'So that's it? We're done?'
Rebbecca stared at him in astonishment. She had not seen this coming. He swirled the whiskey that was fortifying his ability to break the news, ice clinking harshly against the glass. After gazing deeply into it, he took another lazy gulp, Adam's apple bobbing and turned to run his tanned hand lazily over the mahogany bookcases that lined the walls of the room. This was the most attention either the books or the bookcases had ever received from him but it served his need to proffer her his back and in effect his disregard. She watched his beautiful masculine hands; the dark hairs sprinkled over the smooth skin, the muscles and tendons working almost musically beneath. Hands that had touched her, worshiped her so many times. Hands that had even punished. Often in fact. Inside her chest the truth pinched her heart cruelly. There must be someone else.
'In short, yes. We are done. I'll make sure you have a decent severance package. Better than we agreed. I've got Giles working on it as we speak. It should be ready by tomorrow afternoon.'
Behind him she sat quietly, long legs crossed, hands balled into fists on the arm of the plush velvet chair. She still bore the marks on her wrists from the restraints he'd used yesterday. Her pussy and ass still sore from his vigor. Her head lowered and her hair flowed over one milky shoulder to caress the breasts that he had paid for, since her own had not been to his liking.
'Until tomorrow then,' she said, rising.
'You can stay in your room here if you like. It makes sense rather than driving to yours and coming back.'
'Very reasonable of you. But I prefer to be in my own space where I'm comfortable.'
'You're being stubborn,' he rumbled, turning to face her. 'You're still mine until the severance forms are signed and I can punish your stubbornness.'
She strode towards him until their faces were almost touching. Her face screamed a cool defiance to his threats as did her words.
'You lost the right to my body and obedience the moment you said I have to leave. So fuck your severance forms. I will sleep wherever I choose from this night forward.'
His eyes flashed, then his arm shot out grasping hers tightly. She gazed down at where they were joined.
'You no longer have the privilege to control me Michael. I no longer allow it. Now let go of my arm.'
The two locked eyes and for a few moments memories of the last two years flooded their minds. The passion. The possession. The control. The submission. The ecstasy. Then it was gone.
He dropped her arm and cleared his throat.
'Of course Becca. You must stay where suits. Thomas will see you out.'
Without another word she left the library and found Michael's butler waiting for her part way down the corridor looking unflappably calm.
'Ah, Miss Rebecca. Shall you be staying with us this evening?'
'Not tonight Thomas.'
'I'll see you to your car then,' he said, with a smile that spoke volumes.
She nodded her thanks and followed him through the halls.
The next morning she woke up to a stiff neck and the sound of bird song. She'd slept in her car in a lay by just off junction 32. For the next two hours she sat at the wheel of her car wondering what she was going to do. There was no apartment. She did not have her own place as he so thought. When she wasn't at Michael's, she either slept at her mother's, or cousin's or slept in the car. And that wasn't often. Maybe a week out of every five would she leave him - to go see her folks, to alleviate his suspicions. But the truth was she had to beg them to let her stay. Being a previous long term drug user sometimes has that effect on people - even family.
When he'd met her two years ago, she'd been clean for two months and living out of her car. She'd been scouting all day for something to improve her lot, like waitressing or bar work and had finally stopped from exhaustion for a quick smoke outside some fancy upmarket restaurant. She'd been sitting bum propped up on the wall in the best outfit she had; simple black cigarette pants, fitted ivory blouse, black pumps and the opal drop earrings her mother had given her on her eighteenth birthday. Her jet black hair was loose since she'd removed the tie. Her make-up faded as badly as her spirit. Things were bad but better than they had been. So she leaned back taking a good hard drag of her Marlborough, holding it in a little while she gazed at the stars.
And that's when she heard;
'Shit! I've found the Mona Lisa!'
Yes, Michael always had a way with words.
Still behind the steering wheel and dreading the day ahead, she recalled his confidence as he approached her that night, complimenting her on her earrings, amongst other things. Becca rested her head on the wheel, recalling the sharp cut of his suit, his cufflinks flashing beneath the street light. Ever wonder she had said yes to his proposal.
All good things must come to an end...
She looked up, trying to recall where she knew this phrase from.
Chaucer. Geoffrey Chaucer. Back from her college days when she studied English lit. As she pondered this her belly began to rumble and her thirst also made itself known. After checking her purse for cash, she started up the car and headed to the closest service station for coffee and pancakes.
Two hours later she arrived back at Dunedin Hall a little more revived and ready for what lay ahead. Thomas showed her into one of the many conference rooms where she found Michael and his solicitor Giles already waiting at an immense gleaming table.
'Ah, Miss Gallagher. Please take a seat,' smiled Giles, crisply indicating a chair so far removed from themselves it might as well have been in the next room.
She sat. And waited.
Neither appeared ready to speak. Which she found odd.
After glancing at Michael, Giles cleared his throat and stood to hand Rebbecca some papers.
'Your copies Miss Gallagher.'
