We do not always see what is right under our noses...
My name is Mark, and at the time of this experience, I was about 40 years old. I am nothing to shout about in the looks department, being fairly tall, 6'6" to be precise, reasonably fit from playing rugby regularly, and being generously endowed.
I was also single at the time, my ex-wife having left me for someone not married to their business, which regularly saw me putting in 12–14 hour days. I loved my work, which is the reason she left me, but hey, that was my own fault!
I own and run a small but profitable insurance brokerage, which has grown in the ten years of my control.
Within the business, I employ three insurance agents, two administrators, and an office manager/PA by the name of Tracey, the star of this story.
As the business started to grow, Tracey was the first person I employed, and she very quickly took on all the administrative functions of the office, and over time she had become invaluable to me, my right hand lady!
Over the years, I got Tracey more involved in the business, and came to request and accept her opinions and advice on most matters, from business decisions to employment of new staff members. Perhaps it was her female intuition but she rarely made a bad decision.
Although Tracey was ten years my junior, she was very bright, good for the business but also very naïve in some ways.
Tracey stood about five feet two inches tall, weighed 115lbs, had a beautiful head of bouncy blonde hair, and all her curves were in the right places!
She was also single, never having a long-term relationship, which over the years surprised me.
At the time of this event, business was good, so there was a need to find larger premises. Nothing too big, but big enough to cope with my growing staff. I also wanted high street frontage and room for expansion.
We put feelers out, talking to a number of real estate agents with whom we had good relations. Very soon, Tracey came up with a shortlist of three properties.
One I eliminated straight away, which left two for Tracey to view. Unfortunately, my work schedule prevented me from visiting any sites with her.
However, I trusted Tracey. She knew the area very well, and the building survey went well, so I felt quite confident with her recommendation.
Friday came and I completed the purchase, picked up the keys from the estate agents, and after locking the old office, went to have a look at our new premises.
Having been empty for some time it was full of dust and cobwebs but it was mine! It was a step in the right direction for my business. I was feeling quite proud of myself!
Just as I was taking in a deep breath, sticking my chest out, feeling very happy with myself, the front door pushed opened, and in came Tracey, along with a bottle of bubbly and two glasses.
"I couldn't let you celebrate alone!" She boasted, stepping inside with a smile on her face almost as broad as mine.
Gone was her normal business suit, having been replaced by a short sleeve T shirt and mini-skirt, both of which fit like a glove!
It suddenly dawned on me how pleased I was she was here to capture the moment with me.
We opened the bubbly and drank a toast. Then I wanted to explore. I had purchased this property sight unseen, so I wanted to see what I got for the money. With Tracey and the bubbly in tow, we looked around.
It was a two-storey building; three offices were upstairs, all very normal. The show room, storeroom, and kitchen were on the street level. At least that's what the paperwork described.
Whilst looking in the storeroom, a wooden panel caught my eye. After closer inspection and moving some old file boxes, the panel looked to be held in place by some sliding bolts.
After a curious glance between the two of us, I slid the bolts, revealing a door, hidden behind the wooden panel.
My heart was pounding as I leaned against the door, twisting the knob until it opened. After a bit of searching I found a light switch, which when turned on revealed a set of steps leading down to a basement.
I had purchased a three-storey building and certainly wanted to see what was in the basement.
As I carefully walked down the flight of steps with Tracey looking over my shoulder it became apparent the previous owner had used this space for activities unrelated to their business!
To our surprise, in the centre of the room was a king sized bed. Various racks were on the sidewalls. There was a separate toilet, sink and shower area and something rather unique that caught my eye, a set of old fashioned village stocks!
The ones where a person would be bent at the waist with their head put in a centre opening and the wrists put into two opposite holes, rendering them helpless once it was closed and locked!
Tracey, in her naivety said, "A bedroom, obviously the previous owner stayed here from time to time."
I was holding back laughter at her innocence. She was completely oblivious to the fact that this was the previous owner's private dungeon! Hence the reason why it was so well hidden.
"What are those wooden things over there?" She asked, pointing to the stocks! "What are they doing in a bedroom?"
"They are called stocks," I answered blankly. I did not know if I should be laughing or be embarrassed.
"Well, what are they doing in a bedroom, and what are they for?" She questioned.
Rather than trying to explain, I thought I would show her, so I opened the stocks and beckoned her over to me.
"Come over here and stand on this box, bend at the waist and put your head and hands into the holes."
Even at this stage, nothing more than showing Tracey how the stocks worked was going through my mind, but that was soon to change.
Standing on the box, she duly bent at the waist putting her head and hands into the appropriate openings, whereupon I closed the stock rendering her helpless.
The stocks were designed not to be too uncomfortable so Tracey was able to talk to me without any discomfort what so ever.
"I still can't work out why someone would have some stocks in their bedroom," she commented again.
