Chapter 5: A Formal Discussion

A week later, Vivienne Fulbright sent me over to see Mrs Braddock once more. I tried to debate the matter but Ms Fulbright just said it had to be me as I had dealt with the original job.

“Thank you for coming over,” Mrs Braddock welcomed me to her ex-husband’s old office which she was now using as the base for her business activities. “Sometimes it is sensible to have a legal adviser present.”

“Can I ask what this is about?” I was relieved that it seemed to be a business related enquiry and not just another excuse for some sexual games. I suppose I shouldn’t have been so naive.

“Of course,” said Mrs Braddock. “You’ll remember the take over of my husband’s business?”

“Yes, of course.” It wasn’t hard to forget the vindictive approach Mrs Braddock had adopted after divorcing her husband.

“Well, it seems there is some question over the legality of the arrangements.”

I could imagine the morality of it being questioned but I was certain the project had been completely legal. I said so.

“Well it’s good to have your reassurance. However, I have agreed to meet and discuss the matter with the aggrieved party. That’s always best isn’t it? At least that’s what Ms Hanson would recommend, I am sure.”

The reference to the author of the self-help book ‘The Inner Drive’ made me nervous. Too often things had turned out difficult for me when Mrs Braddock started taking Ellen Hanson’s advice.

There was a knock on the office door and in response to Mrs Braddock’s call of “Yes”, her secretary appeared and said, “Ms James is here”.

“Thank you Becky, show her in please,” said Mrs Braddock and a few moments later a disturbingly attractive blonde girl of about my own age, wearing a charcoal grey, business-like, skirt suit and a pale pink blouse came into the office. She had a frosty expression on her face.

“Mrs Braddock,” the girl said... “Lucy James.”

“Ms James,” Mrs Braddock said, all smiles, “how good that we could meet at last. This is Mr Lawson. He helps me with various matters. I’m sure you don’t mind him being present.”

“No, I suppose not.”

“Good. In which case lets kick things off. You had some concerns over the acquisition of Braddock Holdings, I believe?”

“I do.” Lucy James put her briefcase on the desk, opened it and took out some papers.

“I’m sorry,” I said., “Can I just get something clear. Ms James, what is your role in this, please?”

“She’s my ex-husband’s fucking secretary.” Mrs Braddock explained without letting her visitor answer. “The one that he was so merrily poking on this desk and my desk while he was supposed to be running the business. As a result of which failed attention he managed to let the value of the business fall so far that I was able to buy it for a good deal less than he had put into it.”

Lucy James appeared to ignore Mrs Braddock’s slur. I had to admire her strength of character in facing up to Andrea Braddock. “So you will understand that I am concerned as to whether there has been some question of fraud. Your actions have left Andrew without a penny.”

“I rather thought, no hoped, that would be the case. Does that make your relationship look a little less attractive?”

“Please Mrs, Braddock,” I interjected, “it won’t help if we’re rude to one another.”

“Do you think not? It’s certainly helping me. And, if my understanding is correct, it’s exactly how Ms James likes it. Isn’t it dear?”

“What?” Lucy responded. I noticed she seemed to be blushing the same colour as her shirt.

“According to my information. You’re quite the kinky submissive, dear. You quite like a bit of name calling in your sexual relations. Perhaps a bit of spanking too? Maybe a little light bondage as well?”

“I don’t know what you are talking about.”

“No? Well, I think ‘Master Braddock’ does. Isn’t that what he likes you to call him? He tried it with me, but to be honest I never found him very convincing. I think you’re selling yourself short, dear. If you are as submissive as I suspect, I think you must already be feeling that Mr Braddock isn’t quite up to the task.”

“This is ridiculous.”

“You’ll be feeling that his heart isn’t really in it. He can act the part, I suppose, but really it’s just a way for him to get his rocks off. Didn’t you ever feel that the knots weren’t really secure enough? The straps not properly buckled? The riding crop not sufficiently carefully laid across the most sensitive part of what I suspect is your quite delightful derriere? I don’t think you deserve that sort of sloppy behaviour. Not a girl as attractive as yourself, one that so obviously deserves to be taken in hand by an experienced dominant that can bring out the true potential of her submissiveness.”

It was an extraordinary speech and I was about to protest at Mrs Braddock’s character assassination of Lucy when she seemed to collapse in the face of it. Mrs Braddock’s intelligence about her former husbands lover was, it seemed, exemplary. Lucy’s face crumpled and she started to sob. “It’s true. I couldn’t even get him to confront you over the business. He’s so passive. All right he likes to play the part of the domme in the bedroom but I never feel his heart is in it.”

“Well, you’re very lucky my dear. You may have failed with one half of the family but I think you’ll find me a different proposition.”