TWO
In spite of her girlhood crush on him, Elaine never even came close to having sex with Martin again. That night in the pub certainly put paid to any immature ideas she may have had of a romantic affair with him. In fact, over future years Martin would hardly be able to look her in the face when saying hello. Often, he wouldn't even look her way.
Mike however was a different matter. Elaine in her naivetΓ©, expected him to release her from her job, and with that thought in mind, wasn't going to bother turning up for work the following weekend. It was only because of a chance meeting with him in the village shop during the week, when he told her he most definitely did want her back to work, that she decided to return. What he didn't tell her, was the fact that the scope of her tasks was to change dramatically, whether she liked it or not.
Nothing untoward happened for about three weeks and she worked quite normally in the restaurant and more frequently the bar. In fact, she had almost forgotten the pool table episode, when suddenly one night when they were alone in the bar briefly, Mike told Elaine to go upstairs into his flat above the pub, and wait for him in the lounge. He said he wanted to talk to her, but that he would be up in about two minutes. As soon as she nodded her understanding, he walked away from her, leaving her next to no chance of asking what she was going upstairs for.
She did as he asked however, and as she climbed the narrow stairs to his flat she began to feel a knot in her stomach. Realisation of what he might be about to ask her to do was washing over her. Pictures of his possible intent began to form in her mind, but as she was about to find out, it was going to be much worse than she could have imagined.
She reached the decision point to turn and make her way back down the stairs as she entered the lounge. As she turned to leave she noticed a large envelope placed prominently on the coffee table. Something about it caught her eye and she turned into the room for a closer look.
The large beige envelope was addressed to her mother in Mike's handwriting. Guessing (quite rightly as it turned out) that whatever was in the envelope was the subject he wanted to speak about, she picked it up. It wasn't sealed, so presuming she was going to see the contents anyway, she opened it and looked at the photograph that was inside.
Suddenly nauseous, she felt the blood drain from her face as her stomach turned upside down within itself. She dropped the photograph and the envelope onto the coffee table and fell, rather than sat into the settee behind her. Glaring at her from the table was a colour photo of two people having sex over a pool table. The photograph had missed the manβs face completely, and it could have been anybody. Although the girls face wasn't entirely shown, there could be no doubt as to who it was. The mother of the girl would know instantly, and it was equally obvious to anyone who knew the pub, where it had been taken.
She sat staring at the photo. Her mind was in turmoil. What if her mother saw it? How many copies were there? How was it taken without her knowing? Had it all been planned from the outset?
So many questions on her mind, so many different things could happen if news of this got out. She was so dazed, so completely shocked at the image, that she hadn't heard Mike come up the stairs. He saw instantly from the doorway, that he had achieved the desired affect and announced his presence.
"Good photo isn't it?β
Elaine shook with surprise at his sudden presence. She stared at him.
"I like the way that even though your face isn't showing, it's just so obviously you. Nobody could possibly mistake it could they?" Mike continued.
She stared at him in disbelief, how could he be so cruel? What had she ever done to deserve this from him? Tears began to well up in her eyes. She sniffed heavily and wiped her eyes, trying not to break into uncontrollable tears, but it was too late. Before she knew it, she was sobbing into her hands. Mike left her to cry, and returned some minutes later once she had regained her composure a little. He had with him a filled glass which he placed on the coffee table before her.
"Here, it's a Vodka & Lemonade,β he told her softly, βto soothe your nerves."
She stared at him through her tear-swelled eyes. She hated him. She watched him as he went to a drawer in a desk on the other side of the room, delved into it momentarily then returned and sat in the identical settee opposite her. In his hand was a wad of ten pound notes. He counted out two piles of fifty onto the table then put the rest into his hip pocket and sat back down.
"Have some of your drink Elaine,β he said, βwe have much to talk about."
She knew Mike well enough to tell by the look on his face that he was quite serious. A feeling of great apprehension arose in her. She could tell that whatever was on Mike's mind was not going to be a great deal of fun for her. She glanced again at the photo on the table, then at the money and then at Mike. She felt like she was going to die. She didn't touch the drink; she didn't have the stomach for it.
"Iβm assuming," Mike began anyway, "that you fully understand the meaning of that photograph, Elaine."
He paused for effect, not that he needed to.
"It would simply be too easy for that envelope, or another like it, to slip silently through your letter box early one morning, and believe me, Elaine, there are others." He paused again, then added, "Tell me you understand."
She looked at him and nodded. She couldn't speak. The feeling of sickness and revulsion were thick in her stomach. Mike seemed to sense this and removed the photo and envelope. He placed them in the original drawer and returned to his seat. He began to tell her what this was all about. He spoke quite deliberately so as not to be misunderstood.
"I have a special job for you, one which requires you to look your very best. One pile of money, fifty pounds, is for you to go into town, and buy yourself some new underwear. Make it really sexy, but not necessarily too racy. The choice is yours, spend as much or as little of the fifty as you like, the rest is yours. Oh and get yourself some matching shoes too, I do like the look of a girl in underwear and shoes. Are you with me so far?"
She nodded, guessing full well that the worst must be yet to come. He continued.
"Next Saturday night, two - let's call them potential partners - are coming to have a look at the place, the pub I mean. Now, it's very possible that I might be able to persuade them to put quite a lot of money into this place and really get things going here, so it's very important that we make the right impression on them, O.K.?"
Mike looked at Elaine to see that she was following him, she nodded her understanding. She felt she could guess her part in the nightβs entertainment.