Librium

by PJ Bayliss

  9 pm, Sunday.

  Family Flight.

  See email for details.

  He was pleased to see ‘Family Flight’ noted as it indicated that the company plane would be used.

  Gianni had recently invested in a dedicated aircraft for the business after a shipment of product was misplaced in France and subsequently sold on the black market. It was a valuable batch of trial drugs on its way to another laboratory for testing. Most of it was broken down in clandestine laboratories for distribution by the Milieu crime syndicate off to street gangs.

  The loss itself wasn’t a major business issue, but the impact on public relations was intense and eventually contributed to Peyton’s promotion to Communications Executive. She considered herself to be more like a Personal Assistant by organising client meetings, company events, and travel arrangements for Gianni and his family.

  Unbeknown to Chaise, his father had recently upgraded to a new aircraft that featured a customised freight compartment in the rear of the aircraft for the high value stock they manufactured. It had been outfitted especially for the aircraft without compromising the luxurious interior for passengers. This latest aircraft was a natural progression because Gianni constantly found himself accompanying his precious cargo in separate commercial aircraft as it was transported from one client to another. He always figured he might as well travel with his cargo to save costs.

  Chaise forwarded the text to Carlos and drove off to the new campus grounds at the edge of town. The old University buildings shrunk away in his rear vision mirror and reflected upon his brother’s experiment and the impact it would have on the family business. Now he desperately hoped to catch up with Federico and update him with the news and his anticipation over the trip to Italy grew.

  To his surprise, he received a text from his father who wanted to confirm he would make it to Italy.

  Chaise replied back and contemplated calling Gianni to explain the development of Carlos’s experiment, but he knew his father would insist in more extensive trials before celebrating any success. Gianni was a stickler for perfection. Nothing less would be accepted.

  Besides that, he was now runnning out of time as he approached the new university campus and office of professor Gilmour.

  4

  The exhibition centre was on the outskirts of town. Its entrance featured a wide driveway and cobbled pathway that led up to the building from the carpark. It was a new building with 20-metre high Romanesque masonry pillars, elegantly curved exterior walls, and large tinted glass panels that greeted every visitor.

  Chaise quickly spotted his buyer as he pulled up to the building. He had met him twice before and now he stood there leaning against a car with his friend. Carl gave the dashboard one last pat and pulled up beside them to make the transaction. There were plenty of good memories with the car, but within a matter of minutes they were being driven away from him and all Chaise left was a nice wad of cash in his hand.

  Chaise turned around to face the building and the throat clumped up with apprehension when he saw professor Gilmour waiting on the second floor of the tinted glass stairwell. She glared down at her subject through her dark rimmed glasses with her arms crossed. Her firm cleavage punched upward with her stance and the mist from her breath landed gently upon the glass window.

  The professor nodded subtly as Chaise smiled and waved to her as he entered the building where he waited quietly in the foyer, as she had instructed.

  Hushed voices echoed across the masonry walls and bounced off the tiled floor until the distinctive rhythm of her stiletto heels penetrated the crushed rumble of the crowd.

  Gilmour’s presence filled the expansive foyer. Her elegant frame was attired in a formal suit jacket with a knee-length skirt that hugged her curvaceous hips and thighs. Students washed to either side of her as she casually waltzed toward him.

  Chaise was drawn into the steely gaze of her emerald green eyes as she approached when he noticed how she was twirling a shiny brass key in her fingers.

  ‘Your key, Master Chaise.’

  Chaise gulped back his suspended exhilaration at that word. Having it come from her lips sent shivers down his spine.

  ‘Much appreciated Professor.’

  ‘You are very welcome,’ smirked Valerie as she handed it over to his open palm. ‘You’re very lucky. It’s the 300-seater.’

  ‘Seriously?’

  ‘Isn’t that what you preferred?’

  ‘Definitely! I just didn’t think you’d be able to…’

  ‘Oh please!' she interrupted, ‘you know just how influential I can be if encouraged.’

  Chaise snickered to himself, ‘Yes, very influential indeed.’

  He tucked the key into his pocket, ‘Thank you very much for this.’

  ‘It’s the least I could do to repay you.

  Please return it to my office once you’re finished. I would prefer later today, or if need be, tomorrow after the ceremony,’ Chaise nodded in agreement. ‘But make sure you’re out by two o'clock. It’s the downtown campus ceremony today and security will be coming through to check every room. They would be suspicious as to why you’re in here without a supervisor.’

  ‘You could come along…’ taunted Chaise.

  ‘The thought had crossed my mind, but it’s better if I’m not involved. I don’t even want to know what you’re up to, come to think about it.’

  ‘That is up to you. My secrets are always safe with you.’

  ‘Just remember, two o'clock.’

  ‘We should be done by then,’ he checked his watch, ‘Besides, I have celebration plans for tonight.’

  Valerie raised an eyebrow, ‘Plans? Not another North Street event I sincerely hope.’

  ‘Well, kind of. But it’s by exclusive invite this time.’

  ‘Wasn’t North Street by invitation only?’

  ‘Well, yes. I guess so…that did get out of hand rather quickly. This evening will be different. I promise.’

  ‘For your sake Chaise, I certainly hope so! I went through hell and back with the Vice-Chancellor last time. You and your brother are just so damn lucky for your father’s influence within this faculty.’

  ‘I know, I know. We never intended it to go down like it did, and Carl was just frustrated that we couldn’t dilute the formula enough for the exam. His heart was in the right place at the time, but trust me this is the last time.’

  She shook her head in disbelief. ‘Then please do not let tonight get out of hand, understand?’

  Chaise resisted the urge to laugh at Valerie’s request, shaking his head he replied. ‘Okay. I’ll do my best to prevent any mishaps. Tonight is a just a selection of close friends that I can trust. Nowhere near North Street, and nothing to do with any University facilities.’

  ‘Well, that’s a promising start. And what about your crazy experiments?’

  ‘I can’t guarantee that,’ replied Chaise. ‘But it will be more subdued tonight. We have set certain expectations of our guests this time. No surprises.’

  ‘We?’

  ‘Of course,’ he replied with a smile, ‘My brother will be there.'

  Professor Gilmour rolled her eyes in bemusement. ‘That’ll no doubt mean trouble, but, I guess I should’ve expected that. After all, you two are inseparable.’

  ‘Carl promised to be on his best behaviour tonight.’

  ‘Did he now?’

  ‘However…’ Chaise cringed, ‘he does have reasonable cause to celebrate.’

  She frowned. ‘Uh-huh...’

  ‘Apparently, his paralysis experiment is a success.’

  ‘I hadn’t heard. I presume this is a recent development?’

  ‘Yes, he has put it to the test, but it’ll need another test of course.’

  ‘Really?’ Valerie struggled to remain collected, ‘Don’t tell me, more human testing?’

  Chaise locked his fingers together and cursed himself for letting it slip out.

  ‘I’m afraid so. But you of all people
must realise the benefits of human test trials in certain circumstances.’

  ‘Our situation is different’ she hissed.

  ‘How so?’

  She glanced across to the clock on the wall. ‘I don’t have much time this morning. Come with me,’ she continued to talk as they headed toward her office. ‘For starters, our tests require human confirmation. It’s a little difficult for animals to speak up and tell us how they feel, what side-effects they're experiencing, and for how long the effect is in place.’

  ‘Very true…’

  ‘Especially so in our particular situation. You should know that. And while I volunteered to take part, it wasn’t really something I had a choice with.’

  ‘Nobody forced you…’

  ‘No. I ‘m not saying I was forced into it. It comes down to experiencing the effect of the test for myself. The first time you demonstrated this experiment to me, I was an observer, and to be frank, very sceptical at the results.’

  ‘But now you believe?’

  ‘Yes, most definitely! I just hope that you can tone the formulation down a little to be of greater medical use for women around the world. You’re so close to it at present.’

  ‘I agree, though you would know better about just how close we are.’

  Her cheeks flushed with his comment, ‘Oh trust me Chaise, you’re close alright, and if it weren’t for our history together, I doubt this little venture would’ve come so far.’

  ‘I understand. And I really appreciate your help and discretion, of course.’

  ‘All part of the course. In my experience, it takes quite a bit to convince a faculty like this to support a research programme like yours. Grown men in gowns can be quite narrow-minded at times.’

  Professor Gilmour unlocked the wooden oak door to her office and let Chaise in. She shut the door behind them and flicked the latch across. ‘Where are you going tonight?’

  ‘The Old Course Hotel for a meal and reservations at the spa.’

  ‘The Kohler Waters Spa?’ she queried.

  ‘Yes. We have reserved the entire place just for our party.’

  ‘Really?’ she replied, raising her eyebrow. ‘Very impressive. How did you manage to book that?’

  ‘My father…or rather, my father’s PA organised it.’

  Valerie smirked, ‘Oh, the ever-obliging Miss Perez? Is she is working hard to please you once again?’

  Chaise nodded, ‘Peyton and I are just good friends.’

  The Professor chuckled quietly.

  ‘What?’ Chaise scowled.

  ‘Oh, nothing… I was just thinking…’

  ‘Really? Thinking what?’

  Professor Gilmour’s eyes gleamed, ‘Oh nothing…I was simply thinking that the three of you would make quite a couple.’

  ‘Three of us?’

  He hesitated for a moment before smiling at her whimsical comment. ‘Oh, I see. Yes, the three of us will make quite a couple.’

  Valerie paused, ‘Will? How do you intend for that to happen?’

  ‘Working Visa,’ Chaise beamed. ‘It came through this morning.’

  ‘Oh well, that’s just the best news! What did Julie think about that?’

  ‘I’ve yet to tell her.’

  ‘Is that why you requested the key?’

  ‘Not really. I had something else in mind. I'm not sure how to tell her, but I’ll work something out.’

  ‘I’m sure you will. You’re very resourceful when it comes to such matters,’ Valerie approached and seductively slid her thumb across the top of his cheek, ‘After all, you’re about to become a scholar on this particular subject.’

  Chaise smirked and grasped her ivory white wrist, ‘I gather you have already taken the test formula? How long ago?’

  ‘When I saw you in the carpark,’ she replied.

  ‘Really? That was risky. You know how quick it can happen.’

  ‘It’s okay with me,’ she walked behind her desk and opened pulled out a pair of knickers from her top draw, ‘I’ve got spares today.’

  Chaise smiled, ‘Smart thinking. You will be needing them,’ he continued to observe his experiment take effect, watching her knees buckle gently as the abdominal cramps began to bed in. That old yet familiar feeling started to flood her body and the professor clenched onto the corner of the desk in suppression.

  ‘Any better?’

  ‘It’s an improvement Chaise. A dramatic improvement over the last sample, but it’s still not quite right.’

  ‘How so?’

  The professed closed the curtains behind her desk and walked back to the door to double-check the lock. ‘Like I said before, you’re getting closer with this formula all of the time. Right now, I have an overwhelming desire, and it’s taking a lot of will power to stop myself.’

  Chaise swallowed hard and focussed upon controlling his crotch. He knew the visual clue to his state of mind would trigger the inevitable.

  ‘But it’s stopped there, hasn’t it?’

  ‘Not really. It’s still…. Noticeable. Look for yourself?’

  ‘Look?’

  ‘Why not? You have told me yourself how you’d consider specialising as a gynaecologist. So, this is what you need to get used to, right?’

  Chaise took a gulp and agreed. He was mesmerised by her body. She was obviously overflowing with desire, and he knew her body was transforming in response to the pill. It was a chemical reaction, and it would only continue inside her body until it was exhausted and countered with another reaction.

  Another reaction that was lodged firmly in his trouser pocket.

  ‘Okay then. Show me.’ replied Chaise.

  The professor lowered her skirt to the floor and stepped out it. His eyes were immediately drawn to her panties and the outline of her sex beneath the garment. She approached him and grasped his hand, guiding it down to rest between her thighs.

  ‘You see? The effect is still too powerful on me. It has taken me so close…’

  ‘Close?’ Chaise said with a curious tone, ‘It’s definitely an improvement from last time. At least I can rest my fingers here?’

  Breathless, the professor nodded.

  ‘But what it I moved them?’

  ‘I don’t think I could tolerate that.’

  ‘But professor, surely I need to have a good understanding of how close you are so I that know how much to tone the effects down for next time?’

  The professor closed her eyes and nodded. ‘Yes Chaise. That makes sense,’ she hunched over and resisted her body as hard as she possibly could. It would be a battle she would surely loose and Chaise gently massaged her to complete the experiment.

  5

  Forty-five minutes later, the oak door swung open and Chaise stood in the doorway. Professor Gilmour was beside her desk, wiping the floor down behind him as he bid her farewell.

  Chaise walked back down the empty corridor. He thought about what had happened in the past hour, grabbed his phone and quickly sent a text message.

  V Formula still too potent.

  E formula works well.

  The result of the experiment frustrated him, but he was barely surprised either. Results from trials with Julie were similar, although she had a far greater connection with him on a deeper emotional level. Julie displayed similar results under a placebo, which inevitably prompted him to enlist the services of Professor Gilmour for the experiment.

  It was an amicable enlistment as far as he was concerned. Granted the pair of them did have a brief relationship with her during Chaise's first year of study, and the sex was fabulous, but Chaise knew he had to move on when she decided to stay on at the University as part of the faculty staff. It was a decision he regretted forever as the young professor had a gorgeous body, yet her professional stigma of authority always filled Chaise with a sense of exhilaration and power.

  That was a feeling he could certainly become accustomed to.

  His phone buzzed with a message from Julie as he approached the end of the corridor.


  Where shall I meet you?

  His heart pounded with a thrill of suspense and he considered this as the time to let her know about the visa. The timing could be perfect if everything went according to plan and he smirked to himself as he composed a cheeky reply.

  The cafeteria.

  I’m still preparing for your task.

  Chaise switched his phone to silent and jammed it in his pocket. He didn’t have time trying to explain it any further and needed to ensure the auditorium was set up in time for her arrival.

  He opened the double doors and beamed a smile from ear to ear. The room was enormous and the scent of new leather seating and carpet hung in the air. Chaise admired the view and felt grateful for the professor’s help securing the room for his purpose.

  Chaise shut the auditorium doors behind him and continued to prepare for her task.

  ◆◆◆

  Julie had just parked outside the front entrance. She was filled with anticipation due to Chaise’s somewhat cryptic text message. She wondered what he meant by his task. Clutched the steering wheel she gazed into the distance. With a self-assuring sigh, Julie hopped out of the car and walked up the cobbled pathway to the entrance.

  Her heels clicked upon the brick cobbles as she approached the building. With each step, curious thoughts started to run through her mind about why Chaise had asked her to meet him here. The semester was finished and graduation was only days away. There were no classes, lectures or presentations on the timetable. His request didn’t make sense, until she reminded herself of the upcoming end-of-year holiday period.

  It always had been a holiday in the past, but this time was different. This time was the final semester, and the apparent truth suddenly hit her.

  Oh my God! He’s going back to New York!.

  Every semester Julie had confronted the pain of saying goodbye to Chaise when he returned home to New York for holidays. Each time he had broken the news to her in this building as they left their final class, but he had managed to avoid the subject so far this semester.