The House of Pain Read Online Free PDF Page A
Author: Tara Crescent
things about myself from this experience.
John hands me $500.
“You’ve made quite an impression on the audience,” he says.
“Why?” I ask. I’m not sure how I’m different from any of the girls who perform at the House of Pain. Not that I’ve met any of them, so really, how would I know?
“Every single emotion runs through your face. It is fun to watch.”
Oh. Mortifying. I’m far more embarrassed by the idea that my emotions are on display that by the fact that I was naked in front of twenty men, being flogged.
***
Two things happen Monday.
The first thing in the morning, I get a call from the place I’ve interviewed at. They want to hire me. They make me a generous offer. Aside from a significant raise, I will also get an extra week of vacation. I’m thrilled, I accept on the phone.
The second – at about 10.00am, I get a call from a woman. I glance at the Caller Id: Maija Jones. It’s an internal number, I pick up.
“Is that Sara White?” Her voice is competent; professional.
“Yes.” Mine is distracted. I’m trying to find her on the company directory at the same time.
“I’m Doug Patterson’s admin,” she says. Am I supposed to know who Doug Patterson is? “Doug asked me to set up a meeting - can you meet with him today? He’s only open at lunch though.”
“Umm, sure.” Is this about the new marketing program I’m supposed to be working on? Why wouldn’t he just talk to my boss? I’m entirely confused.
“I’ll send you an invite.”
She hangs up, I look up Doug. I whistle silently. Doug is the Vice-President of Strategy. I vaguely remember meeting him about a month back, just after I’d broken up with Colin, at a work meet-and-greet. He reports to the COO – he’s a big deal. I wonder what the heck he wants to meet with me about.
I’m distracted all morning. I’m oddly uneasy, though I should be jubilant about my job offer.
I walk to the restaurant I’m supposed to meet Doug Patterson at. It isn’t far, and it’s still lovely and warm in Toronto, summer just easing into fall.
I recognise Doug, he’s already seated. He gets up when I walk in; shakes my hand.
“Sara, thanks for meeting me here at such short notice.” His voice is nice. Confident, but not arrogant. The voice of someone who has a very good idea who he is, what he wants, and is totally comfortable with it. He’s about 6ft tall; short dark hair; he’s good looking, but in a normal guy kind of way; and more importantly, no wedding ring.
Focus, Sara, I scold myself. He’s a Vice-President at my company. Not in my league.
“I’m in back-to-back meetings all day, I have a hard stop at 1.00pm,” he says. “Do you mind if we order right away? The waitress has promised to get the kitchen to hurry with the food.”
“No worries,” I mutter. I quickly order the lunch special of the day. Doug does the same. The waitress sets our drinks down, and leaves to put in the order.
“This is a bit of an awkward conversation,” Doug says, looking at me, once we are alone. “You see, I was in the audience last night at the House of Pain.”
I am in the act of taking a sip of my water. I stop, mid-sip. My mind goes blank. I am completely, utterly horrified.
I speak, and my voice is the merest whisper. “Are you trying to blackmail me?”
Chapter 4
“Blackmail you?” Doug looks a little astonished. “What on earth?”
Okay, maybe that first thought was a stupid one. I flush. I keep silent. I’m waiting for him to continue.
“I don’t generally need to blackmail women,” he says mildly. Now I’m mortified. He’s good looking and he’s a fancy corporate executive. I feel like an idiot.
He takes a deep breath. “I’m looking for a sex partner, and judging by yesterday’s performance, we have a lot of interests in common. I was wondering if you were single, if you’d be interested in giving it a try?”
“What?” I gape at him.
He looks at me. He’s trying not to look annoyed.
John hands me $500.
“You’ve made quite an impression on the audience,” he says.
“Why?” I ask. I’m not sure how I’m different from any of the girls who perform at the House of Pain. Not that I’ve met any of them, so really, how would I know?
“Every single emotion runs through your face. It is fun to watch.”
Oh. Mortifying. I’m far more embarrassed by the idea that my emotions are on display that by the fact that I was naked in front of twenty men, being flogged.
***
Two things happen Monday.
The first thing in the morning, I get a call from the place I’ve interviewed at. They want to hire me. They make me a generous offer. Aside from a significant raise, I will also get an extra week of vacation. I’m thrilled, I accept on the phone.
The second – at about 10.00am, I get a call from a woman. I glance at the Caller Id: Maija Jones. It’s an internal number, I pick up.
“Is that Sara White?” Her voice is competent; professional.
“Yes.” Mine is distracted. I’m trying to find her on the company directory at the same time.
“I’m Doug Patterson’s admin,” she says. Am I supposed to know who Doug Patterson is? “Doug asked me to set up a meeting - can you meet with him today? He’s only open at lunch though.”
“Umm, sure.” Is this about the new marketing program I’m supposed to be working on? Why wouldn’t he just talk to my boss? I’m entirely confused.
“I’ll send you an invite.”
She hangs up, I look up Doug. I whistle silently. Doug is the Vice-President of Strategy. I vaguely remember meeting him about a month back, just after I’d broken up with Colin, at a work meet-and-greet. He reports to the COO – he’s a big deal. I wonder what the heck he wants to meet with me about.
I’m distracted all morning. I’m oddly uneasy, though I should be jubilant about my job offer.
I walk to the restaurant I’m supposed to meet Doug Patterson at. It isn’t far, and it’s still lovely and warm in Toronto, summer just easing into fall.
I recognise Doug, he’s already seated. He gets up when I walk in; shakes my hand.
“Sara, thanks for meeting me here at such short notice.” His voice is nice. Confident, but not arrogant. The voice of someone who has a very good idea who he is, what he wants, and is totally comfortable with it. He’s about 6ft tall; short dark hair; he’s good looking, but in a normal guy kind of way; and more importantly, no wedding ring.
Focus, Sara, I scold myself. He’s a Vice-President at my company. Not in my league.
“I’m in back-to-back meetings all day, I have a hard stop at 1.00pm,” he says. “Do you mind if we order right away? The waitress has promised to get the kitchen to hurry with the food.”
“No worries,” I mutter. I quickly order the lunch special of the day. Doug does the same. The waitress sets our drinks down, and leaves to put in the order.
“This is a bit of an awkward conversation,” Doug says, looking at me, once we are alone. “You see, I was in the audience last night at the House of Pain.”
I am in the act of taking a sip of my water. I stop, mid-sip. My mind goes blank. I am completely, utterly horrified.
I speak, and my voice is the merest whisper. “Are you trying to blackmail me?”
Chapter 4
“Blackmail you?” Doug looks a little astonished. “What on earth?”
Okay, maybe that first thought was a stupid one. I flush. I keep silent. I’m waiting for him to continue.
“I don’t generally need to blackmail women,” he says mildly. Now I’m mortified. He’s good looking and he’s a fancy corporate executive. I feel like an idiot.
He takes a deep breath. “I’m looking for a sex partner, and judging by yesterday’s performance, we have a lot of interests in common. I was wondering if you were single, if you’d be interested in giving it a try?”
“What?” I gape at him.
He looks at me. He’s trying not to look annoyed.