It was Helen's turn to drive to the party and she was telling him about several weeks of hypnotherapy that helped her stop smoking. It had been a complete cure and thought he would be pleased. It had been a mistake telling her husband though.
Nigel became angry seeing it as deceit. He thought it was a deceit but it certainly wasn't her opinion of the situation. It was just his pride that had been dented. He already resented her position as managing director of her late fathers company and this revelation was yet another slight to his pride.
She had grown up with a powerful father and still felt a man should make the decisions but that didn't happen between them. In his opinion he was a natural leader but he wasn't tough, or at least as ruthless as her father.
Helen wasn't looking forward to his company's gathering. It was a large international corporation with too many self important pompous people on its staff. Not only that, he had been spending all hours working at gaining a promotion until she felt neglected.
Why didn't they stay home and spend some time together? She knew the answer to that before it was asked. He needed to be there to mingle and be seen as a company man. He wanted promotion to prove something to her.
Perhaps that's why she revealed the little secret on the drive to the party, knowing it would annoy him. She was twenty-nine and attractive so why did she have to make so much effort to attract him? He was seven years older than her and was taking an attractive young wife for granted.
In an attempt to placate him she suggested he could trigger the hypnosis tonight after the party. All he had to do was say the phrase and she would be his to command. It was said partly to appease him but mostly to regain his interest.
Saying it with a saucy wink she thought to bring him out of the fractious mood. Taking his silence for approval of the idea she assumed he was thinking it through so gave him some encouragement.
She quietly mentioned it would be possible for her to leave off inhibitions and so do what ever he wanted. She told him the phrase mistakenly thinking he too had a naughty image of them together in the bedroom.
As the words left her lips she began to feel a flutter within at the idea of him using her in the bedroom for his own gratification. He could use her to fulfil his fantasies while she was under his complete control. The thought left her with a buzz of excitement.
Nigel had been thinking about her state of weakness but not in the same way she had. "You fool, are you a complete idiot? Why did you let some stranger hypnotise you?" He seethed, trying not to shout but the anger was plainly there. His fists were clenched tight and he was almost shaking with anger.
At the front door of the party he was in danger of being discovered ranting like a maniac. The door opened and he forced a smile at the maid.
***
She was in no mood to make small talk with his colleagues who were neither friends, nor shared anything in common to become friends. Despite having a wealthy father she hadn't gained the confidence to attend such functions. Rather the strategy was to hide away in a corner avoiding everyone.
Toward the end of the evening the boss decided everyone had to take a turn at providing the entertainment. One tiresome individual recited poetry while others warbled a song or danced or cracked corny jokes. Nigel's party piece however was well received.
He whispered into Helen's ear taking her by complete surprise, leaving her standing in a state of deep suggestion. At first everyone thought it a joke so he had to push a little further until they became impressed with his power over her.
They laughed when she waddled around like a penguin and barked like a dog on all fours. They cheered when she juggled oranges almost making it to four in the air at once. For the finale they whooped when she raised her dress to become a Parisian Can-Can dancer.
He thought it a laugh to see her performing silly pranks and asked someone in the small audience to suggest tricks for his victim to perform. At least this gentle humiliation had mollified him, putting him in a genial mood, as getting his own way always did.
'If my employees saw me like this I'd die of embarrassment.' She thought.
***
Returning a drink from the bar Helen noticed a woman she knew from the company's last Christmas party. She remembered the two of them had danced rather close and it was all so obvious, yet he was too stupid to notice, she was after him. She was laughing at his lame jokes, flashing her eyes every time he looked into them and the hussy was pointing her breasts at him.
She summed up the situation in the short time it took to squeeze through the crowd with his drink. Helen handed it to him and stood patiently waiting. When they arrived home Helen would make her husbands life hell. Listening to the braying laugh she thought perhaps he knew it too. It sounded hollow as though he weren't enjoying the party as much as he pretended.
***
"You two put on a good show! Where did you learn to dance like that?" The woman asked.
Helen took offence at the imperious tone as though such an act was beneath the woman. She remembered her name now, Margo that was it.
Helen just stood there placidly ignoring her.
"Have I said something wrong?"Margo asked.
"She's still hypnotised." He said, breaking the stony silence.
"So you really did hypnotise her, how impressive Nigel. Can I order her to do something? Will she fetch me a drink?" She gushed.
"Of course she will." He beamed a silly grin.
The stupid man, she just wants me out of the way. At least I don't have to make inane small talk with this witch.
"Hang on a moment though I need to speak to William, I won't be long will you look after her till I get back? Helen you will obey Margo. So be a good girl and do as you're told." He commanded with authority, trying to impress the stuck-up witch.
Helen was astonished at his callous behaviour. Being handed over to this flirty woman's care like a feeble pet was demeaning and she felt humiliated at being abandoned. If they ever owned a pet dog she would never put it into kennels after this.
