Oubliette – the conclusion
At the end of part one, Marc and Laura reconnected at Oubliette, a BDSM resort that Marc owns and runs with his friend, Reed. Laura is an unwilling guest, having been forced to visit by Ian. When Ian becomes incapacitated, Marc accompanies Laura from the Oubliette dungeon.
The awkward silence continued between them as he led her into the elevator and pressed the button that would take them up to room number two. A few moments later he was pushing open the door and standing back to allow her to enter.
As he looked around the room, Marc saw Ian's possessions strewn everywhere. His gaze fell on the chair Laura had been tied to earlier that evening. The rope was still wrapped around the arms and legs of the piece of furniture. He could almost hear the sound of the strap beating against her bare flesh. "Get your stuff," he told her. "I'm bringing you to a different room." For the first time since they left the dungeon she looked at him, question in her eyes. "We're only presuming Ian is going to be out cold for the next few hours. Just in case he isn't, I'd rather not have you alone in here waiting for him."
Laura nodded her agreement and gathered the few items that belonged to her. "Is that all?" Marc questioned. She didn't seem to be holding very much.
"Yes. Ian very conveniently managed to leave my overnight case behind. He tends to do things like that. All I have is my purse and the things I was wearing when I got here."
Again Marc wondered what Ian Kent was using to attempt to force her submission to him. He had to get the entire story from her but not yet and not in this room. "C'mon. We're going to another part of the building."
Laura followed him back to the elevator. She was surprised when she realized they were downstairs in the lobby where she and Ian had first arrived. Marc led her across the space and down a different hall. He swiped his key card in more than one location to gain access. They passed several rooms that looked like offices before ending up in front of another elevator.
Marc swiped his key card and the door opened. Once inside, he swiped the card again and tapped several numbers on a key pad. The doors closed and Laura could feel the elevator car ascending. When the doors opened a few seconds later, they stepped into a small entry space. Straight ahead was another door and another electronic key pad. Marc tapped in a few more numbers and Laura heard a click. He pushed the door open and gestured for her to enter.
Laura looked around. "Is this a suite? It looks a lot bigger than the other room."
"
Oubliette
is divided into several sections. The center of the complex contains the grounds and public areas and is accessible to all the guests. The floor above the lobby has the kitchen and dining rooms. The floor below is the dungeon. The guest rooms are located in the east wing. Right now we're in the west wing. This section of the building is the most secure. It contains the administrative offices and two private apartments. Reed and I both live on property. One of us is here at all times. His place is one floor down. This is my apartment."
Laura's eyebrows rose at that piece of information. She looked around noting that it looked nothing like the almost gaudy, theatrical décor in room two. The rooms in Marc's apartment were very large and modern without a hint that they were occupied by the owner of an establishment that catered to BDSM aficionados. Light colored wood, shiny chrome and exposed brick complimented the warm and sand-like shades of beige and deep, smoky blue. Although dimly lit at the moment, she was sure the entire space would be bright during the day considering the number of skylights overhead.
"Bedroom and bathroom are this way," Marc told her. "You can take a shower. And you have to eat something. I'll make some sandwiches."
"Marc, you don't need to take care of me."
"Well obviously someone should if you're irresponsible enough to get involved with Ian Kent." He stopped and looked at her, aware of how harsh he sounded. "Sorry. I didn't mean for it to come out that way. You don't owe me any explanations."
"No, I don't but I also don't mind giving them to you. It's pretty obvious you have the wrong idea and setting you straight isn't a problem but first I'd like to wash Ian off me. Since this is all I have," she held up her few belongings, "would you consider lending me another shirt? Something to eat sounds really good and we can talk after my shower."
"Fair enough." Marc was pleased that she sounded very much like the Laura he remembered and not like someone willing to submit to Ian or anyone else.
He showed Laura into his bedroom and where to find everything she might need. When the bathroom door closed behind her he headed to his second bathroom. The idea of washing Ian Kent off himself suddenly sounded very appealing.
He was more than a little confused by his reaction to seeing Laura again and it hadn't escaped his notice that she didn't appear particularly surprised when he made his appearance in the dungeon. He also couldn't imagine Laura ever wanting to be submissive to someone like Ian. She was smart and strong willed, even if she was a little quiet and naïve about the real world. It was her naiveté that prompted him to back away from her.
Maybe he shouldn't characterize her as spoiled. She wasn't demanding or bratty and simply seemed to be the slightly indulged, only child of two parents who adored her and wanted to give her every possible opportunity. Marc wasn't sure if anything had changed during the past three years but, as far as he knew, she worked part time for her father's very successful business and didn't do much of anything else. He hadn't wanted to divulge his own business venture and source of income so he had avoided all discussion about work-related matters and had never really asked how she spent her time. He was just now beginning to see that, during the past three years, he thought about Laura much more than he realized.
Laura was enjoying the shower in Marc's very modern bathroom. It was apparent he hadn't spared any expense considering the quality of the fixtures in the room. She already knew
Oubliette
was doing well but it was obviously doing very well.
She couldn't blame him for thinking whatever he was thinking when she arrived with Ian. Thanks to Reed's statement about checking out their guests prior to arrival, she already knew that Marc would have been expecting her. Actually she knew that piece of information prior to Reed mentioning it and it was one of the reasons she had decided on using
Oubliette
as part of her plan for undermining Ian.
Ian Kent was, quite possibly, the most arrogant piece of shit she had ever met and she had met quite a few arrogant and shitty people. Luckily that arrogance and Ian's belief that he was smarter than everyone else worked perfectly for her plan. He was unethical, manipulative, immoral, unscrupulous and very smart. He just wasn't smarter than Laura Ellis. Actually, Ian wasn't smarter than a lot of people but it served Laura's plan to allow him to believe he was.
Marc was just beginning to wonder what was taking her so long when he looked up and saw her standing in the doorway. Her hair was long and soft and he wanted very much to touch it. She had pulled on one of his t-shirts. The dark green color made her pale, creamy skin and copper penny eyes glow. Even though it reached nearly to her knees, judging from the way the shirt was clinging to her, he was certain she wasn't wearing anything under it. That thought was making a certain part of his own body glow as well.
"Your apartment is beautiful, Marc, and this kitchen is incredible." She walked in and settled at the table, onto the chair opposite him. "I could do some serious cooking in this place."
"Yeah." He had the strangest feeling he had somehow renovated his kitchen with her in mind. "I can remember some of those spectacular, candle-lit dinners you made. Do you still cook like that very often?"
"Not too often. It's not as much fun when there isn't anyone to cook for. Looks like you've developed some kitchen skills. These sandwiches look great."
"I'm not sure sandwiches qualify as cooking but help yourself. Considering Katrina's killer cocktail, I'm sticking with iced tea but can I get you some wine? Coffee? Juice?" he asked.
"Tea would be fine. Thanks."
He filled two glasses and returned to the table. "Are you ready to tell me what's going on with you and Ian?"
"You don't waste time, do you? The truth is he's blackmailing me into serving him for a year."
"Blackmail?" Marc wasn't completely shocked. "What the hell could Ian possibly have on you and why haven't you gone to the authorities?"
"I came up with a better way."
"Sure you did, like allowing him to beat your ass with a strap and lock you in a cage. That's a great plan, Laura. You're really showing him who's in charge." Marc's sarcasm was obvious.
She glared at him just enough. "It's a long story and how did you know about the strap?"
He glared back. "I've got time and room two has security cameras. That's why I put you and Ian in there instead of in room five. I don't trust that bastard. Never have and never will and what's going on? Why is he blackmailing you?"
"I think of him as slime-on-a-stick but bastard works, too. I met Ian a few months ago. I was having dinner with a couple of friends and he decided to hit on me. I very politely declined his offer but he doesn't like hearing the word 'no'. Eventually the people I was with told him to get lost and he took it very personally and claimed he was humiliated. He decided to get even."
"You're kidding? Sounds awfully childish. Ian Kent is no great prize. He must be used to getting shot down. You'd think he'd be able to handle it by now."
Laura agreed. "It is childish but Ian Kent is a legend in his own mind."
"What's the rest of the story, Laura? What is he holding over you?"
