“Think about what?” he said, an edge to his voice.
Looking quite woeful, Kristin said, “About us, Charles. Things are happening too quickly.”
Another silence, then Charles said, “Ah.”
“I hope you understand,” Kristin said.
“Well,” Charles said, “how much time do you need?”
“I’m not sure. I’ll call you when I know.”
“I see.”
Kristin didn’t add anything and the line went quiet. It was possible, Henry thought, that she was implicitly trying the leave the door open. He decided Charles needed further convincing and he gestured to Kristin to pass him her phone. Her eyes widened and she shook her head. Henry gave her a threatening look, and Kristin reluctantly handed it over.
Henry said, “Hello? Who is this?”
He could almost feel Charles’s shocked reaction down the line. Kristin closed her eyes.
“Who is this?” Charles retorted.
“I’m Henry. Why are you calling Kristin?”
“Who…? It’s none of your business!” Charles blustered.
“Kristin’s been staying with me this weekend,” Henry interrupted smoothly. “We’re getting back together.”
“Back together?” Charles repeated. Kristin still had her eyes closed and was now shaking her head slowly.
“That’s what I said. She mentioned that she had been seeing somebody else for a while. I guess that was you.”
Charles didn’t respond.
“You sound like a decent enough man,” Henry went on. “Please understand that Kristin is trying to make a fresh start. We want to make it work this time. I hope you can respect that.”
Charles remained quiet for a moment and then said, “Kristin never told me that she was already in a relationship. I wouldn’t have made a fool out of myself if I had known.”
“I understand that,” Henry said, noticing a tear trail down Kristin’s cheek. “Our reunion was a little unexpected.”
“May I speak to her again?” Charles said, adding, “I’d like to say goodbye.”
There was something in his voice that suggested he was still not convinced.
“Of course,” Henry said. “Hold on.”
Kristin opened her eyes but Henry made no attempt to pass her the phone.
After a few seconds he said, “I’m sorry, she says she doesn’t want to talk to you.”
“I see,” Charles said slowly.
“Well, good day, then,” said Henry, and hung up.
He regarded Kristin for a moment. She looked devastated.
“You really were quite fond of him, weren’t you?” he said. “Or maybe you were thinking he could help you in some way.”
Kristin wiped her eyes and looked at the floor.
“Cheer up,” said Henry. “Today’s going to be fun. We’re going shopping.”
Chapter Ten
To Kristin’s dismay, Shepard informed her that they would be taking her car. He handed her the keys and then directed her into the hallway where he retrieved her purse from her coat pocket. Clad in just her blouse, skirt and shoes, Kristin followed him outside and across the lawn. A cold breeze swept up her skirt, chilling her uncovered pubes.
They climbed into the Outlander and Kristin fired up the engine, glad of the warm blast from the heater.
“Into town,” Shepard said. “The Fountain.”
Kristin’s head was in a spin as she put the car into drive. The Fountain was one of the most prestigious malls in the area and she was well known there. She had no idea what she would do if any of her friends saw her.
Shepard was relatively quiet during the trip which gave Kristin time to dwell upon the latest turn of events. She was still very upset about the phone call to Charles. He had clearly sensed that something was amiss which was what Kristin had intended, but Shepard was proving to be a lot sharper than she had anticipated. By speaking directly to Charles, he had ensured that, whatever conclusions were drawn, there was no disputing the fact that she had been in the company of another man. Painfully, Kristin sensed another door in her life being slowly closed.
The Fountain was a vast five story building which contained a variety of stores, restaurants and banks, along with a movie theater complex, a bowling alley, and a gym. Kristin often came here with her friends, particularly frequenting the upscale clothing stores. Today however, Kristin was fraught with worry that she should be recognized accompanying Shepard - especially when her liberated breasts were so obviously on display. The car park was almost full, but after a few minutes Kristin located a spot and they went into the mall.
As Kristin had feared, the place was packed with weekend shoppers and it wasn’t long before her saucy attire started receiving some inquisitive glances. Suppressing a sudden urge to bolt, Kristin followed a few paces behind Shepard, attempting to create the impression that they weren’t together.
Shepard appeared to know exactly where he was going, and Kristin’s concerns intensified as he led her up to the second floor and into a large store called Amy’s Wardrobe - an expensive place which specialized in women’s apparel, and in which Kristin had previously spent many enjoyable hours. She would surely be recognized in here!
“Master,” she whispered. “What are we doing here?”
Shepard didn’t reply, but her question was soon answered as Shepard took her straight over to the lingerie department.
Kristin saw that they were catching the attention of some of the salesgirls who knew her well, and with good reason - she had always treated them with contempt, knowing that they were forced to suffer her arrogant attitude because she was a valued customer. Ordinarily she would have breezed in here with her friends and the staff would have been at her beck and call. Right now however, they were observing her skimpy attire and unattractive companion with astonishment. Kristin fought to maintain her dignity but she could feel her cheeks burning.
Shepard was examining the clothes racks by now and Kristin hung back in an attempt to keep a distance.
Without looking up, he said, “Come over here.”
Kristin had managed to endure this ‘master and slave’ routine so far, only because nobody else had been witness to it. But this was a totally different scenario - now he was making it public.
She briefly considered making a run for it, but once again the consequences of doing so kept her rooted to the spot. Mortified, she sidled obediently up to him and out of the corner of her eye, she observed two of the salesgirls whispering together.
Shepard picked up a white mini g-string and handed it to her.
“What do you think?” he asked, casually.
It’s revolting, she thought. I would never wear such a thing.
“I… I don’t know,” Kristin stammered.
Finally, inevitably, one of the salesgirls came over. Kristin recognized her as Susan, a petite redhead whom she had treated with particular disdain only the week before.
“Miss Hartman,” Susan beamed, glancing at Shepard. “How nice to see you again.”
Kristin smiled nervously, trying to hide the skimpy piece of lingerie behind her back.
“May I be of any assistance?” Susan continued uncertainly.
Her friendly demeanor was just a façade, Kristin knew, but despite how much they resented her, the staff in this establishment earned sizeable commissions through her purchases.
“I should introduce myself,” Shepard interjected before she could reply. “My name’s Henry. I’m Kristin’s… guardian.”
Susan registered a brief look of surprise and at that moment Kristin could easily have died on the spot. Guardian?
Now another of the salesgirls was hovering close by and Kristin remembered this one as Bella, an assistant manager whom Kristin had once given a serious tongue-lashing to.
“I’d like to buy Kristin some new clothes,” Shepard said. “But I don’t really know what I want.”
Bella
and Susan glanced at each other. Everybody here regarded Kristin as a bossy, take-charge woman, a VIP customer, and here was Shepard talking about choosing clothes on her behalf, while she stood meekly by!
Bella eyed Kristin curiously, her eyes involuntarily dropping down to her visible bust.
“Perhaps you would be kind enough to suggest a few items for me?” Shepard continued.
The two salesgirls kept looking at Kristin, waiting for her to say something.
“I want to give Kristin a make-over,” Henry went on. “In the past she has always been a little, shall we say, severe? I want to bring out her sexuality more.”
Again, the girls exchanged glances, but this time their expressions shifted from bewilderment to a kind of gradual comprehension. With a growing sense of dread, Kristin realized that they were beginning to get the idea that she was not in control here.
“What kind of apparel did you have in mind, sir?” Bella asked.
With that, Kristin realized she was doomed. Bella had sized up the situation correctly and now this common shop assistant was ignoring her as if she wasn’t even there.
“Well, I’d like to get a nice selection of sexy lingerie. Also some dresses - short ones - and a pair of shoes with very high heels. Oh yes, one more thing. I want everything to be a size too small.”
Susan let out a surprised giggle.
“Too small?” Bella repeated.
“That’s correct.”
Bella appraised Kristin with a look of wonder, while Kristin herself didn’t know where to put her face.
“Very well, sir,” Bella said to Shepard in an amused tone. Once more, she looked at Kristin’s chest, this time allowing her eyes to linger there a while. “Maybe we should start with a bra?”
This produced another titter from Susan, and Kristin’s face glowed even redder.
Bella stopped in front of a row of strapless bras.
“What size are you?” she asked, turning towards Kristin. There was no respect in her voice now.
Looking at the floor, Kristin replied, “Thirty-six D”
“Okay,” said Bella, picking one off the rack. “Then this should do. It’s a cup size too small, so it will push them out nicely.”
Henry nodded his approval and as a further indignity, Bella casually handed the bra to Kristin.
The two salesgirls warmed to their task as they continued along the lingerie section, picking out pairs of sheer lace panties, French knickers, boy shorts, and even a mesh lace-up corset.
Next, they moved on to the main part of the store, with Kristin trailing miserably behind as they loaded her up with her unwanted purchases.
At one point, Shepard stopped and pointed to a pink spandex leotard, saying, “I like that.”
“It’s a size two,” said Susan. “It should fit her nice and tightly.”
On they went, chatting happily and holding various items of clothing up against Kristin’s body to ensure that they did not fit properly. By now, they were attracting quite a bit of attention from the other customers and, after this humiliating experience, Kristin doubted if she would ever go shopping for clothes again.
On it went: two junior-sized plaid miniskirt and blouse sets, a gray open-sided tube dress, and to much merriment, a crop top with the words Wet Dreams printed across the front. When they reached the shoe section, it didn’t take Shepard very long to locate what he wanted.
Kristin watched despairingly as he held up a pair of black leather sandals with ankle straps.
“That’s a six-inch heel,” Bella observed gleefully.
“Well, they’ll have to fit correctly I suppose,” said Shepard. “She’ll have enough trouble learning to walk in them as it is.”
He instructed Kristin to put down her bundle of clothes and try the shoes on. Keenly aware of the other customers discreetly observing the curious scene, Kristin stepped into the ridiculously high shoes and did up the straps. When she straightened up, she had to support herself against a chair.
Susan held her hand up to her mouth, trying to suppress a smile.
“How do they feel?” asked Shepard.
“Uncomfortable,” Kristin said in a low voice.
“I’m sorry?” Shepard asked. “Who do you think you are speaking to?”
Hearing Shepard’s formal tone, Kristin’s breathing quickened. Oh God, no! she thought. Not here. Not in front of them!
There was to be no reprieve, however. With a sinking feeling, Kristin barely whispered, “They feel comfortable, Master.”
Unfortunately for her, Bella and Susan both heard it and their mouths dropped open in shocked delight.
“I have an idea,” Shepard announced. “You have a fitting room, right?”
“Over in the corner,” Bella answered.
“Perfect. Let’s go.”
Their conspicuous little parade went on, Kristin wobbling along behind with the bundle of garments in her arms.
In the corner of the store were two curtained-off changing booths facing a wall-length mirror and two plush armchairs. Shepard instructed Kristin to deposit the pile of clothes on one of the armchairs and then rummaged around until he found the gray tube dress.
“Put this on,” he said to her. “I want you to model it for us. And keep the shoes on.”
Kristin opened her mouth to protest, but unable to withstand the look of absolute joy on the salesgirls’ faces, she walked unsteadily to the cubicle and pulled the curtain behind her. She could hardly bring herself to look at her naked body in the mirror after she removed her blouse and skirt.
She picked up the dress and pulled it over her head. As per Shepard’s instructions, the girls had found one that was too small, but with a struggle she maneuvered it over her shoulders and then managed to work it down her body. Then she turned sideways and surveyed herself.
The dress was made of a semi-sheer cotton polyester fabric which, because it was clearly designed for a teenage girl, molded itself snugly against the curves of her body. The open sides, which were connected by a series of horizontal strips, clearly revealed that she wasn’t wearing anything underneath, and the preposterously steep shoes forced her to balance precariously on tip-toe, stretching her calves and thighs and forcing her to push her butt out. There was no way she could go out there like that!
“We’re waiting,” she heard Shepard call out.
Kristin drew a deep breath, pulled back the curtain, and took a couple of awkward steps outside. Shepard and the girls were now seated in the armchairs, ready to enjoy the show.
“Walk up and down,” Shepard commanded.
Her shame now so complete that she was holding back tears, Kristin tottered past them to the end of the privacy panel. The dress clung to her so closely that the hem crept up her buttocks as she walked. She instinctively tugged it down but in doing so, pulled the top of the dress down so that she inadvertently exposed the tops of her brown areolas.
Extending her agony, Shepard made her repeat the parade twice more.
“What do you think, ladies?” he said.
“I think she looks quite fetching,” Bella smirked, and Kristin couldn’t help but recall her previous disdainful treatment of these girls. Now she was being displayed like a slut in front of them and there was nothing she could do about it. One thing she did know, whatever the outcome with Shepard, she would never be able to face them again.
“Well,” Shepard said. “I think we’re done here. Kristin has more shopping to do, and time is ticking.”
“I’ll take these over to the cash desk,” said Susan, gathering up the garments.
They all stood up and Kristin turned towards the changing booth.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Shepard asked her.
She looked back at him uncertainly.
“I’d like Kristin to wear this outfit home, if that’s okay with you?” Shepard asked Bella.
“Absolutely,” Bella grinned. “No problem at all!”<
br />
Oh, Christ, Kristin thought. I’ve got to walk around in public like this?
They went over to the cash desk where a line of customers looked on in amazement at Kristin’s scanty attire. Acutely aware that she was the center of attention, Kristin tried desperately not to make eye contact with anyone. Thankfully, nobody seemed to recognize her.
Susan ran up the check and packed the items into two large carrier bags.
“Cash or charge?” she asked Shepard.
He took Kristin’s purse out of his pocket, pulled out one of her credit cards and handed it to Susan.
“Three hundred ten and seventy-five cents,” Susan said, pushing the docket towards Kristin.
As she signed, Kristin felt a rush of helpless indignation. She was being forced to waste her own money on these useless and degrading items! But Shepard wasn’t done yet. He produced two fifty dollar bills from Kristin’s purse and handed them to her.
“I think a nice tip is in order, don’t you?” he said. “The girls have been so helpful.”
Her hand shaking, Kristin reluctantly passed the bills over. She had never tipped more than ten dollars in here before.
“And what do you say?” Henry prompted.
Kristin chewed down on her lip. She knew what she wanted to say, but the sooner they were out of here the better, so she quietly mumbled a thank you.
“The pleasure is all ours,” said Bella, and couldn’t resist adding, “I must say that you have turned into such a polite girl. Please come and see us again.”
With that, Kristin followed Shepard out of the store, carrying her own bags, wobbling on her new six-inch heels, feeling the air-conditioning wafting around her uncovered pubes, and wondering what in God’s name he had in store for her next.
Chapter Eleven
Henry led Kristin up to the fifth floor, deliberately pretending that he was oblivious to Kristin, but of course nothing could have been further from the truth. She looked absolutely delightful as she struggled along behind him in her tiny new dress and towering shoes. He could hardly believe that this was the same domineering bitch who had given him the sack just three days earlier.
Kristin's Demotion Page 7
