Caught between a rock and a high heel 16

"Indulge me, mon amour," Alain said, tapping his hand lightly on Kieron's pantyhosed knee. "I can't help but feel the designs here are a little over the top, but I'm curious to hear your thoughts."

Kieron flashed a smile at his French companion, his mind still reeling from the avant-garde ensembles strutting down the runway. "Over the top doesn't even begin to cover it," he quipped. "Did you see that purple dress? The skirt was so massive, it brushed my legs as she walked by!"

Alain chuckled at Kieron's remark. "Ah, but my dear, it was a sight to behold. A very spectacular number, perfect for a little fashion queen like you, I’d say!"

Kieron playfully punched Alain on the arm. "You're the only queen here, Alain," he teased while rolling his eyes.

As yet another model strode past with an impassive expression the pair chuckled. After spending a considerable amount of time together, the duo had developed a budding friendship. With his unwavering confidence, sharp wit, and sarcastic humour, Alain was hard not to admire once you got to know him. Being around him made Kieron feel more self-assured, even in an unfamiliar setting like the front row of a fashion show.

Alain's presence made Kieron feel less self-conscious about being seated in his designer skirt suit while the other well-dressed attendees surreptitiously scrutinized his outfit. In fact, Alain's carefree attitude had taught him a lot. Alain walked to the beat of his own drum, a trait evident in his daily routine, where he always appeared busy but accomplished very little. It was a lifestyle that Kieron had never encountered before, and it piqued his curiosity while also inspiring him.

As he shifted in his chair, Kieron winced when his nipple grazed against the inside of his bra. Still unaccustomed to the sensation of his own flesh filling the cups, he shook his head and let out a deep sigh. Following his visit to Glow MedSpa, he had endured several sleepless nights as he struggled to adapt to the changes in his body. Previously a front sleeper, he now had to adjust due to the odd and sensitive feeling in his chest area. Lying on his back, he had spent hours awake, contemplating his plump lips and lamenting his decision not to remain conscious during the procedures.

Monday morning had been a nightmare for Kieron as he braved the office with his new cleavage and pouty lips, enduring a deluge of comments and compliments from his colleagues about his appearance. Expressing gratitude to each person who remarked on his looks was a humiliating experience. Consequently, when Alain met up with him and teased him about his "trout pout," Kieron welcomed the change. In response, Kieron joked about Alain's brightly coloured jacket, and from that moment on, their relationship became more intriguing.

As Wednesday dawned, Kieron's physical alterations still dominated his thoughts, but he was slowly acclimating to them, which meant he was finally getting more sleep. The day progressed without incident as most of his colleagues had moved on from his changes, and the comments had ceased. However, Thursday was an entirely different story; it was a day fraught with embarrassment.

After writing and submitting his critiques of Glow MedSpa and the Luminary Gallery, which were surprisingly well-received despite his negative tone and emphasis on the most unfavourable aspects of each experience, Kieron was given a new assignment. Armed with a list of items from some of the most exclusive stores in the city, he was informed that he would be going on a shopping spree!

Driven into the city, the young crossdressed Irishman found himself in unfamiliar territory, navigating the designer store-lined Sloane Street. He felt entirely out of place as he walked into the first store, where he was greeted by a snooty saleswoman. However, when he mentioned his employer's name, her demeanour changed drastically. From that point on, Kieron was treated like a VIP, sipping champagne and trying on a plethora of outfits while the saleswoman praised his appearance.

Despite feeling trepidation, Kieron left the store wearing what was quite possibly the most mortifying ensemble he had ever donned. The outfit consisted of a dress that resembled a fitted skirt suit with a jacket-like top adorned with ruffles from the decorated shoulders down to the centre where a jacket would typically fasten. The middle of the dress featured a piece of sheer, mesh-like fabric that prominently displayed his midriff and the inner edges of his enhanced chest. The skirt of the dress was snug, covering the upper portions of his nylon-clad legs, with the same ruffled design adorning the hem, which stopped around mid-thigh.

The designer purse that matched the shade of Kieron's ruby-red lips swung wildly as he click-clacked his way down the street. His heavily made-up eyes were obscured by a recently purchased pair of sunglasses, and he was flushed red with humiliation. He walked as briskly as he could, eager to complete the remainder of his shopping list as fast as possible, feeling as though every person he passed was staring at him.

(See image 31)

At the fashion show, Kieron fidgeted in his seat as he gazed blankly at yet another model strutting down the runway. He knew he should have been taking notes to write a comprehensive review, but any ounce of enthusiasm he had upon arrival had waned. "What's the point?" he thought. "Whatever I write, they always love it." Kieron's boredom was palpable as he longed to be somewhere else - anywhere else.

Amidst the buzz of the fashion show, Kieron's work phone erupted with a deafening ring. The sudden noise caused heads to turn, and Kieron's heart skipped a beat. Fumbling through his bag, he retrieved the phone, hoping to silence the disturbance. But upon seeing Tom Watkins' name flashing on the caller ID, Kieron's apprehension mounted. As he scanned the room, Kieron observed a sea of disapproving glares, and he hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to proceed. Yet Kieron knew he could not ignore this call. He had not spoken to his boss in what felt like forever, and this was the first time he had ever received a direct call from him.

"Hello," Kieron answered in a hushed tone, trying to conceal his discomfort.

"Kiera!" Tom Watkins exclaimed, his voice reverberating with drama and excitement. "I am absolutely delighted to have caught you! How is the fashion show, my dear girl?"

"It's... erm... good," Kieron muttered, his voice barely audible as he noticed the judgmental stares of those around him.

"Good? Just good?! This is not what I expected from you, Kiera!" Tom's voice boomed over the phone, causing heads to turn in Kieron's direction. "This is a very exclusive event, and you've been given front-row seats. I thought you’d be more forthcoming with details! I expected to hear the excitement in your voice, the pulse of the runway coursing through your veins!"

Kieron winced at Tom's words, feeling acutely self-conscious. "I understand, sir," he stammered. "But the show is still going on, and I don't want to ruin it for anyone here with my, like, super loud voice," he added, remembering to dumb down his sentence.

"Oh, I see," Tom exclaimed with a deep, hearty laugh that echoed through the phone line. "Well, with that being the case, I simply must get straight to the point. Your piece on the Spa clinic was an absolute triumph! A towering success! Scores of salons and clinics have come crawling out of the woodwork, begging for a review just like it. Your honest approach to writing and that devilishly sharp wit of yours have truly captivated our audience."

Kieron's jaw dropped as Tom's words echoed in his ear. He felt like he had been struck by lightning. He turned to Alain, hoping for a sign of reassurance, but found only confusion etched on the Frenchman’s face. Furrowing his brow in bewilderment, Alain’s eyes darted back and forth with a sense of urgency as he gestured with his hands to wrap up the call.

(See image 32)

"I've asked Gina to send through the details. And with the success of our last Friday outing, I've decided that from now on, every weekend should be just as thrilling,” exclaimed Tom with excitement. “You'll start off with a visit to a top-notch salon or clinic, followed by an exhilarating event in the city. It's clear that placing you in unfamiliar and uncomfortable situations brings out your best qualities. Let's plan to meet on Monday in my office where we can discuss the details further.”

As the phone line suddenly went dead, Kieron was left speechless. His pouty lips remained agape in utter disbelief as he stared blankly ahead. He couldn't help but feel a wave of hopelessness wash over him as he gazed upon a robotic-looking model strutting along the runway. "Why me?" he thought, taking a deep breath to steady his emotions. "Why is this happening?”