Note: All characters are at least 18 years old. If a story about an arrogant, highly successful lawyer experiencing a brutal social downgrade -- including being cuckolded and emasculated and becoming a sissified maid to his own family and former colleagues -- is not your cup of tea, please read no further. If you are incapable of suspending your disbelief and/or feel the need to constantly project what YOU would do in similar circumstances to what the protagonist is experiencing, please read no further. Otherwise, please enjoy! Constructive feedback is always appreciated.
As winter turned into spring, I took stock of the fact that a year had passed since Jason and Lauren engineered my downfall--or (why mince words?) my enslavement.
Finalization of Lauren's and my divorce took a little longer than expected, but it became official the last week of March. Jason and Lauren celebrated with a romantic, candlelit dinner for two at the mansion. Wearing one my most formal serving uniforms, I served them champagne, followed by the beef bourguignon I had prepared along with one of the best bottles of wine from my former wine cellar (2010 Chateau Rayas Chateauneuf Du Pape Reserve). I stood at attention by their table as they ate, kissed and talked about their future together. I was not invited to join them in the bedroom that night.
As they walked off to their bedroom after dinner, Lauren looked over her shoulder and said to me, "Nice job with dinner tonight, Gregory. You are a much better maid than you ever were a husband, or a father."
"Thank you, mistress," I replied, curtsying, surprised to feel tears well up in my eyes.
While I was not presented with an Easter bunny costume at Easter (to my pleasant surprise), I did not escape the holiday free of humiliation with respect to my attire. As I rushed around the kitchen, putting the finishing touches on Easter Sunday dinner (glazed ham, grilled asparagus, scalloped potatoes and deviled eggs), I had to be careful not to spill anything on my on the lavender maid's uniform that Lauren laid out on my mattress that morning while I was cleaning. Satin with white petticoats with a matching lavender and white lace choker, I wore my it with my usual sheer, seamed black stockings and 3 inch heels.
Amanda was correct that Lauren quite fancied the look of a choker around my neck; she purchased me several in different styles and colors to go with my various uniforms (some with little ribbons tied into bows on the front). I think Lauren and Amanda both liked the fact that a choker resembles a collar, so denotes yet another level of ownership and submission (as if the uniform itself were not enough). I intensely disliked the confining feeling around my neck and was worried that I would be compelled to wear them during the summer; even without them, I found it oppressively hot last summer in my uniform and stockings, especially when serving outdoors with no air conditioning.
Besides Lauren, Jason, Amanda and Ryan, Easter dinner was to also include Penny and her boyfriend, George. Jason worked closely with Penny at the firm, and both Lauren and Amanda (who was about the same age as Penny) took a liking to her. I had to wonder if their bonding might also have something to do with Penny's undisguised enthusiasm for witnessing, and participating in, my humiliation. When the doorbell rang, I hurried to answer it.
While Penny had always managed to dress fairly stylishly on her paralegal budget, there was a distinct change in the quality of her apparel since George had entered her life. Today, she was wearing an unmistakably expensive floral print dress with stockings and high heels. George, who wore nerdy, black glasses, was dressed effeminately in a white V-neck sweater with a pink bow tie and tight white pants. Penny handed me a bottle of Dom Perignon to chill in the refrigerator.
"Good afternoon, Miss Penny, sir." After escorting them to the sitting room, where Jason, Lauren, Amanda, and Ryan were already enjoying a cocktail, I said, "Please make yourself comfortable. May I get you both a drink? We have some champagne already open, if that is acceptable."
"Get me a glass of white wine," ordered Penny.
I curtsied and said, "Right away, Miss Penny. Sir, what is your pleasure?"
I don't think George knew what to make of me, or the entire situation for that matter. He said, shyly, "Oh, I guess I'll have a glass of white wine too, please."
"George, there's no need to say please to the help," said Penny with an annoyed expression.
"I'm sorry," George replied, looking ashamed.
When I served him his drink, curtsying, he said, "Thank you."
Penny snapped at him, "What did I just tell you about how to address the help? You don't say please or thank you. This is Jenkins's job. He is the maid. Don't embarrass me."
George repeated, "I'm sorry," looking down.
Sensing the tension, Lauren interjected, "Penny's quite right, dear. Pleasantries are completely unnecessary when interacting with the help. I love those shoes, Penny! Are they Jimmy Choos?"
"They are!", beamed Penny. "George bought them for me yesterday at Saks as an Easter gift along with this dress."
"Gorgeous. The dress looks great on you," said Amanda.
Penny replied, "Thanks. I love the shoes but I'm still trying to break them in and my feet hurt a little bit. George, would you mind giving me a little massage?" Penny threw her feet up onto George's lap. He removed her shoes and began massaging her stocking-clad right foot.
After a moment, Penny said, "Most of the pain is in my heel. You really can't get good pressure on the heel unless I elevate my feet. It might be better for you to massage them from the floor, George."