My Sister Myself

Cecile’ Rayne clicked the small remote in her hand, bringing the thirty second mock commercial to an end for the marketing sales manager, her boss, Richard Verdona. She had spent the last three months working day and night and weekends to produce a thirty second video for paper towels. Not something she was immensely proud of but if Richard approved the commercial her promotion was all but secured.

Beside him in the small office was another man, the regional marketing manager and sycophant Loyd Olson. Cecile’ fought the urge to ask what the two men thought. She learned in her first year this showed a lack of confidence in her own work. Instead she sat quietly while the two men decided her fate. “Can we change the narrator?” Richard asked.

Of course this wasn’t an actual question, “Of course. As I said before these are just day players. Not part of our final product.”

“Hmm.” Richard nodded.

“What did you have in mind?” She took out a digital pen and began making notes on her tablet.

“I don’t know.” He said slowly. “Something…different. His voice was too…I don’t know. Hmm.”

“Someone older perhaps?”

“No.”

“Younger?”

He shook his head back and forth as if he were waying the thought itself, “No. It’s a bit too…aggressive. His voice.”

“O…kay.

“Yeah.” Loyd added uselessly. “We don’t want people to think we’re threatening them if they don’t buy the product.” He laughed.

Richard chuckled quietly but otherwise he stared at the frozen screen. “We can find someone with a gentler voice.” Cecile’ added, instead of hurling her tablet at Loyd.

“What about a woman?” Richard thought out loud.

“Sure.” Cecile’ nodded.

“Yeah. It is a commercial in a kitchen after all.” He laughed again, equally as useless as his comments.

“I don’t thi-”

Richard’s phone beeped and he stood up, interrupting Cecile’. “Great. Have something for me next Friday and we’ll get the ball rolling on casting.”

Cecile’ made a quick note and when she looked up she was surprised to see both men had left. Not one to be dismissed so easily she stood and followed, placing her tablet in her leather satchel. “Mr.Verdona.” She asked respectfully as she caught up with the men.

“What is it Ms.Rayne?” He still stared at his phone as he walked on.

“I wanted to talk about the executive position that Lancaster left open.”

“God rest him.” Richard nodded, coming to a stop in the middle of the hall.

“Yes. A huge loss to the company. One I know you are looking to fill.”

Richard hesitated and turned to Loyd. “Go see if the art department has the print outs ready for Nueva shoes.”

“Yes sir.” He nodded, giving a final glance to Cecile’ before walking to the elevator. Cecile wore her usual outfit. A black pants suit with matching jacket and navy blue blouse for a splash of color and flats. She claimed she dressed conservatively because she was a professional, but Loyd knew better, she changed her hairstyle every other day hoping to draw the eyes of as many men as possible, today she had her hair in a bun, her glasses framed by the two strands of hair she allowed to fall out of her face. She dressed like the ice queen she acted as, but her hair, her pouty lips, they just begged for him to rip her blouse to reveal her C cups and give her an excuse to let her hair down and get wild. He took one final look at her and Richard as the elevator doors closed.

“You want to jump from an associate to an executive? That’s bold Cecile’.” Richard smiled and walked to the stairwell. “Very bold indeed.” Richard Verdona had salt and pepper hair and crystal blue eyes and the best smile money could buy. He was twenty years Cecile’s senior at forty-seven.

“I would.” She smiled, closing the door behind her. “But, I thought it would be wiser to help someone much wiser than myself rise through the ranks. Take over his position as team lead and perhaps one day-”

“One day when the time comes, put you on the short list for the position yourself.” He said lighting a cigarette.

“See, I knew I chose the right man.” She smiled.

Richard laughed for a moment before frowning. “Loyd’s next in line for my job. You know that.”

“Please. You and I both know Loyd doesn’t have two brain cells to rub together. He’s just a kiss ass.”

Richard nodded, “That he is, no doubt about it.”

“So we agree.”

He puffed on his cigarette for a moment before blowing the smoke off to the side. “That Loyd’s a kiss-ass? Of course. Everyone knows it. Hell. He knows it. But that’s the game.”

“The game?”

“Do you know how much ass I had to kiss to get where I am?”

“Your work on the honey oats campaign was incredible.”

“Of course it was.” He inhaled smoke into his lungs once more, “Do you think I would have gotten my promotion just on that alone?” Smoke billowed out of his nose. “No. I had to suck up to my boss and his boss like their titties gave milk.” Cecile’ frowned. “You’re a brilliant Adwoman. You could sell ice to an eskimo.”

“Inuit.”

“Right.” He puffed again. “But the one thing that’s keeping you from moving ahead is the fact you don’t play the game.”

“I don’t think that’s the only reason.” She gritted her teeth.

“Now, don’t be like that.” He offered her a cigarette which she took and he lit. “It has nothing to do with you being a woman.

“Doesn’t it? C&B marketing has only three women executives out of the hundreds of men.”

“I won’t pretend it’s not a boys club up there.” He sighed, taking another puff. “But those women? They also knew how to play the game. The game you don’t wish to play.”

“Because any time a woman does she’s accused of sleeping her way to the top! I want to get ahead because I earned it, not because I give head.” She took a deep inhale, breathing in the fire.

Richard smirked. “I understand that.” She gave him a disbelieving look, “As much as I am capable of, being just a rich, old, white guy.” He held his hands up in surrender. Cecile’ shook her head and hid her smile. “Look, you’re right. I will probably get this promotion and Loyd will probably take over my position. Him or some other totie just like him. But you aren’t exactly out of the running either.”

Cecile’ scoffed and blew a cloud of smoke from her lips, “Yeah. If I just sacrifice my principles.”

“If you find a way to get ahead without sacrificing your principles, you let me know. Cause I sure as hell haven’t figured it out.” He ground the nub of his cigarette into the metal railing, extinguishing the diminishing light, before flicking it to the distant floor ten stories below. “Don’t give up, Cecile’.” He gave her a gentle nod before walking out of the stairwell. Cecile’ stayed a while longer, finishing the cigarette and her thoughts.

Cam Rayne stood in a swanky upscale apartment in nothing but a towel, neither of which belonged to him. He was invited of course. And to show his appreciation he was cooking the lovely woman who did own the apartment his grandfather’s famous french toast. “Of course, being French we just called it toast.” He joked as sprinkled powdered sugar over the toast.

A slender hand grabbed his butt through the towel. “Isn’t it a little late in the day for french toast?” Nicole cooed, wrapping her arms around his slender waist.

“It’s never too late for-hey!” He laughed as her hand slipped beneath his towel, grasping his limp penis.

“I’m not hungry. For toast.” She spun Cam around and immediately sank to her knees.

“While we do accept all forms of payment here at chateau Rayne this is most certainly a f-a fire hazard.” He gasped, feeling her lips wrapping around his stiffening cock. Cam turned the stove off, the last order his brain would give his blood now pumping directly into his cock. He grabbed her blonde hair in his hand, now thrusting himself into her mouth.

Keys jangled in the front door, stopping the lovers' fun. “Oh shit!” Nicole swore quickly standing to her feet. “It’s my husband.”

“Gotta go.” He kissed her lips, grabbed two pieces of toast, and ran as quickly as he could into her bedroom. Normally this would be a terrible idea. But being she lived on the fourth floor it meant she had a fire escape. Cam made a mad dash down the metal stairs, dropping in the small alleyway beside the building.

An older man sat on a milk crate. “Another husband almost gotcha again, eh Cam?”

“Almost only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades, Cap’n.” He handed the man known only as Cap’n the toast he had absconded with.

“Thank ya, Cam.”

“No problem, Cap’n.”

“You want my coat?” The old man offered the naked man.

Cam thought for a moment, “Nah. You keep it. I heard it’s gonna get cold tonight.”

“That’s what they tell me.”

Cam frowned, “Hey. Do you like hot chocolate?”

“Yeah! Who doesn’t?”

“I’ll bring you some later. Are you still gonna be here tonight?”

The old man laughed, “Where am I gonna go?”

Cam smiled, “Alright, catch you later Cap’n.”

“Not if they catch you first.” He continued laughing as Cam walked out onto the sidewalk. The passersby stared at the man wearing only a pink towel who walked with all the confidence of a rich man in a power suit. “Ladies.” He nodded to a pair of older women who had mixed emotions about the handsome man’s nudity.

“Evenin, Cam.” The doorman greeted him and opened the door. “Almost got caught again?”

“What’s life without a little risk, right?” He smiled, walking into the building. Hurrying only when he saw the elevator doors about to close. “Hold the elevator!” He shouted.

A thin hand grabbed the elevator door and immediately regretted it seeing her brother in only a towel. “Hello, Cam.” She said with disgust.

“Evenin’.” He smiled and stood beside her as the doors closed.

“So.” he asked after a few seconds of silence, “How was work?”

“It was fine.” She lied.

“How was Mrs.Mcneal?”

“Didn’t you get the newsletter? Mrs.Mcneal was last week.”

“Ah. You’ll have to forgive me. I'm not as up to date on the local whore gazette as I once was.”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa. You think I should start charging them?”

“At least then you could pay rent.” The elevator opened to the fourth floor and a beautiful blonde woman stood holding Cam’s forgotten clothes. “Good evening Mrs.Weaver.”

“Cecile’.” She said sharply as she handed Cam his clothes with a kiss on his cheek. Seeing Cecile’ and Cam standing side by side gave many tenants pause.The siblings were twins and used to the looks that came with having a nearly identical clone standing beside you. Both had lengthy black hair, while Cecile’s was long enough to reach the small of her back and Cam’s only came past his shoulders, they had the same hazel eyes and button nose. For Cam his features were a plus as many women were attracted to his youthful appearance. For Cecile’ however, it made the task of being taken seriously all the harder. Cam’s frame was eerily similar to that of his sister’s. And on more than one occasion a drunk lover had confused Cecile’ for Cam from behind.

The doors closed once again and they continued their trip upwards. “What could you possibly do to these women that they’re willing to risk their marriages over?”

“We-”

“Nevermind.” She said quickly, cutting him off. Cam smiled and redressed himself.

On the eighth floor, now clad in his jeans and nothing else he followed his sister to the apartment they shared. “It’s not what I do to them. It’s what I give them.”

“Yeah? And what’s that?”

“A good story to tell at brunch.”

“I didn’t realize sleeping with a bum was in vogue.” Cecile’ rolled her eyes as she took out her keys.

“Hey! I’m not a bum. I’m an artist.”

“To be an artist you have to sell something. Or, hell, paint something!” Her keys dropped to the hardwood floor and Cam bent to pick them up.

“Nice.” The siblings turned to see a woman in her eighties clearly ogling Cam’s rear.

“Mrs. Kravitz!”

“Ah, live a little, Cecile’.” She waved the younger woman off.

“You tell her Debrah.” Cam smiled.

“Are you wearing that to our bridge game tonight?” She smiled.

“I was thinking about it, but then I would hate to give you and your friends a heart attack and deprive this city of such sweet angles.”

“But what a way to go.” She laughed.

“Ugh.” Cecile’ snatched the keys from her brother and opened her door, slamming it behind her.

“Ignore her.” He tossed his shirt over his bare shoulder. “We’re still on for eight?”

She nodded. “I’m making cookies.”

“Not chocolate chips?”

“Yes?” She asked with a hint of worry in her voice.

“Oh Debrah, you must be a mind reader. Chocolate chips are my favorite!” The old woman smiled. “I’ll see you tonight.” He said as he backed away to his door.

Cecile’ took off her jacket, throwing it over the couch and sat with a heavy sigh. Cam walked in a few moments later, “Finished flirting with the cryptkeeper, are we?”

“Debrah is a beautiful and engaging woman.”

“You can’t be serious?” She sighed, “She’s a hundred!”

“She’s seventy-three and a lot more fun than you.”

“Va te faire enculer'!” She swore at him in french as she threw a pillow at Cam. “Someone has to work to keep a roof over our head while you’re off plowing your way through the upper west side.”

Cam picked up the pillow where it landed by the fridge and walked to his angry sister. “What’s wrong?”

“You’re a slut.”

“You’ve known this for years.” He sat next to Cecile’ and gave her a gentle look, “What’s up your butt today?”

“I’m not talking to you without a shirt.” Cam rolled his eyes and stood, walking down the hall to his room. He threw his paint stained shirt in the corner with the rest of his dirty laundry and took another shirt out of the closet. This one was stained with paint, but not as much as the others, it had been a shirt he hadn’t worn since senior year of highschool and unlike the tight shirts he wore every day to show off his physique as much as possible, he wasn’t exactly a bodybuilder, but he had a small amount of tone on his lithe body. This shirt was much too large and hung loosely on him. Of course he was much smaller than he once was as well. In jr.high he got tired of being picked on for being short and having a “girl’s name”. He had been named Camille, due to the fact that his parents were expecting one girl and had only chosen girls names for their future baby. So when the doctor told them there was a second baby they decided to name the new baby after “her” paternal grandfather since Cecile’ was named after her maternal grandmother. He insisted everyone call him Cam but teachers had always ignored that simple request and referred to him as Camille, which resulted in taunting and even bullying. So he tried to join the football team. This was an unmitigated disaster as much larger boys easily shoved him back or simply tossed him aside. Basketball was alright for a time since he wasn’t much shorter than the other boys at that age. But after jr.high everyone had a growth spurt but him and even with his father’s assurance he would grow one day it still didn’t keep him from being cut from the team. In high school he found a new sport, one that his size wouldn’t be a disadvantage. Wrestling. He joined as a lightweight and in his first year he was able to actually win half of his matches. The next year the lightweights he had easily defeated the year before were now on the upper end of the scale, their weight hadn’t changed much but they were simply solid muscle. No matter how much he hit the gym he couldn’t add weight or mass, at least not as quickly as the other boys in his division. Until one day a teammate suggested something that would double his strength in the gym. And as promised he got stronger quickly and won more of his matches. By senior year he was promoted to the middleweight division and submitted opponents easily. He was on his way to a scholarship when the story broke. The entire team was on steroids. Their trophies, their records, their futures were all destroyed. The coach had been fired for supplying the team with clean urine and his parents who were once so proud of him disowned him.

He counted himself lucky; unlike some of his teammates who, without the steroids, were now obese adults with large saggy man boobs and bacne, he had at least been able to maintain a decent enough physique but it still required constant upkeep. Of course, the karmik gods hadn’t let him off scott free. He was a miserable 5’5. Multiple doctors he spoke to told him because of the steroids he had severely stunted his growth.

“Alright, now will you tell me what’s gotten you bent out of shape?” He asked loudly as they walked back into the open floor living room after dinner. His baggy shirt hanging down to his thighs, the school mascot of an angry bull emblazoned in the center.

“I can’t believe you still have that.”

“It’s fashion. You wouldn’t understand.”

“Whatever.” She rolled her eyes before telling her brother about her day and what Richard had told her. “So there’s a party next weekend, and he’s sure to get the promotion and I’m supposed to go, but fat lot of good that’ll do me.”

“Why not?”

“Because Loyd is a better ass kisser and he’ll no doubt get the promotion because he has his lips wrapped around at least three other execs.”

“You can too.”

“No I can’t. I can’t suck up to them.”

“Sure you can. It’s easy. You say ‘Boss man, you are truly the best thing to ever happen to this company.’ Then you give him a little wink.”

“Let me rephrase, I don’t want to suck up. I’m not going to compromise my ethics.”

“There’s nothing unethical about it! Look, you sell things for a living. How’s this different?”

“I’m not a product to be bought and sold. I’m a woman who’s worked her ass off all through school and I do my job better than anyone. But they won’t see that…they don’t care about that.” Cecile’ sighed angrily, “I’m going to bed.”

“It’s only eight?”

“I said what I said!” She shouted as she walked away. Cam frowned and sat on the couch, watching the city through the large casement window that opened to the balcony.

The next morning Cecile’ was surprised to see Cam not only up before noon, but up before her and cooking breakfast. “What are you doing?”

He gave her an odd look as if the answer were obvious, “Making french toast.”

“I can see that. I meant, what are you doing awake?”

Sliding the sweet toasts onto a plate Cam handed her a plate, “I was thinking about your situation and I think I can help.”

“With toast?” She asked, taking the plate.

“And more.” He turned back to the stove, throwing more bread onto the pan, “You want a promotion and I can help you with that.”

“I don’t see how.”

“I couldn't either. But I was talking to a friend the other night over a cup of coco and he reminded me if nothing else I know how to talk to people." Cam sat across from Cecile', "So I cleared my schedule this weekend and I'll teach you everything I know about selling yourself."

"You have friends?"

"I have tons of friends."

"That you don't sleep with?"

"I have a friend. Anyway, do you want my expertise or not?"

“What will you get out of this?”

“Helping my beloved sister of course!” Cecile’ stared at him disbelievingly, “Fine, also if I help you then you can get off my back about rent.”

She thought for a moment, taking a bite out of her french toast, "Sure. Why not?"

"That's the…spirit."

Cam spent that Saturday teaching Cecile’ all he knew about flattering people. The hardest part for her wasn’t actually learning the techniques but feeling foolish for batting her eyelashes at her brother. “That’s fair. Let’s go get some coffee.”

“We have coffee here.”

“Just, come on.” He practically dragged Cecile’ out of the apartment. They walked a few blocks to the nearest coffee shop. While waiting in line he turned to Cecile’ and asked, “You know what you want?”

“I think so.”

“Good. When you go up there, practice what I taught you on that guy.” He nodded to a disinterested teenage boy filling complicated orders.

“You want me to flirt? For coffee?”

“What better way to practice? Look. He’s a teenager, you’re a beautiful older woman. It's a low hanging fruit. You give him a couple of compliments, touch his hand and he’ll give you his car.”

“This is so stupid.”

“Just trust me.Unless you’re happy selling ass cream.” Cam rolled his eyes and stepped out of line, positioning himself at a table close enough he could listen in.

A few minutes later Cecile’ approached the boy who looked to be all of seventeen. His thick glasses and acne riddled face reminded her of the guys she knew in the A.V. club. “Welcome to Caramel Cafe’. What can I get you this morning?” He said completely deadpan.

“Good afternoon, Kevin.” She added, noting the name on his nametag. “I would like a mo-” she was interrupted hearing her brother loudly coughing off to the side, “uh, well. My order’s a little complicated but…” She paused and **** a smile to her face, “but you look smart, so it won’t even be a problem.”

“Okay?”

“Can I get a Vanilla mocha latte with a shot of espresso and two pumps of dragon fruit?”

“Sure.” He typed into the register when suddenly Cecile’ grabbed his wrist.

“Please?” She blinked rapidly and quickly removed her hand from the boy.

“Yeah. That’ll be $12.50.” He turned around and started making her order. In the corner Cam dropped his head into his hands. How could she possibly be this bad?

“How do you even do your job?!” He shouted as they left the cafe and headed back to their apartment.

“I told you, it’s different. I don’t have to flirt with the products.”

“No! The kid wasn’t the product, you are. How did you even get your job with flattery like that!”

Cecile’ grabbed her brother’s shoulder, spinning him around quickly, “I got my job because I worked hard for it! My grades got me the internship and my work ethic got me to where I am! Something you clearly know nothing about.”

“Hey, I have work ethic!”

“You need to work to have work ethic, Camille!”

“I told you not to call me that!” He hated when she’d use his full name. She did it when she was mad or annoyed just to piss him off.

“And I told you this was stupid!”

“It works if you actually do it! You didn’t even smile!”

“I did so!”

“Are…are you calling what you did smiling? When you bared your teeth like some monster?!” Cam’s lips pulled back revealing all of his teeth set tightly as he clenched his jaw. “Does this look like a smile?!” He asked through his teeth.

“What does it even matter? Getting coffee off some dork isn’t the same thing as buttering up executives.”

“They’re men! At heart we’re all just horny zit faced teenagers. If you would dress a little nicer that would do half the work for you. But nooo. You’re too good.”

“You always bring this up! I know what you mean by ‘nice’ you mean dress like a streetwalker.” She threw her hands up in disgusted air quotes.

“No, but would it kill you to wear something other than pants suits?!”

“Like that would have done any good. They’re a business. They aren’t allowed to give away free coffee.”

“I get free stuff all the time!”

“Then you flirt with the walking zit!” She stormed away.

“Maybe I will!” He shouted after her. God why did she have to be such a bitch?! Instead of following he went to the gym. If she wasn’t going to be listening to him he might as well at least get a workout in to work off his anger.

Cecile’ didn’t see Cam for the rest of the day, and barely at all Sunday. “I should apologize.” She told her reflection Monday morning as she finished braiding her hair. “He really was just trying to help. Even if it was stupid.” Her phone beeped at her.

Cam had sent a quick message, “Come 2 the caramel cafe”

She quickly texted back, “I have to go to work. I don’t have time for this.”

“Trust me. Coffees on me.”

She did want a coffee, and him buying her a coffee might be his way of apologizing for his part as well. “Fine.”

“Sit in the corner table.”

“What?” She asked aloud.

At the Caramel Cafe’ Cecile’ sat at the corner table, the same one her brother had sat in a few days before, and she waited. She hadn’t seen him anywhere outside or inside. Was he on the way or…? Quickly she checked her seat, when she sat down she didn’t hear the sputtering sound of a whoopie cushion but that didn’t mean he didn’t somehow do something to the chair to embarrass her. As she was checking the chair, her phone beeped on the table.

“Watch the birdy,” The message read. Looking around the cafe’ quickly she saw no birds, or cameras. The only bird was a small brooch pinned to a woman’s red sweater top. Oddly enough it looked extremely similar to the one her grandmother had left her in her will. The woman winked and immediately it dawned on her. That was her brooch, but worse, the blonde woman wearing it was her brother! “You’ve got to be kidding me!” She hissed silently.

“Welcome to Caramel Cafe’ what can I get you this morning?” The acne marked boy took in the blonde woman and her warm smile.

“Like, hi.” Cam giggled effeminately. “I’m not sure what I want. Do you think you can help me?”

“Uh…y-yeah.” he swallowed hard, “We have a pretty big selection of-”

“I bet that’s not the only thing that’s big.” He giggled again, this time touching the teen’s hand gently as he leaned over the counter.

“Um..” he laughed awkwardly. “W-what are you in the mood for?”

“I have such a hard day ahead,” he said in a breathy voice, ending with a small pout, “do you have anything that can…fill me up…”–he glanced towards the boy’s crotch and bit his lip–“with energy?”

“I-I mean, we do.” The boy gulped as he examined the beauty across the counter. Her blonde hair draped over one shoulder in a mermaid braid. Leading his eye to the scoop-neck and her most prominent feature, her cleavage. The boy would never guess that the chest he fantasized about stroking his cock with was an illusion created by a youtube tutorial Cam had watched online and that black lace push up bra was stuffed with half a box of tissues. He would never imagine underneath her black skirt and matching pantyhose was a dick pulled back and hidden away.

“Goody!” He bounced happily. “I knew you were the man I needed!”

“Give me a minute.” The boy turned around and fumbled with the plastic containers as he tried to brew the perfect concoction for the sexy girl. By the time he turned around the blonde was gone. Through the window he could see her being dragged away by a furious brunette.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?!” Cecile’ yelled as she **** her brother through the streets in drag.

“I was about to get a free coffee!”

“You were about to get an STD from five different men who were drooling over your ass!”

“I was just proving my point.”

“What?! That you’re some perverted drag queen? I’ll give you points for originality but seriously this is a terrible way to come out as gay.”

“What? I’m not-!”

“I should’ve known, all the womanizing, the wrestling, all the time at the gym.”

“I’m not gay.”

“I’ve heard the rumors around the building. You don’t have to hide anymore. I’m your sister, I still love you.”

“I told you I’m not gay!”

“Then how’d the rumors get started?”

“I don’t know, but I’m not gay.”

But he did know; he was there when the rumor started. A few years ago after a particularly fun evening with another tenant Cam was awoken at noon by the sound of a very angry husband beating down his door. The husband cursed and hollered that someone had seen his wife exiting Cam’s early the next morning.

Before he could come up with is own lie the wife swore that Cam was gay and she only wanted fashion advice from him. He of course went along at the time, playing up his interpretation of an out and proud gay man. “Oh please, your wife is beautiful I assure, but you are much more my type.” He winked, and gracefully touched the rather large man’s chest. He knew he lucked up when instead of punching him in the face the husband took a step back, he was still visibly angry but now he was also confused and simply wanted to go home.

The beautiful wife thanked him and left, but strangely after that the other women in the building would use the same excuse any time they wanted to come over. Them coming over with a cover story certainly made things easier but soon every husband in the building thought Cam was gay and only their wives knew different. He would hear them whispering to one another as he passed them in the hall or elevator and it reminded him of high school all over again. Being short and thin with a girl’s name he was constantly accused of and ridiculed for being gay.

Shaking off the memories “I’m not gay! I was just showing you that it was entirely possible for you to get a free coffee. Even I could get a free drink off the kid and I’m a guy.” A man walking by turned his head sharply and stared at Cam. “What?!” He shouted in his gruffest voice. “Fifty dollars if you wanna keep looking, pal!” The strange man hurried away.

Cecile continued pulling Cam’s back to their building, “You didn’t prove anything I didn’t already know. Men like sluts. Even if they’re obviously men in drag. Where did you get that hair? And those clothes?”

“I borrowed it from Debrah.” he said proudly. “I borrowed some of your clothes of course.”

“Give them back!”

“Fine.” He began to pull the red sweater off of his chest but was stopped by Cecile’.

“Wait until we’re inside!”

Their doorman had done a double take as the two women walked passed him. “I didn’t know you also had a twin sister.” He remarked as she kept walking.

“I don’t.” She said angrily.

“She’s just jealous cause I’m the pretty one.” Cam smirked as he gave a flirty wave to the man.

Finally Cecile’ spoke again now that she was in her own apartment. “What in the hell were you doing?”

“I already told you I was-”

“Bullshit. You went that far to make a point?! You got a drink off a horny teenager. Congrats. My bosses aren’t horny teenagers!”

“Please. They’re still men.”

“I’m not going to flirt with anyone to get a promotion.”

“You don’t have to take it that far. Just actually be nice for once! See how far that takes you. There’s actually a lot of psyc-”

“Enough. Your plan was stupid and I can’t take you seriously dressed like a slut.”

“These are your clothes!”

“Shut up!” Cecile’ stormed out of her apartment, now angrier than she had been Saturday.

Her entire day all she could think about was her stupid brother’s stupid stunt! She had heard more than a few people call her an ice queen when they thought she couldn’t hear them. She never considered herself cold, just focused on work. But today she definitely earned her crown. By lunch she had berated three employees and two secretaries over miniscule mistakes. After lunch her phone rang and she heard the voice of her boss’ secretary, Leslie, “Ms Rayne, Mr.Smith would like a word.” She grumbled as she left her office, removing the anger from her face.

“Close the door.” Mr.Smith ordered when Cecile’ walked into his office. The man in his mid-thirties sat behind a large desk, his large stomach stretching his fine tailored dress shirt to the limit. “It has come to my attention that you have a problem.”

“A problem, sir?” She thought for a moment, “None I’m aware of.”

“I see. Then you called Brittany ‘an airheaded space wasting dick goblin,’ for fun?”

“I think without context that sounds a little mean, but-”

“In what context would that be less mean?”

“Brittany and I have a repor going, perhaps I was a little louder than was appropriate.”

“So you two are friends?”

“Of course. I always try to relate to the common man.”

“I don’t think Brittany took it that way.”

“Well if you’d like we can get her in here and I can apologize, and even explain if necessary.”

“Brittany quit.”

“What?”

“She and Jasmine both quit this afternoon.”

“Why?”

“I think the dick goblin comment had something to do with it.” Smith stood and walked around his desk, gently leaning himself against it and continued. “I understand you’re under a lot of stress and you can be brash to those beneath you but you understand how severe this is, right? Especially with you wanting a promotion.”

“Who told you?”

“That doesn’t matter.” ‘Fuckin’ Loyd!’ “What matters is this will reflect poorly when it comes time to decide who deserves the promotion.”

Anger burned inside of Cecile’ once more, “No one deserves this promotion more than I do.”

“Truly? You think I didn’t hear about your other incidents today?”

“It’s one bad day.”

“You’re gonna have a lot of bad days if you get promoted. The point is not to take them out on your team. At least not in a way they file complaints!” Smith sighed and pinched his eyes, “You are harsh on your team, and until now it has been tolerable but this is too much. I’m afraid I have to recommend against your promotion.”

“What?! Because two little bimbos quit?!”

“Because you can’t do the job.”

“My job is to sell-”

“Your job is to lead! That’s what you don’t get. You can't treat people below you like roaches and expect us to not think you’d do the same if you moved up the corporate ladder.”

Cecile’ felt herself begin to rage, when she thought back to what her brother told her this morning. “I’m sorry, Eugene.” she said softly, surprising Eugene Smith. “I have done nothing but work on the promotion itself for years. I…lost sight of what it would actually mean to actually get it.”

“I understand. It can happen to the best of us if we’re not careful.”

She nodded, “I promise it won’t happen again.”

“That’s good. Maybe next time there’s a position available I can recommend you for advancement.”

“You could still recommend me.”

“We’ve already talked about this.”

“I know, but…I heard you. No final decisions have been made of who’s even in the running.”

“No, we haven’t. But after today-”

“Eugene, if you give me another chance I won’t blow it.”

He shook his head, “I can’t. You have to understand who I recommend will also reflect on me. After today if I recommend you it could compromise my own position.”

“There has to be some way I can prove it to you!” Cecile’ grabbed his hand, “I-if you just give me one more chance, I swear I won’t make you regret it.”

Eugene looked at the young woman looking up at him, her beautiful eyes pleading for his help. “Cecile’...” he released the breath he’d been holding since she had touched his hand. She was a stunning woman, and the thought of her naked and **** for him had not escaped his mind, though he made sure to not let it interfere with his work, until today. “Fine. We’ll be submitting our final decisions on Monday. You have until then to prove yourself.”

“That’s all I’ll need. I promise you won’t regret this.” She stood with a smile.

The following days Cecile’ was nicer to her employees and assistants than she had ever been as she reworked her ad campaign. She smiled more to everyone, pretended to take interest in their lives, and even thanked the secretaries when they brought her the files she asked for. By Thursday evening she stopped by Eugene’s office to ask about her prospects. “I’m hearing good things about you lately. That makes me happy.” He smiled.

“That makes me happy too!” She smiled. “So you’ll recommend me for the promotion?”

His smile faded, “I might be able too, but you have to remember I’m not the only one you have to convince. My recommendation carries some weight but Richard and Devlin are a part of this too and the vote has to be unanimous.”

She frowned, she knew Richard at least indicated he liked her for the promotion, if Eugene was behind her that would help, so she only had to convince Devlin Lawkes? The problem is he hadn’t been around the office in over a month and wouldn’t be back until Monday! “Could you or Richard convince Devlin?”

“We can try. But to him you’re an unknown. He’ll go with whoever he thinks is the best.”

“You mean someone who’s spent their time polishing his boots.”

“Unfortunately.” Cecile’ stood with a sigh and started to walk out of Eugene’s office. “He’ll be at the party tomorrow.”

“Fat lot of good that’ll do me.”

Eugene shrugged, “Turn up the charm, show him you’re the right ma-woman for the job.”

“...I’ll think about it.” She left, closing the door behind her.

Later that evening Cam returned from his weekly bridge game to find Cecile’ in her room staring at what could laughably be called a walk-in closet. “I’m back.”

“Great.” She continued to chew her pinky nail.

“What’s wrong?” He leaned against the doorframe to her master bedroom.

“Nothing.”

“Did someone file another complaint on you?” He straightened up, uncrossing his arms and crossed her threshold slowly.

“No…I did what you said and tried to be nicer.”

“But?”

“It was too little too late.”

“Talk to me.” He sat beside her on the bed and listened to her vent for a good hour. “So now, I have to convince this guy I hadn’t even seen in over a month that I deserve this job.”

“That shouldn’t be too hard. You’re doing a lot better, just go in there tomorrow and-”

“He comes back officially on Monday. And by then it’ll be too late.”

“What about this party you mentioned?”

“He’ll be there. But I can’t get someone I’ve spent all of ten hours talking to in the last year on my side in a few short hours. Hell…my team still flinches when I hug them.”

“That is rough.” He put his arm around his sister gently, “But, hey, we can still fix it. Just leave it to your big brother.”

She rolled her eyes, “We’re twins and you’re shorter than me.”

“No sense in being hurtful. Come on, let’s find you an outfit to wear for this party.”

“As if you know anything about fashion. Everything you own is covered in paint and what isn’t is ripped.”

“Hey, it’s a look.”

“What? Hobo chic?”

“Yes.” He searched her closet for something that could make a man forget about being accused of sexual harassment. Unfortunately everything she owned was either something a mother in their forties would wear or work clothes. Not even cute work clothes, pants suits! “Hmm.” He finally said after several minutes of trying to frankenstein an outfit together. “This is gonna be harder than I thought.”

“I told you.” She sighed with a deep frown. All her years of sleepless nights, canceled plans, and stress were about to go up in smoke because she couldn’t find one dress fit for a party.

Cam **** himself to smile more confidently than he felt, “I said harder dear sister, not impossible! Stay here!” He rushed out of Cecile’s room.

Cam chuckled at the thought, as he opened up one drawer after another, his sister gave him shit for sleeping with every woman in the building, but now it was about to save her! Sometimes during the throws of passion one of his numerous lovers would forget their panties, hosiery, bras, and on one delightfully fun occasion a dress. But luckily she lived in the apartment below them so it wasn’t hard for her to make a graceful exit in a towel and blouse.

Cam returned to his sister’s room and laid out the clothes for her.

“Where on earth did you get this?” She gave him a suspicious look. “Are you sure there’s nothing you want to tell me?”

“Please.” He rolled his eyes, “Sometimes my visitors forget things.”

“And the dress?” She held the hem of the purple dress between two fingers disgusted.

“Well…that got…messy, and I took it in to get it cleaned.”

“How does it get mess-Ew!” She dropped the dress immediately, wiping her hands on his raggedy shirt. “You’re sick!”

“Hey! This is an eight hundred dollar dress and it’s spotless! I’m a hero!”

“Why didn’t you give it back?!”

“She moved out before I got it back so…I figured maybe it’d make a nice surprise for a girl one day if I want to take her out somewhere fancy.” He could see by his sister’s face that she was skeptical. “Say this mystery girl doesn’t get out often, she’s kinda homely and she would go out if only she had a nice dress. Bam, I give her the dress and I’m a hero again!”

“That is by far the dumbest thing you’ve ever said to me. You don’t even have money to take someone out for a burger!”

“Yeah…didn’t think about that part.” He shrugged. “So…bam! Hero!” He poked Cecile’.

“No! Not hero! I’m not wearing the leave behinds of your skanks!”

“None of the women I sleep with are skanks!”

“I can feel the herpes already trying to infect my bedsheets. I’m gonna have to boil those now.”

“I told you they’re all clean. I’ve had them washed multiple times in case they ever ask for them back.”

“Good. Then you wear them. But get it the hell off my bed!”

“God you’re such a bitch.” He gathered the clothes and left.

Cecile’ went to bed that night after replacing her sheets with fresh ones. She got very little sleep as thoughts kept turning over in her mind. She needed to do something that would guarantee her a spot in the running for a promotion. Nothing she owned qualified, money wasn’t tight but there was no room in her budget for a dress she would only wear once.

Breakfast the next morning was silent except for the clinking of spoons against porcelain bowls. Cam spoke first. “I was just trying to help.” He frowned. “I know I don’t have money for rent since I don’t have a job…but I thought I could help you with this.”

“I know. Thanks for trying.”

“Not good enough I guess.”

“It was a good idea. Poorly executed.” She thought for a moment and chuckled, “Is that where you got that outfit you wore to the cafe’?”

“Yeah.” He smirked, rubbing the back of his neck.

They fell into a silence once again for a short time before Cecile’ spoke again, “I have an idea how you can help me.”

“Yeah?”

“...no forget it, it’s stupid.”

“Come on, it can't be worse than mine.”

“Ugh.” She sighed, “What if you went in my place?”

“...I mean, I am the pretty one but I don’t think they’d believe I was you.” He rubbed his neck again, feeling the length of his hair just touching the nape of his neck.

“If you wore that dress and maybe a wig and some makeup.”

“Okay. You’re fucking with me. I was seriously trying to help you-”

“I’m being serious. We’ve done it before.”

“Yeah in second grade to mess with a sub! But this is too much!”

“You had no problem wearing a skirt last week to get a cup of coffee.”

“To prove a point.”

“So prove it again! I’ll stop bothering you about rent.”

“No way.” He stood and stormed away from the table, “You’re out of your mind.”

“Listen, listen!” She chased, “I…if you help me…I might be able to get you an entry level job in the building.”

“I’m not allowed in the building.”

“We can fix that.” Cecile’ grabbed him by the shoulders, “But you would have regular pay again, insurance, and…I won’t ask for rent for two months.”

“...six.” He countered slowly.

“Three.” She growled.

“Four.”

“...Deal.” Cam held out his hand with a smile. “You planned this, didn’t you?”

“A magician never reveals his secrets.”

“Hers.” Cecile’ shook his hand, “If you’re going to pull this off then you’ll have to be used to the right pronouns, Camille.”

Cam frowned, “Fine, but you still don’t have to call me Camille.”

“Yes I do. If you can’t handle someone calling you Camille how can you handle being called Cecile’?”

“Fine. I suppose I can handle one night for a job and to get you off my back.”

“Great. Because we have a lot of work to do before you’re ready for the party.”

“We?”

“Of course. I already took the day off work to help you.”

“Wait…how’d you know I’d say yes?”

Cecile’ smiled, “A magician never reveals her secrets, little sister.”