Policy States
~Caroline~
The email sits in front of me: an invitation to a formal dinner and charity auction from one of our clients. We can even bring a plus one.
Ping. New email.
To:
From:
Subject: Invitation Response
Miss Milton,
Before you reply to our company invitation to the Fairchild event, I would like to formally invite you to attend on my arm. Since this is our client and we worked hand in hand on this account, I think it would be best to arrive to the event together. This is a corporate function, and our personal lives should not be involved, even though the offer was given. You can respond for both of us as individual attendees only. I will pick you up at five-thirty so we can arrive promptly at six.
Thank You,
Chad Stillwell, CPA
Account Executive, Payroll Merchants
Charlotte CPA, Incorporated
After I click reply, the curser blinks on the screen in front of me, mocking me. What can I possibly say to him? This is a company function. This is company email, and it is monitored.
To:
From:
Subject: RE: Invitation Response
Mr. Stillwell,
I will respond on your behalf as an individual attendee. I appreciate your offer to pick me up for the evening; however, it won’t be necessary. I am capable of driving myself. I will see you at the event. As per the attached seating chart in the invitation email, we will be sitting together.
Thank you,
Caroline Milton, CPA
Junior Account Executive to Chad Stillwell
Charlotte CPA, Incorporated
Ping. The new email alert sounds, making me jump.
To: ,
From:
Subject: Company policy for client events
Miss Milton,
I understand you are still relatively new to the company. I have added our human resources director to this email so he can clarify if the policy has changed. In your company handbook, there is an article addressing our policy on client functions. Charlotte CPA does not wish to intrude on our client’s kindness; therefore, when offered invitations to events, we do not allow our associates to bring an additional guest from outside of the company.
The executive working for the client is to attend with their junior associate as to maintain our professional relationship. The company will provide transportation so that, should we be served wine or any other alcoholic beverage, we are not drinking and driving while representing Charlotte CPA. Therefore, I will be with the company vehicle picking you up the evening of the Fairchild Event so that we arrive on time and professionally.
Should you have further questions concerning this policy, feel free to ask me or address George Duncan, head of our Human Resources department. These policies are in place to ensure that, at all times, we represent the company accordingly and as a unit.
Thank you,
Chad Stillwell, CPA
Account Executive, Payroll Merchants
Charlotte CPA, Incorporated
Talk about having all your bases covered. Chad sure has outdone himself this time. What can I do now?
Feeling trapped, I get up from my desk and go to the bathroom. Splashing cool water on my face does nothing to cool off the rage boiling inside me, though. The small white scar on the bottom of my chin stands out as I stare at myself in the mirror and memories flood me.
“It won’t hurt much, Caroline. Look at it this way, my dick would hurt more.” Alvin laughs at me.
The collar around my neck keeps my head in place against the wooden cross he has me tied to. My hands are cuffed, my ankles chained, my waist belted in place, and my naked body is open and exposed to him.
“Besides, if you get me hard, there is a bonus for you.” He grabs his limp dick. There are wrinkles in his leathery skin, and his beer gut hangs freely as he stands naked in front of me, holding the crop.
The vibrator hums against my clit as my body reacts to the stimulation. I close my eyes as he pulls the glass dildo from the bucket of ice and slides it into my wet heat. While my body clinches around it, I hang my head in shame as he works me.
The nipple clamps are tightened, the little bells hanging off them jingling, as my body shakes in orgasm. I choke as I hold my head down against the collar that is limiting my mobility, and I feel the spike cut into the skin of my chin. I only drop my head more, forcing the metal to cut deeper. The pain is a welcome reprieve from the pleasure my body involuntarily absorbs.
My skin crawls as he moves closer, licking my juices from the dildo as he removes all of his toys from me.
Punishing myself, I continue to push my chin into the collar before he releases me from my bindings. Pain, pleasure, punishment—it all blurs together into a nightmare of ecstasy.
I rub my chin as if the wound were still fresh. Then I swallow, forcing down the bile rising up in my throat at the memories of being young, dumb, and in over my head.
What will Alvin Higgins say if our relationship is exposed by Chad? There are more people involved here than just me. Otherwise, I would face the consequences of my decisions and move on. Alvin Higgins is not a good man, but I agreed and never once challenged our relationship.
God, what is wrong with me? I am in a bathroom at work, trying to avoid yet another manipulator in my life while justifying the behaviors of a past manipulator. I am fucked up in the head, seriously.
~Rex~
“Why am I the one attending this thing again?” I question as I stretch my arms out, trying to give myself room to move in the monkey suit I am currently wearing.
“Because Caroline needs support there. According to Kenna, company policy makes it so she has to attend the charity auction and dinner to benefit the children’s hospital with Chad. Crews Transports has done a few legitimate transports for the Fairfield’s, so Tripp called and RSVP’d that you would attend as VP of the company. We also had them move Caroline’s seat to beside you.”
“Fuckin’ suit wearin’ motherfuckers. Why do we have to dress up?” I bitch at Doll, uncomfortable as hell in this get up.
“Shut up and sit down so I can pull your hair back, and suck it the fuck up. It’s for Lux. With you there, she won’t have to ride home with the douchebag.”
She won’t have to ride home with Chad. All I have to do is wear a suit, rub elbows with some big wigs, and flirt with my girl.
My girl.
Wow. That feels almost natural. I can think of Lux, and my dick gets hard as stone. With anyone else lately, it’s as limp as a wet washcloth. I will get through this and bring her home safely.
Safe.
I will step in and keep Lux safe from Chad, tonight and every night.
After the valet takes my keys as I shift myself out of my classic Mustang and grab my jacket off the passenger seat and make my way inside as I put the suit coat on. My feet protest in pain with every step at the narrow dress shoes I am wearing. How do people wear this shit all the time?
I smile at everyone as I enter the ballroom where the tables are lined up. Doll showed me the seating assignments before I left, so stalking over to the table, I take in Caroline as she stands beside our table, talking with two men. One is the host of the event and the other is Chad Stillwell, her tormentor.
She is wearing a red dress that hugs every curve and stops just below her knee, making it formal, classy, but with a certain level of seduction calling me to run my hand over the back side of her ass where the dress opens all the way to the shoulders in a diamond shaped. Her exposed skin is smooth and free of any scars and ink. There’s nothing but porcelain-colored flesh. My dick hops to life as I try to think of grandmas and cats to calm myself.
Coming up behind her, I take a chance. I reach out and run my hand over her back as I lean in and kiss her cheek briefly. She tenses under me until her eyes meet mine. Once it dawns on her I am here, she smiles a genuine smile and relaxes into my arm around her as I tuck her into my side.
“Sorry I’m late, sweetheart.” I openly apologize as I stare Chad down.
Then I reach out and shake hands with Damien Fairchild so they understand I am here by my own invitation. Since Caroline didn’t know I was coming, I want her to play along, but I didn’t have time to prepare her.
“Damien, good to see you again.”
“It’s been far too long, Crews. Business is good for you. I heard the Hellions bought into Ruthless up in Catawba,” he casually states.
I only nod my agreement.
However, at the mention of Ruthless, I want to punch something. Yes, the club bought into the bar, finally. Now we can protect the joint and the women who work there. Too bad it is too little, too late to save Tessie.
“Enjoy yourselves. Be sure to spend some of that money you hold onto at the silent auction, Crews. I have to make the opening announcements. See all of you later.”
Realizing what is going on, Lux smiles at me. “Chad, meet Drexel Crews, Vice President of Crews Transports. Rex, this is my supervisor, Chad Stillwell.”
“Hellions, huh? You’re affiliated with an outlaw motorcycle club, and yet you are rubbing shoulders here tonight? Hmmm,” Chad questions with a smartass tone that makes me want to rip his throat out.
“Yeah, occasionally, they let us out of the penitentiary to come steal money from the rich fuckers waiting around for us,” I reply sarcastically before looking to Lux. “Damn, Lux, if I knew you were working for this level of stupid, I would’ve hired you at the office to run our books.”
“As a professional, working the ‘books,’ as you call it, for a criminal enterprise would make you accountable in criminal court for the filtering of their fraudulent funds,” Chad tries to stammer out.
“You are as dumb as you look,” I reply as I kiss the top of Lux’s head, squeezing her hip as I do. “You look gorgeous, Lux,” I compliment her as if dipshit wasn’t standing right beside us with steam ready to come out of his ears.
“You clean up nicely, Rex. I really like the red tie.” As she looks up at me, smiling, I lean down and place a chaste kiss on her lips. Her lip gloss transfers to my lips in a way that normally would have me wiping my mouth on anything I could to get it off. Tonight, though, it has me smiling to myself as I lick my lips, thinking of kissing her again.
The announcement for us to take our seats breaks up my thoughts. Guiding her over, I take in the shocked breath she sucks in when she sees that, yes, Chad is on her left, but I am seated to her right. She looks up at me with what I can only assume to be gratefulness as we take our seats.
Silently, I think to myself, no worries, sweetheart; you aren’t alone, and you are safe.