This is the eighth episode of my unreliable memoirs. Each episode can be read individually but it helps to have read the previous episodes starting from the beginning. To get the most out of this episode in particular I'd recommend first reading 'Episode 07' at least.
I hope you enjoy the stories.
M4bloke
******************
I spent Monday morning with Daniel at the offices of Durolitum Investments, which were located on the second floor of a sixties looking building just off Regent Street. Daniel spent a couple of hours with me, showing me around the offices and explaining about the company. He told me about his plans for the future and where he thought I might fit in. It was hard not to be seduced by the fancy offices, the smart suits and the pretty secretaries.
At 11.00 a.m. Daniel had a meeting to go to. Promising he'd be back for lunch he handed me over to his HR manager to explain what the package would be if I took up his offer. The HR manager was very well prepared considering that Daniel had only made me the offer the day before but I decided to stay quiet on that point. He explained that they would provide me with a bursary while I finished studying and, provided I gained a satisfactory degree, I would be given a job at an associate level within the company. In return I had to commit to working for them for a year, or pay back the bursary.
At no point had he or Daniel talked about how much the bursary would be or what sort of salary I'd be offered when I started. I felt a bit cheeky asking but it had to be done. The HR manager handed me a large envelope explaining that everything was in their contract offer. He told me to read through it and if I was happy with it then to fill out the required details and sign the acceptance letter. I wasn't sure if I was supposed to open the letter there and then and so I thanked him for his time and promised to get back to him quickly.
Fortunately Daniel appeared soon after and told me it was time for lunch. We walked a couple of blocks down the street and he led me to a restaurant where he'd agreed with Kate to meet. We were first to arrive and Daniel ordered a bottle of wine while we waited. As the waiter poured us a glass the girls walked in, each carrying two store bags, one massive, one tiny.
"What on earth have you girls been buying?" said Daniel.
"I took Lesley to that leather shop you were talking about," said Kate, "and we bought some leathers to wear on your bikes."
"Both of you?" said Daniel. "Does this mean that you've changed your mind about the bike?"
"Yes it does. Lesley convinced me to give it a go."
"I bet they were expensive."
"Believe me Daniel, you are going to want to see me in these leathers. When I saw myself in them, even I wanted to fuck me." Kate said giggling.
"And the small bags?"
"Just some lingerie," said Kate.
"We'll wear it for you next time we meet," said Lesley.
"There is going to be a next time?" asked Daniel.
"If you want there to be," Lesley replied teasingly.
Daniel had to get back to work after lunch and so we said our goodbyes. Lesley gave him a big hug in the middle of the restaurant and I shook his hand and thanked him for everything.
"It's been a real pleasure. To be honest I don't know the last time that Kate and I had so much fun," Daniel said looking at Kate. "I hope we'll see you again soon."
"You will," said Lesley.
Kate, Lesley and I caught a taxi back to the house. The taxi waited outside while we got our bags. I could see that this goodbye was going to be a bit harder than the one with Daniel.
"Thank you for everything Kate," I said and kissed her. I held her by the waist and she put her arms around my neck as her tongue darted into my mouth seeking mine. When we'd finished I knew the girls would want some time alone and so I went and put the bags in the taxi. I took my time but when I got back to them they were still kissing.
"I'll see you soon..." said Kate to Lesley, "even if it's just to go shopping."
"I'll call you tomorrow night," said Lesley.
Kate hugged Lesley one more time then said, "Bye sis, I love you."
"Bye sis, love you back," Lesley replied.
The journey back to Nottingham was pretty good. The train was more modern and more comfortable than the one we'd caught down. Lesley couldn't stop talking for the first hour then fell asleep exhausted.
It felt strange getting back to Lesley's apartment. After our weekend away it was a bit odd to be alone, just the two of us. But it also felt different now that we were engaged. Somehow, we were more of a couple than we had been before. Lesley sensed it too and after we'd had a cup of tea she said, "Come to bed. I think that we need to talk about a few things." I undressed her and then undressed myself and we made out for a while before Lesley got serious.
"I've never really thanked you properly for this weekend. Being engaged to you means the world to me..." she said.
"I sense there's a 'but' coming along."
"In a way, yes," she said. "I just need you to understand something about what this commitment means to me." She stopped for a moment then said, "You're going to think me silly but when I was a teenager all that I had growing up was this fantasy world I'd created from the books that I read. It was a world where some men are warriors and some women, the lucky ones, were bound to them. When I met David this fantasy became even more real for me. It was like I'd found a whole new world in his books and he was the creator of it. In a way, he became my master and I became his slave. For a while I thought that maybe he could be my warrior but I soon realised that he was already Ruth's."
"That's in the past now," I said.
"It is and it isn't," Lesley replied. "When you came along I hoped that you would choose me and you did. You've asked me to marry you, and I will, but I need you to understand what that means to me first."
"Ok," I said.
"Ok, here goes," she said. "I know it's not a very modern view but basically it means you own me, it means that I become your property. From now on I'm yours. It's my job to care for you, support you and do whatever you tell me to do without question." She stopped for a few seconds waiting for a reaction but when one didn't come she continued. "I'm not sure why you've chosen me. I think it's because you like me being a bit ditsy, you think I'm attractive and you know that I've an appetite for sex, but I can and I will be so much more than that for you. I've chosen you because you're a strong, intelligent, honest, caring man. I know that you'll respect me, look after me and that you'll fulfil my sexual needs. We both know that I need someone like you to bring out the best in me. Just look what's happened to me since we met. I've blossomed." She stopped again then asked, "So, will you be my warrior, knowing now what it means to me?"
"Of course I will," I said.