Secret Needs

Avril was the unquestioned queen of her domain. It was just before 6pm on a Friday and the CEO was completing the week’s business with Trudy, her Personal Assistant.

“So, I think that’s about it for now. Put Jameison’s on your list for Monday to send them our final letter and make me a note to remind me to chase up Throgmorton Street and then we are done for the week. Enjoy your weekend”.

Trudy bustled from the office and Avril stood up and stretched. This was going to be of those special weekends and oh, how she needed it.

Anyone watching would have seen a very well-dressed business-woman leave the office building and step straight into a cab which she had ordered. There must be no record of where she went so she had the cab drop her in the town center from where she walked to a large, old house with impressive front steps and a large man in a dark suit standing at the top of the steps. He did not give her a second glance as she went past him and through the heavy glass doors and then through the opulent foyer to the reception desk. She told the female receptionist that she was Jane and that she was expected. The receptionist knew exactly who Jane was and she knew what to do – she pressed one button on the internal phone and reported that Jane had arrived.

Almost immediately a well-dressed woman came into the foyer through an unmarked door and curtly told Jane to come with her. They went past the bar and restaurant and through another nonde*********** door which led them down a staircase which curved to the left and into another corridor with many doors on either side. The doors each had a single letter on a nameplate.

The woman opened one door into what proved to be a bare concrete room containing a bucket with a lid and a small single bed with an iron frame, a blue plastic mattress and no sheet or blanket. Between the door and the bed, a pile of white canvas and leather straps lay on the floor.

There was no conversation. The demeanor of the woman gave the message that she was very busy and really did not have time for this annoying chore. She told Jane to remove all her clothes and then she stood and watched as the order was obeyed. Next, she pointed at Jane’s jewelry; watch, earrings, bracelet and rings – all had to come off and be handed over to the woman who placed them into a zip lock bag which she took from her jacket pocket.

“Wipe your face”.

The woman handed over a disposable makeup wipe and Jane did her best to remove all her lipstick and eye shadow but she was not allowed time to do a proper job so, in the absence of a mirror, she was fairly sure that she now had streaks on her face.

The woman picked up the strait jacket from the floor and Jane stood and allowed the woman to place her into the horrible garment and pull the straps as tight as she could.