Waiting on Tuesday

by Bella Settarra

  One of his many duties as Head of Human Resources was to update duty rosters for both the Bottom Bar and the restaurant bar. Along with that, he and Dominic had to keep the restaurant fully staffed, and the offices and Reception areas needed to be manned too. All of that kept him busy enough without having to take on the Membership Manager’s role as well.

  He and Brad Dexter had worked closely with the last guy who had that job until he left the company, and everyone assumed Brad would then take on the role. Brad was being primed for the position, after all. Now the boss’s son had mysteriously disappeared and it had all landed squarely on top of Dan’s shoulders. Typical. Now with membership as well as HR he was continually rushed off his feet.

  With each new member of staff came the added responsibility of background checks, as it was with each new club member. He’d pointed out to Dexter that he wouldn’t have time to get the results back on every new member that had applied before tonight, but the boss was having none of it.

  In order to be even considered for membership at the prestigious Collar and Cuffs, an applicant had to have at least one referral from another club. On top of that, they were supposed to have an induction session with full details of the club rules, and be supervised for their first couple of scenes. Dexter had been so busy looking at the dollar signs that he had allowed all of the new applicants to start this week without first checking that Dan had completed all his research on them.

  “We can’t do anything about that now,” Dexter had protested when Dan had objected to allowing them in without the customary checks. “They’ve paid their fees and they have a right to start as soon as they wish to.”

  Even Steve Ratner had tried to reason with the old man, pointing out the dangers which could occur if they allowed just anyone into the club. As a police sergeant, Ratner knew the importance of background checks, and he also knew how much time they could take. He had been working flat out to try to help rush through all the information he could get for Dan, but even he was no miracle worker.

  Now here was Dan with a club full of strangers and he didn’t have the scoop on half of them. Dexter’s argument that they had all come recommended by another club didn’t really cut it in his eyes. Not all clubs were as careful or as thorough as Collar and Cuffs, and, besides, he reasoned, there was often a reason why a member wanted to leave one club for another… and it wasn’t always good.

  That guy, Jenner, for instance. He had a bad attitude and, by the looks of it, very little experience being a Dom. He was a weird one too. Dan had seen him skulking around corridors and poking around in places he didn’t need to be. It seemed a little odd, even for a first timer looking around. Dan noticed the way he was being wound up by Tuesday O’Leary from the moment he laid eyes on her, and that didn’t bode well. He was glad he had gone to check on her in that scene, and he believed Tuesday when she told him that she had already informed the Dom that her ankle cuff was too tight. The guy was an asshole, and Dan intended to keep a close eye on him. That’s why he had been so annoyed when Dexter had called him into his office for an update. How the hell was he supposed to watch the floor from up here?

  And he should have known better than to mention to Dexter that each and every new member should be assessed on their “Dom Ability” before being let loose on the subs. The old man had hit the roof! Dan hadn’t taken kindly to being told he was fast turning into a control freak.

  He was relieved when he finally returned to the lower ground floor and faced the Collar and Cuffs sign outside the dungeon. Music was being played in the bar and it looked as though all the themed rooms were being put to good use.

  “Everything OK?” he checked with Nathan Faulkner, who had taken over his Dungeon Monitor duties while he’d been summoned to the boss.

  “Yeah.” Nathan grimaced. “We’ve got our work cut out with one or two of the new wannabe Doms, but nothing we can’t handle. I’ve had to warn that guy on the cross twice now about checking on his sub. She doesn’t seem to like telling him that she’s uncomfortable, and he doesn’t seem to think he should have to ask her. Didn’t even know her safe word when he first started whacking her, for fuck’s sake!”

  “Ker-ist!” Dan shook his head in disbelief. “How about that Jenner guy? How’s he coping with Tuesday?” He looked around, a little surprised to see the guy sitting at the bar, nursing a whiskey.

  “I didn’t see her with him. He’s been over there for quite a while.” Nathan frowned.

  Dan felt a jolt in his stomach, and although he told himself that Tuesday had probably gone home already, he couldn’t move his legs fast enough to go and check.

  “Where’s Tuesday?” he demanded as soon as he and Nathan caught up to him.

  Jenner stared at him blankly. No doubt he wasn’t on his first drink tonight.

  “I asked you a question. That sub you were with. Where is she?” Dan fought to keep the control in his voice as his anger ratcheted up another notch.

  Steve Ratner joined them, frowning.

  Jenner shrugged. “Was that her name? Stupid bitch. Got no respect for a Dom.” His speech was slightly slurred, and Dan looked accusingly at the barman.

  “He wasn’t playing, Dan,” the guy assured him as he continued to polish the glasses, “he was just asking about the club.”

  “Where the fuck is she?” Dan’s voice was loud enough to attract the attention of quite a few onlookers, and Jenner looked a little taken aback.

  Dan dragging him to his feet by his shirt collar was evidently enough to make his brain start computing.

  “She was being rude. I shut her in a little room down the back to teach her a lesson. I didn’t hurt her or anything,” Jenner protested.

  “Asshole!” Dan yelled in his face. “Show me!”

  He dragged the guy out of the bar and Nathan and Steve followed as Jenner led them to the little room. There was no sound.

  “Key!” Dan demanded, his hand outstretched.

  Jenner fumbled in the pocket of his pants and pulled it out with a surprised expression. “I forgot I had it. Thought someone would have let her out by now.” He sounded bemused, and Dan fought the impulse to deck him there and then.

  “Anything else you’ve forgotten, asshat?” Steve Ratner growled at him, and Jenner dug in his other pocket and handed over the keys to a pair of handcuffs.

  Dan was already unlocking the door and he quickly switched on the light. His heart lurched at the sight of Tuesday, curled up on the floor, silently staring into space. He slowly walked toward her.

  “I’ll get an ambulance,” Nathan muttered gravely as he whipped out his cell phone.

  “You’re with me, asshole!” Steve threw Dan the keys, grabbed Jenner by the scruff of the neck, and frog-marched him down the corridor.

  “Tuesday, sweetheart, it’s all right. It’s Master Dan.” He undid the gag before unlocking the cuffs.

  She didn’t move. Dan scooped her up in his arms, talking gently to her all the time. “It’s all right, baby, you’re safe.”

  He looked down into her beautiful, pale green eyes, but there was no recognition there. If he hadn’t known better, he would have taken her for blind as she stared, unblinking, right through him.

  “In here.” Nathan ushered him into an empty office near to the elevator, and he laid her on a small sofa behind the door. “Paramedics are on their way.”

  Dan nodded. “She’s freezing.” He rubbed her cold arms while Nathan went to fetch a blanket from the bar.

  “Tuesday, baby. Can you hear me?”

  “Anything?” Nathan returned with a couple of soft blankets which they wrapped tightly around her.

  Dan shook his head, giving his friend a wary look. “She’s not shivering either, but her skin’s like ice.”

  A few minutes later two paramedics arrived. Dan reluctantly stood back and allowed them to get close enough to check her. Nathan calmly explained that she seemed to be in shock because she had been bound and locked in a dark room for about an hour
or so.

  “Any history we need to know about?”

  Dan felt awash with guilt as he admitted to the paramedic that they didn’t know anything about her past, and therefore didn’t know if there was anything there which could have been triggered by the incident. Heck, he didn’t even know how to contact her family, though he was sure there was none of them living locally.

  “We’ll have to take her in. She’s not responding,” the other guy said quickly, and they sprang into action preparing her for the ambulance ride.

  “I’m coming with you,” Dan announced, rushing forward.

  “I’m sorry sir. You won’t be able to see her tonight,” one of the paramedics told him firmly, while the other attached an oxygen mask to her face.

  Tuesday was still staring up, blankly; no reaction at all to what was going on around her.

  “Well, can’t I sit with her?” It was hard for Dan to keep his voice level.

  The guy shook his head. “I’m sorry. We need to remove her from all of…this,” he said, gesturing to their surroundings. “You would remind her of it. It really wouldn’t help her.”

  Dan looked down at himself. He was still in his leathers. Not only would he stick out like a sore thumb at the hospital, he knew that one look at him would bring Tuesday straight back to thoughts of this place. The guy was right. Damn.

  “Let her get some rest and you can ring in the morning,” Nathan offered, placing a calming hand on his shoulder.

  Dan huffed. He knew it was the right thing to do, but the sight of them wheeling Tuesday out of there made his heart physically hurt. There was nothing he could do to help her and that rankled him something chronic. He watched the doors of the elevator close and ran an irritated hand through his hair.

  “Where’s that fucker?”

  Bile rose in his throat. He wanted the guy responsible for all this and he wanted him now.

  “Ratner took him,” Nathan replied calmly. “He’d been drinking. He’s probably got him locked up for the night.”

  “Damn!” Dan knew the sergeant would have taken Jenner away for his own safety as much as anything and rightly so. He was longing to ring the fucker’s neck!

  “It’s almost the end of your shift. Let’s get a drink,” Nathan offered, steering his friend toward the bar.

  * * *

  It was light when Tuesday opened her eyes. She was in a strange place with a strange smell and a stranger by her side. Perfect!

  Her bed had far too many blankets, and she was tucked in tighter than a kilted sausage. Her only reprieve was one arm which had been left on top of the covers to allow a cannula to be fitted into the back of her hand, attached to a drip, but even that limb had been lightly covered with a not-so-soft blanket.

  She sighed. She felt as weak as a kitten, and her brain had turned to mush.

  “Hi Tuesday. My name’s Paulette. How are you feeling?”

  She gawped at the stranger just coming into focus through the fog in her mind. She wasn’t actually sure how she felt, apart from awful.

  Paulette smiled. “I’m guessing you’re feeling quite confused and probably a little weak, am I right?”

  Oh wow, a mind reader, Tuesday thought. She nodded slowly, grateful that the lady, Paulette, had found the words for her.

  “Well, there’s nothing to worry about. You’re going to be just fine,” Paulette assured her, patting her good hand.

  Tuesday somehow found the strength to roll her eyes.

  The door burst open and a plump little nurse with black curly hair appeared with a tray full of goodness-knows-what. “You’re awake! I’ve brought you some breakfast. You must be starving by now,” she said cheerfully.

  Paulette immediately stood to help Tuesday sit up as the large tray was plonked unceremoniously onto the wheeled table which stretched across the top of the bed.

  “I’ll leave you to eat in peace. I won’t be long,” Paulette said with a smile as she slowly headed for the door.

  “I’m Donna. How are you feeling?” the bubbly nurse plumped up Tuesday’s pillows behind her and slid into Paulette’s chair.

  Tuesday didn’t like to tell her that actually she felt quite sick, not after all the trouble she’d gone to. She took a deep breath and the smell of coffee woke her up a little more.

  “I’m just grand,” she said with a forced smile. It was her stock reply, and it came naturally to her.

  Donna looked a little surprised, but she smiled back. “Some guy’s been phoning to ask after you. Really deep voice, southern accent. Sounds really worried.”

  Tuesday shuddered, almost spilling her coffee.

  “Hey, I didn’t mean to upset you. I thought he must be your boyfriend. He was really concerned about you.” Donna took the cup from her trembling hand and placed it back on the tray.

  “It’s fine. No, he’s not my…” she paused, suddenly wishing that Master Dan was her boyfriend. He would be wonderful to have around all the time. Caring, attentive, protective—no, too protective. In fact, too much everything. She shook her head to try to erase the thought. “He’s a friend,” she explained, tearing a croissant.

  Donna grinned. “Well, I hope he’s as gorgeous as he sounds.”

  “Donna.” Paulette stood in the doorway with a frown on her pale face.

  Donna’s cheeks flushed a little and she quickly made her way toward the door.

  “I’ll see you later, Tuesday.”

  With her mouth full of pastry, Tuesday could only wave to the friendly nurse, a little saddened that she’d left. She was hoping to find out exactly what Master Dan had been saying to her.

  “Are you all right?” Paulette quickly resumed her seat by the bed, studying Tuesday curiously.

  She nodded. She was actually feeling a lot more human with some food and coffee inside her, though her head was still a little muzzy and she wasn’t sure what she was doing there.

  “How’s your breakfast?” Paulette nodded to her now empty plate.

  “It’s grand, thanks.” Tuesday drank the last of her coffee and turned her attention to the older lady, who then rose and wheeled the trolley away from the bed.

  “Good. It’s time to talk.”

  Tuesday gulped. “What if I don’t want to talk?”

  Paulette’s smiled waned a little. “Then you may not be going home as soon as you’d hoped.”

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Tuesday suddenly felt nervous. She looked up at the lady as she sat back down. Paulette wasn’t wearing a uniform. She had a navy skirt and a white sweater, thick tights, and sensible shoes. Her hair was dark and short. She reminded Tuesday of a schoolteacher.

  “Something happened yesterday,” Paulette began in a soft voice. “Can you remember what it was?”

  Tuesday soon realized that ever since she had woken up this morning she had been suppressing thoughts of something. Something bad. Something she didn’t want to think about. She had been quite happy with the mush in her brain suffocating her thoughts. The look in Paulette’s eyes told her it was time to clear the fog and face the awful truth. She began to tremble and grew very hot as she closed her eyes and allowed her thoughts to permeate the mist.

  Paulette placed a box of tissues by her good hand. “Take your time,” she told her gently.

  Tuesday shook her head. She couldn’t speak. She could feel the fear enveloping her like a dark cloak and tried to mentally push it off of her.

  “You were at a club called Collar and Cuffs. I take it you’re a submissive?” Paulette asked in a very matter-of-fact manner, and Tuesday opened her eyes in surprise.

  “I go to Reuben’s, it’s not as nice as your place I know, but I can just about afford the membership on my wages. I’m down there most nights; it’s got a good atmosphere.”

  Tuesday felt herself relax a little as Paulette went on. Usually she never spoke to anyone outside the club about her submissive tendencies—not that she knew many people anyway, but she somehow felt it would cause her to be judged and she’d had qui
te enough of that.

  “Some of the Doms are gorgeous, too,” Paulette continued with a grin. “Are they any good at Collar and Cuffs?”

  Tuesday swallowed. This wasn’t the type of conversation she was expecting. “Yes. Some of them are really handsome,” she said, nodding.

  “I haven’t got a regular Dom, I tend to shop around a bit, if you know what I mean,” Paulette went on. “I’d like to have a regular one, though. How about you?”

  Tuesday thought for a moment. She knew darn well that she would love to have a regular Dom, but she could never admit it. “I wouldn’t want the same guy around all the time,” she lied.

  She was surprised at the strange look Paulette gave her. It was similar to the expression Master Dan gave her when he could see that she wasn’t telling the truth. She felt herself blush and quickly looked away.

  “Why not?” Paulette asked curiously.

  Tuesday fiddled with the coverlet. She shrugged. “I just don’t want to be tied down. Well, not in that way anyway!” She grinned, and Paulette giggled.

  “Wouldn’t you like the feeling of security, though?”

  Tuesday thought for a moment. Security. She’d never had that. She shook her head, not meeting Paulette’s eyes. “I like my freedom.”

  “Mmhmm.” Paulette didn’t sound convinced.

  “Just need to do a quick check up.” A blonde nurse with a big smile suddenly appeared in the doorway, wheeling in a blood pressure machine.

  Paulette sighed.

  Tuesday smiled up at the nurse. She was pleased for the reprieve.

  “I’m Charlotte,” the nurse went on, ignoring Paulette’s expression. She fastened the cuff to Tuesday’s good arm and took her temperature while the blood pressure machine did its job. “How are you feeling today?”

  “I’m grand,” Tuesday said, doing her best to smile. “Can I go home soon?”

  Charlotte jotted down the results with a grin. “Well, you’re not scoring any more so there’s a good chance. We’ll just wait for the doctor to give the all clear.”