Chapter 2: Let it Mellow

13 months prior...

“THREE! TWO! ONE! GOODBYE, HEATHER!”

Laughter, cheers and champagne filled the air of the rooftop bar. The tall, blonde woman who the party was for was urged up onto the table by those around her, grinning and blushing. Slight objections spilled forth, but in reality, it was obvious she wanted a moment of attention.

“I guess I’m giving a speech?”

The crowd chuckled.

“I’d like to thank you all for coming. I don’t know all of you too well, and that pains me. Honestly, it does, I’m not just saying that because I’m drunk. All of the people I’ve met at this company have been incredible. You had better all keep in touch when I’m gone!”

She jokingly raised an accusatory finger, casting it across the room in a broad sweep. It earned a laugh, but not as much as when she nearly lost her balance and had to be steadied by a set of hands that got far too close to her ass.

“Thanks, Gordon.” Her eyes widened. “Gordon! How could I not thank Gordon; Mr Pepper himself? Can we get a round of applause for the best boss ever?”

More cheering. The aged fellow at least managed to look humble, keeping his cool even when the woman on the table spilled some of her drink on him.

“Seriously, I’m terrible at speeches. I’ve been up here for like a minute and I’m already lost for words. How do people do this? Please, to anyone this concerns, don’t ask me to do a speech for anything important. I’ll ruin it!”

More laughter.

“Have a good night, and make sure to have at least one more drink on me before the night is over. Well, perhaps on Gordon is more accurate. I really gotta get down from here before I fall, crush someone and make a fool out of myself.”

Now that it was no longer essential to stay gathered around the tables, Larry made a break for the secluded edge of the rooftop, pulling a cigarette and lighter from his jacket.

It was an alright speech, for an airhead. He couldn’t really have expected anything better. He was here for booze and to build his reputation. Sure, the girl leaving was insanely hot—tall too, which was totally his type—but he’d been here only three weeks! Why would he care that she was leaving?

Before he was interrupted, he was halfway through the cigarette. Flicking ash into the open sky, he sighed. Probably some drunkard coming to meet the new guy. Typical.

Turning his head, he was surprised to see the subject of this leaving party, stumbling over to him. She hit the guard-rail with so much force that it looked as though she might tumble over the side. Concerned, he held out a hand to prevent any unscheduled plummets.

“Thanks,” she said, treating him to a smile.

Fuck. She’s hotter up close.

“Aww, are you blushing?”

Her laughter only made his cheeks burn brighter. Despite the mocking, a smile came to his lips.

“I’m cold, what can I say?”

“Yeah, yeah.” She cocked her head. “Larry, right?”

That surprised him. He didn’t expect her to remember someone like him. They’d only spoken twice at most. He tried to keep his cool.

“And you’re Heather.”

“Did the flashy banner give it away?” Still smiling, she nudged him playfully. “Thanks for coming along. The more the merrier, I always say. There are people I’ve know for my entire stint here that haven’t bothered showing their faces.”

Larry shrugged and smirked. “I’m just here for the beer. Tastes much better when someone else is paying for it.”

That one really set her off. The sounds of hilarity were loud enough to draw glances and jealous scowls from where everyone else was stood.

“So you’re cute and funny, huh, Larry?” Heather grimaced, looking like someone who’d accidentally bit into a lemon. “Shame about the name.”

“What’s wrong with my name?” he asked incredulously.

“Nothing much. I just need time to come up with a nickname that’s suits you better.”

“Unless you can think of it tonight, I doubt you’ll have enough time.”

“Don’t doubt my creativity, Larry. You’re cute, so let’s start there. What else is cute...”

Larry rolled his eyes.

“Don’t roll your eyes at me! I just complemented you!”

“Ah, your naivety is showing. When a girl calls a guy cute, it means she’s uninterested,” Larry said, grinning. Liquid confidence was hard at work.

“N- naivety? You better explain yourself real quick, mister. Why does calling you cute make me naive?”

“You had a teddy bear when you was younger, right?”

She nodded. “Mr Snuggles.”

“Would you say he was cute?”

“Obviously.”

His grin widened. “Would you fuck Mr Snuggles?”

That caught her off-guard. “W-what?”

“It’s relevant, I promise.”

“No! I would not fuck Mr Snuggles!”

Larry blushed, clenched his teeth and tried not to giggle. She soon joined in.

“Keep it down! They’ll think the new guy is some crazy pervert,” he said.

“He’s not doing a good job of convincing me otherwise.”

“If you keep in mind that a guy who’s attracted to you would be interested in spending a night with you, you might start to understand why cute isn’t the best compliment.”

It was her turn to roll her eyes. “Larry; now you’re showing your naivety. Despite all your bravado, you’re ignoring that not all women are the same. Some girls like cute guys.”

“And you?” he asked, offering a puff of his cigarette.

Heather took it and threw it at her feet, putting it out under her high heeled shoe. “Dirty habit,” she said, twisting her foot on the embered stub.

“Hey! I wasn’t done with that!”

He made it clear that he wasn’t actually all that annoyed, not dropping his smile for a moment.

“You are now. Back to thinking of a nickna—”

Suddenly, she let go of the railing and lost her balance. Larry desperately tried to catch her, but either he wasn’t strong enough or she was too heavy. The two of them collapsed to the ground, landing on their backs.

Instead of complaining, they burst into laughter.

“You tried your best, that’s what counts,” she was quick to console him.

“I wouldn’t have had to help if you knew your limits.”

“I do know my limits, thank you very much!” She gestured at her feet. “It’s these damn shoes. Hard to find heels that fit my big-ass feet. Not only are they a challenge to walk around in, but they make my feet so sore. If only it was appropriate to wear trainers to events like this.”

“What size are they?”

“My shoes or my feet? I wear a size 13 normally; tonight I had to squeeze into a pair of 12s. Shoe stores are not kind to girls like me.”

“Size 13...” Larry whistled.

“I can’t take this any longer.” Heather sat up and set about undoing the straps binding her feet to the shoes and they were off in no time. Deep red marks in the image of the straps had been left behind, embedded into the pale skin up top. Her freed feet flexed, the glowing pink soles basking in the cool air. “Ahhh, that’s so much better.”

“You do seem a lot more relaxed.”

Her face adopted an evil expression, whilst she purposefully flexed her feet a couple more times. “Say, you wouldn’t ... be opposed to giving me a foot rub, would you?”

Unpleasant memories came to mind. “Hmm. As much as I’d love to say yes...”

“Too stinky? A lot of people have complained my feet are too stinky.”

“No! They’re not too st—” Larry stopped and gagged, a passing breeze causing him to catch his first, real breath of Heather’s foot odour.

“See! Too stinky. You’re just not tough enough, Larry.”

“I’m plenty tough enough.”

“Oh?” She giggled. “Are you seriously arguing for the pleasure of rubbing these big, stinky feet of mine?”

It was hard not to blush at that comment. Her pushing was bringing out a sort of desperation in him. He wanted to please this lady, no matter how little time he’d known her for.

“I wouldn’t say that. I’d simply need something in return.”

“Something in return?” Heather pondered for a moment. “Where do you live?”

“On the outskirts of the city, with my mom and my sister. Really not looking forward to the taxi, it’ll be super expensive,” Larry answered. In truth, he was supposed to be staying with his ‘buddy’ that the office had assigned him; however that wasn’t the most secure arrangement, given how drunk the young man at the bar was.

“Then if you rub these big ol’ feet of mine, I might just let you stay at my place tonight.”

“Staying at your place? What an honour!”

“Okay, Mr Sarcasm. You can take your expensive cab and go back to mommy’s house.” Unexpectedly, she twisted around and placed her feet right next to him. The smell was ... noticeable. “Or, you can rub my feet and save yourself some cash.”

“Is your couch comfy?”

Heather grinned. “Who said you’re staying on the couch? You would be if I only got a massage.” She stole a look over to the other party-goers, checking that they weren’t eavesdropping. “If I get a little more, you can stay in my bed.”

“Y-your bed? Are you saying what I think you’re saying?”

She rolled her eyes again. “Yes, moron. I’m drunk right now; you’re very cute and very funny. Offer to do more to my aching feet? That’s a ticket straight into my bed as far as I’m concerned.”

“What would I have to do?”

For a moment, she seemed hesitant to say. She just sat there, giggling and rubbing her soles on the ground. Larry couldn’t help but notice that it was right where she’d put out his cigarette. She lifted her feet and displayed both of her huge soles to him, wiggling her toes.

“Give these big feet of mine a kiss. Then, you’re mine for the night.”

“I’m yours?”

Her cheeks wrinkled. “Exactly. Kissy kissy, Larry.”

They didn’t smell good. They smelt just like her expected: the sour stench of feet that had been sweating away in shoes all night. They didn’t even look nice; the perspiration-slicked soles had acquired a vast amount of dirt and ash. But...

The pay-off seemed worth it.

Too drunk and enveloped in the moment to care about the people at the bar, Larry leaned in and puckered up to kiss Heather’s filthy, waiting feet.

Bzzzzzzzzz.

For the second time in his life, Larry was dragged into consciousness by the electric sting of his collar. He cried out in pain and flailed around on the cold, hard floor. In his brief spasm, he whacked his head on the something and grunted.

“You awake, or you want another shock?” Natalie asked.

The hard toe of a boot poked him in the back. He tried to use his arms to push the offending boot away, but found them to be crossed and bound behind his back. Upon further testing he found his knees and ankles to also be tied together.

“I’m awake ... I’m awake...” he groaned, forcing his eyes open.

He was in a bathroom. A quick glance behind him confirmed that it was a plastic shower-screen that he’d banged his head on. A sink, bath and toilet also occupied the spacious bathroom.

“Good. We need to get that ugly face of yours washed up, it’s covered in sweat and dirt!”

Ignoring Natalie’s mocking laughter, Larry licked his try lips and grimaced. They tasted quite strongly of feet. A wash certainly wouldn’t go amiss.

“Where’s Heather?” he asked as she picked him up from the floor, bringing him to his knees. The fact that she’d betrayed him still hadn’t truly sunk in. He didn’t want to believe it.

“Gone out for a run.” She chuckled. “Getting her feet all nice and stinky for you.”

“Natalie, please—”

“What? What do you expect me to do? I don’t like you. In fact, I would go as far to say that I hate you. Are you surprised? Do you remember what you said to me?”

“Not in exact words. But I remember feeling justified saying it.”

“I’ll refresh your memory.” She pulled a device out of her pocket and pressed a couple of buttons.

“Stop sniffing around my girlfriend like some kind of bitch in heat. I thought you’d have realised by now that’s it’s me she wants. You’re supposed to be her friend, supposed to be happy that she’s happy! Instead you’re stuck on that pathetic crush. All you want is for you and Heather to be together. I’m right, aren’t I? Fuck off.”

Click.

That was his voice. He remembered exploding at her quite well, it had only been about a month ago. Natalie had been recording him? He shivered, wondering what else she might have on the audio recording device, concerned that he might have ever said anything she could use against him. She put the device away.

“Nothing would bring me more joy than humiliating and tormenting you for all the time you took from Heather. She adores you, loves you maybe more than she loves me. Actually, there’s no maybe about it. As much as it pains me, I’ll always be second to you in her eyes. If she won’t show you mercy, what chance do you have with me?”

When he didn’t answer, she pinched his nipple and twisted.

“None!” he said through gritted teeth. “No chance!”

“I’m glad you understand.”

The Heather he knew, the Heather he loved, would never do this. Natalie had to be behind it.

“What did you do to her?” Larry asked, his voice a whisper.

“Excuse me?”

“I said, what did you do to her? This isn’t like Heather at all! Obviously she’s fallen for one of your schemes. Y-you’ve hypnotised her or something! Drugged her! All to make her choose you and torture me.”

Natalie laughed in his face, splattering his features with spittle. “Nope. Heather’s the one in charge, I’m just along for the ride. This is what she wants, Larry. She wants her little Lair-bear to be a slave.”