carly and so I research Vicky Peckham a bit more to try to understand her technique.

She was a strong character even though she was very delicate and surely I was better looking. It seemed like Dale was now playing the role of mother to their children whilst she was a successful fashion designer and business woman. With 3 children he obviously could perform but who is to say what roles they play. I wanted to be successful like her and since Carly wasn’t as good as I first thought now I feel it would work better if he supported me than the other way around. Still marriage and children were not priority right now for either of us.

I saw Peckhams wife had been in a girl group as the decoration rather than for her voice but it looked like she was the brains out of all of them that resulted in a lot of success. They’d split up as a very rich group of girls and each went their own way. She had the marriage and was most successful. I wanted to meet her to see if I could get some ideas how she took control of Dale. He looked like he might need guidance and some more feminine attention.

I wondered how she might react to Carly. I couldn’t see her liking his macho style so I needed to step up the treatment. I doubted she’d be interested in women but maybe she obviously liked feminine men.

The more I researched the more I was convinced she surrounded herself with men who did as she bid and there didn’t seem much risk of Dale trying it on with me but I might just be able to manipulate him like she did if I could distract her.

They were both Londoners but now they spent a lot of time in USA in Los Angeles. They liked to be seen that was all part of her plan to project herself like a film star. But she was nothing compared to the film stars she liked to be seen with and no way was I going to get to Los Angeles if I missed this chance to snare them. I needed to talk with Carly.

I found him in the hair salon. Mandy had done a great job on him and he was yet to see himself. He’d dozed off to sleep and she whispered to me to look at his face. She’d trimmed and shaped his eyebrows and they were lighter in color to match the streaks she’d put in his hair. With the cape around him it was hard to say if this was a woman or a man in the salon.

Carly was speechless when he saw himself but we managed to persuade him this was a great look for men. Mandy stopped short of a full facial but offered him a discount if he wanted to try one the following week. He didn’t say much until we left the salon and then he tried to ruffle his hair to look more masculine. I took him for a coffee to calm him down and started to talk about Dale Peckham and how he carried a feminine look and could take his pick of any women he wanted. With permission of Vicky of course.

I told him the plans and that they were my target. I had to decide how to win them over and I had a week to prepare. I needed his help and advice so I’d decided to leave early and meet up with him at the Spa. I wanted to know what he knew about this possible client since he was a big football fan. He didn’t look like one though when I arrived at the Spa. He was having a pedicure when I tracked him down and looked a picture in his bathrobe with a towel wrapped around his head. He’d been waxed and pampered and he had had some hair treatment already with Mandy. She hadn’t hung around.

He was so busy admiring himself that I couldn’t get his mind to divert to football until I told him I wanted him to join me at the Seminar and social weekend at it meant he would meet Peckham and his wife. That was it. He was absolutely gob-smacked. When his senses came back he babbled on for ages ignoring his coffee and the hot toasted scone I’d bought him.

I wished I had a tape recorder and was surprised at how much he knew about them. He explained about their background and the relationship and how they had been very astute to capitalize on their image with young football and music fans and were hanging onto their youthful images as long as they could. They were worth millions and even had a private jet. If I could catch them as our clients I’d be able to travel to USA and wherever else they travelled and lived. They seemed to have homes in several parts of the world. Vicky had done wonders for him.

She obviously wore the trousers yet he could have taken his pick of any girl he liked. He seemed to prefer a strong woman. Aren’t we always the stronger sex? I looked at Carly and already I’d surpassed him at work as well as out smarting him and my next task was to use his boyish looks and maybe enjoy myself at the same time.

Carly was still admiring himself. The smart suit could easily have been from the womens’ rail and I might try that out as a next step to the underwear. He’d avoided any embarrassment by changing in a cubicle in the men’s room when he arrived at the Spa. Now he was more likely to get strange looks in the mens room than in the girls room. Best of all he was obviously enjoying it.

As we finished the last pieces of scone I asked him if he wanted to call by my home and we could spend the evening together. He didn’t need asking twice. I wanted to try some things out on him and to make a plan how to coax him to make friends with Vicky Peckham.