Submission at The Tower by Felicity Brandon

Author:Felicity Brandon [Brandon, Felicity]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Stormy Night Publications
Published: 2015-09-02T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve: Ready to Go

It’s late afternoon and I’m sitting in a small lounge that overlooks the drive and car parking area. I take a gulp from the glass of water in my hand and glance out of the large window. The day is bleeding light fast and I notice that the wind has picked up speed, bending the branches of a number of ancient-looking trees scattered around the grounds. I can see my car waiting for me. Can it really be only a few hours since I drove it here? It feels like another lifetime ago.

A sound from outside the door pulls my attention from the fading natural light. It’s the sound of men talking as they wander the corridor beyond the book-lined walls and it reminds me of why I’m here. I look down at the pile of white papers in front of me, scattered loosely on the expensive-looking mahogany table. This is the contract I have been asked to read and sign. Based on the day I’ve had and my surging desire to submit to Shaw, I’d have willingly signed it an hour ago, but he was predictably insistent that I only read it here.

“Take it home and consider it properly, please, Janie,” he’d said softly before closing the door behind him. Despite the gentle tone, I’d realised this was not a request and I’ve been here ever since, managing to digest the odd sentence, but really just allowing my mind to wander over the events of the day.

The opening door takes me by surprise and I hope beyond reason that it’s Shaw’s face I see from behind it. I am disappointed to find it’s Leonard who steps out from the rows of books.

“Janie,” he says, his voice genuinely surprised. “What are you still doing here?”

“Mr. Shaw asked me to look over the contract, sir,” I reply meekly.

I realise how strange it is to refer to Shaw in the third person. I already miss the intense intimacy we’ve developed and I haven’t even left The Tower yet. The thought is depressing.

Perhaps he notices the sadness in my eyes or maybe he’s just desperate to leave for the day, but Leonard approaches me slowly, walking round to my right. Then in the same way that Shaw had done so many times today, he crouches down next to me. I turn my head to meet his gaze and feel my face colour at this sudden close proximity. My embarrassment seems crazy when I consider the show I’d put on earlier as part of my ‘audition.’

“Why don’t you take the paperwork home with you, Janie?” he asks softly. “You don’t have to make any decisions now.”

His eyes are large and seem sincerely concerned for me. I remember that the last time he may have seen me I was collapsing into Shaw’s arms unconscious, and that possibly explains his obvious anxiety.

“Yes, ok,” I concur.

I don’t really want to leave this place. I feel like whatever connection I have found with Shaw is based here and I have this insane idea that it might fade with every mile I put between us.

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