Eighty One – Laura's Story Pt. 13

45

“That was a lovely night, thank you.” Laura said as she brought breakfast in bed for Andrew. After taking her home from Weston’s office they went out to dinner. Wherever she wanted he said, and she made the most of the offer, choosing an upmarket French place she had wanted to try for a long time. It was late when they got home, very late, so the following day they had decided to have a lie in followed by a lazy morning at home.

She set the tray on Andrews lap before doing her best to push Jasper out of her place. “That dogs getting worse, see that stroppy look he puts on when I want to get into my own bed?”

Even though they had talked about little else the previous evening Laura still had a lot to discuss about the game.

“Do you think he was joking about the money?” she asked for the umpteenth time.

“Of course he was,” Andrew assured her, “he was winding you up. He was the one who put you into the auction so he was paying himself.”

“So it was all set up?”

“Oh no, the auction was genuine. They all assumed you were there to be sold alongside the others.”

“I thought it was him right from the start.”

“Oh yes, and who were your other options?” Andrew asked.

“You and Amelia, but I didn’t think it was likely to be her, not her style. And I hope you wouldn’t,” she scolded.

“I wouldn’t normally, but, fourteen and a half thousand,” he raised his eyebrows and looked at her questioningly. “That’s an amount not to be sniffed at, and I have been thinking about changing the car lately…”

“You even think about it and I’ll chew your balls off,” she warned. “I was scared stiff.”

“You were never going to be sold for real. He had somebody to bid for him, told them to bid as much as it took to win.”

“Oh yes, and what if they didn’t win, what if something went wrong with their computer or they lost the internet…connection…thingy. What then?”

He spoke very seriously. “My God, you’re right. I suppose I’d have to get my own breakfast.”

“Oh very funny. I’m so glad you enjoyed my suffering.”

“I did. I loved the bit when they made you bend forward and open yourself, very erotic.”

“What! You were watching?”

“Of course, I had a link to the live feed. Wouldn’t have missed it, and you are mine after all.”

“Well don’t raise you’re hopes, I don’t think you could afford me.” She snuggled in closer, “Why don’t you finish that later and show me what you would have done, if you did win me.”

After a very lazy morning together they eventually got out of bed and dressed. Andrew suggested they take Jasper for a long walk down by the river and stop for a pub lunch. They sat outside and tied Jasper to the table leg before ordering their food.

“We’re not seeing anybody tonight are we?” Laura asked.

“No, why?”

“Shall we have the Ploughman’s then, with pickled onions?”

“Why not,” he said, snapping his menu shut.

While waiting for the food to arrive they both sat quietly. Laura watched the other customers. A young couple sat together holding onto each other and constantly kissing, a family with two young children and a group of girls most of whom were engrossed in their phones. She was deep in thought. After a few minutes Andrew broke the silence.

“You okay, you’ve gone very quiet?”

“Of course I’m okay. I was just thinking about Weston. You don’t think he would be mean enough to call an end to the game before we’ve had a chance to get the pawn back do you. I mean, if he did he wouldn’t have to sell us his share’s would he.”

“I’ve heard that he can be a hard nut where business is concerned, a bit of a shit even. But from my limited experience of him at least he seems to be a reasonable shit. I’m sure he wouldn’t but we’ll just have to wait and see.”

A young man approached bearing a tray with their lunch and more drinks. The food looked very fresh and delicious. Andrew waited for him to be out of earshot before he spoke again.

“Whether we get the extra shares or not the game will soon be over, how do you feel about it?”

Her answer was hesitant, unsure of whether he would want to hear the response. “I’ve been thinking about that a lot lately and I don’t know if I’ll be glad when it’s over. I mean some of the things they’ve done to me I thought were awful at the time but I’m okay and looking back on them they don’t seem so bad. To start with I just felt humiliated, like that first time with Shaun Cooper, god I could have died, and it wasn’t even necessary.” Andrew started to snigger, and she joined in. “I know it seems funny now, but it wasn’t at the time. Anyway, as they made me do more and more stuff, it all seemed to change. It was still bloody embarrassing of course, but it was a bit of a turn on as well. I even began to look forward to finding out what would happen to me next.”

“I’ve seen the change,” Andrew said, “You seem more…I don’t know…contented, happy, at ease with yourself. Look on the bright side though, you won’t be looking over your shoulder all the time, wondering whether something nasty is going to happen to you.”

“Is that the bright side? I kind of enjoy not knowing and always wondering. And what about us? You’ve been a big part in this and I love you being in on their plans and part of my…what should I say…treatment, and not once have you made me feel like some sort of freak or weirdo.” She placed her hand on the back of his, then added, “That means a lot to me.”

“So ‘normal’ life doesn’t hold the same appeal then?” Andrew asked.

“We had great lives before the game and we will when it’s all over. I love the things we do, our jobs, our social life and everything.” It’s just that…” she paused, careful to choose her words and not wanting to seem dissatisfied. “…since we started this I’ve felt so…I don’t know, alive I suppose. I know that sounds like bullshit but it’s true. I’ve ‘felt’ more. They may not have been good feelings all the time, like embarrassment from being seen naked, anger at being raped or the absolute fear at that auction, but they were so deep, and I’ll miss that.” She stopped and looked at Andrew. “I’m not putting it very well but do you know what I’m saying? I suppose I’ll miss the excitement of it all.”

“Any regrets?” he asked. She thought for a few moments.

“No. I hated some of the things that were done to me and at times I even hated you for being part of it. But soon after, I loved hating them and I loved hating you and I’d even look forward to hating you again.”

“Anyway,” Andrew said, “It’s out of our hands. All we can do is wait and hope he points you in the direction of that last pawn before he calls it a day.”

46

For Laura, Tuesday at work followed much the same pattern as Monday, catching up with clients, finishing outstanding proposals and chasing printers, designers and manufacturers. She felt like she was chasing the whole world and she wasn’t in the mood for it. She was constantly on edge, snappy for no reason and full of apprehension.

Every time the phone rang, her heartbeat increased and she felt a tightening in her throat. Each and every time it had been business, a friend or Andrew, never the one she both desired and dreaded in equal measure: the call from Weston. She would still be unsure of her preference, even when it came–a final challenge for the pawn or the disappointment of completion?

On Wednesday afternoon, just when she was considering phoning Weston herself, Abbie knocked on her door. Laura’s heart raced, Abbie wouldn’t knock unless they had a visitor.

“There’s a Grace Edwards here to see you, shall I show her in?” Laura was put off balance. Grace showing up was something she hadn’t considered.

“Yes, please do.” Abbie showed her in and hesitated to leave, as desperate as Laura to find out what was happening. “Grace how nice to see you, please take a seat.” Remaining where she was she smiled warmly; Laura liked her a lot. The formal clothing suited her and the bun sitting high on her head gave her the no nonsense personal assistant look she so admired.

“Thank you but that won’t be necessary, Mr Weston has asked me to escort you to his office. There’s a taxi waiting outside.” Laura panicked. He’d finished the game before she had even been given a chance to retrieve the pawn. The bastard, how could he.

“But I can’t, he can’t, I mean that’s not fair. I don’t have the last piece.” She knew she sounded whiney and she thought she might cry, so great was her disappointment. “Please Grace, go back and ask him to give me a chance at the pawn–please.” She turned to Abbie, desperate for help. “Abbie tell her I can get the piece with just a little more time, tell her this isn’t fair.” Abbie looked bewildered and remained where she was, lost for words.

“He’s sent me for you. I’m sure he won’t like to be questioned about it. Now if you don’t mind getting undressed and put that on and we can leave.” She passed Laura a cape similar to the one she had worn the previous Friday.

“Why have I got to wear that?” Laura began to get more and more vocal, raising her voice. “I suppose he wants one last dig at me, one last humiliation before he casts me to one side? Well I’m not playing his stupid games any more, I’ll tell him what I think of him and his bloody game. Come on Grace.” As she made her way to the door Abbie stopped her.

“Laura, don’t,” she shouted, “that’s what he expects. If you go storming in there ranting and raving he’ll have beaten you. Show him that you’re strong, that you can take whatever he dishes out. Don’t let him win.” A silence hung in the air as all three looked at each other. Laura pondered Abbie’s words and thought she may have been right. If he was just finishing the game why would he want her to wear the cape. Maybe there was a chance that she was being directed to the last pawn. She thought it was worth taking the risk.

Walking back to her desk she took off her jacket, skirt and blouse, folding and placing them in a neat pile. She reached behind to undo the clasp on her bra before leaning forward to let it fall down her arms, freeing her breasts.