Thanks to everyone for the feedback - it's what keeps the ideas flowing - and to Naughty Gem for editing.
Tammy was riding-high. She was on the way to meet Simon, the Independent's editor, on the roof garden of a trendy west-London bar. The slave grading investigation had legs and he wanted her to keep running with it.
Thirty minutes later she was sipping an elegant Champagne as Simon sat down beside her.
"Tammy, you're a star," he enthused. "People can't get enough of this slavery stuff. And let's face it, it is fascinating."
Tammy was just happy to bask in the praise offered. It wasn't always that forthcoming from her boss and she was only two years into her career. She was driven and ambitious but it didn't pay to look too keen, so she kept quiet and let her radiant smile do the talking.
"So where do you think we should go from here?" Simon asked.
"Almost anything is possible at this stage, so I'd like to develop some contacts in the industry. I need some time to see what I can learn and there were a few reader suggestions I'd like to follow up on," Tammy responded. Life was good; west London had always been her favourite part of the city and she loved how her job let her travel and explore.
Simon nodded thoughtfully. "We can do that. This story could be really big for the paper and a career maker for you, so I want you to really go for it. Whatever you need. That's assuming you're fully committed?" he queried.
"Absolutely," Tammy replied, somewhat bemused and perhaps a little distracted by the bubbles and fruity notes tickling her palate.
Tammy thought Simon was looking for a waitress when he stood and scanned the room but it emerged that he'd asked Jane - the company lawyer - to meet them there.
"Thank you for joining us Jane," he said as she took a seat and nodded to the equally impeccably dressed and dark-haired Tammy. Even out of the office there was something crisp and formal about the way she carried herself. She wasn't much more than a name to Tammy but office gossip had her down as a good person to keep you out of trouble with the law, something of an occupational hazard as a journalist.
"I've asked Jane to join us as she has some contacts in the slave industry that could be useful. I'll let her talk you through some of those over the next few days, but I also wanted her here because I have something important to discuss with you."
Tammy looked at him with big wide eyes like a rabbit about to run; one that knew it was trapped.
"You've already seen a lot in your investigation but is this an area you're comfortable fully investigating?" asked Simon. "I want to know before you get in too deep that this is something you have thought through and can take all the way for us."
Tammy thought for a minute. What was he asking?
"It's not where I thought my career would go but I can't think of a bigger story or a better person to tell it," she responded, making no secret of her ambition. "If I'm honest, some of the things I've seen have made me uncomfortable, but at the same time, it's been quite thrilling and the way slavery is changing society is important for people to be able to learn about and discuss."
"I know it's a rather personal question, but have you thought about participating?" Simon continued.
"Um... I'm not sure," replied a rather flustered and now blushing Tammy. "I want to be the best journalist I can be but I don't want to become a slave."
Tammy couldn't help but think that Jane was looking at her in a slightly predatory way, but her words were reassuring. "Simon asked me here to reassure you, that won't be the case. The Independent will look after you and pay you handsomely for what is challenging, and we hope very lucrative work, for all concerned."
"That's a relief," Tammy said, letting out a lot of the tension and stress she'd been holding. She smiled rather giddily before finishing her glass of wine in a large gulp and signalled to a waiter to bring another.
"Yes, Jane's idea is that you could participate as an observer, though obviously we would agree to pay you extremely well should you want to do more - as sub or domme. Jane can go through some of the figures tomorrow but just so we're clear, you could earn more in the next six months than most journalists will in the next five to ten years."
Tammy's head was spinning. She had developed more than a passing interest in slave grading but she was even now only coming to terms with that privately; and she certainly wasn't ready to talk to her boss about some of the things she thought and fantasized about. At the start of her research she'd been shocked, maybe even repulsed, by some of the things she had discovered but the more she talked to people, the more curious she was becoming. There was something about the integrity and passion of the diverse people that she was meeting that was fascinating and contagious; and while slavery seemed extreme, it was increasingly a reality for so many. At worst, it was a worthy topic for a journalist to explore.
"I can't become a slave," Tammy blurted out, looking panicked and on the verge of tears. "But I think this investigation could make my career."
"That's what we want too," soothed Simon. "I can't say a story about a journalist becoming a slave wouldn't sell but we have your back. That's why Jane is here, so that you know that we'll look after you even if something does go wrong. We're asking a lot of you and we want you to be able to go out there and know that we will do what it takes to keep you safe and happy."
"As you know, some young journalists have been hung out to dry by their employers - you might even want to chat to one or two I'm aware of," Jane began, "but we have much bigger plans for you. We're in this for the long haul and that means looking after you so you can do your job. As good as you might look on your knees, that would be a waste of your talents."
Tammy nodded as it seemed she was expected to do but couldn't make eye contact with Jane yet.
Simon had looked somewhat pensive up to this point, then his expression changed, as if a decision had just been made.
"Before we wrap things up, I do want to ask one more thing of you. You may not initially like the idea, but I hope you can see that it's part of establishing your credibility and showing your commitment to the investigation."
Oh no, Tammy thought; it suddenly took all her concentration to just keep breathing and not succumb to a panic attack.
"I want you to be graded. Will you do that for us?"
Tammy couldn't speak. Her eyes wide and her mouth hung open, she was experiencing such intense emotion she didn't know what to say. She hadn't imagined this as a possibility.
