Chapter One; The Poison
Stepping out of the taxi Sophie McAllister looked around her impressive surroundings; the hotel and its air of decadence unlike anything she'd ever visited before; suddenly she felt a little under dressed.
The taxi driver took her small suitcase from the boot of the vehicle and walked around towards her his feet crunching heavily on the gravelled drive.
"Thanks," Sophie offered meekly pushing her long blonde hair behind her left ear. "What do I owe you?"
"It's already paid for," he offered with a sincere smile. "Enjoy your stay."
Sophie smiled weakly once again. 'Enjoy your stay; that'll depend she thought to herself as she picked up her suitcase and headed up the short flight of ornate concrete steps that led to the main reception. What she was even doing coming here was as big a question as any. How had she allowed this after what she'd been through at his hand? She was here to confront him, that's what she'd decided. She wasn't here to play into his trap to buy into whatever scheme he had in mind for her. Her Sister Sarah was right he couldn't get away with this. He wouldn't get away with this.
Crossing the first elegant entrance foyer her eyes still wide with the impressive grandeur of the location. Sophie approached the main reception desk confidently enough as she took in everything around her. The Country Club Hotel carried on around her, the day-to-day hustle and bustle didn't miss a beat around her, she was just an anonymous face.
"Good afternoon and welcome to The Manoir," the pretty looking auburn-haired girl behind the desk stated, "How can I help you?"
"I'm ... I'm checking in," Sophie replied, "Bookings in the name of Macready I believe."
The receptionist busied herself typing away on a keyboard before her eyes cast across the screen before her. Sophie read her name badge while she did so, the name Cheryl etched into the lapel badge she wore on a crisp charcoal grey blazer.
"Ah yes," she looked up "Room 715 ...an executive room." Cheryl typed away quicky again on the keyboard before handing Sophie a gold key card with a black magnetic strip across the back.
"Dinner is served from 7pm... I can see your partner has already made a reservation though."
Sophie shivered; he wasn't her partner. What was his right, what was his thinking? The urge to take the key but turn around but walk straight back out the front doors was huge; Was she out of her depth? Sophie took a subtle deep breath and calmed herself before offering a simple, "Thank You."
"Would you like your luggage brought to your room?" Cheryl offered.
"You're alright," Sophie raised her suitcase with her right hand and patted it with her left "I've only got this."
"Enjoy your stay at The Manoir... please let us know if there's anything we can do for you during your stay."
Sophie smiled and turned, carrying her dark grey suitcase in her left hand as she crossed the marble-floored foyer towards a row of lifts. Her Converse pumps squeaking with every step she took, almost highlighting how out of place the scruffy teen was in the lavish surroundings.
Sophie couldn't shake the unnerving feeling that she was being watched. Not just feeling eyes on her for looking out of place but like some unknown, or was that unseen, presence watched her as she walked through the building.
She'd not seen him, not beyond that mask he'd worn. He could be anyone, any of the males in her line of sight, any of the males passing through this lobby, say taking refreshments or even working at the establishment. Sophie's stomach twisted as she contemplated the lunacy of this situation her agreeing to meet the man who'd anonymously tormented her, tortured her and brutally taken not just her body but her virginity.
She had no idea what was expected of her; she had no idea if he'd be in the room waiting for her. His air of mystery was perhaps meant to be intriguing it was just frustrating as far as Sophie McAllister was concerned. Her brie knitted with concern and fear as she was welcomed into a mirror lined elevator by a Porter.
Sophie looked into her own haunted eyes as the lift doors closed behind her.
**********
Sliding the key card from the lock on the door, the lock clicked, and the heavy walnut coloured door slipped ajar.
Sophie entered the dim room, the curtains of which were drawn. She tried a light switch, but nothing happened. Looking to her left she spotted why, and as she inserted the key card into a plastic slot side lights flickered to life illuminating the large room.
Setting down her suitcase she passed the obligatory hotel en-suite bathroom on her left. As she stepped into the main room her eye was drawn immediately to the white cotton sheet covered bed. On the edge of which sat a cream-coloured cardboard gift box wrapped in a burgundy ribbon.
Intrigued Sophie picked up the small envelope tucked into the ribbon and slipped open the envelope to reveal a handwritten note which simply read. 'Get Dressed.'
Interest further pricked Sophie's hands pried the burgundy ribbon from the box and she lifted the lid of the box.
Inside neatly folded were a pair of dark denier stockings, a ridiculously thin black silk G-string and a black silk Basque with intricate detail embroidered across the front of the garment. Her eyes fell over each of the garments as she laid them out ok the bed. Her min rereading the simple card over and over again. She had never worn anything like this before.
Sophie near jumped out of her skin as her mobile vibrated in the back pocket of her jeans. Cursing her twitchy nature, she slipped the phone from her pocket and opened the SMS.
SENDER: Unknown Number; I take it you opened your present. Get changed order some drinks and food on room service if you wish. Will be with you shortly.
"OK I'll play your game," she softly said aloud, "Then maybe you'll play mine."
Slipping off her jacket Sophie began unbuttoning the waist of her skinny fit jeans.
**********
Sophie heard the key card enter the door.
She glanced at herself in the floor to ceiling mirror that fronted the slide doors of the wardrobe. She barely recognised herself. Hair scraped back from her face sat in a long ponytail that fell down the back of her neck. She'd applied dark eye makeup; contoured blusher adorned her cheeks, and her lipstick was a darker shade of scarlet than she'd ever usually wear. She looked far older than eighteen years of age.
The lock on the door bleeped signalling it's unlocking.
She breathed in deeply. Trying to find confidence in the air that filled her lungs. She ran her elbow length satin gloves, that had been under the Basque down across her stomach and the top of her naked thighs, hurriedly pulling up the right dark denier stocking. The strappy high heeled shoes held her taller than she was used to. She guessed she wouldn't be walking far in them but feared she'd fall if she had to.
The door swung slightly ajar.
Sophie closed her eyes; she'd been convincing herself if not fooling herself she was going to be in control. Despite the fact she genuinely had no idea what to expect now she faced the reality of her situation. She was meeting him in a room of an exclusive hotel resort far away from any safety and without anyone knowing where she'd travelled to.
It hadn't passed her by, given that she was dressed in finest lingerie it couldn't be anymore blatantly obvious what was expected of her in this hotel room; only now did she realise she'd given up an element control by even donning the scanty outfit. The conflict in her mind returned. The brutality he'd subjected her to in the damp vile confines of the basement of that abandoned warehouse such a stark physical contrast to the lavish surroundings in which she now found herself. Would what was to transpire be any different the physical demands he'd make of her the acts she'd be expected to partake in if not accept, tolerate, endure. Why had she even agreed to be here?
Sophie balled her gloved hands tightly in to fists as she took a deep breathe. Too late now. She'd come here of her own free will. She'd come here to discover; try to discover who he was but also discover why despite what she'd been subjected to he'd made her feel so good despite the pain and the misery that he'd inflicted on her. Her confused mind betrayed her, betrayed what she knew to be right and also what she knew to be morally wrong. Something about the man behind that vile mask had somehow inexplicably captivated her, he had held her body literally in his grasp but now held her mind figuratively. Breathing out she unclenches her fists barely daring to look up across the room.
The door swung open.
Sophie brought her eye-line to the door and the broad silhouetted figure who confidently entered, drawing the mask down over his face she barely caught sight of his neck and jaw. Continuing to watch as he stepped through the room. His unseen eyes bearing into her from behind the mask. She swallowed hard as he stood before her.
"Perfect," his calculated short compliment.
Sophie wanted to speak wanted to ask the questions that bounced around her mind but dumbfounded she couldn't form her lips around the words.
"Don't speak," he raised a finger to her lips as if reading her mind or more likely her expression. "We both know why you came here today."
Sophie stared into that white skull crudely printed across the face mask, the Lycra garment clung to the contours of his features but kept him faceless to her as he walked slowly silent around her. She suppressed a shiver feeling goose bumps break on her skin.
