Phase II.I- Opposition Research

Patty lied in bed, wearing a nylon pink babydoll nightie, with little ruffles at the endcarefully watched the tape of Mayor Connor speaking at last years Stepford debutante ball, drinking her red wine. Her brown hair was now slightly lighter, owing to continued care at the Tranquility Spa, held back a little by a hairband.

She normally wore a longer, yellow nightgown, but she had basically replaced her wardrobe with a more Stepford appropriate set of clothes. Leah was very enthusiastic, but her mother was still hesitant, and very resistant. Patty didn't know why- she would've thought her mother would love dressing up as a traditional grandma.

She took a sip of her red wine. Something about it had a bit of a sweetness to it. Very poignant. She could feel herself relax a little too much, but she tried to **** herself to focus on Connor.

She was trying to get into his head. Think like he thinks. Predict how he might slip up and reveal his true self. She had watched hours of him speaking, him interacting with the denizens. Even him just walking, sitting down. Trying to find his weak point.

And... it just never came! Somehow, he kept up his composure. Patty would've said that Connor was good, but... maybe Delilah was right. Maybe this is just him. His speeches were often just folksy, down to Earth. He'd talk about political issues, especially family values and good business sense, but most of his speeches were largely about his own life.

Growing up in Stepford, meeting his future wife, falling in love, marrying, then losing her, raising his child on his own, watching them become a perfect Stepford citizen. It was all laid out.

And maybe through watching these tapes, Patty began to see that Connor seemed to be completely sincere. And she grew to admire that. His candor, him persevering after the tragedy of his wife's passing, his ability to convey charm and wisdom beyond his years.

It helped that Connor was very, very handsome. That chin, that torso, his sweet, sweet voice...

Without thinking, Patty slowly put her hand underneath her panties and began rubbing her clitoris. She closed her eyes and moaned as she felt her clit going through her fingers. She could feel the heat building.

His actual words (mostly encouragement to the young debutantes to find good partners and strong men to lead them) soon became blurry as Patty became focused on his appearance. SHe could only imagine what kind of package he had....

Shit, Patty soon caught herself, dropping the wine glass in the process.

I can't be falling in love with him! He's the enemy!

But as she got up to get another bottle, she wasn't as convinced of that.

Leah's phone rang as she took off her cheerleading outfit, leaving her with her blue panties and her cheerleading shirt.

"Hello?

Oh, Xavier, how lovely! How are you, dear?

Oh, I sound different, why, that's simply the voice training! Stepford U has such a wonderful program! My voice sounds absolutely lovely, doesn't it?"

Oh, you've seen me? On Instagram?

Oh, I was going to tell you I joined. I've just been caught up in activities. I mustn't be too frivolous.

Oh, I wasn't calling you frivolous! I was just saying I need a bit more focus...

Now, Xavier, I know that we don't spend as much time, but....

Now I have no time to really explain

Well, I take absolute exception to your tone.

Well, you were having a tone, and I don't appreciate this kind of interrogation.

Well, if you would just...

Oh, you are just infuriating!"

Leah continued arguing with Xavier for what seemed like hours, until they both eventually tired.

"Listen, dearest, I would love to be closer, but I simply don't have the time.

I know you miss me. I miss you too. But maybe... with the distance between us and my mother's campaign, I think we should take some time off.

Just, take some time away from each other.

..... It won't be long! Maybe you could come to Stepford sometime, but I think I still need to adjust.

I'm.... really sorry."

Leah just hung up before Xavier could respond, leaning back. It didn't feel good, but it felt necessary, at least for now.

Still, she felt positively terrible, and dialed Sam's number to vent and cry a little.

Phoebe walked into the library with her disguise. There weren't many people, just a librarian with coke bottle glasses and a very tight pencil dress, and some kids in the 50's get-up reading.

She sneaked to the back behind the computers to the newspaper archives, where there was no one.

She began to look through all the copies of the Stepford Gazette since it was founded with the town in 1972. She knew it would be a while, but she needed to know more information about the connection between the Stepford's Men Association and the Tranquility Corporation.

After a depressing amount of articles displaying the various facets of the patriarchy (especially the advice columns, yeesh), Phoebe finally found it: In 1980, Tranquility was formed as a real estate and lifestyle company, and the article openly stated that the founders meet at the Men's Association.

Tranquility immediately bought the newspaper, and there were many articles about it building towns and suburbs across the US. They were also purchasing failing businesses and "revamping them", by making them retro and ... sexier, with the 50's and 60's pin-up inspired uniforms. They were in multiple industries by 1996, and had even begun building retro towns internationally.

Despite being one of the most secretive companies in the world, they had a lot of transparency in Stepford. They hosted events at their various properties, had glowing reviews of their various businesses and provided most of the town's products.

And again and again, the Men's Association came up. All the board members were Men's Association, the CEOs, the managers. Even their wives and partners were often the daughters and children of Men's Association members.

And for such a major company, their headquarters was strangely small and quiet. They had multiple businesses and properties throughout town, but their headquarters was unimpressive.

She wondered and shuddered at the thought that they had a real headquarters-at the Men's Association.