Going Up

Charlie frowned, perplexed. "A tear-away?"

"Like a breakaway chair. You know, like the ones stunt men hit one another with during a brawl or a fight in a saloon. Instead of being designed to breakaway, though, my gown was designed to tear away." She told him about the upcoming scene, in which she was to lose her gown before the astonished eyes of her boyfriend, who had no clue as to her transgender status.

He chuckled. "That would be quite a surprise, all right," he said. "If I were he, though, I'd love you just as much as before, maybe more."

She seemed to distrust his veracity. "Would you?"

He nodded, holding her eyes with his own. "I would."

She smiled, reassured. "I believe you would."

The elevator car lurched to an abrupt stop. They'd reached their destination. As the doors opened and they stepped from the elevator, Siren blanched. "Your secretary! She can't see me like this."

Charlie smiled at her chagrin. "Don't worry. My office has a private entrance."

"Let's hurry, before someone sees me," Siren suggested.

They reached a paneled door. Charlie inserted a keycard, and the deadbolt unlocked with a faint sliding sound. He opened the door, ushering the shemale into his inner sanctum. "You're in luck," he told her. "Kurtz just sent me up a new tear-away dress."

Siren looked puzzled.

"I guess I micro-manage too much. Anyway, I like to have final approval on all the details, including costumes and props. After all, if we lose money on the movies we make, it's my ass, not Kurtz's, that's in a sling. I can let you borrow the tear-away, and you can wear it for your audition."

"There won't be an audition now," Siren lamented, "not one with me in it, at least."

"Why not?"

"Mr. Kurtz. He doesn't abide tardiness or absence from the set."

"He will when he reads the note I'm going to give you."