Georgina took her cup of coffee to the sitting room, and looked at the luggage she had packed earlier. She had never packed this early - normally she would always pack just before she went - not that she was disorganised - rather it was the most effective use of her time. Equally she had packed so many times for teaching trips, lecture tours, weekend conferences that she knew exactly what to do as quickly as possible. But this was different - a weekend away with friends.
Not just friends; perhaps not really friends. Brenda and Tony. How unusual was it for a professor of theoretical philosophy to have a weekend away with her secretary and the secretary's husband? She had never been away with a colleague, let alone a junior member of staff before. If she was honest, she had never been away with anyone for many years. Yes, she travelled teaching, lecturing, but a weekend with friends - it was so long she couldn't remember the last time.
It was the problem of being "professor of theoretical philosophy." She loved lecturing, but it was a rather remote role. So many people found a female professor threatening. And with time fewer and fewer people remembered her as Georgina, and more and more only knew her as Professor MacDonald. It felt like for ever since she had been invited to be the youngest "head of faculty" in the history of the university to be appointed - head of faculty at only 26 - such was her ability at her subject.
Georgina sipped her coffee and reflected more on her life. Here she was now 39, considered one of the world's greatest professors of philosophy. She was respected by her faculty both as a good head and brilliant scholar, but there had been such sacrifices. Only one person called her by her first name now - Harry, who had been lecturing in the department even before she had been made head of faculty, who had never been jealous of her achievements - he knew he was an effective lecturer, but that Georgina was in a different league to him. It had also made an impact on her private life. She had had boyfriends in her early twenties, but who wants to date a "clever woman," let alone a brilliant philosopher? She wasn't frightening, but men were simply frightened of her. It was difficult, but she had immersed herself more and more into her study, but as she studied more so she became more frightening, more alone.
Georgina took some more sips from her coffee, and reflected on the coming weekend with Tony and Brenda. She was surprised to find herself feeling nervous. Brenda frightened her.
It wasn't that Brenda was horrible. Quite the opposite - she was delightful, warm, caring. It wasn't that she was a bad worker. She was a perfectly good PA. In the six months since Brenda had worked for her, she had been friendly, effective, an asset. It wasn't that Brenda was a domineering character. She wasn't - she was warm and caring. She was suitably respectful. Georgina found it difficult to say what frightened her about Brenda.
Georgina finished her coffee, checked her luggage again, then sat to wait. What was it about Brenda? And Tony, whom she had met a number of times when he had picked Brenda up from work, someone she found to be as friendly as Brenda. Somehow, it was that Brenda didn't treat her differently. Brenda treated her as another person, no more important, no less important. Brenda wasn't taken in by the "frightening woman" thing. Wasn't taken in by the image of the power dressing professor who was unreachable. She treated Georgina as a person, not a figure.
Georgina found it frightening, yet at the same time found herself saying things to Brenda she had never said to anyone else for 15 years, things she had never even consciously thought for 10 years. It wasn't that she poured her heart out - she wasn't that sort, it was just stray comments. Once she commented on a visiting lecturer, about how good looking he was. On another occasion she had mentioned a boyfriend from her early twenties, and had said something about how he made her body "zing." Once she had commented sadly about having to make the choice between her career and relationships, admiring those who could do both. Every time it had been a passing comment, but a passing comment she wouldn't have made to anyone else. Somehow it was just Brenda...............
Georgina put her thoughts aside, wondered if she had packed the right books to read for a weekend, went to her study, found another, put it into her suitcase, sat down. She knew it was silly - who can read SIX books on a weekend - it was a nervous thing - her nerves were growing as she sat and waited, and sorting out a book was just a nervous reaction.
He mind went back to her former thoughts. Brenda. She knew she had said things, but the invitation for the weekend at their country hide-away - a log cabin by a lake, in the forest, had been a real surprise, out of the blue. She had seen photos of the cabin and the setting looked wonderful but she had never thought of going there. She tried to remember how the conversation went, as she went over her diary with Brenda on Monday morning. Brenda was reminding her of special events through the week: "..............and Friday you are lecturing at the Philosophical society at lunchtime." Brenda whistled and continued: "Living At the Border of Existentialism and Nihilism - culture in 2007." Brenda had stared at it. "I don't know what the topic means, let alone what it's about!"
Georgina smiled - for a "Professor of Theoretical Philosophy" it was old hat - she wouldn't need to do much preparation for that. Her thoughts, however, were cut short as Brenda continued. "Hey - you've got a free weekend. How unusual is that?"
Georgina suddenly looked sad again, something she would have hidden from anyone else. "Hate empty weekends." She shouldn't have said it - she tried to get her "mask" in place again, but Brenda had heard the sadness in the voice again.
"If you want something to do, come with us to our cabin for the weekend." She paused, just long enough for Georgina to say no, but she didn't, so Brenda continued. "Okay - that's organised. We'll pick you up on Friday about 6pm - couple hours drive, you spend the weekend with us. Now you've got the meeting with the senior lecturers." Georgina had found herself ushered out of the room before she could respond.
The meeting with the senior lecturers had gone very slowly. Part of Georgina had been quite excited at the thought of going away. Part of her was terrified. She hadn't done this before. How should she behave? Should she say no? Georgina decided she would decline, but somehow through the week she had never quite had the chance, or perhaps hadn't tried hard enough to make the chance to say no. Even at four o-clock on the Friday she was going to say no, but Brenda had left early to pack the car - there was no chance.
When the door bell rang the reality hit Georgina. Nerves seemed to strangle her stomach. At the door was Brenda.
Brenda was dressed in Jeans and t-shirt. Rather more "bouncy" than she was at work. "Come on honey - let's get that case in the car, then we can be on our way. Tony filled up with gas earlier - we won't be held up." Brenda took the case that Georgina was about to pick up. Georgina, instead, locked the house. In seconds they were taking to the road, hurrying out of the town. Georgina's nerves were still strong, but there was no turning back.
In fact Georgina enjoyed the journey. They chatted about the scenery, about what they might do at the lodge, about what food they had. They stopped on the way to eat - by 9.00pm they were closing the door of the lodge, their luggage safely inside. It was dark when they arrived - what Georgina had seen in the headlights promised that the place was far more beautiful than she had hoped. All agreed coffee was needed before they sorted out the lodge, and where everything should go, although Georgina was glad of the bathroom.
It was in the bathroom she had her first inkling that something was different, something made her feel unsure. It wasn't anything horrible. It wasn't just the lack of locks. The thing which struck her - and it took her a few moments to realise what it was, was the stylish glass vibrator on a shelf in the corner of the room - put there as if it was simply an ornament. Then on the shelf above she noticed the small glass ornament - but no ordinary ornament - it was of a strong muscular naked man, and a woman - small but beautiful - hanging from his neck, equally naked, impaled on the man's huge organ, her legs wrapped around him, her face a mask of bliss. Part of Georgina smiled at the sheer brazenness of the ornament. Part of Georgina was confused - she had never seen anything as explicit as that ornament. Part of Georgina was.............. She couldn't put it into words - later she thought perhaps tingling was the right word.
Seconds later the three were sat drinking coffee, eating chocolate cake. They chatted for an hour, before Georgina thought to ask the obvious question. "Can you show me where I'm sleeping, so I can sort myself out?"
