Chapter 8

It being too late for lunch and too early for dinner, the restaurant was not overly busy when Anna arrived.

Ignoring her fellow escorts, Leah was flicking through a travel brochure.

We should, you know,” she was saying.

Should what?” Anna asked, unknotting her cobalt blue scarf and sitting down.

Go on vacation together.”

Rolling her eyes in amusement, Sabine filled another glass with Chianti. “And who would manage the clients?”

Surely they could manage themselves for a week or two!” Leah protested.

There was good-natured laughter.

Or not.” Marina reached over to tear off a chunk of ciabatta. “On the plus side, we would be busy when we got back. Where were you thinking?”

Hadn’t really got that far.” Leah skimmed photographs of elegantly furnished hotel rooms and luxurious swimming pools before flipping the page again. “Somewhere warm though.”

We could certainly do with it,” Anna agreed. “Even a long weekend sounds good at the moment.”

She enjoyed the times they got together, not only for the company, but because it was when she felt most able to be herself. She rarely saw old friends anymore; people she had known before joining Elite. What could she say to them? The bonds they’d shared were from another time and place.

Marina was the oldest of the group. Her father was a liberal-minded college professor with seemingly few qualms as to his daughter’s lifestyle choice. Amber was the exotic offering. Ironically, given her olive skin and almond eyes, her background was far more provincial and down to earth than her clients realized. Leah, with her warm-hearted smile and infectious laughter, was always planning or dreaming. She and Sabine had been the first to welcome Anna into the ‘sisterhood,’ as they had called it; Anna had worked double bookings with both of them, as she had with some of the others.

With few tables occupied, they had chosen one by the window. Anna glanced out at the darkening sky. It threatened rain, and on the sidewalk people were starting to hurry, their heads lowered as if to avoid the first drops.

Her attention was caught by a man and woman huddled in a doorway. They were talking animatedly until, throwing back his head, the man laughed. The woman took a pace back and gave him a gentle punch, as if scolding him, then she too laughed. Anna witnessed their embrace. The kiss they shared was that of two people oblivious to anything but each other.

She felt a pang of envy and turned away, wondering if she would ever have an ordinary life again. One in which she would get up at a regular time, travel to an office or other place of work, discuss important issues with colleagues and the like, and know all the while someone was waiting for her return. Someone who loved her.

Only lately had she begun having these questioning moments. Feeling as though she were treading water. Ever since dining with Stephanie, in fact. The unspoken demand with regard to Adam had spooked her, and she was beginning to wonder if it were time to move on.

Earth to Mars!”

Dragged back to reality, Anna gave a lopsided grin.

Sorry. What were you saying?”

We were talking about getting away from this foul weather and specifically, where to go.” Leah pushed aside the brochure and folded her arms on the table. “What’s up with you? You don’t seem yourself.”

She’s right.” Sabine was also looking quizzically in her direction. “There’s nothing wrong, is there?”

The restaurant was suddenly quiet.

No,” Anna said, reaching for the wine bottle to deflect more questions. “Nothing that a good break wouldn’t fix. So where were you thinking?”

* * *

A few kilometers away, Adam was gazing at his computer screen. The figures displayed were as expected. His projections for the financial year were on track. There was a little adjustment required for currency fluctuations, but that was all. Bar a major fallout, it would be another profitable year.

There was no denying he was at a good place in life, but truth be known, he missed the early days. When everything had been a gamble and the risks all-consuming. Back then his company had been small, just a handful of employees, and while he hadn’t been able to offer top dollar salaries, he’d incentivised with decent bonuses. Of course, it hadn’t worked for everyone and there had been one or two casualties, but those that had stayed loyal were now reaping the benefits.

Over the years, he’d continued the punishing pace, finding immense satisfaction in pushing himself and his ideas to the limit. Until now.

He known for a while that, apart from regular sessions with his executive team, his visibility was not required at the helm. The company could almost run itself.

Adam swiveled round. The view from the corner window on the penthouse level of the building was extensive, but one he was starting to think he’d seen too often. He needed a new outlook; he needed a challenge. Not that he had any intention of putting all he had worked for in jeopardy. Inactivity, however, was a new condition for him and not one he enjoyed.

Closing the financial report, he typed a new IP address. Then leaned back thoughtfully.

Both the Elite webpage and her portfolio were clearly intended to suggest a woman who knew her potential—highly sensual, yet with a provocative hint of innocence. He gazed at one photograph for a long time, thinking he could make out a hint of apprehension behind the seductive look. He knew she had been naive when the photographs were taken, with no real idea of what was to come.

Elbows on the arm of his chair, he formed a pyramid with his fingers.

Finding someone with Anna’s complexity had been unexpected. Hidden away in the darkest recesses of her mind was a natural slut, and although he wouldn’t consider himself an out-and-out Dominant, he’d found it unbelievably erotic to introduce her to her submissive nature and urge to be psychologically controlled. She didn’t need the crassness of being tied up or spanked, although she’d endured both at his hand. Her dark need was for punishment, arising from the belief she had failed to live up to the standards of others. He’d understood that, used it even, placing her in humiliating and shameful situations before offering what she really needed—absolution.

But he’d become too involved and raised the stakes. When she’d rejected the chance to quit her life as an escort and go away with him, he’d been devastated. He’d been so sure of her and of his authority; he hadn’t for one moment considered she might have other options.

Rocking back in his chair, he considered the lesson.

The whole role-play scenario was a paradox, since in reality it was the submissive who controlled the action, not the other way around. They were the ones who determined the extent of the fantasy by agreeing to relinquish control over themselves and their emotions.

They could walk away at any time, leaving the Dominant high and dry, just as Anna had done.

He thought the situation couldn’t get more incongruous.

He’d been back in the country less than a couple of weeks when he’d called the agency. Maddie had immediately put him through to Stephanie. That in itself was unusual. But what was more unexpected was what Stephanie had told him.

Anna was still working for her.

The information was so astonishing he’d been momentarily lost for words. He’d thought, wrongly it now appeared, that she’d moved on to create a different life for herself.

He’d managed polite noises of surprise, then as casually as he could, put it to her that he would like to go back to booking Anna again. However, he would prefer it if the decision were made jointly.

He’d known Stephanie would be curious, but he could do nothing about that. He’d no intention of divulging too much and believed she was still unaware of his own offer to Anna. But he couldn’t be sure. She wouldn’t have been pleased, either way.

Well, if you’re certain,” she had said after a moment.

I’m sure.”

Then of course I will talk to her on your behalf.”

He reached for the mouse and clicked onto another image. The smoldering grey eyes and full sensuous lips were enticing, but realistically wouldn’t she be perhaps a little jaded? A little compromised by all she would have experienced in the past year?

Anna had not yet agreed to see him. He couldn’t decide if that were a good thing or not. Hopefully it meant nothing more than that she needed time to come to terms with his being back and what that might mean for her.

He continued to gaze at her images. Perhaps right at that moment she was thinking of him and fighting her inner-self. The part of her he knew only too well.

Or maybe she really had suppressed it and wanted nothing more to do with him.