Friday morning

 

I roll over in bed and pick my phone up to see what time it is, 6:52am. ‘Must get up for work soon’ I think. At least it’s nearly the weekend. I felt in a great mood today. Yesterday turned out to be a good day on a few fronts; the project is going well, seeing mum felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders, and I’d had a great night’s sleep – better than the night before that is! As I lifted the duvet off me and swung my legs out of bed I stepped on my eye mask, a reminder of last night’s hurried and hot homecoming. ‘That was a great orgasm’ I think. If it was Saturday morning, I might have been tempted to pull the duvet back over and reach into the drawer for round 2, but today was going to be another busy day. I had the green light to add the finishing touches to Mr Vennochi’s offices, no expenses spared. I was eager to get this project finished now, if nothing more because it would mean no more awkward lunch dates with Luca. I quickly shower and get myself ready, pour my usual cup of coffee, this time in a flask to go. I want to drink it in the car and get into work 10 minutes earlier than usual if I can.

 

 

As I pull into the office car park, I notice Darren’s space is empty. “Hmm that’s unusual. He normally arrives before 8:00am.” Maybe he’s treated himself a rare lie in today. I’m not normally here this early, so there are a few more spaces available than normal. I swing my car into an end space near the lobby and turn the engine off. I put my keys into my handbag, check I have my mobile phone, then open the car door. As I make my way into the building, I notice receptionist Sarah is finishing talking to a colleague from our finance team. I remembered she had a date yesterday evening. Seen as I’m early, I think I may as well find out how it went.

 

“Abigail, good morning, how are you?”

 

“Morning Sarah. Sorry I didn’t get chance to speak to you again yesterday. How did the date go last night?” Sarah normally wears her hair down, but has tied it back today, which only goes to further showcase what a beautiful woman she is.

 

“Oh, hi Abigail, don’t worry yourself my darling. It went well thank you. Not for me though, I didn’t feel that spark. I think he is already eager for date number 2 though, so I’ll have to let him down easily,” she pauses and takes her phone out of the drawer. “See, two texts first thing this morning and he’s messaged again already!”

 

“Sounds like someone is keen! You’re going to break his heart” I tease.

 

“Oh, stop it Abigail no! I mustn’t do that” Sarah protests.

 

“You may not have much of a choice” I reply, shrugging my shoulders, “best get it over quickly.”

 

“Yes, you are probably right” Sarah looks at her phone and begins typing quickly, her French nails tapping on the screen. She finishes and drops her phone in the drawer before closing it. “Done.”

 

“Wow, that quick huh” I reply, almost impressed. I’m terrible at stuff like that, I’d have re-written the message 3 or 4 times, and then sat staring at it for 5 minutes, unable to hit send. Then probably sent it and thrown my phone in the other room before hiding on the sofa.

 

As I turn my head slightly to the right, I notice Darren stepping into the building and hurriedly making his way to the elevator. He looks even more flustered than he did yesterday afternoon. ‘Maybe he didn’t mean to lie in after all!’ I chuckle to myself.

 

“Best dash Sarah, Darren is here now, going to go talk shop with him.”

 

“Okay darling, have a wonderful day” Sarah beams, flashing her billboard worthy smile.

 

 

I try and catch Darren before the elevator door has closed but he is already on his way up. He must really be in a rush today. I wonder if I should leave him for the first hour? No, I need to just talk over a few last details before I push the button on this. I’m so close to the finish line now, I want to get on with the final design portfolio.

 

As the elevator door opens on our floor I step out and over to my desk to grab some of the paperwork I need, and make my way towards Darren’s office. It looks like he is already on the phone so I hang back. Whatever phone call he is having, it sounds heated. Darren is pacing up and down behind his desk. I slowly make my way over to his door, hoping to time it so he finishes up with whoever is on the phone.

 

“Morning Abi, you off to see Darren?” I turn to see Martin, a tall middle-aged man stood facing me. Martin is part of our legal team.

 

“Oh yeah, well, when he gets off the phone, sounds like it’s getting pretty heated in there”. As I gesture at Darren’s office, Martin chuckles. “How come you’re up here anyway?” I add.

 

“I’m everywhere these days. So much going on at the minute, the new government regs around contractors are throwing a few curveballs in. Lots of contracts to check over. I won’t bore you with the details though. Looks like Darren has finished whoever he was grilling.”

 

“Or being grilled by” I reply.

 

“Ha! You sure you want to go in there?” Martin laughs. I look into Darren’s office to see him standing with his hands on his desk. I say goodbye to Martin before approaching Darren’s door.

 

 

I knock twice before quickly opening his door. “Darren, you got a minute?” I say as I enter.

 

As Darren looks up at me, he looks like he’s seen a ghost. I notice his brow is coated in little droplets of sweat.

 

“Oh Abi, it’s you” Darren sounds almost shocked to see me.

 

“Err yeah, I do work here remember” I joke light-heartedly “I was hoping to go over a few final details for Mr Vennochi’s designs before I create the final portfolio.

 

“Oh right, Abi listen I’m not feeling so good. I’m sorry can we talk another time?” Darren is white as a sheet.

 

“Oh right, yeah of course. Yeah, you don’t look so good Darren, everything okay?”

 

“Yeah…I err…maybe I have an upset stomach…probably shouldn’t have come in…” Darren looks at the floor before turning away.

 

 

“Okay no problem, I hope you feel better soon” as I back away, Darren doesn’t lift his gaze up off the floor. I shut the door behind me, ‘That was odd’, I think. At that moment I feel my mobile vibrate pressed against me in my stack of paperwork. I take it out to check. A text from an unknown number:

 

TONIGHT

 

8PM

 

SAME LOCATION

 

REPLY YES OR NO TO CONFIRM

 

My heart flutters as I lose my breath for a moment. I have another match already? I quickly make my way back to my desk and sit down, before reading the message again.

 

SAME LOCATION

 

My mind can’t help but wander back to Wednesday night. Blindfolded, pinned to the bed or up against the wall, being fucked by a total stranger. I tense my thighs and have to rearrange myself as I feel a warmth building between my legs. I pause for a second before typing:

 

YES

 

I wasn’t expecting a text so soon, but I had no plans tonight, and this felt like an offer too good to turn down. As I hit send, a wave of excitement floods over me as I imagine what this new stranger is going to do to me on that hotel bed. My nipples harden at the thought. ‘Great! How am I going to concentrate on the portfolio now!’ I think. At least it’s nearly the weekend, if it comes to it, I’ll just have to finish it early next week. It’s not like I can get it in front of Darren anyway, if he ends up going home sick. These next few hours better fly by quick! My phone vibrates again, another text:

 

BLINDFOLD

 

SUBMIT

 

 

Friday evening

 

I knelt, eagerly, on the edge of the hotel bed again. 48 hours ago, I was being railed on this very bed. A stranger’s cock buried deep inside my grateful pussy. I placed my hand between my legs to feel the heat radiating off my hot wet sex. I parted my lips with my finger and felt my swollen clit. ‘Come on!’ I think, ‘Get in here and give it to me!’

 

A few moments later, I hear footsteps in the corridor outside. Good, he is here! I begin to fidget, grinding my hips back and forth as if already engaged in tonight’s debauchery. My nipples are rock hard, demanding to be sucked, if he would only get in here already. Then, that familiar noise of a keycard being swiped in the door. The door to this suite opens and then closes. I listen intently to for his next move. The door to the bedroom opens, and I hear him enter the room, only there was a problem. There wasn’t one, but two sets of footsteps.

 

“Here she is, you were right she is a beauty.”

 

I knelt frozen, unable to move.

 

“Well well well, look who we have here.” The hairs on my neck stood up. I knew that gravelly voice. Suddenly, I was back in Divino’s restaurant. It was Mr Vennochi…

 

I ripped the blindfold off me to see him standing in front of me, the other man stood next to him I didn’t recognise.

 

“Abigail Anderson”, he smiled that same grimy smile when I first sat down with him in Divino’s.

 

“Luca…w…what” Before I could get the words out of my mouth, Luca cut me off. I grabbed a pillow from behind me and did my best to cover myself.

 

“You remember Antonio?”

 

 

I looked up at the other man standing before me.

 

“N…no?” I stammered.

 

“Oh, really haha, I guess you weren’t that rememberable after all Toni”, Luca turned and punched Antonio on the arm.

 

“Shut up Luca! She was wearing that fucking blindfold the whole time.”

 

Hearing that sentence, I suddenly felt sick. “It was you the other night?”

 

“Don’t act like you didn’t enjoy it sweetheart, you were gagging for it. Looks like you are tonight as well” Antonio snapped back.

 

“Easy you two” Luca interjected. “There’s someone else to see you as well Abigail. Toni you wanna bring him in.”

 

Antonio stepped back into the hallway then out into the corridor. His voice was muffled but I just about made out his words. “You. Inside.”

 

As the door swung open again, my mouth dropped at the sight of who was slowly making his way into the room.

 

“Darren?” my voice trembled. Darren couldn’t make eye contact with me; he just looked down at the floor.

 

“I should thank you Darren” Luca boasted “because of you, I’ve got the sweetest honeypot knelt before me.” Luca turned back to me.

 

 

“Abigail. I said to Darren I wanted a beautiful young woman on my next project. And he made it happen, just like that. Let’s play a little game. Why would I hold that power over Darren?”

 

My mind was fogged, but I thought back to our conversation over lunch in Divino’s. I didn’t want it to be true…

 

“The restaurant. You said it was failing so you took it on as a favour to a friend. That was Darren. You bought it off Darren and resolved his debt. Now he owes you.”

 

Mr Vennochi clapped his hands together before tapping Antonio’s chest with the back of his hand. “See I told you! Smart and beautiful! You really are something Abigail, you know that!”

 

Tears began to well up in my eyes, I glanced over at Darren, but he still couldn’t even look at me.

 

“So, what about this?” I ask “Is this, one of your ventures as well?”

 

“Fucking strangers in hotels? Ha no, that was this sleazeball’s idea. It’s been a useful venture though I’ll admit” he gestures to Antonio. “He told me about this girl he met with, the way he described her. I had to check for myself that it was you. I’ve got to say Abigail; you have some interesting hobbies. I can’t lie that I haven’t imagined seeing you like this. But you, you advanced things much quicker than I had hoped. I can’t believe it! You! The beautiful miss Abigail Anderson. Designer extraordinaire. Opens her legs for complete strangers. My brother of all people! Got to say I’m a little jealous he got you first. Maybe we should rectify that…”

 

“Please”, I began to sob.

 

“Oh, come now Miss Anderson. You fucked my brother a few days ago, and he said you were fully on board then. Are you telling me you aren’t going to give Luca the same courtesy?

 

Antonio pulled a handgun out of the back of his trousers, flicking the safety off and resting it by his side.

 

I looked at Darren and for the first time he was looking into my eyes. I stared at him, pleading, ‘please do something’. Mr Vennochi, noticing I was looking at Darren, turned to him.

 

“I almost forgot you were here; you can fuck off now.”

 

 

Darren held his hand out, “Luca come on, this is way beyond what we agreed.” At that moment, Antonio raised the gun and pointed it at Darren.

 

“Wow! Easy!” Darren raised his hands and took a step back.

 

“Toni, make sure Darren makes his way home yeah. You can both leave us now. And Darren, don’t do anything stupid. Remember I still own you.”

Antonio pushed the handgun into the side of Darren’s head, “time to walk” he said. Darren looked at me concerned, but backed out of the room. Antonio closed the door behind them. I was alone with Mr Vennochi.

 

“Now. Where were we miss Abigail? Oh yes, so Toni said you were wearing that blindfold right, he said you kept it on like you were told, the entire time. Why don’t you pick it up?”

 

I glanced at it and slowly reached out, my hand trembling as I picked it up. “Luca please” I pleaded.

 

“I think you understand the situation, Miss Abigail. Go on, put it on.”

 

I place it on my head and slowly pull it down, covering my eyes.

 

“There’s a good girl.”

 

 

Saturday morning

 

You know sometimes you wake up from a good dream, and are sad when you realise none of it was real? Likewise, when you wake from a nightmare, you are met with welcome relief that it was all in your head. Not for me when I woke this morning, I was still stranded in my nightmare…

 

I didn’t want to move, as if moving would somehow hurt my body, more than my mind was currently hurting. I could hear my phone vibrating as it rang, but I couldn’t bring myself to answer it. I didn’t want to look at it. I couldn’t even look at what time it was. The only thing that dragged me out of bed was the need to go and hug the toilet. I felt like I was going to vomit, but nothing would come up. As I gingerly made my way back into my bedroom, I noticed the time on my alarm clock on my bedside dresser, 10:48am. I climbed back into bed and pulled the duvet over my head, shutting out the outside world. My phone began to ring again.

 

 

“Oh fuck off!” I screamed, throwing the duvet off my face. “Just leave me alone!” I grabbed the phone to see who was ringing me, Darren…

“Abigail, thank god. I’ve been trying to ring you all morning.”

 

I sat on the edge of the bed in silence for a few moments.

 

“How could you?” I asked. I felt my voice break, as the tears began welling up in my eyes.

 

“Abigail I am so sorry. I never intended to get you involved in this.”

 

I scoffed. “Bullshit Darren. YOU put me on this job, he said he asked for a beautiful young woman and you picked me. And there was me thinking I got this through being actually fucking good at my job, that I deserved it. I am so fucking angry with you Darren!” I sobbed.

 

“Mr Vennochi didn’t just ask for a beautiful young woman Abi. He asked for you, specifically you…he gave me your full name. You don’t understand. These people are dangerous. If I didn’t do what he asked, he…”

 

“What?!” I snapped. “Did he rape you as well?!”

 

“They won’t just hurt me, or you Abi. They’ll get to your family, your friends. If I refused to put you on this job. I’ve…I’ve got kids to think of Abigail. But I never thought he’d go this far. If he contacts you. I’d strongly advise you just do as he says, for your mums sake.”

 

“Don’t you fucking dare bring my mum into this. You did this Darren. You did this.”

 

“Please believe me when I say I wish I’d never got involved with him. That restaurant. It was supposed to be my wife and I’s dream. If we could get it to work, I’d have left the company and we’d have done that together. It was a distaster. Luca offered to step in. At the time he felt like a guardian angel, as we were sinking fast. If I’d have known then I was making a deal with the devil. I’d have walked away.”

 

“Yeah, you should have sank with the fucking ship you asshole! I quit Darren, fuck you.”

 

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you Abi. He isn’t going to let you just walk away.”

 

“So what, you’re saying I’m trapped here now, with you as a boss. Fucking great.”

 

“I’m so sorry Abi. These people though. Whatever you do, don’t go to the police. It will not end well. Like I say, if he contacts you just do as he asks for now, and pray his interest eventually falls elsewhere.”

 

I hang up, I can’t listen to him anymore. I throw my phone on the floor and lie back in bed. I pull the duvet over my face and begin to sob.

 

 

Saturday afternoon

 

I lay on the couch, daytime TV was on, but I wasn’t really paying attention. I stared blankly into the corner of the room. I couldn’t eat breakfast. I barely managed anything at lunchtime. I just wanted the world to swallow me up. I thought about going to the cops many times but the worry of who might be implicated if I did kept me from picking the phone up. I’d started to doze off, when my phone buzzed on the table. As I lifted it up, my heart filled with dread. One new text. Unknown number.

 

TONIGHT

 

7PM

 

WATERFRONT DOCKS

 

REPLY YES OR NO TO CONFIRM

 

My hand shaked as I held my mobile, reading those same 10 words over and over. I remembered what Darren had said about these people. How anyone close to me could be in danger if I didn’t play along. I reluctantly typed my reply:

 

YES

 

I held the phone in my hand, waiting to see the response:

 

GOOD GIRL

 

COME ALONE

 

 

Saturday Evening

 

I arrived promptly at 7pm, not wanting to be late. As I approached the waterfront docks, the yacht moored in front of me was enormous. A brisk breeze swept from my left, blowing my hair over my face. I don’t know if it was a chill in the air, or nerves, but I couldn’t stop my arms from shaking and my teeth chattering. I pulled my coat tightly around me and buried my chin into my scarf.

 

As I approached the gangway which led up onto the deck of the yacht, two armed guards suddenly appeared on board and walked down the gangway towards me.

 

“Miss Anderson, correct?” one asked.

 

“Y…yes” I replied.

 

“Come with me” he said sternly. The other guard held his radio to his mouth. “She is here.”

 

As they took me on board, I was trying my best not to panic at what was coming next, what my fate might be on this boat. Whether I would even step foot off it. I was led inside, down one level, and then along a corridor. We stopped in front of one of the cabin doors.

 

“Here is your room, Miss.”

 

“M…my room?” I replied, confused.

 

“Yes, your room. You’ll find your uniform ready for you in the dresser. Shower if you need to. Fix your hair. I’d advise you get dressed promptly though, Mr Vennochi will visit you soon.

 

That final sentence…

 

 

Suddenly, I was filled with dread again. Had me brought me here just to have sex with me again? I stepped into the room and before I had chance to turn around, the guard shut the door behind me, locking the door from the outside.

 

I was trapped. A caged animal. Panic finally overwhelmed me, I frantically searched my new living quarters for an exit, but no window in the bedroom or bathroom was large enough for a human to squeeze through. As the reality of my new situation set in, I sat on the edge of the bed and began to cry. I really was a prisoner here.

 

 

‘I’m not getting out of here right now’ I thought. ‘Be smart Abi, play along for now and take your chance later.’ I wiped a tear from my cheek and lifted my head up. As I scanned the room again, I began to notice how lavish the décor was. The bed I was sat on was as wide as it was long, the crisp black and gold bedding soft to touch. The floor in front of me had an ornate mosaic in the centre, and every surface from the floor to the ceiling and everything in between was decorated in beautiful marble with gold finishing everywhere. It was like a palace. I got up and walked back into the bathroom. Separate stand alone bath and walk in shower, his & hers wash basins with a long mirror running across one wall. As I re-entered the bedroom I noticed a vanity table and mirror in between two large wardrobes. I approached it and began to open its drawers. A hair dryer and all manner of hair styling equipment in the left hand side. In the drawers on the right all manner of beauty and skincare products. There were brushes, foundations, blushers, eye shadows, pencils, eyelash extensions, lipstick and gloss, varnishes, removers and wipes, serums… A chill ran down the back of my neck. I shut the drawer slowly and stepped backwards, ‘how long were they planning on holding me here’ I thought.

 

 

I remembered what the guard said about a uniform. I opened the wardrobe on the right but there was nothing other than a few towels and a couple of dressing gowns. I moved to the one on the left and opened the door. One push up balconette bra, blush pink with black detailing. One matching high waisted panty and garter belt. One set of black stockings. One set of black platform heels. One black masquerade mask. On the shelf there was also a set of silver and black dangly earrings, and a crystal diamante choker. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. One of the guards began to speak from the other side:

 

“Mr Vennochi will be on board in 45 minutes. I trust you are getting ready, Miss.”

 

‘Fuck’ I thought. Just go with it for now Abi, you aren’t getting out of this room yet. I went back to the other wardrobe and grabbed a bath towel and one of the robes and quickly got undressed, before jumping into the shower. After showering, I dried my hair at the vanity table and began to rummage through the beauty products. ‘Not my usual brands, but it’ll have to do for now.’ I didn’t know what kind of look I was supposed to go for, but I was running out of time so I just applied some light make up for the time being. As I finished applying my lipstick I rubbed my lips together and pouted in the mirror. Hopefully it is satisfactory to at least get me out of this room. Then I can think about how I get off this yacht. I didn’t know how long I had left, so I quickly hung my robe on the back of the bathroom door and took what I had been left out of the wardrobe, before sitting on the edge of the bed to get dressed. I pulled the panty and garter belt up over my hips. I didn’t know whether to feel relieved or worried that it fit perfectly. Then I clipped the bra in and pulled the straps over my shoulders before adjusting. Now I turned my attention to each stocking. As I pulled them up to my thigh I clipped them into the garter belt. I stepped over to the mirror and placed the earrings in each ear, before tying the choker around my neck. Finally I sat back on the bed to put the heels on. After tying the ankle strap I stood up to look at myself in the mirror again. ‘What the hell happened Abi’ I thought ‘how have you ended up here?’. I sat back on the edge of the bed and awaited my fate for now.

 

 

5 minutes later, I could hear multiple sets of footsteps in the hallway outside. Then the noise of a key entering the lock and turning. The door swung open, and there he was. Luca Vennochi. He stepped inside before closing the door behind him.

 

“Abigail Anderson, look at you” he beamed, stretching his hands out in praise. “See, I knew you were the full package. Smart, punctual, and look at you now. Absolutely beautiful. Come. You are going to turn heads tonight.”

 

I gingerly stood up from the bed, with these heels on I was almost as tall as Luca. As he stopped in front of me he placed his hands on my arms. I couldn’t help but shudder and close my eyes, as painful memories of last night flooded my mind.

 

“Hey sweetheart, its okay, I ain’t touching you tonight.”

 

Mr Vennochi smiled, “We are going to start you off slowly this evening. You’ll be serving drinks to my guests. Your job is simple. I want you to smile, look pretty, maybe wiggle that ass of yours. You can manage that can’t you?”

 

“I think so” I replied. “So is this some kind of party?”

 

“Yeah exactly, a party. Just serve my guests drinks and smile. You’re going to knock em dead Abi.”

 

With that, Luca backed away, blowing a kiss before opening the door and closing it behind him. I was alone again. A minor relief. ‘I am getting out of this room’ I thought. This is good, maybe I can somehow slip away during this ‘party’.

 

 

No sooner had Mr Vennochi disappeared down the hall, when there was another knock on the door. It was one of the guards who had brought me onboard.

 

“Follow me Miss, you’re required downstairs now.”

 

He held the door open as if signaling me to walk through. I obliged but realised I didn’t know whether to go left or right. The guard quickly shut the door behind us before pointing his arm to my right. As we got the end of the corridor, he instructed me once more: “Through this door, then take a left and go down the stairs. Ballroom is directly ahead. You are to go through the door on the right”.

 

‘Ballroom’ I thought, what sort of event is Mr Vennochi hosting? As I got to the bottom of the stairs I couldn’t see any visible exits, but I was immediately greeted by the double doors to the ballroom, the door to the right had a sign above it labelled ‘Galley’. I slowly pushed it open and was greeted by a middle-aged man in a black tuxedo.

 

“Which one are you?” he asked bluntly.

 

“Um…Abigail” I replied

 

“Well ‘um Abigail’, I presume you know the drill right? Refrigeration units are here, the champagne, the wine, yada yada. Here are the spirits. Anything the bar is low on, you come here for right. Other than that, you stay on the floor, taking drinks from the bars to the tables, orders from the tables back to the bars and so on. Here, your first job. Champagne, make sure every guest has been offered a drink”

 

As he moved to the side, a large silver platter sat on the table with ten champagne flutes on.

 

“You move quickly now yeah, get these handed out and come back for another platter.”

 

“So back here for these, not the bar?” I reply.

 

“Yes back here for these, the guests are arriving so we move these quickly you understand, the bar will deal with orders later.”

 

 

I pick up the platter, trying my best to show this isn’t the first time I’ve waitressed in my life. The glasses quietly clink as I try my best to hold the platter still.

 

I push the door with my hip and then again with the door into the ballroom. As it opens up my eyes are immediately drawn to a giant chandelier that dominates the centre of the room. The door I’ve just come through is one of two on opposite sides on the room, with a double staircase leading down to the main floor. Once on the main floor, there are ciricular tables scattered across the ballroom floor, booths along one wall, and then the bar on the opposite side to the booths. There must be thirty to forty guestrs here already, as well as a few women I notice who must also be forced into working here, courtesy of being in similar dress as me. I slowly make my way down the stairs to the main floor, trying not to trip in my heels, or spill any champagne.

 

As I wandered in between tables and brushed past shoulders, I tried my best to recognise any of the guests, and the other girls working here, but none of them I’d seen before. There was money here though, serious money. Judging by the accents. Russians, Sheikhs. Every chance I got, I was glancing at the other girls. Every single one of the waitresses were dressed like me, smiling as if they didn’t have a care in the world. How many of them had been forced here against their will?’ How many of them had been touched…’ There was a marked difference between the waitresses and the girls at the tables, or on the arms of guests though. Every single one of them had the same vacant expression, their eyes empty as if they were, disconnected. Not really present in the room. I noticed one walking towards me so I placed my platter of drinks on the bar and pretended I was quickly adjusting my stocking. As she approached I made eye contact with her but she just stared right through me, as if I wasn’t even there. ‘Something is very off with this place, I need to get out of here’ I thought. I finished handing out drinks to guests and quickly made my way back to the galley. No one was in when I arrived so I placed my platter down and searched around. Not a single door out of here other than the one into the main hallway, or the other entrance I just came through. I don’t know why I thought it would be different, but this yacht literally was a ratway. Small corridors, only one or two exits out of rooms. My only way off this boat was probably over the gangway which I walked on. I knew why Luca had us here. It’s the perfect prison. As I placed my hands on the counter, the same man from before walked in.

 

 

“You, Abigail wasn’t it. Downstairs. Luca is about to give his speech. Then you’ll be on bar service.”

 

As I stepped back outside and headed downstairs, guests were looking towards the other staircase. I made my way over to the bar where bottles of champagne wer waiting to be distributed to each table. The lights suddenly dimmed and Luca appeared through the entrance at the top of the stairs.

Luca’s speech was short but consisted of thanks to all his friends and partners across the globe for being here once again, and he hopes everyone enjoy the drinks and the girls…

 

Those last three words stuck with me palying over and over for the next few minutes after he disappeared. I hadn’t wanted to believe it before now, but it made perfect sense. They are being forced to escort. As I moved towards the bar I felt someone grab my arm. I spun round to see a clean shaven man in a black suit, his dark hair greying, and he was carrying a whisky glass which looked to be swaying in his hand.

 

“And what might I call you maam?” His lecherous gaze looked me up and down, his breath strong with the smell of scotch.

 

“Abigail, sir,” I smiled.

 

“Abigail. I think you and I should get better acquainted, what do you say?” As he finished speaking he swallowed the remainder of his glass and placed it on the table.

 

“Oh I’m just a waitress sir, can I get you another drink?”

 

“Is that so. Yes actually, another large scotch, Abigail.”

 

“Certainly sir.”

 

 

Saturday Midnight

 

My feet were killing me, all I wanted now was my bed. As guests had started to disappear, either with some of the young girls, or carried off completely intoxicated by the guards. I made my way back into the galley. Once again I was greeted with silence. Suddenly, I was filled with urge to make a run for it. If I was going to do it, surely now was the time. I peeked my head around the door and checked if the coast was clear. Nothing coming from either direction. I slowly crept into the hallway, then made my way up the stairs. I only knew for certain one way of getting off this boat. It was back past my room, then up another set of stairs, and through a doorway, which would eventually lead out onto the deck. I could only hope that the gangway was still down. As I crept down the hallway, past my room. I got to the end of the hallway, and the door which led up another floor. So far so good. As I placed my hand on the door and started to push it open, a figure suddenly appeared on the other side of the door. The last person on earth I wanted to see, Luca Vennochi.

 

“Well well well, Abigal Anderson. You really did knock em dead tonight!”

 

I didn’t say a word in response.

 

Luca’s smile suddenly turned sour as his expression changed. “Where were you going Abigail, because I know that you know, that your room is just down that hall. You weren’t trying to leave now were you? Because you’re a smart, punctual, beautiful woman.”

 

Now I was afraid. “No of course not Luca, just got disorientated. It’s been a tiring evening.”

 

“Yes. Yes it has. I must say Abigail. I’m impressed. You’re first night and you were great. So great in fact. It seems you have caught the eye of on our guests. Miss Abigail Anderson, on your first night! I knew bringing you on board was a good idea.”

 

“W…what do you mean” I asked.

 

“One of the guests tonight, normally it’s the working girls who are shall we say, available for ‘auction’. But he’s going to pay good money for you. He specifically asked for ‘Abigail the waitress’.”

 

“Please Luca.” I begged. “You said I was to serve drinks to your guests. I’ve done exactly as you asked.”

 

“Oh you have my sweet. You have excelled. But you know, he wants you and is willing to pay above the odds so. You are going to take him into your cabin and do exactly as he says, anything he wants.”

 

Luca stepped towards me taking me bar the arm. “Please!” I begged, as he gripped my arm tighter, marching me to my door.

 

“Make sure he enjoys himself Miss Anderson. Maybe blindfold yourself. You seem to enjoy it that way”. Luca opened the door and shoved me inside before shutting and locking it behind him.

 

 

To be continued