Clare stopped and stretched. Reaching for her tea mug, Clare realised that it was dark. It seemed like only ten minutes since she had said good night to everyone else but as she drank some tea she pulled a face because it was cold. She glanced at the clock on her computer; it was 7:15.
Then it struck her that she was going to be late for her phone call from her master. Master was ringing her at 7:30 and she knew that it took 15 minutes to get home from the car park.
Clare dropped her mug and grabbed her bag, quickly saved her work, and ran through the building. She was glad of the practicality of her works insistence on sensible shoes as she raced through the building and down the stairs. She knew there was no point in waiting for the lift it took too long. âWhat a time to think about shoes, silly cowâ she thought to herself as she swiped herself through the security door.
Running breathlessly to her car, she fumbled in her bag for the key and pressed the button for the central locking. Throwing the bag on the passenger seat she started the car glad that only a few weeks ago she had traded in her unreliable old Fiesta which probably wouldnât have started for her new company car.
Clare prayed that the traffic would be light and the lights wouldnât delay her on her way home, it had taken her too long to get to the car. Above all else she hoped that the police would not be around. Reaching the main road, Clare raced along the familiar route to her house. Getting caught speeding would mean the end of her job but Clare had only one thought on her mind and that was to get home before the call came.
It was 7:25, only five minutes to go and still only just over half way home. Clare threw all caution to the wind and floored the accelerator.
âBloody lights, come on change, CHANGE!!â she screamed as she approached a red light. Without a further thought, Clare burst through the lights with only a quick glance to left and right hoping and praying that nothing was coming. Her luck held, the traffic that usually would have made this journey hell was already gone.
She turned into her road and drove straight into the drive of her house barely stopping before she hit the garage door. As she threw open the door of the car Clare could hear the phone ringing, she emptied the contents of her bag on the car seat to find her house key. Grabbing it, Clare dashed for the door and fumbled, for what seemed ages, trying to get the key in the lock. She was shaking so hard, because of her panic.
Eventually the key slid in and the door was open. Clare grabbed the phone and knelt, breathing heavily, trying to regain her composure. She listened, ready to greet her Master, only to hear the dialling tone.
Clare wept in disappointment. She was exhausted, the panic and the race across town had stretched her emotions to the limit. Missing the call had taken her over the top. She knew now that she must wait for the next call right where she was.
âIf I miss that one too⊠no, no, I mustnât think of thatâ she thought out loud to herself.
Clare knew her master wouldnât ring straight away, Master never did, she ruefully thought. So she had five minutes at least to sort herself out before returning to her vigil by the phone.
She walked out to her car and gathered up her belongings from the car and the driveway and then locked it, knowing that she wasnât going to need it until Monday.
Closing the door behind her, Clare dropped her bag on the floor and removed her shoes. Then she knelt, just watching the phone waiting for it to ring. This time, Clare knew she must answer the very instant it rang. For her master would only allow it to ring once before hanging up.
As the time passed, Clare began to think back on her relationship with her master. She found it very difficult to remember a time when her master wasnât a part of her life, although it had only been for a year.
Clare thought back to the first time they had met. It was at an office party the Christmas before last, when she had drunk one or two too many and had been offered a lift home there was a hug at the door as a thank you and then an offer of a coffee.
Clare never knew what was the trigger that suggested to her master that she was a submissive. At work, there was no one able to strike a harder bargain or more determined to succeed. Clareâsâ rise through the business had been meteoric and infamous. That party, as far as she knew, was the only place her master had seen her. Clare didnât think it was at the gym or at the pub that she and her girlfriends frequented.
Then Clare thought back to her time before that party, when her life revolved around Bob, her husband. Since he had started working abroad her life had been an endless joy. Bob was OK. Bob was steady, but Bob was also boring. He only talked about his work and never asked how her day had been or what she had done. It was almost as if she didnât exist except to feed him and keep house for him. In the end it was this lack of a life that had driven Clare to look for a job.
Then this stranger walked into her life whilst Bob was abroad and, âJust, just⊠took over total control of me, my life and, andâŠmy bodyâ.
Clare started to cry as the depth of love she felt for her master swept over her.
âBastard, even when you arenât here you make me cry.â she said with a smile while brushing her tears away.
While she knelt Clare thought about the time they had spent together. As always, her thoughts returned to that first time it had been at home after the party and hadnât lasted long at all. The feelings she had were so intense but, Clare realised, sheâd had no control over them. They were imposed by this stranger who had walked into her life.
It had all started harmlessly as they had talked, and there was a simple and innocent request to move over to the sofa. Then the hands explored her face in soft caresses before moving down her blouse to her breasts. Gently, they undid the buttons before fully encompassing them and sensually squeezing them. Clare had felt helpless under these erotic ministrations and allowed a quiet moan to escape her lips. She knew that this shouldnât be happening, but the drink and the effect of the hands prevented her from resisting.
Then it stopped, as suddenly as it had started, leaving Clare with a feeling of emptiness, frustration and lust for this stranger. Clare mused long and hard over that first night her mind wandering over that brief time and then her mind suddenly came back to the present when the phone suddenly rang.
She snatched it up and breathlessly recited her formal greeting. âMaster, your woman is here for your pleasure and serviceâ. Clare listened, there was nothing at first and then a couple of clicks and a voice said âIs that Mrs Carlton?â
Clare was taken aback and a bit embarrassed that she had given her greeting to a stranger, she hoped that he hadnât heard it. âYesâ she replied.
âHello Mrs Carlton, my name is Carl Roberts, from Paron Windows and we are looking for a show home in your areaâŠâ. Clare was stunned, âwho is this idiotâ she thought to herself as he rambled on about windows and doors.
âNo, we donât want anything, thanksâ she replied. As usual, he persisted going on about guttering and fascias. Clare blurted out in frustration âListen carefully, we donât want anything!!!. Is that too difficult to understand?â and slammed down the phone.
The thought that her master had phoned during that bloody call crossed Claresâ mind but she knew if that was the case that the call would come almost immediately. Anxiously she waited, just in case.
Clare woke up with a start, her left leg was killing her, she had cramp in her calf and it was agony. She got up to stretch her leg muscles and glanced at her watch, it was 11pm. Her master had never made her wait this long, this was so rare she began to worry that it was over, sheâd been told not to miss the call and that it was probably the most important one of their relationship. She wondered if it was over because she had missed the call, her master was very intolerant of failure. Claresâ frequent whippings had proven testimony to her inability to achieve the high standards expected of her and each failure seemed to hurt her more than the whippings had. With a sly smile to herself, she admitted that occasionally she had failed just to gain the closeness of contact that she desired.
The phone rang, Clare grabbed it, repeated her greeting and waited. This time there were no clicks but just silence. This was it. This was the call she was waiting for. After what seemed ages her master spoke to her.
âYou missed the callâ the soft tones purred.
âIâm s.s..sorry Master, I was working late at the office a..a..and forgot the timeâ. Clare stammered.
âTonight was going to be a special night, and now, because of your failure, you have missed it. Now listen carefully, you will follow these instructions to the letter, any variation and you will receive severe punishment for failing again.â
It was all Clare could do to respond and confirm that she understood what she had been told. The punishments she had received before had pushed her to her limits and way beyond. Having been told that any punishments would be more severe shook Clare to the core. Surely she couldnât take any more.
âCLARE!!!!â the voice shouted.
âYes, Master?â , Clare responded, realising that she had taken the handset from her ear.