Chapter 19 – Dressing the part

Gloria was all excitement. “Now let me see. Something formal. A little black dress will be the ideal” she decided, “and of course you must wear something elegant underneath. That will do wonders for your morale!”

Hastily she grabbed her robe and throwing it around herself once more, crossed the room and opened the doors of her closet. After rejecting several items as “too long”, “so last year” and “too old for you, darling”, my hostess came up with “the very thing”, a short black frock in a semi-sheer crepe material with a subtle sheen. It was beautifully made and looked expensive. As a former photographic model, I could appreciate quality clothing when it crossed my path.

Looking highly pleased with herself, Gloria held the dress up and twirled it before my eyes. “Approve?” she queried. She didn’t wait for a reply. In any case I would have deferred to her choice, but she was already hunting through one of the drawers in the dresser. It was full of lingerie.
Silks and satins were picked out, scrutinised and rejected before she hit upon something that satisfied her, an eye-catching bra in a shining pink satin. There were panties to match, and both were trimmed with delicate black lace. The lady was clearly enjoying herself! With a self-satisfied smirk she handed the selected set to me. “Just wait till I see you in these, my sweet” she beamed.

The sense that I was being treated like a life-size plaything had begun to irritate me. However, it seemed ungrateful to check such artless pleasure, so I allowed myself to go with the flow. My nature must be entirely passive as it was what I always seemed to do! Obediently, I took the proffered articles from my excitable companion and slipped behind the screen to change. I emerged moments later burdened with an apprehension that what I most resembled was probably a pinup centrefold!

The next five minutes were spent by my client in having me primp and pose in a variety of ways accompanied by many “oohs” and “aahs” of appreciation from the lady. She then recovered herself to make a more critical appraisal. “The outline this bra gives you is about perfect. It’s exactly what you need to shape those heavy breasts of yours. You must always wear that style in future, my dear” she added triumphantly. “Now, let’s see you in the dress as well.”

She took up the little frock and gently teased up the skirts in her hands. She held it out and obediently I raised my arms and suffered her to slip the garment over my head. The material felt soft and silky to the touch. An exquisite sensation!

Immediately, it was clear that there was a problem. However ‘perfect’ an outline the borrowed brassiere might provide me, far too much of it was visible beneath the frock. The exacting standards which my mother’s tutelage had stamped on me could not be easily set aside and showing one’s lingerie had been one of her bêtes noires. I said as much. It was after much deliberation and with some reluctance that my client was persuaded to think the same. With a sigh she returned to the lingerie drawer and searched assiduously once again.

Eventually she came up with an alternative set for me to try and I returned behind the screen to change once more. I had stripped down as far as panties when my privacy was broken in upon. On the pretext of handing me a new pair of hose, Gloria put her head around the edge of the partition, exclaiming “Wear these with the new set, darling.”

Her face bore an expressive smile as she added mischievously “They go together beautifully. Now, have you everything you require?”

I had good reason for wanting to remove the last of my clothes discreetly, of course. I was determined that my transgender status should remain concealed from my client for as long as possible. I assured her that nothing was lacking and though I waited until she had retreated to other side of the partition before slipping out of the last of my underwear, I was unsure whether my secret had been preserved. I happened to glance in the mirror to find my benefactress’s eyes meeting mine. How much had Gloria seen? Was that a rather knowing look upon my hostess’s face, or had I imagined it? Any sense of security that remained had been undermined by this circumstance and not a little.

I tried to dismiss my worries on that score and completed the rest of my change in double quick time. The style of this new lingerie set was quite different from that of the first, although just as striking. This bra was a half-cup style with removable straps. At first, I had some doubts whether the bra would fit, my boobs threatening to burst out at the first opportunity. Clearly Gloria and I were not quite of a size.

There was a matching panty girdle. Both were all over lace in a sultry shade of burgundy and as a finishing touch, the tops of the stockings she had found for me were fashioned in the same shade of red. Aware that I was handling items of the highest couture I took extra care that my painted nails didn’t snag their transparent material. I had to admit my benefactor had excellent taste!

When I stepped out from behind the screen, the look on Gloria’s face was a picture. The creature seemed enraptured by her handiwork and bade me turn first one way, then the other, then all the way around. She watched me as if transfixed. Finally, she recovered from her ecstasy sufficiently to insinuate “How does it feel to be so intimate with my frillies?”

Thinking only of the costliness of such an ensemble I could only come up with one reply. “Like a million dollars!”

I really did, but my reply was found lacking.

“Actually, I meant because our lives have become so closely intertwined. It represents a new level of intimacy, don’t you think?” she clarified, but no suitable answer to that question came to my mind.

The woman assisted me to wriggle into the little black dress once again. I couldn’t get over how beautifully the garment had been made. It felt nice and I was enjoying the experience of being so thoroughly pampered.

“Sexy but not too available” was Gloria’s summation.

I think I must have been completely dumb-sticken. “This is perfect” I whispered. “Thankyou.” Our eyes met and locked. We were obviously in complete accord over the correctness of this choice of attire.

She regarded me possessively. “When you’re wearing these old things of mine, darling, I’m hoping you may constantly have me in your thoughts. That’s the only recompense I seek. Now, where is this meeting of yours taking place?”

When I explained my plan to Gloria, she looked horrified and protested loudly against it. She regarded what I intended to do far too hazardous. However, I maintained my cheerful demeanour and was adamant that all would be okay. Even so, it took some time to reconcile her to the scheme.

Amusingly, the part to which she objected most strongly was that I would be away from her for several days. I felt flattered by the strength of her sentiment but couldn’t allow her objections to restrict my freedom of action. They could only be overcome when I promised to stay in her home as soon as I returned and remain there while ever the investigation of her case was incomplete. I didn’t really see the logic in this but could come up with no insurmountable reason to refuse. I could almost hear Guy’s admonishment, “Never get involved with a client!” but that carried no weight here.

It was much later in the day when I found myself on the road once more. I was feeling excited about the prospect of action that was before me. Setting aside Gloria’s misgivings, I’d called at the apartment to collect some of my own clothes. I didn’t know how long I would be away. Then I’d driven to the office only to find that I’d missed Guy yet again. I would have welcomed his approval for the course I was planning to take, but seemingly there was no chance of that. As a poor second best I left him a note summarising what I intended. As my little car bowled along, I turned on the radio and sang along with the music. The miles passed quickly. I felt happy… a little scared, but happy!

It was 4pm when I parked outside the casino, too early for it to be doing business as yet, but that was what I had been counting on. Checking around the side of the building, I found a second entrance, a plain door set in the wall. There was a bell push which I rang and then waited, nerves jangling in anticipation of what might follow. At the second attempt my summons was answered. The door was opened by a stocky looking individual with a face like a prize-fighter’s.

“I’m here to see Mr Midas.” Actually, I had no such appointment, but the fellow didn’t need to know that.

“Who shall I say wants him” growled the doorman,

“You can tell him Miss Cartwright is here to see him on a matter of business.”

The man looked me up and down and then closing the door in my face, disappeared. As I waited, I checked my appearance in the glass panel of the door. Gloria had been right. The little black dress hit just the right note. It oozed quality and was sexy without being too obvious. My confidence for the encounter ahead soared sky-high. I was going to need it!