This is a work of fiction. Unless otherwise showed, all the names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents in this story are the product of the author's imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
Part 9: Moral Flexibility and Black Widows
I picked up Nicole and Julie from their indoctrination, and they told me all about their days. Nicole finished up her tests and sat through training, explaining the hierarchy of the Assassins and the company. The way she talked about it sounded like your standard training when starting a new job. Julie took her tests and was able to finish them quickly; it had taken her mother over a day to finish hers. Julie told me they gave her abbreviated tests, saying spouses didn't have to take all of them. They were both to return tomorrow morning, and Susan had requested me to be there. I thought little it and drove home.
When we arrived, we were greeted with the smell of dinner cooking. It was late afternoon, and the sun cast long shadows through the windows and we stepped through them into the living room. Nicole and Julie waked back to change into their corsets. I walked to the kitchen to see what Beth was concocting on the stove. She was standing at the counter peeling carrots, wearing her corset and apron. I had seen her for years in the same position doing the same thing, but now she was doing it sexualized. I paused, not knowing exactly how I felt about that. She looked amazing, but I wanted more for her. I wanted her to be happy; was she? After seeing what I did today, I questioned what I was doing to the women and why I was doing it. Was it the club, or was it me? Annie was still in my head.
We all sat down and ate, and the ladies noticed my attention was elsewhere. I explained to them what had happened this afternoon, and I told them all about Tiffany and Annie and what I had witnessed.
"Rich, I know that's hard." Beth explained, "That's part of the life of a club member, though. I don't like it, but it's how we live. You can't save everyone. You're a sweet man, and I worry that this life will take a toll on you, but you have to harden yourself to all of this. It is ultimately your decision how you treat the women you come across, as well as us."
"It's that bad?" Julie asked. "I mean, these women will be sold if they can't come around? That is sad."
"Julie, we could have been those women, or worse." Nicole answered, "Bob tried to sell us, and Susan told us we would have been in that facility tonight if Rich hadn't come along. Thank you again Rich for helping us."
"Nicole, I did what I think anyone would do." I answered, "I saw you two in trouble, and I had to help. If I can be honest with you, I questioned whether rescuing you was any better than what you were going through. You're now the property of the club and even I can't do anything about that. The only thing I can do is be there for you all and hopefully shield you from what I saw today, or worse."
"Yes, Rich, I've had the same question." Nicole admitted, " I can't express how relieved I am to be rid of Bob in our lives. I have to admit, however, that I have reservations about what this new life will bring us. You're eighteen, just a kid, and while I am fond of you, I do have doubts about what you can do to protect us. The euphoria of getting rid of Bob is wearing off and I'm left with the reality that I now find myself in."
Nicole continued. "I will be obedient, and I will make myself available to you as the club requires, but you're right, it's almost the same as what I was doing with Bob; it's a distinction without a difference. I hope I'm not overstepping, and I don't want to make you feel guilty, but I feel somewhat used. We have to walk around practically naked at home; you don't think that we like that, do you?"
"For the record, I don't have a problem with it." Julie said, looking at Nicole. "I enjoy looking sexy for Rich."
"Julie, he's your boyfriend; that's expected." Nicole answered, "I'm speaking for myself, and possibly Beth. We are women, not a love-struck girl. I'm fond of you, Rich, and you've treated us much better than Bob did. I enjoy the sex, but that's my body telling me that. My head is telling me I should run out the door and take my chances. I know I can't, and I would put Julie in a dangerous position if I did, so I stay."
"Nicole, I know how you feel." Beth broke in. "I've been in the club for many years, and listening to you is bringing back those feelings I had when I started. Rich said he would try to shield you; that's what Brian did for me. I experienced nothing negative until he died. I would have sex with other men while Brian was still alive, but that wasn't often, and it was just sex. I would always return home with Brian, and our lives continued. I've grown accustomed to the subservience and being treated less than the men. I can't say that you will grow to accept it, but it will get easier."
Is this what I wanted for these three ladies? I loved Julie, I loved Beth, and I was growing to like Nicole more. Would their lives be nothing more than accepting their fate, never truly enjoying themselves. Would life be just striving to reach a point of equilibrium; just able to survive? Is that even a life worth living? It certainly wasn't a life I wanted for them, and I was their guardian. I was one of the people responsible for putting them in that position.
After dinner, we all adjourned to the living room. We took the night off from sex. I wasn't in the mood and had a lot on my mind. I told the women they could dress casually. As I looked around the room, I realized I didn't need the corsets to be turned on. Even in those sweats that she's worn for years, Beth looked amazing. I saw her in them often but never thought of her in that way before. Nicole had on her nightly covered by a long robe. She still looked amazing, and more than anything I wanted to prove to her I could protect her. Julie had on shorts and a t-shirt, both hugging her body. She looked sexy, and to me, she always has.
I didn't know what I would do about the home attire. I didn't need it to find them attractive, yet I enjoyed seeing them dressed that way. My attraction to the women was slowly changing from visual to emotional. It had only been a couple of days, but I was becoming quite close to all of them on that level. A lot has happened during those short days.
I still believed dressing in the corsets put them in the correct mindset to accept their subservience and a constant reminder of their position. I had to figure out what was more important; the club's requirements of them, or my desire to give them what they wanted. And what would I do if those two things didn't align? We passed the rest of the evening watching some shows and went to bed early. We all needed some sleep.
