The Mule 17

Ethan and Hector walked through the lush gardens surrounding the house, the vibrant colours of the flowers almost blinding. The warm Mexican sun beat down on them as they navigated the uneven paths. Ethan's long black hair, piled atop his head in a messy bun, swayed gently with each step in his challenging cork wedges.

"So, Fernanda," Hector began, a smirk on his face as he addressed Ethan by his forced feminine name. "How are you today? Do you have everything you need?"

Ethan played along, trying to keep his tone light. "Oh yes, I have everything a girl could possibly want," he replied, sarcasm dripping from his words.

Hector eyed Ethan's new appearance, a tight spaghetti strap black mini dress with a poppy design and a plunging neckline that showed off his surgically enhanced chest. He couldn't help but notice the slight pinkish hue of Ethan's plump lips, a result of the treatments he had been forced to endure. "You know, you've become a stunningly beautiful woman," he said, trying to rattle Ethan further.

Ethan couldn't help but fire back a defiant retort. "You’re rather handsome yourself, Hector, if you’re into that '90s boyband trying to look tough look," he said, a smile playing on his plump lips.

Hector's smile faltered, and he warned Ethan, "Watch your tongue, Fernanda."

"Or what?” Ethan replied, chuckling, unafraid. “What more can you possibly take from me that you haven't already?"

(See image 34)

Since arriving in Mexico ten days ago, Ethan had become accustomed to his daily walks with Hector. He wasn’t sure what the Mexican man got out of it, but for him, it was at least an opportunity to have a conversation even if it was with a man he despised.

After being greeted at the arrivals gate by a large, bearded man and driven three hours into the Mexican countryside, he was now a prisoner on Emilia and Hector’s family estate on the outskirts of an averagely large city, a place he had visited many years ago as Emiliana’s fiancé. His living quarters weren’t exactly your typical barred cell; in fact, the small apartment in the bottom half of the gardens contained everything a young woman could dream of: a femininely decorated space with luxurious furniture and modern gadgets, a closet full of designer clothes and shoes, and a private pool to lounge by. However, Ethan, with his different set of chromosomes, didn't want to be surrounded by feminine décor, he didn't want a closet full of tight-fitting clothing and torturously high heels that painfully reminded him of his transformation, and he certainly didn't want to reinforce his feminine tan lines while security guards stared on as he sat by the pool, feeling the tight fabric of his swimsuit cling to his reshaped body.

Unfazed by Ethan's defiance, Hector continued, "In a few days, there will be a gathering at the main house. All the family will be there to greet you." Ethan grunted and nodded, focusing on carefully navigating a set of steps on his angled feet, the brightly coloured straps of the ramped shoes biting into his skin with every step, a sensation he was used to at this point.

"You'll meet with the boss," Hector added, "And you’ll learn what you'll have to do next."

"And how is your father? Still as grumpy and mean as ever?" Ethan asked, nervous to be put on display in front of everyone but happy that his days of aimlessly wandering the ground weren’t seemingly coming to an end.

Hector chuckled. "Look at this beauty," he said, pointing to a delicate, vibrant bloom. "It only appears once a year. You should be grateful to witness it."

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In the living room, Ethan paced nervously, the towering green platform pumps biting into his sore feet with every step, feeling utterly ridiculous in his current outfit. The black dress hugged his curves tightly, the red belt accentuating his narrow waist, while the floral design on the flap covering his breast and the hem added an extra touch of femininity. His silky black hair, voluminous and reaching the centre of his back, was adorned with colourful ribbons that seemed to mock him with every sway.

He couldn't shake the memory of the day's embarrassing events, where he had been dressed up by a maid and then paraded around the outside patio area to meet and greet all the family members. Many of them he had met before, back when he was Emiliana's fiancé and still a man. The humiliation was palpable, their smirks and mocking gazes boring into him as he tottered along the row, his heart pounding in his chest.

As if that wasn't bad enough, he was now alone in the family living room, waiting to meet the boss, Hector's father. Would the man berate him for running away all those years ago, leaving not only his daughter but also taking a significant amount of the man’s cash? Ethan's immaculately manicured hands trembled, the dramatic makeup on his face - long, dark lashes and plump, shiny pink lips - doing little to conceal his fear.

The door to the living room creaked open, and Ethan turned, bracing himself for the appearance of a bald-headed Mexican man with a large, curled moustache. But instead, he was met with a shocking revelation: the figure that entered the room was not the imposing patriarch he expected, but a woman he knew all too well—Emiliana!

(See image 35)

Ethan stared at Emiliana, his face a mixture of confusion, surprise, and fear. His long, sultry lashes fluttered in a mix of disbelief and anxiety, while his, shimmering pink lips trembled as he spoke. "What are you doing here?" he asked, his voice quivering.

Emiliana smirked, her eyes shining with amusement as she crossed her arms, clearly enjoying the control she had over the situation. "Isn't it obvious, Ethan? I thought you were smarter than this. How do you think I was able to organize this incredible transformation for you, turning you into the stunning, feminized version of yourself?"

"No, it can't be," Ethan stammered, his eyes darting around the room, searching for an escape from the reality he faced. "You're the boss of the family now?"

Emiliana confirmed it with a slow, deliberate nod. "Yes, that's right."

Ethan's mind raced, his heart pounding in his surgically enhanced chest. "Where's your father?"

"Dead," Emiliana replied nonchalantly, her eyes cold as she recounted the story of how the old man had died of a heart attack. "With Hector not interested in handling the family affairs directly, I stepped in to take over."

Shellshocked and unsteady, Ethan stumbled on his towering platform pumps, the thin stiletto heel catching on a rug as he struggled to regain his balance.

Emiliana commented on Ethan's shoes, a wicked grin spreading across her face. "I know those are difficult to walk in. They're the same ones I wore the evening you came to this very house to meet my family, all those years ago. Do you also recognize your dress? It's also the same one I wore that evening. When I came out of the bathroom wearing it, you told me that I looked gorgeous. But I knew you'd look equally as gorgeous in it. In fact, you probably look better than I ever did." She laughed, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

"No," Ethan wailed, his fingers gripping the smooth fabric of the dress encasing his feminized body, desperation in his voice. "This can't be! Emiliana, what the hell have you done? This is beyond sick!"

"It's poetic, that's what it is," Emiliana replied, chuckling. "And things are about to get a lot more fun. Fernanda still has a few things left to do before I'm done with you and your vain girlfriend."

Ethan screamed, his silky black hair with colourful ribbons flying around his face as he moved. "You promised to let Ava go! Where is she?"

Emiliana's expression remained cold, her eyes narrowing. "I'll keep my promise if you keep yours. Starting with going back outside and being the perfect little guest at our family dinner. You'll listen to grandma's stories and laugh at Hector's dumb jokes."

Distraught, his full, glossy lips trembling, Ethan looked Emiliana in the eyes. "Then what?" he mumbled, breathing in deeply.

Emiliana smirked, the corners of her mouth curling up with cruel satisfaction. "Hector will explain that tomorrow over dinner, he has a lot to discuss with you. But that's a future conversation, so take a moment to re-gloss those lips, slap on a smile and get back out there, girl. There's still lots of fun to be had tonight."