Caught between a rock and a high heel 18

Ruth Lamont strode towards Kieron with an air of determination, causing him to brace himself for her arrival with a tense smile. Despite not disliking Ruth, the mere thought of rising to greet her filled Kieron with trepidation. Nonetheless, he gritted his teeth, planted his feet firmly inside his high-heeled pumps, and pressed down on the balls of his feet. A sharp jolt of pain shot up his legs, but he remained steadfast, determined to maintain his balance. The heels on his current footwear were unbelievably high! Just when he thought he had mastered the art of walking in heels, this was a whole new level of agony.

"Kiera, my darling, it's lovely to see you again," Ruth exclaimed, striding confidently towards Kieron and enveloping him in air kisses on both cheeks. "I hope I haven't kept you waiting too long?"

Kieron forced a smile, having been seated uncomfortably for a torturous forty-five minutes, feeling the piercing stares of strangers. "No, not at all," he fibbed.

"Fantastic," Ruth replied, placing her designer handbag on an empty chair before taking a seat herself. Kieron smoothed out his skirt nervously before settling into his chair across from her.

For a brief moment, Ruth appraised Kieron's appearance, causing him to squirm in his seat. With a knowing smile, Ruth finally spoke. "You've had some work done, haven't you?" she declared with certainty. "Where did you go?"

Kieron hesitated for a moment, his mind still lingering on the embarrassing memory. "I went to a salon near Russell Square after work yesterday," he finally admitted.

Curiosity sparked in Ruth's eyes as she gazed over the table, eagerly awaiting her pretty companion’s response. "And how was the service?" she inquired.

Kieron shrugged nonchalantly, his manicured fingers nervously running through his silky black locks. "If you enjoy being treated like a poodle in a dog show, then it was great," he retorted with a hint of sarcasm.

Ruth burst into laughter, her fondness for Kieron growing by the second. "You're just so brutally honest and vividly descriptive, Kiera," she exclaimed. "I can see why Tom likes you so much."

Kieron snorted as he slowly shook his head from side to side. "Not right now, he doesn't," he confessed.

"Really?" Ruth leaned in, her gaze unwavering. "What happened?"

Kieron found solace in Ruth's attentive ear, pouring out his heart to her. He divulged the story of standing up to his boss at the theatre after feeling uncomfortable with Tom Watkin's unsettling glances. He even confessed to feeling coerced into the recent beauty treatment he endured.

The time flew by as Kieron spoke and Ruth listened, their conversation flowing with ease. So much so that by the time Kieron hobbled his way out of the restaurant an hour later, his legs screaming in agony, he wondered if he divulged a little too much information.

(See image 35)

Telling the older woman that he felt trapped in his current job was probably going too far. But despite his reservations, he couldn't help but feel grateful for Ruth's insightful advice. Come Monday morning, Kieron was eager to put her words into action.

======================================================

"Good morning, Kiera," Tom Watkins greeted as Kieron entered his office, his strides impeded by his tight pencil skirt. "Please take a seat, I'll be with you shortly," he added with an air of indifference that seemed out of character.

Undeterred by his boss's aloofness, Kieron sashayed into the room, his hips swaying and arms swinging before stopping in the centre of the room. "I'll stand if you don't mind," he said confidently, determined to assert his presence.

Tom looked up from his computer screen and was clearly taken aback by Kieron's appearance. "Wow," he exclaimed, struggling to find the right words. "You look very... professional today," he finally managed to say, his eyes scanning Kieron's feminine form.

Although inwardly cringing, Kieron maintained his poise and composure, knowing exactly what he looked like. It was an idea given to him by Ruth Lamont to counter being taken advantage of at work - look and act as professionally as possible. Never show signs of emotion or weakness and smile at all times. "Thank you, Tom," Kieron replied as he stood tall on his heels, his back straight, and head held high. "This is a place of work after all," he added, enunciating his words and smiling.

(See image 36)

Gone were the days of the ditzy act - all part of Kieron's new plan. If he wanted to be taken seriously, he needed to act differently. And based on Tom's reaction, it seemed like his professional appearance was spot-on. From his perfectly tied-up hair to his glossy designer heels, Kieron looked every bit the part of a confident office lady - minus the slightly overdone makeup. But with dark fluttery lashes and plump kissable lips, he knew there was only so much he could do to tone it down.

After a moment’s pause, where Kieron gritted his teeth and tried to appear confident, Tom scoffed and reached for a piece of paper. With a quick thrust of his arm, he demanded that Kieron take it. Trotting over to Tom's desk on his skyscraper heels to grasp the paper with his long nails, Kieron looked down as a puzzled expression crossed his painted face. Tom, not in the mood to tolerate hesitation, folded his arms and boomed, "Read it!"

Taking a deep breath, Kieron read the words aloud. "I recently had the pleasure of experiencing the quintessentially British tradition of afternoon tea in London at The Ritz Hotel, and I must say it was an unforgettable experience. From the moment I arrived, I was greeted by the hotel's impeccably dressed doorman, who directed me to the tearoom.

As I entered, I was struck by the opulent surroundings, with its ornate chandeliers, plush chairs, and linen-clad tables. The service was excellent, and the staff were very attentive throughout my visit, ensuring that my teacup was never empty and that I had everything I needed.

The menu offered an extensive selection of teas, including classic blends like Earl Grey and Darjeeling, as well as more exotic options like jasmine and green tea. The sandwiches were fresh and delicious, with fillings like cucumber and cream cheese, smoked salmon and cream cheese, and egg and cress.

The scones were served warm, and the..."

Tom's voice boomed through the room once more, startling Kieron as he violently snatched the paper from his hand. "Stop!" he yelled, his frustration palpable. "What is this? It's dull! It's boring! Cress, Kiara? Really? Where's the excitement? Why would I, as a reader, waste my time on this?"

Kieron stumbled backwards, but he refused to let his composure falter. "I'm sorry, Tom. I'll take that on board and do better next time," he declared, his voice unwavering.

Seeing the skirted man in front of him scampering backwards with a hint of fear in his eyes, Tom leaned back in his chair, offering a begrudging apology. "No, I'm sorry. Perhaps I expected too much. After all, afternoon tea isn't exactly exhilarating. We need to get you out of your comfort zone. That's when we'll see the best of you," he added, screwing up the paper and tossing it across the room, missing the bin.

Kieron was at a loss for words, his mind reeling. Ruth's plan had backfired, and he was starting to regret his decision. He had hoped that by acting boring, Tom would lose interest in him, and he could leave the company amicably without causing any issues. But as he stood there, clutching his designer handbag and teetering on his ridiculous heels, he realized that he had only made things worse.