Kate / Katherine

by Jilly Bowling

  “Just tell the driver that Kate sent you and get him to put the box in the boot.”

  As they carried the box out Kate turned back into the factory and stopped to look at a machine. “June, will these machines knit that fine wool?”

  “Yes of course, they just need to be adjusted to a finer setting. Actually they were made for wool and the acrylic sometimes causes problems.”

  “Thank you June, you’ve been very helpful. Now I must catch up with the others.” Kate held out her hand and shook June’s hand gratefully.

  “I just hope that you will manage to save our jobs,” she commented.

  “I’ll do my very best, I promise you,” Kate said as she hurried away to catch up with Damien.

  The others were at the back of the factory looking through a gate, in the high wall; that led to a mess of overgrown shrubs and brambles. As Kate joined them Damien was asking how much land there was there, and was told it was six or so acres.

  “Not much good for anything.” Adam commented. “Make a good car park for your flats.”

  “Right, what else do you want to see?” his father asked Damien.

  “The stables and that building across the stream.”

  “They’re derelict, not good for anything but demolition.” Adam cut in.

  “Never the less, I’d like to see them,” Damien insisted.

  Kate could see that Adam was rubbing Damien up the wrong way. As she joined the group, she smiled to herself at the sight of Rachel standing as close to Damien as she could. Kate stopped at the edge of the group and waited until Damien saw her. When he did he smiled and held out his hand “Kate come here.”

  Moving towards him she grinned as he moved Rachel out of her way, and when she was close to him he put his hand on her waist and pulled her towards him.

  “Seen what you wanted to see?” he asked

  “Yes it was very interesting,” she replied quietly, “I’ve got lots to talk to you about.”

  “Good, let’s look at the rest of it, then we’ll go for lunch. You still look very pale, are you sure you’re all right?”

  “Yes I’m sure, but lunch would be nice,” Kate murmured as he took her hand .

  Crossing over the stream by a wooden bridge they walked through more overgrown shrubbery and rubbish. “This is a bloody mess,” Damien stated.

  “All factories always have a spare bit of ground,” Adam said sourly.

  “This isn’t a spare bit of ground, it’s quite a few acres of mess.” Damien growled.

  Before Adam could say anymore George cut in, “Well it won’t take much clearing up.”

  The building looked like an old barn, handmade brick again, with a substantial slate roof, the main door set into an arch and made of heavy oak. It wasn’t locked and when they went in it was very untidy and dirty. But it was dry and high enough to put in two floors. Kate fell in love with it straight away and walked round imagining how it could look; taking out her notebook she made notes and sketches. Walking back outside she saw what must have been a roadway leading into yet more undergrowth. Weaving her way towards a wall she could see a gateway and when she climbed onto the gate she saw that it was actually a legal entrance with kerbs and a give way notice. Taking more notes, she imagined all the mess cleared away, and a factory making fine woollens, up and running in the beautiful old building. Then she heard Damien shouting “Kate where are you?”

  Answering she jumped off the gate and pushed her way back towards the building.

  “Kate, I was worried,” Damien frowned. “What were you doing?”

  “Exploring a roadway that leads onto the main road” she explained, brushing leaves and cobwebs off her suit.

  “You’re filthy,” he growled.

  “I know,” she said fluttering her eyelashes.

  Roaring with laughter Damien led the way back across the bridge to the stable complex. It was a typical stable complex built to house the heavy horses used to pull the carts, that collected wool and delivered made up garments. Built in a courtyard style it was entered through an arched way; four loose boxes down each side and across the bottom end, a tack room and barn to house the finer carriages.

  “It’s beautiful” Kate whispered.

  “Beautiful?” Damien queried.

  “Use your imagination, three starter homes down each side, and two across the end.”

  Damien looked at her in surprise, she never ceased to amaze him. How a mind like her’s became a call girl he just couldn’t imagine. Turning to the Cruikshanks he told them that he’d seen enough.

  “Are you interested?” Adam blurted out.

  “There are still a lot of things to work out, but all things being equal, I should make a decision fairly soon.”

  “That’s no good, we’ve got other people interested,” Adam blustered.

  “I hope not, while you have accepted our option payment,” Damien frowned.

  “No no, don’t worry Damien. Nothing is going on,” George said glaring at Adam.

  “Good, I’ll be in touch George. I suggest that you control your son.” Damien shook hands with George, frowned at Adam and taking Kate’s hand walked away.

  As they got into the car, with Rachel once again making a fuss, Kate whispered, “I need to talk to you about what I discovered. What is happening after lunch?”

  “We’re meeting the planning department of the local council at three. Over lunch I’ll hear what the others have to report; then I’ll know what I can use to sway the planners.”

  “I want to show you what could be made in a small factory, utilising the machinery that is already there,” Kate said hoping that he would agree with her.

  “You could give your report over lunch, like the others,” Damien said, throwing down the gauntlet.

  Kate looked at him and said “Alright” smiling to herself. He loved testing her grit in all ways.

  Arriving at a large country pub, they were shown into a private function room, with a large boardroom like table surrounded by comfortable dining chairs. Kate excused herself, saying that she needed to tidy herself up and get rid of any remaining cobwebs. Once in the powder room she was surprised to find that she was still bleeding very heavily. She had a good wash, replenished her makeup and brushed her hair vigorously; she couldn’t be bothered to put it up so left it loose onto her shoulders. She looked very pale so rubbed some colour into her cheeks, then made her way back to the private room. Each place setting had bottles of water, still and sparkling, so she gratefully poured herself a glass and took a couple of painkillers.

  Once all the team were back, menus were handed out and waiters took their orders, then Damien went round the table taking a verbal report off each team. It became clear that the main things the council were being asked for were a skateboard park, children’s play area and allotments; when Kate heard that, she quickly added notes to her report. Finally Damien turned to her “Your turn now.”

  Kate quickly and clearly laid out her ideas. A small factory producing Yorkshire designer woollens, take the old bridge down to separate the sites and plant white birch trees along the factory side of the stream, to stop the apartment owners seeing the factory. Open up the access road. Affordable housing in the stable block and finally the ground behind the apartments to be used for a skateboard park and play area. Finally the land to the right of the planned play area to be allocated for allotments; the land to be leased to the council, ten years at a time, for a peppercorn rent. When Kate stopped speaking, there was silence. She looked at Damien worried that she had spoken foolishly.

  He smiled and said “Now that is what I call a succinct report. Take note for when you write your reports. When I go to speak to the council you will go back to the plane and write them up. I want them on my desk by ten tomorrow morning.”

  The waiters entere
d carrying their lunch and the room settled down, to eat and chat about the morning.

  Damien turned to Kate. “I’m really proud of you Katherine, I want you to attend the council meeting with me and Dan.”

  “Right, but first I’d like to show you something in the back of the car.”

  Swallowing his food, Damien chuckled, “I thought I’d seen everything you’ve got.”

  Kate suddenly found herself blushing, “I’m serious, please don’t tease me.”

  “I can’t resist it, you never blush in the playroom.” he smirked.

  “I’m usually too busy yelping,” Kate said tartly.

  “Uh oh, you’re getting my palm twitching.”

  “Oh shut up.”

  “Mmm, I’m looking forward to when you feel better,” he growled.

  Kate looked up to see Rachel glowering at her, so she glared back and raised her eyebrows. Once they’d finished eating and the coffee was being served Damien turned to Kate and said “Let’s see what you want to show me,” and he stood up and taking her hand pulled her up; as she stood the room swam and she closed her eyes. Taking a deep breath she opened them and managed to walk after Damien without swaying, and by the time she got outside she was feeling better. Opening the boot of the car, she opened the box and lifted out the first Merino wool pashmina. Putting it in Damien’s hands she said

  “This is what that little factory could turn out; Designer woollens. There is a supply of that wool in the store room that will make the first samples and I know where to get more. Done right that factory would be a viable business.”

  Holding the beautiful pashmina, Damien quickly realised that she might be right.

  “Surely that old machinery couldn’t make anything like this?”

  “I asked and yes it can. It was made to use fine wool.”

  “You asked a lot of questions, didn’t you?”

  “Yes it’s the only way to learn anything.”

  Putting the pashmina back into the box Damien took her into his arms. “I’ve got so many lessons for you to learn!”

  Even through her cramps Kate’s sex clenched; God this man really got to her.

  “I need the loo again I’m afraid. I’ll just go before we set off,” Kate said reluctantly leaving his arms.

  Shutting herself in the toilet Kate sat down, wishing she didn’t feel so tired. Eventually she sorted herself out and was ready to leave, when the outer door opened and she heard Rachel’s voice. “Who the hell does that little bitch think she is. Sucking up to Damien. She’s not his type, too plain. He prefers someone like me, smart clever and sexy. Probably giving him a blow job as we speak, he’ll just use her.”

  Kate opened the door and walked out as Beverley squeaked and left. Going to the wash basin Kate washed her hands, then dried them. Turning to Rachel Kate said, “I’ll tell you who I am. Damien’s partner, who lives with him, sleeps with him, and is fucked by him, all the time; he can’t get enough of me. And I’ll tell you who you are. A stupid stick insect who is about to lose her job.”

  “You can’t sack me.” Rachel shouted.

  “No but I can make your life a misery until you resign,” Kate smiled sweetly and swept out.

  Damien was waiting for her looking at his watch.

  “Sorry, I had something to sort out.” Kate murmured.

  Hearing the door open behind her she reached up and pulled his head down to hers and kissed him. His hands went naturally behind her bottom and pulled her to him kissing her back hard; Kate heard Rachel’s hiss and pulled away. Damien opened his eyes but didn’t let go of her.

  “Was there something Rachel?” he growled.

  “No no, just in the loo,” she said scurrying away.

  Holding Kate at arms length he asked, “Was that the something you had to sort out?”

  “Mmm, don’t worry about it, I eat silly little cows like her for breakfast.” Kate grinned at him.

  “I believe you, my dominant businesswoman,” he laughed. “Just remember you are my sub or I’ll have to retrain you.”

  “Yes please master.”

  Swatting her bottom he growled “Get in that car.”

  Rachel was standing by the car but Damien told her got go in one of the others. As she scurried away Damien’s lips twitched, his little sub still had claws. On the way to the council offices Damien quizzed her on her ideas, he could see that she was really excited about what the factory could produce.

  “I thought it was interior design that interested you?”

  “Well I took a fashion design course for a couple of years. I loved it but realised I’d never be good enough to make a lot of money out of it. I thought interior design might be more lucrative, so that’s why I was saving up to do an interior design course. I just love both,” Kate sighed.

  Damien was thoughtful as he continued to question her on the rest of her ideas.

  At the council offices they were shown into a room with a table at one end with three chairs behind it. In front of it were a dozen chairs laid out in two semicircles. Invited to sit at the table Damien took the middle chair with Kate on his right and Dan on his left. Damien took some papers out of his briefcase and laid them on the table in front of him, and Dan took out what looked like lists of numbers. Feeling nervous Kate put her notebook and pen on the table, glancing through her notes once again.

  Slowly the room filled up, ten men and two women, plus a female clerk, who sat to the side at the front. One of the men then stood up and walking to the front introduced Mr, Masters, Miss Jackson and Mr. Shaw; then they were questioned, for a good hour and a half, on Damien’s intentions regarding the factory site. Finally Damien asked Kate to laid out her ideas for the site including the play areas and allotments. She spoke so enthusiastically and with passion that the council members became enthusiastic too, very pleased at the idea of affordable housing, play area and allotments. Finally the chairman said that all the ideas appealed to them and they’d wait with interest for the planning application. As they left the chairman shook Damien’s hand and said that he could foresee no problems. Damien told him that there was a way to go before the contract was signed but he was pretty certain that any problems would be sorted out quickly.

  As Dan and Kate said goodbye the chairman shook Dan’s hand but kissed Kate’s saying that he expected to see a lot of her as her plans for the factory kept her in Yorkshire. Damien scowled and put his hand on Kate’s waist, saying goodbye sharply.

  Back at the plane the team all had their laptops open and were typing away, trying to make their reports good enough to be put in front of Damien first thing in the morning. Kate sat in her seat feeling exhausted, her head was thumping but at least the cramps had eased up. Once they’d taken off Ella passed round with sandwiches and drinks; Kate managed a small sandwich but didn’t have the energy to eat any more.

  In a very short time they’d landed and taxied into position; all the members of the team gathered their belongings and hurried away eager to get home. Damien was chatting to the pilot and Kate was patiently waiting, when Dan approached her.

  “I want to thank you for saving my job.”

  “I didn’t do anything Dan,” Kate told him.

  “All I know is he was raging mad; I must admit I was worried that he might punch me. Then he went home to you, and when he returned he told me what you had said. He was totally relaxed and actually apologised to me, he’s never done that before. So my wife and kids thank you. Goodnight Kate, take care,” and he too hurried home.

  That was the night he’d practically raped her, he’d hurt her and felt bad about it. Then he’d gone back to his place to do some work. It was Dan who’d cocked up, and it appeared that Damien was a hard task master, both in and out of the bedroom.

  Finally Damien said his thank you and goodbye to the pilot and led th
e way down the steps to the car, that Turner had waiting for them. Still feeling very light headed Kate made it down the steps but as she walked to the car, everything went black and she dropped to the ground. Damien rushed to her side, as did Turner, picking her up Damien carried her into the car. Patting her hand he called her name, “Kate, Kate are you alright? Turner we’ll take her straight to the hospital.”

  Turner jumped into the car and drove quickly out of the airport.

  Kate stirred and murmured “What happened?”

  “You fainted, we’re taking you to the hospital.”

  “No, I don’t need a hospital. It’s just my period, I’m anaemic and every so often it’s very heavy. Please don’t take me to hospital, I just need to rest,” she begged, tears running down her cheeks.

  “Don’t cry, you never cry, Katherine.” Damien begged her in horror. “Alright, we’ll take you home and call a doctor. No argument.”

  “Yes master.”

  Once they reached home he carried her straight to her bedroom, then he telephoned his doctor. Stripping Kate of her clothes but leaving her panties, he pulled a large tee shirt over her head and tucked her up in bed.

  “Do you want anything, Kate?”

  “I’m very thirsty, some water please,” she sighed, grateful to be in her bed.

  “Don’t move.” he ordered and went to get her some water.

  When he came back with the water he growled at her “When will you learn not to be so difficult? All day you’ve been saying you were ok, and you’re not, I should punish you for not taking care of yourself.”

  “I am alright, it’s just a natural thing, I’m not ill.”

  “And now you’re arguing with me!”he growled again.

  Wisely Kate shut up.

  The doctor arrived very quickly; Damien’s private doctor, who charged very high fees. On examining Kate he confirmed she was very anaemic and that a heavy period would make it worse. When he said that she needed an iron supplement, Kate told him that she couldn’t take iron tablets as it really upset her stomach.