Cassandra’s Proposition
The next day, Dennis brought Anthony his mail with Hope’s hand addressed card on top and Anthony read with interest the following note:
“Dear Mr. Newton,
Thank you for the Venus Club ring. It meant the world to me. I am presently in Random Point and beg to be permitted to pay my compliments to you in person. May I visit you sometime soon? I’m at The Ball and Feather.
Yours truly,
Cassandra Campi”
“Dennis run over to the Ball and Feather and bring Amanda’s mother back here, would you?” Anthony said, handing his personal assistant Cassandra’s note. “Tell her I can’t wait to meet her.”
It was just going on eleven when Dennis arrived at the inn driving Newton’s Bentley. Cassandra was out in the village but innkeeper Connie told Dennis that her guest would doubtless be back within the hour. Dennis went into the pub and drank a beer while watching soccer on the bar TV. Within the half hour Connie alerted the English boy that Ms. Campi had just come in. Dennis ran out to the lobby and intercepted Cassandra, who had only been out for a walk.
“Ms. Campi? I’m Dennis Cowper, Mr. Newton’s driver. Mr. Newton sent me to bring you back to the house, if it’s convenient,” said the attractive young man in his soft English accent.
“Really? He got my note that fast?” Cassandra was more impressed with Random Point by the moment. She looked at herself in the lobby mirror and was happy she had thought to wear the white, V-neck sundress with its nipped, belted waist and the 3” high, white, peep-toe, stack-heeled pumps. Out of the corner of her eye Cassandra caught Dennis stealing a look at her small, dainty feet, as does a connoisseur. Her tiny toenails were varnished clear, as were her tapered fingernails.
Cassandra resisted sitting all by herself in the back of the large sedan and asked to sit up front next to Dennis, but he urged her to sit in the back like a proper passenger and allow herself to be chauffeured to the house on the cliff where Mr. Newton awaited her arrival.
Customarily during the summer, Anthony’s girlfriend Susan Ross spent the week in New York City working at the ad agency where she was an illustrator and the weekends on Cape Cod with Newton in the small mansion to which Cassandra was now being conducted. It was a weekday, so Newton received Cassandra alone, in the dining room, where two places had been set for lunch. When Cassandra arrived, savory aromas hung in the rarified air of the quietly luxurious room.
Anthony Newton was instantly recognizable to Cassandra, as she had seen his musicals on Broadway and owned all of his recordings. He was an athletically trim, good looking man in his late forties, clean cut, well groomed and dressed in a light summer suit with a white shirt and no tie. Amanda had described Newton to her mother as “sunny and affable” and her host seemed ready to live up to the testament as he clasped her hand warmly in his.
“Hello! Thank you for coming directly to me,” he said. “Sit down and tell me what you’d like to drink.”
Cassandra sat at the table at his right hand and said she’d like some iced tea. Anthony poured her a glass from a jug on the table.
“Should I call you Mr. Newton?”
“Anthony is fine,” he said. “I’m so happy to meet you.”
“I don’t know what I did to merit your attention, but something made you send me that Venus Club ring. What was it?” Cassandra asked.
“Well, Hugo and I have been friends a long time, though I don’t go as far back as you do,” Newton began. “He introduced me to Susan Ross, who’s been my girlfriend for the last eight years. Hugo just married her sister Laura. So we’re more or less brother-in-laws. Then, last year, out of the clear blue sky autumn sky, drops Amanda, the daughter Hugo didn’t know he had. What a secret to keep for that long. We were all agog. Especially when she turned out to be in the scene. And not just a little, a lot. It made Susan and I wonder how she got that way.”
“I didn’t have anything to do with that,” Cassandra claimed. “She just took to it naturally. She did grow up in San Francisco.”
“And of course, she read Hugo’s magazines.”
“They were on the top shelf of the bookcase. She noticed them at around age 12.”
“I think you wanted her to find them,” Anthony suggested.
“I didn’t try to keep them from her but I didn’t tell her to read them. She was attracted to them in a way that she wasn’t to the other erotica I had up on that shelf. She was the one who told me that. And at the same time, she was experimenting with boyfriends. There was no stopping her from developing just as she did. I used to hear her playing spanking games in her room with her high school boyfriend.”
“Which begs the question, why did you ever take her away from Random Point? Why didn’t you just stay here and let Hugo know you were going to have his baby?”
Cassandra looked down, then said, “Do you think I did wrong?”
“I think you raised her very nicely. I can see she gets her poise from you.”
A young male chef, black haired, white skinned, pink faced with shyness and clad in an apron over his black trousers and white shirt, brought in bowls of well garnished, beautifully seasoned mushroom bisque soup.
Newton said, “He and his little girl partner are culinary students who will be feeding us all summer. I’ve tested their cooking and they’re great. I told them you’re a vegetarian, by the way.”
“How do you know all these things?” Cassandra asked.
“Amanda talks about you. She and Susan have become extremely good friends, as you know. Amanda told Susan you’re adorable and this made me even more interested to meet you.”
“The Venus Club. Was that whole thing your idea?”
“Oh no, I mean, not exactly. I was talking to Marguerite Alexander one day and she expressed an interest in starting a scene girls’ club for dinners and lunches, since there are so many ladies in the village who play. I offered to underwrite the first dinner and get rings made up for the members.”
“Beautiful rings too. Thank you again for mine.”
“You’re welcome. Your story is very romantic. It’s captured my imagination. I’m glad you came back to us. But what made you do so exactly at this time? It can’t just be because of the ring.”
Cassandra told Anthony the story of how her long relationship with her partner Eddie had just come to an end. The composer listened with interest. They enjoyed the delicious soup and agreed that the youngsters in the kitchen were brilliant. Then the female half of the cooking crew, as equally shy and blushing as her male partner, brought in a bottle of cold white wine along with small watercress sandwiches, a cauliflower puree and a spicy pickled carrot slaw.
“Well, if I can be of service to you in any way, you’ll let me know?” Anthony asked, well satisfied with Cassandra, as she sat, slim and calm in her pretty white dress, nibbling her dainty food.
“Yes, I think you can. I have a proposal for a project I’d like to work on that requires some financing.”
“Really? What sort of project?”
“I want to have a house, that is, a spanking club.”
Anthony was genuinely surprised and a smile came into his eyes.
“Tell me about your idea,” he encouraged her.
“Well, it came to me as Amanda described the Venus Club dinner. She has an almost photographic memory and she recounted everything each lady said. It made me realize that practically everyone at that dinner had switched partners at least once in the last five to seven years. Damaris started out with Michael, but ended up with William. Laura started out with William but ended up with Hugo. Paula started out with Ambrose, but ended up with Sloan. Pamela started out with Sloan but ended up with Ambrose. Alison started out with David, who was, incidentally, cheating on Hope, but wound up with Freddie Johanson. David also seduced Paula, who eventually wound up with Sloan. Michael started out with Damaris but wound up with Marguerite. Even Phoebe Casper, who started out with Pascal Robbins, went off track a few months ago with … well, you.”
“How in the world do you know about that?” Anthony asked.
“Because it coincided with Pascal Robbins running after Amanda and he complained to her about what was going on between you and his wife.”
“You’re well informed,” said Newton, without heat.
“Amanda tells me things because I’m not judgmental.”
“In any case, continue on about the Venus Club,” said Newton, not embarrassed or put off by Cassandra’s intimate knowledge of his most recent adventure.
“Well, it struck me forcibly that if there was ever a town that needed a club for people to go and let off steam, it’s Random Point. The men need somewhere to go play that won’t jeopardize their relationships and some of these girls need to work off some of their energy with sessions on the side. At the very least, they all need dungeon space they can go off to and play in with each other.”
“You make some very good points,” Anthony said, loving the thought of a local club, right in the village.
“My sister Carola has been working in Boston BDSM for the last twenty years. She’ll bring me girls and can also visit. And then of course, Hugo knows a lot of girls who would love to work in an exclusive dungeon.”
“So, you see me bankrolling this club?”
“Who else?”
“We’d have to find just the right place,” Anthony said.
“And plan it out to the last detail,” she agreed. “I expect William Random could find us the perfect location and fit it up.”
“Yes. I’m sure he could.”
They sat sipping wine and looking at each other for a few minutes.
“You’ve been patronizing scene girls for years. It’s your hobby. Isn’t it?” Cassandra asked.
“Yes.”
“A club would suit your interests, amuse your friends and offer opportunities to new talent. It would serve you and it would serve the scene.”
Anthony thought about how convenient it would be to have such a place in which to occasionally rendezvous with Phoebe Casper. He didn’t have many secrets from Susan, but he trusted that his passion for the married contralto was still one of them. Also, he had promised Phoebe’s husband Pascal Robbins that he would give Phoebe up. But he really did not wish to completely give her up. A private destination, well fitted out for play, would suit his interests even better than Cassandra presently knew.
“It would cost a mint of money to do correctly,” he observed.
“I know. And I can’t guarantee it’ll ever be profitable beyond its own maintenance. And even that may take a few years.”
“H’m,” he agreed, then said, “Would you like to see the beach?”
“Oh yes!” she cried.
Anthony called Dennis on the house phone and his assistant soon appeared. “Dennis,” Newton said, “go and find a pair of flats or sandals for Cassandra in Susan’s closet. We’re going down the steps.” He looked at Cassandra’s feet and said, “You look about the same size as Susan. About a 6?”
“Yes, that’s right,” Cassandra said. Dennis instantly departed on his mission and while they waited Anthony told her she should let the English boy help her on and off with her shoes as she would be making a customer for herself for her future club.
Cassandra did not tell Newton she had already noticed Dennis eyeing her feet, but smiled her assent and when Dennis returned, she begged him to do her the favor of strapping on the little rose colored sandals he brought her. Dennis knelt to Cassandra and quickly changed her shoes for her, without removing his eyes from her feet for a moment.
“I’m feeling very pampered,” Cassandra smiled at Newton over Dennis’ head.
Once she was properly shod for walking, Newton conducted her out the back door of the kitchen, past the dark haired, rosy skinned boy and girl who had prepared their lunch, through the back garden to the long stone staircase that led down to the cove. It was now high noon of a warm and balmy day and blue sky met blue waves in the picture perfect vista that shimmered before them as they descended the many scores of steps down to the beach.
Anthony waited to speak again until the beige sand was beneath their feet on the narrow strip of beach where they began walking up and down while regarding the gently lapping waves. Then he surprised her greatly by saying, “I’m finding you very attractive and you pretty much had me at spanking club. When I find a thing I like to do, I tend to commit to it. But it’s the idea of you coming along with the club that’s interesting me the most.”
Cassandra instantly blushed, but it was useless to pretend that she hadn’t noticed the warmth of his gaze. Something about her stirred him and she had a nice enough sense of her own worth not to question the added element of sexual romance that had suddenly introduced itself into her future career plan. She had expected Newton to mainly be interested in the notion of new talent constantly flowing into his realm, not in the conduit of the same.
“From what I’ve heard and what I see, there’s no one I’d rather belong to,” she replied, placing her hands together in front of her in Namaste position and bowing her head to him with a Cheshire cat smile.
“You probably know I’m a top. The day that dungeon is finished, I’ll have you over a spanking bench,” he promised.
“Why wait until then?” she asked, stretching her slim arms up lazily to lift her small, round bosom even higher and accentuate her flat stomach. “I’ve just been cut loose by my man of 17 years. We enjoyed a high-minded, politically tantric sex life that was multi-orgasmic but at the same time somehow flat. I haven’t had an exciting love affair since Hugo introduced me to the scene. You’re a top, you’re handsome, you were charming to my daughter without trying to seduce her and I love your music. Everything about you turns me on. “
“I would never come on to Amanda. She’s too tall. I like petite ladies,” said Newton, pulling Cassandra towards him by her small waist and hugging her against his own lean torso. “I like you,” he said against her ear, with its tiny stud earring and velvet ear lobe for him to nibble on. “But today is too soon. I’ll let you get to know me a little first,” he said. Now she wrapped her arms around his waist and pressed her head against his chest.
“Don’t wait too long,” she said, looking up at him. “Summer makes me feel restless and I’m all alone at the inn.”
“Oh about that,” he said, letting her go as they resumed their walking up and down the beach, “you should come and stay here with me until you find a suitable place of your own.”
“Wouldn’t that be a great intrusion?”
“Not at all. You see I have those kids coming to cook for just Dennis and me every day. That’s a crime. Susan’s not even coming out to the Cape for a few more weeks, she’s going on a vacation to Europe with her girlfriend. I’ve been completely abandoned and am in need of a companion. And we can work on the plans for the club.”
“Nothing would be more pleasant to me than staying here with you for a little while,” Cassandra replied. “But are you sure Susan won’t take any of this amiss?”
“She’ll love the idea of a local BDSM parlor being in our possession. Think of all the models she could use for her next graphic novel. And she certainly would have no objection to you staying here at the house. All the girls stay here sooner or later. But of course, we’ll be discreet. I doubt my being attracted to you will occur to her at all.”
William Random was behind his desk in his office at his construction company that Thursday afternoon when his secretary announced that his three o’clock appointment had arrived. The architect-owner of Random Construction had been apprised by his wife, Damaris, that Cassandra Campi had returned to Random Point and would be getting in touch with him regarding the purchase or rental of property and he had greatly looked forward to seeing this friend whom he had not seen in so long. What he did not expect was for her to enter his office with Anthony Newton in tow.
“Well, hello!” William said, rising to greet Cassandra with a hug. “I can’t believe it’s been almost twenty years. You look wonderful. Hi Anthony.”
Anthony said hello and took a seat opposite the big desk, behind which a large window looked out on the woods.
“Thank you, so do you,” said Cassandra. “I see you’re still working out.”
“Sit down,” William said, smiling at them both. “And tell me how I can help you. I understand you need a place to live.”
“That too, but it’s a secondary location we came to talk to you about today,” said Cassandra.
“Oh? Are you looking to open another shop?” asked William.
“We want to open a club,” said Anthony. “And we want you to design it for us.”
“What kind of club?” William asked, not understanding at once.
“A spanking club,” said Anthony. “With dungeons for people to play in and girls to work in. Cassandra is going to run it. And I’ve agreed to underwrite the entire project.”
“Are you serious? A dungeon, here?” William cried, as this was the very last thing he expected.
“A dream dungeon,” said Newton. “With everything bang on perfect. Now, we’ll need a nice, private location, a little off the beaten track, if possible, with plenty of room inside. I’ve got a little list here of the requirements.”
Anthony passed a piece of printed paper to William who looked at it and read aloud, “Two or three chambers furnished for bondage and corporal punishment, a school room, an examining room, bedrooms, a lounge with pool table and bar, a sitting room, a library, a finished basement with video lighting installed for shoots and out back, some sort of stable, barn or loft. Needless to say, we’ll need multiple state of the art bathrooms and discreet parking for guests.” William looked up at them, adjusted his horn-rimmed glasses on his nose and added, “Wow. Sounds like it’ll be a great place.”
“We might think of other things,” said Newton, “but those are the basic requirements. I’m looking to buy rather than rent the property.”
“Are you going to… advertise?” William asked.
Anthony and Cassandra looked at each other.
“Are we going to advertise?” he asked.
“Yes, I think we should, but only on Hugo’s website and in his magazine,” she replied. “And it must be a membership only club with a mystique of exclusivity.”
“No walk-ins,” Newton agreed. “Unless they’re locals. Locals will get preferential treatment and their membership fees will be waived.”
“What is your budget?” William asked Newton, who shrugged.
“Whatever it takes to make it perfect,” Anthony replied.
“Believe it or not, I’ve just finished renovating a property around here that might be retrofitted to your requirements very quickly,” said William, who flipped many more properties than he built from scratch. “It’s a fairly plain, unadorned, modernistic house from the late 60’s that was built to withstand a nuclear attack. Nice and big too, about 8,000 square feet, with a loft alongside. I just put in planked floors, Scandinavian bathrooms and re-painted all the rooms Tuscan style. We can go look at it right now if you like. It’s actually on the same road as Michael Flagg’s house. There are woods behind it too.”
“Yes, we’ll go now,” said Newton, eager to set the interesting plan in motion. “We’ll follow you in our car.”
William jumped into one of his trucks and led them back through Random Point and then out the other side of the village onto a wooded road that led to the neighborhood of Michael Flagg’s house, which William had remodeled and sold to the pub keeper several years before. Anthony and Cassandra were both enchanted with the house, which so recently refinished, gleamingly fresh and handsomely painted seemed perfectly suitable for the salon they envisioned.
“How long would it take to custom fit the dungeons with furniture?” Anthony asked.
“Well,” said William, “if you’re thinking of three dungeons, that’s a hell of a lot of bondage beds, X frames, whipping posts and spanking benches to construct. I wouldn’t want to put my entire crew on that project. I have a couple of guys I can trust to be discreet and I’ll help them out myself. I’d say at least a month for the furniture that has to be hand built. The medical suite we can furnish from an online supplier, same goes for the black board and school desks. Fastest way to get bedroom and parlor furniture is to go to Bartlett’s in Woodbridge.”
“Yes, that’s a good idea,” said Anthony. “He’ll be one of your best customers.”
“So, you want the house? It’ll be about three altogether, not including the dungeon furniture I’ll be building for you.”
Anthony understood that William meant three million. For the location and beauty of the recently restored house, the price seemed reasonable and the property an excellent investment.
“Draw up all the papers and I’ll have my accountant settle with you next week,” said Anthony. “You’ll have to come with me to see him,” said Newton to Cassandra, “so we can figure out how to get the club in your name. My matinee ladies can never find out that I own a B&D club. For your protection also, Cassandra, we’ll classify it as a social club, so it’s not looking like a brothel on paper. In addition, once it starts to make money, you’ll have to keep good books and pay withholdings for the girls and yourself. I’ll get my accountant to advise you on that.”
Cassandra put her hand on Anthony’s arm, saying, “Are you sure you want to go through with this?”
“I’m sure,” he said reassuringly. “And my accountant is always advising me to buy more real estate.”