The Women's Job - The Associate - Part 8

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It was early April when Ms. Jennifer Atwood told me of Dort my fourth client after the Lourdes and Mrs. Connelly of Springfield Illinois. She was the owner of a family business of engineers and bridge construction.

Dort W was the spouse of a major league pitcher who had done well. He was still a major league pitcher but now recuperating from injuries. They had decided to invest through her as a way to keep them both important in the eyes of others. She was wanting to invest as much as twenty-five million but was not sure how she wanted to invest it. It was partly for retirement and part in support of isolating their charitable trust from problems.

Today was our first meeting and I drove down to them, I was wearing a stylish pantsuit with three-inch mule heels. I’d get to see a major league ball game and sit with the family. Though he’s on the disabled list he’d be sitting in the dugout.

I was impressed that a professional athlete and his wife were so caring. He’s an exceptional player when he’s healthy and has been properly rewarded with good sports contracts. Even beyond sharing their wealth, they have visited hospitals and been hands-on in activities helping people in need. I had arrived a day early and watched from a distance as they visited and listened to the man they helped.

Watching from a distance I was able to watch a number of people after the couple or individual had met with them. The people were noticeably uplifted by the visit. The help given was more than what I call a guilt offering by many others.

Before I had left our offices, I learned of a start-up company that was paused to bring on a new product. It is due to put Optic Tech on the map in the business world. It is presently, to be traded on NASDAQ at $12.00 per share. I suggest they consider buying 250,000 shares at its opening and consider investing another two million dollars if and when it quickly hits twenty dollars per share. Dot was interested in the benefit of the product as much as the projected soundness of the corporation and its stock. Much of their money is fairly well invested how they like. I was able to show some better accounting and sheltering their investments. A.W. seemed impressed, but they’d have my work checked for its accuracy and soundness.

It was an anxious time walking away, hoping they wouldn’t make the moves apart from me. While it would seem out of character with them, where money is involved anything can and often does happen. It was Wednesday and either they are ready to invest their first three million or to head back to the office. The news came early for me to get to them early at the Bank they would work through.

A new part of my recommendation was to sell half of their holdings if the price quickly hit $35/share. It would be my first major purchase and turnaround. It would return six million dollars while another six million would continue its investment in the company.

I had communicated to Marjorie Lourdes a smaller investment, but she was poised to invest twice my recommendation to her. She continued to be ready to do more than my anticipation. I had visited with Associate Katherine Bode and learned it was Ms. Lourdes's decision to be in control. With my recommendation, she also poised herself to invest more at $17.50 per share. Sophia’s Earth Oils would make a modest investment at twelve and then again at fifteen dollars per share. It was a gamble, but they also planned a short turnaround. If it worked it would provide them with important investment capital. If not they were fairly secure in being able to recover their investment with a modest fifteen percent gain.

By noon on its opening Optic Tech was already up to $18. Come the close on Friday it was over $25. Within a month it was at $43.34 and more importantly, their product sales were doing well and product reviews were very favorable.

Jennifer Atwood and Katherine told me, “The good results of your recommendation help a lot in you being accepted as Elle.” Jennifer, Katherine nor I were happy with the truth of that, but it was the case pure and simple.

I as Elle communicated with Mrs. Connelly on the way driving back from St. Louis. Through her investments were different, she was very pleased with what Elliot had done for her. She had heard of Elliot’s other identity and she encouraged Elle to stop by. Elle found the office and stopped in. Sharon Connelly was amused when she heard it was Elle because her youngest son had taken an interest in her. Sharon suggested Greg take Elle out for dessert.

Greg was nice and when Sharon shared more about Elle; he was insistent that Elle and Elliot couldn’t be the same person. Greg did say it was unfair that Elliot wouldn’t help him with investments. Elle replied, “If you were ready to invest at least $28,000 so we can purchase a hundred shares or more, I have a golden opportunity for you. And it would be a Lioness that does the initial purchase for you.”

Sharon was happy to hear later that Elle was now engaged. Sharon had a daughter and a daughter-in-law that planned to celebrate with Elle the next time she came. Preferably with Elle’s future bride. Sharon and her family delighted in being more open, and different than many of those around them.

The trend was already in on Optic Tech, Inc.; Diane Ingles and I were the two Associates that had customers ready to invest in the stock from its inception. Our investors were in place to become major holders of Optic Tech Corporation and future members of their board of directors if they desired. Both Sophia Lourdes and Dot are interested since Optic’s product had several benevolent applications in helping people; they would both step forward wanting to be on its corporate board.

Diane rightfully was being recognized for her work as a senior associate. Elliot’s presence was seen as a refreshing presence. And while it was Elliot throughout that week at work; half the time at home was Elle. Bonnie was taking time in helping Elle to better present her feminine presence. Saturday, Bonnie and Elle went looking at wedding dresses for Bonnie. Cynthia Kelley, Bonnie’s sister-in-law had come to town to go with them. Where Elle was learning what to look for; Cyndi was already style and quality conscious. She was helpful and delighted in teasing Bonnie and Elle.

Cyndi now twenty-three was only a year away from her own wedding and had fun being there for a number of her friends and family at their weddings. The following day they would be going to a bridal forum and be immersed in all the fashion clothing a wedding and honeymoon could adore and appreciate.

Sunday, helped by Bonnie in getting ready for the bridal forum Elle was repeatedly embarrassed as people tried to talk her into wedding gowns and lingerie thinking she was the bride. Though it was true that she too was to be a bride, today was Bonnie’s day. Bonnie on more than one occasion enjoyed agreeing with others that Elle should try on skimpy pieces of lingerie. Finally, Elle was pressured to try one on and Bonnie was allowed in to see her. Bonnie brought it to Elle’s embarrassment and joy.

Bonnie fell in love with two contrasting wedding gowns. Both had plenty of satin and silk. One was a slender silk gown with lace and embroidered scrolling around the upper portion and with a cape and hood in place of the traditional train. The other wedding gown was a fuller dress, with plenty of lace and tooling. Both are beautiful gowns and deserve more time than the day afforded.

Elle was excited for Bonnie but also filled with visions that would fill her sleep tonight. Elliot had mixed feelings about losing himself while dreaming like Elle.

On Tuesday an item was sent to Elle at work. Elle’s associates were gleeful when they talked her to open it at a luncheon with three associates at an upscale restaurant.

Wednesday, Elle went to an afternoon appointment with her new doctor Dr. Deborah Howards, her women’s doctor, and was referred to Dr. Bradford Stilles as her Endocrinologist. The appointment with her gynecologist came with an unusual request for a semen sample. Despite her being embarrassed she knew it was an important request. The future of children beyond Bonnie giving birth to their first child depended upon it.

A time some three years in the future of their marriage; Elliot was fully to become Elle Marie Sanders Kelley. The understanding Bonnie and Elle/Elliot had was that they would wait for Bonnie to give birth to their first child before Elle begins her transition. They hoped that was within three years of their wedding. That can be pushed up with an earlier birth of their child or be delayed if it takes longer for Bonnie to become conceive and give birth to their first child.

Two months had passed and the wedding was now set for early fall.

Elle had a call from Veronica Hampton the LIFe partner running the New York City office and that she needed to come back to New York City to meet with a new investor, Lauren Janz. She’s a relatively young millionaire who has become an expert in brokering foreign trade. Elle was recommended to Lauren by Sophia Lourdes.

Barb Dirks had found a good home in NYC and was quite busy as was Jessica Carvell. They’re okay with Elle possibly getting a second client in the city. Lauren Janz a relatively young at thirty-four and yet considered an expert and veteran in what she does. She speaks fluent German and Arabic with a good understanding of Russian, Nyanja Kiswahili, Spanish and French. She has a good reputation as well as being tough in gaining respect and action at both air and seaports.

Elle was recommended by Sophia to Lauren Janz. Lauren was interested in adding to her wealth as well as securing benevolent funds focusing on half a dozen, lesser-known African countries. Born in the states she has extended family in Germany, England, and France. She was born to a well-to-do family but wanted to make her own mark.

The Midwest-born Elle saw herself as a strange compliment to Lauren. Sophia had called and told Elle, “Do not become intimidated by Lauren. Remember she asked for your help. She’ll like how you listen, learning about your clients.”

“She knows who you are; you don’t need to inform her about the nature of your being a woman. She finds it easier to communicate and trust women. She’s open-minded and accepting, but might not be as interested in hearing about you, unless you two become friends along with your working relationship. I think you will become friends but that will happen in her time.”

Lauren and I met over lunch in a restaurant in Brooklyn. The first part was an enjoyable conversation along with a light lunch. Lauren changed our conversation, “Despite the slow economy, I’ve been told my investments should be secure and growing at a rate over 2.35 percent. Very important to me is sustaining programs and ministries in some of the lesser-known countries of Africa like Zambia, Malawi, and Zimbabwe. They have created programs for children and non-government health programs. I will want you to go with me or meet me there sometime in the near future.”

“My financial well-being is important to me along with funding my philanthropic nature. I like that you’re young enough that hopefully, we’ll have years as a client and financial investors. LIFe is by its nature my kind of company.

“I’ll need to know,” I said, “what you’ve been invested in over the past year. It would be helpful to know a long history.”

Lauren said, “I have old statements. But Mr. Hannon doesn’t like people questioning his work. It would be a ticklish thing to request him to share with you more financial statements than that.” I was surprised he had gotten away with that with Lauren being a strong individual in many aspects.

I said, “It is a sensitive issue, but from what you are saying it is you not him who is at risk. Unless you’ve decided to take a more conservative approach, thinking you’re minimizing loss of assets… Your friends are right that you should be seeking help and getting a better return.”

We ended our luncheon meeting, agreeing to get back together in two days. I had enough information to get started. She’d get more of her information and decide some things about what she wanted.

I alerted Veronica as well as Jennifer Atwood that her present investor might quickly become adversarial to us. I was smelling the possibility of something foul going on. My Aunt Jennifer strongly suggested that I be quick in taking control Lauren of her investments. After that Lauren’s lawyers can determine what problems and discrepancies have taken place. Jennifer was more certain from her experience and quick figuring. It was not a question of if but what has happened.

I already had called Sophia and Marjorie Lourdes, about seeing them tomorrow or later in the week. When I got out of my meeting both responded encouraging me to come out yet this evening if possible. Tuesday would be Marjorie’s regular day off and this Tuesday would be at the Golden Goddess Health Spa. With Elliot junior hidden away, it would be a fun time. There was, however, one surprise.

Lauren Janz said, “I like that you’re young, hopefully, we’ll have years: with you as my financial manager. I’m hoping you will earn my trust and in time become an invaluable friend.”

While Mr. Hannon, her previous account manager, was despicable, he was shrewd in his dealings and made numerous moves in covering his tracks. If he had gotten help in covering his tracks, he might have actually gotten away with it. Poor Mr. Hannon, if he wasn’t so easily distracted by a woman in a skirt he might have gotten away with what he did.

Elle with Bonnie’s help took the time not only to track what he had done but also how he operated. Bonnie and I posed as two women seeking help to hide accounts we were trying to take away from a fictional wealthy lady. The FBI at Aunt Jennifer’s request helped us to set up a dummy account operation. They had expected Martin Hannon of illegal transactions and had others they were investigating using similar systems. If we could crack how he was doing it, they could probably bring a few others down with him.

Helping Lauren to regain a major portion of what should have come back to her and soon having it back under her control proved most gratifying. Though at times it was frustrating and tedious going through the legal system. The FBI was finally restrained by law from doing some things in trying to catch him and accomplice Marguerite Upson. Bonnie faked going behind my back trying to make a deal with them leaving me as their scapegoat. Supposedly I had left them for a must luncheon and would be back in two hours. The deal involved ten million American stocks and money going to offshore accounts.

They had to move their transactions quickly in a one-and-a-half-hour window. While they got word I was back in the building and coming up the elevator. They didn’t know the FBI had entered the building over half an hour before. The FBI is stationed to receive anyone coming out the front or leaving through a private elevator or stairway. We had a portfolio of a bogus offering of legitimate stocks and treasury notes. Bonnie and Hannon were to leave out the back and Mrs. Upson was to send me on a wild goose chase to a cargo ship. Tracking one investment I informed the FBI that Hannon, Upson, and Associates had just made an illegal transaction and that the devices making and recording their actions were not with them but in their seventh-floor Brooklyn office.

The FBI couldn’t be a party to what we had done, but they had the contacts and power to get the authority to confiscate Hannon and Upson’s business property. The FBI had done what we could not. They had shut down the power to Hannon’s offices and used their own devices to block the destruction of records.

Hannon was small fish to the FBI; they had room to work with them if their operation led to others. It took months but it led to charges against three larger operations each responsible for hundreds of millions.

While the idea of playing cops and robbers was amusing; it was also frightening when I heard about two of the groups they came down on. Several people ended up dead or missing.

Ninety percent of Lauren’s investments had been recovered two months before the bigger indictments came down. Hannon and Upson were rightfully scared and under protection but not out from under all charges.

Bonnie and I were back in New York City for Thanksgiving, guests of Lauren’s. We got to go with Lauren to a fundraiser for her international projects. I was soon to make my first information and fun trip with Lauren to Africa.

I was amazed by how this young beautiful woman could do her international trade work as well as run her benevolent international programs. While she was not bound to any religious group in the United States, Europe, or elsewhere. She did make use of ministry groups that she worked with those compassionately serving people in need.

Once in Africa Lauren had me in long skirts, long sleeves, and hats or scarfs where she deemed appropriate. Otherwise, she had me dress down in shorts, hiking boots, and open tops when possible. Other times dressed up as we met and partied with national or global dignitaries.

Many of the people we worked with were nationals of that country, and they spoke well and for the most part, were educated. It was the people they were working to help; the sick, poor, orphaned, and widowed in some of the poorest of the poor countries of the African continent that received the bulk of Lauren’s attention.

I was seldom hassled or inconveniently held up going through customs, but it was awkward and uncomfortable when it happened. Lauren, being a woman in charge riled some and others had strong beliefs; Lauren’s record in helping people and the benefit of our being someplace won out all but once.

Lauren could not help but laugh at times when we would encounter wild animals. She commented, once when a lioness was sniffing me. Its head shook and she turned in bewilderment and then returned curiously needing to be satisfied I was safe. “Elle you have her bewildered because in every way except part of your smell presents you as a woman.” Once the lioness befriended me, we were friends the nudge of her head knocked me close to her two cubs. Usually, my being close to her cubs would be seen as dangerous, but now down on the ground, the cubs came to me playfully.

On two different nights when I shared a suite with Lauren, she unashamedly became cozy with me. Lauren said, “Elle, I want you to relax and get in touch with who you are. I have my own love that is not my interest. It’s the girl in you, she’s already you, but you’re too afraid. You feel a small part of who you are. You are like the tip of an iceberg, I’m going to help you experience what’s deeper down.”

There it was the feelings of a young woman’s body coming to life as Lauren played the strings like I’m a tightly strung violin. My breast forms were off and the bliss had begun. My inhibitions were down and Lauren took her time in bringing me to a full orgasm. It was more than anything Elliot had ever experienced. Elle tried to kiss Lauren to love her back. Lauren’s joy. however, was bringing Elle forward to enjoy her own life. It was a journey on a river of color, feelings, and, lights.

The next day we traveled through one of the poorer communities; this time their delight became a point of love welling up inside of us. It was a love that defied my traditional definitions. It was not that of Elle feeling the wellspring of sensual love, but Elle/Elliot tapping their caring nature, a love for others, and giving it a voice to a joy deep inside. Moans of compassion and caring feelings often go beyond regular expressions.

Lauren didn’t lavish the people with things, but she had brought some people back to their people. Two women were teachers, who would teach with others in the community. Two were medically trained for minor surgeries and to treat the many medical ailments the people encountered. Two others were nurses, one was trained also as a medical technician. With medicine and medical supplies from their national health ministry as well as what Lauren had sent to them. They would establish a medical clinic that would serve people within a thirty-kilometer diameter of it. Doctors without Borders would send medical teams once or twice a year to help the clinic to get well established.

Lauren and Elle use much of those days to learn from watching, listening, and working alongside the people. The last three days in this area became more special with each passing day. The people there were treating me with much of the same joyful spirit with which they engulfed Lauren. The people were not backward people in these smaller communities. Education had long been denied to women, but they had not remained ignorant. When education and health care became possible because of Lauren. It was warmly received. It was an extension of the yearning these people had to be better.

Lauren all the while loved seeing me blossom. My senses were on overload I would often end the day giving massages and comfort to Lauren. More than once Lauren turned things around. Lauren liked keeping me in touch with the feelings and sensations that were coming to life inside of me. She even helped me as Elle to understand it was not gendered exclusive. She knew Elliot was growing as there was no disconnect between the two personas.

Once we landed back in New York, Bonnie called me. “Lauren says the soul of Elle has taken flight.” Bonnie said, “We’re both happy for you. She wanted to fly me to meet you. But I was enjoying my student's teaching responsibilities here. I am anxious to have time alone with you when you’re here.”

I had been missing Bonnie and was now uncomfortable having waited to solidify our relationship. I had made large leaps in maturing as a woman, a person. My nipples were beyond budding. There was the soft tissue growing around them beginning to form my breasts.

Over a bottle of cheese and wine Bonnie told about a time when the tingling she felt as a young teen had begun. “If you’re like me you want to shout how glorious it is. The women around me then talked to me saying, ‘It’s no big deal.’ I thought they must have become senile if they forgot how special it was.” She says, “I remember and if you want I’m willing to help those little girls cause you to sing.”

The year before we had delayed our wedding, waiting for the right time. I now knew it was time to get married. Which meant we needed to look for a dress. Bonnie’s would be the traditional wedding gown of silk, lace, and tooling that she wanted.

Now she yearned for her gown to be even better than already planned. We hired a seamstress to make a new gown to Bonnie’s liking. I loved what she was wanting and knew it would be far more beautiful on her than the original bridal gown. Neither of us was used to the money I had begun to make. We didn’t want to wildly spend it, but we did decide to use it to enhance our wedding bliss.