Chad holds her hand. “You don't have to do this for me, Jenny.”
“I want to. I owe it.”
“Jenny, you don't owe me a debt.”
“Not you. Everyone here.”
*****
Richard
I offer my beautiful wife a glass. “I’m sorry, my Love, this isn’t what I hoped for, today of all days.”
“Master, we’re together. Charlotte’s back with Michael and James. That’s all that matters. Everything is fine. More than fine.”
She tilts her glass, tapping it against mine with the softest of chimes, then, watching me from under her lashes, sips Bucks Fizz in celebration of the day.
What did I do to deserve you?
Brushing my lips over hers, “You’re right of course. That’s all that matters.” And as we touch, her pupils enlarge, their black heart almost swallowing the sea-green of the irises. The scent of her assails me.
I breathe close by her, “Do you want to go back to bed?”
“Mmmm…. yes, Master. I do.”
I pull her in tight, controlling her, pressing myself against her as I nibble at an ear lobe, my swelling shaft pressuring my pants. “I’m going to massage you, run my hands all over that naked body of yours.”
Her giggle is quick and lively. “Master, I have to tell you, that’s not your hands I’m feeling.”
“Come on then,” I laugh. My palm flat between her shoulders, I push her towards the bedroom. “And take that bottle with you.”
There is a shudder. It rumbles through the floor, vibrating through the soles of my feet and rattling the bottle musically against the ice in the bucket.
What the fuck was that?
Thunder?
Earthquake?
Here?
Elizabeth is looking wildly from side to side, her fear visible, pupils now pin-pricks.
The shudder repeats.
I tap into the intercom. “Francis? What’s going on?”
Silence….
she’s
the machine flickers to life, jabbing at keys to bring up the
go up to the Penthouse, right
What is
her face ricochets
is under attack. Do as I say.
I stay here
calm my tone. “I can't think straight, my Love, if you're here and I'm worrying about you. You'll be as safe with Charlotte as it's possible to
she nods, turning to
elevator. Use
here, the sheen of her white-faced fear
My Love….
stride across, wrap my arms around her, kiss the top of her head. “It will be alright. You'll see. But do as I say
my shoulders and carefully, I prise
“Go. Find Charlotte.”
*****
James
hopes, the situation between Michael and Charlotte
only people who can really hurt you, are those
do it. I sit with my laptop, trying to muster up the will
rumble, as though of distant thunder or crashing traffic. We
the hell was that?”
Trouble?
meet eyes with Michael, and as one we stand to look out and down. There’s nothing unusual to be seen, but perhaps there shouldn’t be. The noise sounded - felt - internal
snapped open her laptop
What’s she doing?
sees me looking. “Um,
be looking at those, and
that you hacked the security system
time, I’d see the funny side, although
say. “What can
area after another; the lobby, conference rooms, corridors, before, abruptly, down at the parking levels, she freezes
and masked, firing weapons. The shriek of bullets.
explodes to a stand. “The building’s
door. Michael follows me, turning back at the last moment
for the elevator, then pull myself up
nods agreement. “Not a good idea,” he mutters, nodding
to
are we heading?”
That’s where we’ll find Richard
of people are heading down with us; janitors and cleaners most of them, the odd