When a widowed 24 years old Kathleen moves to Shoreditch, London, she vows to stay away from men and to keep her oath of chastity intact, with the hidden motive of avenging her husbands death. However, things change a few days later after Kathleen meets Mark. Breaking her oath of chastity, Kathleen finds herself exploring the world of sadomasochism. She tries her very best to keep away from Mark and to avoid destroying Mark's relationship with his wife Elise, but Mark just won't have it. Things take a drastic turn when Elise is found dead and Kathleen along with Mark are accused of being the killers of Elise. Things go from bad to worse when Kathleen uncovers some dirty secrets about the Hackney family. The question is who killed Elise and who exactly is behind the death of Kathleen's husband?
 
  WARNING!
  18 +.
 
  THE STORY CONTAINS MATURE THEMES, STRONG SEXUAL CONTENT, STRONG WORDS AND SOME VIOLENT SCENES.
 
  READ AT YOUR OWN RISK.
 
  EROTICA.

                                                                              1.

The feeling of the cold water coming in contact with my body gave me an ecstatic feeling. I hadn’t felt this good in the last two years; maybe it was because of the good thing that finally happened in my life. I would have decided to stay back and just relax in the tub but I had other plans. I wouldn’t miss today even the word ended. I go to the counter, in search of my glasses, but it’s nowhere to be seen. Where did I drop my glasses? I check the cupboards, the floor and the tub but they’re nowhere to be seen. How did I lose them?

   After fifteen minutes of thorough searching, I still don’t find my glasses so I hastily rush to my room to get prepared, but what was the perfect choice of fabric to wear for an interview? I take a few moments to ponder on my attire for the day and I decide on a blue long sleeved turtle neck blouse and a sky blue pencil skirt. Since I’d moved to Shoreditch, I’d been neglecting myself─ my hair to be precise. I strain my eyes looking for a hair pin, but none is in sight. I decide on packing my hair backwards. I put on some lip balm, switch the lights off and head for the door.

   While on the bus, I silently panic about the interview. I didn’t know what to expect and how to react if a certain question was thrown at me. The bus stops and I come down with an unsure feeling. The humungous building in front of me made me want to pee in my pants. I walk into the building and suddenly my eyes begin to hurt and my vision begins to blur. I hadn’t eaten this morning. I see a coffee machine and I walk straight to it, taking a cup of coffee. I drink some and there’s a little improvement so I keep walking. As I walk into the lobby, I notice the empty receptionist desk so I take a sit and wait. I look at my wrist watch and sigh in relief as I have thirty minutes till my interview. I sip the coffee slowly and observe the lobby. The lobby is quite huge and the mahogany and white colour

just gives the room a bright and fresh look. There’s also a fireplace mantel which seems to be made of wood panel. A dusky lady comes and she resumes her sit behind the table.

“Good Morning” She says with a smile.

“Good Morning” I murmur.

“Do you have an appointment, Miss..?”

“Morris, Kathleen Morris and yes, I’ve come for the Interview” I state, trying not to stutter. She nods her head and picks up the intercom. She uses a lower tone to speak.

 “Yes sir... Another candidate is here... Yes.... Should I send her in? Alright Sir” She drops the intercom and brings out a register. It’s nine forty five. “Here” She says, giving me a pen.

“Just sign here and here” She says. I take the register and sign. She gives me the direction to the interview room and I take my leave. I enter the empty elevator. The doors are about to close but someone rushes in just in the nick of time. In his haste, he mistakenly collides with me and in return, my coffee gets spilled on his expensive suit. “Oh my God, I’m so sorry” I say, trying to get the stain off his suit. He doesn’t say anything immediately, so I look up. Unknowingly, I stand mesmerized looking into his deep blue eyes. He coughs and I get slapped into reality. “I’m sorry” I say, embarrassed. I mentally chide myself for coming so close to a man─ it felt so intimate. The elevator opens and I step out. I look around for the interview room and I walk toward it when I see it. I knock on the door, but there’s no answer.

“Allow me” A voice says and the door opens. I turn around to see the same man from the elevator─ why was he here? I step into the office and turn around to look at him.

“Good Morning” I murmur

“Morning, Miss..?”

“Morris, Kathleen Morris”

“Please, do have a sit” He gestures towards the wooden chair. He takes his sit. “I take it you’re here for the interview Miss Morris?” He looks me straight in the eye.

“That’s good. We’re going to have a one on one discussion about─ how rude of me; I’m Lewis Hackney, President of BY Group of Industries.” He continues, “As I was saying, a one on one conversation on why you want this job and why we should offer you a place in Black Yatch.”

I take a deep breath and speak. “I’m Kathleen Morris and I’m American. As you would know a Product Manager’s duty lies with various aspects. As a Product Manager, it would be my duty to select, investigate thoroughly and drive the development products for BY.” I say.

“Go on” He gestures. I continue speaking and I notice him playing with his hair─ Aryan coffee dark hair with a hint of brown. He continues playing with his hair and then he begins to fondle with his phone. What impudence?

“Excuse me, Mr. Lewis. Isn’t this supposed to be a one on one conversation?” I asked, irked.

He looks at me with an intrigued expression which irritates me further. “I was enjoying your speech so much, I didn’t want to interrupt you” He says with a small smirk. Why was I feeling so hot all of a sudden─ where did this blush on my face come from?

“I feel I should be offered this job because I possess all the rightful and important qualities to be the Product Manager of Black Yatch. I have the qualities character wise and also educationally.” I say, feeling intimidated by his gaze. He gets up from his seat and walks over to me. He takes a stool underneath his desk and sits at a very uncomfortable distance to me. I fondle with my hand out of confusion. I’d never been so close to a man after Dan’s death─ it felt intimate.

“I’d like to look you in the eye and speak to you” He says in a blank tone.

I wanted to scream and shout at the same time, who in hell did he think he was to sit so close to a stranger, especially with that heavy ring on his finger? I had promised Dan─ my late husband that I would remain untouched until I died, I had kept a safe distance from men and now this jackal was acting fresh around me.

“I’d like if you gave me a little breathing space, Sir.” He doesn’t say a word; he just gets up and goes back to his chair.

“You can always resume on Monday if you have a problem resuming

tomorrow” He says. My eyes widen in surprise as I take in his words.

“Don’t you want a copy of my files?” I ask, in a state of shock. I continue, “You’re hiring me just like that?”

He slants his head. “Is there something I should know?”

I shake my head. “It’s nothing of the sort. Thank you, Mr. Hackney. May I leave?”

“Good day, Kathleen.” He says leaving me irked once more. I walk out of his office hurriedly and a heavy sigh of relief escapes my mouth. Mr. Hackney, I had expected much more from this man but it seems like he was just a gormless teenager who had no clue of what he was doing. I see the receptionist at the lobby once more and I send a wave her way and she reciprocates with a smile.

   Surely, Lewis Hackney couldn’t just offer someone a job like that, could he? Is this the way he ran one of the top five biggest groups in Europe? It just didn’t seem right, there must be some strings attached. I walk out of the building and like a magnetic pull, something tells me to turn around. I turn around and scan the area, but there’s nothing. I decide to keep walking, but I turn around again and this time, I see the hard face of Mr. Hackney.

   I had managed to refrain from thinking of anything Hackney related─ I had kept a clear head since our last meeting. My Saturdays were usually boring, but today I wanted something different. It might’ve been due to my uneasiness about my job or the way Mr. Hackney looked at me from his office. I had walked off hurriedly, on a path away from his view when I caught his gaze on me. I wanted to get my mind off things─ Mr. Hackney to be precise. I wanted to stop thinking of him, so I decide to go the nearest pub I find.

   Finding a pub wasn’t so hard considering the fact that I’d never been to one. I go into the pub and just as I’m about to take a seat, my eyes land on him. Was I hallucinating? I had left home with the aim of getting my mind of things and now the cause of my uneasiness and hotness was standing a few meters away from me─ why did I just admit that I felt hot around him?

   I stand there for a good number of minutes pondering on my next move. Damn you Mr. Hackney, damn you. He turns his head to the side with a big laugh plastered on his face and when he sees me, his demeanor changes to that of uncertainty. I immediately turn around and casually head for the door. Should I have behaved so rudely?

“Kathleen!” I hear and I increase my pace. I begin to walk faster, hoping I escape before he gets to me.”Kathleen!” I hear again and this time, I increase my pace. I immediately enter the first cab I see. I heave a sigh of relief as I relax in the car. Mr. Hackney was really something. I look behind me to see if he’s still following behind, but to my relief he’s not. I rest my body on the door and I think of Dan. What would he think of me?

I get down from the cab and I walk to my apartment. On getting there, my keys fall on the door mat and I bend down to pick it. I see a sheet of paper sticking out from underneath the carpet and I take it out. I go inside and drop my bag on the floor. I close the door and I unfold the letter.

__________________________________________________________

Kathleen, I’m also trying to understand this ache and to understand why you always avoid me whenever you find me around. I feel offended. All I ask for is for you to tell me how I’ve offended you. I’ll be outside your door if you decide to talk.

PS─ I’m your boss; I feel I should be obeyed.

__________________________________________________________

  Mr. Hackney was outside my home? How did he find me? Did he follow me? I turn off the lights and sprint to the window in search of him. I scan the whole area and I feel a tingling sensation in my legs as soon as my eyes fall on him. His Aryan coffee dark hair was illuminated by the stars. Damn you, Mr. Hackney, but wait . . . was he stalking me? An unknown anger surges from the sole of my feet to my head at the possibility of him stalking me. I go out and walk straight to him.

“Are you stalking me?”

“You have such a smart mouth don’t you?”

“Mr. Hackney, I could sue you for this!”

“Kathleen, I just want to know if I’ve offended you in─” I cut him off midsentence and speak. “Look, it doesn’t matter if you did or didn’t, I just want you to stay away from me” I say and walk off. A warm hand comes in contact with my arm and turns me around and before I process what’s going on. He possesses my mouth and begins to kiss me. I don’t reciprocate, but his kiss is soft and caring─ tender and not demanding. I break the kiss and my shaky hands connect with his face. How dare this pompous plonker kiss me like that? I keep walking and I hold my lips─ fuck, that kiss was too good. I turn around and sprint towards the car. He’s just closed the door so I jack it open, kneel beside his chair and kiss him. At that moment, I felt like a lion who had finally found food in months. My hands are wrapped behind his neck and we stay there kissing passionately for a long while. The kiss was a needy kiss indeed. I see an image of Dan and immediately, I take a step back. Fuck! I give Mr. Hackney another hard slap and then I run into my apartment. My heart begins to palpitate and with traitor tears streaming down my eyes, I sob. Damn you once more, Mr. Hackney, Damn you.