Hostile Takeover
An Altered Fates Tale of Treachery,
Betrayal and Duplicity
"For goodness sake Isabel, there is nothing like that going on. I've told you that a thousand times. Now why don't you just go out and buy yourself a dress or something - I've got somebody outside for me, and I can't afford to keep them waiting!"
James Mould put the phone back on the cradle and leaned his head back as he raised his eyes to the ceiling. Why couldn't she just give him a break! He couldn't believe how much she had changed since they had been married, and he was seriously starting to doubt that she had ever been pregnant, especially since her miscarriage. It was as if she had been making all this up just so that she could marry him and get her hands on the family fortune!
His eyes travelled downwards and settled on the dark sleeve of his suit. Hanging off his cuff was one long red hair - it was Isabel's, and it reminded him of the very first time that he had met her and how he had thought she was so irresistible. Oh, how things can change!
He was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't even notice his office door open and the attractive young blonde who walked in.
"Mr Mould, Mr Mould! Is everything all right Mr Mould?"
He didn't reply so she walked up behind him and put her hand on his shoulder.
"I said is everything all right Mr Mould?" she repeated, steadying him as he span around and nearly fell off of his chair.
"O..oh Marilyn. Sorry - I didn't hear you. W..what is it?" he said, trying to regain his composure.
"It's your twelve o'clock meeting Mr Mould. Mr Sutherland is outside and I think he's getting a little impatient."
"Oh yes. Well give him a cup of coffee and show him in say, in about ten minutes time. Oh, and call Mr Gardner - he is supposed to be joining us."
He watched her walk out of his office, her hips swaying with a seductive rhythm, and he imagined what it might be like to put his hands around them and join with her in a time-honoured fashion. The irony of it all was that this was exactly what his wife was accusing him of, despite the fact that this was all just a wild fantasy on his part, and that he would never act on it! No, Marilyn was a real find and had fitted in so well in the four weeks that she had been here. Yes - quite a find indeed.
A stunningly beautiful girl, who was far worldlier wise than her eighteen years should have allowed her to be, he couldn't really remember how she had come to be here in the first place. His previous secretary had just left one day, four weeks ago, and she had appeared the next day. He thought it must have been Jeremy's doing, because it bore all the hallmarks of how he operated, always watching out for him, but he wasn't really sure.
Oh well, he wasn't going to let Isabel grind him down - there were plenty of other things that were more likely to do that before she did, he thought as he contemplated his meeting with Mr Sutherland. He was not looking forward to seeing him. Apart from being an odious little man he knew that the purpose of today, was for Sutherland to soften him up for the real session that was scheduled for next week. That would be the key one. That would be the one where the shareholders voted on whether to accept the take-over bid from their long-term rivals and James was, so far, winning in his battle to resist them, but only just!
He felt a shiver run down his body at the very thought that he might fail in his fight to retain control. There was no way that he could ever contemplate having Sutherland's, effectively, taking over the family business, the one that his father had grafted all of his life to build. He had made James promise to maintain the business and to build on it, even on his very deathbed, and that was one promise that he intended to keep, for as long as he was James Mould. The problem was, his campaign to fend off the take-over had suffered recently, in light of recent leaks from within, that were hinting of financial improprieties. Of course, it was all nonsense but mud sticks, so they say, and his support was looking increasingly fragile in the wake of these revelations.
What was he going to do? He had to find who was sending out this erroneous information.
* * * * * * *
Isabel had been furious at first, hearing the loud clatter the phone made as James had hung up on her. She just wasn't used to getting treated in this way; she was the one who had all the tantrums! Her anger soon abated though as she thought about James. He had seemed so tense this time that she knew she was finally getting to him. What, with all the pressure he was under at the moment he would surely snap soon!
She picked up the handset and started dialling again, a smile creasing her lips as she contemplated getting total control over James money, even if she had to share it. Her fingers played with her striking red hair as the phone rung three times before it was picked up, and she heard the voice of her co-conspirator answer efficiently.
"Darling" she said warmly to him, "it's working perfectly. My constant unreasonable claims are beginning to get to him. We won't have to wait too much longer and then I can have the money and you can have me" she purred.
"I can't wait" came the reply, "but I've got to go now. I've been summoned. Love you."
"Love you too" she replied, and replaced the handset before mixing herself a drink.
* * * * * * *
"Mr Mould, are you ready yet. Mr Sutherland is getting impatient?" Marilyn said, as she poked her head around the door, her face showing her concern.
He was sorely tempted to let him wait a little longer but this option was removed from him by the entry of Jeremy Gardner, bringing Sutherland along with him. James mild annoyance at this soon passed, knowing that he was being unfair to his life-long friend. They had met at University, having found that their fathers knew each other, and when James had offered Jeremy a job as deputy MD, on assuming control of the company, he had leapt at the chance and had been indispensable to him ever since.
James forced himself to smile and shook Sutherland's hand.
"Mr Sutherland!" he greeted him cautiously, his hand outstretched.
His greeting was ignored, and James eyed the pompous little man in front of him with barely disguised distaste, as Sutherland pulled out a chair and sat down.
"Shall we get on with it. I'm a busy man and haven't got time to waste" he said, brusquely.
This greeting set the tone and the meeting went on for an hour, going pretty much as James had expected, with Sutherland making veiled threats in an attempt to undermine and unsettle him. He had even hinted that the offer currently on the table, that would put both James and Jeremy on the new company's board of directors, would be rescinded if they continued their stubborn resistance of the inevitable. Although Jeremy was more conciliatory, James had halted the meeting, stating that he would never give into such bully-boy tactics, and soon showed Sutherland the door. The last thing he heard Sutherland call out was a reminder that he could not afford any further damaging revelations and that he had one last chance to recommend the bid before more were revealed.
James slammed his office door shut and walked back to his comfy chair before banging his fist on top of the conference table.
"Damn! How I despise that man. I will never give this business away without a fight. If only I could find the source of these damaging leaks then I'm sure I could convince the shareholders to resist."
"Why don't you just calm down a moment James, and think of the reality of the situation. Would it really be so bad if the bid was accepted? You would become a seriously wealthy man, and you would still maintain a position of power within the new set-up" Jeremy urged him to re-consider.
James looked across at his friend and colleague and shook his head with disappointment.
"You just don't get it do you Jeremy. This was my father's company and is now mine. There is more to life than money. I'm beginning to worry about you Jeremy - you're beginning to sound just like my darling wife - that is exactly the type of thing that she would have said. I really don't want to discuss this any further now, I need some time to think things through" he said, and spun his chair away from his friend before he heard him leave the room.
He leaned back in his chair and put his fingers to his temple, kneading the pressure points in an attempt to gain some relief from the build-up of tension he was suffering from. All of a sudden he felt a cool pair of fingers join his and he turned around to see Marilyn standing there, and the pain just drifted away from him as her fingers gently massaged his head.
"Marilyn - what do you think you're doing?" he said, shocked at this new level of intimacy that she was showing. The underlying aura of sensuality that he was sure she possessed had surfaced, and how!
She pulled away and put a hand up to her mouth, gasping with embarrassment.
"Mr Mould - I am so sorry. I..it's just that I felt so sorry for you and I have been told that I have healing hands,. I..I thought I could help. I..I heard what was going on in here - I couldn't help it, what with all the shouting, and when I saw you sitting there..."
"Enough Marilyn, enough! I am not angry with you - far from it" he said, as he held her hands to ease her discomfort but conversely, only added to it.
She pulled away from him and sat down next to him.
"Mr Mould. As I said, I heard what you were discussing and I think I may be able to help you."
He looked at her quizzically, wondering what on Earth she thought she could do that might be able to make any sort of difference to him, in this dog eat dog business world. Still - what did he have to lose, he thought as he sat back to listen!
"You see Mr Mould, we all talk with each other, as women do, and when we gossip then all sorts of things come out."
James looked puzzled again, and Marilyn knew that she would really have to spell it out.
"In the rest room; in the kitchen. It's like a network Mr Mould, the secretaries network. It is one of the most powerful means of communication in the world and some would say it spreads news faster than Reuters do. There is nothing, or no one, that isn't compared and discussed and I am sure that one of them must know something about who might be leaking things. It might even be one of them!
James was sitting upright in his chair now, his attention now fully on what Marilyn was saying.
"Are you trying to tell me that you have picked up on something Marilyn, something that doesn't seem right to you?"
"Well no - yes - oh, I mean I don't really know, and that is the problem. You see I am still pretty new here and I don't really understand everything about everybody or this place yet. They may be telling me things that could be important and yet I wouldn't know!" she said, looking flustered.
"Okay Marilyn. I appreciate what you're saying. I suppose there won't be enough time to get you up to speed on everything and, even if there was, I think I'd be placing an unfair burden on you. Thanks for your thoughts though, anyway. Oh, if only I get in a position where I could hear the sort of things that you do - I might still be able to save the day!" he groaned and slumped back in his chair, a look of defeat on his face.
The room went quiet for a moment until Marilyn's voice broke the silence.
"Well then maybe I can help you there instead Mr Mould. I think I've got a way that might just make that possible."
* * * * * * *
James looked around Marilyn's tidy, but sparsely furnished apartment. He felt a pang of sympathy for her when he realised that she obviously didn't have much to her name and that she most probably needed her job just to survive. He was also sure that she wouldn't survive the take-over - there was seldom a place for ex-bosses secretaries and PA's - too many divided loyalties to risk it!
He was also feeling a bit nervous coming around to her house on his own. He couldn't understand why she wouldn't tell him how she could help him in his office, and why she had insisted he come to her apartment, but he supposed that he would soon find out. He just hoped that Isabel never got wind of this visit. She would see it as proof of his 'alleged' affair, and he wouldn't put it past her to issue divorce proceedings on the back of it, just to see him suffer! He thought of how she would do her darndest to clean him out if that was the case, and of the risk that he was taking, but then he dismissed it. He was prepared to risk anything, even his marriage, if it gave him a decent chance to save the business!
His thoughts were interrupted as Marilyn handed him a Scotch and ice.
"Here Mr Mould, why don't you take this and just relax for a moment. I'll bet you never really get a chance to wind down, what with having a business to run and what have you!"
These were the first sympathetic words that James had heard for a while. At last - somebody who finally understood what he had to go through! He took a sip of the drink and stood up, his face just inches away from hers as he stared into her eyes. Once more, he could sense her underlying passion, and he could swear that she was having to make a real effort to keep it in check.
"James please, Marilyn - call me James. It doesn't seem right for you to call me Mr Mould when I'm in your flat and drinking your drink."
He looked down at the Scotch and lifted it towards his mouth again, letting the amber liquid trickle down his throat until he could feel it burning its way towards his stomach, as he considered this situation. He could already feel the relief that it gave him, although something was nagging at him - something that wasn't quite right. By the time he had put the glass down he knew what it was.
"Marilyn, how did you know that I liked Scotch. I'm sure that I've never told you that before?"
He didn't know if he was imagining it but he was sure that he could detect a brief moment of panic in her eyes, and then she seemed back in control of herself again as she tried to deflect his question.
"Oh, I don't know Mr M..James! It's just that you look like the sort of man that would drink something like that" she said, and then reached for his empty glass and stared intently into his eyes.
She looked so vulnerable all of a sudden, both apologetic and scared at the same time, that he felt himself falling into her eyes and he leaned forward and kissed her lightly on her lips. At first there was no response and Marilyn passively accepted his approach, but as he started to penetrate her lips with his tongue, she started to respond and was soon helping him turn the kiss into a passionate embrace.
Just as James was preparing to take things further she pulled her hands up between them, as if suddenly realising what they were doing.
"James - don't!" she said, pulling away from him, "I invited you here to help you, not to have you steal my kisses. We..we shouldn't have - it's wrong - it wasn't yours to take!"
James looked puzzled again as he tried to make sense of her words. Steal her kisses - what an unusual term! He stood back, suddenly ashamed at what he had done. He had been starved of affection for so long that he just hadn't been able to resist such a sympathetic and beautiful woman. Maybe he had misread the signs? What on Earth had he been thinking of?
"I..I'm sorry. Maybe it would be better if I went!" he said, and went to pick up the jacket that he had casually discarded earlier, but was halted by Marilyn's hand on his arm.
"No - don't go James. I said I had the means to help you and I still want to, so let's just forget about what happened - I don't chase married men, and ..and it scared me!"
James relaxed a little, grateful that she didn't seem too upset.
"I'm sorry Marilyn, I don't know what came over me. It's just that you..."
"I said let's forget it. Now I said that I could help you, and here's how."
* * * * * * *
James had left soon after Marilyn's explanation. He hadn't wanted to seem rude but the way the conversation had turned had disturbed him more that he would have expected it to. It had been preposterous. He didn't know why he had been wasting his time. First she had accused him of stealing her kisses, and what was that all about, and then she had given him some 'cock and bull' story about a medallion that she owned, telling him that it could transform its wearer into the form of anyone they wanted!
He hadn't exactly laughed at her but he knew that she had read the disbelief in his eyes as she had told him that she would be able to use the medallion to transform him into an exact copy of herself, an exact copy in every single way! She had gone on to explain that if he became her for a short while then he would then be able to join in the gossip with the 'other' women, and would find out what was going on in a way that she never could. That way he would maybe discover the source of the leak. He hadn't been able to think of anything to say to her at her ridiculous suggestion, knowing that what she suggested was surely impossible.
As he had said, preposterous. What on Earth had made her think that he would be willing to become a woman anyway, even if it had been possible and, even, for just a short period of time? Oh sure, she had said that it would all be reversible but that the transformation itself would be both comprehensive and complete - down to the smallest feminine detail!
He shook his head at her fanciful idea but also felt a little disturbed, realising that he felt a small thrill at what Marilyn had suggested. It was an uncomfortable thought but he had to admit that just a small part of him was curious as to what it might feel like to actually become a woman, but he shrugged the thought aside, not believing in magic. All women were mad anyway! It was an incurable condition, he considered!
He put the key in the lock, entered his home, and then walked into the kitchen to make himself something to eat. He knew that there was no chance that Isabel would have prepared anything for him - she was hardly the doting wife!
"Isabel!"
There was no answer. He put the kettle on and looked for something to eat but as he did so, decided that he wasn't really hungry anyway and went upstairs to take a shower and to wind down. This afternoon's events had unsettled him more than he was prepared to admit.
* * * * * * *
He woke up early next day, as was his want, and for a moment wondered where he was. He had fallen asleep soon after his shower and had never heard whether Isabel had returned home or not and, truth be told, he wasn't really sure that he even cared. He'd known that she was supposed to have been attending some women's group or something, but he wasn't really sure.
He dragged himself out of bed, noticing that she wasn't next to him and, after shaving, checked the spare room that either of them would use when they didn't want to disturb the other. Seeing that she was there he went to get himself some breakfast and then drove the ten miles to his office, finding that Marilyn was at her desk and waiting for him with a cheerful smile and a greeting, as always.
He sighed to himself with relief. He had half feared that she wouldn't show, after what had happened yesterday, and he drank the coffee she brought to him feeling far more relaxed as he turned on the television to catch the morning's business news.
He had one eye on the television and the other on the pile of correspondence he was sorting through that Marilyn had prepared for him. The ringing of his phone interrupted his concentration and he picked it up to hear Marilyn telling him that his wife was on the phone. He groaned and then composed himself. What on Earth could she want now?
"Good morning dear, and did you have a good time last night?" he asked her, feigning interest.
"Don't you good time me - I can see that you must have had a pretty good time yourself with that bottled blonde bimbo that you call .." she continued, giving him the third degree about the lipstick she had found on his collar.
Despite his repeated, and desperate, denials she continued with her tirade, accusing of having an affair with Marilyn again and again and he listened stoically until he heard a snippet of the news from the television that caught his attention.
"..and the questions continue about Mould's Technology as further rumours broke today, regarding financial improprieties in their latest filed accounts. This latest news could be significant with the shareholders vote on accepting the Sutherland's bid pending. It was always going to be close but with this latest news the analysts are forecasting the vote will swing Sutherland's way. And now to a special report on..."
James flipped the off-switch on the television and hung up his phone, leaving Isabel still ranting on in the background. She could think what she liked as far as he was concerned - he would deal with it later. He had far more important fish to fry. He reached out and pressed the button on his intercom and asked Marilyn to get Jeremy here as soon as possible.
Just two minutes later Jeremy came bounding into the room, his smiling face indicating that he was unaware of this latest development.
"Jeremy - haven't you heard the latest news yet?" he said, and on getting a negative reply proceeded to update him on what he had just heard.
Jeremy's face visibly paled as he took in the implications of what he had heard and, as James finished, he stood upright and faced his friend, his hands resting on his shoulders.
"James - you've got to listen to me. Consider the offer again. Unless some miracle occurs then you're going to lose the vote and if you hold out too much longer the Sutherland's offer regarding our positions might not even be an option. You could lose everything!"
James rose alongside him, his eyes steely with his determination to see this through.
"I've said it before Jeremy - I will not give up my business without a fight. Now leave me - I want to think things through."
He watched his friend leave and felt guilty at the tone he had taken with him. He knew that Jeremy had only wanted the best for them both, but he would be the judge of what was best. He thought for a moment as his finger hovered over the intercom button and finally, as he came to a decision. He pressed it, and then heard Marilyn answer.
"Marilyn - will you please come in here for a moment."
* * * * * * *
James was sitting back on Marilyn's sofa, his fingers undoing the buttons on his shirt, as he contemplated what was going to happen next. He must be as mad as she was?
"Are you really sure that this is going to work?" he said to her, loosening the rest of his clothing as she had instructed.
"Trust me James, I've seen it before, on more than one occasion" she replied, and was then interrupted by the sound of her door-bell ringing.
As she went to answer it James wondered what Jeremy would make of all this. He had called him at the last minute, and had asked him to come round; knowing that he would need some help if he was going to be able to carry this off successfully. Marilyn returned with Jeremy and James then told him of Marilyn's plan, which was going to be his last hope of saving his company. Jeremy looked incredulous at first, and James could tell that he was wondering if he had finally cracked under the strain.
"No old friend, I'm not mad. With Marilyn's help I am going to impersonate her - no, I'll become her by all accounts - and see if I can trace the source of the leak."
"But..but surely, have you really thought this through? What if something goes wrong?" Jeremy spluttered.
"Nothing will go wrong" Marilyn said, "he will be able to change back at any time after twelve hours have passed. If he's lucky then he'll be back in his own body by this time tomorrow."
"And if he's unlucky?" Jeremy asked.
"Then it will take as long as it has to, or until he decides enough is enough."
"Then let me do this for James - I'll take Marilyn's place instead of you!" Jeremy implored him.
James was moved by his friends offer but turned it down.
"No Jeremy - this is my company and it'll either be me that saves it, or me that loses it. I wouldn't want to put that burden on your shoulders old friend."
Jeremy nodded in understanding and Marilyn walked across and placed a medallion, containing a small cherub in its centre, around his neck.
"Enough of this talking. I think we should get on with this" she said, and before anyone could react any further she touched an item of her clothing to the medallion, sending what felt like a small electric shock coursing through James body.
He looked up at her, surprised at the decisive way that she was talking and, for the first time, truly believing that what she had told him might just be real!
"T..then, this is really going to happen!"
She nodded her confirmation and told him to keep the clothing pressed to the medallion, explaining that the longer he held it there then the more of her memories and personality would be available to him. He wasn't really sure that he wanted that, but she explained that he would need as much knowledge of her life as possible to be able to get by, and to avoid suspicion.
Jeremy watched in fascination as he noticed the first of the changes.
"James - your hair!" he exclaimed as he saw the blonde streaks starting to appear in what had always been his friends dark brown hair.
James tugged at his hair to see what he was referring to but although it had started to grow, it wasn't yet long enough to pull in front of his face. He soon lost any concerns he might have had about his hair though, as he felt a shudder pass through his body, followed by a few moments excruciating pain as his limbs and upper torso seemed to take on a life of their own. The rest of his body swiftly followed until he collapsed on the floor unable to control his own movements and groaned in agony, curling into a foetal ball.
The silence that had engulfed the rest of the room suddenly broke and Jeremy's resolve seemed to snap as he made to go to James side.
"No - wait. He will be all right in a short while; I have seen this before. Some seem to go through tremendous pain whilst others accept the change quite easily. It seems that he is in the former group," Marilyn said, her hand resting on Jeremy's arm as she tried to hold him back.
They both watched as James started to unfold his body. As his back straightened they could see how it was tapering into his newly formed pear-shaped hips that framed a rounder behind than had previously existed on him. Jeremy was staring intently as James started to turn around and he could see the first swelling of what was turning into an exact replica of the breasts that belonged to the woman standing next to him. James was just about to stretch his legs when Marilyn stepped in front of Jeremy, blocking his view of what was happening.
"I think you had better leave for a short while, just until the process has finished," she said as she started to steer him towards the living room door.
"B..but" he stammered.
"No buts Jeremy. You've got to let the girl have a little privacy so that she can maintain her dignity. Besides, I don't want you seeing things that - well, things that are the same as mine."
Jeremy failed to prevent a leery grin from appearing on his face as he peered over his shoulder in a last ditch attempt to catch a glimpse of his friends transformation, whilst James shuddering seemed to be subsiding as his changes started to slow. He had been aware enough of his surroundings to have heard himself referred to as 'the girl', and he shuddered again as thought about what that might mean now, only this time from a heightened emotional state.
By the time that Marilyn had returned to the room, with Jeremy now safely out of the way, the new girl was sitting upright and looking down at her loosened clothing and the form it now contained.
"Ah good - I can see that you seem to have finished now," she said, as she reached down to encourage the new girl to her feet.
"W..why didn't you warn me that it would be so..so..?" she asked, looking startled as a voice that she recognised as Marilyn's was now emanating from her own mouth.
"I didn't know that it would affect you like that. Now take these and get them on" she said, tossing James some clothing and smiling at her startled gaze. "I'll leave you alone so that you can - well, find yourself!"
"Y..you surely don't expect me t..to wear this do you? James said, holding up a mid-thigh length dress that seemed barely big enough to cover her embarrassment, but she was already talking to an empty room, Marilyn having already left.
James slowly started removing his loosened clothing and gasped as his body gradually revealed itself. It was a sight that he had often fantasised over as a man and now, finally, his dream was becoming reality; there was only one thing wrong with it though, and that was the fact that he was the one inside of it and that he was now a she! The clothes James had worn to Marilyn's house were soon pooled around her ankles and she stepped out of them, leaving them on the floor.
Her hands moved under her breasts and lifted them slowly, feeling their weight and the smooth texture of her pale skin as she moved them from side to side, fascinated by the sensations they were sending to her brain. She let them drop and then looked further downwards, parting her legs slightly as her body tried to adjust to her changed distribution of weight.
This was all forgotten about though, as she marvelled at the gap that now existed between her legs, and she couldn't help but feel frightened as the remainder of her male instincts kicked back in. She grabbed, briefly, for her missing genitals until she remembered that this change was only temporary, and then calmed down again.
She pulled her hands away knowing that this was not the time to explore this previously forbidden territory and looked at the patch of sandy coloured hair that framed her new sex. Despite the shock of her situation she gave a wry smile, now knowing for sure that Marilyn was not a natural blonde.
"Are you ready yet Marilyn?" a voice came from behind her, and she turned around at the sound of her voice, not yet appreciating that the original Marilyn was referring to herself.
She watched, her mouth gaping open, as Marilyn entered the room again, the figure of Jeremy just visible behind her, through the crack of the door.
James was still holding the dress with one hand, her other covering the small patch of pubic hair that she had just been looking at. Marilyn raised her eyes to the heavens and then stepped purposefully towards her, her face wearing a look of irritation.
"Oh for goodness sake. Haven't you sorted yourself out yet? I suppose you were inspecting the merchandise, but I'd rather that you didn't - not in front of me, at any rate. Now hurry up - Jeremy is dying to see what you look like. Here let me help you," she said picking up the lavender bra and pantie set, and motioning for the new Marilyn to lift up a leg.
James tried to protest, saying that she didn't want Jeremy to see her like this, but Marilyn told her that she didn't have the luxury of time to go all coy on them now. He would have to see her at some point anyway, and the sooner the better! She helped ease the snug fitting panties up James legs, and settled them tightly into her groin, as she, meekly, followed her lead. She noted with wry amusement the expression on James face, knowing that she would be deriving at least some degree of sensual pleasure from this experience, at least until it became an everyday occurrence for her. She then showed her how to lean forward so that her generous breasts settled into the cups before telling her to fasten up the back of it herself.
James looked at her puzzled, not knowing how to start such a thing but found the task surprisingly easy much to her surprise. Again, Marilyn noted her reaction with further amusement and then reminded her of what she had told James as she had put the necklace around his neck, and touched it with her clothing.
"Remember when I made you hold the cloth to the necklace for a while, so that you would benefit from some of my personality and memory! Well that was an example of it. If you let yourself relax for a moment, and don't try too hard, you will find yourself adept at most of the feminine skills you will need to get by. You will also find some of my own memories creeping into your brain, which will help you with your impersonation."
James paused for a moment as she listened to her words. It was true - she had managed the clasp at the back of the bra strap without a second's thought. She was also now experiencing flashbacks, where should could snatch glimpses of herself bringing coffee to J..James - James Mould! Her legs felt wobbly for a moment at this sudden demonstration of what Marilyn had been describing. She was viewing a familiar scene between Marilyn and James, but this time she was Marilyn and was seeing James in the third person!
Marilyn was a little taken aback as she saw the startled look in the new girls eyes, and she knew that she was already experiencing what she had just described to her. Making James hold that cloth for a longer time had definitely had the desired effect, and it was obvious that this girl was already having some of her own memories revealed to her. It made Marilyn shiver herself for a moment, knowing that another person was fumbling and feeling their way through the most intimate of her moments, but quickly shrugged that feeling aside. It wasn't as if it was going to matter to her, not for much longer anyway, and this new Marilyn was welcome to them!
The next thing James became aware of was the sensation of a dress falling down along her body until finally her head broke free of the material, like a diver surfacing for air. She had just pulled it into place when Jeremy walked back into the room, unable to contain his curiosity for any longer. James just stood and stared at him, feeling ridiculously exposed as Jeremy's hungry eyes examining every curve and contour of her new body.
"Well - I have to admit, I wouldn't have believed this if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes. If I didn't know what clothes the real Marilyn was wearing I would not be able to tell the difference between you!"
James had mixed feelings about this. She was pleased on the one hand that she was convincing enough to fool even her best friend, but she was also worried that her impersonation was maybe too thorough. Surely there should have been something different about her that should have revealed her true identity - maybe something about the way that she held herself, that should have yelled out to him that she was really a man!
She looked down at herself at this thought, and saw that she was standing very prim, her hands held in front of her, and looking every bit as feminine as the real Marilyn who was next to her. The inherited instincts were obviously doing their job, she reasoned.
The ringing from James mobile phone interrupted her thoughts.
"Damn - I wish I had turned that thing off!" she cursed as she picked it up and looked at the LCD display. "That's my home number - it must be Isabel checking on me again. Thank God she can't see me like this!"
Jeremy started to repeat his exclamation and suddenly became concerned.
"James " Jeremy said, "did you tell Isabel that you wouldn't be returning home tonight?"
Her hand flew towards her mouth in shock at Jeremy's words, suddenly realising that she couldn't possibly return to her home looking as she did now.
"N..no" she gasped, "I didn't even think about it. I..I suppose that I didn't really think..."
"..it would work" the original Marilyn interrupted her. "Well you know better now!"
"And that's not all" Jeremy interjected, "have you forgotten that you also have an appointment with Sutherland's tomorrow morning. It would be disastrous if you weren't there and it would be seen as a massive snub, and confirmation of the company's problems, which, I am sure, they would make hay with!"
"Oh my Lord - I had forgotten all about that. I was so obsessed with finding the source of the leak that I forgot everything else. Why didn't you warn me - you're supposed to be by secretary?" she said, looking accusingly at the original Marilyn.
A fleeting look of annoyance flew across Marilyn's face as she snapped back.
"Not at this moment I'm not - you are just as much the secretary as me right now!"
James looked aghast at the real Marilyn's words, and couldn't take in what had just been said to her. She sat down as a feeling of panic overwhelmed her, which was especially worrying as James had always kept such a cool head - she just wasn't used to being so out of control in this way!
"Oh my - what are we going to do - I could lose everything. If Isabel finds out I am here then..then.." she wailed, and started crying, looking every bit like the helpless female that she now was.
"Well, I could change into James and provide cover for you" the original Marilyn replied, back to her helpful self again, having controlled her outburst of anger.
"No, you can't do that. If you didn't know enough to understand the business then how will you ever be able to pass properly as me; especially with Isabel" James sniffled.
"I suppose so. Even if I get some of your memories there is no guarantee that it would be enough to over every eventuality" Marilyn agreed.
"Well there's only one thing for it then. I'll have to become you until you change back" Jeremy said. "I'm the only who could possibly do this and get away with it. Nobody will miss Jeremy for a few days, especially if I tell them that I went on a short vacation. I know the business and also Isabel, so I should be able to get away with being you on the home front, as well!" he said, grinning in a way that James didn't quite like.
She felt very uncomfortable at the thought that might be able to be replaced so easily, but that soon passed as she realised that she had no choice but to agree.
"Then that only leaves me," the real Marilyn said, as they looked on, puzzled. "Well there can't be two of us now can there, and I refuse to stay cooped up in this tiny little apartment until this is sorted out. I have got an idea though."
* * * * * * *
James morning routine had been far different than usual this morning. There had been none of the usual brief wash and shave that he had been used to before dressing, but then he wasn't a 'he' anymore, and he wasn't James! He was a she and she was Marilyn. Although this should have been a surprise to her it wasn't really, for she had spent all night dreaming and regaining the memories that she had never really had, but now possessed.
She hadn't quite got used to being referred to as 'Marilyn' yet, but the others had insisted on it, telling her that she needed to get used to answering to it as soon as possible if she wasn't going to be found out!
She lifted herself out of the small bed and walked, bleary eyed, into the small bathroom, sitting down to relieve herself without a thought, and had then washed her face in lukewarm water to fully wake herself. After patting her face dry on the soft towel next to the sink, she examined herself in the mirror.
Despite the fact that she knew what she'd see, she was still taken aback at the face that was staring back at her. Was this beautiful face, even without any make-up, really hers now, and if so then just who was she? She was now the possessor of Marilyn's body so that surely made her more Marilyn than James - didn't it?
Oh, it was all so confusing!
She stopped thinking and searched her instincts, finding that every part of her screamed back that she was Marilyn, secretary to the boss of Mould Technology. As soon as she concentrated though, her intellect reminded her that she was still James Mould deep down but a nagging fear started to build. She realised that the James part of her now seemed less real than who she was now, and she had only been changed for one night.
She ceased her deliberations, remembering Marilyn's warning that she would take far longer to get ready for work than she was used to, and went back to her dressing table to get her make-up. She remembered the advice she had received the night before, and just blanked out her mind and let her 'new found' instincts take over. She soon found out that she could perform an acceptable job that way and let her instincts lead her, whilst her mind drifted back to the previous nights events, and to what had happened after her own change.
As she smoothed the foundation into her face, she remembered the churning that she had felt as she saw Jeremy transforming into her old self, James. She had stared at him with feeling of awe as she looked into the familiar but subtly different face that she knew so well. It was a bit like looking into a mirror, only this time in reverse. What was really strange though, was to see this reversed reflection moving under its control, feeling around its face and looking at itself whilst she had just sat there trying to analyse how she felt. It had been so confusing - it had seemed that being James had all been just a dream and that the thirty years of his life to date had belonged to someone else. She shivered as she remembered how her eyes had travelled down towards his groin unconsciously, knowing exactly what was in his trousers and feeling an ache between her legs at the thought of what it might feel like from her new perspective. It had taken a real effort to think of anything else until Marilyn had re-entered the room.
As she drew the eyeliner along her eyelid, she also thought about how the other Marilyn had earlier left the room, to go into her bedroom. When she had returned some thirty-minutes later, it was as a svelte brunette, who bore a slight resemblance to someone that she couldn't quite remember, and she felt a momentary sense of sadness that she couldn't remember more. She wasn't really sure if this was due to the passage of time, or whether it was because a part of James that had existed previously, now been replaced by a part of Marilyn.
Her attempts to pin down that memory were soon forgotten though, as the old Marilyn, now going under the name of Pamela, explained why she had changed and how she was going to help her. She watched the pretty but harsh looking face of Pamela becoming suddenly animated as she outlined her plan.
"I am going to be the new temp for the Financial Director, Hargreaves. Jeremy told me that he was about to employ one with the next two weeks anyway, to provide cover for the secretary about to go on maternity leave. Well James will recommend me, and also that I start as soon as possible so that I can learn the ropes. He'll tell Hargreaves that it'll save on an agency fee, and that should appeal to him. Well once I'm there I can help you to find out the source of the leak. It might even be Hargreaves himself!"
It all seemed to make some sort of sense to Marilyn, and she knew that it would be good to have someone on the inside helping her, both in terms of her investigation, but also in learning how to pass as Marilyn, and who could be better! As she watched Pamela continue her discussion with Jeremy, she didn't even notice that the details of all of this were being agreed between them without her even being involved, as her mind tried to remember Hargreaves secretary. She, as James, had known her for years, and she could vaguely remember her face but now, she couldn't even remember her name. It had completely escaped her!
This feeling should have bothered her more than it did but she just didn't have the time to worry about it any longer as time was moving on, and she came back to the present. As if on autopilot she removed the panties that she had worn last night and tossed them, along with her bra, into her linen basket. She didn't even question the fact that she hadn't previously been aware that it had even existed as she walked away from it and towards her wardrobe to choose her apparel for the day.
A clean bra and panties went on without any fuss and, by letting her instincts guide her once more, she chose a neat pale-grey business suit. She was pleased with the overall effect that she saw in the mirror, finding that it gave her an air of efficiency, exactly the same that she had always admired when she had been James. A light jacket and a black purse completed her preparations and she set off for work feeling far more natural than she should have done.
As she stepped outside, she experienced a completely new sensation, and it was one that was both exhilarating, but disturbing for her, as she felt a light breeze caress her intimate parts. She had already felt a slight thrill when she had moved about her apartment in her skirt, feeling the smooth sensation of her nylon-clad thighs rubbing against each other. This had been further heightened by the additional feelings she had gained from the smooth slip that accompanied them, but that was nothing compared to this! She started to feel aroused, just by the fact that she going outside in a woman's everyday clothes, and thought that surely, women couldn't feel like this all the time could they? It was already obvious to her that a woman's life was far more sensual than that of a man, but how could they cope with this?
She shook herself to gain a level of control on herself, and continued on her way, not liking the uncomfortable feeling that she now had between her legs. A short bus ride later, and a brief visit to the ladies rest room to check that everything was still as it should be, and to freshen up her - well.., and she was sitting at her desk and wondering what she should do now. She had made sure that she was in before Jere..James, as it was something that Marilyn always did, and she needed to follow the same routine as far as possible to avoid suspicion but had no idea what she usually did once she was here. It had just never occurred to James to consider such trivial things. Whatever Marilyn did each day - well, it just happened! Her puzzlement didn't last long however, as the door swung open and she looked around and saw ..."
"James..Jeremy, I mean James!" She exclaimed as her hand flew towards her mouth in surprise at seeing what had been her own body standing there grinning at her. She had seen it before, last night, and she had known she would have to face it in familiar surroundings, but nothing had really prepared her for this moment.
"Mr Mould Marilyn, Mr Mould to you. I can't have the staff getting too familiar with me. Now be a good girl and put some coffee on - I can see that you must have forgotten it this morning" he finished and went into his office, shutting the door behind him.
Marilyn was speechless. She didn't know what to be more shocked at. The fact that she had just seen herself walking into what had yesterday been her office, or that he was treating her just like some.. some brainless office secretary. She hadn't thought that Jeremy was going to play the part to this extent, especially when nobody else was around!
She began to wonder just how far Jeremy had taken his impersonation after they had all parted last night, and felt a moment of jealousy as she pictured him with Isabel. She knew that she was being irrational. There hadn't been much physical intimacy between them for some time now, and she was sure that Isabel would have rejected any overtures from the new James as much as she would have the old, but that wasn't necessarily the thing that was worrying her. The thoughts of a possible intimacy between James and Isabel had left her feeling an ache between her legs again, similar to that she had experienced the previous night, and unbidden thoughts of a naked couple entwined and making love started to fill her mind. She became hot and flustered as she tried to imagine what it might feel like to lie there, and to spread herself for a man so that he..he...
No! This was no good.
She shook her head vigorously in an attempt to shake away her disturbing thoughts, wondering why they had started creeping into her head. Did this mean that she was starting to turn gay, but how could that be so if she was no longer a man?
Oh, it was all so confusing!
She tried to put these thoughts aside by busying herself, and she put the coffee-pot on as James had instructed although she hadn't liked how he had spoken to her but that she would just have to go along with this for now. She determined to have a few words with this new James when she brought it in to him, just to remind who was boss around here. She had just poured out the coffee when the intercom on her desk buzzed, and put it down as she answered it.
"Marilyn, hurry up with that coffee please, and could you bring my mail into me, sorted in priority order" the disembodied voice ordered her.
"Wh..what!" she exclaimed, staggered at the audacity of his tone, but he had closed the connection before she could respond.
She flushed a deep red from the neck up and took the coffee into her old office, determined to have it out with him. She threw open the door to see him sitting with his back to her and talking on the phone. Without even turning around he indicated for her to put it down and leave. When she stood her ground he swung quickly around, the anger apparent on his face as he put his hand over the mouthpiece.
"I told you to leave" he hissed, "this is private!"
Private! What could he possibly have to talk about that was private, whilst he was in his old body?
Marilyn felt like bursting into tears and gasped for breath as she prepared to tell him what she thought about him but, instead, turned and quickly walked out of the office. Once outside she did cry, humiliated at her capitulation and at the fact that her best friend was being so horrible to her. She knew that, in her former form, she would have not tolerated such treatment and would have sorted out her protagonist in whatever manner had been deemed necessary. Now though - well, the only thing she had done was to run away, not able to handle the confrontation. She knew that she was feeling far more submissive now and, for the first time, had an insight into how limiting it was to be a woman, and she didn't like it!
She went back into the ladies rest room and repaired her make-up before returning to her desk, just as the intercom went again.
"Could you come in please Marilyn, and will you please bring my correspondence as I asked you to!" her old voice barked out.
She looked at the pile of unopened mail once again, and knew that she would not be able to sort through it in less than ten minutes. She decided she would go in first, and ask this James just what he thought he was playing at. She took a deep breath and gathered her courage and walked into her old office with a new determination. She saw James sitting there with his head looking down towards his desk, and was just about to speak when he looked up, halting her progress.
"Ah Marilyn, about time" he said, and then looked up at her. "Ah.. I can see that you still haven't brought my mail yet. I will have to have words about your performance later. This is simply not good enough. Now go and brew some fresh coffee and get some cookies - the decent ones. I've got an important visitor coming over shortly and I need to make a good impression."
Marilyn felt like running again as her heart hammered against her lovely chest, but this time, she forced herself to stand her ground. She spoke, her voice breaking with emotion.
"J..Jeremy - why, why are you treating me like this. You were supposed to be helping me - you were supposed to be my friend. Instead .. instead you are acting like .. acting like a pig!"
The new James just looked at the young girl falling apart in front of him - his face betraying no hint of emotion.
"Please Marilyn, we can address this later - maybe. In the meantime, can you please do as I've asked - I haven't got time for this right now."
This time, Marilyn's sense of determination did not live up to the test, with her not being able to comprehend the rapid change in either her situation or Jeremy's attitude. She fled the scene for the sanctuary of the ladies rest room, once again. She didn't spend too long in there though, for she wasn't sure how James might have reacted to a prolonged, and she dreaded to think just what he might do. She composed herself and returned to her desk just as the intercom buzzed again. She nervously pressed the accept button, only to hear James asking where the coffee was again, for his visitor would be here at any moment.
She scurried away to wash out the coffee-pot, and she had just put on a fresh batch when she heard a familiar voice behind her, causing her to start and almost knock it over.
"Can you tell him that I've arrived - I don't have too much time to spare and would rather get on with things as soon as possible."
She knew that voice - it was Sutherland! What was he doing here - what did he want now after he had been so summarily dismissed last time? As she was pondering these things she heard James office door open and she spun around to see him walking over to Sutherland, with his hand outstretched to greet him.
"Gregory - how good of you to come. Please, come in and sit down whilst my secretary arranges some refreshment for us" he said, as he led him in to his office as he indicated to Marilyn and clicked his fingers.
"B..but Jere..James - what is goi..!" she started to exclaim, but was stopped quickly by James.
"Don't dally Marilyn. Be a good girl and bring the coffee and biscuits as soon as you can. We don't want to keep Mr Sutherland waiting now, he's a busy man" James said quickly, cutting off her protest before she could say anything else.
Marilyn was dumbfounded, and her mind whirled as she tried to work out what James was playing at but she could only feel a growing sense of panic and of losing control as she busied herself with her task. Oh, if only she still had her old calm head now that she really needed it, instead of the pretty, but emotional, one that was feeling so flustered!
Just two minutes later that she was carrying a small tray containing coffee and biscuits into her old office, and she was having to do everything in her power to prevent her hands shaking, such was the feeling of anger and helplessness that she felt.
"Ah - at last. Thank you Marilyn" James said giving her just a cursory glance as she placed the tray between the two men.
She felt so small and diminutive in their presence, and it took all of her nerve to force herself to speak to James.
"J.. Mr Mould; would you, er, like me to take any notes for you?" she said, hoping that he would agree and that she would be able to find out what was going on, but her hopes were quickly dashed.
"No, I don't think so thank you Marilyn. I believe that we're coming to an understanding and don't need your help, wouldn't you agree Gregory!" James said, smiling.
"I believe so James. I'm sure that we can wrap this up soon without the need for documentation" Mr Sutherland agreed, adding his smile to James.
"So please, leave us alone and make sure that we are not disturbed say for, oh - for another hour. Now why don't you finish that little task that you were so keen to do only yesterday, if you remember" he said, and dismissed her from her former office as if she was exactly what she now seemed to be!
Marilyn was close to tears again, finding it impossible to understand why her best friend was seemingly betraying her! Even worse, she felt a tingling from between her legs and wondered if she was starting to react as a female might to a stronger male. What was happening to her!
She felt angry, humiliated, and was worrying that she might also be feeling some arousal and decided that she had to do something to drive these awful feelings away before she fell apart. Maybe James was right. Maybe she should just get on with her investigations. After all, that was why she had undergone such a drastic change in the first place - a change she now wished she had never agreed to.
* * * * * * *
Marilyn's investigations proved fruitless. She had been far too timid and nervous to have anything other than the most basic of conversations with any of the other secretaries or girls, and she feared that tomorrow would prove no better. The rest of the day went by with her performing her secretarial role, with James refusing to see her for anything other than to give her instructions on yet another menial task. The further the day progressed however, saw the role become a reality for her, and she had become so comfortable performing her menial tasks that by the time that five o'clock arrived, Marilyn had to work herself up to a state of indignation to tackle James.
This she achieved when she saw her old body walk past her and bid her good night.
"Hey - just a minute you! Where do you think you are going, and what the hell do you think that you're playing at!" she yelled at James as he walked past her desk.
She was incredibly frustrated, knowing that her high-pitched voice carried little authority and that it only caused James some mild amusement - she could see it in his face! Maybe she would just be better off just changing back tonight and fighting the take-over as James again, something she should have stuck to in the first place! When she broached the subject with James though, he discarded the idea out of hand.
"No, no - you mustn't quit now! You are doing so well coping and I'm sure that another day or so will bring results" he had said to her.
"Then why were you being so beastly to me?" she wailed, as she remembered his earlier treatment to her.
James stopped and looked at the delectable blonde standing in front of him, finding it hard to find anything of the original James at all. He was glad that he had only used the medallion on himself enough to effect the physical transformation, for he had retained the vast majority of his own mind and personality, unlike the girl that James had truly become. He had to make a conscious effort to try and give some re-assurance, for he didn't want to show his hand too soon.
"Look Marilyn" he whispered, "I would have thought that you'd realise that I was just putting on an act to protect you. Why, what with leaks and all, I wouldn't be surprised if your office wasn't bugged and you don't want to get caught out do you - can you imagine what the shareholders would say if they thought that the managing director was a closet transsexual?"
"B..but..." Marilyn stammered, desperately trying to assimilate what she had just heard. "B..but then why did you invite Sutherland over, and what deals were you doing with him without my knowledge."
James looked at her patronisingly, as if he was surprised that she hadn't spotted what should have been obvious to her.
"Why, I had to do something to steady the ship and to try an down play the ever increasing rumours. I also had to do something to safeguard us in case we lose the vote. I couldn't tell you because of the possible bugging, remember!"
Marilyn felt so stupid at being talked down to in such a way and what was even worse for her was the realisation that she knew that she had reacted illogically, and just even considered it herself. More so, she knew that she had reacted just like a woman, and not just any woman - more like some air-headed bimbo. The sooner that she changed back the better, as far as she was concerned, her current befuddled state was starting to feel too normal.
She was just about to ask James where Mar..Pamela was, and when would she see her, when James mobile phone rang. He answered it and covered the mouthpiece, giving her a small wave goodbye and telling her that he'd see her tomorrow, and then walked out of the room.
Marilyn just stood and stared at the closed office door. Despite who she now was she had forgotten that she would be returning to Marilyn's sparse apartment and not the lushness of her mansion-like house. She felt weary and defeated as she put on her jacket, picked up her purse, and set off on her short journey home, her hips swaying naturally behind her.
* * * * * * *
James had quickly left the office, wanting to avoid any further questions of Marilyn's before she realised that the semi-plausible tale he had spun was a complete fabrication. He doubted that would happen though for he couldn't believe how complete the change had been, and naive she had become. He continued the conversation after the caller on the other end had stopped talking.
"I know, and you would loved the look on her face as she listened to my feeble explanations and tried to make sense of them. Imagine - the formerly sharp mind of the heir to the family business and fortune now housed in the beautiful but intellectually challenged and innocent body of my secretary. I just can't wait until tomorrow when we deliver the coup de grace."
"Well as long as you don't think you can ever treat me like that. Just because I'm pretty doesn't mean I'm as dumb as she is. Don't forget who cooked up this little plan darling!" the voice replied, making sure that the new James didn't forget that this was all her idea.
"As if I could dear, as if!"
* * * * * * *
Marilyn had returned back to, what was temporarily, her home, having fought her way onto a crowded bus and walked the short distance to her apartment. It had come as a bit of a shock to her when James had reminded her where she would have to go, but she could hardly have returned to her real home as she was now. Heaven's no! Isabel was already accusing James - her - of having an affair with herself - Marilyn - and this would have been the final straw!
She kicked off her heels and massaged the soles of her feet. They weren't really hurting her - well, not too much anyway, but it had seemed the right thing to do - almost like a habit. As she was doing this she had another flashback. This time it showed her looking in a mirror and brushing her hair, her face made up and looking sexy. The only thing was it wasn't her face that she was looking at. The hair was a bobbed brunette style and the face pixie-like.
She felt a shiver pass through her body as she recognised the reflection - it was Pamela! How could she, as Marilyn, being experiencing Pamela's memories? It didn't make sense!
She couldn't understand what was going on and didn't want to think about it any more, it was giving her a headache, so she tried to blank these thoughts from her mind and she went to run a bath. She removed her clothes and tossed the lavender bath salts into the hot water - her favourite, she knew. She entered the bath and let herself sink beneath the warm water, enjoying the feel of the scented water caressing her skin, even down to her most intimate parts. She eased her legs apart and felt the warm enter the void between her legs. It set her mind off again, thinking of the man who had sat opposite her on the bus journey home. He had had such a cute little butt and the bulge in the front of his pants had made her feel quite uncomfortable for a while. She the warmth in her body go deeper than ever this time and her legs eased even further apart as she daydreamed about how his larger and stronger body would feel as his lips sought hers.
No! She couldn't let herself keep thinking like this. She had noticed that her thoughts had increasingly grown towards imagining herself with a man and she knew that it would soon become an obsession if she let it. She got out of the bath and rummaged around in her bedroom until she found a woman's magazine, and then returned to the warm water hoping that reading this would keep her mind off of other things!
She had found the magazine surprisingly interesting, and it was another until she was patting herself dry and wondering how she was going to spend the rest of evening on her own. She couldn't even contemplate going out on her own, even though she now knew she would have no trouble in getting by, for she felt very natural as this girl now. No, it was more that she didn't want to find herself having a good time inadvertently, and she was especially worried as to where her new found, but unwanted, interest in men might take her. If she was tempted to follow that through then she knew that she would have taken yet another step along the path to really becoming the Marilyn that she was pretending to be. One that she might find hard to get back from. She felt that she was dangerously close to that already, and determined that she would either discover the source of the leak tomorrow, or else she would change back. She was not going to return to this apartment again, unless it was to change back to James.
She found a loose fitting top and some old shorts, pulled her hair into a ponytail, and went to the kitchen to see if there was any food in the small refrigerator. She was just bending down to open the small fridge's door when the phone rang, causing her to jump with surprise. As she picked it up she heard a woman's voice, which she recognised as Isabel's.
"Is that you Marilyn?" it said, and Marilyn stammered out her confirmation.
"Good, then can you put that no good husband of mine on the phone. I know he's there and that he's with you so don't you try and deny it!" Isabel continued fiercely.
"B..but he's not here, at least.." she started to say and then stopped herself before she let slip that he was indeed here, but not as Isabel might have imagined.
"Well I'm not about to argue with you, you little slut and husband stealer. Just tell him to get his ass back here now" Isabel hissed and then Marilyn heard the phone slam down as she hung up on her.
Marilyn stood there in stunned silence, once again feeling the water well up in her eyes. She had had many rows with Marilyn as James, and had always stood her ground and given back as good as she had got, but this was different. She had been genuinely shocked at the spitefulness and ferocity of Isabel's attack and had never imagined that women could be so hateful to each other. Imagine - a slut - what a thing to call another woman!
She pulled herself around, determined not to let Isabel get to her in such a way, and decided that this had been the final straw as far as she was concerned. She was going to start divorce proceedings as soon as she changed back to James - she had had enough of her vindictiveness!
* * * * * * *
Isabel turned around and smiled at the man who was stroking her long red hair, and smiled seductively as she purred in response to his administrations.
"Oh I really enjoyed that darling. I could almost see her, with her pretty and innocent face quivering under my onslaught. I can't wait for tomorrow."
"I know dear" she received in reply, "and do you want topping up" the voice replied as Isabel raised her glass to him.
* * * * * * *
Marilyn had calmed down now, her anger having dissipated somewhat, and was about to settle down to the TV dinner that she had found in the fridge, she had never really liked Chinese food before but this didn't smell too bad, when the phone rang again. She put down her dinner and approached it nervously. If this was Isabel again, with more of her bizarre accusations, then she would just hang up on her.
"Hello.." she said nervously, and in reply heard a woman's voice, relieved that it was one that she didn't recognise, this time.
"Marilyn - how are you doing? It's me, Pamela."
"Pamela - oh, am I glad to hear you. Where have you been?" Marilyn said.
"Why, didn't James tell you! I'm not due to start until tomorrow so I have been indulging myself, spending my time shopping. Now I haven't got too long so listen carefully. You should find some food that I like in the fridge, and there's a few video's in the small cupboard by the television if nothing else appeals to you, and you don't fancy going out."
"I've already found the food, and I was just about to start on it when you rang. But wait, aren't you going to visit me tonight? There is so much to go through and I don't think I can face it on my own" Marilyn pleaded.
"Nonsense. You'll be fine. Now I've got to go and I'll see you tomorrow. Oh, by the way - there's something in the top drawer of my bedside cabinet you might be interested in, especially if you're feeling lonely. Bye!" Pamela said, and then hung up, leaving Marilyn staring at the silent handset.
She put the phone back on its cradle, wondering what on Earth Pamela had been talking about, and looked at the dinner that was slowly cooling. All of a sudden she didn't feel quite so hungry anymore, but decided that she needed to keep up her strength and would eat it anyway. As soon as she had finished it, all of her self-doubts started to creep back in again. She decided that she needed something to distract herself with and went over to where Pamela had told her that she kept her videos, and started to search through them.
Just twenty minutes later she was curled up on the sofa with a cushion pressed to her belly, sipping a pre-mixed pina-colada she had found in the fridge, and watching a romantic movie that she had selected from Pamela's collection. It wasn't the sort of movie that James would have enjoyed but then she was no longer James was she, and besides - it wasn't as if she really had any choice in the matter for all of Pamela's collection consisted entirely of what James would have called 'chick flicks'!
* * * * * * *
She lifted herself, sleepily, from the sofa as she listened to the video rewind itself. She stretched her arms and yawned. The combination of the small measure of alcohol and the sad, but beautiful, end of the movie had made her quite emotional, but tired. She knew that it was early but it had also been a long and upsetting day so she decided to retire to bed.
It was a warm evening and she felt quite warm inside, so she just stripped off her shorts and top and crawled under the covers in just her panties and bra. As she laid her head on the pillow she thought back to the movie. The James part of her that was left had known that it had been typical female fodder about a long-suffering woman who was denying herself from the man that she loved in an act of feminine martyrdom. Despite, intellectually, knowing that this was the case she couldn't deny that it had moved the Marilyn that she now was. She had to admit that it had been a nice feeling when the tears had started to build in her eyes. She had also enjoyed the bitter-sweet pain she had felt when her heart seemed to rise in her constricting throat. She had especially loved the yearning feeling she had felt in her bosom as the tragic couple had shared a last, but forbidden, embrace.
Oh, it had been so sad, but soooo beautiful!
Her hands moved down to her nipples and she could feel that they were already hard from her thoughts, and she brushed her fingers across them and delighted at the sensitive feelings this gave her. She thought back to the leading man in the movie and found herself imagining herself in the part of the heroine, and how she wished it had been her that had felt her lips crushed by the strong and handsome man called Matt, who was embracing her. She suddenly felt so incredibly lonely, and felt a build up of heat and moisture between her legs which was begging for attention.
This time, unlike the previous times that she had felt the start of an arousal building, she let herself go with it and suddenly remembered Pamela's words about something being inside her bedside cabinet. She reached across and opened the drawer and found a life-size flesh coloured dildo. Just for a moment Marilyn was shocked. Her small hands were closed around a life-like replica of a man's sexual organ and she briefly wondered how Pamela might have known that she would be feeling like this, but the thought soon passed as she became curious as to how it might feel inside of her.
She stared at it for a moment, letting its rigidity, along with the alcohol, hypnotise her and break down her inhibitions until she could no longer resist her lascivious thoughts. She had tried so hard but she knew that, ultimately, she would surrender.
She lay back on the bed and eased her panties down her legs until she could kick them onto the floor. She put down the dildo and removed her bra before sending it to join her panties. She was totally naked now and, for the first time, enjoyed the sensation of being so, and of wanting to share her nudity with someone. As soon as she thought this she started to remember the young and virile man from the movie, and her hand again picked up the dildo and started to stroke it. As she did so her other moved towards her breasts again, imagining that it was his fingers that was playing with her nipples.
She carried on in this way for a few minutes, partly because she was scared to move the dildo towards the part of her body that was craving it, and partly because she was enjoying the feeling of tension that was building from her self-induced torment. Finally, she could wait no more and held her breath as she moved the dildo towards the junction between her thighs. It felt surprisingly warm as it glided over her slick outer lips and eased apart the delicate tissue as she ran it along her slit. Her hands were trembling a little at first, until she started to settle into an easy rhythm and her hips started gyrating in response to her ministrations. She could hear a seductive moaning sound and then realised that it was coming from herself as the tip of the dildo inched further forward until it nestled at the entrance of her moist vagina.
This was the moment of truth for her and she paused for a second as she contemplated what she was about to do until she could wait no longer and she slowly, eased the phallic device inside of her body. Her moaning ceased for a moment as she hardly dared to utter a breath, such was her sense of wonder at the sensation of being penetrated. She thought about Matt, the hero in the video she had watched, and tried to imagine what this would have felt like if it had been his penis that had been entering her instead of this sexual toy. She shivered with delight as she thought of how the weight from his muscular body would have pinned her to the bed, leaving her unable to refuse him whatever he had wanted from her, and she moved the dildo faster. In - out - in - out - in - out she went, and then purred with pleasure as she rubbed the hard nubbin at her vagina's entrance with a finger from her other hand.
She would have never believed it was possible that a woman could experience such pleasure, and it felt so much more rewarding than anything she had ever felt when she had been James! It didn't take much longer until she finally exploded in a climax that left her breathless and emotionally drained.
She removed the dildo and let it drop to the floor as she savoured the afterglow of her first female orgasm. She tried to compare it to the male equivalent but was disturbed when she found that she was finding it hard to actually remember what it felt like to have a penis any more! She felt a mild sense of panic when she realised that her current form, especially after what she had done during the last half-hour with her new genitals, was far more real to her than her male body that she had lived all of her life in. She remembered how she had felt when she had been fantasising about Matt and knew that her old life had nearly completely slipped away from her.
That did it! She would change back first thing in the morning before she became Marilyn in both body and soul, and before that last vital spark that reminded her that she was really James Mould disappeared forever. She would rather lose the family business than her identity and manhood!
* * * * * * *
"Marilyn, would you come in here in five minutes time please, after I've made a call. Oh, and bring your note pad with you. I'm going to a meeting with Hargreaves and I need you to do a few things for me whilst I'm out."
"Yes Mr Mould" she replied remembering to remain in character in case James office was still bugged.
She turned off the intercom and blinked sharply, feeling something stinging her in the eye. She decided that she would go to the rest room to see if she could find the offending item, and would take to opportunity to freshen up her face while she waited for James to finish his call. She didn't even question why he should want to make the call in private this time, for she had far more worrying things on her mind. She walked up to the large mirror and leaned forward to get a closer look, and saw an eyelash which she quickly removed before recognising, what was now, a familiar but uncomfortable pressure which told her that she would need to relieve herself before too long.
She took another look at her face before heading for the stall. It was a reflection that she hoped she wouldn't have to see by this time but her hopes of an early change back to James had been dashed as soon as she had arrived at the office. She walked into the stall and lifted her skirt before lowering her hose as she manoeuvred herself over the toilet seat, and thought back to what had happened earlier, as her waters gushed into the porcelain bowl.
She had arrived early this morning, wanting to make sure that she was in before Pamela arrived. She would have called her before she had left, but Pamela hadn't left a return number when she had spoken to her last night and she had no idea where she was staying, so she decided to wait until they met at work. As she thought of Pamela her mind briefly flew back to Pamela's call of last night again and how Pamela had suggested that she might find something to amuse herself with in her bedside drawer. Well she had found that something all right, and she flushed a little at the memory of what she had then done with it!
Back to this morning though.
She had waited in the ladies rest room, correctly surmising that this would be the first place that Pamela would come when she arrived here. Already, Marilyn had been female long enough to understand why this should be so, and as Pamela walked in, five minutes before she had been due to start, she had walked up to her, her face a picture of desperation and hope as she held tightly to Pamela's hands.
"Oh Pamela, I am so glad that you're here. I don't want to go into all of the details now but I want to change back to James straight away. I don't think I can survive too much longer as this girl that I've become!" she had said, as Pamela pulled away a little.
"Don't be so silly. If you did that then we'd all have to change at the same time to ensure that there was only one of each of us. You can't do that in a busy office with people around all the time. Somebody would be bound to spot something. Besides, it can't be that hard to be such a lovely girl, that you need to change back right away, surely!"
"And that's just the problem Pamela. It's not hard to be this girl at all - in fact it is getting far too easy and I'm scared that I'll start to forget how to be James Mould if I stay like this for too much longer. Please Pamela, please change me back now" she had pleaded, almost on the verge of tears.
Pamela had just looked at the girl, for that was truly what she was, amazed at the power of the medallion that it could turn such a determined and powerful man as James Mould into this weak and pitiful creature that was whimpering and begging in front of her.
"No Marilyn, you don't understand. It's not that I won't, it's that I can't! I do not walk around with the medallion on me all of the time. Why, what if I got mugged or robbed - we'd then be stuck as we are now - forever. You're going to have to get through the day as planned, there is nothing else for it, and then we can see what we want to do later."
Marilyn had paled at the thought of the medallion getting lost, and nodded her head in acceptance of what Pamela was saying, knowing that she would be able to last the day out as long as that was all it was!
"Good girl, now come on. I've got a job to start" Pamela replied, and left Marilyn to her thoughts as she went to meet her boss, Hargreaves.
Well that had been earlier.
Marilyn looked at her dainty wristwatch and then took a small handful of tissues to wipe herself dry, as her waters ceased. She flushed the toilet, washed her hands, and after a final check of her face went back into the office, just as James was calling her in.
"Ah Marilyn, good. Now I'm going to be gone with Hargreaves for a couple of hours, we've got some important business to attend to. I am sure that you'll find something to occupy yourself with whilst 'we're' away" he said, making sure that she picked up on his emphasis.
Despite her confused and vulnerable state she did, indeed, pick up on his meaning, and reckoned that James was doing this so that she would have a chance to follow through on her investigations. She smiled as she realised that this was her chance to track down the source of the leak, and expose the perpetrator before she changed back to her male self again, later on today.
"Yes - I think I can find something to do. Maybe I can help out one of the other girls with something," she said, intending to join up with Pamela to see if two sets of eyes and ears would be more productive than one. She failed to notice that she had referred to the 'other' girls, quite naturally.
"Good, now I've got to be going and I'll see you later" James said as he picked up his briefcase and swept past her.
As the door banged shut behind him, she idly thought that she couldn't remember seeing an appointment in his diary, and wondered just where it was that he was going, but shrugged the thought aside. This was her chance to salvage something out of this mess she had so willingly got herself into, and to make her suffering of the last two days worthwhile!
She went back to her desk and waited for a short while until she was sure that the coast was clear, and then picked up her coffee cup to go into the small kitchen that the secretarial staff used to prepare their refreshments. As she had hoped, she found another girl already in there, no doubt preparing something for her boss. As the girl turned around Marilyn recognised her as Molly, the secretary to the Head of Sales. She had always thought Molly to be extremely attractive and had always enjoyed the chance to appreciate her fine pert form whenever the opportunity had arisen. She looked her up and down now and again, and thought how extremely attractive she still looked, even from her new perspective, but this time she found no hardness forming, and had no lascivious thoughts entering her head. No, this time her look of appreciation was one of admiring her whole look, and of admiration, not that of desire!
"Oh Hi Marilyn" Molly said, as she continued to wash the coffee cups that she had already started on. "Doesn't this drive you mad, having to be the dishwasher, organiser - in fact having to be the office housewife!" she moaned as she placed one of the rinsed cups on the drainer beside the sink.
"Sorry?" Marilyn queried as she walked up beside her, and rinsed her own cup out, not understanding whatever point it was that Molly was trying to make.
"Well, what else are we then, having to run around and take messages, make sure they keep their appointments, provide on tap food and drink when they want it, and to even arrange their cleaning and flowers for their wife whenever the appropriate occasion demands it. I mean, for heaven's sake - we even have to remind them when that 'appropriate' time comes around! You must have had to do that as well, especially if you have a male boss - surely!"
Marilyn looked sheepish as she remembered back to last week, when the original Marilyn had gone out to choose a card for his wife's birthday. She had, indeed, reminded him on the day before, noticing the meticulous appointment calendar that his former secretary had kept and just checking that he hadn't forgotten it.
Molly continued, as another rinsed cup joined the first one on the drainer.
"Yes - we're little better than a business version of their wives, and without the privileges I will add. I'd like to see them do our jobs for a while, and get treated and paid as we do. What, with the make-up, the nylons, the necessity's of feminine hygiene and what have you - it's damn expensive being a girl and keeping yourself looking good all of the time. And do they appreciate it - do they hell! It's expected of us. Oh yes, I'd give anything to see one of them try and put up with what we have to. I bet they wouldn't last a day!"
Marilyn just listened to Molly's griping, not really knowing how to respond to her. She had never realised that these girls felt so strongly about their conditions, although she thought that she was over-emphasising things a little, and she knew that Molly was most probably correct with her complaints, given her own experiences recently. She wondered how Molly would have reacted if she had known that one of 'them' did know what it was like, and that the one of 'them' was the head of the company, standing here before her in a smart skirt and jacket! She was wrong about one thing though. She had lasted more than a day - just!
"Anyway, it's been nice talking with you but I've got to get back. Old misery guts will want a fresh batch of coffee so I'd best be moving" Molly said, and picked up a tray of cups and a clean coffee-pot.
"Wait!" Marilyn stopped her, "have you seen Pamela around?"
"Pamela? Oh, you mean that new girl. Yes, but she went out with Hargreaves and Mr Mould a short while ago. She looks quite attractive, but seemed a little forward to me. Did you see the length of that skirt she had on? Why, if it had been much shorter then..."
Marilyn listened patiently whilst Molly proceeded to tear the new girl apart. It was yet another part of her education, and she found herself joining in with more interest than she would have imagined possible until, finally, Molly decided that she had 'really' better get back again and left her to her own devices.
Marilyn considered what to do next. She had been hoping that Pamela would have been here to help her, especially going through the files of what was now her boss. She was surprised that neither Pamela, nor James, hadn't been able to arrange things so that she could have stayed behind from wherever it was that they had gone to. Still, at least she knew that Hargreaves office was empty and she decided to start her investigation there first, for she considered him to be the prime suspect of the leaks.
She looked around and saw that things seemed to be fairly quiet, and this was likely to continue with lunchtime approaching, so she decided that she would go to his office and start looking now, whilst she had the chance. She mentally thanked James for providing her with this opportunity, grateful that she had such a good friend working with her, and eased open the door before stepping inside. She had seen this room many times before and, indeed, owned it in all actuality, but she still felt nervous at her furtive behaviour. It just felt wrong!
She looked through all of the filing cabinets for twenty minutes but found nothing that might incriminate him and then chastised herself for not realising that he would most likely have kept anything untoward in his private files within his desk. She was sure that as James, she would thought of this straight away and was worried at her lessened powers of reason. This evening couldn't come soon enough. She returned back to what had been her own office and took the master key that she kept there before returning back to Hargreaves desk. She was glad that she had once had the foresight to provide lockable desks for everyone, and that she had never told the executives that worked for her, about the master key. Sometimes it pays to be paranoid!
She turned the key in the lock that sat just underneath the desktop, and slid the wooden drawer open and started taking out some of the papers and laid them out on the top of the desk. There were certainly some strange things written down here, but nothing that she could see that would hint at any degree of impropriety. She opened the next drawer down and dropped some papers on the floor. Just as she was bending down to pick them up the inner door to Hargreaves office opened and Marilyn looked up through her long eyelashes at the towering presence of the Financial Director. She felt her heart sink as she thought about the sight that she must have presented and cowered back as Hargreaves face went a bright red colour as a result of his anger, which was obvious.
"Just what the hell do you think that you're doing?" he yelled as he saw all of his most personal and private working possessions scattered around his desk. "It's just as well that James asked me to come back for that report that he said he needed."
Marilyn was unable to say anything, feeling a mounting sense of fear and panic as she watched Hargreaves pick up his phone, dial out a number and then, finally, speak.
"James - guess what! I've just found someone in my office and you'll never guess who it is...."
* * * * * * *
James sat back in the car, experiencing his first feeling of apprehension since he had made the change, although there really wasn't any need to do so for he knew that, one way or the other, all the cards were stacked against his former friend
He looked at his watch and cursed his luck for, surely, he must have reached his office by now, when all of a sudden his mobile phone rang. He looked at the LCD and saw Hargreaves number was shown in the caller display and punched his fist in triumph. He could only be calling for one reason!
"Hello .. Mould!" he said, trying to keep his voice calm.
"James - guess what! I've just found someone in my office and you'll never guess who it is. I think that I might just have discovered the source of the leak."
"You've what!" James replied, trying to feign surprise. "Well hold them there. I've just got another call to make and I'll be up."
James pressed the red phone symbol to end the call and then dialled another number straight away that was answered immediately.
"Darling - we've struck lucky. Time to finish this I think!" he said excitedly.
* * * * * * *
Marilyn had remained where she was, being too shocked and frightened to move, and had listened to the one-sided conversation with a growing sense of disbelief. She shook her head in denial as she heard Hargreaves tell James his suspicions and, as soon as he put the phone down, she found her voice again.
"N..NO! Y..you've go it wrong - I'm haven't been doing anything!" she cried, and then stopped again, cowering back as he walked towards her.
She could see a look of anger in his face at first, which then turned to something else that made her feel even more uneasy, and she decided that it might be better to keep quiet for now. She didn't want to intimidate him for he was far stronger than he was. Besides, she knew that James would be able to straighten all this out as soon as he got here and then they could all get back to normal again. Her thoughts of changing back were put aside again though, as Hargreaves reached out to her. She shrank back even further but it was a futile gesture.
"You know, you're a fine looking girl and I have to admit that James certainly knows how to pick them. If I were you I'd be a good girl and co-operate with me. We might be able to come to some sort of arrangement that would, maybe, make me forget what I have just seen" he said as he grabbed her wrist firmly, and pulled her up from the floor.
For one horrific moment Marilyn found herself considering his offer, and the thought of her coupling with her former employee sent a tingling sensation throughout her body until she managed to get control of her thoughts again. She couldn't understand why she kept getting these feelings - it was as if she couldn't control herself, and they were far, far stronger than anything she had ever felt as a man!
Marilyn knew that she was completely at his mercy as she tried to pull away, but got nowhere fast. She had never really trusted him but had chosen to ignore all the rumours about the way that he liked to use the women that worked for him, on the basis that he was good at his job. She was certainly regretting that error in judgement now though, and she thought that maybe she was about to pay the ultimate price for that mistake as he wrapped his arms around her and pressed his lips against her own!
"N#&@-mmppph" she said as she shook her head in attempt to throw Hargreaves off, and then finally broke away. "I..i..if you do that again I..I'll scream!" she cried, knowing how..how stupidly girlish the words sounded, even as the words emanated from her mouth!
Hargreaves face flushed with anger until he realised that others would maybe hear her if he pushed her too far, and let her go. She almost ran to the far wall and tried to bury herself inside of it as she saw Hargreaves stand in front of his door.
"Then we can just wait until your boss gets here then, but you've just lost your only chance to get yourself out of a lot of trouble" he said.
"I..I'll take my chances with that," she said, wishing that James would hurry up and straighten this out.
* * * * * * *
It had seemed to take forever for him to arrive, and Marilyn and Hargreaves were wondering just why it was talking so long when they heard the sound of footsteps and, finally, of the door opening. She still found it strange to see her old body moving under the control of another, but hid her feelings this time, just grateful that he would sort this all out!
"Oh thank God!" she gasped, eliciting a look of surprise from Hargreaves, no doubt wondering why she should was so happy to see him, given her current situation.
James motioned for Marilyn to sit down in the chair on the other side of Hargreaves desk, and then asked Hargreaves to leave whilst he dealt with his errant secretary. Once he had gone Marilyn stood up and leant towards James.
"Oh James. Please, can we just end this nonsense and ..!"
James stopped her entreaty, talking through her as if she had never spoken.
"Well, I've got to say that I'm surprised at you Marilyn. Who would have thought that you would do such a thing!"
Once more, Marilyn was speechless. She understood why James would have kept up the charade when Hargreaves was here, but not now - not when they were on their own. She sat back down again, not sure that her legs would support her, as James continued.
"I must admit though. I have been a little worried about you for the past few days. Your performance since you've been at this firm had been exemplary before that but recently I have noticed that it has tailed off a little. I suppose it might be something to do with women's problems or something but that is really no excuse - millions of women around the world, deal with that every day. This though is just too much. Why did you do it girl - why were you spying on us?"
Marilyn was almost beyond the point where anything else could shock her. Why was James talking like this - why was he treating her as if he didn't know who she really was?
"I just do not understand it" he continued. "You are a very attractive girl and I am sure that you'll snare yourself a husband to look after you some day, but your mere presence is caused me endless problems at home. My beautiful wife Isabel is convinced that we are having an affair, and although I have had to prove my love for her over the last two days, and in the most enjoyable way possible I hasten to add, I don't think she will ever be comfortable whilst you remain here."
This was just too much for her.
"Ja..Jeremy! What are you talking about? You know why I was in Hargreaves desk, and yet you..you're acting like I was some kind of criminal. This has gone on long enough. I demand that you get Pamela and that medallion back here immediately, and that we all change back to who we were!" Marilyn shrieked, her face glowing a crimson red with the anger that she felt, and she ran over to where he was standing and started pounding his chest furiously, but ineffectually.
James merely laughed at her feeble attempts to hurt him, and easily shrugged her aside, sending her sprawling to the floor and leaving her legs spread akimbo. For one moment he felt himself responding to the sight of the beautiful women laid out before him, and one so helpless as well, as the adrenaline rushed around his body following the thrill of this confrontation. He soon controlled it though, and looked down at the tear stained face of the woman who had been his former employer as an evil grin crossed his face, the like of which it had never experienced before.
"You must be confused - my name is James, not Jeremy, and I don't think that you are in any position to demand anything girl. I could call the police and they would arrest you in a moment, if that's what you want me to do. Industrial espionage is regarded extremely seriously at the moment and you've been caught in the act, red-handed so to speak."
Marilyn backed away, knowing that her arrest was the last thing she could afford. Just then the desk phone rang and James picked it up and she listened to her second one-sided conversation of the day.
"Isabel - hello...Yes - yes Isabel... I know that you love me and of course, I love you too... Oh, and I've been thinking about our discussion last night. I think that you were right about my secretary - I am sure that she has been trying to seduce me, and something else has occurred as well, so I've decided to fire her and then you will have nothing to worry about any more. Yes - yes - of course - I love you very much too - bye!"
James put the phone back on its cradle and turned back to face the, by now, ashen faced girl.
"This..this is utter madness - what are you talking about? Marilyn has never tried to seduce me.. I mean that I have never tried to seduce you.. Oh, I don't know what I mean. A..and how can you fire me from the company that I own?" she cried in desperation.
James face took on a puzzled frown and he looked at her pitifully, shaking his head at her words.
"Marilyn - you are talking about yourself in the third person, and what do you mean about being fired from the company that you own? This company is owned by James Mould, heir to the Mould fortune, me! You are just a pretty young secretary without very much to her name at all,, and the sooner you realise that the better."
James looked at her confused and crestfallen face and shook his head again.
"I suppose I'll have to repeat myself. You really are going to have to pay more attention if you're ever going make anything of yourself my girl."
"You are fired. Now come along with me and you can get any personal belongings you have from your desk."
Marilyn put her head in her hands and sobbed her heart out as James walked over and took her by the arm. He led her out of the office and along the corridor, towards his office, although Marilyn was not really aware of where she was any more. Still holding her hand he pulled open her desk drawer and took out the few feminine items that she had left there and stuffed them into her purse before handing it back to her.
"There - all done. Oh, before you go there is just one more thing."
Marilyn was beyond reason by this time, and meekly complied as he open HIS office door and steered her inside. Instantly, she became aware that there was someone else in the room and turned to the near corner to see two women smiling at her.
"Isabel - Pamela!" she gasped, feeling her legs buckle at the sight of her former wife and secretary together.
Isabel pulled at her long red hair in the manner that Marilyn, as James, had so frequently seen her do.
"Oh, this is just so precious! The once proud James Mould reduced to a mere secretary, and one that has just got fired to boot! Well, at least my dear, you seem to have retained your powers of observation, even though it seems that you might have lost a few other things!" she said, as her eyes moved down Marilyn's torso.
Marilyn's hands moved down to cover her groin in an automatic gesture, as she realised what her former wife was referring to.
"Isabel - y..you know who I am!" she cried in horror, knowing that her humiliation was surely complete. She was wrong though, for there was plenty more to come.
"Ma'am to you my dear" she said coldly to the girl, "I do not think it is appropriate for you to talk to the joint owner of Mould Technologies in such a way. Especially after you have been trying to seduce my husband with your cheap feminine wiles ever since you arrived."
Marilyn's struggled to make sense of all this. Didn't Isabel just say that she was now joint owner of his, her, company, and what was all this about trying to seduce James? She looked at the other woman standing beside Isabel for the first time - her eyes pleading for her help!
"Pamela - you know the truth. Tell her - tell her that she's wrong about you!"
"About YOU, you mean, surely. I'm sorry, but I just don't know what you mean. My brother had told me all about you before he disappeared, and at how you'd been throwing yourself at James here" she said, looking fondly at the man still beside Marilyn.
"Your brother - disappeared!" Marilyn repeated, feebly.
"Yes - it's so sad. Jeremy, my brother, went away a couple of days ago. He never told anyone where he was going and all we found was a note, saying that he couldn't carry on the way that he had been doing, what with the constant pressure without enough reward, and that he was going somewhere to start a new life."
Marilyn looked around at James, knowing that he had, indeed, started a new life - that of his former self, until Pamela's words sunk in and he turned to face her again.
"Then you - you're .. my God - you're little Pamela, Jeremy's sister. I..I thought that I'd recognised you, that first night you changed. But you..you're so different - so grown up!"
"Not so little now though eh, because, usually, little girls grow into big girls and even, sometimes, so do little boys!" she laughed, causing the others to join in, making the most of Marilyn's discomfort.
"B..but Marilyn - you were Marilyn - weren't you? I..I don't understand - unless..!"
All of a sudden she remembered the strange dreams that she had been having, the ones that she had inherited with her change. Some had been of her as Marilyn but others had been those of the brunette woman whom she now recognised as Pamela. Her understanding was apparent on her face, causing Pamela to respond.
"Ah, I can see that the little airhead understands, at least part of it. I was always Pamela who only became Marilyn for the purpose of working for you. Marilyn doesn't exist - she is a made up person, created especially for this moment."
"Th..then this has all been a plot, right from the moment you came here - why - why?" Marilyn cried, helplessly.
"Let me explain" James said, and walked towards Isabel, kissing her passionately as she responded in equal measure.
Although Marilyn was watching someone else kissing her wife, she didn't feel at all jealous for, in truth, as James, she had long ago fallen out of love with her. No, the only feelings that she felt now were the beginnings of what she recognised as arousal at the sight of her former wife and best friend's canoodling. She moved her legs in an attempt to get more comfortable and to ease the heat. What was happening to her - why did she keep feeling this way?
Whilst she had been fidgeting, James had kept one eye on her and had been observing her reactions with amusement. He broke away from the kiss as they all looked back at the forlorn girl.
"You see Marilyn, as Pamela started explaining. The Marilyn that you are now was never a real person. It took quite a few changes by Pamela to get the effect that we were looking for. She even had to change to man once, just to lower her IQ level a little, before changing to his female equivalent and one with a considerably higher sex drive as well! I'll wager that you've already found that you have started getting aroused a lot more quickly than you're used to" he said, and smiled as he saw her blush acknowledge the fact. "I thought so."
The initial shock that Marilyn had felt had started to fade, and uppermost in her feelings was a righteous sense of indignation at the treatment that she could now see had been planned for her, all down the line. She looked bemused and angry now, and she stared at three protagonists - one her wife, one her best friend, the other his sister.
They had all conspired to place her in this position and she just couldn't understand why! As James the husband, she had always been faithful and Isabel had never wanted for anything. As James the friend, she had given Jeremy a well-paid job, involving him in every major decision that impacted on the business. As James the boss she had been kind, considerate, and appreciative of the best secretary that he had ever had. Her frustration and bemusement finally found a voice as she looked from one face to the other.
"Why - I just don't get it - why have you done this to me? You have got to change me back - now!"
All she got in response was a smile from each of the faces that was looking at her, until the new James spoke, his arm held protectively around Isabel's shoulder.
"You still don't get it do you - haven't you realised that Isabel and I have been having an affair for the last six months?"
One look at Marilyn's face gave James the answer he needed.
"No - then you deserve to lose everything. You always thought I was your best friend but I always secretly hated you - you with the family connections - you with the money, the business. You even had the woman that I couldn't have, all because you had the money and the connections!" he said angrily. "Well now they're all mine!"
"B.but I took you in, gave you everything.." Marilyn said as she looked at James bemused. She had never had a clue that he felt like this!
"Yes - you gave all right, and how I hated having to be dependant on you, but even that I could live with until it looked as if you were going to throw it all away with your stupid resistance over Sutherland's offer. We would have both been wealthy and set for life but your determination to fight was the last straw for me. That was when Pamela told me about this strange medallion that she came upon."
"The last straw! You told me that your love for me, and wanting to have me all too yourself, was the last straw!" Isabel said, looking coldly at James, which made him look flustered for the first time.
"Y..yes - of course dear. That is what I meant really. Of course - you are all I want!" he said, putting his arm around her again and kissing her, not noticing that she kept one eye open and looking at him whilst they embraced.
Marilyn looked over to Pamela, feeling her stomach turning over at this latest display.
"But Pamela - what had I ever done to you? I treated you well as Marilyn didn't I?"
"Oh sure, but have you forgotten the crush I had on you when I was a teenage girl, and how you used to laugh at me behind my back. Things like that can hurt a young girl you know!" she said disdainfully, examining her nails.
"B..but I never laughed at you. I never even knew that you were interested in me!" Marilyn protested, feeling stunned at the different versions of history that she was hearing.
"Well maybe you did and maybe you didn't, but apart from that, the offer of sharing in my brother's new found fortune was too tempting to refuse."
"Oh enough of all this business talk. I am finding it boring. Lets finish this off James, I want to tie up the deal with Sutherland and then go shopping" Isabel said to her husband.
"No..no - please change me back. I..I'll do anything!" Marilyn begged once more.
James hand went into his jacket pocket and for one moment, Marilyn hoped against hope that he was pulling out the medallion but, instead, he pulled out a bankbook and started writing, as Pamela spoke again.
"Look my dear, get used to this - the medallion has gone. It's been sent to an academic institution beyond any of our reach. We couldn't afford to give you any chance of redeeming it and changing things back. Besides, being a woman is not a bad thing, even if I hated losing some of my mental capacity when I became the tasty little sex bomb that you are now. You'll find that we hold all the real power, and that it is really not that hard to get what you want out of men" she said, giving a knowing smile to Isabel and seeing it returned.
James looked uneasy for a moment, at the way that the conversation was going, but tore what he was writing out of the book and passed it across to the shattered girl, along with a handkerchief with which to dry her tear-stained eyes on.
"Here - this thousand will give you enough to live on until you can sort yourself out. The lease on the apartment runs out next week, so you'd better find yourself a job and somewhere to live, quick - this won't last long" he said, and then turned away towards his desk.
"Yes darling - call it severance pay, for the fact that you've been parted from your male genitalia forever" Isabel laughed cruelly, as in the background James was talking into the phone, and telling someone that it was okay to come in now.
Marilyn picked up her purse knowing that the die was cast, and that there was nothing she could do about it. There was very little of James left in her already, and what little there was, was rapidly fading as Marilyn now seemed far more real to her than her male past. She did not want to give her antagonists one more moment to gloat over their triumph and turned to leave, knowing that she was trapped in the shapely form of an attractive blonde, and one with all her hormones singing, forever. She shuddered as she remembered last night, and knew that she would not be able to resist their insistent call for too long.
She opened the door and started walking out into her new life, still clutching the handkerchief that James had given her, hearing the last faded taunts from she, who had once been her wife.
"You only wanted me as a trophy wife. Well you might just find that this fate will be your best option now, what with your stunning looks and limited talents. I'm sure that there is another stupid executive out there somewhere, looking for someone just like you darling. Have fun!"
Marilyn broke into a run, desperate to get away, and failing to notice Sutherland walking into the office as she ran out.
"Say" he said, "she sure was a pretty thing. I'm looking for a new secretary, you don't happen to know whether she's available do you?"
The End