The Arrangement [Box Set] (12 page)

Sitting there, thinking on what she had become, a plaything for a group of wealthy couples, she found herself crying. She was crying because of how powerless she was in this new arrangement. She’d been punished brutally by Kit simply for mentioning the thought of getting a job. And she was crying because of how isolated she was. The only people she knew and could talk to were the partners, their wives, and the staff who depended on the firm for their livelihoods. There was no one here at all who was unconnected to the firm.

She wept also because of her own weakness and cowardice. She knew she was being a coward. She had options. Everyone in the world had options and she was no different from all the countless other women who found themselves in abusive or controlling marriages. It was her husband who had brought her here and it was her husband who was keeping her here. And yet, she couldn’t bare the thought of fighting him. Not only would she lose all the wealth and security that she had just so recently acquired but she would also risk losing access to her two daughters. At least now she could still see them on weekends and holidays. If she fought Walter she didn’t know what would happen. The firm had powerful friends and she had no doubt that they would use the girls as pawns in any divorce battle.

She looked at the water in the pool and decided that she wanted to swim. She called Carla and told her to bring out a bathing suit and towel. The sun was shining and she felt she might as well make the most of the luxuries that she was paying so dearly for. She tried to put on a brave face when Carla returned with the bathing suit.

Carla was about to leave and it crossed April’s mind that she had been forced to eat three pussies but no one had eaten hers. She realized just how similar she could become to Kit and the other ladies as she looked at Carla and told her to wait.

—I want you to help me get dressed, she said.

Carla nodded and helped April out of her sundress. Then April turned her back to her and Carla undid the clasp of her bra. She turned and faced Carla with her pert breasts exposed in the sunshine and looked at the woman. Carla was at least forty, she probably had a family but none of that seemed important to April. After all, she had a family of her own and that hadn’t protected her from being used at The Lace Cat for the other wives’ enjoyment.

Carla looked at her and when she wasn’t dismissed she realized that she was expected to help April out of her panties. She got down on her knees and pulled April’s panties down to her ankles. April stepped out of them. Now she was entirely naked.

She looked down at Carla’s head. It was just inches from her pussy. She felt an overwhelming desire to take Carla’s head in her hands and push it into her cunt. It wasn’t that she wanted the sexual pleasure of having her vagina licked. That wasn’t it at all. She’d had enough sex to last her quite a while and she could think of better uses for her pussy than having another woman lick it. What she wanted was to vindicate herself. She wanted to assert her own dominance and autonomy and Carla was the only person around who was lower than her in the pecking order. All she had to do was take Carla’s head the way Kit had taken hers and push it into her cunt and tell Carla to lick it. Then she would no longer be simply the slut that everyone else could control. She would have some control of her own.

She looked down at Carla but she couldn’t do it. She couldn’t become Kit. Not yet at least. This wasn’t her. She allowed Carla to help her into her swimsuit and then sent her on some errands. Carla thanked her profusely, as if she knew just how close she’d come to being made more than just a maid.

April dived into the crystal clear water of the pool and she couldn’t tell as she swam whether she was crying or not.

VII

W
HEN WALTER CAME HOME THAT
night April made sure there was a nice meal ready. She had the cook prepare duck. She also had the formal dining table set and the candles lit so that they could have a romantic evening together. They had a well stocked cellar in the house and she went into it herself to select some of the finest wine. She didn’t know why she was going to all the trouble. It wasn’t as if she felt close to Walter lately. He’d brought her into this situation after all. It was more the fact that she felt the need to have some sort of ally, and some sort of human connection. She felt lonely and vulnerable and weak and she thought a nice evening with Walter would make her feel more secure and safe.

She met Walter at the front door after work like he was a guest coming to visit the house. She took his coat and hat and hung them up for him. Then she brought him into the dining room.

—Wow, this looks great, he said.

—It’s nothing. With all the help we have now I really don’t have to try very hard.

—Well I think it looks great.

April had no idea how much Walter knew about what had happened at The Lace Cat. She didn’t even know if he knew she’d gone shopping with the other girls. After dinner she had Carla bring down some of the lingerie boxes that had been delivered. Almost a hundred boxes had arrived so this was really just a sample of the outfits that April thought were the most humiliating. It included the animal costumes, a full leather body suit, and some of the other kinkier garments that were made of leather, latex or involved chains.

—What’s all this? Walter said as April took the boxes from Carla and laid them out on the dining table when they were finished eating.

—I presume you knew that the other wives took me shopping yesterday?

—Of course I did, and I hope you had a lovely time.

—Not quite, April said.

Walter looked surprised. —What do you mean?

April had no intention of telling Walter everything that had happened at The Lace Cat. She would have been mortified if he ever saw the video recording that had been made. All she wanted to do was get a sense of his attitude toward the more blatantly humiliating garments that had been selected for her by Kit.

She pulled out the kitten outfit.

—What do you think of this?

—What do you mean? Walter said.

—Don’t you think it’s a little risqué?

—Not particularly.

April’s heart sank. She could see where this was going. She shouldn’t have brought it up. She sat back down at the table, utterly defeated.

—I suppose you want me to wear those outfits for your partners.

—Is there going to be some sort of problem, April? Because if there is you can tell me right now. You’re not irreplaceable you know. I could find a hundred other girls to take your place and you’d be out on your ass with no where to go. You’d have nothing. Is that what you want?

April couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She hadn’t meant to upset Walter like this at all. She’d just felt the need for his support. Now it was clear she wouldn’t be getting that, at least not if she went against any of his wishes or those of the other partners and their wives.

—I’m sorry, Walter. Please don’t be like that. You know I’ll do whatever you want.

—Whatever I want?

—Of course I will.

—Are you certain, April? Because lately I’ve been getting the feeling that you won’t do what I want at all. You insist on fighting me on every single little detail of our life. I try to put the girls in a nice school, you fight me. Kit takes you out shopping, you’re insulted by what she chooses. Herb provides you with a new home and a chauffeur and you’re suspicious of it all. To be honest, April, I’m starting to have my doubts that you’ll ever be satisfied. I’m getting pretty tired of it. I could find a much more pliable and compliant wife if you don’t feel like playing along.

—Oh, please, Walter, don’t speak like that. I’m completely satisfied. I swear to you I am.

—You better be, April.

—I am, Walter.

—And if I hear so much as a hint from Herb or Pete or Frank that you’re not acting entirely to their satisfaction, or any of their wives, I mean it, you’ll be out on your ass so fast you won’t know what hit you.

—I swear, Walter. I’m going to make you so proud of me. You won’t even know I’m the same girl.

—Well I’m glad to hear it, April, because you’ve got a very big night tomorrow.

April’s heart sank. She was terrified of what it might entail.

—We’ve got some important clients to impress in the coming weeks. Herb wants you and Midge to come out and help us
entertain
them.

—What did he have in mind? April said.

—I don’t know, honey. Whatever it takes, remember. That’s what you promised, and that’s what you’re going to have to deliver. Look around you. Look at this house. Look at all this wealth. If you want it to last, if you want even a shred of decency and security in your life, then you better resign yourself to doing whatever we need. Am I clear?

—Of course you are, darling.

—And it’s a good thing Kit brought you out and bought you those clothes because tomorrow night you’re going to need them.

—Of course, darling, she said. Of course. Then she got up from her seat and went around the table to Walter’s seat and kissed him as long and passionately as she could. When she felt him grow stiff in his pants she brought him up to their bedroom and asked him to select an outfit for her from the hundred boxes that were piled up in her dressing room.

I can make this work, she said to herself all the while. I can make this work. I have no other choice. I have to make it work.

I

A
PRIL MASTERSON SAT NEXT TO
the phone for over an hour before she finally summoned the courage to pick it up. She had the brochure for the Greenwood Academy next to her and she read the number from it as she dialed. She knew Walter would be upset with her but it had been almost two weeks since she’d seen the girls and she hadn’t had a single call. A woman’s voice answered.

—Greenwood Academy.

—Hello. This is April Masterson calling for Lucy and Mary Masterson.

—Good afternoon Mrs. Masterson. Let me just look up their schedule.

April waited nervously while she was put on hold. Some classical music played and she supposed it was meant to be soothing. To her it was anything but soothing. It seemed to take forever before the woman came back on the line.

—I’m sorry, Mrs. Masterson but I’m not seeing a call on the schedule here.

—What do you mean? I just want to talk to them.

—I’m sorry. All calls with students have to be scheduled in advance.

—I’m their mother.

—I understand that but our phone call policy is an important part of our overall school policy. It was all in the information you received.

—I just want to talk to my little girls.

—I understand, Mrs. Masterson, but unless there’s some emergency I’m going to have to ask that you schedule a call.

April couldn’t believe it. Was it even legal to keep a mother from talking to her own children? She didn’t know.

—Look. Put them on the line right now or I’ll call the police.

—Please calm down, Mrs. Masterson. The girls aren’t available right now. That’s why we ask that you schedule calls in advance.

April tried to remain calm. It would do no good to create a scene with the school. She knew that much. She’d been getting into enough trouble already. Both Walter and Kit had been upset with her. The last thing wanted to do was upset them again.

—Ok, she said. Let me make an appointment.

—Please hold.

The woman put her on hold and again she was forced to listen to the infuriating classical music. Her hand was shaking by the time the woman came back on the line.

—I’m sorry, Mrs. Masterson, but I don’t see your name here on the file.

—What file?

—The pre-approved file.

—Are you kidding me? I’m their mother.

—Your name has to be on the file to schedule a call.

April was almost in tears at this point. All she’d wanted to do was talk to the girls. It would be Lucy’s birthday in a few days and she didn’t even know if she’d be able to see her for it.

—That’s it, she said. Who am I speaking to? This is ridiculous.

—You’re speaking to Kathy at reception.

—And just out of curiosity, whose name is on the file.

—I have a Herb and Kit Kingsley here for billing and contact.

—Herb and Kit? That doesn’t make any sense.

—I’m sorry. Those are the names I have on the file.

April could hardly believe what she was hearing.

—Herb works with my husband. The firm is paying the school fees. That’s why he’s listed for billing. But there must be some mistake regarding the file. The names on there should be Walter and April Masterson. We’re the parents.

—I’m sorry, Mrs. Masterson. Would you like me to transfer you to the billing department to get the file amended?

—Look. I’m their mother. I dropped my girls off at the school with my husband last week. I was assured I’d be able to contact them. I haven’t heard a word about them since then.

—I understand that, Mrs. Masterson. This must be very distressing. All I can suggest is that you speak to billing and have the names on the file amended. They must have put in the Kingsleys by mistake when they paid the fees.