Please to attend the Manor
The envelope had been hand-delivered to your mailbox during the night. Cream colored, scented like rose petals, your name and address penned with beautiful calligraphy in a rich blue ink, a waxen seal stamped with an obscure coat of arms, something from the 19th century.
"You are invited to The Manor. You have been recommended by a mutual friend whose judgment we trust. You may be in ignorance of our purpose and indeed our activities, but from the hints of our mutual friend, we believe you will be intrigued to attend, and ultimately your desires fulfilled. A car will pick you up at 7pm Friday. If you choose not to enter, you will not be contacted again. If you choose to open the car's door, you need make no further choices for at least 48 hours. We make no warranties to your enjoyment or wellbeing, but merely suggest that you will pass through an intensity and novelty beyond anything you have heretofore experienced."
You agonized harder over what to wear than whether to go. One sleepless night was enough to say yes to yourself. You had never heard of "The Manor," whatever that was, but the hint of excitement and transformation outweighed the sense of danger. But what to wear? The letter's formality seemed to demand a serious demeanor. You chose a formal black pant suit, simple earrings, and a pair of three-inch red heels, the only splash of color.
Now you sit, awkwardly waiting at your front window, looking up and down the street, wondering if you've wasted an hour's preparation for a hoax.
Exactly as your watch switches from 6:59 to 7:00, a long black limousine glides to a stop on the street in front of your house. Nobody emerges.
In a brief panic, you lurch for your front door and step outside. The car remains. You hesitate, but you have no idea what you might need anyway. You have a small bag with a change of clothes and a toothbrush. With a sigh of commitment, you lock your door and walk steadily to the curb, to stand by the rear door of the car. The windows are black, the car silent. You shrug, shake your head, and reach for the door handle. It is unlocked; you open the door and peer in: sumptuous but empty seats. With another sigh, you step in, close the door behind you, and sit. The driver is invisible behind a black partition, but the car begins to move.
A drawer in front of you opens with an electronic hum. A glass of chilled champagne appears, and a dish of black caviar sprinkled with herbs and rock salt. You take the wine. After 10 minutes of driving, you take the caviar. You settle back, no idea how long it will be. Nearly an hour passes, and you wonder why you're doing this.
The limo pulls into a long driveway, sinuous through a dark forest, emerging onto an acre of grass, and an imposing mansion. The front door opens and a butler in a tuxedo appears, stepping up to the car, opening your passenger door. He holds it, waiting for you to emerge. As you step out, he says "Welcome to the Manor. Please follow me." He closes the door and walks to the house, as the limo glides away.
The butler shows you across a palatial entryway, and through a side door into a large study, a dark wood-paneled library with bookshelves, a fireplace with wood burning briskly, and a sprinkling of ornate couches and overstuffed chairs. He closes the door behind you as he leaves. You realize you're not alone; a man sits in one of the chairs near the fire. He has greying hair, seems very fit, formally dressed in a dark suit, white shirt, gold cufflinks with a sparkle of diamond. His shoes are Italian, shined to perfection, and look as comfortable as favorite slippers. He is gazing at you serenely.
"Hi!" you say. "I'm not really sure why I'm here. I received a strange invitation, and decided to accept in a spirit of adventure, but if I'm supposed to know something about this place, I'm sorry, but I'm in the dark!"
He smiles. "That's perfectly alright. We understand. I'll explain...
"You were recommended for our unusual program. Now that you're here, it will play out in a certain, predetermined way. You don't need any preparation, you don't need any previous knowledge.
"My dear, you are known to us as a strong, independent woman. You have intelligence, education, curiosity, and an open mind. You are confident, and successful. What could we improve, if we wanted to? Nothing, perhaps. But we believe you have certain desires, and to be honest, we have our own... complementary desires. So although we act purely out of selfishness, and intend to benefit from your presence to an extreme degree, we believe you will ultimately find this weekend... hmm... shall we say... interesting? If not transformational."
"Um..." is all you manage to say, as your gaze drifts back and forth between the fire and his eyes, and you try to think of what to ask. He smiles, and continues.
"Let's be direct. You are a beautiful woman. A few of us are going to enjoy sex with you, as well as playing out some of our darker fantasies. You will probably feel physical extremes you've never endured before, and perhaps concomitant emotional extremes. It will not all be pleasant, at least for you, but from the time you chose to step into our limousine, you had little choice.
"Of course, you have free will. You can choose to fight, or try to flee. I advise against it, although as a strong, confident person, I expect you will fight. I am going to give you directions. Others in the Manor may also command you. You are going to experience an intense training program in obedience. I expect that within the 48 hours we plan for you, that you will submit utterly, because every time you disobey, or balk in the slightest, you will be punished, quite painfully.