When the Robert called, Diane prepared herself for the evening. After a long bath she dried, powdered, and spent the afternoon getting her make up just so. She then put on a silky white blouse and a dark skirt that didn't quite reach her knees. No underwear, no bra, per instructions. Stockings, heels, a necklace and earrings were her only other accessories. Even with the clothing it felt awkward without underwear, almost naked. She then spent some time inspecting herself in a mirror trying to tell if her breasts sagged too much and if it was noticeable through the blouse.
When she checked the time she saw that she had little time to prepare the picnic basket.
Instead of worrying about her appearance she forced herself to concentrate on preparations for the afternoon. She placed bottles of brandy, vodka, and whiskey in a basket and waited for the car to arrive.
The limo arrived a few minutes before six. Diane checked her lipstick one last time in the mirror next to the door then left.
The driver waited by the back passenger door for her, opening it as she approached. He smiled at her but she looked away, embarrassed to have someone serving her. She climbed into the long passenger cabin and pushed the basket up toward the front of the car. The wet bar was stocked with ice and glasses, enough for the evening. As the car eased forward she buried each bottle half in the ice making sure the labels all faced forward and could easily be read.
When the car stopped Diane took a deep breath. She waited patiently near the front of the cabin within arms reach of the ice bin, glasses, and bottles of alcohol. The carpet on her bare knees itched, making her want to stand and scratch, but that was impossible. Inside the limo she had no other choice but to kneel, there was no room for anything else. She knew that wasn't true, she could sit on any of the seats, or even lie down across them or the floor, those were simply not choices available to her. To clear her mind she closed her eyes and repeated a phrase in her mind. "As you desire. As you desire."
The door open and the businessmen entered. She lowered her gaze but counted four men, two sliding in along the bench running the length of the driver side and two in the back seats.
"Very nice." One of the businessmen said. The others agreed. While Diane couldn't be certain she suspected they were commenting on her and not the car. Butterflies tumbled in her stomach.
Robert cleared his throat. "Gentlemen, this is Diane our hostess. She's here to attend out every want. I'll start with a screwdriver."
Diane's reply was simple, a demure, "As you desire." It was the response Robert had instructed her to say, in nearly every situation.
He'd once explained that the word desire should be used by her as much as possible. She recalled vividly his hand in her hair, her head tilted back, throat exposed, as he whispered the word in her ear until she wanted to melt. "Desire, desire, desire."
Robert's attention turned back to the businessmen. "Now if you don't mind, lets get started on the Highland's property."
Diane blanked out the rabble of business talk as she poured vodka then orange juice into a lowball glass full of ice. To deliver the drink she had to shuffle to the back end of the car on her knees while taking care not to spill. A much more difficult task than she'd once thought, given the confines of the limo and its motion.
She kept her eyes on Robert's crotch as she offered the drink. He took it without a pause in his conversation about depreciated values. It didn't take much effort to imagine what lie under the slacks, she'd had him in her mouth countless times before. Just staring there made her ache and wish the others were gone, leaving her alone with him, and his desires.
Diane served drinks as the humdrum of business chatter continued. Mind blank she served drinks. Mind blank she sat on her heels. Mind blank trying not to worry if the skirt had ridden lewdly up her thighs. She waited as was expected of her.
"Well, let's see her." One of them finally said.
The comment made Diane feel small. She was nothing more than an object to this man. Possibly little else to the others as well. And most frightening of all, possibly merely just an object to Robert as well.
Robert cleared his throat. "She's here to serve. Tell her what you want."
An awkward silence descended in the cabin. Men were thinking about sex. Diane could feel it hanging in the air, all these men thinking of her, the lone woman in the car. The four of them wanted to use her creating an oppressive air in the car.
"Take your top off." The man said after a long drink. It was said simply and without question, the way Diane might tell a grocery she needed her bread sliced, or espresso served with soy instead of milk. There was no question in the statement, just a simple command.
"As you desire." She said, her tongue thick and dry. Reaching with trembling fingers she began unbuttoning the blouse. Aside from the steady rhythm of vehicle noises the quiet in the car was maddening. She didn't dare look up but knew all eyes were on her.
The blouse parted as she undid each button. Without a pause she slipped the silky material from her shoulders feeling a ripple of goose bumps as cool air caressed her back and breasts. She folded the blouse quickly, not wanting errant creases, and set it on an unoccupied seat. Her hands went to her knees palms up. One person made a short whistle, otherwise the men were quiet. She imagined their eyes crawling across her skin, evaluating her like they might one of the properties they sold and traded. Property. She wondered if she would be more valuable than one of their buildings.
"Not bad for her age." The one said. The other men broke out into argument. Some chastising his lack of taste, others agreeing. She hated him for it. It was one thing to think of being judged so basely in her mind, to hear it spoken aloud however made her flush. She really was property to these men.
Diane took a deep breath, not wanting to continue with what was expected of her. She said the words anyway. "Is there anything else you desire?"
A flicker of quiet. Killed once again by the same pig of a man.