My name is Rob Taylor and the thing currently taking up most of my thoughts was the state of my wife Helen's mental health. The combination of both of our kids leaving the family home in quick succession and the council closing the housing help line down and Helen losing her job had hit her hard. She had never been an overly confident person and these changes exasperated her anxieties, despite the support I tried to provide.
Everyone liked Helen she was quiet and introverted but had a lovely personality and would do anything to help someone; I was truly blessed to have her in my life. I thought she was gorgeous but most people would see her as just 'ok' looking, in a plain girl next door sort of way. She kept her long brown hair in a simple pony tail and wore minimal makeup. She was shy and always covered up, preferring to wear jeans and a range of baggy tops. Only I got a really good look at her assets, underneath the frumpy exterior she had an outstanding body. Despite my encouragement she was also very conservative in the bedroom and never let herself go completely.
We agreed a new job might help keep her mind from dwelling on the kids flying the nest. I was having a chat with my long standing friend Steve Turner over a beer, when he surprised me with an immediate job offer... he had a receptionist position going in his facilities management business, he knew Helen well and thought her previous experience might work out.
So it was that Helen became the new receptionist for Turners facilities. Helen was worried about fulfilling the post initially, especially greeting clients, she was happier in the back office or answering calls. Despite her concerns, Steve was delighted with her explaining to me over our regular night out for a few pints that she was doing really well and everyone loved her.
Steve went on to say, "She is fantastic, she got me organised in no time at all, I get loads more work done now. If she was just a bit more confident and outgoing with the clients she would be perfect."
"Yeah she has always been shy and had a hard time through school, it took ages to persuade her to go out with me when we first met. I have always tried to reassure and support her; she has no idea how much people naturally like her. The kids gave her focus and purpose, now they are grown she is more uncertain than ever."
"Maybe we can work together to build her confidence."
"How do we do that?"
"I join in with your positive reinforcement, lots of support and encouragement. I get her to try new things at work, stuff I know she will excel at. You know how it is, a wife doesn't believe her husband but does take note of what others guys say and we get on really well. If she can have a positive experience at work it will rub off onto other aspects of her life."
"Yeah that might help, thanks Steve."
It wasn't long before Helen was telling me about good days at work and getting great feedback from Steve and others. I was delighted things eventually seemed to be turning around. I made sure to give Helen lots of positive reinforcement and emphasise how well she was doing.
Steve gave her a pamper day off for doing such a good job. It included a spa day complete with treatments: facials, nails and hair. Helen tried to reject it but Steve was having none of it. When she came home I told her she looked stunning, she blushed and looked awkward but managed a small thank you.
"I mean it Helen, you hair looks gorgeous worn down and the makeup and nails really suit you. It great to see you come out of your shell a bit, the new job is doing you the world of good"
"Thanks Rob, I am starting to feel more positive and better about things."
The words must have sunk in as we had a very pleasurable night; Helen rode me cowgirl which was unusual as she usually wanted to stick with missionary sex.
Steve told me that he had said similar things when she went into work the next day, emphasising that look was perfect for work. He then offered her a more proactive role in dealing with clients, it came with an expenses and clothing allowance.
Helen:
Steve handed me a card with a boutique name on it, saying I could get what ever work clothes I wanted for my new role.
He waved me away, "Ask for Justine, she's the owner and offers a personal shopper service. It's all on company expenses so don't worry about costs."
The boutique didn't have any of my usual attire, no trousers suits or baggy tops. Justine had me try on pencil skirts and satin tops, saying I had a great figure and should show off my legs. I really wasn't sure about that at all, I had always covered up since my school days, but I didn't want to disappoint Steve who had been so supportive about the job and Justine said the clothes portrayed the right professional high end image. They were certainly expensive enough; I could feel the quality in the material, cut and stitching.
I decided to take just the one outfit, a simple knee length black skirt and white cotton blouse. I needed nylons and chose some 3 inch sling back heels to go with them. It was a fraction on the allowance and I rejected Justine's offers to try more.
For the first time I had to tuck my top in, it just looked wrong hanging lose over a fairly tight skirt; looking in the mirror I quietly admitted that my figure looked ok, at least for someone in her mid 40s who had given birth twice. I put them on for work next day somewhat nervously. Rob actually wolf whistled when he saw them at breakfast.
"Wow do what do we own the honour, you hardly ever gets your legs out, not that I am complaining."
"Ha thanks but you like me in anything that shows me off."
"Too right, you have great legs and keep them hidden for some reason, you look fabulous."
"It's just an office outfit, Steve gave me an allowance and asked me to try a personal shopper service; they suggested a more professional look for dealing with clients."
"Lucky clients, well the shopper knows what they are doing, you do look very professional and quite sexy."
When I got to work still self-consciously checking myself out Steve's reaction surprised me.
"Wow what a transformation, that look is perfect, that's exactly the image I was hoping for, you look professional and it portrays competence."
I felt myself blushing but had to admit it deal feel good, the fact a slightly younger handsome man was complimenting me on my looks was something I couldn't ever remembering experiencing.
In the washroom and had a good appraisal, I did have a decent figure and seemed to go in and out in the right places. That brought back some horrible school memories, I was never pretty and a very late developer, girls that age can be so cruel, actually far crueller than the boys. When I did develop, it happened quickly and I got into the habit of hiding my assets in lose fitting clothing.
I went back to see Justine and got more skirts and blouses seeing as I felt good in them, far better than I expected and both Rob and Steve seemed to like them. When I was leaving the shop, I noticed a guy looking at me and was wondering what was wrong, it took me a while to realise he was checking me out, that was something new, I couldn't ever remember that happening. I wasn't sure how I felt about it, a little perturbed but also flattered.
Work was busy and we usually worked straight through grabbing a sandwich at our desks. After a particularly hectic day dealing with a client complaint, Steve suggested it wasn't healthy and we should have decent break. Despite my increasing workload he insisted we go out for lunch at a local café. That became a regular thing, they were mostly a working lunch but we got to know each other more. I really liked Steve; he was the only guy I had ever gotten to know well other than Rob.
Rob:
I was talking to Steve again over a couple of beers, discussing the improvement in Helen since she began back at work, something I was extremely grateful about, when he caught me completely off guard.
"I would like your permission to seduce Helen."
I almost choked on my beer, "What the fuck?"
Steve just laughed, "Just hear me out, I like her, like her a lot actually. I think she is the nicest person I have ever met and I think I can help her out some more."
"Oh and how do you reckon that?"
"Well her confidence is still really low, she seems uncertain and deflects everything to others. I could flirt with her, make her feel really good about herself, you know provide even more positive reinforcement.
