Bryan closed the bathroom door behind him, staring at the bags and boxes of clothes Hailey had given him. He rummaged through them, a sinking feeling growing in his stomach. Every item was undeniably feminine—dresses, skirts, blouses, and heels. No slacks, no button-up shirts, no trace of anything even remotely masculine.

Bryan sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair. He remembered Laura's words about the dress code and her stern gaze. He knew he had to comply if he wanted to keep this job. His mind raced, torn between his reluctance and his desperate need to please.

After a few moments of internal struggle, Bryan's people-pleasing nature won out. He chose a knee-length dress, one of the more conservative options, and awkwardly tried to put it on. The fabric felt strange against his skin, and he fumbled with the zipper, feeling clumsy and out of place.

Once he managed to get the dress on, Bryan opened the shoe boxes. They contained two pairs of heels and one pair of knee-high boots, all with three-inch heels. He chose a pair of black heels, struggling to balance as he slipped them on. The sensation of walking in heels was entirely foreign to him, and he wobbled uncertainly.

Taking a deep breath to steady himself, Bryan stepped out of the bathroom. Hailey was waiting for him, her eyes lighting up when she saw him.

"Well, look at you, Bella! Not bad for your first day," she said, her tone almost teasing. Then her expression shifted to one of disapproval. "But those hairy legs and armpits won't do. Wear stockings for today, but you'll need to take care of that hair by tomorrow."

Bryan's face flushed with embarrassment. "Stockings? Uh, okay..."

Hailey handed him a pair of black stockings. He returned to the bathroom, awkwardly pulling them on. They felt tight and uncomfortable, but he managed to get them on properly. With another steadying breath, Bryan emerged from the bathroom again.

"Much better," Hailey said, smiling. "Now, let's get you to the front desk. That's where you'll be working most days."

Bryan followed her through the office, still trying to adjust to walking in heels. They arrived at the front desk where a cheerful woman greeted them.

"Nicole, this is Bella. She's going to be taking over your position," Hailey introduced.

Nicole beamed at Bryan. "Hi, Bella! It's so nice to meet you. I'm Nicole."

"Nice to meet you too," Bryan said, trying to muster a smile despite his discomfort.

Nicole's eyes twinkled. "I take it this is your first day in a dress?"

Bryan nodded, feeling his cheeks heat up. "Yeah, it's... different."

Nicole laughed kindly. "You'll get used to it. Now, let me show you the ropes."

As Bryan shadowed Nicole throughout the day, she explained her daily tasks and gave him tips on how to impress Laura.

"One thing I've noticed," Nicole said conspiratorially, "Laura always compliments me when I wear my hair down. I think she likes it that way."

Bryan made a mental note, nodding. "Got it. Thanks for the tip."

Nicole walked him through the various administrative duties: answering phones, scheduling meetings, managing emails, and handling visitor inquiries. Bryan watched closely, taking notes and asking questions. Despite his discomfort, he focused on learning as much as he could.

The day passed in a blur of activity. By the end of it, Bryan felt exhausted but more confident in his new role. He thanked Nicole for her help and went to find Hailey to retrieve his clothes.

He found Hailey in her office, typing away at her computer. "Hailey, can I get my clothes back?"

Hailey looked up, feigning confusion. "Oh, I must have misplaced them. Sorry about that."

Bryan's heart sank. "Misplaced them?"

"Yes, but don't worry. You've got plenty of new clothes now," Hailey said cheerfully. "And remember, makeup tomorrow. It's not in the dress code, but it's highly encouraged."

Bryan nodded, feeling overwhelmed. "Right. Makeup."

With no other options, Bryan gathered his new clothes and prepared to head home. The thought of riding the subway in a dress and heels filled him with dread, but he had no choice. He clutched the bags tightly and left the office, navigating the busy streets of LA with shaky steps.

As he descended into the subway station, he felt the curious and judgmental gazes of passersby. His anxiety heightened, but he kept his head down, focusing on getting home. The clacking of his heels on the pavement seemed to echo loudly, drawing even more attention.

On the subway, Bryan found a seat and sat down carefully, trying to ignore the stares. He couldn't wait to get home and change out of the unfamiliar clothes. But as he sat there, he reminded himself why he was doing this. He needed this job, and he was willing to do whatever it took to keep it.

The journey home felt interminable, but Bryan kept his focus on the future, on proving himself to Laura and making a place for himself at Landmark. Despite the challenges, he was determined to succeed.