welcome to Zoey Stories my boss's punishment forced me to become his pretty assistant i used to think I had everything under control not an exciting life maybe but a steady one a good job a smart girlfriend and a future that seemed safe comfortable even my name is Alex Carter 28 years old living in a decent apartment in Chicago with Emma the woman I thought I might someday marry on the surface I was the definition of dependable i wore button-up shirts in muted colors worked quietly at a mid-level administrative position at a growing tech firm and rarely made waves i kept my head down showed up on time and kept everything neat for my desk to my life but beneath the surface behind the blinds of our fourth floor apartment and inside a locked drawer in the closet lived a secret I'd never spoken out loud i liked to wear women's clothes not in a mocking way not for shock value or some drunken experiment it wasn't a kink and it wasn't a joke it was personal intimate something I had discovered in college when I first dared to run my fingers across the silk of a friend's dress during a party heart pounding like a drum in my chest later alone I tried it on just for a second but that second stayed with me for years there was something about it the way the fabric clung the way I moved differently how my body felt lighter my breath slower for those few moments I felt like someone else or maybe like more of myself than I'd ever let the world see but I never told anyone not my parents not my friends and definitely not Emma emma was stunning sharp witted analytical and fiercely logical she was a data analyst a woman who measured everything from grocery budgets to sleep cycles she loved numbers because they didn't lie emotions in her world were messy and inefficient and though I loved her God I really did I feared what she might say if she ever found out the truth we'd been together for almost 3 years we moved in together 18 months ago after what she called a data confirmed compatibility trial period it was a joke sort of she believed in stability routine and maturity she often joked that I was the more sensitive one in the relationship the calm to her chaos she had no idea how right she was she didn't know about the padded bra tucked into the back of my sock drawer or the soft wig folded neatly in a shoe box marked tax files she didn't know about the lip gloss hidden in a shaving kit beneath the sink and she definitely didn't know that every so often when she was at work late or away visiting her sister I would transform just for an hour or two just long enough to slip into something feminine a fitted dress or a blouse and skirt apply a light touch of makeup maybe walk around the apartment in heels i dim the lights play soft music and just exist as that other version of myself the one no one had ever met that version had no name she wasn't a fantasy or a fetish she was just me a quieter softer me a me who didn't have to pretend all the time but even in those fleeting moments of release there was always a flicker of fear the fear of being caught the guilt of hiding something so big from Emma the constant whisper in my head this is wrong she wouldn't understand no one would work was the one place I didn't have to think about any of it my days were filled with organizing meeting schedules processing internal memos and keeping everything running like a welloiled machine my boss Mrjonathan Daniels was a man who commanded attention late 40s impeccably dressed and with a voice that seemed to vibrate through walls he was respected and feared by everyone he didn't suffer incompetence he didn't forget anything and he didn't forgive mistakes but I was good at my job efficient quiet invisible that's how I liked it staying out of the spotlight blending in keeping my secrets to myself until the day everything fell apart it was a Thursday afternoon i had just gotten back from lunch when Mrdaniels called me into his office his tone was unreadable but I knew something was wrong the moment I stepped inside he didn't offer me a seat didn't smile just looked at me with that cold unreadable expression there is a mistake in the schedule he said his voice low i frowned i double checked everything did you he interrupted because the investor call with Grayson Ventures was double booked with the annual compliance review do you know how that makes me look my mouth went dry i remembered now i'd been rushing that morning distracted trying to correct a formatting issue on a report while responding to emails one click one wrong calendar sync i'm so sorry sir that was my He cut me off with a wave of his hand but it wasn't anger I saw in his eyes it was something colder calculating then he reached for his phone i thought I'd look into your online activity he said imagine my surprise when I found these he turned the phone toward me my blood ran cold on the screen were images screenshots one of me in a blonde wig taken from the angle of my bedroom mirror another with soft pink lipstick and a low cut dress I'd only dared wear once my heart slammed in my chest my breath caught in my throat how how did he find them i had been so careful i used private accounts no names no tags no links but he'd found them i I stammered those are private not private enough he said company laptop company network you left breadcrumbs Alex i felt like I might vomit if Emma saw those photos I should report you for misuse of company property he continued i should fire you but I won't i looked up confused terrified he smiled it wasn't kind no I have a better idea and in that moment I felt something shift the man I had been the careful quiet secreteping man was already starting to unravel i didn't sleep that night emma was away on a work retreat thank God or she would have seen me curled up on the couch staring blankly at the floor too sick to move too terrified to think mr daniel's voice echoed in my mind like a death sentence i should fire you but I have a better idea that sentence hung like a noose he never told me what the idea was not yet he dismissed me with a single sentence told me to come to work the next day prepared for a new role prepared i had no idea what that meant but the cold glint in his eyes told me I wouldn't like it and I was right the next morning I dressed like normal slacks button-up shirt my nervous hands shaking as I nodded my tie at work everything felt surreal the usual morning buzz of the office now sounded like whispers in a courtroom i imagined everyone knew of course they didn't they couldn't but paranoia was a powerful thing when I entered Daniel's office he didn't even look up at me you're late he said i It's 8 col57 you're my assistant now my personal assistant that means when I arrive you're already here i swallowed hard understood he stood slowly walked toward the window with his hands clasped behind his back then he turned did you bring the outfit i blinked what outfit a smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth you know exactly what outfit i stood frozen heat rushed to my face my breath hitched i I didn't he cut me off then go home get it you have 30 minutes i Please can we talk about this he stared me down like a lion staring at an injured gazelle you made your private life my business when you use company tech now this is the deal you play the role I give you or I leak those photos to the entire company and maybe your girlfriend too my legs felt like they would give out my whole body vibrated with terror you want to keep your job your secret your girlfriend he asked i nodded then go get dressed sweetheart i don't remember driving home i only remember standing in the closet my fingers trembling as I pulled down the zippered garment bag I swore I'd never let anyone see inside a soft blush blouse a tight pencil skirt black stockings and a pair of patent nude heels i laid it on the bed staring at it like it was a bomb waiting to go off then I started to change the physical transformation was always surreal each item pulled me deeper into a different self the smooth slide of the stockings up my legs the tight embrace of a skirt hugging my hips the delicate buttons of the blouse closing over the padded bra i applied light foundation a bit of mascara lipstick a gentle rose shade then the wig shoulderlength brunette with soft waves i looked into the mirror she was back i didn't have a name for her but in that moment she stared back at me with eyes full of fear not because of who she was but because of why she was here daniels didn't say a word when I returned he glanced up once took in the sight of me me in heels blouse tucked wig brushed lips faintly pink and smiled "good girl," he said "now take notes. " And so it began for the next few days I became his shadow i followed him into meetings stood by his side as he barked orders and took notes while pretending not to notice the looks the stars from co-workers confused some amused some stunned whispers drifted through hallways like smoke no one dared ask out loud not with Daniels involved but the rumors started fast was it a bet a dare a new diversity hire he never explained and I was too scared to say a word each day Daniels had new instructions shorter skirt tomorrow try heels an inch higher more blush it was humiliating but also confusing because in the quiet moments in the reflection of the elevator or the whisper of my skirt brushing my thighs I felt something that terrified me even more than Daniel's yes I felt exposed embarrassed objectified but there was also a strange rush like I was finally living openly even if it wasn't my choice even if it came with fear and that terrified me most one night Emma called hey babe," she said voice chipper "how's your week been? " I stared at my reflection in the bathroom mirror still in my assistant outfit lipstick slightly smudged "fine," I said quickly turning away "busy lot of extra responsibilities.
" She laughed "jonathan Daniels right he's intense. " "You have no idea," I thought just hang in there she said you're his best employee he trusts you trust what a joke i muttered something non-committal and hung up quickly the guilt was crushing the lies the secret the fear she'd one day find out and worse the fear she wouldn't understand a week later the stakes rose daniels handed me a lanyard with a fake name jade it read what's this asked my stomach twisting you're coming to the investor gala tonight you'll greet people smile look pretty that's what assistants do i can't what if someone from the office then smile harder he leaned in and if you even think about backing out I'll email Emma your little photo collection with commentary i couldn't breathe the gala was a sleek event at a luxury hotel floor to ceiling windows jazz music crystal glasses clinking and there I was Jade in a deep burgundy dress matching heels and a nervous smile people looked some men stared a few women gave me strange onceovers but Daniels he was glowing laughing introducing me as his newest personal find i smiled through the humiliation cheeks aching at one point a woman leaned over and whispered "You're very brave. " I didn't know what to say i nodded heart thutting that night back in my apartment I stood in front of the mirror in full makeup my wig ask you and whispered the question I'd been avoiding for days because it wasn't just Daniel's threat keeping me going somewhere inside I kept saying yes too i hated him for what he was doing for using my secret against me but I also hated myself for how part of me wanted this and that was a truth I wasn't ready to face not yet the morning after the gala I tried to quit i showed up to work in normal clothes slacks shirt tired eyes and trembling hands daniels raised an eyebrow the moment I entered his office "oh the assistant has opinions now i can't keep doing this I said forcing my voice to stay even the lies the pressure i I'm exhausted he stared at me for a long moment then he leaned back in his chair and smiled slow and cruel i'm glad you brought that up he slid his laptop around the screen facing me a video played silent grainy security footage from the gala there I was Jade smiling swaying laughing in that fitted burgundy dress daniels zoomed in on my face as I accepted a drink from someone my hand brushing back my wig a perfect damning portrait of compliance you don't get to quit he said voice like ice you're in this until I say otherwise I clenched my fists i don't care anymore I muttered do your worst he stood and walked to the door closing it softly behind him when he turned back there was no humor left in his face "your little rebellion is cute," he said "but you forget I've seen your real self i know what you dream about the little glances in the mirror the way your hands linger when you zip up that skirt you like it that's why it kills you so much.
" He stepped closer "so here's what's going to happen you're going to go home right now you're going to put on what I've laid out in that pink box I had delivered and you're going to host your first video conference as my assistant i froze video clients from overseas they want to meet the new girl i know what if someone you'll use a voice filter you'll be perfect or the next time Emma opens her laptop guess what video starts playing my mouth went dry my heart was pounding in my chest i had no more moves left the pink box was waiting outside my door sealed with a silk ribbon inside a soft lavender blouse with sheer sleeves a fitted high-waisted skirt glossy black heels and a long auburn wig curled at the ends there was also a small box of presson nails and a handwritten note smile they're important clients my hands shook as I got dressed the press on nails clicked gently as I slipped into the skirt i tugged the blouse into place cinching it at the waist a dab of foundation a little eyeliner a light pink gloss the auburn wig settled like silk on my shoulders when I opened my laptop and clicked the video link my stomach turned daniels was already on the call three men in suits filled the screen beside him Japanese from what I could hear smiling and nodding ah here she is Daniel said smoothly my assistant Jade i forced a smile my voice filter was already on good morning I said barely managing to stay calm very beautiful one of the men said mr daniels has good taste in staff i smiled harder ignoring the pounding in my chest 15 minutes that's all I had to survive but then disaster midcall there was a knock at the door my heart stopped i froze sorry just a moment i said quickly hitting mute and standing up forgetting for a horrifying second that the camera was still on i turned to the door heels clicking skirt swaying hair bouncing another knock alex a familiar voice called it's me Emma surprise i nearly fainted she was back early and I was fully dressed as Jade with three foreign clients still watching me live babe she called you in there the screen flickered one of the clients was laughing softly saying something to Daniels i slammed the laptop shut ran to the door panicked i had seconds i peeled off the wig and stuffed it behind the couch kicked off the heels praying she wouldn't notice the red marks on my ankles wiped my lips with a tissue smudging the gloss but the clothes I didn't have time to change just grabbed a throw blanket wrapped it around myself and opened the door a crack there stood Emma smiling with a takeaway coffee in hand i missed you she said my throat was dry i I wasn't expecting you clearly she stepped inside scanning the room were you on a call she asked yes I said quickly work thing just ended she stared at me at the press on nails I'd forgotten to remove at the faint smudge of mascara under my eyes her smile wavered you okay i nodded too quickly just tired she leaned forward and kissed my cheek but something in her gaze lingered suspicious curious then she walked into the bathroom my heart stopped because sitting on the counter was the open box Daniels had sent the lipstick the nail box a stray curl from the auburn wig she didn't say anything when she walked out but her expression had changed that night after she fell asleep on the couch watching TV I stood in front of the mirror again still in the lavender blouse and skirt the press on nails gleamed softly and I realized something horrifying even now with Emma inches away with guilt clawing at my throat part of me felt right like this like this outfit this skin this version of me was the real me and the man I pretended to be was the costume tears welled in my eyes because I couldn't tell her couldn't tell anyone especially not now not when Daniels held every card i reached up and wiped my tears but my hand knocked something off the counter a compact mirror it clattered to the floor and cracked i picked it up and stared at the broken reflection two halves of me split right down the middle and neither side looked whole the next morning was quiet too quiet emma hadn't said a word about what she saw the night before but I could feel it like storm clouds gathering behind her smile she made coffee kissed my cheek and said she had errands to run that kiss felt different like a goodbye she hadn't spoken yet i stayed in my apartment for hours after she left sitting there dressed down no wig no makeup no heels just Alex and somehow that version of me felt like the lie now I paced the apartment haunted by my reflection haunted by the sound of Emma's voice calling my name the night before so full of warmth trust and all I done was betray her my phone buzzed a text from Daniels you were a hit same look tomorrow 900 a. m sharp clients want you to smile more no thanks no how are you holding up just commands i stared at the message hands trembling my entire body buzzed with rage and panic i couldn't keep living like this couldn't keep lying to Emma to myself i deleted the message and that's when I made a choice i pulled the auburn wig from behind the couch brushed it out and laid it gently on the table the lavender blouse the heels the fake lashes i lined them all up neatly then I walked into the bathroom stared at myself in the mirror and took a deep shuddering breath i had to tell her "No more hiding no more pretending by evening I was ready makeup off nerves shredded but I knew what I had to say i sat on the edge of the bed rehearsing the words in my head emma there's something I need to tell you or maybe I've been hiding a part of myself and I never meant to lie no matter how I twisted it it felt impossible but I had to try the door clicked emma's keys her soft footsteps the rustle of a bag then her voice alex i brought dinner i stood she froze i opened my mouth to speak but before I could say a single word there was a second knock not from Emma from the front door we both turned emma frowned are you expecting someone i shook my head heart suddenly thutting another knock louder this time emma crossed the living room and peeked through the peepphole her body tensed she turned to me slowly eyes wide it's your boss my blood turned to ice daniels she nodded what is he doing here i didn't know couldn't move could barely breathe she opened the door and there he stood in his tailored suit perfect hair that same smug knowing look on his face emma," he said smoothly "it's a pleasure. " She blinked "you know me," he smiled "of course i know everything about Alex.
" Emma looked back at me confused daniel stepped inside without being invited "i see you've had quite a night," he said glancing at the untouched wig and clothes laid out neatly on the table he turned to Emma "let me guess he hasn't told you yet has he? " Daniels i began stepping forward he held up a phone i will if he won't one tap that's all it would take to play the video me in full glam heels makeup laughing at the gala voice unfiltered real emma looked between us her face pale her eyes locked onto mine alex she whispered what's going on i opened my mouth and for once I didn't lie i've been dressing as someone else someone I think I might really be tears welled in her eyes daniel smirked but then Emma did something I never expected she walked up to him snatched the phone from his hand and threw it across the room it shattered against the wall daniel's smile cracked "you little get out," she said her voice low steady you have no idea she stepped forward fierce get out for the first time Daniels looked shaken he adjusted his jacket straightened his cuffs then gave me one last glare this isn't over and then he left silence thick heavy crushing i turned to Emma expecting rage or tears or worse but she just stood there her lip trembled and she said "Is it true do you feel more like her than you do you? " I didn't answer i just nodded her eyes searched mine then she stepped closer placed a hand on my cheek and whispered "Then maybe I should meet her properly.