PART 2

The colors of the sunset reflected off the city’s cluster of buildings. Still hesitant, Mike punched in the numbers forty-two on the keypad of the intercom outside the luxury apartments on Bakeford Street.

“Mike?” A hurried voice crackled through the speaker.

“Yeah, it’s me.”

“WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?! I thought you weren’t coming! Get up here before I have a heart attack!” Andrew shouted in a panic as the door buzzed open.

“You guys look sharp,” Mike remarked to his two friends, who were already dressed to the nines, as he crossed the threshold of the house.

“What can I say? Everything looks good on me,” Johnny boasted, running a hand through his hair.

“I thought you’d have the nerve not to show up,” Andrew scolded, surprising Mike, who wondered, “Who’s really doing who the favor here?”

“I always keep my promises,” Mike replied with a pout, just as he felt a hand grab him from behind. “Hi, Coraline…”

“Save the chit-chat for later; we don’t have time,” Andrew’ cousin interrupted, dragging Mike down the hallway to sit him in one of the many rooms in the house.

The place where Andrew lived was a first-class apartment with a sea view. It had an open-plan layout, except for the bedrooms located down a hallway that led to an enormous balcony. The city views from the living room were spectacular, thanks to the large glass windows that lined each wall.

However, Andrew’ life was shrouded in mystery. For as long as anyone could remember, except for Mike, his friends knew that Andrew had always lived alone in that massive house. When it came to privacy, Andrew was like a vault—he never talked about his family, let alone his past.

Mike’s face turned pale when he saw the amount of potions and gadgets Coraline was piling up on the room’s desk. He had no idea what most of them were for, and they could easily pass for instruments of torture.

“Do I have everything? Extensions, silicone breasts and hips, butt padding, leg-shaping tights… What else? What else…?” she muttered to herself, tapping her lower lip with her index finger in thought.

“You’re going to put all that on me?” Mike asked, a shiver running down his spine.

“I think I’m missing a few things… But this will do for now. Ever since I met you, I’ve been dying to make you my doll,” Coraline added after a long pause, a mischievous smile playing on her lips.

“Excuse me?” Mike asked, horrified.

“Did I say that out loud?”

“Yes.”

“Don’t mind me,” Coraline waved it off nonchalantly, waving her hands as she approached him with a facial depilator, which to Mike seemed like the worst instrument he had seen in his nineteen years of life.

“I really feel sorry for Mike,” he heard Johnny say from behind the menacing Coraline.

“I’ll leave everything in your hands,” Andrew added, leaving the room with his companion as if they had just lost a soldier on the battlefield.

“DON’T LEAVE ME ALONE!” Mike’s desperate cry echoed from behind the closed door.

Three and a half hours later, in the living room, aside from the silence, the only sounds were Andrew’s restless leg tapping incessantly against the floor and Johnny’s continuous sighs, exhausted by his friend’s stressful aura.

“You’re going to wrinkle it if you keep that up,” Johnny pointed out, nodding toward the black slim-fit suit by Pablo del Ferro that Andrew was wearing.

“I know, I know… but I just don’t know if this is a good idea. I mean, Mike is really feminine, but passing him off as a woman… I don’t know, man. My cousin isn’t that good.”

“What do you mean, I’m not that good?” Coraline interrupted as she entered the room. “I hope you take that back after seeing this… he’s ready.”

Andrew’s and Johnny’s jaws dropped when Mike walked in. What they saw was completely unexpected, to the point where their hearts skipped a beat and their faces flushed.

“Isn’t she stunning?” Coraline concluded with a flamboyant smile and a great sense of satisfaction. “…Well, I mean, stunningly beautiful.”

Moments later, outside the Imperial Eleanor Hotel, the constant flow of cars and people created an overwhelming bustle. High-end cars pulled up, occupied by people dressed in designer suits and carrying couture handbags.

At this hotel, Emily, the daughter of the well-known CEO of the Imperial Eleanor Group, was celebrating her birthday. As she did every year, Emily spared no expense when it came to throwing a good party. Her father’s deep pockets allowed it, and she had to live up to her family name.

As the guests were escorted by waiters to the designated event room, a black car remained parked at the entrance.

“Aren’t you getting out?” Johnny asked as he and Andrew stepped out of the SUV.

“I need to talk to him for a minute. He’ll be out soon,” Coraline informed him, holding the arm of an embarrassed and speechless Mike.

“And where’s your date?” Andrew asked Johnny as they leaned against one of the hotel’s columns.

“She’s waiting for me in the lobby. By the way…” Johnny cleared his throat before continuing, “Would you like to trade dates?”

“Ohh,” Andrew raised an eyebrow with a mischievous expression.

“Oh?”

“I didn’t know you swung that way too.”

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

“Andrew, you know women are my world.”

“Then why do you want to switch dates?”

“You know perfectly well. I’ll make more of an impact with Mike than with my date.”

“You’re way too shallow sometimes. Stop complaining—at least you’re with a real girl, not your best friend dressed in drag,” Andrew chided, watching as his friend struggled to hold back laughter at the situation.

“And finally, this is the lipstick. You just need to apply it once on your lower lip, then press your lips together a couple of times to spread it evenly. Every hour and a half or so, you’ll need to touch up your makeup in the bathroom,” Coraline explained inside the car, slipping the lipstick into Mike’s purse.

“The complicated world of women,” Mike sighed.

“Complicated? I’m jealous that even though you’re not a woman, you’re prettier and more feminine than I am. Come on, get out before I fall into a deep depression.”

One of Mike’s perfectly shaved legs touched the ground, and all eyes outside turned toward him. He was wearing an elegant black lace dress with a V-neck, long semi-sheer sleeves to hide his toned muscles, and a high waist to create the illusion of fuller hips. Unlike what’s usually worn at these kinds of events, Mike had his hair down with wavy extensions and his eyebrows perfectly done to blend in with his face. However, the only thing going through our protagonist’s mind was whether he could walk more than two steps without tripping or breaking the stiletto heels of his black shoes, as a fall could be life-threatening.

“Shall we?” Andrew asked in a seductive tone, extending his hand.

“I’m nervous,” Mike admitted, blushing.

“There’s nothing to worry about; I’m with you,” Andrew reassured him with his typical gigolo smile, his gaze piercing through Mike.

“Who the HELL do you think you’re talking to, Andrew?” Mike snapped, smacking his friend on the head with his tiny purse.

“Sorry. For a second there, I forgot you were a guy.”

“Just a guy? Andrew, it’s me, Mike. Your childhood friend. I’ve seen you as God brought you into this world, and I know the most embarrassing and degrading things about your—”

“Okay, I get it. I’m sorry. Shall we?” Andrew cut him off, regaining his composure and extending his arm once more.

Every step Mike took, guided and held by his childhood friend, felt like a sequence of images flashing through his life up to that moment, as if he were about to die. He continued to question why he had agreed to this madness, something he would never forget, especially if the girl he liked found out his true identity. But the last step, crossing the threshold that led to the party, was the one that sealed his fate. He was now standing before all his classmates and acquaintances. Moreover, he was the center of attention for most of the people in that gigantic room.

“By Monday, I’ll be the talk of the whole university,” Andrew whispered in Mike’s ear.

“Don’t be so proud—remember that you’ve brought your best friend in drag to your ex’s party,” Mike muttered back, holding onto his arm with a forced smile as they greeted everyone.

“Was it necessary to crush me like that?”

“I’m just making you see reality, as a good friend should.”

“Who’s that bold girl with Andrew?” Emily asked, disgusted, as she sat at one of the tables with Anna.

“I have no idea. I haven’t seen her around the university either,” Anna replied, not taking her eyes off the star couple.

Finally, the topic of whispers was replaced by another pair making a grand entrance—Diana accompanied by Derek. And although many men approached Mike with the intention of winning his heart, at that moment, he couldn’t take his eyes off the woman he secretly loved.

A million doubts began to surface in his mind again. He compared himself to Diana’s companion—a virile and muscular man, perfect for her. “What could a woman like her want with someone like me?” “Besides laughs and mockery, nothing.”

“I’m going to get us something to drink,” Derek said once he left Diana at the table where Emily and Anna were sitting.

“Okay,” she replied with a polite smile.

“How’s it going with Derek?” Emily asked, pouncing on her friend without getting up from her seat.

“We don’t have anything in common. I’ll have to tell him to leave.”

“You haven’t even given him a chance,” Emily added, irritated.

“He’s a good guy, but I don’t want anything right now.”

“Well, I don’t want to force you,” the redhead reluctantly conceded. “But now… have you seen the harpy that Andrew brought to make me jealous?”

“She’s very pretty,” Diana admitted after glancing over at Mike, who, upon making eye contact, blushed and quickly looked away.

“What childish behavior,” Emily muttered, grabbing her glass of wine and downing it in one gulp.

“Maybe he really likes her. He’s a good guy; I don’t think he’d do something like that. After all, you were the one who cheated on him. Why would he waste his time trying to make you jealous?” Diana pointed out, crossing her arms.

“You know I’m not a one-man woman.”

“He wasn’t a one-woman man either until he started dating you, and it was clear he genuinely cared about you. So much so that people thought it was he who cheated on you. Not every man would do that for an unfaithful woman.”

“I hate your honesty,” Emily whispered, her expression torn between anger and disappointment as she watched Andrew, who was displaying a very close attitude with his date.

“Here you go,” Derek said, placing the non-alcoholic cocktail in front of Diana.

“Thanks,” she replied with a pleasant smile, followed by a thoughtful silence. “Derek.”

“Yes?”

“Could we talk for a second?” she asked, getting up from the table.

“Of course.”

As Diana walked away from the table with her companion, Emily found herself unable to take her eyes off Andrew. She had always been a free and independent woman, but with him, everything was different. She had never felt anything like this for another man...

“Was I too harsh on him?” she murmured to Anna without looking away.

“He was a heartbreaker, and with you, he stopped being one. He treated you like a queen, and instead of appreciating it, you just threw it away. Yes, Emily. You were very harsh with him.”

Maybe, just maybe, she had been too hard on him. Maybe, just maybe, she could have handled things differently. Even after humiliating him and letting people think the worst of him, he still spoke to her and respected her.

As all these thoughts ran through her mind, tearing apart the disposable napkin she held in her fingers, Emily felt a hand violently grab her wrist.

“How could you sleep with someone else the very day we started dating?” a handsome young man reeking of alcohol accused her, drawing the attention of everyone in the room.

“When we started dating, I made it clear to you, Carlos. That’s how things are in my life, and I don’t owe you any explanations,” Emily retorted haughtily, trying to free her wrist from Carlos’ violent grip.

“Dirty, filthy whore!” Carlos shouted furiously, yanking Emily to her feet and raising his free hand to hit her in a fit of rage. However, another arm quickly stopped him mid-swing.

“A man should never behave like that,” Andrew said with a frown, emphasizing the “never” as he firmly held the drunk man’s raised arm.

“Mind your own business,” Carlos replied, returning Andrew’s grip with a punch under the chin that sent him straight to the floor.

The entire room fell into a stunned silence. The fear of the guests to break the tension with any trivial sound was immense. Not only because of the tense situation, but also because the elite tended to be a gossipy crowd and didn’t want to miss a single detail.

“Are you okay?” Emily rushed to Andrew’s side when she saw him lying on the floor. He adjusted himself, sitting up to wipe the blood trickling from the corner of his full lips with the sleeve of his suit, paying no attention to his ex-girlfriend.

As Carlos started to walk toward Emily, a masculine voice echoed through the room.

“Leave,” Mike warned the drunk man, his expression tense until he noticed Johnny, standing right in front of him, signaling with his hand to raise the pitch of his voice.

“You stay out of this too, bastard…!” Carlos shouted angrily, turning in the direction where he had heard Mike’s voice. But all his anger vanished when he saw that the voice he thought belonged to a man had actually come from a stunning and beautiful woman with golden hair.

“Please, leave,” Mike emphasized again, this time with a feminine gesture and sweetening his tone.