Monday Morning

Jordan stirred beneath the tangled blanket on their king-sized bed. His body immediately protested every tiny shift with a dull ache that radiated from his thighs to his lower back. The padded bra clung damply against his chest, and the thigh-high stockings had twisted around his calves like silken restraints. Faint traces of Sarah's magnolia perfume lingered on his skin mixed with Elena's vanilla in a way that made his stomach twist with fresh humiliation even before his eyes fully opened.

They had woken sometime after midnight on the living-room couch, the emerald silk robe and navy dress abandoned in a tangled heap on the floor. Instead of going upstairs to their master bedroom, Elena had steered him to the guest bedroom down the hallway with a gentle push.

"This will be Joanne's bedroom, darling... at least while she's here with us. Keep the lines clear." Jordan had only briefly resisted. Too tired from the day, he had collapsed into the queen-size bed without another word. He was asleep even before Elena had covered him with the comforter, turned off the lights and left the room.

Now as Jordan lay awake in the unfamiliar bed, his eyes got used to the sunlight filtering through the curtains. He could hear the distant clink of a spoon against ceramic from the kitchen, pulling him toward wakefulness. Elena walked in a few minutes later, carrying two mugs of coffee. She was wearing a maroon silk robe tied loosely at the waist, her dark hair damp and tousled from a shower. She set the mugs on the nightstand next to the bed with a soft thud.

Her green eyes locked onto his as she perched on the edge of the bed and brushed his waves gently with her fingers.

"Morning, baby." Her voice carried that velvet edge that always made his pulse quicken. "You slept like you earned it after last night."

Jordan pushed himself up slowly, the blanket pooling around his waist, exposing the padded bra still clinging to his chest. His cheeks flushed under her gaze as the memory of her riding him while he confessed every touch from Sarah flooded back with a rush of heat. He reached for the coffee and took a big sip, burning his tongue.

"Elena, last night was... intense," his voice still rough from the cries she had drawn out of him. "I can barely move without feeling everything."

She smiled and leaned closer until her breath warmed his ear. "That's the point, darling," she replied, her tone playful but firm. "Every ache will remind you of how good you were for me, how you let it all spill out while I watched you shatter in the mirror."

She squeezed his hand gently and crossed her legs with a rustle of silk. "Now we have the whole week ahead of us. Seven days of Joanne, just like we agreed. Now let's get going... we have a big day ahead of us. Sarah is expecting her babysitter at two sharp, and I want you to be perfect."

Jordan swallowed hard, cheeks flushing. "She's a little too friendly… right?"

Elena laughed softly, leaning in until her breath warmed his ear. "Friendly? Baby, she was all over you last night... the way she kept pulling you close, feeding you tiramisu. She clearly has a thing for sweet, innocent Joanna. And that’s going to make today so much more fun... for both of us."

Jordan’s stomach tightened instantly. "Elena… I don’t know if I can do a whole afternoon alone with them," he whispered, voice still rough from sleep. "What if James is home? Or Sarah tries to get too close and notices something?"

"Shh." Elena cut him off with a soft finger against his lips. "That’s why we’re starting early. I’m going to make sure you look and sound exactly the kind of girl she wants to dote on. Now go... freshen up, and get into the shower. I'll be there in shortly."

Jordan's heart pounded as he got out of the bed and started to walk out of the room.

"Where are you going, darling? Joanne's bathroom is that way." Elena called out from behind, pointing to the en-suite guest bathroom.

Jordan simply nodded, and walked into the guest bathroom. With trembling fingers he removed everything... the padded bra, the stockings, the lace panties. Finally he pulled the plug out, wincing as it offered a bit of resistance before coming out with a plop.

Elena stepped into the bathroom while he was in the shower and handed him her body wash and shampoo. "Here... use these. I want you smelling fresh and feminine all day."

While he was washing himself, Elena handed him the plug again. "And don't forget this. This stays in all day."

Jordan’s cheeks burned under the spray. "Elena, please. It’s already too much." She didn't respond. Simply hummed and left the bathroom. With his hands shaking, Jordan cleaned the plug, and pushed it inside him. After he finished showering and dried off, Elena returned carrying a pile of clothes in her hands. She helped him into a fresh set of the padded bra and matching panties and then handed him a jeans and a gray top.

"Joanne doesn't need anything fancy today. Just your everyday girl-next-door vibe."

The high-waisted jeans hugged his hips, and the tank top left his shoulders and midriff exposed. The girl looking back in the mirror looked like she belonged on a campus, not in a married man's life.

Elena guided him to the vanity stool. An array of products were already lined up on the vanity, like tools on a workbench. Foundation, concealer, blush, eyeshadow palette, mascara, the soft rose gloss, and a setting spray.

"Yesterday you watched me do your makeup. Today you start learning how to do it yourself. I’ll guide you, but we don't leave until you get this right."

Jordan’s hands trembled as he picked up the foundation bottle. The cool liquid felt foreign on his fingertips. Elena watched closely, blow drying and setting his hair, correcting every mistake with patient but firm instructions. "Blend upward, not out... Less is more on the contour... You don’t want stripes... Curl the lashes before mascara or it looks clumpy."

Jordan’s hand shook so badly the wing came out crooked. She made him wipe his face and start again. "Elena, this is ridiculous. I feel stupid. Why do I have to learn to do this myself? You could just do it for me like last time."

Elena tilted his chin up with two fingers, forcing him to meet her eyes in the mirror. "Because Sarah and James are going to see you in bright daylight for hours, not just dim dinner lighting. And because I want you to feel every second of becoming Joanne. Look at yourself... those soft eyes, those pretty lips. Don’t you want to be perfect for me? For Sarah?"

Jordan’s breath hitched. "For you... yes. But, I-I don’t want her to want me like that."

Elena’s smile turned wicked as she handed him the mascara again. "Too late for that, sweetheart. Now do it again... keep your hand steady this time."

The second try was better, but Elena still made him start over one more time. By the third pass the look had settled into something soft and more than passable. The kind of face that would look completely natural chasing kids around a living room on a summer afternoon. The rose gloss made his lips look full and inviting, catching the light with a subtle sheen every time he spoke.

While he worked, Elena kept the voice drills going without mercy. "Say it again. 'Mia, would you like apple slices or grapes?' Higher. Softer. Like you're sharing a secret with a friend."

Jordan repeated the line, pitching his voice up until it came out breathy and light. His throat felt tight. Elena nodded. "Again. And smile while you say it this time. Let it reach your eyes." He tried, cheeks flushing hotter with every repetition. "Good girl. Keep that tone even when Max is bouncing and asking you to play Spider-Man for the tenth time."

Finally after the the fourth attempt, the makeup passed Elena's inspection. She guided him out into the living room and handed him a pair of two-inch heels. "Let's practice your walking. Shoulders back. Smaller steps. Let your hips sway just enough to look natural, not exaggerated."

Jordan practiced in the hallway first, heels clicking softly on the hardwood, the plug nudging with every careful movement. Elena followed, correcting with light touches... a palm between his shoulder blades, fingers on his waist to guide the sway. "Better. Chin up. Don't look at your feet. Imagine you're carrying a tray of snacks and don't want to spill."

In the kitchen she had him make breakfast while still in the heels. "Keep the posture while you chop the fruit. Smaller movements. Graceful." Jordan moved around the island, conscious of every sway of his hips, every click of the heels, every shift of the plug. The knife felt awkward in his manicured hand. Elena watched from the counter, occasionally calling out adjustments. "Shoulders back when you reach for the bowls. You're slouching again. Good... that's the walk I want to see when you're carrying the snacks or doing any chores."

Jordan wobbled in the low heels while trying to chop fruit. "Elena, this is too much," he hissed under his breath. "I'm going to be alone with two nine-year-olds all afternoon. I could trip?"

Elena leaned against the counter, watching him with dark amusement. "You won't trip if you keep your remember your training. And those kids already think you're the prettiest girl they've ever met. And I know how good you are with kids, so I'm sure you are going to be extra careful."

Jordan's knife paused mid-chop, face burning. "You're enjoying this way too much."

"I am," Elena admitted, stepping behind him and correcting his posture once more with both hands on his waist. "Just the thought of Sarah flirting with my pretty little Joanne is making me so wet I don't think I will be able to focus on work once you are gone."

Jordan swallowed hard. "But what if Sarah gets too handsy?"

"C'mon honey. It's just harmless fun. She's not going to suddenly jump on the babysitter or try anything crazy." Elena paused but her expression shifted as if an idea was forming in her mind. "Now, enough chit-chat. Why don't you cook something for us, which I get ready."

Jordan nodded, his heart pounding as Elena left him alone in the kitchen. He cracked some eggs into a pan and set the table. By the time he plated the eggs with toast, and poured orange juice in their glasses Elena was back, looking sharp in an ivory blouse and trousers.

They ate together at the small table, Jordan perched carefully on the edge of the chair the way she had taught him, knees together, back straight. "Just remember... you're Joanne every day this week. No slipping back, even at home. That means the voice, the walk, the little touches like fixing your hair when you think I'm not looking." Jordan nodded slowly and continued chewing slowly. Every bite tasted like rose gloss.

"I want you to take a selfie every hour and share it to me. Keep me in the loop so I can picture it all. And text me if something happens... with Sarah. Okay?"

He swallowed. Her words stirred something deeper, a mix of dread and an unwelcome thrill.

After breakfast Elena glanced at the clock. "We've got a couple of hours. You can finish that programming project, while I work on my designs. Remember your training. I'll be keeping an eye on you."

Jordan settled at the small desk in the corner of the living room with his laptop. He opened the project file and sighed quietly. The revision requests were almost done; he’d wrapped up the main app script last week and was now just polishing edge cases while waiting on the next contract lead to come through. A couple of potential clients had gone quiet, and the pipeline felt thinner than he liked. He responded to one last comment, debugged a small function, the lines of code kept blurring on the screen as his mind kept drifting to the afternoon ahead. The pad grew slicker with each passing minute, his body responding to the constant friction of lace against skin, and Elena’s occasional glances from her own desk from the study room only heightened the tension.

Elena worked quietly on her design project, her fingers tapping out emails about brand visuals, but every so often she would call out. "You're slouching again, Joanne." "Keep practicing your voice. Softer this time."

He corrected himself each time, cheeks burning, the plug a steady, distracting pressure that made focusing near impossible.

By eleven Elena closed her own laptop with a decisive click and walked over, adjusting the gold hair clip in his waves. "Time to go. Don't forget your clutch. I'm going to turn you into the sweetest, prettiest babysitter they've ever had. Sarah's going to eat you up looking like this."

Jordan’s fingers froze on the keyboard. The casual certainty in her tone sent a fresh wave of dread curling through his stomach. He wanted to argue, to beg her to call the whole thing off, but the words died in his throat. Instead he simply saved his progress, closed the laptop, and stood on unsteady legs.

"W-where are we going?" Jordan asked, trying to keep pace with Elena in the heels. She didn't answer. Jordan's heart hammered as they stepped outside together and got into the car.

The short drive ended at the familiar corner café where Alex the barista had flirted with him days earlier. Elena parked and turned to him with a small, wicked smile.

"Let's get a quick bite before the real errand. Why don't you go inside and order. Ask if Alex is working today. Be sweet about it. If he is, I want you to talk to him nicely."

Jordan's mouth went dry. "Elena-"

"Go on, Joanne..."

Inside, the smell of fresh coffee and pastries wrapped around him like a trap. His voice came out higher and softer than he expected when he placed the order. When the barista handed over the cups, Jordan managed a shy smile. "Is… is Alex working today?"

The girl smiled and shook her head. "Nope, he works in the evenings on weekdays. Want me to tell him Joanne stopped by?"

Heat flooded Jordan's face. "N-no... that's okay," he whispered. He brought the food to a small outdoor table where Elena was waiting. Elena watched him sip with obvious satisfaction, taking small sips, holding the cup delicately between his fingers just like Elena instructed. "See? You're getting good at this. People see exactly what we want them to see."

After the quick lunch Elena drove a few more blocks and pulled into a small parking lot next to a stylish shop.

"W-why are we here, Elena?" Jordan asked nervously, looking at the window display in front of them.

"You were right this morning. The padding might have been okay for the dinner last night, but its not going to cut it for hours of movement. That's why we're here. To get you something... better. Something that will let you relax and just be Joanne without worrying every second."

Jordan's cheeks burned. "Th-that's not what I meant, Elena. I don't want to 'just be Joanne'. I don't like this."

Elena smiled. "Shh!! you may not like it now... but you will soon. By the time we are done, you're not going to just look perfect. You're going to feel perfect."