My eyes were already open, and "waking up" was sort of like having a sheer drapery pulled aside in my mind. All of a sudden, I could THINK again. My body still sort of throbbed with sexual longing... especially my breasts and nipples... and my lips. But the REST of my body felt as if I'd just arisen from a long, afternoon nap. I put my arms over my head and stretched like a cat; and when I looked over at Belinda, she was doing the same. I abruptly found that ridiculous in the extreme... and we both burst into laughter.
But my glee was short lived. I rounded on Tony. "Where's my flower?"
He looked genuinely startled. "What?"
"My flower! I was holding a flower! Where is it?!"
I got the feeling that he had thought himself in control of the situation, but this took him completely by surprise. "I... I don't know."
"There!" Belinda exclaimed, pointing.
People were milling all around, but I quickly strode a few steps and fell to my knees, scooping up the long-stemmed rose. Tony was beside me now, and I held it up toward him in both hands. Tears flooded my eyes. "Somebody stepped on it!" The stem was broken at about the midpoint.
I was really surprised to find Belinda on her knees beside me. "It's okay, honey," she said quietly. "It's not damaged too badly. Just hold it up here and it'll be okay."
Tony was leaning over us, scratching his head. "Just throw it away. I'll get you another one."
I skewered him with a withering look, and he actually staggered back a step. When I sighed and glanced back, I discovered that Belinda was looking daggers at him, too. She rose to her feet and then helped me up. "Mr. Bionicci," she explained, "can't you see that someone special gave it to her? It can't be replaced! She's in love!"
"Jeez, Betty," he said in awe. "How long were you with him? Half an hour?"
"I am NOT in love with him," I replied. "It's just that... "
Belinda barked a laugh. "Get real, girl! Nobody goes into apoplexy over a flower like that for any other reason. You got it bad!" I didn't reply to that, but instead lapsed into silence, considering.
Tony took advantage of that to paste on his "executive" face again. He turned to Belinda and said: "Thank for your help tonight. I want you back here tomorrow, like I told you before. Betty and I have some things to talk about now. Goodnight."
She glanced around nervously at the people who were wandering about us, back in "party mode," and then she looked down and blushed. "Mr. Bionicci, thank you SO much for letting me keep my job."
"You're not going to keep your job," he said sternly. "You'll be working in another capacity altogether with Tim, Terry and Tom. I'm going to let THEM decide what to do with you."
She flushed a deeper shade, unable to keep eye-contact. I'd begun to think of her as a sexual predator, but she suddenly seemed extremely subservient. "Yes, sir. Thank you for letting me stay in the company, then. I'll do anything you say, sir. Anything. But... sir?" He didn't respond verbally, but indicated for her to continue with a motion of his fingers. "Do I have to ride one of the buses home?" she pleaded. "I feel... awfully self-conscious about riding with the others. Can someone take me?"
He thought for a second. "Go upstairs to the room you had your little... indiscretion in. You'll sleep there tonight. I'll come and get you when I want you." She stood there, blinking her big eyes at him questioningly. "Now!" he barked. And she literally ran across the room and up the stairs, her high heels clacking noisily. Several people paused and watched until she was out of sight.
"I like her, Tony," I said quietly. "Do you have to be so rough on her?"
"Yes. We have a relaxed, quiet workforce here. So, when something like this happens, I have to make an example. Everyone has to know that it won't be tolerated." He took my arm. "Now, let's go outside to the garden. I need to talk to you."
I kept my feet planted. "I... I'd like to go back upstairs, please. I promised Billy I'd be back."
He put his arm around my waist and applied pressure until I had to walk with him to the back door. "I'll take you back up there myself. But first, we need to talk."
I'd never been to the garden before. It was lushly planted, illuminated with low light, and it was very quiet, away from the party inside. The air was fragrant in the still summer night air. There were benches scattered everywhere, but he led me to one at the furthest reaches of the fenced area. He sat very close beside me.
"You... you're sort of making me uncomfortable, Tony. You're my best friend's lover."
He barked a gentle laugh. "You are very, very attractive, Betty. But I give you my word I'll remain true to Riya. I'll make no pass at you tonight... or ever."
"What do you want, then?"
He reached up and put a finger on my chin, turning my face toward him. He looked as if he intended to kiss me. My lips parted to complain, and then froze in that position as he said: "Look at me and relax, now. Relax. Just relax for me." And in my peripheral vision, I saw his other hand rise, his fingers poised.
"No!" I managed to moan. But then... SNAP! A wave of immense weariness crashed down on me. My eyes closed, and I couldn't help sagging forward toward him. I struggled and fought until I could force my eyes open again, and even then, they were hooded and heavy. "No," I managed to mumble again.
He put his finger back under my chin, and I was obliged to look into his smiling eyes. "You have been under this influence too many times tonight... and too recently. This is too familiar to you now. You want it too much. You cannot resist me." He paused and seemed to take great pleasure in watching me wrestle with it. "You are not a fighter, Betty. You never have been. You have always let others lead you. You've always let others fight your battles; but, that is not a sin. There is nothing wrong with being yourself. You are weak... but there is no offense in weakness. So... I want you to be who you really are... and I want you to surrender to me. NOW!"
With a soft moan, I allowed my eyes to close... allowed my body to slump forward and settle into his arms... allowed my mind to capitulate and sleep. Sleep. Oh, glorious sleep! Why had I fought him? I was born to yield to this feeling. This was not like when I had been semi-awake and bare before the crowd. Now, I was DEEP. He spoke to me, and I heard, but I couldn't discern his words. I found myself nodding at times.