We finally got down to business after a few more minutes of talking about Akiko's life and the adjustments she needed to make. She sat comfortably in her office chair, flipping through the files Hillary had sent over, her expression thoughtful and focused. "From the looks of it, Bridge Financial is looking for someone who's easy on the eyes, but who won't cause too much distraction at work," she said, her voice steady and professional.
"Is it strange that I'm relieved to hear that? If I'm going to be a woman, I might as well be a pretty one," I replied with a nervous chuckle.
"It's not strange at all; this is the body you'll have for the foreseeable future, so it would certainly help if you were attractive," Akiko said, glancing up from the files to meet my eyes. Then, as she turned to face me fully, Akiko said, "They sent over a basic template, but they're giving you the final say on the specifics."
I couldn't stop laughing at the surreal situation. "I never imagined being asked what I wanted to look like as a woman."
"Well, at least you have a say in the matter. The only benefit of the body they gave me is childbearing hips," Akiko said, taking a breath and leaning back in her chair.
"I'll take your word for it," I said as I leaned back in my chair. "I'm just doing this for the job; I don't want to be a mother."
"Don't rule it out," Akiko smiled warmly, "I wasn't wild about the idea myself, until I held that test in my hands."
After that conversation, I spent the next 20 minutes going over every detail of my new life. Akiko expertly guided me through the choices, making suggestions and explaining the implications of each decision. The end result was an attractive 5'7" woman with an athletic figure and brown hair that reached her shoulders. "One more thing: Will I be attracted to guys as much as they will be attracted to me?"
"Your sexual orientation will remain unaltered; unless you were lying about being attracted to girls, you should remain attracted to girls," Akiko said, shaking her head.
"No," I exclaimed, relieved. "I definitely like girls."
"That's a shame," Akiko said, smirking. "Because having sex with a guy can be an eye-opening experience."
"Look, I'm not trying to be rude or anything, but could we please move past this? Is it possible for me to see what I'll look like once this is all over?" I asked, my voice agitated.
When Akiko's face turned pale, I briefly believed she could be feeling sick. She then smacked her head and exclaimed, "Damn this pregnancy brain! I knew I was forgetting something." She then swiveled her monitor so I could see it and said, "Have a look; this is a computer rendering of what you'll look like based on your boss's input and the adjustments you've made."
I leaned in for a closer look at the monitor and was amazed. The young woman who appeared on the screen looked eerily similar to my mother, with a touch of my own features blended in. She appeared exactly how I had imagined she would. "OK, I'm no supermodel, but I think I look pretty good." I then leaned back in my chair and questioned, "What happens next?"
"You need to come up with a new name; that way our Identity Department can proceed with the necessary changes." Smiling, Akiko added, "Once they're done, you'll have everything you'll need to live your new life, including a social security number, tax and credit history, and employment records."
"What about my friends and family? How do I explain such a big change to them?"
"Give me access to your social media accounts, and you won't have to tell them anything." Looking at me as she blew her nose, Akiko stated, "I'll fabricate a story about you transitioning over the past year, complete with pictures. I'll even put in a post where you come out as a trans woman."
"You can do all of that?"
"Please," Akiko said with a laugh. "We're about to turn you into a biological female. Making people think you're transgender is a piece of cake by comparison."
"What about when I leave this job and go back to being a guy again?"
"That's simple," she said, looking at me. "We just change everything back and write a message that you did it as a joke."
"You do realize how that could backfire on me, right?"
"Yeah; I'm aware of that." Looking at me with a grin, she said, "Just don't go back to being a guy, and you won't have to worry about it."
After a few more minutes where Akiko silently typed away on her computer, she turned to me and said, "We're all set here; I just need to have my boss come to give her final stamp of approval." Looking at me, she said, "I just need you to decide on a new name to go with your new identity."
I leaned back in my chair and gave that some thought. After a solid minute, I finally said, "I've always liked the name Holly, so let's go with that."
"Very well," Akiko said, smiling. "It’s a pleasure to meet you, Holly."
As if on cue, there was a knock at the door, followed seconds later by the door opening and a woman entering the room. "Good morning, Akiko; are you ready for my stamp of approval with our new client?"
My jaw dropped when I realized the woman was actually my mother. "Mom?"
"Matthew!?" Mom exclaimed, shocked to see me in the chair.
"Actually, ma'am, her name is Holly now." As she tried to process everything, Akiko said, "Do you two know each other?"
"Yeah, we know each other; she’s my mother." Taking a breath, I turned to Mom and said, "What are you doing here? I thought you worked for an insurance company."
"You know your father, Holly; how do you think he'd deal with finding out what I really do for a living?"
Tension filled the room as I glanced between Akiko and my mother, unsure of how to react to this unexpected revelation. My mother had always been a bit secretive about her work, but I never imagined it could be something like this. Akiko maintained a calm demeanor, seemingly unaffected by the revelation.
"I... I had no idea," I stammered, feeling a mix of emotions swirling inside me. "I thought you worked with insurance claims."
Mom hesitated for a moment before sighing heavily. "I'm sorry I kept this from you, Holly. It's just that... your father wouldn't understand the nature of my job, and I didn't want him to worry."
Akiko interjected, "Your mother is one of our top agents, skilled in the art of identity management and transformation. It's her job to assist clients in making major life changes, like the one you're going through."
My mind was racing, trying to process everything. On one hand, I felt betrayed that my mother had kept such a significant part of her life hidden from me. On the other hand, I understood her desire to protect me and my father from potential complications
"I don't know what to say," I admitted, my voice trembling. "This is all so overwhelming."
"I understand, Holly," Mom said, her expression softening with genuine concern. "But I want you to know that I'll be here for you throughout this process. You're not alone in this journey."
Akiko nodded in agreement. "Your mother is right. We have a supportive team here, and we'll guide you every step of the way. Take your time to think it over, and if you decide to go ahead with the transformation, we'll be ready to make it happen."
The weight of the decision ahead of me felt immense, but knowing that my mother was part of this organization gave me a sense of comfort and assurance. I took a deep breath and looked at both of them, a mix of determination and vulnerability in my eyes.
"Alright, let's do it. I want to see this through, and I trust you both to help me navigate this new life."
With that decision made, the room seemed to lighten, and the sense of camaraderie between us grew stronger. The three of us spent the rest of the day finalizing the details and ensuring that everything was in place for my transformation into Holly.
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