Choking On Sapphires

38 Do I Have to Talk You Into It?

It's a lovely late summer evening, you'd hustled your way through your morning meetings in London, deciding to skip the shopping you'd planned and call it a day early. After the week you'd had you deserved it. You were currently sinking into a bubble bath. Eyes shut, head on a towel on the edge of the tub, feet stuck out of the bubbles, moving them to the beat of the music from your record player. You planned on soaking, getting just slightly tarted up for dinner and making the most of having Alfie home. You planned on slithering up him like a snake once the maids were out of sight and you both had a glass of wine in your study. You let out a heavy sigh, imagining how that encounter might go. You were aching for the touch of the man after the busy week you'd had, feeling desperate in your need for release at his hand. Your delicious thoughts are interrupted by Claire.

"There's a call for you in your study." she states plainly. You turn your head to look at her.

"I'm done for the week, dear, tell them to try again on Monday." you say with a sigh.

"It's Palmer." she says with a darker inflection.

"Fucking hell." you murmur, shoulders slumping. "Fuck." you bark with a bratty kick of your feet on the edge of the tub, sending some water over the edge. "Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!" you throw a small tantrum, hands hitting the surface of the water, trying to satisfy the need to lash out in annoyance at the news. "I'll be there in a god damned minute." you mutter, rising from the tub.

Palmer was possibly the richest man in England, and one of your top clients. But as usual, with old money, his habits and behaviors were a bit...odd. You enjoyed how well he paid, the gifts and recommendations of you he gave to other old rich men that gave you a substantial portion of your income. The only catch really, besides the odd grope from time to time was that when he called...you answered. And not just by telephone. If he called upon you, you had to drop everything and go. You knew the night you'd planned for yourself wasn't going to go as you'd hoped. You take a few deep breaths, giving yourself a few slaps to the face to rid yourself of any annoyance you might have in your voice as you stare at the phone before you pick it up.

Just as you suspected, he was calling upon you. Being summoned for the weekend to be wined and dined and discuss plans of action, whatever they may be. You chirp in agreement like a little bird for him, fingers tapping against your desk, a familiar thudding, a thought always in the back of your mind when working, you're doing this for the money.

You conclude the call, you were to arrive in the morning at his country estate. This meant you had to leave very soon.

"Aggie!" you shout, letting out a heavy sigh, your hand running down your face as you turn to head out of the room. She appears like a spirit, as she always tended to do.

"Yes, dear?" she says, her hands being wiped on her apron.

"When Aflie gets home could you send him to my room? I'll be leaving tonight for Palmer's and I'd like to speak to him before I leave." you give her a half smile, you know that the pat she gives to your arm is meant to be supportive. You doing things you didn't want to, allowed this house and her to live in comfort and safety. But she hated that you had to do these things, like answer to any man unwillingly, but she loved you for what you sacrificed of yourself.

"Of course Gen. You need any help packing your things?" she asks with such a sweet tone.

"Oh no, Ag's don't worry about it, I've got it. Just bring me my dinner in my room as soon as it's ready, I'll need to eat before the journey." you both nod and you drag your feet to your bedroom.
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You've finished getting ready, your dresses to wear laid out with matching pieces on your bed, your travel trunk open at the foot of it. You're talking to yourself, considering what to take and where you might be taken, not wanting to be unprepared.