The Rise of Rachel Price T-Girl Pt. 17

"You have nice hair," Beth said." what style were you going for?"

"More like not cutting it," Rachel said, using her English accent. Denver's hair was more of a lank mess.

"That's really good. I think we could add some extensions, cut in the right place. It could look really good. It will have to be dyed," Beth said.

Rachel pressed her lips. "I know," she said, looking up at the ceiling as she lay back in the chair. "Paragraph 32, I think. Subsection on appearance. It's reversible, so yeah, that's fine."

Beth got some complex formulas ready to bleach Rachel's hair. The chemical smell filled the room. She paused as she approached Rachel, who was staring at the ceiling.

"Ready?" Beth said.

This was the moment. There was no going back.

"Ready or not, hair I come," Rachel said with her signature grin.

While Beth began working on Rachel's hair, Mimi came down and took one of Rachel's hands and began working on her nails. Every so often, Charlie would look up from the contract and read something out. For Rachel, it felt like being one of those race track cars where the whole team feverishly rushes around them, changing wheels and adding more gas. It was nice being the center of attention, but she felt like an object, not so much a person.

"You realize you're not a prisoner. You're free to walk out at any time, but that nulls the contract," Charlie said.

"Yep, weird thing he didn't mention any sex," Rachel said.

"I don't think he's made his mind up yet. Anyway, he can't put sex acts in a legal contract, not one enforceable by law. He can't force you to have sex. It's up to you," Charlie explained.

Rachel's stomach sank. The words "enforceable by law" seemed to carry a weight she hadn't anticipated. This was serious.

Beth let Rachel's hair rest and pulled a magnifying glass and light combination on the end of a flexible arm up to Rachel's face.

"Now, I can finally work on those eyebrows," Beth said, almost pleased. "I've been waiting for this." Her eye massively enlarged by the lens from Rachel's point of view.

"As long as they can grow back, no problem," Rachel resignedly said.

Rachel felt Beth working on threading her eyebrows.

"Ow," Rachel complained.

"Ha! Now you know what it's like," said Beth.

"It was the surprise," Rachel explained. "Don't tell me this is how the other half lives or to grow a pair because this time I can."

OK, don't mention Denver or his body parts in front of Mr. Levant," Charlie corrected. "That's item 104 - don't deviate from the looks Beth designed without agreement, especially not in public or in front of him. Otherwise, you'll receive a penalty."

Rachel closed her eyes and asked, "What does a penalty mean exactly?"

Charlie flipped back a page and explained, "Each penalty means you promise to work an extra week or month, depending on the infraction. If you refuse, the contract is void and you'll owe Levant all the money he's paying you."

As they continued going through the contract, Beth finished washing the bleach out of Rachel's hair and began applying a new chemical. Mimi finished one hand and moved on to the other.

Rachel spoke up, "Is the clause about me needing to approve who knows about Denver's... um, body parts back in the contract?"

Charlie checked back, flipping through the pages of the contract. "Yes... well, there is a list. I know, he knows, Beth knows, Mimi knows, and so on. The only names added are your new doctor, your therapist, your femininity coach, and your personal trainer."

"Therapist?" Rachel said, puzzled. "Why a therapist?"

"I guess Levant realizes that you're going to feel isolated," Charlie explained. "He wanted someone you can confide in and be one hundred percent sure won't talk to anyone."

Perhaps it was the chemical cocktail hanging in the air, but this made Rachel feel uneasy. This level of thought and detail made everything feel more like a mission and less like a personal arrangement.

The treatment continued. Beth raised Rachel to a more vertical position and began cutting her hair. When she was done, she started pulling at the hair near the roots to install matching hair extensions.

"Personal trainer sounds ominous," Rachel said.

Charlie put the contract down. "Yeah, his name is Peter something. I met him. He's a pre-op transgender man. Okay, the final pages cover kidnapping. You agree to do the insurance training. You agree to do anything the protection team says. Most of all, you agree not to run around as Denver and confuse them. Just to be very clear, as soon as you sign on the dotted line, you're Rachel twenty-four-seven until the end of the contract."

Beth started working on Rachel's makeup. "Stop moving," she said.

Rachel asked, "I can still sleep untucked, right? and I can talk to my family when ever?"

"Sleeping, yes. And family yes," Charlie replied. "There's a whole bunch of bits about changing back for that on page nine. The bottom line is he's agreeing to pay for everything."

Rachel looked into the distance. "Well, I'm good then."

Mimi had stopped working on Rachel's nails and walked around with something that smelled surgical.

"You need to hold still, okay?" she said, grabbing Rachel's ear.

"What?" said Rachel, not realizing what Mimi was up to. Suddenly, there was a punching sound, followed by a hot feeling in her right ear.

"Ow!" Rachel said as her ear was pierced not once, but twice. "A little more warning next time?"

"Eyes shut," Beth ordered, as Mimi moved around the chair to the other side.

"These are temporary, right?" Rachel said, feeling the metal being pushed inside her ear.

Charlie nodded, even though Rachel couldn't see her. "Yeah. If you pull them out, they will close up quick enough. That's why you have to keep the studs in for the first few weeks. Same with HRT, stop taking it and go back to normal."

"When you come back, we can get rid of your German shot-putter underarms," Mimi said. "It's better than shaving."

Rachel held her eyes still while Beth finished applying false eyelashes and another layer of lip gloss.

"Oh, I am so looking forward to that," Rachel said, wondering if Mimi had caught her sarcasm.

The mirrors were covered or turned away, so Rachel had no idea how she looked. She pulled on the tights and slipped on the new stiletto heels.

"Okay, let's see what kind of monster you've created," Rachel said.

Charlie turned a mirror around, and Rachel saw herself in it for the first time.

"Fuck," Rachel said.

If it weren't for the dress, Rachel wouldn't have recognized herself. Her hair was completely different, longer and more sultry, in a strawberry blonde shade. As she moved her head, she could feel the weight of the hair and how it made her feel different.

"Wow, I am so ass-kickingly hot," Rachel added, posing from one side to the other.

Mimi smiled. "Yeah, you should be on MTV, right?"

Rachel's eyebrows were now in vogue, pure, dark, and strong. The smooth-skinned blonde looking back at her was as feminine as one could imagine. The familiar sequin dress really stood out.

"Beth," Charlie began, "you're a genius."

Beth shrugged. "This is card three - Evening Smokey Eyes. Levant requested it for tonight."

Rachel tried walking around. "Well, the good news is I don't think anyone is going to think I'm the brother who shall not be named."

Rachel took a selfie in the mirror, then flicked from it to one she had taken of herself the morning before. It was like looking at two different people. Flicking backwards and forwards seemed like looking at two random people - two strangers. Looking over, Charlie delicately picked up Denver's clothes and pushed them into a plastic bag with his wallet, birth certificate and phone at the top.

"OK, this is insane," Rachel said, pulling herself away from staring at pictures of herself. It was weird. If Denver had seen Rachel on the street, he would have definitely hit on her if he had the self-confidence. Rachel felt confused.

"Is it bad I want to date myself?" she asked.

"Ask your therapist, but you are high-end gorgeous," Charlie said, checking her watch. "OK, that was faster than I thought. We have a little over an hour to kill before Rachel is on... oh."

Charlie pulled out a new driving license which she had made from the same photo as last time.

Rachel looked at the license. "Good work, people. I have an idea. Who wants to go for a drink?"

***********

The Reunion

Rachel and the girls sat in a booth at one of the quieter bars in the Thornbury before meeting Levant for dinner. They talked, and Rachel concentrated on trying to get her accent right. The group of women attracted furtive glances from the lone businessmen sitting around the bar like flies around meat. Charlie kept looking at her watch and even when they had plenty of time to go, she insisted on getting up and getting ready.

After forty five minutes, the word started to appear on Twitter of Rachel's reappearance. Rachel's phone got pinged by the club set congratulating her return. It was warming to be wanted again.

The restaurant Levant had chosen for the reboot was their old, familiar one. It was quiet, personal, relaxed, but elegant - everything Charlie said a good meeting place should be. Charlie dragged Rachel into the women's toilets to hide while they waited for Levant to arrive.

Beth looked, and when she turned up, she came to the restroom to get Rachel. Charlie said she would see Rachel later, and one air kiss later, sent Rachel out.

Rachel walked elegantly out of the restroom. She had never understood the words "feeling like a million dollars," but now suddenly experienced them with utter certainty. She felt she could walk with justifiable swagger.

Levant sat at their usual table. While Rachel approached, Levant was looking out of the window, motionless and thinking. He did cut a handsome figure, she thought. Rachel nodded at the barman and proceeded to enter Levant's periphery. Levant looked up and did a slight double take. He stood up with a broad smile on his face.

"Help me out," Rachel said spontaneously, "I can't decide between 'like what you see?' and 'I scrub up nice, don't I?' You choose."

Levant's thirty years sparkled across his face. "I have fallen in love all over again." He leaned forward and kissed her on the cheek. Rachel reminded herself that kissing was written in the contract now. Page five, subsection three. So she returned it.

Rachel sat down, and Levant followed.

"Wow... this..." Levant struggled for words. "I can't say it in any other way. You look fantastic. I mean it. I've judged Miss World contests, and you would beat them hands down. I can't believe you're the same person..."

"As the girl who stood before you a few weeks ago," Rachel finished.

Levant seemed very pleased. "I'm glad your brother came to sort out a deal. I think we can get lots of stuff cleared up, and we can be on a much better footing over our relationship than before," he said, smiling and snapping his fingers at the waiter.

Rachel translated in her head, "I won. You lost. Get over it." Then her inner monologue got angry and told her to play this positively, or she would be a wreck in a week. Rachel looked up at the waiter.

"I'll have what he's having," she said, pointing at Levant.

"A craft single malt?" the waiter queried.

Rachel tilted her head thoughtfully. "Yeah, you're right. Poor choice. Make it a double malt."

Levant smiled. "Tell the kitchen we'll be ready in ten minutes and bring some champagne to the table, bring the best," he said, turning to Rachel. "After all, we're celebrating."

"So we are," Rachel said, sitting down with her knees together.

Levant had insisted that the story was that Rachel had been back to the UK to see her American parents and sort out her American passport. That had been an addendum to the contract.

Rachel's phone vibrated. "It's my mother. Excuse me," she said. She was anticipating the message. Rachel had set up a redirection of Denver's messages to her phone. She looked at the message. "Some people have turned up. Talking about moving your grandpa to another hospital," her mother had written.

"I can't talk right now," Rachel typed slowly, hindered by her new nails. "It's part of my internship. I told you I got the family medical cover. Go with it. Everything should be fine."

There was a warmth in her heart. This was all worth it. There was no better feeling. "I'll switch it off," Rachel said. "Well, I do have to manage my social media. It's in my contract."

She looked over to see Levant checking his Twitter feed and then looking up. Levant loved Twitter for some reason.

"Snap," she said. Levant's smile reached close to a genuine laugh.

"I'm so glad we got our difficulties out of the way. This way I can see the new you. The hair, by the way, is fabulous. You make it rock," Levant said as the Champagne was popped open and served. "You've never been so wonderful. I envy every inch of carpet under your feet."

"I know I'm a handful," Rachel said.

Levant beamed. "But you're worth it."

"I used my words like knives. In my defense, they are the only sharp things I own," Rachel said, sipping the Champagne. "So why don't you tell me what you've been up to?"

"Somehow, looking into your eyes now, everything outside of you is forgotten like the morning myst evaporating at sunrise," Levant said.

***********

They had a very convivial dinner, the atmosphere filled with warm laughter and the clinking of glasses. Levant's charisma was palpable, and Rachel couldn't help but feel captivated by his charm. As they sat at the elegant dining table, surrounded by luxurious decor, Rachel pretended that their time together could go on forever.

After dinner, Levant eagerly invited Rachel to see his penthouse apartment, located at the top of Thornbury Tower. As they ascended the elevator, Rachel felt a sense of excitement and anticipation building within her. When they reached Levant's floor, Rachel was struck by the stunning views of the city skyline that stretched out before them.

Levant's apartment was a testament to the lavish lifestyle that he led. Furnished by the same designer who had done the rest of Thornbury, every detail had been carefully considered to create an opulent and sophisticated space. The style of the luxury rooms and suites at the hotel had been taken to a new level in Levant's apartment. The paintings on the walls were adorned with even more gold guilt, and the design was clean and tasteful.

Rachel couldn't help but notice the absence of clutter and personal touches in Levant's apartment. It was clear that the space was meant to impress, rather than reflect the personality of its occupant. While the apartment had an undeniable elegance and beauty, it lacked the warmth and character of a true home.

As they walked through the space, Rachel couldn't help but feel as though she was walking through a museum or a high-end boutique hotel. The decor was stylish and suave, but it didn't feel like a place where someone lived. It was a blue and purple stopping point, a space meant to be admired, but not inhabited.

Levant started by giving a tour. "That's your room, Cinnamon,' Levant said, pointing at a guest room. 'You have a lock; I won't be offended if you use it. Charlie is opposite, acting as chaperone. My room is over here."

They moved through an open-plan space, and Rachel couldn't help but notice the way Levant seemed to dominate whatever space he was in. He exuded an elusive magnetism that wasn't solely due to his height. Rather, it was the result of his incredibly confident manner and almost painful levels of good looks. Even in his home, he was an actor, and the room was his stage.

"Look," Levant said, going into the living room. "I got these for you." Levant had gone out and bought a PlayStation, an Xbox, a stack of games, and a fabulous monitor. Rachel's eyes lit up with excitement.

"I know you like that stuff. We could play together sometimes," Levant said, as Rachel noticed the dual controllers.

"I'd love to play with you," Rachel said then thought better of it. Perhaps she had too much wine with dinner.

Well, if you're happy with me beating you all the time, then fine. I can see you from my desk when I'm working," Levant said, moving around. He was right; the desk he had interviewed Denver in had a view of the living room, and in a corner sat a massive TV set.

"The bar's over there," he pointed.

The open-plan living room ended with a bookcase that covered the wall from floor to ceiling and from one side to the other. Before it was a large desk set symmetrically between each edge. Levant went up to it and pointed at two sets of documents printed on the finest vellum paper.

"These are the contracts," Levant said. "We both have to sign, and they are legally binding. Denver's family will be so very well cared for. The best care, the finest available on the planet, I promise. Well, I don't promise; it's in the contract in black and white. All you have to do is sign."

He reached over and picked up an expensive pen and handed it over. Rachel felt the weight of the pen, and it seemed to match the significance of the decision.

"OK, let's do this," she said, more to overcome her own doubts. She took the pen and signed for both herself as Rachel and as Denver. Then she signed the copy.

Levant took the pen, but looked like he was going to sign and then stopped abruptly. "Before I sign, before I wrap the most advanced healthcare in the world around your family, before I make sure you and they never suffer again, I'd just like to do three little things, to be sure," he said, moving away from Rachel and leaving the contract next to a small table beside a large armchair. "Come out over here," Levant said, walking towards a dining table.

Rachel followed Levant across the room and out. They both passed through the large sliding glass doors to the outside. They were on the roof of the Thornbury extension. Following Levant, she was able to see the entire city beyond them. Beyond the busy city lights, the darkness of the bay. They walked out onto a large balcony which was massive, and nestled in it was a sapphire blue swimming pool. To the side of the pool were some low sofas arranged around a brazier with a warm, glowing fire burning in it.

"Come closer," Levant said, standing near the brazier. As Rachel left the large window, she felt the chill. Rachel approached, and the warmth of the fire warmed her legs.

"I love you so much. I feel like I love you more than life itself," Levant began, "but I need you to commit to this."

He handed her a neatly folded set of clothes. Rachel looked down at what she was holding.

"What are they?" Levant asked as he looked on.

"It's Denver's favourite pair of jeans, his socks, trainers, his lucky Legend of Zelda t-shirt and his hoodie. The one his aunt bought him for his sixteenth birthday." Rachel said, guessing what was about to happen.

"Commit," Levant said. "Commit yourself. If you want to go back at the end, you know you can easily get what you want. For now, you have to leave the old behind and embrace the new. Let go of what is holding you back."

Rachel took a deep breath. For someone wealthy like Levant, material things didn't hold much value. Everything was replaceable, nothing was special, nothing had meaning, it was just stuff. When you had less, sometimes what you had meant more. Levant didn't see it that way.

Rachel hesitated.

"You know you have to do this," Levant said. "You signed up to be Rachel 24/7. Don't leave temptation lying around."

Rachel knew he was right. Her throat became dry and tense. If she had to escape and run home then there would be no way to transform back. This would pull the roof in on any quick departures. Nearly in tears, she threw Denver's precious clothing into the fire. Whatever was making the fire burn quickly began to consume the clothing. It hissed and melted eventually catching fire. The smell was terrible, and the dark smoke moved away nearly horizontally in the wind.