Taylor had always been a bit of a rebel. He enjoyed standing out and making his own decisions, and one of the ways he did that was by keeping his hair long. It was a point of pride for him, as it was a resistance against the status quo.
However, his parents had always been a bit more conservative, stemming from their careers in finance and law. They were used to the corporate look and wanted nothing more than to have their son contribute to society. They encouraged Taylor to cut his hair thinking that it would make him look more professional and mature. After high school, Taylor chose not to go to college and would pick up random off jobs around town.
Ultimately his dad got sick of it and wanted to motivate Taylor to get his life together. He told him to cut his hair and get a job as an assistant at his asset management firm or move out. Taylor had always resisted the pressure to cut his hair, but given the ultimatum, decided to give in. He figured he would get a small trim and make his parents happy enough to let him continue living his life the way he was. That evening, he made an appointment at the salon.
As he sat in the chair, the stylist started by washing his hair. She soaked down his auburn locks and worked shampoo into his hair. After some massaging and lathering, she rinsed his hair and applied conditioner. His hair was stretched out and gently combed before being rinsed out again. After bringing him back to the chair, she asked Taylor what he wanted. Taylor hesitated for a moment before deciding to just go for a simple trim. He didn't want to cut off too much of his beloved locks.
The stylist nodded and got to work, snipping away at Taylor‘s hair with expert precision. Taylor closed his eyes and tried to relax, enjoying the feeling of having his hair done. The stylist took listened to what he wanted and brought his chest length hair up two inches.
As she snipped away, she chatted with him, telling Taylor about her life and asking him about his. Taylor found himself opening up to her, telling her about his struggles with his parents and how he felt like he was constantly being told what to do.
The stylist listened sympathetically, and when she was finished cutting Taylor's hair, she turned to him with a mischievous twinkle in her eye.
"I have an idea," she said. "Why don't we give you a little makeover? Something to really show off your personality and help you get a job?"
Taylor liked the idea, but moreover he loved feeling heard, and before he knew it, he was agreeing to let her give him a complete makeover.
First, she styled his hair in loose, beachy waves, using a curling iron to create soft, natural-looking curls. She added a bit of product to give his hair volume and texture, and when she was finished, Taylor was amazed by how different he looked.
Next, the stylist turned her attention to Taylor's face. She turned the chair around to face her. She then waxed his eyebrows into a characteristic thin, feminine arch. Next, she started with makeup, appling a light foundation to even out his skin tone, and then adding a hint of blush to give his cheeks a rosy glow. She expertly lined his eyes with a smoky eye shadow and finished off the look with a coat of mascara.
When she was finished, he looked in the mirror, and saw the transformation that the stylist had worked on him. She was right, he did look like a completely different person, it’s just that he looked like a woman now. Taylor was momentarily shocked, only to realize that this would be a great way to get back at his dad.
When the stylist was finished, Taylor paid for the cut and makeover and walked out of the salon, practicing his model strut. His parents were shocked when they saw him. He told his dad that he got it cleaned up and looks professional now so he lived up to his end of the bargain. His father agreed and insisted that he would live up to his end of the bargain too!
“Regardless, you’re coming into my office tomorrow to work as an assistant. Make sure you don’t wipe off the makeup before then, I’ll need you to be looking professional.”
The next morning, his mother came into his room and dropped a navy pant suit and white blouse on his bed for him to wear.
“It would only be fitting since you insist on keeping your hair long,” she pressed.
He reluctantly went over to the office that morning where he learned the ropes of managing the front desk. Over the next week, Taylor grew more comfortable using a high pitch voice at work. As he was leaving on Friday, a client asked him to play golf over the weekend. Just as Taylor was about to say no, his father came up behind him and placed his hand on Taylor’s shoulder.
“She would love to join,” he said.
Taylor had no option but to keep up the charade and go. He didn’t want to lose his dad a client and get kicked out of the house. The next morning, he went back to the salon and asked Chantelle to wax his arms and legs to remove what little hair he had. She had him take off his clothes and throw on a robe. To his surprise Chantelle took off all of his hair from the neck down. He told her about the past week and how he is going to play golf with a client. Chantelle wanted to make sure he looked the high-class part and reapplied makeup. She then straightened his hair and tied the top section back into a high ponytail.
Taylor stopped by the store on his way to buy a black skirt and threw on the white blouse his mom had given him. As Taylor greeted Jack on the day of their golf outing, Jack couldn't help but be captivated by "Taylor's" radiant smile and the charm that seemed to emanate from every pore. He didn't suspect for a moment that Taylor was, in fact, a man.
"Hello, Taylor, it's a pleasure to finally meet you," Jack said with a warm smile, extending his hand.
"The pleasure is all mine, Jack," Taylor replied, trying his best to maintain his feminine persona. "I've heard so much about your golf skills, and I'm excited to play a round with you."
They set off on the golf course, and as they played, Jack couldn't help but notice how gracefully Taylor moved and how her auburn hair seemed to catch the sunlight in the most enchanting way.
"You have such beautiful hair," Jack remarked, gently running his fingers through Taylor's locks. "It's mesmerizing."
Blushing slightly, Taylor thanked him, secretly amazed at how well his disguise seemed to be working. As the day progressed, they engaged in delightful conversations, sharing stories and laughter. Taylor found himself drawn to Jack's charisma and kindness, and he couldn't help but feel conflicted about deceiving him.
During a break in the game, Jack took Taylor's hand in his and said, "You know, there's something about you that's different. You're not like most women I've met. There's an air of sophistication and understanding about you."
Caught off guard, Taylor stammered, trying to maintain his facade. "Oh, well, thank you, Jack. I suppose I've always believed in being authentic and genuine in all aspects of life."
Jack smiled, seemingly lost in thought. "Authenticity is a rare quality these days. It's refreshing to meet someone like you."
As the sun began to set, they finished their round of golf and headed for a nearby café. The evening breeze gently brushed against Taylor's face, and he felt conflicted. He realized that he had grown fond of Jack and couldn't bear the thought of continuing the deception.
At the café, as they sat across from each other, Taylor mustered the courage to come clean. Taking a deep breath, he said, "Jack, there's something I need to tell you. I’m a guy. I disguised myself as a woman to spite my dad and things got a little out of hand."
Jack looked surprised but not upset. "I must admit, I had a hunch that something was amiss. However, I appreciate your honesty, Tay."
Feeling relieved and endeared at the use of a nickname, Taylor continued, "I understand if you're upset or disappointed. I never intended to hurt you, but I had a great time."
Jack chuckled softly. "You’re beautiful,” Jack said as he caressed Taylor’s exposed thigh. “It’s getting late now, I can drop you back home,” he offered. “Maybe we can go back to your place instead,” Taylor replied with a wink.
