This story continues the adventures of Sofia, the teacher sentenced to 7 years of slavery and 500 lashes for vehicular manslaughter, and Sara, her former student sentenced to 12 years of slavery for terrorism, as lovers and slaves of Miguel. Set approximately one year after "Don't Drink and Drive" and "Lost in Lisbon," it explores their lives within the alternative universe of "Portuguese Crime Reduction Act," where judicial slavery and corporal punishment have been adopted in Portugal.
I was uncertain whether I should have divided the chapter into two parts, please comment and give me your opinion.
While reading previous chapters is not mandatory, they may provide additional context. As always, I apologize for any language and translation errors and thank you for the time you've dedicated to reading my words.
Please Comment.
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I pushed open the apartment door and sighed with relief. The first thing I did was kick off my trainers; they were top of the range but my feet still throbbed with each step. A year of walking ten kilometres daily had transformed my body. My legs had grown stronger, my waist more defined. The exhaustion was real, but when I caught my reflection in the hallway mirror, I couldn't deny the results were worth every aching step.
After a quick shower, I went to the bedroom to change. Miguel had clear rules about what his slaves could wear--either breasts or bottom had to be on display, though we weren't permitted to wander the house completely naked. As I smoothed moisturiser over my skin, I caught myself smiling at my reflection. My breasts were rather lovely, pale and round, more like those of a young woman than someone of forty-one. Still, I almost always chose to cover them and leave my bottom exposed instead.
I opened the wardrobe door and from among the silk kimonos and my blouses, finally selected a green shirt, not one of my silk blouses that I wore to work, but one of Miguel's shirts. When I went to the kitchen, I met Sara also in casual attire, though she had opted for denim shorts while her small breasts remained exposed.
We were the perfect contrast. I, more mature and taller with a defined figure; she, slender. My skin fair, hers more Mediterranean.
W3
"Good afternoon, Sara. Have you been studying?" I asked her, as I opened the refrigerator to see what was available for dinner.
"Yes, Miss Sofia. Pathology. I hate this subject," she replied, pushing a strand of her dark hair away from her face.
"Medicine! It's a difficult course, and sometimes you have to do unpleasant things."
"They... they were in the same tank of hot water as me. It could have been me. It was supposed to be me." And I was supposed to have been given as slave to the mother of the man I had run over and killed, but I wasn't. I hugged Sara in a maternal way.
"They were just two skeletons, Sara. One day we'll be skeletons too," I told her, but I understood why seeing the bones of her former comrades had made her develop an aversion to the subject. "Don't think about it anymore. Instead, check if we're ready for when Miguel arrives," I said, changing the subject.
"That green shirt really suits your red hair," she added, looking me up and down, her eyes lingering on my exposed sex. "I do love the color of your hair, Miss."
"Thank you," I replied, quite certain she was more interested in my copper curls below than those on my head.
We heard the key in the door. Miguel was arriving.
We both positioned ourselves by the entrance; I adjusted the shirt so my hair fell across my breasts where the open buttons nearly revealed them.
"My two most beautiful slaves," he said, smiling at the sight of us.
"Gorgeous," he said, landing a playful smack on my bare rear. "A man could break his fingers pinching these curves of yours."
Then he turned to Sara. He gave her a quick kiss and slid his hand inside her jeans, finding her most intimate spot.
"And how's our little reminder doing?" he asked.
"It's working perfectly, sir," Sara replied, a sad shadow crossing her face.
I absently touched the metal collar encircling my neck, reflecting that it had been nearly a year since I'd felt it's shocking discipline. Sara hadn't been granted the same reprieve.
Miguel laughed and ran his fingers through her dark chestnut hair, it was longer than when we rescued her.
"Fifteen out of twenty in all subjects, Sara. That was our agreement." She lowered her gaze and nodded, a strand of hair falling across her face.
My eyes caught the letter Miguel had brought in, displaying the official seal of the Ministry of Education.
"Look what came in the post, addressed to some Professor S. D. Santos. Ring any bells?" he asked with playful mockery. My stomach flutteredI'd been waiting for this letter.
Instead of handing me the letter, he held it away playfully like a Naughty schoolboy.
"Miguel, it's addressed to me," I protested.
He looked at me with a teasing smile. "Everything that's yours is mine, isn't it?"
A year ago, I would have been furious if someone had opened my mail, but back then I wasn't a slave. Now I simply waited, resigned. Sara watched silently, a small smile playing on her lips.
"What does it say?" Miguel was being childish. "Please, don't leave me hanging like this." He smiled with that boyish grin of his. Sometimes he really didn't seem like a man in his fifties, but rather like a kid.
He coughed and put on a serious face. "Dear Ms. Sofia Daniel dos Santos, we regret to inform you that..." I felt disappointed. Could it be possible? All these months I had worked myself to the bone to ensure my students' grades were the best in the school district, all those meetings Director Luis would schedule for any little reason, which were nothing more than an excuse to see me naked in his office, and now a letter that begins with "We regret..."
"We regret to inform you that, contrary to the usual procedure for permanent appointments, the Higher Education Council was forced to deliberate on your case in an extraordinary session. Given the specificities of your legal situation, an unfavorable decision was expected..."
The collar around my neck and my naked breasts on social media were all those petty bureaucrats had seen. All my work was irrelevant, the overtime hours, the students' results, everything erased because of my slave status. I lowered my eyes, avoiding Miguel and Sara's gaze.
"However," Miguel continued, "in light of the excellent work developed by Ms Sofia Daniel dos Santos as acting Principal, the recommendations left by the late Principal Luis Santos, and the unanimous opinion of the Parents' Association, the Ministry finds itself obligated to confirm your permanent appointment as Principal..."
"The letter says we're going out for dinner, Madam Principal," he responded with his smile, while I couldn't contain my tears, joy but also indignation at the teasing expression on Miguel's face.
"Stop laughing, it's not funny, you idiot. You did that on purpose!" But he wouldn't stop laughing, and Sara joined in, though more because it was a happy occasion.
"Look at her, Sara. She took 40 lashes on her back without a sound, but gets promoted to Principal and she starts crying like a child." I was crying from joy, from rage, from guilt... Even I didn't really knew why I was crying.
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Miguel told me to choose where we would eat. He didn't select my outfit either, nor did he force me to go without a bra, as he usually did when taking me out. I chose one of my favorite places. It wasn't an upscale restaurant but a beer and seafood tavern at the corner of Benfica Road and Uruguay street, It was a place where I'd been many times before a place where if anyone recognized me, I would be just Miss Sofia the schoolteacher rather than the fashion model or the slave.
The maรฎtre d' was the father of one of my students and greeted us as if we were a family, father, mother, and daughter, rather than an owner with his two slaves. Of course he knew about my situation; everyone did.
"Miss Santos, lovely to see you here!" Joaquim greeted us warmly. "Would you prefer the terrace or inside? I've got a perfect spot either way."
"Joaquim, hello," I smiled back. "How's Carlos getting on? It's been ages since I've seen him."
"Brilliantly, actually, he'll be university-bound before we know it."
"I'm glad to hear it. The terrace would be perfect, thank you," I replied with a smile.
Joaquim led us to the table. The terrace had a few locals I knew by sight, a year of daily walks along Benfica main street had not only sculpted my legs but widened my network of familiar faces.
We devoured oysters, sea urchins, prawns, and finally a seafood rice, all washed down with beer. Sara complained about the oysters and sea urchins being alive, and Miguel nearly activated the shock in her collar, but she escaped punishment.
"Everything you eat was once alive, little terrorist. One day something will eat you too... and me as well," he said sternly, though with a touch of dark humor.
"Perhaps it'll be me," I replied with a mischievous look at Miguel, "and I'll make sure you're very much alive and... firm... when I devour you."
Miguel smiled and sucked an oyster, then offered one to Sara. "Here you go, terrorist. Enjoy and learn." Sara mimicked him but removed the mollusk with her tongue, turning the instruction into a silent, suggestive contest. The evening flowed wonderfully after that; even Sara's sullen expression melted away. Perhaps it was the beer, or perhaps because the positive energy between Miguel and me proved irresistible.