Olly had never been one for luxury; when he was young it was simply unobtainable, and as he'd grown older he'd fostered a slight contempt for "the finer things in life" on the grounds that they fronted a lifestyle that held its space by breaking the backs of those beneath it.
Despite all that he found himself at Lucaria Bainbridge's house, feeling small before the spread of micro-salads, lobster, and other such delicacies presented on old--but meticulously maintained--crystal. The covered deck they dined under was bright and sunny and decorated by innumerable exotic plants that thrived both off the sunlight and the close care of the house staff.
Ms. Bainbridge was an esteemed member of the city council and as such held a measure of power Olly was unlikely to ever grasp. She sat across from him at their two person table, blue sundress immaculately flattering her heavier figure, blond rivulets of hair flowing to frame a rounded, comely face. She was taller than he was--not a difficult feat--and even when sitting had an air of polite influence that begged the pardon of anyone who dared to second guess her.
"Do try the wine, dear, it's a vintage."
*Command*
was a strong yet fitting phrase for the light words that danced from her lips. Olly didn't care for commands, particularly when aimed at him, but leadership at his nonprofit had been so thrilled when Ms. Bainbridge had taken an interest in him after a presentation he'd given the council on the local homeless crisis.
He took a sip of wine; quite frankly he couldn't tell the difference between it and the bottle of red his roommate had brought home the week before, but he wasn't going to say as much. For good measure, he took a couple more sips before lowering the glass with a tight smile.
"Thank you again for having me over, Ms. Bainbridge," he said, as graciously as he could manage. Her laugh was like singing glass.
"Of course, darling. I was so impressed by your presentation, and more than that,
*you*
are quite the intriguing young man!"
Olly had to blink at that.
*Intriguing.*
He sipped at the wine once more to forego a response, hoping the socialite in her would be willing to pick up the slack in the conversation. Her smile widened further.
"Straight from France, you know," she said, nodding at his glass. "I tend to be partial to Italian wines myself, but it was a gift from my cousin. The man spoils me ever so much."
Olly blinked again, slower this time, nodding along to her story in an attempt to at least seem present. Her voice tinkled like wind chimes. His eyelids were heavy.
"Are you alright, dear?" she asked, and her concern didn't sound real--but nothing seemed real with the way the world was tilting, and Olly had to press a palm to his forehead. He didn't register the predatory smile on her face as his vision faded.
*
Cool air nipped at his skin as Olly awoke, and he couldn't move. He tugged at his restraints, breath quickening and head pounding. His head wouldn't turn thanks to a tight strap across his forehead, and it was too dark to see most things, but as he regained the rest of his senses he could deduce a little: