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By *tependous OP Man
over a year ago
Richmond (N.Yorks) |
Caroline laid there, blindfolded, in the deafening silence. Her hands secured firmly above her head, the now familiar feeling both alarming and reassuringly comforting at the same time. Naked and exposed, her senses were heightened. The smell of the candles, deep and musky, reminding her of heady woodland smells. Memories of an afternoon not long past flooded her mind....nothing was in this room by accident. Her hearing attuned to the slightest movement, though there was none save the crackle of the candles flame. Her sixth sense was screaming to her that there was someone else in the room, her skin prickled and her hairs stood on end, but they were not revealing themselves to her. But she knew she was safe, she trusted him….
It was another warm day as he walked his well-trodden route from the tube station to his office. The usual faces in the crowd either engrossed in their podcasts and music, or with the determined stride of those who are running late. All armed with large chain coffees or the cliched power brief case, he could see through all the facades at but a glance. A by-product of his years spent in the military he instantly scanned and assessed his surroundings, cursing himself as he did so, remembering that he needs to relax. That this was the same boring mundane office he visited every weekday for the last 10 months. Nothing changed here. From the flat expressionless greeting of Paul the doorman to the disinterested daily greeting and false smile from Sue the receptionist.
He could tell that she had once been attractive, but the years had not been kind to her. The overpowering smell of her cheap perfume and her excess use of make up her attempt to cling to her past, failing embarrassingly…he remembered her at the Christmas party not long after he had started with the firm, d*unk far too early and pouring herself onto all the young interns, much to their embarrassment. The rumours had it that she was used by a group of them in the disabled toilet that night, though unsurprisingly none would speak of it again. The following Monday was all fake smiles and cheap perfume as normal.
As he exited the lift into the open plan office space, again he scanned the room. Old habits were hard to shake, as well he knew. The normal group surrounded the coffee machine, mostly interns sent fetching and carrying for those too important to get their own coffee. Thinking back to his own first few days here and the altercation with Simon, his team leader. A smarmy little prick, clearly wanting to excel on others efforts. Apparently, he didn’t like to be told to get his own coffee. After asking him politely for a coffee whilst Simon showed him round, which he gladly obliged, being told to ‘Be a good boy and fetch me another coffee and bring it to my desk’ did not sit well with him at all. Politely declining, he turned to walk away. Simon retorted with a threat about making his life hell and him not lasting a week here. This was unfortunately a mistake on Simons part. He was not prepared to be spoken to like that and he turned ready to face him, fist clenched and jaw set. As he turned he felt a hand pull at his wrist and a firm level voice spoke. “ Simon, I think you owe this gentleman an apology before this gets out of hand. I would hate to have to tell Mr Clarke that you were trying to abuse your position again.” Simon could only respond with a stuttered “Sorry Miss Burns, of course you are right. Im very sorry Gordon, no offence intended”
Gordon still stared intently at Simon, and visibly watched the man shrivel in front of him. Again, his fist clenched and again he felt the gentle squeeze on his wrist. “Hello Gordon, you must be new here? I’m Miss Burns, Mr Clarkes PA. You may call me Caroline” As Gordon turned to introduce himself, he was momentarily taken aback. A very rare and slightly concerning occurance for him. Composing himself quickly, he turned to face the woman stood before him and looked her straight in the eyes. “Thank you Caroline, yes, I am just feeling my way around whos who here” he said with a sideways glance towards Simon who had scurried off and was now hassling someone else. “Careful” said Caroline with a cheeky glint in her eye “If you go feeling your way round you might find some of us enjoy it more than we should! Come on, I will introduce you to Mr Clarke, he will be keen to meet you.” At that point Gordon knew. He knew he had to have her. He wanted her. For the second time that morning, he could feel the familiar niggle of an old habit return…
First story in here, let me know if it's worth continuing....
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