Office Bet
By Melanie Brown
Copyright © 2006
Part 5
I squinted at my watch. Damnation, how do women tell the
time on these stupid, small, blank-faced watches? I stuck my head out the
bathroom door and looked at my alarm clock. Damnation again -- I didn’t have
time to finish putting on my make-up. I’ll just have to do what thousands of
women do every day – finish my make-up while driving to work.
As I grabbed the blouse I had laid out the night
before, I decided I probably should put my alarm clock on the other side of the
room so I couldn’t just keep hitting the snooze bar.
I hurriedly tied the stupid bow around the collar of
the blouse. What in the world possessed me when I bought this outfit? I don’t
even like to wear ties, and here I was tying a dumb bow around my neck. Granted,
it wasn’t like some gigantic bow, but it was still…well, a bow.
I rushed back into the bathroom and quickly gathered
up my make-up to dump into my purse. I had on foundation and blush, which I
hoped was enough not to scare the neighbor’s children on the way to my car. I
then hurried down the apartment stairs, heels clicking loudly. Thankfully,
Jerry, the putz next door was nowhere to be seen.
Despite being in a hurry, I carefully got into the car
so I wouldn’t snag my hose on something and tear it. A few moments later and finally
I was easing my car onto Spring Creek towards work.
Naturally, traffic had to be extra heavy that
morning. I guessed that everyone else had also hit the snooze button.
At the first intersection, the light turned red. As
soon as the car stopped rolling, I quickly dug out my eyeliner. I was barely
done with one eye when the car behind me honked. I looked up and saw that the
light was now green. What was the deal? These lights usually seem to last
forever. As I started to go, a car jerked around me, the driver flipping me
off and though I couldn’t hear him, I could easily see him yell, “You stupid
bitch!”
* * *
I already felt exhausted as I leaned back against the
wall of the elevator as I rode up to my department’s floor. I had made it to work
without further incident, if you don’t count drifting over into the opposing
lane while putting on my lipstick. But I could still see that jerk calling me a
stupid bitch.
As the elevator doors slid open, I spotted Jennifer
already busy with her nails at the reception booth.
Jennifer looked up as I approached and flashed me a
big, friendly smile. She said, “Oh, hi, Heather! You look great! I love the
way you always manage to look so professional, but also so feminine. “
It’s the bow around my neck, I thought.
Jennifer said, “Anyways, I wanted to thank you again
for going on a double-date with me.”
Shrugging, I said, “No problem. What are girlfriends
for? Is Richard an old boyfriend?”
Jennifer smiled wistfully and said, “Sorta. We dated
a few times and then we drifted apart. I thought he was gone for good.”
“So, it’s not like you’re going steady or anything?” I
asked hopefully.
With a sly grin, Jennifer said, “Not yet. I’m not
letting him get away so easily this time!”
Well, crap! It looks like all my efforts were wasted.
Oh well…I guess it never hurts to try. I said, “Well, good luck, Jenn. He
certainly seems like a nice guy.”
Jennifer looked at me with a furrowed brow and feigning
anger said, “Hey, back off girl! I saw him first!” Then she laughed. “Just
kidding. Anyway, he really is a nice guy. Very sweet. But hey, that David
guy looks pretty good too. He looks like he works out -- a lot.”
Sighing I said, “Well, he can work out all he wants. It
doesn’t matter to me.”
Jennifer shrugged and said, “That’s too bad. I think
he kinda likes you.”
Screwing up my face in horror and shuddering, I said,
“Don’t say that! Not even in jest.”
Without looking up from the nail she was painting,
Jennifer said, “What? Are you afraid you might fall in love?”
“Not with a guy!” I said, raising my voice a little.
Then, taking a more casual posture, I said, “On the other hand…a girl…like,
say…a nice girl like you for instance, is more up my alley.”
Jennifer gave me a little smile as she said, “You
know, I have to admit, that I thought you were kinda cute and all, but shoot.
You seem more like a sister to me now than anything else!”
* * *
“Is it true?”
I looked up to see Candace looking over the top of my
cubicle wall. “Is what true?”
“That you’re going on a date Friday. With a cute
guy.” Candace said with a smile
That sure didn’t take long to get around the office.
Without looking away from my computer screen, I said, “Yeah. A guy Jennifer
likes wanted someone to go out with his friend. Jennifer volunteered me.”
“Is he cute?” Candace asked.
“Who?”
Frowning, Candace asked, “Who do you think?! Your
date!”
Shrugging, I said, “I dunno. Does it matter? I’m
just going for the free dinner and movie.”
Candace gave me a wry smile and said, “You know, about
half the time, that’s why I go too. Still, you haven’t been a girl five days
and you already have a date. I had to be a girl fourteen years before I
got a date!”
Lou stopped at the entrance to my cubicle and peered
in. “You have a date?”
Before I could say anything, Candace answered, “Yes
she does! And with a real cutie from what Jennifer tells me.”
Lou shook his head and said, “Jeez, Harry, aren’t you
taking this girl shit a little too far?”
“Her name is Heather.” Candace admonished. “And I
think it’s great that she’s getting to enjoy being a woman.”
“Well, it is one date more than I’ve had so far since
I’ve moved to Plano.” I said, sounding a little disgusted.
Ann stuck her head over another wall of my cubicle and
said, “Jeez. No wonder we don’t get any work done around here, with all this
standing around.” Looking down at me, she added, “Nice bow.”
* * *
Normally I look forward to Fridays. Mostly because it
means two days when I don’t have to work. Usually. But on this Friday, I was
sweating like a stuck pig.
With the clock steadily ticking away, I stood in my
bathroom, cosmetics scattered over the counter top, with a magazine opened,
explaining how my eyes can achieve that smoky, evening look. Jennifer had
instructed me to dress casually, but not too casual.
In one way, it infuriated me that I would have to
spend this much time trying to get my make-up perfect for a date I wasn’t even
interested in going on. It’s ridiculous.
I hoped the outfit I picked would be okay. It was a
nice white blouse and a black, pleated miniskirt. When I tried it on at the
store, I thought it looked nice, but playful. I’m not sure if it looked casual
though. What few girls I dated back home in Wink, only wore t-shirts or tank
tops and jeans…or so it seems.
I stood back from the mirror and gave my face a once
over. It wasn’t quite like the magazine article, but at least I didn’t look
like a hooker either. I then carefully brushed on some lip gloss and decided
that was just going to have to do. I’ll never gripe to another girl about how
long she takes to get ready for a date.
I wrestled into my bra, and slipped on the blouse. Then
stepped into the skirt. I was glad I had done my toenails the night before as
I slid my feet into two-inch heel sandals. Before donning the wig, I put on
these over-sized hoop earrings. At first I was afraid the earrings would make
me look cheap, but actually the added sparkle helped the wig frame my face.
I picked up my purse and stood back in front of the
mirror. I laughed to myself as I thought, “Harry, you’re one hot hoochie mamma!”
I shook my toosh a couple of times. I then frowned and said aloud, “What the
hell are you doing? Going on a date…especially with a guy?”
There was a knock on the door. A bolt like frozen
steel shot down my spine. Oh my God! He’s here! Panicking, I started to run
from my bedroom towards the living room. I made myself stop and take a deep
breath.
I told myself, “Slow down, boy. Take it easy. It
doesn’t mean anything. You’re just helping out a friend. You’re going for the
free food. And if this David guy expects to see another sunrise, dinner and a
movie had better be all that he’s offering!”
The knock came a second time just before I opened the
door. Framed by the doorway and silhouetted against the late afternoon sun,
stood David with a toothy smile. “Hi Heather! How’re you?”
I smiled weakly back and said, “I’m doing fine.”
There was a very awkward silence for a moment, and
then, while looking at the floor, David said, “Um…well, uh, Jennifer and
Richard are waiting in the car. Are you ready?”
I flashed David an embarrassed smile and said, “Yes,
sure. Let me get my purse and we can go.”
I darted back into my apartment, leaving David alone
in the doorway. What’s etiquette? Do I invite him in? We’re leaving. Screw
it, I thought. I grabbed my purse and took a quick inventory of its contents.
My purse was going to be the one thing that was going to be really hard to give
up once I went back to being plain old Harry. How did I ever get by with just
a wallet before?
I hurried back to the door and said, “I’m ready!” I
fished my apartment keys from the purse and locked the deadbolt with a
satisfying click.
David looked at me intently for a moment, and then he
said, “I have to say, you look very, very nice tonight!”
I couldn’t help but smile and felt my face redden
slightly at the compliment. I looked up at him – he was a little over six feet
tall and broad across the shoulders -- and I smiled as I said, “Thank you. You
look…ah…nice too.”
Gesturing down the stairs, David said, “After you.” I
thought he was just being polite until I realized he made sure I was in front
of him so he could look at my butt.
Jennifer waved as we approached Richard’s car. I was
very happy to see that Jennifer was in the back and Richard was sitting behind
the steering wheel. Boys in the front and girls in the back.
Being more of a gentleman than I would have given him
credit for, David opened the car door and held it for me as I got in and then
closed it.
Jennifer said, “Hey girl! You look great! I love
your outfit!”
“Thanks,” I said. “You look…well…incredible!”
Jennifer dismissed my compliment with a wave of her
hand. Richard revved the engine and we roared out of the parking lot.
As we drove towards the movie theater or restaurant,
or whatever it was, David turned his head slightly and called back to me, “So,
Heather. What do you do? Are you a receptionist like Jennifer?”
I smiled and shook my head as I said, “No. I couldn’t
handle that kind of pressure. I’m a computer programmer.”
Richard said, “Uh ohhh, David. You better watch out.
She’s probably smarter than you.”
“I ain’t skeered,” boasted David.
“And what do you do, David,” I asked.
“I’m a material handler in a warehouse. I’m hoping to
get the forklift operator’s job pretty soon.”
I shook my head and said, “Dare to dream.”
* * *
We finally arrived at the Movie Studio Grill. I’ve
never been in a place quite like it. Instead of rows of seats, there were rows
of tables. Each table had a light to summon the waiter. And we were in luck
as that particular night’s special was pizza. The movie we were going to see
was the latest romantic chick flick.
It felt weird to sit in an actual chair, at a table,
eating dinner and watching a movie in a theater. For the price, I thought the
pizza at Cici’s was better, but then, I wasn’t paying for it anyway. The best
thing of course was that I didn’t have to sit all that close to David.
That didn’t stop him from trying. I had to sit beside
him as protocol demanded for a date. However, I tried to maintain a minimum
distance between our chairs. While we were eating, David kept rubbing his leg
up against mine until I turned my chair enough to see the movie better. David
yawned and stretched and suddenly his arm was on the back of my chair with his
hand on my shoulder. I could feel him tugging slightly on the hairs of my wig
as he played with a few strands.
The guy just wouldn’t take a hint and I was hoping I
wouldn’t have to resort to violence. He placed his hand on my knee and I
lifted it gently off. He put it back a few minutes later and I pushed it off.
His hand found its way back on my knee a third time.
“Will you please stop?” I whispered in a hiss.
He shrugged and gave me a look that said, “What?”
He kept his arm on the back of my chair. I decided I
could live with that as long as his hand didn’t drift toward my fake boobs.
* * *
“That was a great movie!” gushed Jennifer as we exited
the theater.
“It was all right,” frowned Richard. “What about you,
David?”
“Yeah, it was all right, I guess.” David mumbled.
“I thought it was wonderful!” I gushed, to show
solidarity with Jennifer. In reality, I kind of shared Richard’s and David’s
opinion. I do have to admit though, that due to my recent experiences, I did
have a greater affinity for the female protagonist.
Richard laughed. “Well, who would’ve thunk it. The
two girls enjoyed the romance movie.”
We all stood around for a moment, just looking at each
other and the traffic going by.
David broke the silence by saying, “Anyone up for a
game of pool?”
Jennifer frowned and started to say something.
Richard said quickly, “Hey, you can count me in!”
Jenn hesitated a second, looked at Richard and said,
“Okay, sure. I’m warning you…I really suck at pool!”
David said, “Great. What about you, little darlin’?”
He turned to look at me.
“Well, if that’s where everyone else is going, I kinda
have to tag along, don’t I?” I tried to sound disinterested. But actually, I
enjoyed playing pool a lot.
* * *
The pool hall David wanted to go to wasn’t very far.
We didn’t even have to get up on North Central Expressway to get there.
We were in luck. There were still a couple of tables
unoccupied. Jennifer and I stood by the pool table while David went to the
restroom and Richard went to the bar to get Jennifer and himself a drink.
“So? What do you think?” asked Jennifer.
“About what?” I asked, trying to look like I didn’t
know what she meant.
“About David! What do you think?” Jennifer gestured
with her hands as she talked.
I frowned and said, “He’s a guy. I don’t think
anything.”
Jennifer looked a little frustrated as she said, “You
don’t think!? You don’t think he’s cute? Or funny? Or anything?”
I folded my arms across my chest and said firmly,
“He’s a guy. What else is there to say?”
Before she could say anything else, David returned.
Getting close to me he said, “Okay, little darlin’.
What will you have to drink?”
Taking a step backwards and looking serious, I said,
“I don’t think I want to drink any alcohol tonight.”
David just shrugged and asked, “How about a Coke?”
I nodded and said, “Sure, that’d be fine.” I needed
to keep my wits about me. I didn’t want to discover myself in David’s bed in
the morning with no memory of how I got there.
“What kind of Coke you want?” asked David.
“Dr. Pepper.”
As David left towards the bar, Jennifer said, “I don’t
see how you don’t think he’s gorgeous.”
I gave up trying to explain myself and just asked,
“What about you? How’s it going with Richard?”
Jennifer smiled and said, “Great! We’ve picked up
right where we left off. It’s like we’ve never been apart.”
“That’s great, Jenn,” I said sincerely. “I hope
everything works out for you.”
Richard and David returned before Jennifer could say
anything else. Richard set his beer down on the table next to the pool table,
put some quarters in the pool table’s slot and said, “Let’s play some pool!”
As expected, Jennifer and Richard teamed up against David and me.
I followed Jennifer’s lead and acted like I’d never
really played before even though I considered myself a pretty good player.
Huge mistake! David kept getting behind me and touching my hands to help me
line up a shot and to show me how to play.
The game was taking a little longer than it should
with the guys helping us girls play. However the game finally ended when
Jennifer sank the eight ball when they still had a ball on the table. David
gave me a big hug and gave me a quick kiss on the cheek. Oh God! He just
kissed me! At least it wasn’t on the mouth.
I wriggled from his grasp and gave him a
naughty-naughty gesture even though I really wanted to break a pool cue over
his head.
* * *
Four games later and every one was pretty much ready
to call it a night. I hate the way bars smell and all I could think of was
taking a shower when I got home to get rid of the stale tobacco odor.
We climbed back into Richard’s car, but unfortunately,
this time Richard and Jennifer took the front seats, which meant David was
sitting in the back with me.
As we were getting situated and before Richard started
the engine, David threw his arm across the back seat behind me and looked
directly at me. Bluntly he asked, “You’re a guy, aren’t you?” Busted!
A flush of adrenalin rushed over me as my “fight or
flight” impulse screamed to run like hell. Jennifer let out a short gasp and
turned around as best she could to look at me. I put one hand on the door
handle as I fumbled around for words. I managed to sputter, “Wha…why would…why
would you ask that?”
David grinned. He didn’t seem upset at the idea at
all. In fact, he inched closer to me. He said, “You did an excellent job! I
don’t think most folks would have caught on. But you can’t hide your Adam’s
apple or your shorter, slightly thicker fingers. I wasn’t sure the other night
at the Sunset Lounge, but tonight I was convinced.”
He leaned into me and at first I thought he was going
to kill me, but he actually seemed happy about the whole thing. I said, “Okay,
you caught me. Yes, I’m a guy.”
Turning away from me, David said, “See, Richard? I
told you she was a she-male, now didn’t I?”
Richard nodded and said, “Yep, you were right. I
wouldn’t have believed it a few days ago.”
I frowned at David and said, “Hey now, I’m not exactly
a she-male…”
David laughed and said, “Of course not, little
darlin’. All macho guys wear little mini skirts, high heels and perfume!” He
laughed again and said, “If you’d spent as much time as I have watchin’ she-male
videos and searching the internet for pictures and shit, you’d be able to spot
a tranny from across the room too.” He slid his arm from the seat down around
my shoulders.
I pushed his arm away and again said, “I’m not a she-male!”
“Are you not a guy dressed as a woman?” David asked
with a smirk. Before I could say anything else, he continued, “My wife and I
haven’t done anything in over a year and ever since I discovered trannies on
the internet, I’ve been dying to meet one. Y’all are supposed to give the best
blow jobs around. In fact, y’all just can’t wait. I bet right now that you
can’t wait to find out just how well hung a stud I really am!” He started to
unzip his pants. I suddenly felt like throwing up.
I held up my hand in a gesture meaning “Stop!” I
said, “You’ve made a huge mistake! I’m not a she-male. I’m dressing
this way because of a bet at work, not because I like it! And, I’m definitely
not giving you a blow job!” I opened the car door.
David reached around me and shut the door. The guy’s
got some muscles, I’ll give him that. He said, “You know you want it, baby.
You know you can’t wait.” In a quick motion, David pulled the top of his pants
down, and then pulled down his underwear, exposing an impressive appendage. I
struggled against his strong hands, but I couldn’t break free.
In an accusing tone, Jennifer shouted, “Richard! Did
you know about this?”
“Know what, Honey?” Richard asked innocently.
“Did you know that David wanted to go out with Heather
just because he thought she was a guy?”
I managed to get the car door open again and as I was
trying to get out, Richard said, “Well, yeah. David took one look at Heather
and knew she wasn’t a real woman. He said he wanted to go out with her and I
said I knew the real girl she was with. I told him that if I asked you to go
out that maybe you could be persuaded to talk your she-male friend into going
on a double date.”
Jennifer suddenly looked furious as she shouted, “You
asshole! You weren’t really interested in me? You just wanted to get Heather
go to out on a date with your gay friend?”
David finally let go of my hand as he turned to
address Jennifer. “Excuse me?!” he bellowed. “I am most definitely not
gay. I’m married with two kids.”
“You could’a fooled me!” I shouted back through the
car’s window.
David started to get out of the car. As he was doing
so, Jennifer shouted at Richard, “How dare you! I thought you liked me!”
Richard, looking like he’d rather be somewhere else
said, “I do like you, baby. I enjoyed tonight. Even though I’m married now, I
wouldn’t mind going out with you every once in a while.”
Jennifer just stood there and cried. David came around
the car and stood in front of me. He said, “Look, I didn’t mean to come on so
strong about it. I just wanted to let you know that I knew you’re not a true
female. Don’t get me wrong, I think you’re a beautiful woman. I’d find you
attractive no matter what. But lately, I’ve become obsessed with trannies.
Relations between me and my wife have gotten stale and I was just looking for a
girl with something extra to spice things up.”
I suddenly felt incensed about the whole thing. I
didn’t want to date David or any other guy for that matter, but it pissed me
off that he was going to make me the “other woman” just so he could live out
his homo-erotic fantasies. I shouted, “You asshole! When did you plan on
telling me you were married, huh? And besides, just because a guy puts on a
dress doesn’t mean that the only thing she wants to do is give losers like you
blow jobs! I want to be treated just like any woman, not like one of your
perverted sexual fantasies!”
I turned away from David and took a few steps towards
Jennifer. I took her hand and started to lead her away. I said, “Come on,
Jenn. Let’s get a cab. I’ll take you home.”
David said, “Look, I’m sorry. I thought all she-males
were just crazy for sex. You don’t have to call a cab. We’ll take you home.”
I shouted back, “No way! And for the last time, I’m
not a she-male. I’m a…I’m a… woman.”
* * *
The taxi pulled up to Jennifer’s apartment complex. I
turned to Jennifer and said, “Here’s your apartment. I’m really sorry the
evening ended up so badly.”
Jennifer shook her head and said, “It’s certainly not
your fault. If anyone, it’s mine. I should have known better than to think
Richard was still interested.” She started to get out of the cab, and then she
turned back to me and said, “Would you mind terribly coming up to my apartment
with me? I’m too upset to go to sleep right now and I really don’t want to be
alone right now.”
Wow. Jennifer is inviting me up to her apartment!
It’s just too damn bad she’s only doing it so she can have a girlfriend to
commiserate with. I said, “Sure, okay. I don’t feel much like sleeping right
now either.”
I paid the taxi driver and started walking in silence with
Jennifer towards her apartment. It was a surreal moment. Here I was, walking besides
one of the most desired females at the office and I couldn’t even so much as
hold her hand.
After we entered her apartment, Jennifer broke the
silence by inviting me to sit on the couch. “Do you want anything to drink?”
she asked.
I shook my head and said, “No thanks. I’m fine.”
She stood there, still looking wonderful despite the
evening, and asked, “You sure? Not even a Coke? Water? Milk? I have some
green tea.”
I said, “If it’s no bother, I guess I could use a
Coke.”
She smiled and said, “No problem. I’ll be back in a
minute. Feel free to turn on the television if you want.”
I figured she’d be back in about thirty seconds, so I
just sat there. A couple of minutes ticked by, so I turned on the TV to see
what was on.
A moment later, Jennifer returned, dressed in a peach
colored satin camisole and matching shorts. She carried a Coke can in each
hand.
As she handed me the can, she said, “Sorry for taking
so long. I just had to get out of those stinky clothes.” She flopped down on
the couch next to me and ran her hands through her long, damp hair. “Oh God!
What a nightmare! Everything started off so great, and then…” She just stared
at me a moment.
Finally she said, “Just what the hell was up with that
guy, anyway?” She laughed and looked at me, and then lowered her voice in an
attempt to sound like David, “You’re a she-male so let’s fuck!” She laughed
again and in her normal voice said, “Isn’t that just so romantic?”
“It still creeps me out just thinking about it,” I
said.
Jennifer just sat there a moment, staring into her
hands. She turned to face me and I could see the tears welling up in her
eyes. She started to cry as she said, “I just don’t get it! How could he do
such a thing to me? He’s married now and he gets my hopes up by asking me
out. Ohhh! That asshole!”
I held out my arms and she fell into me and let me
hold her as she literally cried on my shoulder. I patted her back and stroked
her hair and tried to say soothing and comforting things. “I’m here for you Jennifer.
Go ahead and cry – get him out of your system. At least you found out he’s a slime
ball before you went out with him again.”
Jennifer pulled away a little and looked at me. Our
noses were only an inch apart. I could feel her warm breath on my face. She
said, “I mean, not only was he married and led me on, but he used me so his
weird friend could get to you! I feel awful for dragging you into it.”
I touched my forehead to hers and put my hand on her
cheek as I said, “Oh, it’s not your fault. You had no way of knowing they were
a couple of creeps. Honest, I don’t blame you. Men are scum, right?” Oh God,
our lips were so close! What was left of her perfume filled my nostrils.
She leaned back into me and gave me a big,
girlfriendish hug. As she held me close, Jennifer said, “Thank you for being
here. I needed someone to talk to.”
“I’m here for you Jenn,” I said sincerely as I stroked
her hair.
Jennifer pulled herself closer to me as she said
softly, “I appreciate it. I’m so glad you’re here with me tonight. I’d hate
to be alone right now.”
I leaned in closer to her and said, “I’m glad I could
be here for you, Jennifer. If I were a guy…um, I mean, as a guy, I’d never
mistreat you like that.”
“All guys say that.” Jennifer’s eyes bored into mine.
She leaned in closer.
“But I understand,” I whispered. “I’ve been there.”
“Did I ever tell you that you’re cute?”
“Yes, you did…” my voice trailed away as she parted
her lips, leaned closer to me and closed her eyes.
And then our lips met. A hot flush rushed through me
as I pressed harder into her and put my hand behind her head. I couldn’t
believe I was kissing Jennifer! As she fell backwards on the couch, my tongue
found hers and I suddenly found myself laying on her. I kicked off my shoes and
then she wrapped her legs around mine.
Jennifer was a wild woman. I began to doubt that I
could hold on. As we struggled on the couch, my wig fell to the floor. Jen’s
emotions must gave been driving her as she kissed me with a passion that even
to me seemed excessive.
She pulled off my top and I wriggled out of my
miniskirt. I found my bra pressing against Jennifer’s breasts through her
camisole. I don’t know what it was doing for her, since it wasn’t doing
anything for me, but she moaned softly.
However, pressing my silky panties against her satin
shorts was doing amazing things for me. The sensation was incredible and Mr.
Happy was just busting with joy. Our passions rose to a crescendo of kissing
and fondling. Jennifer suddenly reached up and pulled my panties down and
slung them across the room. Breathing hard and blood pounding, I became a
member of a very exclusive club…
* * *
End of Part 5
since 10/3/06