Authors note: all characters in this story are over 18 years old (ages are given within Chapters 1 or 2).
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Tuesday 11 July
The following morning Mike and Jessica felt more rested than the day before, and left for work in a better frame of mind. Jessica also found that her concentration had improved. Her thoughts still strayed to Geoff from time to time, but it was less pressing and so not as distracting. She left her workplace promptly at four and found Ellie waiting for her outside, as arranged. They walked the short distance along the high street to the town's shopping area and made for the main clothes shops. They took their time looking but both made the purchases they wanted just before the shops closed.
Jessica had found herself drawn to a classic 'little black dress'. She knew that, with her long blonde hair, black always made a striking contrast, although this dress was not the sort of thing she would usually have bought, mainly because it was extremely tight and short. It would show her curves and her legs off in a display that would normally have caused her embarrassment. It suddenly struck Jessica that it was very similar to the dress that she had first seen Caitlin wearing, except that hers had been green rather than black.
Given the tightness of the fit, the dress would show any panty line, so Jessica also purchased a lacy -- and tiny -- black thong and a matching bra. She decided that she didn't need new shoes; the stilettos she had worn yesterday would do nicely. She was pleased with the outfit. She thought that Ge ... umm... Mike, yes, she meant Mike of course ..., would be bound to like it, showing her figure off as it did.
Despite this she still felt embarrassed enough not to show it to Ellie. After all she would see it tomorrow evening anyway. This caused no difficulty as her friend seemed no keener to show what she had bought. Jessica knew that the 19-year-old was not normally one for dressing up. Ellie was more of a comfortable jeans and baggy t-shirt kind of a girl, so Jessica was intrigued to know what she had chosen, but she would just have to wait.
Jessica did show her outfit to Mike and he was just as appreciative as she had hoped, declaring that she looked extremely sexy. Despite this there was no such passion as they had shown for the previous two nights. They seemed to mutually agree they needed to rest and went to bed early, with no more than a kiss and a cuddle before they fell asleep.
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Wednesday 12 July
The next day Jessica returned directly home after work and prepared a light evening meal. She had time to shower before Mike got home. They ate their meal, then Mike went to shower, while Jessica went through the lengthy process of getting ready to go out, putting on her new outfit, carefully applying her makeup and ensuring her hair was looking good.
Mike had finished his shower, dried himself and donned a 'smart casual' shirt, slacks and jacket combination well before Jessica was satisfied with her own appearance. Somehow, without saying anything, Mike and Jessica had both accepted they wanted to look their best and make a positive impression tonight.
The July evening was warm and Jessica decided that she wouldn't need a jacket. Besides she was only going to be just across the road from her house, she could always send Mike to fetch one if necessary. So, she just added her shoulder bag and promptly at 7.30pm they made the short journey to the neighbouring house. The stream of other residents of Park Drive heading in the same direction suggested that most had also taken up the invitation to meet the new owner of Park Manor.
While they had been out a work, a large marquee tent had been delivered and erected in the Manor's back garden. Jessica and Mike made their way around the side of the house and entered the marquee. Catering staff were present, some laying out light snacks on a line of white cloth-covered trestle tables on one side of tent while others circulated, offering red or white wine, fruit juices and water to the guests. Mike and Jessica accepted a glass of white wine each.
The marquee had a second opening at the rear, allowing the guests to enter the extensive gardens behind the manor house and wander freely. Chairs had been placed outside for the older guests, or those who just wanted to sit and enjoy the fresh air and summer evening.
In keeping with the demographic of Park Drive, the great majority of the guests ranged from their 40s to their 60s in age. Mike and Jessica chatted pleasantly to a few couples they slightly knew.
There was as yet no sign of their host, but all four of the lady residents were present, circulating and talking to the guests or greeting new arrivals. They were reasonably demurely clad, in light summer dresses, but there was no disguising their beauty and all four were drawing admiring glances from many of the men present, accompanied by the occasional look of annoyance from some of their wives. Jessica was conscious that in her slinky black dress, she was also attracting a certain amount of male attention.
Then Mike pointed out that Ellie and her parents were just arriving, so they went over to greet them. Jessica was fairly stunned at Ellie's appearance. She had rarely seen her friend in anything other than baggy tops and jeans which covered pretty much all of her from the neck down. Now Ellie was wearing a pair of very tight, very short, shorts and a crop-top that didn't cover much more than her breasts. Apart from that, all she was wearing was trainers, pop-socks and some wrist bangles and a necklace.
Ellie had to be showing a good 80% of her beautiful coffee-coloured skin, and what was revealed was sexy indeed; flat tummy, long legs and a well-honed body. Jessica wondered why her friend had hidden herself for so long and then noticed that Mike was gawping at Ellie rather too openly. She prodded her husband in the ribs and whispered "I'll speak to you later!" although actually she couldn't blame him for looking.
They had been talking to Ellie and Mr and Mrs Walcott for only a couple of minutes when they were interrupted by Caitlin. She had mounted a small podium, just large enough for a single person, that had been set up with a microphone.
"Hello everyone, welcome to Park Manor and we hope you are enjoying yourselves," Caitlin said in her soft Irish accent. "Before you go back to the food, drink and company, Mr Mills as your host would just like to say a few words."
Geoff Mills made his way through the crowd toward the podium and Jessica realised for the first time that he must have been present for a while. Unlike the four beautiful women he lived with, he was not designed to attract attention; aged 30-something, average height, average weight, average looks, average brown hair and eyes, wearing an expensive sports jacket, slacks and shirt, which somehow managed to look ...well ... average on him.
He mounted the podium and took the mic from Caitlin. Jessica wondered why this man had made such as impression on her. Then he began to speak ...
Instantly their host commanded the attention of everyone in the room. Conversation stopped and all turned to look. He didn't say anything especially interesting that Jessica could later recall. In fact, it was hard to remember exactly what he had said, but his voice was so deep, so rich, so charming that it had a hypnotic quality all its own. To listen to it made you feel good, like you were being praised and reassured and encouraged all at once. And you wanted to please the speaker, to do what would make him happy, to obey his commands.
When he stopped speaking, everyone applauded; there were even a few cheers. Then the party resumed, but with a new babble of excited conversation. The crowd were happier, more content, more cheerful.
