Laura had no idea how her life would change within the next year. Merrily, she went about her tasks at her desk in the bustling income tax preparer office where she worked as a CPA. It was tax time and the office flowed daily with customers. Laura took this job every year as a means of resetting her brain from the normal corporate CPA duties she performed the rest of the year.
When she wasn't at work, Laura was a wife to a great husband. Bill and Laura were both 26 years old and had been married for two years. Bill was a math teacher at the local high school. They were a happy couple. They were active in their church and were beginning to get involved in local politics. If you were to ask either of them, they would declare that their nearly daily sex life was rewarding and they were happy in their life.
Laura was working on a long form for a well off client whom she also knew as he was on the city council. She was nearly done when she pulled out a receipt from a local pet shop that had been stuck on the back of another receipt for business expenses. She picked up the phone and called her client. "Mr. Standing, this is Laura. I was just about done with your taxes when I discovered another business expense receipt."
"Yes, Laura?" he replied to her.
"I am confused as to why a dog crate, leashes, and collars are a business expense." George Standing was the owner of a very successful upscale restaurant in downtown. People came from all over the county to celebrate special occasions. Other successful business people also came from all over to wine and dine clients, or even just for an everyday dinner.
George replied, "You don't need to understand it, Laura. Just take my word for it that it is a legitimate expense."
"Actually, I can't do that, Mr. Standing. If I am called upon to defend your return, I need to be able to defend all of it."
"It is a side part of the business, Laura. We collect a nice set of tips for it. I'm sure you've noticed our tips are a substantial part of the cash flow. I think that is all you need to know," George explained.
"No, Mr. Standing. I need to know what that side part of your business is and how it operates."
"Well, it is a somewhat secret operation. Only my best clients know about it. I will need your utmost confidentiality regarding it."
Laura didn't quite know what to think. Was he running numbers or drugs? Still, how would a dog crate factor into that. There were no properties on his books where a guard dog would be needed.
"I, well, of course, Mr. Standing. As long as it is legal you know your information is confidential," Laura stammered a bit at first.
"OK, I am binding you to your secrecy, Laura. It is a legal operation. We sell lots of drinks and snacks and get very generous tips. The crate is part of the entertainment we provide."
"Entertainment? It's not dog fighting is it?" Laura questioned.
"No, Laura. It is erotic entertainment, and I think that is all you need to know about it." George stated.
Laura's jaw dropped. Of course she was on the phone and no one saw her, but the silent pause betrayed her shock. When she finally found her voice, she replied, "You're right, I think that is all I want to know."
George hung up and Laura placed the phone back into it's cradle.
The next day, Laura called George Standing and told him his taxes were done and just needed his signature. They arranged for him to stop by that afternoon.
George smiled at Laura as he walked into her office and she returned his smile. They exchanged pleasantries, shook hands and then George sat down and went over the forms, signing each one as he completed his review. Laura sat quietly for most of the time and watched. When George came to the deductions form, he looked closely at the numbers.
"This includes everything, right Laura?
"Yes, Mr. Standing, including the pet store expenses," replied Laura.
"Good." He smiled. "Thank you. Remember to keep this confidential."
"Mr. Standish, all this would be confidential even if there was not that, um, unusual item," Laura stated somewhat insulted. "Everything is confidential."
Laura was visibly nervous and George took silent notice. They finished their business and George left. Then as Laura began her next client's job she pushed it out of her mind and the thought never returned to her again.
A year later, George came into the tax office with his customary box of papers and sat down at Laura's desk.
"Good morning, Mr. Standish. Thank you for your repeat business. I'm pretty familiar with your business, so is there anything special I need to know this year?"
"Good morning, Laura. Good to see you." George smiled warmly and shook Laura's hand. "There may be a few items I should explain so we don't have a misunderstanding from the get go. You will find receipts for some equipment: a winch, cables, lumber, etc. It is all bundled together in one envelop, marked 'entertainment equipment'. Do you need further explanation of those items, or do you remember from last year?"
Laura remembered for the first time in a year about the unusual business Mr. Standish ran on the side. She looked at him, with searching eyes for just a moment and then, satisfied that he was being honest with her she uncomfortably stated, "Yes, Mr. Standish, I remember your explanation. I think I understand."
"Shall we set a time to meet next week to get your signatures?" Laura finished the meeting up with booking the next meeting. George left and Laura set the box aside and spent the rest of the day finishing another client's paperwork.
The next morning, Laura began work on Mr. Standing's taxes. She organized the papers into categories: income, investments, expenses, deductions, etc. When she saw the envelope for entertainment expenses she looked at it for a moment and then set it down with the other expenses. Then, as if she couldn't help herself, she picked up that envelope again. She was suddenly very curious and opened it. She flipped through the receipts one by one and they were just as George had told her, although there were quite a few other items: Rope, lighting, a DILDO???, that receipt really lept out at her. And THEN, under that receipt was a photo.
Laura just stared for a moment and then quickly put everything back into the envelop. Embarrassed, she picked up the income statements to get the thoughts of that photo out of her mind. Yet, all she could think about was the image of a naked woman, inside a dog crate, her ass pulled by straps up against the side of the crate with a butt plug filling her ass and a dildo filling her ...her pussy.
As I said earlier, Laura and Bill were conservative Christians with good standing in their community. There marital sex was satisfying and neither of them had ever thought or wanted for more in their sex lives. Both had been virgins when they met and they were each other's only sexual partners ever.
Laura had never even conceived of the idea of a woman being in such a position as she saw in the photo. She had certainly never heard of such a thing. How could a woman allow herself to be treated like that?? Certainly she must not be consenting? Was she kidnapped? Forced? Raped? Laura thought of calling the police.
thought of calling the police.
Laura still couldn't understand why she hadn't called the police as she stood in Mr. Standing's office with the envelop in her hand. These ideas did not even enter her conscious mind but most certainly played an unconscious role in why she was at the restaurant: Laura's body was on the verge of announcing to her that a sexual arousal was emerging.
Laura drew up her resolve. "Mr. Standing, I think you are operating illegal activities here. I don't know why you included this photograph in with these receipts; but, I am sure this woman is being held without her consent."
Laura held out the photo. Mr. Standing took the photograph from Laura with a degree of surprise. "Laura. Mrs. Chance. I am profoundly sorry. I don't know how this photo got mixed into that envelope. I didn't intend for it to be there. I am so sorry."
George paused and Laura just stared at him speechless. "Mrs. Chance, I assure you no coercion is involved. This woman is participating freely."
"Again, I'm sorry this photo was included in my papers. I hope it has not offended you."
Laura finally found her voice again. "Mr. Standing, I don't think I believe you. I think this photo was included on purpose and I can't believe a woman would consent to this kind of degradation." Laura's face was flush. Anger, confusion, and other emotions coursed through her.
George picked up his phone and dialed. "Joan, this is George. Can you come in my office for a moment please? Thank you."
In only a moment, the door to George's office opened and the woman from the photograph walked in, dressed in everyday sensible clothes: Jeans, peasant blouse, flats. "Yes, George?" Joan glanced questioningly at Laura.
"Joan, this is Laura Chance, my accountant. She has inadvertently been given this photo." George held the photo out to her and Joan took it from him, looking at it. "Laura thinks I have coerced you into doing this and is accusing me of kidnap and perhaps rape."
Joan lifted her eyes from the photo and looked into Laura's eyes. "I am sorry you got this photo. It obviously has offended you. But George is correct in telling you that I do this of my own choice. What you see in this photo is 100% consensual."