The Clients
She stood almost to attention in Margaret's kitchen, as though she were a dutiful and innocent girl-scout.
'You look very smart for a Sunday morning. Overdressed, or are you trying to make a point? Perhaps you should have come to the party dressed like that. But of course, you needed to present yourself as a willing slut, to get the boys,' Margaret jeeringly said.
Jane felt foolish and apprehensive. This woman could crush her good reputation by revealing that sordid episode. There was nothing that could be said to defend herself, so she kept silent. She looked crestfallen, with eyes averted, unable to face the tormentor.
'You can change into the maids uniform. You did bring it back, didn't you?' Margaret asked.
'Yes . . . Ma'am,' Jane answered.
She hesitated over using the humbling term with a neighbour and social inferior. It was hoped the neighbour had calmed down, and ease off humiliating her. There again, she needed that damn pill to avoid the horrendous prospect of becoming pregnant from when the woman's son took her.
'I'm glad you didn't steal it, like my jewellery,' Margaret chided her victim.
'I didn't . . .' she began to reply.
'Don't try to deny anything you did last night. My son told me all about it. Are you a kleptomaniac? I need to know, if you're going to work here as my maid,' Margaret haughtily stated.
'No! It was all a mistake, honest, ma'am,' Jane protested.
The harridan's words sank in, that she was expected to work as a maid. The objectionable idea cut short the protest. How could this offensive woman expect her to work as a humble maid? Especially for the likes of her!
If anything, Jane had a higher status in the community, yet she was to be treated like a lowly servant. The woman actually used a supercilious tone of voice to rub in their new relationship. As much as she tried, it was impossible to gain say the idea. There was a need within her to be punished, and if this was it, so be it.
'You entered my home dressed like a slut, danced lewdly with teenagers, tried to steal my jewellery, then screwed my son to keep him quiet,' Margaret rebuked her, with a wagging finger.
The list of transgressions was growing, as it would all the more, if the squalid story became subject to common gossip. Jane's shoulders sagged, and she stifled a sob. How could she refuse this woman's punishment, however humiliating it might be. She needed that damn pill!
'Sorry, ma'am,' Jane murmured.
The words were entirely inadequate for how she felt. Shouting her innocence was pointless, as Margaret made it clear her mind was made up, with nothing else to be said. She shuffled her feet awkwardly, willing to change into the cheap nylon garment as an excuse to escape from the tormentor. Before she could back away to the spare bedroom to change, Margaret started to harangue her again.
'What does that make you?' she asked. 'I mean, giving your body to my son to cover up a theft. What does that make you? I want to know you understand your position here,' she goaded.
'A bad person. I'm a stupid slut, ma'am. . . ' Jane broke off with tears in her eyes. It was only too true. She felt it hit hard. How stupidly and how badly she had behaved nagged at her. What was so damning is that she enjoyed the sex.
'Continue!' Margaret quietly said.
She was intensely watching the woman physically shrinking before her. In two minds whether to let go, or push harder, she reminded herself of what this woman had done to her business. Her opinion hardened enough to decide on grinding her down.
Jane took a deep breath, ready to declare her repentance. 'I'm a disgusting slut, ma'am. Undeserving of your forgiveness. Ready to be punished for my wrongdoing, and be your humble servant, ma'am.'
Margaret was stunned. How could this woman be so pathetic? She was old fashioned, highly moral, and self-important. Yet here she was, debasing herself. Maybe that was it. She had shocked herself so deeply, she needed to be chastised for that dirty behaviour last night. Well, she would help her out, by rubbing her nose in the dirt.
'Off you go then, maid. Don't dawdle, maid!' Margaret sarcastically spoke.
Margaret made a show of shooing her away with a dismissive wave of a hand. It was so amusing having this arrogant neighbour at her mercy, that she decided to make full use of her. Not the she expect this new found humbleness to last long. It was surprising the woman had buckled under so easily, though she was sure to rebel sooner or later. In the meantime it would be interesting to see how low she was willing to crawl.
Jane prepared lunch, served it to her mistress, cleaned up the kitchen, then returned for further directions. Receiving a constant stream of precise instructions, as though she were a simpleton, wore her down. Jane stood before the tough woman, looking down at her feet, feeling sorry for herself. In reparation she was ready to obey the humblest of orders. The demeaning position of neighbours maid, was indeed a punishment.
She began to realise the humbling retribution was going to be dragged out over the whole weekend. The embarrassment couldn't be endured any longer than that. She missed what Margaret said while daydreaming, her only means of escaping the dreadful woman.
'Pay attention! You are to prepare dinner for a prospective client. Nothing fancy. Just home cooking, because men appreciate it when away from home. You will serve us this evening. Don't worry! He's from out of town, so won't recognise you,' Margaret smiled.
'You will be on your best behaviour, serving as my humble maid to impress him. Do you understand?'
'Yes, ma'am,' Jane dutifully answered.
She didn't like the idea of being shown up in front of someone, though, as he was a stranger it would be less of a burden.
'That cheap thing will have to go. This morning I bought something more suitable to your duties,' Margaret stated. 'Follow me,' she brusquely added.
In a spare bedroom, Jane stripped off the cheap overall. The nervousness of being naked in front of a neighbour, was made worse on catching sight of the clothes. It was certainly a maid's outfit, though more suited to a porn movie than a dinner party.
The dress fitted her well, too well. It confirmed rumours that Margaret used nefarious methods to gain new business. Being used in a sordid plan to distract some businessman with her body was reprehensible.
The little black dress would have just about covered her thighs, except it was held up by stiff layers of petticoats. She could feel how tightly the sheer panties clung to her cheeks. In the mirror she could see a strip of nylon stretched over her labia. Black stockings were held up by suspender belts gripping her thighs. The white petticoats bounced around her upper thighs, with the flared black dress floating on top.
A built in corset crushed her waist, squeezing her breasts into a deep cleavage, with the nipples threatening to peak over the top. The ensemble was finished off with a starched white cap, collar, apron, cuffs, and an ostentatious garter above the knee. The black shiny high heels left her legs looking long and glamorous.
She shuddered, from imagining some old, paunchy businessman, ogling her body all through dinner. On high heels the sheer panties would be level with the tabletop, looking as though her sex was about to be served. When she leaned over to serve him, her breasts would be in his face. Serving her mistress would mean showing off her bottom in clinging sheer panties.
The poor guy would certainly be distracted from boring business details, and would probably be ready to sign anything after dinner. The degrading performance would have to be endured. At all costs her sordid secret had to be kept from friends, neighbours, and especially her daughter.
Jane was overcome by an icy shudder. At all costs the shameful gossip would have to be avoided, though where should the line be drawn? How far would she go to protect Louise?
'Ma'am,' Jane quietly spoke, seeking attention.
'Maid?' she shot back.
'The pill, you promised!' Jane hesitantly spoke.
'You had better take it now, before it's too late,' Margaret scolded her. She rummaged around in her purse, and threw a package at the maid.
Jane missed, and scrabbled on the floor at her mistresses feet. She looked up at her tormentor, with a clear look of relief. 'Thank you, ma'am,' she said, with relief.
***
Jane furtively looked at the man, yet again. This was no middle aged businessman she was serving. The visitor was around her own age, and very handsome. Noticing his glass was empty she rushed to fill it with wine. He smiled at her in way of thanks, again looking her in the eye, rather than ogling her body. It was a pleasure to meet a mature minded man, who didn't talk to her breasts, especially when they were so obviously on show.
Mathew couldn't help noticing how seductively the maid was dressed, though wisely kept his thoughts to himself. Both women were giving him their full attention, most obviously for the same reason. Margaret wanted to gain new business from him. From past experience he knew she was adept at making a man feel important, and at the same time, relaxed in her company. He wondered why she had bothered to arrange for this lasciviously dressed woman to serve them.
The meal was over and Jane returned from the kitchen with another bottle of wine. She discreetly kept a glass for herself. A drop or two was needed to numb the embarrassment of being dressed like a porn movie maid. At last the ordeal was almost at an end. There was just the kitchen and dining room to be tidied up, after which she could escape home.
