by Lucy Wild
Because there was no doubt I was going to do it, not really. Rules or no rules. I was going to make her mine. I had known from the start, even if I hadn’t been able to admit it to myself. There was something about her that I’d never seen in anyone before. Maybe it was because she didn’t seem interested in me for my money. She didn’t know that I really was a billionaire. She thought it was part of my character. She was just happy to spend time with me for me. How long had it been since someone had done that? And she was so submissive, always saying sorry, averting her eyes, desperate to please.
She was here because I’d told her to follow me, I’d told her what to do. I just had to tell her to come home with me and she would. I already wanted to leave and the show hadn’t even started. I glanced across to the toilets, waiting for her to return. She’d only been gone a couple of minutes and already I missed her, I missed looking at her.
I spent the time waiting by deciding exactly what I was going to do to her when I got her back to mine. I was going to make her scream my name with desire, I was going to make use of every one of my toys, I was going to play with her until she couldn’t move. I was going to tie her down and teach her all about submission. I was going to give her the night of her life.
KARINA
I WAS SITTING IN THE cubicle in the women’s bathroom when they came in. I was waiting for my hands to stop shaking. Karina’s hands would shake. Melissa’s wouldn’t. She was more confident than me. I needed to get into her mindset, be the character, become the character. There wasn’t much point playing the game if I just sat trembling all night.
I was just standing up when I tuned into their conversation. “Who was that with Cole anyway?” one woman was saying. I froze at the sound of his name.
“A nobody. I asked around and no one recognised her.”
“She must be somebody. Someone like him wouldn’t be seen dead with a nobody.”
I was upset at first but then I realised. It was part of the game. All of this was because of how I’d filled in the survey back at Game Inc. They’d worked out how shy I was and set things up so I could learn to be bolder. Well, I’d be bolder. They were only acting. They didn’t really think I was nobody, they were just saying the lines as they were written in the script.
What if Cole was doing that too?
I ignored that question, easily done as I swept out of the toilet cubicle and faced the two women stood in front of the mirrors. “Hi,” I said, smiling broadly at them both. “Nice to meet you, I’m nobody.”
I strode past before they could react, giggling to myself as I returned to the table. He’d been right. This was fun. Cole smiled at me as I sat down. “You look happy,” he said, sliding a glass of champagne across to me.
“I am,” I replied, taking it from him and swigging half in one gulp. I almost choked, ruining the effect somewhat.
As I set the glass down, the lights dimmed and Cole turned to face the stage, as did everyone else. There was a moment of complete silence and then the music started, so loud it made me jump.
A woman stepped out from the curtains in time to the music. She was stunningly beautiful, dressed in a steampunk version of a Victorian dress. Her routine only lasted five minutes but I was enthralled throughout. To call it a burlesque act would be like calling Van Gogh’s sunflowers a painting. It was so much more. She was so confident, holding the entire audience in the palm of her hand as she danced around the stage, gradually removing layers of clothing. I’d never seen anything like it and that was just the start of the show.
By the time Cole leaned over and told me it was time to go, I was in a daze. I’d seen so many things, so many unique performances, and I couldn’t believe they’d all been put on entirely for my benefit. I shuddered to think of how much this was costing Game Inc. The curtains had been down less than a minute before Cole stood up, motioning for me to follow him.
“Where are we going?” I asked as he swept through the held open door to the outside.
“My house,” he replied, spying his limo and walking towards it. “Are you coming?”
I nodded eagerly. Karina might have been more nervous, more reticent about climbing into the car of a strange man, an actor too, someone at home with lies. But for this evening, I wasn’t Karina. I was Melissa. Melissa was bold, confident, assured. She would probably pounce on him as soon as the limo door closed.
I didn’t quite do that but I did go with him. I sat beside him as the limo rolled into the night, bubbles of champagne still popping deliciously inside my head as I tried to think about everything I’d seen. It was a blur of excitement. There’d been burlesque acts, dances, singing, trapeze, all simple words yet none of them adequately described the performances. They were so much more than I ever imagined. Was this what the life of a billionaire was like? Seeing things that were out of this world?
“How are you enjoying your evening?” Cole asked, turning to look at me.
“It’s all right,” I shrugged, not wanting to sound too excited and then immediately blowing it by blurting out, “It’s the most wonderful night I’ve ever had in my life.”
“Good,” he replied. “It’s supposed to be. I paid a lot for your company.”
I thought about the bill for the game. Was that what he was talking about? I sank back into my seat and closed my eyes, feeling dizzy all of a sudden.
When I opened them again, the car had stopped. “Where are we?” I asked.
“My house,” Cole replied, stepping out onto the street.
“Already?”
“You fell asleep.”
“I didn’t, did I?”
“A little. Did you know you suck your thumb in your sleep?”
“I don’t.”
“You do,” he grinned, holding out a hand to help me out of the car.
“Oh God,” I muttered.
“Don’t worry,” he replied. “I thought it was cute.”
“Hmm,” I grumbled as I looked up at where we were.
It was a hell of a house. We’d driven in along a drive, the city blocked out of sight by immense thick hedges. The house itself was huge, lit by spotlights that exposed the huge stone blocks and towering windows that made up a place bigger than anywhere I’d ever seen outside of a period drama. I glanced around me, marvelling at the sight. “I didn’t know anyone had a garden this big round here,” I said, looking at the lawn which vanished into the darkness.
“You should see the back,” Cole said, walking over to the front door which opened as he approached.
“Good evening, Sir,” a man in a butler’s uniform said from the doorway. His eyes flicked to me, registering the merest hint of surprise before he added, “Good evening, Madam.”
“Are you coming in then?” Cole asked before stepping inside and leaving me staring at the butler who seemed unsure whether or not to close the door on me. I thought about turning, for the briefest of moments. Then I took the steps two at a time and went inside to see where this game was going.
COLE
“What do you want to do with your life?”
She was sitting opposite me on the long sofa by the window, glass of champagne in hand, her eyes half closed. She looked as if she thought she was dreaming and that she really didn’t want to wake up. She blinked and frowned when I asked the question. “Huh?”
“What do you want to do with your life?”
“Open an art gallery.”
Was that Melissa or Karina talking? Was she playing the part she’d been given or had she forgotten? “Really? Why haven’t you done it yet?”
“It’s not that simple.”
“Course it is, you want to do something, do it.”
“That’s easy for you to say, Mr Billionaire. I need to sell a few paintings first.”
“Got any on sale?”
“A couple in the Simpson Gallery, do you know it?”
I nodded. “I’ve heard of it. Any interest?”
“I sold one last year. Nothing so far this year. I should
probably give up.”
I leaned forwards on my seat, pointing a finger at her. “Listen to me. Never, ever give up. If I’d given up on my dreams I wouldn’t be where I am now, sat here across from a beautiful woman, surrounded by things I love.”
“I’m not like you.”
“You’re more like me than you think. I was where you are ten years ago. Would you believe I made my fortune in under a decade?”
“How? Give me your secrets!”
“There’s no secret. I took some risks and they paid off. I took more and they paid off too. Sure, in some ways I was lucky but I also worked damned hard. For the first two years I barely slept but now I can do what I want. Fate is a funny thing. Life is a game, you roll the dice and see what happens.”
“I’d roll two ones.”
“Stop talking like that,” I snapped. “You’re here now aren’t you. That was a roll. You said yes to working at the club, you said yes to dancing with me. All of those were rolls of the dice. You’re playing just as much as I am. Here.” I topped up her glass. “To the game of life.”
She raised her glass, frowning as she did so. “Why’s that poster on the wall?”
I turned my neck to look behind me. “A Week of Sundays? Have you seen it?”
“Seen it? I loved it! It’s one of my favourite films. It’s funny though, I didn’t think you’d be into a film like that.”
“I produced it.”
“Bullshit.”
“I did. Look for yourself.” I stood up and she joined me by the poster. I pointed to the writing at the bottom. “What does that say?”
“Executive Producer Cole Ford. Wow, you really did produce it. That’s incredible. It’s such a good film. What was that line? Something about taking chances.”
“No idea.”
“Don’t you know?”
I shrugged. “I can’t remember that much about it. I’ve produced a lot of films.”
“Supper, Sir,” a voice said from the doorway behind us. I turned to see the butler carrying a large silver tray. He set it down on the little table next to the sofa and then vanished as if he’d never been here.
“Excellent,” I said, turning to see Karina burst into tears. “What’s the matter?”
She sank onto the chair next to her, slumping downwards. “Oh, it’s nothing.”
“Come on,” I said, taking her hand in mine. “Tell me.”
“I can’t tell you.”
“Yes you can.”
“It’s just I know it’s all only a game and I’ll have to go back to my boring old life when it’s over. I know I’m not supposed to say anything, I’m just supposed to pretend but I don’t think I can do it.”
“Are you enjoying yourself?”
“Yes, of course I am.”
“Well, then that’s what matters.”
“But…”
“But what?”
“But you brought me here for sex and it’s just a game to you and you probably do it with ten different women a night but I’m not like that.”
I couldn’t tell her I did want sex. If I told her the first truth, I might end up telling her the bigger truth. That I wanted a hell of a lot more than just one night of sex with her. I wanted her. I wanted to worship her body and have her obey my every command but I couldn’t tell her that, not yet. It would terrify her.
Instead I said, “You have made me very happy this evening and I want to make you happy. There are three doors over there. One is my bedroom. One is a guest room and the third, well you can see for yourself. I want you to go and choose where you want to spend the night.”
“But…”
I waved away her protest. “Don’t think about tomorrow. Don’t think about anything but now. Go and choose. We are playing a game, and it’s your move.”
She opened her mouth as if to say something and then closed it again. I watched her walk over and open the first door. I gave her a few seconds before following, standing behind her as she looked in. “That’s my room,” I said.
“A house this big and you sleep downstairs?”
“Sometimes.”
She walked to the next door and pushed it open.
“The guest room.”
She nodded, glancing in before moving to the third door. I held my breath as she opened it, her face white as a sheet as she turned to me. “What’s that room?” she asked in a quiet voice.
“The play room. All the best games take place in there. See that swing?” She nodded. “That’s for you to sit in while I fuck you. That chair? The dildo would be inside you from the moment you sat down. Those buttplugs on the shelves, they’re for me to reward you if you’re good. The canes for if you’re bad. I’ve shown you the play room. Now do you want to go to sleep alone or play with me? Time to roll the dice.”
I watched her closely as she screwed up her face, shook her head, sighed, and then walked into the play room just as I heard a knock on the living room door.
I glanced over in time to see Reginald leaning in. “I’m sorry to disturb you, Sir but there is a lady who insists on speaking to you.”
“Let me in!” a voice screamed and I sighed, looking at Karina and rolling my eyes. I knew exactly who it was.
“Wait there,” I said, pulling the door closed on her confused face. “I’ll be right back.”
KARINA
HE PULLED THE DOOR CLOSED and left me alone in the play room. I knew who he was talking to out there. I’d recognised her voice when she’d so shrilly shouted from outside. It was Zoe, the woman who’d accosted him outside the club, his ex-partner. There could only be one reason why she was here. The game was coming to an end.
I could predict it already. They would talk, and talk some more. Then I would be told to go. They were getting back together and there was no room for me in the house anymore. That would be that.
But there was a problem with that theory, a pretty big problem. The look on Cole’s face when he’d started talking to me about the playroom. That hadn’t looked like he was acting. That had seemed all too real. He had looked hungry for me.
I could hear them talking, though their voices were muffled through the door. She was apologising for how she’d behaved, asking for another chance. I rolled my eyes listening to her. He wouldn’t fall for it, would he?
The conversation didn’t sound like it was going to end anytime soon so I began wandering round the play room. I’d never seen such a selection of sex toys in one place. There was a wooden paddle that I ran my hand along, wondering what it might feel like if it slapped down on my butt. I’m ashamed to say I might have tried a pair of nipple clamps, attaching them to the front of my dress and wincing at the delicious pain that ran through my chest and down deep into me. I detached them pretty quickly, the room suddenly feeling much hotter than it had before.
It was a pretty odd game. Was this what I’d wanted? What the secrets of the survey had revealed about me? Somewhere to go wild? Or was this just a hint of that world before I was rudely removed from it? I had no idea. Surely if they were going to throw me out, they’d have done it by now?
My hand lingered on a steel buttplug, the metal cold to the touch. Could something like that really fit inside someone? It seemed far too big. I ran my fingers along lengths of rope before picking up a pair of handcuffs, fiddling with them as I crossed to the middle of the room.
I wrapped one cuff around my wrist, clicking it shut without really thinking about it. Inside, I felt a tingling sensation that grew as I wrapped the other end of the cuff around the metal bar at the top of the wooden vaulting horse in the middle of the room. As it shut, locking me in place, I felt a growing sense of tension. What if he’d trapped me here like this? I wouldn’t be able to do anything about it. He could do anything to me.
I shuddered with excitement at the thought. I knew I shouldn’t be thinking this way. It would only make the disappointment all the more painful when I was booted out. I decided I better untie the cuffs and get ready to go.
&nbs
p; That’s when I realised I hadn’t picked the key up from the shelf. “You idiot,” I muttered out loud as I tugged at the cuff, succeeding only in hurting my wrist. I had plenty of time to dwell on my mistake as they continued to talk, their voices too low for me to make out any individual words. All I could do was wait, sat on the floor with my legs crossed, hoping they wouldn’t be much longer.
“Please give me another chance,” Zoe said, sounding louder than before. She sounded desperate. This was it. He was going to say yes and the game would be over.
“You’re drunk,” Cole replied. “You’re not thinking straight.”
“I miss you,” she whined.
“No you don’t. You’re just bored.”
The voices faded again and I sat there, my butt going numb, my arm tingling from being stuck above my head. I must be the only person stupid enough to enter a billionaire’s play room and get herself trapped without any of the pleasure that was supposed to go alongside it.
I leaned back against the wooden horse, closing my eyes. Holly had been right about one thing at least. This had taken my mind off Tony. I hadn’t given him a moment’s thought all evening. Until now.
A couple of minutes later, the door opened and Cole tiptoed in. “She’s fallen asleep,” he said. “I’m sorry about all this. It might be best if you go home for now. Hang on, how did you…?”
“I might have accidentally handcuffed myself to the horse,” I replied.
“Right,” he said, smiling hungrily. “Does that mean you’re stuck there until I release you?”
“Or until I scream and wake Zoe up.”
“You better not scream then,” he replied, kneeling down and leaning towards me.
