A Strict Seduction

by Maria Del Rey

  ‘Looks like we’ve picked a good day for this,’ Jack said, his gravely voice filled with good humour. He indicated that we should take a seat, and there were several arranged in a semi-circle facing the cool blue water of the pool.

  ‘You must be parched,’ Amanda said, smiling at me in particular, ‘what would you like to drink?’

  I hesitated, wanting Todd to sit down first so that I would know where to sit too. ‘I’ll have anything cold,’ I said, slightly flustered.

  ‘Mineral water for me,’ Todd said, speaking confidently.

  Amanda was still waiting for me. ‘Elaine?’ she asked. ‘Would that be okay for you too?’

  ‘Yes, please,’ I agreed.

  Todd finally took a seat next to where Jack had been sitting and I sat next to him, reaching out so we could hold hands. I was trembling slightly and my nerves showed no sign of abating. I glanced at Jack and saw that he was looking at me. I lowered my eyes instantly and blushed again. For some reason I hadn’t expected to find Jack such an attractive man, perhaps because in my mind I’d never seen him as anything but Todd’s boss, some absent figure who had so much power over our lives but who hardly knew we existed.

  ‘This is great,’ Todd said eagerly, looking across the cool expanse of the pool to the rolling lawn that stretched out into the distance.

  ‘On a day like this who could ask for more?’ Jack asked.

  ‘That’s right,’ Todd agreed. I could sense his excitement, he was so pleased that we had been asked, and was dying to make a good impression.

  ‘What do you think, Elaine?’ Jack asked.

  I smiled shyly at him. ‘I think this is just so… Just such a perfect day…’

  ‘It is,’ Jack agreed, flashing me another smile.

  I returned the smile, our eyes meeting for a second, and then I glanced back at Todd. He was sitting on the edge of the seat, hunched forward slightly, still tense. He was all edgy, he had things to say and was just dying for the chance to get it all off his chest. For a moment we were quiet and all I could hear was the gentle lapping of the water in the pool, a sound so seductive in the summer heat. The deep blue water rippled gently, touched by the barest whisper of a breeze.

  ‘Here comes Amanda,’ Todd said, breaking the silence.

  I looked up to see her coming up the path, relaxed and beautiful, her hair catching the light, her long limbs outlined by the long, wispy skirt. She came over with a tray and we took out drinks, the glasses icy cool to the touch and filled to the brim with sparkling water and slices of lemon.

  ‘Would there be anything else?’ she asked, turning to face Jack.

  ‘No, that’ll be all, thanks,’ he told her.

  She smiled at me once more and headed back to the house. For a moment I had wondered whether she might have been Jack’s girlfriend or something, but now it was clear that she worked for him.

  ‘Well, I suppose you’re wondering why I’ve invited you out here,’ Jack remarked.

  Todd and I both smiled.

  ‘I’ve a lot of people working for me,’ Jack continued, ‘and it’s easy to lose track of who’s who and who’s doing what. That’s why I like to take an interest in people, especially those people who look like they’re doing well,’ and then, after a slight pause he added, ‘and I’ve heard nothing but good things about you, Todd.’

  Todd looked like he’d just won the lottery. He looked both shy, embarrassed and extremely happy all at the same time. ‘I just do my best,’ he mumbled awkwardly. I was pleased too. I was glad that all those long hours at work, all that extra effort, had been noticed.

  ‘I know you do,’ Jack said, ‘and I want you to know that it’s not taken for granted.’

  ‘I didn’t think it was,’ Todd said hurriedly. ‘Actually, I’ve been thinking about the Anderson contract…’

  Jack laughed and shook his head. ‘Let’s just stop there,’ he said gently. ‘No shop talk, remember Elaine’s here.’

  ‘No, it’s okay,’ I protested, ‘you carry on, I don’t mind.’

  Todd squeezed my hand; I’d said the right thing of course. ‘It’s just that I’ve had this idea…’

  ‘No,’ Jack insisted. ‘This is a social occasion, no business talk, okay?’

  Todd was reluctant to let it go but he nodded his assent. I felt a twinge of regret, because I knew that Todd had been building up for the chance to expound his idea for days. At work he was never allowed direct access to Jack, there were always layers of management in the way, and on the rare occasions he did meet Jack there was always something else to discuss.

  ‘So, Elaine, tell me about yourself,’ Jack suggested.

  I swallowed hard. What was there to say? Again I glanced into Jack’s eyes and was surprised by what I saw there. ‘I… I’m going to college,’ I mumbled hesitantly. My heart was beating so hard that I was certain that they could both hear it.

  ‘Studying what?’

  ‘Computers,’ Todd replied for me.

  Jack ignored him. ‘What exactly?’ he asked me.

  I shifted uncomfortably in my seat and then became aware that my short dress had ridden up and that my long tanned thighs were almost completely on display. I looked up and realised that Jack was looking directly at me. I felt too embarrassed to move, as though smoothing down my dress would bring even more attention to the fact that he was looking at my legs.

  If Todd registered my discomfort he showed no signs of it. ‘Tell Jack what you’re doing at college,’ he urged.

  ‘I’m doing a course in computers in business administration,’ I said, speaking quickly and keeping my eyes fixed on the swimming pool.

  ‘Is that a degree course?’ Jack asked.

  ‘A diploma course,’ Todd answered. This time I was annoyed, Todd was beginning to answer for me all the time.

  ‘Todd, come on,’ Jack said quietly, ‘why don’t you give Elaine a chance to speak? It’s okay,’ he said, turning to face me again, ‘there’s really no need to be nervous.’

  ‘I’m sorry,’ I said, finally plucking up the courage to smooth my dress down and to get more comfortable.

  ‘That’s okay,’ he told me reassuringly. ‘It’s one of the by-products of being famous, it makes people nervous, I know. But there’s no need to be, really there isn’t.’

  His expression was so charming that it made me feel much better. At least he knew how I felt, I imagined that it would have been so easy to be oblivious to such things. I glanced round at Todd, but his expression was anything but charming. I saw the darkness in his eyes and realised he was feeling bad. Jack’s tone had been friendly enough, but he’d definitely put Todd in his place when he’d told him to give me a chance to speak.

  ‘So,’ Jack continued, ‘tell me what you plan on doing when your course is finished?’

  I was just about to answer when Amanda arrived.

  She looked apologetic. ‘I’m sorry about this, Jack,’ she sighed.

  Jack stood up wearily. ‘I’ll be as quick as I can,’ he promised.

  Amanda shook her head. ‘Actually, Jack, it’s not for you. It’s for Todd.’

  We all looked surprised, none more so then Todd. He stood up instantly. ‘What is it?’

  Jack walked over to Amanda and slipped his arm around her waist as she showed him the fax she was holding. ‘It’s your office,’ he told Todd, ‘it looks like they can’t do without you.’

  Todd read the fax quickly, his face betraying signs of nervousness again. ‘Is there a phone I could use?’

  Amanda and Jack turned towards the house, and as they did so I saw that his hand was resting on her bottom. They both seemed very relaxed still, but his hold was somehow more than just innocent or accidental. His hand was moulded around her bottom, squeezing gently, holding her quite possessively. I was so transfixed
by it that I hardly noticed what was going on. Amanda started to walk back to the house with Todd, and Jack stroked her backside fully as she went off.

  ‘Don’t look so worried,’ Jack said, turning to face me.

  I swallowed hard. The sight of him touching Amanda had made my heart race once more. It stirred something within me. Although Jack was old enough to be my father, I felt drawn to him. He was an attractive man and the fact that he had touched Amanda so intimately only served to make him more attractive and more powerful.

  ‘Is it something urgent?’ I asked, at a loss for anything more to say.

  ‘Quite likely,’ he said, smiling. He walked over and sat down beside me, in the seat that Todd had just vacated. ‘I’m sure Todd will have it sorted out in a few minutes.’

  I smiled and nodded, nervous once more because of Jack’s sudden proximity and the fact that I was finding him more and more attractive in spite of it. There was a confidence about him that I had never experienced before. He was a man totally at ease with himself and totally in control of the situation.

  ‘I notice you keep looking at the pool,’ he said, stretching his legs. ‘On a day like this a good swim’s like heaven on earth.’

  I was grateful for a neutral topic to talk about. ‘I can imagine,’ I agreed, turning to face the expanse of shimmering water.

  He laughed softly. ‘You don’t have to imagine,’ he said, ‘I’ve no objection to you taking a swim if you like.’

  ‘But I haven’t brought anything with me.’

  He shrugged. ‘That’s not such a big deal, I’m sure Amanda’s got something you could wear back in the house.’

  The idea was appealing, but without Todd there I didn’t know what to do. ‘No, it’s okay,’ I said, ‘I’m sure you didn’t invite us round so we could use your pool.’

  ‘What did I invite you round for?’ he asked.

  His voice was low, quiet, almost a whisper. I glanced over at the house, but there was no sign either of Amanda or of Todd. ‘You invited us round to get to know us a bit,’ I ventured nervously.

  ‘Almost right,’ he said, smiling.

  I avoided his eyes. ‘What did you invite us for?’

  ‘So I could meet you,’ he replied.

  For a moment I expected him to laugh, but he wasn’t joking. I blushed furiously, unable to react any other way. ‘Why?’ I asked, finally.

  ‘Because Todd is likely to go far in my organisation, so I need to know as much about him as I can, and that includes finding out about his partner.’

  Any further conversation was cut off when we spied Amanda and Todd coming back. Even from a distance I could see that Todd was flustered. As he drew closer I could see that beads of sweat had formed on his face, making him appear even more agitated.

  ‘I’m sorry about this,’ he said, directing himself to Jack and not to me.

  ‘A major disaster?’ Jack responded calmly.

  Todd smiled, but it was more nerves than anything else. ‘No, it’s not a disaster, but I do need to go in to work I’m afraid.’

  I stood up, and it was only then that Todd seemed to remember who I was. ‘Never mind,’ I said quietly, ‘I’m sure it won’t take you long to clear it up.’

  Jack looked at Todd and then at me. ‘If they need you then they need you,’ he told Todd, ‘but does this really have to spoil Elaine’s day?’

  ‘No, it’s okay,’ I insisted quickly, attaching myself to Todd’s arm, ‘I can wait while Todd sorts this thing out.’

  Jack shook his head. ‘Nonsense,’ he declared, ‘on a hot day like this the last thing you need is to sit in a car and swelter or to hang around an office while Todd’s rushing around sorting things out. Why don’t you stay here? Todd, what do you say?’

  I squeezed Todd’s arm, desperately hoping he’d take me with him. ‘If you really don’t mind,’ he told Jack.

  Jack laughed. ‘Why should I mind? In fact Elaine was just saying how she’d like to go for a swim. Amanda, can you fix her up?’

  Amanda smiled graciously. ‘Of course, Elaine, it’d be a pleasure.’

  I was frozen into place. I didn’t want to stay. ‘But…’

  ‘There’s no buts about it,’ Jack said, standing up. ‘Todd, how long do you think you’ll be?’

  Todd shrugged. ‘Most of the afternoon,’ he guessed.

  ‘In that case we’ll expect you back at around six,’ Jack said.

  Todd looked relieved. ‘I really am sorry about this,’ he said, but again he was speaking to everyone but me.

  ‘Let me see you out,’ Amanda said, taking a step towards the house.

  Before I knew what was happening Todd had pecked me on the cheek, whispered a hurried goodbye, and was on his way. Instinct told me to chase after him, but I knew if I did that I would ruin things for him. I watched him go, suddenly afraid that I was going to be left alone with Jack for the rest of the afternoon.

  ‘That’s a smart young man you’ve got yourself,’ Jack said, turning to face me. It wasn’t idle chatter, I could tell he meant it and that he took such things extremely seriously.

  ‘Thank you,’ I said, sitting down again. The sun sparkled on the water and the rolling lawn looked lush and verdant as it stretched out ahead of us.

  Jack walked to the water’s edge and then turned to me. ‘He’s also a very accommodating young man,’ he continued. ‘What about you?’

  ‘Me?’

  He looked at me earnestly, his eyes boring into me, as though he could see through me and into what was in my head. ‘Yes you,’ he said, his voice assuming that low tone that touched something deep inside me. ‘Are you accommodating?’

  My face was red again, but this time I did not look away. ‘I don’t know what you mean,’ I told him, doing my best to meet his steady gaze.

  He smiled. ‘I’m sure you do,’ he said. ‘I like you, I think you’ll be good for Todd. You’re a smart girl, ambitious too, I imagine.’

  I should have been flattered by what he was saying, but instead I felt as though a trap were being laid for me. Jack’s charming smile did nothing to hide the dark undercurrent in his voice. I swallowed hard and turned away, unable to face him any longer.

  ‘Elaine?’

  I turned with relief to face Amanda, who had returned after seeing Todd out. Her smile was warm and friendly, and I breathed a sigh of relief for her presence. ‘Come on,’ she suggested, ‘come back to the house and I’ll see what we’ve got for you.’

  Jack nodded approvingly. ‘Yes,’ he said, ‘the water’s at its best on a day like this.’

  ‘Poor Todd,’ Amanda said as we walked back into the cool interior of the house, ‘fancy having to drive back in all this heat.’

  ‘I would have gone with him,’ I told her quietly, wondering if she had picked up on my disquiet.

  ‘Why?’ she laughed. ‘You couldn’t have helped, could you?’

  ‘It’s not that,’ I admitted.

  We walked into one of the rooms at the top of the stairs. The window was open and the sun was streaming through, making the room appear light and airy despite the heat. A large double bed sat under one wall, flanked on either side by dark wood cabinets, and a half open door led to an en suite bathroom in the other corner.

  Amanda sat on the edge of the bed and crossed her legs, causing her long skirt to fall open almost to the top of her thighs. Her skin was tanned a golden brown, her long, smooth thighs perfectly proportioned. She was beautiful. I had seen models on the catwalk who would have given anything to have her style, elegance and good looks.

  She smiled. ‘What is it then?’

  I looked at her and remembered the way Jack had stroked her backside. ‘Nothing,’ I said, realising that what I had to say sounded silly.

  ‘Is it Jack?’ she guessed, not losin
g her smile.

  I nodded reluctantly. ‘He scares me,’ I confessed, barely whispering the words.

  ‘He’s a very powerful man,’ she said simply. ‘Of course that scares you. What are you? Nineteen? Twenty?’

  ‘Eighteen,’ I said.

  ‘Then that’s no surprise. Jack’s an attractive man, he has money, power, intelligence. Of course that’s going to scare you.’

  ‘What about you?’ I asked, too shy to make my question more explicit.

  She touched her tongue to her glossy lips before replying. ‘I work for Jack,’ she explained, ‘and when he wants me then I’m there for him, in every sense of the word.’

  My face coloured again. ‘And does he…?’

  Her smile broadened. ‘Often,’ she said. ‘Come on, we’re not here to talk about my sex life. Let’s get you changed for the pool.’

  She stood up and walked to one of the wardrobes. A few seconds later she turned round and offered me a one-piece black lycra swimsuit. ‘There, this should fit,’ she said, handing it over.

  The fact that I now knew that she and Jack were lovers meant I was a little more relaxed. After all, with her around why should he be interested in me? ‘Where shall I change?’ I asked her.

  ‘Here,’ she replied, as though it were obvious.

  I smiled shyly. I would have preferred some privacy, but Amanda made me feel safe. I turned my back to her and slipped out of my little dress, letting it fall in a bundle around my ankles. I caught sight of myself in the mirror on the wardrobe, my pale skin matched by ivory coloured bra and lacy panties. I unclasped my bra and let that fall too, and then wriggled out of my panties.

  ‘You’re very beautiful,’ Amanda murmured softly.

  I turned and saw that she was watching me intently, her brilliant blue eyes fixed on me. I half smiled and hurried to put the swimsuit on, but she stood up and came over to me. She put her hands on my shoulders and turned me so that she could look at my reflection in the mirror. ‘Look at yourself,’ she said softly, her breath warm and inviting on the back of my neck.

  I looked, but my attention was on her. She was so close to me that I could feel her heat on my naked back. ‘But you’re the one who’s beautiful,’ I said softly, unable to look her in the eye.