Life went more or less back to normal after that night. “Normal” relative to Judy, of course: She remained shut-in for twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week unless forced by circumstance to leave.
Her recent appearance and stellar performance at the company dinner had not only allayed any suspicion of being fictitious, but had cemented her place in the organisation as someone who could get things done to a high standard under tight constraints (for the right price).
The gap in Judy’s finances steadily closed over the next few weeks as the company shed its reservations, allowing Yu to commission her work more readily. It soon came to the point where, despite her earlier refusal of a formal position at the company, the work she was performing for them was indistinguishable from full time employment, albeit working from home.
The only real change was Yu, and the messages he sent her. He had always been friendly and approachable, but it was clear that the evening they had spent together had left an impression on him.
---Hey, just wanted to thank you again for swimming with the sharks last night. I know it was a big ask, so I really appreciate you taking the time.---
Judy had been halfway through typing up a polite reply when a second message from Yu arrived.
---Also, I’m glad that we finally got to meet in person, even if it was strictly for work reasons. I’d love to meet up again sometime, just for fun.---
The immediate sense of elation she felt on reading it was soured when she realised that despite her being present, Yu hadn’t actually met the real Judy; just a fellow man wearing her body. Worse than that, she knew that in the brief time he had inhabited her body, JD had made for a much better Judy than she herself could ever hope to achieve.
Yu had not spent the last night being charmed by the mousey, disheveled neurotic whose wardrobe had not changed in over a decade, nor had he sent that invitation to the woman who found herself paralyzed by anxiety at the mere prospect of leaving her apartment.
Yu wanted to spend more time with the witty, spritely young debutante with a keen eye for personal presentation and the confidence to carry herself well.
Judy felt briefly overwhelmed with anger at how unfair it was, …