A couple of days later, Jack was once again working in his den. The phone rang. It was Stephanie.
"Dear, do you mind if I work through dinner tonight? Things are crazy here again." She almost sounded frantic.
He looked at his watch, and frowned. Six o'clock. "I don't know, honey. It seems like you're spending a lot of time there."
She suddenly snapped back, "Really, Dear. Can't you just support me for once?!" He was about to say that he'd done nothing but support her, before she quickly apologized, "I'm sorry, honey. I'm really stressed out lately."
As if he hadn't noticed. But no matter what he did, it seemed she only got worse and worse. More late nights. More instances where she snapped at anyone in sight. Even Roxanne and Cecelia had mentioned it to him.
Before he could answer she added, "Maybe Simone wouldn't mind making dinner. She's a pretty good cook, you know." He knew only too well.
"Okay, but don't work too late," he said. "You do need some break from the restaurant."
"I'll try not, but you know how bad it can get. Don't wait up." Last night it had been midnight when she'd finally come in. What the heck could be so important that she'd had to stay there that late, he wondered.
He went back to work, and found his thoughts wandering. He didn't like to admit it, but more and more he found it hard to keep focused. He looked around his den and thought yet again how nice it was to be able to work from home. He was comfortable here. None of the nasty intrigue of board takeovers and secret connections.
Then, too, he had nicer company here, thinking once again of Simone. A slow smile worked its way across his face. He sat back, unaware of the warm feeling that overcame him whenever he thought of her.
A knock at the door broke his reverie. "Mr. Radley?" asked Simone.
"Oh yes, Simone, what is it?"
"It's getting rather late, sir. Do you want something to eat?"
"I was going to mention that. I hate to ask this, but since Stephanie has to work late again--"
"Oh dear. I hope things are alright at the restaurant. She spends so much time there, these days."
"Yes, well, it's not easy starting a business, you know. She's a little overworked, but we hope it will clear up soon. As I was saying, would you mind making dinner for Amanda and me tonight?"
Her face lit up with that sweet smile she had. "I wouldn't mind at all, sir. In fact, I was thinking of preparing something for Amanda. I didn't want her to miss a meal while she's studying."
"Really? That's wonderful of you, thanks.
"You know, Stephanie and I have been impressed with the way you've taken to helping her out. She seems so much more focused these days."
"It's no trouble at all. She's really very sweet. She takes after her mother, you know."
"Yes, she does," Jack replied smiling.
"It should be ready in a half hour, sir."
"Oh, and Simone, you don't have to call me sir, all the time. You can call me Jack." Now why had he said that?
Simone paused, regarding him carefully. "I'm not sure about that. It wouldn't be appropriate, sir."
Jack just laughed softly. "Okay, whatever you're comfortable with."
Looking at the bookshelf on her way out she said, "Is that dust?" She was indignant, as if the dust had no right to be there on her watch!
Jack looked over. It looked as immaculate as ever to him. He watched her dust the shelf, then head over to the table that held the dust globe. She picked up the globe and made an adjustment to it.
"Best to make sure this thing doesn't miss anything, sir."
"Oh, I wouldn't worry about that. I think the dust is probably afraid of you by now."
"You're making fun of me, sir," she said with the smallest of pouts. He was surprised at how much that look made an impression on him. She looked very pretty when she did that.
Jack raised his hands, as if in surrender. "My apologies, dear lady. Far be it for me to make fun of such a charming member of my household."
She looked back at him for a moment, obviously pleased by the comment, then said simply, "I'd better get back to the kitchen."
He watched her glide gracefully to the door then close it behind her. What a woman, he thought. Some man would be lucky to catch her eye someday. He turned and went back to work on his PC. All too soon, his eyes lost their focus, though he was only vaguely aware of it. He was far more aware of his thoughts, as they kept drifting back to his lovely young helper. They were stronger than usual. He kept seeing that smile of hers, thinking how becoming it was. He remembered that pretty pout she'd given him, almost flirtatious. And those eyes. So dark. So bewitching. He found that he couldn't stop thinking about her.
He smiled wistfully, thinking how nice it would be to be in his twenties again. She's the kind of woman he'd have courted. Pretty, confident, efficient, with just a touch of mystery about her. There wasn't anything not to like. He saw himself as a young man, coming up to her, touching her shoulder, getting lost in her gaze when she turned around to look at him. Then, doing what he'd longed to do for some time now, taking her in his arms and kissing her passionately.
He was still thinking about her when there was a knock at his door a moment later. He was startled from his reverie and a little embarrassed to find himself so aroused. He pulled his hand up from his lap and, after regaining his composure, said in a firm voice, "Come in."
"Sir, dinner is ready."
"But, you just left, Simone."
A troubled look crossed Simone's face. "Well . . . it is almost 6:45, sir."
"Six forty-five!" Jack looked down at his watch to find it really was that late. Had he spent a half hour, er, woolgathering? "Oh, well, thank you. I'll be right there."
"Very good, sir."
Where had the time gone? He really needed to get focused. He also needed to let his arousal subside before heading off to the dining room. Was he turning into a dirty old man, he wondered, then laughed uneasily at the thought.
That night Simone stayed late cleaning up after the meal. She looked rather tired when she announced she was getting ready to leave.
"Oh Simone, you can't leave at this late hour," Amanda blurted out. "Daddy, it's almost ten o'clock," she said turning to Jack. "She can't go home now."
Jack was sitting in the family room reading the paper. Putting it down, he said, "Oh, yes, well, it is rather late."
Simone just smiled wearily. "Oh, don't worry about me. I'll be fine."
"We won't hear of it, will we Daddy?"
"Oh, uh. well, it is rather late," Jack said again. For some reason, he had a vague uneasiness that he couldn't put a finger on.
"Really, Daddy, you're repeating yourself." Turning to Simone, Amanda said, "Simone, you can stay in the guest room. I know it's in good shape since you've been keeping the entire house in order."
"Oh, no, I couldn't impose."
"It's no imposition at all, is it Daddy?" she said, emphasizing the last part. She was giving him that look that said she wouldn't be denied. Just like her mother, he thought wryly.
After a brief pause, he said finally, "No. In fact, I'm afraid we're going to have to insist." Adding with a small grin, "I wouldn't want to have to call the police to report an unsafe driver on the road."
Simone flashed that brilliant smile that he had grown so fond of. "You're all so good to me. I feel just like a part of the family."
Jack nodded. They'd all been feeling the same way about her recently.
Amanda, smiled triumphantly, "Then, it's settled. Here, let me show you the way. What am I doing?" she laughed as they headed off. "You probably know the way better than I do."
Once again, Jack found himself gazing after Simone's petite figure as she receded from view. That vague uneasiness was replaced by a feeling on warmth that spread throughout his body.
That night, the first dream came.
He was working in his den when a mysterious woman came in. He couldn't see her face, as it was covered by a dark veil. Everything was dark, for that matter. The only thing that wasn't was the woman, who was wearing a very revealing French maid outfit -- the kind you see on women at costume parties. It was low cut and very snug, with fishnet stockings and shiny black high heels. He never knew how much he liked that sort of thing. His eyes kept tracing it's beautiful lines, up and down.
"It's getting late, Jack," the woman said softly. He liked the way she said his name. He felt tingles run up and down his body at the sound of her voice.
"Oh . . . uh, is it?" he stammered.
"Yes. Will Mrs. Radley be joining us for dinner?"
This seemed familiar to him. Familiar and yet very different. "No, she's working late at the restaurant again."
She slid into the room. "Oh, that's a shame." By her tone, she sounded like she didn't really care. "She spends so much time there these days. No time for her dear man anymore." He couldn't see her eyes yet, but her head movements showed that she was slowly checking him out. He felt uncomfortable at the interest, yet at the same time, excited. He swallowed hard as she slowly glided up to his desk. "You need more attention than that, Jack. A man of your position should have a woman who wants to take care of his needs." She leaned down on the desk, displaying her wonderful figure for him.
He froze a moment then tried to answer. "Well, it's not easy starting a business. We hope it will clear up soon."
"I'm sure you do. But, if it were me, well, I would have plenty of time for you, Jack."
Plenty of time. The words echoed in his head.
"In fact, I wanted to talk to you about that." She rose then, and slid around the desk.
He was transfixed. "Oh?" he asked stupidly.
"Yes," she said, almost whispering. "But, I can't just tell you," she said lowering herself onto his lap. "I should show you . . ." She paused, tilting her head seductively.
Without thinking, Jack's head tilted to match. He found himself speechless. His mouth moved, but he couldn't say a word.
She took his head in her hands. He didn't resist as she leaned down and kissed him lovingly on the mouth. He seemed unable to move, frozen in that delicious embrace.
Finally, she broke off, and spoke softly in his ear. "It all begins in dreams. If you want it enough here, you can have it anywhere. If you want it badly enough . . ."
Jack woke with a start. His heart was pounding and he was painfully aroused. Breathing heavily, he lay there going over the vision again and again. That's what it was. A vision. It was far more vivid than any dream he had ever had before. It burned in his memory and he couldn't stop thinking about it. For some reason, that last comment had unsettled him. Over and over he heard, 'If you want it badly enough . . .'
It was a very long time before he'd calmed down enough to go back to sleep again.
Simone was not pleased when she put down the globe. That had never happened before. 'He shouldn't have been able to break the link like that,' she thought. Looking at the clock on the night stand, she picked up her cell phone and hit the speed dial. After a moment she said quietly, "Yes Mistress, it's me."
"Where are you?"
"I'm spending the night at their house."
"Hmmm . . . How long have you been there?"
"Four weeks, Ma'am."
"Okay." She could tell by her Mistress' tone she wasn't exactly thrilled by her progress. "How are they coming along?"
"They're responding as expected. The daughter is definitely hooked. I'm filling her dreams with hot, sultry images. She's submitting to me more and more. From what I can tell, it won't be much longer before she is ready." She didn't want to push too hard. It took time before devotion in dreams grew strong enough to overcome inhibitions in real life.
"The others, of course, will be a little trickier. I'm keeping the wife busy at work. Her globe is reinforcing her anxieties and she's now quite paranoid that things are collapsing when she's not there. On top of that, whenever she and Jack are in bed, I make sure they have a complete lack of interest in sex." She finished with mock sympathy, "Poor Stephanie doesn't have any release".
"In the meanwhile, I'm focusing on Jack. His will is quite strong, as you know. In his dreams, though, he's an easy target. He has a few fetishes he's never explored before. He won't be able to resist for long."
Her Mistress wasn't so sure. "You might find him to be more of a challenge than you think." At that Simone thought of him breaking the link, but didn't say anything.
"I'm still focusing on affairs at work," her Mistress went on, "but there is much to do yet. The vote is coming up soon, so keep him there! You know how. I don't want him screwing things up this time around."
"Of course, Ma'am. I will."
"Has he mentioned anything about the vote to you?"
"A little, but whenever he starts talking about it, he gets evasive and changes the subject."
"Okay, keep at it. Without his wife to confide in, he'll be turning to you now. Let me know if you learn anything."
After she disconnected the call, Simone basked in the glow she felt got whenever she spoke to her Mistress. She didn't get to do that nearly enough anymore. Sighing, she reached out and adjusted the setting on the base of the globe.
Hers was larger than the others and could transmit as well as receive. She considered it a moment. These things were amazing. Set automatically, the standard globes could resonate a pulse that a person felt as a mood. But, when used with the transmitter, they could communicate focused images and emotions into a person's mind. This worked best while the recipient was asleep, of course, but after some exposure, they could work while a person was awake, too. That was why it had taken her so long to get through to the Radleys. Her Mistress already knew that, regardless of how she felt about Simone's progress.
Setting it to communicate with Amanda's globe, she held it between her hands and focused her thoughts on it.