Ever After by Candace Sams Page B

there was something sinister in my actions?”
    “No. Anyone who knew you before coming here was probably aware that you’re General Trenton Albright’s goddaughter. Therefore…the rather innocuous, overly pale makeup, what appears to have been a rather bland brown wig, coupled with an oversized uniform, doesn’t make sense. Why, Keira?”
    “I dressed the way I did to keep certain higher ranking officers from using me as their personal piece of grab-ass. If Godpoppa had known why I’d really used the disguise, he’d have gone ballistic and would have castrated a few of those men a long time ago. So…instead of my getting a few other people into trouble, and taking the chance of having my reputation with Earth Force trashed…or of having my godfather’s reputation linked to anything so infantile as defending me…I took up a disguise and just told him that I liked dressing the way I did because it took less time in the morning to get ready. My appearance was still within regulations.”
    “And the general actually believed that?”
    “I never gave him any reason to think otherwise. A few other women on his staff had to do something similar. All to avoid some rather nasty, upper-level Earth officers who liked to hit on us the way pirates hit planets with truncheon bombs. Godpoppa simply perceived the ruse as truth.”
    “That doesn’t say much for Earth’s supervisory staff that the women within your ranks would need to resort to such subterfuge lest they fall to the mercy of certain ill-mannered brutes!”
    “It doesn’t say anything for the women who wouldn’t stand up to them, either! But it worked. And no woman has a personnel file recording issues about not getting along with supervisors—remarks, however unfair, might keep them from being promoted.” She lifted her chin. “From now on, no one is ever gonna put his hands on my butt again. I’m not going to hesitate to put my right fist in somebody’s face, even if it is another general, admiral, or commander who could send me to some godforsaken place like Taurean Seven.” She sighed before continuing.
    “Godpoppa’s not here anymore. He can’t be forced to defend me, thereby starting gossip as to why he’d have to and causing Earth Force a lot of bad publicity.” She paused then began again with a much less angry tone. “The whole officer cadre isn’t like that! Just a few in the upper echelon who should know better and whose other female companions might have been players in order to get promoted.”
    Dillon slowly shook his head. “That was the real reason you were being sent to the Taurean sector, isn’t it?”
    She simply lifted one shoulder and let it fall. “Like I said. It’s over. I’m not acting or donning costumes any longer. Even if it is true that dressing the way I did was quicker in the morning. Whatever I have to do, I’ll be the only one in my family taking the consequences.”
    He slowly shook his head. “Sadly, as advanced as we are nowadays, there are still those who’d abuse their powers. I was almost one of them, but for an entirely different reason.”
    “Your mistake was one of miscommunication. And we worked it out. For others, if I put on makeup, fix my hair, have my uniform altered so my breasts are to best advantage, they could help me make quite a name for myself!”
    He slowly nodded in understanding. “Ironically, you might still be accused of using your newly displayed charms on Mythreal to get promoted. At least, some of those same officers you speak of will suggest it.”
    “True. But I don’t care. Godpoppa still won’t be here to get hurt by whatever I do. No gossip will fall on him.”
    “You knew your godfather would protect you if he’d discovered any breach of regulations like those you’ve just describe. And he’d be brought up on charges for his actions.”
    “As I said…he won’t be here. I’ll do what I have to.”
    “Understood and in total agreement!” he assertively