chapter 7: routine

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Monday morning came far too quickly for Bryan. As the sunlight filtered through his apartment's thin curtains, he groggily reached for his phone to check his bank account. The numbers on the screen confirmed his worst fears. With rent due in a week, he had no choice but to continue his masquerade at Landmark Realty and Investments. He sighed, resigned to his fate, and set about preparing for another day at the office.

Bryan carefully dressed in the outfit he had selected the night before—a black shift dress with a white blouse underneath, complete with a black bow at the neck, and knee-high black boots. He scrutinized his reflection in the mirror, adjusting the hem and ensuring his makeup was flawless. The heels felt slightly more comfortable now, a small consolation in his otherwise chaotic life.

As he made his way to work, Bryan was now accustomed to the looks and comments from men on the street

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As he made his way to work, Bryan was now accustomed to the looks and comments from men on the street. Some were leering, others just awestruck, but all reminded him of the precariousness of his situation. He steeled himself, determined to make it through another day without incident.

Arriving at the office, Bryan took his usual position at the door, greeting each employee with a warm smile. Over the past week, he had become familiar with many of his colleagues, and they, in turn, had accepted "Isabella" as one of their own. Most mornings, Natalie Bauman, the COO, would stop to chat with him. Today was no exception.

"Good morning, Isabella!" Natalie chirped, her voice full of energy. "You look fabulous, as always. I swear, you have the best fashion sense in this office."

"Thanks, Natalie," Bryan replied, forcing a smile. "You always look great too."

Natalie beamed, clearly pleased with the compliment. "Oh, you're too sweet. Anyway, you won't believe the weekend I had! So, I went on this date with a guy I met on that new dating app. He was... let's just say, very adventurous."

Bryan nodded along, trying to seem engrossed in Natalie's story about her romantic escapades. She was notorious for oversharing, often divulging intimate details that made Bryan uncomfortable. But he listened attentively, knowing that Natalie had Laura's ear, and he couldn't afford to get on her bad side.

"Speaking of which," Natalie said, lowering her voice conspiratorially, "has Laura mentioned the business trip yet?"

Bryan's heart skipped a beat. "No, she hasn't. What business trip?"

Natalie smirked. "Oh, I'm sure she will. It's a very important trip for the future of the business. We need someone to keep the clients happy while we're busy with negotiations. You'd be perfect for it."

Before Bryan could ask any more questions, Natalie winked and headed towards her office. He barely had time to process the information before Laura strode into the building.

"Good morning, Isabella," Laura said briskly. "You're coming on an important trip with me next week. The details are in your calendar. Don't let me regret this decision."

"Yes, Laura. Thank you," Bryan managed to reply before she disappeared into her office.

Bryan quickly checked his calendar, his heart racing. Sure enough, he was scheduled to be in Miami from Sunday to Wednesday. An email notification pinged on his phone, containing his plane tickets, hotel information, and a brief itinerary. His room and plane ticket were under the name Isabella Levine. He realized he would have to maintain his facade as Bella for the entire duration of the trip.

The itinerary made his stomach churn. Sunday afternoon was blocked off as a spa day, each morning included an hour and a half for hair and makeup followed by an hour for wardrobe, and the middle of his days were dedicated to entertaining guests and assisting Laura. Bryan couldn't imagine how he would handle it, but he knew he had no choice. He was determined to impress Laura, no matter the cost.

The rest of the week passed in a blur. Bryan had become adept at playing the role of Bella during the day and reverting to Bryan at night. However, there was one particularly embarrassing incident in the middle of the week that stood out.

On Wednesday, Bryan was rushing to prepare for a client presentation when he accidentally spilled coffee on his dress. Panicked, he ran to the restroom to clean up. As he dabbed at the stain with a paper towel, the restroom door opened, and Emily from marketing walked in.

"Oh no, Isabella! What happened?" Emily exclaimed, seeing the mess.

"I, uh, just had a little accident," Bryan stammered, his cheeks burning with embarrassment.

"Don't worry, I've got just the thing," Emily said, rummaging through her purse. She produced a small bottle of stain remover and handed it to Bryan. "This stuff works miracles."

"Thank you," Bryan said, feeling a mix of gratitude and humiliation.

As he worked on the stain, Emily chatted away, oblivious to his discomfort. "You know, I've always admired how you handle yourself. It can't be easy, being the only guy in the office and all."

Bryan froze, unsure how to respond. Did she know? Was she testing him? He decided to play it safe. "Thanks, Emily. It's definitely a unique experience."

Emily smiled. "Well, you're doing a great job sweetie. Keep it up!"

The rest of the day was a struggle. Bryan couldn't shake the feeling that his secret was on the verge of being exposed. He resolved to be even more careful in the future.

As the week drew to a close, Bryan felt a mix of relief and dread. He had managed to survive another week, but the looming trip to Miami filled him with anxiety. What would Laura expect from him? How would he maintain his disguise in such close quarters? He had no answers, only the resolve to do whatever it took to keep his job.

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