From the perspective of three different women.
~~~ The Boss, Ms. Hallerin ~~~
I once said that everything about a woman is sex and lust. Beneath whatever proper veneer a woman shows you, it comes down to the same things -- her nipples and clitoris. No one likes to admit that because it undermines mainstream femininity... or maybe it's the underpinning of femininity itself.
The view from my office will always be stunning. I'm the CEO of a financial firm, age 57 and loving it, and I have long streaks of gray hair which I proudly showcase. Before I retire, there's a question that's lingered in my mind for years; could any woman become anything? Obviously there's a degree of reasonableness to that question. Not everyone can become a pro athlete, singer, or an engineer, etc...
I once read a story about a female Chinese CEO who joked that she'll train her beloved secretary to become her replacement. That stuck with me ever since. I often wonder if I'm unique, one of a kind. Or if I just got lucky with circumstances.
Enter the girl who sits outside my office everyday, Natalie Mendoza, my loyal secretary for the last five years. She steps into my office and closes the door at approximately 10 a.m. as we'd scheduled. I watch her graceful motions, she's a tall, leggy girl from Argentina who always wears pressed blouses and knee-length office skirts, and she always wears flats. Secretary's outfit. Secretary's demeanor.
We sit around a coffee table. She's a bit nervous, probably thinking it's an evaluation because we've never sat like this in my office before. She pours me coffee everyday, this time I pour her a cup. She's struck by my newfound humility. I can't remember the last time I've poured coffee for anyone in the workplace.
Natalie sits upright on these low seats, I love her posture. She's a raven haired beauty with light skin. Her knees are pressed together in a ladylike manner so her thighs don't show. I try not to gawk at her, I'm sure she doesn't notice that I'm admiring her tall figure.
"So, a little bit of news for you. I'll be retiring in a few years. You're the first to hear this."
It feels like an out-of-body experience to finally speak these words, which makes Natalie pause and put her coffee down after taking a sip. She gulps the warm drink. I wait for her response. She has a slight accent which she's trying to get rid of. I wish she wouldn't. Her original accent arouses me.
"For any particular reason?" she asks.
"I'm not being forced out, if that's what you're implying."
"Oh, that's a relief. May I ask why you're leaving? You're at the top of your game."
"I'd like to travel the world. Dubai, Africa, a few spots in Asia."
"Lovely places," she says.
"They are, but this conversation isn't about me. This is about you."
"Me?"
"When I was younger, I had every advantage to climb the corporate ladder. Rich parents, family connections, the best schools, a long list of mentors. As a result, my work here has been stellar. I took share prices to record highs. Now I wonder, could a normal woman also do this job, if given the same privilege?"
"It would take a serious person to fill your shoes."
"How about you? That's what I'm wondering. I'll be the public face of this firm, but you'll run things on my behalf. You'll fulfill most of my obligations."
"Excuse me?" she says.
"I'll train you first, you can follow me around, I'll teach you the important things. Then, for a few years, you'll handle most of my duties. I'll pay you accordingly."
Natalie pauses, then gives a nervous wince. "The salary upgrade would be fantastic, but crashing this firm would be horrendous."
"The firm won't crash because I'll guide you here and there, especially the major decisions. And yes, I'm serious. Officially you'll be promoted to a fancy title, but unofficially you'll be calling most of the shots. I want to see how you lead. I want to make you a leader."
"Why are you doing this?" she asks.
"Personal and professional curiosity. I want to know if leadership can be taught."
"That doesn't sound like a great hobby."
"Very little excites me these days. I can honestly say this is the most exhilaration I've felt in years."
"It's difficult for me to agree," she says. "I don't know how serious you are. It could be a passing thought which you may regret tomorrow. Or maybe you're testing my loyalty. Even if you meant this, I'm terrified of being unprepared."
"Suppose you were interested, then I prepared you properly. What would be your biggest motivator? The money? Power?"
Natalie thinks long and hard. "Everyone could use more money these days, but I'd like to know what I'm capable of. I'd like to see if I can do it. I guess we're on the same page."
"Then let's get started, okay? Remove your flats. Put your bare feet on the floor."
After her initial hesitation, she starts removing her flats and I walk to my closet and sift through my wardrobe. I grab a pair of stockings and heels, which I bought specifically for her, and I return to her.
She's already sitting in an upright posture with her hands folded on her lap, her bare feet on the carpet, next to her flats. Her calves and feet are delicious to look at, toned from walking around the office all day, but this isn't about my stimulation.
I approach Natalie and get on my knees. I can only imagine what she's thinking as I assume the submission posture for the first time in our relationship, then I start rolling the stocking up her legs, one at a time, going up mid-thighs. This isn't meant to be sexy. It's meant to be a blessing.
Finally the high heels. Putting thousand dollar heels on my secretary's feet is like putting a crown on a maid. With a gentle touch, I slide each heel onto Natalie's feet, securing them in place to finish the transformation. I fasten the straps and then rub her soft ankles.
Natalie stands and walks around when I tell her to. She's several inches taller now, much taller than me, and her movements are awkward. It's so obvious she's a novice with high heels. Her presence in my office has shifted, from a secretary who lingers in the background to a statuesque woman who commands attention with every stride. I'm impressed. This might work after all.
~~~ Natalie Mendoza ~~~
My previous gym was a reasonable $40 per month fee and anyone could join. People from all walks of life were coming and going. This gym, however, is located in the heart of downtown's financial district. Membership is exclusive and it's very much a club. Women here have known each other forever and I'm the youngest of the group.
What surprises me the most about this exclusive gym is how familiar the women are with each other. It's common to see a group of 40 or 50 something-year-old women in the sauna with nothing but towels wrapped around their hair, having casual conversations.
Because these women know that I'm the de facto boss at my firm, they've been extremely welcoming to me. Relationships are the cornerstone of business and they've held firm to that belief. Imagine me in the locker room while nude corporate bosses, executives, and managers are discussing their weekend plans or dinner parties.
And unlike normal gyms where people dress quickly and leave, here, the women take their time. It's almost a ritual. They take their time rolling their stockings on their feet, either while standing with one foot on the bench, or sitting. Their heels are always designer, from the biggest name brands. Oftentimes I'll see mature women fixing their stockings and heels, even before putting on their undergarments, standing there completely nude.
If I sound like I don't belong in this world, it's because I don't. My boss thinks it's amusing that I'm in this position. I'm a social experiment. The Board and shareholders would go crazy if they knew this was happening. But I guess, in an interesting way, that's what makes this fun for my boss, and scary for me.
Ms. Hallerin spent two weeks training me to assume her duties. By that I mean, she did the bare minimum. She called me into her office a few times for brief conversations on how to negotiate and assume a strong posture. She gave me a few handwritten notes and charts to keep. And she sent me emails containing Youtube videos to watch. That was literally it.
Anyway, I'm flanked by two company lawyers as we head to the 26th floor of a commercial building. The acquisition of the South Korean owned entity has been in the works for a year, and I'm tasked with completing the takeover.
This is my second time meeting with Jang and her group of lawyers, a mix of Americans and Koreans. I'm mostly repeating the talking points Ms. Hallerin gave me, while letting my lawyers do the rest. I can tell that Jang isn't too thrilled with having to sell her business. I get the sense that it wasn't her choice.
After the meeting concludes an hour later, we shake hands and end things on a cordial note. Then as we leave, she flags me down in the hallway and asks for a moment of my time. I tell my team to wait in the building lobby.
"This will be fast," Jang says. "We both have busy schedules. Let me show you our meditation room."
The room is small, minimalist, and she sits on a cushioned chair -- the only seat available -- which means that I'm left standing in the center. A total power move on her part. I wish I could have Ms. Hallerin in my ear telling me what to do, because she'd absolutely know how to handle power plays.
"Comfortable?" I ask.
I wonder what Jang's intentions are. She's a demure young woman, book smart, and she keeps a straight face. She tries relaxing in the chair, but relaxing isn't her strong suit. Her knees are pressed together and she's wearing a knee-length skirt with stockings and heels.
"This is my company, of course I'm comfortable here. When this deal goes through, I will be paid handsomely for the buyout -- yes -- but I will also return to Seoul as a failure."
"Is that what you think is happening?" I ask.
"What else is there? The people who backed me financially will have a low opinion of me. My career will suffer. That's how it works in business, as you will come to find out."
"I can help you. Maybe you can work for me. Maybe you can stay here in some capacity."
"You think I'm a charity case?"
"No, no, that's not what I'm saying."
"You're new," Jung says. "So obvious. You have intelligence but very little experience. Are you a fast learner?"
"We don't have to do this."
"Have you been taught about business etiquette from your boss? Where is she? Hiding? On vacation?"
"What are you talking about?"
"You owe me small favors."
Jung leans back on the chair and pulls her skirt so that her skinny thighs are showing. She spreads her legs, no panties. Her labia is dark and her pubic hairs are curly. All throughout the meeting she kept things natural. Does she always come to work like this? Or is this specifically for me?
