Chrysalis Part 2-Chapter 21
This story is about a young man's quest to fix a major birth defect--he was born without a penis. On his quest he meets his soul mate and many other soon to be friends.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, and events are the product of the author's imagination, or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to any real person is coincidental.
The story depicts procedures and practices common for gender reassignment; however, this story does not claim to be a medical treatise, and information is primarily for the purpose of the story and not medical advice. This story is written for adults with adult themes. If you are underage or live in a location where references to gay relationships or transgender people is forbidden, please log out of the story or move.
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Chapter 21--Meeting the Co-op Board
Derrek and Chris arrived forty minutes early so Chris could look again at the condo. Derrek was asked to tag along in case there are any financial issues. He knew the finances better than Chris did. Chris was in the master bedroom with Derrek when we heard a voice. "Hey anyone here?" They walked into the living area and two men were standing together obviously curious about the new owner. One was an older man, tall with slight gray wings in his dark hair. Chris pegged his age as early fifties. The other man was stunning: lithe, athletic, dark hair with blonde highlights. Both stood confident in different ways. The older man stood tall from strong sense of self; the younger stood from a sense of space. The older man went up to Derrek and extended a hand. "You must be Chris Wentworth, the new owner." The younger man eyed Chris like Chris was the boy toy.
Derrek laughed taking delight in the misidentification, "No, I am Derrek Lovejoy, the real estate agent. This is Chris Wentworth." He did a grand gesture toward Chris. The older man took a step back in shock as he did a slow take at Chris. He recovered quickly.
Chris extended his hand and said curtly to establish his status as owner, "You are?"
The older man relaxed and laughed, "I am sorry about falling into stereotypes. I should know better. I am Daniel Oppenheimer, but you can call me Dan. This is my partner Matías, Mat." He tilted his head toward the other man, who extended his hand. "We live in Unit 3." Chris smiled at each man; it was both warm and a little seductive. Chris needed to impress these men.
"You look familiar," Matías said squinting as he assessed me. "Have we meet?"
"I do not believe so. I have been in New York only a few weeks and hang mostly with the people I have met since. Not much of a social butterfly." The older man nodded approving. "Sorry, but I don't have furniture yet, but if you don't mind we can sit on the floor." The older man laughed about needing help getting up, but Matías quip that Dan had no problems getting up. Chris grinned at the pun, which prompted another careful look from Matías.
"Now I know where I saw you, Jazzabel's." Matías turned to Dan, "You remember the young man Jazzabel called to play piano." Dan's eyes brightened as he placed me.
Derrek broke in, "Yes, there is where I first met Chris. Chris was at the table next to me. You should have seen the look on his face when Jazzabel commanded his presence. You would not believe that he had never performed publicly before. Chris is a young man of multiple talents." Chris blushed and looked down. "Modest too." Derrek added.
"You will bring a piano?" Dan asked eagerly. "This place is accustomed to elegant parties."
"My friends almost had an orgasm when I said this place was owned by Gabriel Dupré. They are starting a catering business. And Louis is a phenomenal chef, just finished at the Culinary Institute at Columbia where he met Mr. Dupré for a class. He catered a party for me at Slim and Zoe's Clinton's house, since my current residence is far too small. I'm afraid Cedrick Greenwood may try to entice him to his hotel chain, but he and his fiancé are too much into the catering."
Dan shifted uncomfortable on the hardwood floors. "I know this is rude and totally inappropriate, but how old are you?" Chris replied. "And you've been in New York a month?" Chris nodded. "You have as your real estate agent, Derrek, who is one of the most sought after for high end properties, you are social with the Clintons, one of the oldest families in New York, you casually discuss the Greenwoods as if they are close friends. And now you are buying this place. In my experience this does not happen--at least legally."
Derrek bristled at the last comment. "Mr. Oppenheimer, to question the integrity of Mr. Wentworth is to impugn the integrity of all the people you have mentioned. You do not understand how exceptional a person Chris is. I attended the dinner party Chris had at Slim Clinton's house. And everyone there has the deepest affection for Chris. The guest list, which Chris chose because he considers them friends included Mr. and Mrs. David Donaldson, Cordelia Duncan, Cynthia Stone besides the Clintons and Greenwoods. Chris gave you several references, which I am sure you have seen. I will tell you right now," Derick was moving into a high pique, "This place should be honored to have an owner as great as Chris." Chris sat silent unable to move or say anything. Dan looked like he had taken several punches to the face. Matías tried to suppress a grin.
"Since Dan, the love of my life, asked an impertinent question, I have one too." Matías looked at me. "Are you gay?"
That was not the question Chris expected, so Chris laughed lightly, "Yes."
"Follow-up question, boyfriend, significant other."
"Working on it. He just doesn't know it yet, but he is being lead nicely along."
That provoked a laugh from Dan. He struggled to his feet with a push from Matías. "We need to get to the board meeting. And I apologize for questioning your character, but a gorgeous nineteen-year old boy buying a million dollar unit is very rare."
"Chris is very rare," Derrek extended a hand to help Don off the floor.
"Yes," Dan nodded agreement, "Alexander the Great was twenty, and in many cultures sixteen is considered a mature adult."
"If I were a Maasai, I would have killed my first lion." Chris smiled at Dan. Curious, he asked what Chris knew of the Maasai. Chris explained that he spent six weeks studying them as part of his anthropology studies. The sudden light in his eyes told Chris that he had won him over.
Chris entered a plush wood paneled room with sofas and wingback chairs. Six people sat on the sofa and chairs toward one end of the room. Dan and Matías took chairs with the rest of the group. Derrek and Chris sat, as indicated with a wave, in to chairs facing the rest.
All the people were all much older than Chris, which he expected. They were all poised, sitting erect, confident, and comfortable in this surrounding.
"Welcome, Mr. Wentworth," said an older woman with white hair turning toward Derrek. She was in a beige dress with a white cardigan sweater, a strand of pearls and a flower brooch with emerald and sapphires. Chris heard Matías stifle a giggle. "I am Mrs. Coons, Mildred Coons."
"Mrs. Coons, I am Derrek Lovejoy, the real estate agent. This is Mr. Chris Wentworth." He pointed to me. "I am here to explain any financial questions you may have."
Mrs. Coons was nonplussed by the error, "Sorry, Mr. Wentworth, for the error. Our understanding," She gestured to the assembled group, "That you purchased Unit 5 of this co-op." Chris nodded. "But before the purchase can be finalized, you must be approved by a majority of the co-op owners. Let me introduce the voting members, Of course, there is me, Ms. Coons. I have lived here since 1953, I live in Unit 1. Then there is Ms. Stanello, who lives in Unit 2. "
"Hi Chris," nodded an elegant blonde in here early forties. She touched the hand of a latte-skinned man sitting next to her. "This is my friend Rod. He is a guest tonight," Chris thought he heard Matías mumble most nights. "and not a voting member."
"Thank you, Babs. Next, in Unit 3 is Mr. Oppenheimer, but you have already met him and his partner. Unit 4 is Mr. and Mrs. Brentley."
Mr. Brently gave Chris a cold look. "I'm going to be upfront kid. I will vote against you because no nineteen-year old kid should be able to buy a place like this unless something illegal is going on." Chris was not totally surprised by his comment, but said nothing. Mrs. Coons turned and stared at him. "Harold, that is an unwarranted assumption without any evidence. You, as an attorney, should know better than to prejudge." Mrs. Coons smiled at Chris. Chris liked her. "The last board member in Unit 6 is Mr. O'Leary."
"Look forward to sharing my floor with you. And call me `Red.'" This was obvious from his flaming red hair, possibly dyed.
"Yes, Mrs. Coons, I understand that member approval is needed as a condition and am willing to satisfy any reservations you may have about my becoming a member of your co-op." Chris gave his sweetest smile to everyone. "I know that I am not your typical purchaser, but when I saw this place I fell in love with it. It felt like home."
"We all love this place, which is why we are particular about whom we share it with." Again, Chris just nodded. "We have your letters of reference, which I must admit are very impressive, but paper is only paper and not the person. We have some prepared questions and then each of the board members will ask questions. We will try not to delve into personal issues unless they involve you being a good fit for our community."
"I will be happy to answer any questions. On any financial issues you need to ask Mr. Lovejoy because the purchase is being made on my behalf with Mr. Lovejoy handling all the financials of the transaction."
Ms. Coons nodded and then proceeded. "Yes, Mr. Lovejoy has informed us of the unique gift you have received. Mr. Brently," The man dressed in slacks and white shirt tipped his head. "has reviewed the relevant documents and has assured us that you are financially capable to meet all obligations. So, we will in the consideration of time dispense with those questions." There followed some standard questions about age, relationship status, children, employment, and citizenship, Chris thought some of the questions were illegal to ask, but since Derrek did not object, Chris answered and answered and answered.
"Thank you Mr. Wentworth for your forthright response. We will continue with questions from each board member," Mrs. Coons said, "as senior member of the board I will ask the first questions. Tell me about yourself?" So, Chris gave the basics, excluding the years on the streets and his gender status, and how he ended up in New York. "That is all very nice," Mrs. Coons said with a nod, "That tells us how you ended up in New York, but not about you."
That was a difficult question because Chris was not absolutely sure. Instead, he went with himself as a person. "As you know, I am nineteen, so I am not sure I am ready to answer that question because I am still discovering myself. I did not wake up on my eighteenth birthday and have an epiphany." That prompted a chuckle from Dan. "I am like a butterfly in a chrysalis waiting to emerge. I do know that I am considerate; I respect other people; I believe in honesty and hard work; that I struggle to do what is right and sometimes fail. I have sort of a vision of what I would like to be like when I am eighty--a face full of laugh lines, a kind smile, and an open heart."
"That is not the answer I expected," Mrs. Coons smiled, "but it is acceptable." She turned to Ms. Stanello, "Babs do you have questions?"
"Chris, do you mind me calling you Chris?" He said it was fine. "I've known Cynthia DuBois for several years, so I asked her about you. What do you think she said?"
"I have only known Cynthia a few weeks, but I like her and I think she likes me. I know that I am punctual, not a whiner when hours run long or a photo shoot is complex. I think she would say I work well with others and am respectful. I would like to think she would say I am professional and hard working."
Babs frowned. "She did not say any of those things." then she smiled. "She said that she thought you were one of the strongest people she knows. She is impressed by your insight into people and how thoughtful you are. She gushed about you." Babs paused, "She never gushes." Chris blushed.
She continued. "How do you know Ariel and Cedrick Greenwood." Chris with a nod explained how he met them through Tom Greenwood. "I have done some marketing for Mr. Greenwood, and I found him abrupt and demanding." Chris stated that is not the man Chris saw but could understand that in a more professional setting that he could be those things. "They both think very highly of you." Chris replied that the feelings were mutual.
"I also see a reference from Cordelia Duncan. How do you know her." Chris briefly said through Slackers. "Yes, but she also said something about you and her husband. Could you explain that."
"I slugged him." Chris quietly said, the reaction from the group was immediate. "He was trying to coerce me into sex, and I slugged him when he started to attack me."
"I remember it from the news." Red said, "Good for you Chris." he added.
Babs smiled at me, "Thank you Chris, that is all the questions for now."
"I know that you and Matías had a chance to chat earlier with Chris, but do you have any questions for the board meeting?" Mrs. Coons asked Dan.
"Yes, just few." Dan smile held encouragement. "Tell me where you went to college."
Chris blanched. "I didn't go to college; I only have a GED." Chris meekly said.
"Were you homeschooled."
Chris laughed at that. "No library schooled." Dan looked puzzled. "A librarian at the main library in Chicago helped me study for my GED, but she also insisted on a very broad education. I read three four books a week, which she quizzed me on. I listened to music, of all types, which was easy since I play piano, and studied art. I was applying for college when the modeling offer was made. I figure make some money now and then I can afford a good school."
"How do your parents feel about your career and not going to college?"
Chris was afraid of this question. "My parents have not spoken to me in over three years."
Chris saw Matías lean over and whisper in Dan's ear. "Did your parents throw you out of the house because you are gay?" Dan asked.
"No," Chris did not know how much to say, but then realized it would all come out at some time so might as well be honest. "No, because I am transgender. I am in transition from female to male." That caused a mild stir, even from Derrek "If that is an issue, I am willing to rescind my offer to buy the unit."
Mrs. Coons barely blinked, "Thank you Chris for your honesty. However, that is not an impediment to ownership here. We pride ourselves on selecting people who will make good neighbors and not irrelevant gender issues." She made eye contact with each person in the room. "Do you have any other questions, Dan?" Mrs. Coons asked. Dan said no. "Mr. and Mrs. Brently your turn."
"Mr. Wentworth, if I calculate right your parents evicted you about the age of sixteen. What did you do?"
"I lived on the street." Chris did not look up when he answered.
"Did you support yourself by selling drugs?"
"No, sir."
"Did you prostitute yourself?"
"Yes a few times, I provide oral sex to gentlemen, but Hank and Dion frowned on that, and I mostly refrained."
"Where Hank and Dion your pimps."
"No, they were more mentors, parents who kept me from harm. Living on the street is very dangerous, sir." Chris looked Mr. Brently in the eye, "I survived because of Hank and Dion. Without them I would be either dead or caught in the snares of sex traffickers. They saved me."
"Were you their boy toy."
"I am no one's boy toy." Chris flared with anger. "They were the parent when my parents did not want to be."
"We you sexually involved with the Greenwoods and is that the reason they gave a glowing recommendation."
Chris stood up, "Mr. Brently, if you are so obsessed with sex to assume that I slept my way to where I am now, I do not want to be part of this community." Chris turned to Derrek, "Let's leave." Derrek stood up.
"Chris," Mrs. Coons said, "please stay. Mr. Brently's questions are an insult to us all." She gave him a look that would freeze a rhinoceros.
"Chris, please stay," Mrs. Brently said while giving her husband an evil stare. Chris did not want to be him when he got home. "My husband is a retired DA and sometimes forgets the he is retired. I do have a question Chris. You said you play piano. What do you play?"
"Some classical and standards. I think my mother wanted me to learn piano so I could entertain at their parties, but I am a little rusty" Matías broke in "He is really, really good, Dan and I have heard him play," Chris waited, "If you accept me to your family, I will purchase a piano for my place. I would love to have an audience, Mrs. Brently."
"Please call me Louisa, Chris." Louisa continued, "do you cook too?" She had a hopeful look on her face.
"Sorry, no." Chris sadly shook his head. "I know the Unit was owned by Gabriel Dupré, a great chef, but my culinary skills are minimal. But I have a friend that is a great chef and caters, so I would use him if the need arose."
Mrs. Coons took control. "We are running short on time so Liam you have time for only one or two questions."
"Chris, laddie, what kind of music do you like?"
That was the first easy question, "It depends upon my mood. Classical and opera mostly." Chris heard Liam give a "yeah" Chris continued "but some country and pop. definitely not bubble-gum pop."
"Finally, another person that likes opera." He smiled at me, white teeth showing in his red beard. "What is your favorite?'
"Another difficult one: Puccini, especially Turandot, but any Puccini is good, Tales of Hoffman, and any Mozart."
"Anyone that likes those has my vote." Chris was happy he had one sure vote.
"Thank you Chris for your time and honesty." Mrs. Coons said, "Usually were respond with our decision within a week, but since we want the unit occupied soon we will vote now." Chris blink at Derrek in surprise. "If you would wait in the hall, we will be out with a decision in fifteen" She looked around for descent. "minutes."
Derick and Chris stood in the hall. Chris was nervous, but he was supremely confident. After ten minutes, Mat came out to retrieve them. Mrs. Coon's face said nothing, but Mat was smiling as was Dan, so Chris breathed easier. "Mr. Wentworth after vigorous discussion, by a unanimous vote, we would like to welcome you as a new member of our co-op." Chris was suddenly mobbed by people. Mr. Brently came up, apologized for being aggressive, but the way Chris stood up to him convinced him Chris was a neighbor he wanted to know. Chris felt better than good, but also in a panic as he had so much to do.