Elena sat in shock across from her wealthy uncle. His words were difficult for her to listen to but she knew that she must hear him out.
"Your mother has shaped you in her image and has spoiled you. The two of you drove your late father away, yet you both continued to spend money on expensive clothes and useless luxuries even after his death. The way the two of you spent the massive insurance settlement he left you is nothing short of scandalous. And that is why you are both now flat broke. Yes I have a lot of money, but I am careful with it, I invest more than I spend and I try to find a bargain when I DO buy. Your grandfather instilled in me the value of thrift. Why your mother could not absorb the same lessons is a mystery I have never been able to fathom. Now the two of you come to me and beg me to dig you out of the hole the two of you have built. Because your mother is my sister, I will, provide for her, provided she is willing to live within the budget I set for her. But as for YOU! You are if anything worse than she is. I took a look at your bills. My God Elena, do understand the value of ANYTHING? I hope that you enjoy the poverty you have created for yourself!"
Elena's large blue eyes met the hard glance of her uncle, the famous investment broker. Now that his rage had subsided somewhat, she found her voice, "Uncle Charles, I am sorry for the way I behaved, please don't cut me off without a cent. I know I have not always been a dutiful niece but I have always had affection for you."
"You had affection for my wallet. How many colleges did I pay tuition to that you ended up either flunking out of or quitting when the course load got tough? I had hoped that college would change you but you never gave any of those schools a chance. Oh you found the fraternity houses and got just as stinking drunk as any of their brothers with no problem. You need to be taken in hand and reduced to nothing so that you can appreciate the value of simple frugal living. That dress you are wearing must cost upwards of a thousand dollars. Who do you think you are? A princess? An heiress? No! You are just a lazy, drunken, penniless, spendthrift clotheshorse. You DIGUST me!"
Elena's eyes filled with tears as she sat across the desk from her uncle in his big city office. "please Uncle Charles, there is no need to be harsh. I am sorry for the times that I failed you but I will be willing to do anything you ask to be forgiven and returned to your good graces I will give you control over my spending. I will do ANYTHING you ask to make things right between us." Elena began weeping softly.
Charles Mason took a long look at his niece. At twenty six years of age she was undeniably beautiful. She reminded Charles of the girl's mother, his sister, when she was that age, but mostly Elena had the handsome features of her late father. She had light brown hair, a trim figure and ample bust, her large blue eyes were lovely when they were not red from crying or drunkenness, The expensive dress accentuated the girl's fine legs. Charles thought about how much of a waste the girl had become. Too unfocused and too much of a spendthrift to marry off to one of Charles' rich business associates he was at the end of his rope with the girl. Part of him wanted to bend her over his knee and give her the spanking she so richly deserved for being such a colossal brat. For the thousandth time since Gerald Hawkins, Elena's father had passed away, Charles lamented his loss. Gerald had been Charles' best friend. Together they got into adventures and accumulated vast wealth. To keep Gerald in the family, Charles had introduced him to his sister, Patrice, Elena's mother. Charles had no doubt that if Gerald had lived, Elena would have turned out as a woman worthy to wear his name. Charles was sure that not even Patrice's divisive antics would have prevented Gerald from being an exceptional father. The fact that he had made his ex-wife and only child the sole heirs of his estate after succumbing to cancer, showed his devotion to the pair. Suddenly Charles Morgan had an idea. What his niece needed more than anything else was discipline. Perhaps it was not in fact too late...
"Elena, are you serious about being willing to do ANYTHING to be returned to my good graces?"
The lovely girl smiled and her face lit up. "Oh yes Uncle I will do anything you ask!"
Charles replied. "Hold that thought niece. I have an idea that I am sure that you will not like but which I think is exactly what you need and, quite frankly, what you deserve. If you complete the program I have planned for you I will give you a liberal allowance and will instruct you on how to invest and live an elegant yet thrifty life. But first you need a complete attitude and behavior readjustment. Come back to my office at noon in five days. A contract will be waiting for you to sign."
"Oh Uncle Charles!" squealed Elena as she stood, leaned across the desk and kissed him on the forehead.
Charles slid away from Elena's lips and eyed her stonily, "Wait until you see the fine print Elena. You will most probably turn tail and run. I believe that you are a coward on top of all of your other faults."
For Elena the next five days passed with agonizing slowness. The days were filled with turmoil as well. Credit card companies, loan companies, and mortgage companies made harassing phone calls and threats. Elena was surprised that her uncle did not stop the repossession of her cute little sports-car. With nothing happening Elena wondered just what her uncle's plan was.
Elena was nearly late for her scheduled meeting with her Uncle Charles because she had to take public transportation. Elena could scarcely believe that thousands of people rode buses and subways every day. She could not imagine having to ride the bus regularly. When Elena entered the office she met a phalanx of lawyers. Off to one side was a huge and muscular man dressed in tight black clothing. He seemed very out of place amongst all of the suits and business attire.
"Ahh the woman of the hour." announced Charles as Elena entered his office. The broker introduced several lawyers and then called over the man dressed in black. "Elena this is Peter Rusk a man you will get to know intimately if you agree to my proposal."
Elena stared up at the man, he was handsome yet his features were hard and stern. Clearly this was a man who would broach no nonsense. Elena shook his hand, a bit awed at its size, his hands looked like bear paws absent the fur and claws.
Everyone gathered around a conference table and Charles announced. "Now it is time for you to hear the fine print Elena. You may recall during our last meeting I said that you need a complete attitude and behavior adjustment? Well that is just what you are going to get. It is my desire to have you become, in essence the property of Mr. Peter Rusk here. The relationship would be that you would be his slave and he would be your master. For a year you will own nothing, not even your own flesh. During that time Mr. Rusk will discipline you as needed and train you to be submissive, polite, and sober. He is going to take the snot and cowardice out of you and instill vinegar, strength, self-discipline, and self reliance."
Elena's jaw dropped open. She looked first at the impassive Mr. Rusk and then at her Uncle. Charles was wearing a smug expression..
"That CAN'T be legal Uncle Charles!"
At this point one of the lawyers spoke. "Technically what Mr. Mason is asking of you is NOT legal . HOWEVER, he IS well within his rights to allow you to continue to slide into financial disarray if he so chooses. Legally we would give Mr. Rusk power of attorney over you. In that guise he would be responsible for you in the eyes of the law."
"Uncle Charles you want me to be this man's slave? So my choices are to let this baboon do whatever he likes to me for a year or I get cut off completely?"
"Precisely Elena, " replied Charles " you CAN be perceptive at times"
"But Uncle Charles how can you do this to me?" sputtered Elena
