Hotel Executive Maid

 By: Dani

My story starts about three years ago.  I was a mid-level executive with
a leading insurance company.  The job had me traveling around the country
for weeks at a time.  I was single and unattached, so the travel was OK.
Most of my trips took me to Atlanta where I stayed at a moderate business
travelers-type hotel near the airport.

Well, as a lonely 40-year old businessman on the road, I would often hang
around in the lobby of the hotel—hoping to meet someone.  Often, I would
use my expense account to buy drinks in the hotel bar—mostly for
strangers who I would never see again.   In Atlanta, I stayed so often
that I even became friends with some of the hotel employees.   We would
chat and gossip in the lobby.  It was almost as if they were my family.

One lady who works at the hotel is Tamara Hopkins.  Ms. Hopkins was
definitely on the fast track.  She even caught the attention of the
corporate division and they promoted her every chance they could.   Ms.
Hopkins is about 30, African-American with a killer body.  She dresses in
expensive business suits—mini-skirts and all—tailored to her perfect
figure.  She has a face like Tyra, with perfect makeup—immaculate nails.
Sometimes, with her 5-inch heels, she would walk across the lobby knowing
that every male eye in the hotel would be on her.  And as a
director/manager, she commands the respect of all the hotel employees.

Ms. Hopkins would often join me for a drink in the hotel bar.  It was
exciting to be with someone so attractive.  She was a little stuck
up—even bossy, but I liked hanging with her.   Her subordinates were very
loyal and obedient to her because they knew she was on the fast track.

Tami Johnson is Ms. Hopkin's assistant.  Tami is about 25-ish, African-
American, very petite.  Picture a tiny version of Beyonce.  Tami has a
great personality.  She does everything for Ms. Hopkins—even brings her
coffee in the morning.   The housekeeping staff reports to Tami.

The executive housekeeper or head housekeeper is Liz Rodriguez.  Liz is
35, half-Mexican, half Puerto   Rican.  She resents having to answer to
Tami.  But everyone seems to get along.  Liz has about 24 people who
report to her—including me.  Yes, me!   Former executive, now a
housekeeper/maid.  As you will see, it did not take a lot for me to
arrive at my new place in life.  It can happen to anyone...

During my last stay at the hotel, about 3 years ago, I got a call from my
supervisor at the insurance company.   They decided to let me go.
Remember, at this time, the economy was in good shape.  So, I figured it
was all for the best.  I would quickly find another job.  They gave me a
good severance, plus I could stay at the hotel for the rest of my stay
(about 3 weeks).  I would treat it like a vacation.

I hung around the hotel for the three weeks, enjoying the company of Ms.
Hopkins, Tami, and Liz.  When my time was up, Ms. Hopkins took my credit
card and began charging me for each day.  I wasn't worried because I knew
I would find work in Atlanta.  I was a competent salesman, with a good
resume.

About three weeks went by—and I had no luck at all.  Ms. Hopkins informed
me that my credit card was maxed out—so I explained my situation.  It was
a little embarrassing.  She told me that Tami might have an opening at
the hotel.  It wouldn't be much, but at least it would be a job.  I was a
little uncomfortable at the prospect of working at the hotel where I had
once been a guest.

Ms. Hopkins told me that I really did not have a choice.  I had to leave
the hotel because I could no longer afford staying there—and I didn't
have a job.  If I took the job from Tami, I could start immediately.
They could even help me find a place to stay.

So, the next day, I interviewed with Tami about the position.  She said
that there was an opening working in housekeeping for Liz.   I asked what
the position entailed, and she began to giggle.  She said—'Housekeeper.
It entails cleaning rooms.'   The thought of being a housekeeper and
working for Liz made me feel a little queasy.  But my options were
becoming very limited.

I asked Ms. Hopkins for advice.  She said that if I got the position with
Liz, I would have to work hard and prove myself as a housekeeper.  Then,
there is potential for advancement.  She said that Liz does not like to
hire men as housekeepers, but she may make an exception with me.

Well, I got the job.  Liz said I could start my training on Monday.  I
would have three days to find a place and get ready for work.  One of the
drawbacks of the job was the outfit they made the housekeepers wear.  It
consists of black leggings, wedge heels, and a pink smock with your name
embroidered.  Because I am male, they allow me to wear shorts over the
leggings.

Liz suggested I sell my car to pay for the first month rent on an
apartment.  She said most of the other girls do not have cars.   She said
'cars are for boys.'  I would be taking the bus to work with the other
girls.

On Monday, Tami had me fill out paperwork etc.   She lectured me that I
was now a housekeeper—nothing more.  I was no longer an executive.  She
said, 'Your best chance to succeed is to obey your bosses and work hard.
Liz will not put up with any macho crap.'

I also received my uniform.   The leggings were sort of comfortable.  I
did not like the wedge heeled shoes.  And my smock had the name 'Dani'
embroidered rather than my name 'Daniel.'  But I knew that I had to make
due to fit in with the other girls.

Liz assigned me to work with Jasmine on my first day.  We would be
working on the 6th floor--cleaning rooms.   Our maid's cart had our names
on it---Dani and Jasmine.   Just a few weeks back, I had a corner office
over-looking a lake.  Now, my office was a maid's cart that I was sharing
with a 19 year old girl.

Liz reminded me that Jasmine was my crew chief.  In other words, she was
the boss.  Jasmine was a little uncomfortable at first bossing around a
man.  But she took to it well.   Ms. Jasmine, as I was told to address
her, is sort of a black gothic chick if you could picture that.  She has
tattoos and piercings.  Her hair is a thick, messy weave.  She is every
19 year old boy's fantasy.  At first, it was fun to work with Ms.
Jasmine.

But as the first day wore on, I realized that Jasmine could be a real
bitch.   In every room we cleaned, she vacuumed and dusted.  My job was
to clean the bathrooms.   She inspected my work.  In one room, she made
me clean the bathroom again as she sat on the bed giggling and chatting
with her boyfriend.  I just did as I was told.

As a hotel maid, you are assigned a group of rooms.  You work until you
are finished.   Every day, Jasmine and I had about a dozen rooms to
clean.   We would start at 9:00 a.m. and be done around 5:30 p.m.   Some
of the customers would leave tips in the rooms.  Ms. Liz said the tips
belonged to Jasmine because she was the boss.  If Ms. Jasmine decided to
give me some of the tip money—that was her decision.

At lunch, we would all go down to the housekeeper's lunchroom.  Girls
stayed on one side of the room, and the men (janitors, maintenance)
stayed on the other side.   I was sort of caught in the middle.  Ms.
Jasmine made sure that I sat with the girls.

This went on for about 6 months until my first review.  I was to meet in
Tami's office for my review.  Liz would be there—and maybe even Ms.
Hopkins.   Well, unknown to me, Jasmine was to do my review.  My fate
would be decided by a bossy 19-year old.

The review went well believe it or not.  I got a 5% raise!  Jasmine got
promoted.  She was now Liz' assistant.  I was introduced to my new co-
worker.  Her name was Amanda.   She had just turned 18.  She was also
African American.  Picture a thicker version of Halle Berry.   Amanda
would be a pleasant change from Jasmine...or so I thought.

It turns out that Amanda was now my new boss.  Liz did not think I was
ready to be a boss.  She said that some people are 'made to be bosses and
some people are made to be workers.'  She said that I should realize my
place and stop being so macho.  She said that if I was girl---it would
not bother me to have Amanda as my boss.  That is why she did not like
hiring me to be housekeepers.  I guess she was right.

Amanda turned out to be very demanding.   She expected me to completely
obey her.  She also thought it would be fun if we looked alike.  So, she
made me wear my hair in a similar style to hers.  We also started wearing
matching lip gloss.  We even painted our nails the same color.  The other
girls thought it was a hoot.  I found it humiliating.  Liz thought it was
great.   She even told me that she was proud that I was letting Amanda
feminize me a little.  She thought it would make me a better housekeeper.

One day, Amanda asked me to do her a favor.   Her boyfriend needed a
housekeeper on Sundays during the football season.  He and his friends
would gather together to watch football.  They wanted someone to serve
them drinks, make them lunch and do some cleaning.   She sort of
volunteered me for the job.  I guess I had no choice, so the following
Sunday, I was at her boyfriend's house bright and early.

Amanda showed up to show me my duties.  It seemed OK.  I was mostly there
to serve beers.  I would tidy up, do her boyfriend's laundry, and
whatever needed to be done.   I didn't mind—plus it would get me on
Amanda's good side.   She said, from now on, 'you belong to my boyfriend
on Sundays.'

Well, Ms. Hopkins found out that Amanda was using me on Sundays.  She
called her into her office.  I thought for sure that Amanda would be
fired.  When, she came out, she told me that Ms. Hopkins wanted to see
me.  I went in and sat down.  Ms. Hopkins came in wearing her usual 5-
inch heels.  She seemed very intimidating.  I guess I had changed a lot.
I used to look at her as a potential date—now I would obey her
completely.

Ms. Hopkins said that she was proud of my progress.  She said that she
had just received another promotion.  The corporate office said that she
could use one of the housekeepers to tidy up her place a couple of times
a week.  She thought I would be perfect for the job.
I said that I would be thrilled at the opportunity.   Ms. Hopkins
suggested that I would now be working for her every Tuesday and Thursday.
And ½ day on Saturday.   I promised her that I would be an obedient,
efficient maid.

Ms. Hopkins said that working for her would be no picnic.  I knew that. 
But I was so excited to work for her.  It just felt so natural to be her
maid.

The next day, she drove me to her house to give me a tour and show me my
duties.  It was a large two-bedroom condo.   My job would be to clean it
from top to bottom.   She liked her laundry done by hand whenever
possible.  With everything ironed—even her pleated skirts.   Her
boyfriend would drop off his laundry on Tuesdays to be picked up on
Thursdays.   While I found that humiliating—it pleased Ms. Hopkins for me
to do this task.   She told me she had three important rules to follow.
If I broke any of these rules I would be punished:

1.  Only speak when spoken to.  Never start a conversation.
2.  Never discuss my duties with anyone outside her household.
3.  Obey her boyfriend just as I obey her.

It has been two years since I started working for Ms. Hopkins.   I now
spend 4 days a week as her personal maid/housekeeper.   She no longer has
a boyfriend, but when she meets someone, I will obey him.   I have only
been punished once—for speaking out of turn.   As my punishment, she had
me get my nose and tongue pierced.  But I deserved it.

While I am still a man, I now get mistaken for a woman quite often.
Maybe it is the blonde hair extensions that Amanda makes me wear?  Maybe
my 1-inch fingernails make me seem like a girl?   Whatever the case, I
love being a maid.  It sure beats being an unemployed executive.