Rent or Forfeit 22

Chapter 22: Confrontation and Confusion

On his crowded bus ride to work that Monday morning, Tommy couldn’t decide which was worse: the lustful glances from the men or the hostile looks from the women. Among the drab commuters, he stood out in one of the outfits his sisters had bought during their relentless shopping spree the day before. He’d lost track of how many pink skirts and dresses he’d tried on, dragged from shop to shop as his feet throbbed mercilessly.

For the coming week, at least, it seemed he’d have to get used to being dressed head-to-toe in his least favourite colour. The lilac hair, glossy pink lips, and bold makeup drew more attention than he’d like, making him feel all the more visible among the sea of black and grey business suits.

As the rain pounded against the bus window, Tommy noticed a woman stealing glances at him. When he turned, she quickly looked away. Studying her comfortable-looking outfit, he couldn’t help but envy how she blended into the crowd. He imagined how nice it would feel to be inconspicuous like her, legs wrapped in warm trousers rather than the restrictive leather pencil skirt limiting his every movement.

Halfway through its route, the bus hit a bump, throwing the crossdressed boy off balance. He scrambled to steady himself atop the patent pink platform pumps strapped tightly around his pantyhosed ankles. However, the blocky heels - stable enough on the pavement outside - proved trickier inside the swaying bus, especially with his legs restrained by the rigidity of his skirt. As his pink-nailed hands slipped from the rail, he braced himself for a fall. But, just as he closed his eyes, a strong pair of hands grabbed his waist through his furry pink coat, hoisting him back into an upright position.

“Thank you,” Tommy squeaked, looking up to see a balding business grinning down at him. “But you can let go now,” he added, noticing the man hadn’t released his grip.

“Maybe I should hold on, just in case we hit another bump,” the man replied, his thumb lightly tracing Tommy’s waist through his silky pink top.

“Hey, creep! Leave her alone!” came a sharp voice from nearby. The woman who’d been glancing at him earlier had left her seat and now stood at his side. Unsettled by the confrontation, the man swiftly released his hold and backed away into the crowd.

“Miss, please take my seat,” the woman offered kindly. “It can’t be easy standing in those pretty shoes.” With all eyes on him, Tommy thanked her, cheeks flushed, and carefully eased into the seat. The rest of the ride passed with his head down, nervously playing with his nails and the hem of his skirt, willing the time to pass faster.

Arriving at the office, cold, wet, and utterly miserable, Tommy barely stepped inside before being bombarded with questions and compliments about his new hair colour and outfit. He responded as graciously as possible, brushing it off with a casual “just fancied a change,” before finally making it to his desk. After a few hours of typing emails and arranging appointments for Mr Hopkins, he was feeling a bit more settled as he headed to the break room for a much-needed coffee.

Unfortunately, his timing couldn’t have been worse; as he walked in, he found himself face-to-face with the last person he wanted to see.

“Well, don’t you look precious today,” Jill called out from near the coffee machine. “Love the hair colour! But that skirt - chic as it is - it's not going to turn heads in the right way, if you know what I mean.”

“Save it, Jill,” Tommy shot back, stopping in the middle of the room, frustration clear on his face. “I’m not in the mood.”

“Whoa, easy, princess. Who got your knickers in a twist?” Jill replied, arching a brow, clearly taken aback by his response.

“You did,” Tommy replied sharply, his glossy pink lips pursing into a scowl. "Leaving me on Friday night, drunk, and surrounded by a bunch of guys who couldn’t keep their hands to themselves."

(See image 22)

"Left you?" Jill exclaimed. "I’m not your mother, Tammy. I thought you could handle yourself. What was I supposed to do, turn down a guy like Connor to babysit you? Besides, you looked pretty cosy with Dom when I left."

"I was drunk, I didn’t know what I was doing," Tommy shot back, though part of him couldn’t ignore the parts he had enjoyed.

"Oh, so what happened? He made a move? Got a little handsy? Maybe kissed you? Look, he’s a man, and you’re a gorgeous girl. I even asked one of his friends to keep an eye on things. And, from what I hear, you’re the one who left your mark on him. He needed stiches, you know?"

"You… you heard about that?" Tommy stammered, remembering the mark he’d left on Dom’s cheek with his claw-like talons.

Jill rolled her eyes. "He called Connor, right when things were heating up between us," she huffed. "Had to practically beg him not to call the police, totally killed the vibe. So really, I should be the one mad at you, and you should be thanking me."

Shuffling his feet and feeling his leather skirt clinging to his nylon-covered thighs, Tommy started to wonder if he had overreacted.

Jill’s expression softened. "Listen, Tammy. I’m just trying to look out for you. You’re doing a good job here, and the girls all like you. It’d be a shame to lose you on Wednesday when Karen gets back. But if I put in a good word, maybe I can get you a permanent role."

Tommy considered it. A steady job meant no more temp office, and the pay wasn’t bad. But he sensed a catch. "Really? And what’s in it for you?" he asked.

Jill’s smile was cool and knowing. "Simple. I like you, Tammy. You remind me of me back in the day - naïve, with a lot to learn. A woman in my first job took me under her wing, taught me a few tricks. Now, life’s come full circle, and I get to pass on that knowledge."

Tommy glanced at her, still wary, his expression uncertain.

"Anyway," Jill continued, "if you want my help, show up tomorrow dressed to impress. I want to see you in a skirt that makes you hesitate before bending, and a cute top that shows off that delicious cleavage. Let’s charm the boss a bit, yeah?"

"I... I don’t know," Tommy murmured, his voice wavering. He’d worn revealing outfits before, but this felt like a slippery slope.

"Up to you," Jill said with a shrug. "I’ll know your answer by morning." With that, she turned and strutted from the room, leaving Tommy to wrestle with the uneasy feeling settling over him.