I was just finishing breakfast when I heard a light tap at my door. Nothing unusual you may think, but I live in a block of apartments and had only recently moved in. I hardly knew any of my neighbours. It was only natural then, that I should wonder who was at the door. My external intercom system hadn't beeped, so it was unlikely to be anyone I knew coming into the building, but I had a look at my security screen anyway, and was surprised to see the neighbour from the Penthouse, which was just one floor above my own apartment. I'd seen her occasionally, and although she always acknowledged my presence with a slight nod, we'd never spoken, which was almost standard for these types of apartment blocks. I opened the door. She smiled a smile which I presume was her most dazzling, it certainly dazzled me, my heart beat that little bit faster.
'Oh, thank God you're home,' she began. I smiled back, uncertain what was coming next. 'Our boiler seems to have broken down, and our water is freezing. I know it's an awful cheek, and I hate to ask, but could I possible use your shower? I have an important business meeting at 11 o'clock; it's an emergency or I wouldn't impose on you like this. Please.' she added. I opened the door wider and invited her in. What else could I do? When a beautiful stranger, tall, dark, and stunning asks a favour, I'm inclined to say yes, and I did. You of course would have told her to bugger off, right?
While she was showering, I loaded my breakfast dishes into the dishwasher and made a pot of coffee. I reckoned she might appreciate that, being in such an awful hurry and all, but the smell of fresh coffee is always a winner. I knew she was married, or at the very least had a partner. I'd seen them in the car park, with their matching Porches, occasionally exchanging a peck on the cheek as they left for work. He was something high powered in oil, and she, as far as I knew, helped run a public relations company, the biggest in the city. They had money, no doubt about it - the Penthouse apartment must have cost mega-bucks. My own apartment was expensive enough, but I knew theirs was way above my pay grade. At last the bathroom door opened and she appeared, hair damp, with that warm, fresh glow about her that comes from the shower room.
'Coffee?' I asked, holding up a cup, and she hesitated, then smiled
'Oh yes please, I'm so damned stressed,' she said, accepting my offer. 'I must look a sight, wet hair and no make-up?' I assured her that she looked marvellous, and she smiled again. I offered her toast, or something, but she declined, saying the coffee was just what she needed, adding that it was delicious. She knew how to be a charmer alright.
'The pictures in the bathroom - they're marvellous,' she said, just making conversation I presumed. 'Where did you get them, I'd love something similar for my own apartment or office,' she continued, so I thought perhaps her admiration was genuine after all. I was growing far too cynical in my old age I thought. I rose from my chair and walked across the apartment, beckoning her to follow, leading her into my office/workroom. On my desk, the angled drawing board contained a picture very similar to the ones she'd just seen in the bathroom. 'Oh my god, you're an artist,' she exclaimed in surprise. 'You're a bloody genius, they're fantastic.' I fairly glowed with pride, basking in her praise.
'Just an illustrator, but it pays well, and I can work from home,' I explained, which wasn't quite true, because I owned the magazine I was illustrating for. It was a Fetish and BDSM magazine; work I'd almost fallen into a few years before, through some friends, but I'd identified a gap in the market, and the growing Fetish scene had lapped up the chance to have a high-class erotic magazine that catered for their specialist interests. The illustration on the drawing board was a simple picture of a submissive woman being spanked, a more or less standard subject, but making them appear different was the trick.
'It's not just an illustration,' she protested, 'It's a work of art. I've always liked this kind of thing,' she added enthusiastically. 'I find that whole fetish world fascinating, although I'm not involved personally you understand,' she said, back-peddling almost as soon as she realised what she'd just said. I looked into her eyes then, saying nothing. She blushed, and with no make-up, it couldn't be hidden.
'But you like the idea?' I almost accused her. She looked away, and said nothing, so I decided to let it slip.
'I find it strangely intriguing, but only from an intellectual viewpoint, and as I said, it's not something I've been involved with personally.' she admitted, her voice sounding rather less confident and distinctly shaky.