The Son - Day One
'Mark, just sit there and keep quiet,' Margaret told her son.
Jane walked in, looking reluctant to be in the same room as Mark. He leered at her, obviously enjoying the joke that his ex-girlfriend's mother had become their maid. So far he had refrained from telling anyone, despite the temptation.
'You will stay here and look after Mark while I'm away for a couple of days. You helped get the business deal off the ground, with Mathew, now I have to clinch it,' Margaret explained. Noticing the guilty look when Mathew's name was mentioned, she was tempted to tease the maid.
Jane got the message. She had slept with that business man, and now Margaret was going to pressurise Mathew into an advantageous deal. She looked at Mark, hoping he knew nothing about this latest immoral act. What could she say in defence? It was important to escape this house before being trapped into yet another terrible situation.
'I must get home, err, ma'am,' Jane stated. She was busy thinking of an excuse, and found a weak one. 'Louise needs help in packing for college,' Jane added.
'Nonsense, it's about time the girl learnt to look after herself. Boys, on the other hand, need watching. Otherwise they get into trouble, as you well know,' Margaret said, giving Jane a knowing look.
Jane blushed, and looked down at her feet, unable to acknowledge Mark was there. The she devil was referring to her son taking her. She was a mature and experienced woman, so how could she blame an eighteen year old for her sordid behaviour.
'Mark has promised me to keep your immoral behaviour a secret. You know how young guys like to brag to their friends over conquests, and one night stands,' Margaret pointedly said.
Jane had caught Mark watching her, as though she were a toy stolen away from him. It was a small comfort that his mother had forbidden him to play with her. She had been careful not to get too close to him, as she felt vulnerable from not wearing anything under the rough nylon coverall. The poppers holding it together only needed a sharp tug to part the garment, leaving her naked.
She had become susceptible to Margaret's influence, and wondered if it was specific to her, or generally true. If she became passive with Mark, she would be in trouble. This was another danger she was coming to terms with. No longer having the strength of will to defend herself, left her wide open to abuse. Testing herself with Mark wasn't something she looked forward to.
Jane tried again. 'I need to clean the house and pay the bills,' Jane said, in way of explanation to escape the house.
'I'll give you a promotion and pay you as my personal assistant. That will settle things to my liking,' Margaret chuckled.
Seeing Jane was going to object, and that her stance was becoming more defiant, she felt the need to put the stupid woman in her place.
'I'm keeping quiet about your sordid behaviour, and paying you too. You can't possibly expect more than that, can you? Or, do you want me to put it around that you're a thief and a slut? Well?' Margaret angrily demanded.
'I guess so,' Jane mumbled. The harridan was determined to rub her nose in the stink of her stupid behaviour.
'Mark will keep quiet, especially as you'll be looking after him while I'm away,' Margaret heavily stated. 'I'm sure you don't want the neighbours to find out. It would be devastating for Louise to go through the humiliation of such awful gossip. Just think what it would be like at college. You know how beastly students can be to each other,' Margaret said.
Jane trembled at the thought of Louise finding out. 'Oh! Please don't, I'll do anything. . . ' Jane began, but couldn't finish.
It was deeply embarrassing to plead so pathetically in front of Margaret's son. It was a mistake to reveal how desperate she was to keep them both quiet, but the prospect ahead rattled her already taught nerves.
'So, that's settled then. You will stay here for a couple of days, and nights, to look after Mark as his maid,' Margaret said, with a sound of finality in her voice.
'Yes ma'am,' Jane sighed.
Out of the corner of her eye she saw a look of glee on Mark's face. The idea of being this arrogant young man's maid was dreadful. About to protest again, she was cut off by Margaret.
'Mark! You will keep her dirty secrets to yourself. No blabbing to your friends, however close they are. A secret shared, is no longer a secret, understood?' Margaret demanded.
'Sure, mom, no problem,' he replied.
He was still wondering what the hell was going on. He understood how bad it would be for Louise to find out he had screwed her mother. There was something else going on between his mother and Jane. Why was she agreeing to work as a maid? His mother was obviously blackmailing her, but still, he would have expected her to refuse.
'Pat attention Mark! You need to look after her, and make sure she behaves herself. Keep her here, and keep an eye on her,' Margaret instructed her son.
Seeing Jane capitulate to yet another humiliation, she added. 'Just obey him and keep him happy, as before,' Margaret instructed.
Letting Mark play around with this woman, had to be tolerated. It would keep him from bragging to his friends about her, which would spoil her plans. Not only that, the stupid bitch had to be kept busy, and on a short leash. If she was allowed home, she might come to her senses and refuse to return.
Looking at her, it didn't seem likely. She had become submissive, and resigned to this new role in life. There was a little way to go yet, before trusting her not to wriggle free. The instructions she gave Mark should hammer home the woman's lowly status.
The harridan's orders burst Jane's protective, contemplative bubble. She was being spoken to, not him. "Obey him," the woman had said! Keep him happy, or he might let out her secrets. This was another alarming threat. "As before,"? Was that a reference to what happened in Margaret's bedroom, the night of the party?
Margaret smiled on seeing a look of dread etched across Jane's face. At last the stupid woman realised what her duties entailed. Her whole body seemed to cave in on itself. She was still standing, yet looking crumpled with defeat and despair.
Mark had listened to his mothers plan earlier, and, though sceptical, he agreed. Having Jane obey him was more than expected. Over the last few days he had watched her accept his mothers evermore undignified strictures. Would an adult woman really obey him? It was a very demeaning position for a neighbour to be in, so she was sure to refuse.