Mark and Dana didn't talk to each other much as the week progressed. They weren't mad at each other; they both just simply didn't know what to say to one another. After what had happened, it was clear to both how the other felt. Both realized that their marriage dynamic had changed, and their new dynamic would be ultimately defined in the coming days. Dana knew that what had happened with Maddie and what was going to happen Saturday at Bridgit's was probably something she wouldn't be able to come back from. She already looked at herself differently and so did Mark. There was no telling what Maddie had planned for her and afterwards, who knows how the rest of the girls would view her. Any rational thinking person would have put an end to what was happening a long time ago. Dana wasn't a rational thinking person anymore though. She was too caught up in Maddie's spell.
Dana waited for instructions from Maddie but as the week went on, she didn't hear anything from her. In fact, she wasn't hearing from any of the other women either. Including Maddie and her, their little group consisted of five women. The other three women were slightly older than Dana and Maddie and all had children. Dana and Mark didn't have any kids and Maddie was the only one who wasn't married. In a typical week, there was usually a constant stream of group texts going back and forth amongst the women. But this week Dana wasn't receiving any texts from anyone.
Mark appeared to be receiving a plethora of texts, however. His phone was going off constantly. Dana didn't ask who the texts were from, and Mark didn't offer up an explanation on his own. Dana had her suspicions but hoped that it was just "the guys" texting him about sports or something.
By Friday, the day before Bridget's get together, Dana still had not heard anything from anyone. She was scared to contact Maddie and wasn't sure if she should reach out to Bridget or one of the other women. She had never gone this long without hearing from any of them.
When Dana got to work on Friday, she was met with her first surprise of the day. She entered her office and could feel everyone's eyes on her. As she looked around, none of her co-workers would return eye contact. She hadn't received any "good mornings" or greetings either, which was very unusual. This wasn't her imagination, and she knew something was wrong. Not too long after getting to her desk she was called into her boss, Mr. Henderson's office. When she entered, she immediately felt the hairs on the back of her neck stick up, because in the office was the head of Human Resources, Ms. Beatrice Hogman. She was an emotionless, prudish woman who lacked personality and any people skills whatsoever. Basically, an ideal choice for the head of an HR department.
"Dana, have a seat," Mr. Henderson said to her.
Dana sat down nervously, not knowing what was happening. As she did, her boss continued. "Dana, unfortunately we have a situation. We received an email from a client of yours, a Madeline Spencer."
When Mr. Henderson said Maddie's name, all the color from Dana's face drained and she turned white as a ghost. Dana was an insurance broker and Maddie, like all of her friends, was her client.
As her boss continued to speak, Dana could feel her heart pounding in her throat. "You see Dana, it's not that we received a complaint as for the reason you're in here right now. We get complaints all the time. It's what accompanied the complaint." As Mr. Henderson finished speaking Ms. Beatrice Hogman produced a picture and handed it to Dana. Upon seeing the photo Dana hoped that at that very moment lightning would strike her. The photo that Maddie had sent along with her complaint was the topless picture of herself she had taken and sent to Maddie earlier in the week.
Dana sat completely mortified as Mr. Henderson continued to explain that normally any pictures Dana chose to send to people of herself was her own business. This was different however, since "Ms. Spencer" was a client and this picture was clearly taken in the bathroom here at work, something that was confirmed by Ms. Beatrice Hogman based on the markings on the inside of the bathroom stall that can be seen in the photo. Because of those factors, this was very much a matter that needed to be addressed.
"Dana," her boss continued, "This Ms. Spencer stated in her letter that she was extremely distressed to receive this photo of you and doesn't understand why you sent it to her. Do you have an explanation?"
Dana tried to compose herself, but her voice cracked as she spoke. Obviously, she couldn't tell her boss and the head of human resources the truth so she came up with as plausible a lie as she could. She told her boss that she took the photo at work and meant to send it to her husband as a "treat" for him during the middle of his day. She must have sent it to "Ms. Spencer," inadvertently. Dana stated how unbelievably embarrassed she was and pleaded for forgiveness.
Ms. Beatrice Hogman wasn't impressed by Dana's explanation and told Dana as much. She recommended firing or at the least a lengthy suspension and counseling. Mr. Henderson, however, was more than satisfied with what he had heard from Dana. "See Beatrice, I told you there was a rational explanation for what happened." Mr. Henderson then looked at Dana, "That husband of yours is a very lucky man." He punctuated that last statement with a little bit of a laugh, something that made Dana feel rather uncomfortable.
"Thank you, Mr. Henderson," Dana replied. "Is there anything else?" Dana was hoping that she could leave the office and get back to work. Unfortunately for her, that wasn't the only bad news she was going to receive. Mr. Henderson informed Dana that apparently Ms. Spencer also sent the photo to every employee in the company.
At that moment Dana could feel herself becoming lightheaded. She started to hyperventilate, and Mr. Henderson got up from behind his desk and gave her some water to calm her down. Dana couldn't believe what she had just heard. Every person in her office had seen her breasts. It wasn't her imagination then that everyone was staring at her when she walked in.
Mr. Henderson told Dana maybe it would be best if she went home, and just started fresh next week. Dana didn't say anything, she just nodded, still stunned by that latest revelation. She did take note that Mr. Henderson took the photo out of her hands and instead of giving it back to Ms. Beatrice Hogman, he placed it in the top drawer of his desk.
When Dana left the office, she was again the center of everyone's attention. She quickly gathered her belongings and left the office and headed for her car. Once in her car she started to sob. She took out her phone and called Mark.
Through her tears she explained to Mark what Maddie had done to her at work and how incredibly embarrassed and humiliated she was. After she finished speaking Mark was quiet. Finally, Dana asked, "Aren't you going to say something?"
Mark calmly replied, "How did that make you feel?"
Dana exploded, "What do you mean how did that make me feel?! Everyone at work has seen my tits! How do you think it makes me feel?!"
Mark, still calm, spoke, "I mean how does it make you feel knowing that Maddie essentially exposed you to your entire office? Too bad you didn't get the chance to take that full nude Maddie wanted because she probably would have sent that picture."
"Mark! Don't!" Dana tried protesting Mark's line of questioning. She knew what he was trying to do, and she wasn't in the mood. At least she didn't think she was in the mood.
"What are you going to do? Call up Maddie and yell at her? Or are you going to accept it as just another case of Maddie making you suffer?
Dana stopped protesting and Mark could hear her breathing pick up. Mark told Dana to put her hands down her pants. "How wet are you?" He asked her.
"Very," was his wife's reply.
"Good," Mark said. "As much as I would love to listen to you get yourself off in your car, Maddie doesn't want you touching yourself without her permission until this weekend."
"Wait, you've spoken to Maddie?" Dana was surprised to hear.
