Inner Circle by Charles Arnold

devoted to you and grateful to be allowed to serve your niece in any way I can.”
    “Yes, that’s better,” he said. “I suggest you spend most of the day imagining how you are going to demonstrate your affection for me. You might also consider ways by which you are going to show that you now subservient to Sheila. I want them to see that she has captivated and conquered you just as she once captivated and conquered your husband. Obey her tonight. Defer always to her.” He chuckled, “You are to run and fetch for her, yes, Mrs. Ryan, you are to run and fetch for Sheila.” He paused again.
    Kathy recalled the skinny arrogant girl with the wide mouth and loud screeching voice. She remembered the doctored photographs and letters Ruben had shown her and the lies she’d been forced to tell Billy and Ann about how Jeff had seduced the teenage bitch. She hated Sheila as much as she hated Ruben. Tonight, before her friends, she would be required to ‘run and fetch’ for the demanding slut. Ruben was speaking again, “Adoration, Mrs. Ryan, unless I see that your friends are aware of your adoration for both me and Sheila, you will spend tomorrow over the rat cage. Do I make myself clear?”
    His mention of the cage sent a shiver of fear through her. “Yes, I understand. I promise to do my best to follow your directions. But, you said I’m to pretend to be physically attracted to Sheila. Does that mean…”
    He cut her off. “It means exactly what you think it means. Your sexual desire for me extends to my niece. And I suggest you put the idea of pretending out of your mind. Your adoration must be real. Unless it appears so, there will be severe consequences not only for you but for your sister-in-law. Don’t forget that.” He hung up.
    Jane gave her the orders Simon had listed. She was to eat a light lunch, get a massage, have her hair and nails done, come back, sleep for several hours, shower, rub her body with perfumed oil, take Jane’s direction in making up her face, put on the clothes and shoes Jane had brought, and be ready to go to the country club by seven o’clock. Simon and Sheila would pick her up in their limousine.
    An hour later Kathy lay on the massage table at “Women’s Wellness.” Kathy had forgotten about the pink welts that crisscrossed her ass cheeks from last night’s whipping. The woman giving her the massage gasped when she saw them. Kathy felt herself turn scarlet with embarrassment.
    At the beauty parlor, Marie, the young woman styling her hair was a long time acquaintance. Kathy noticed immediately that instead of greeting her with laughter and a hug, Marie looked troubled. She was silent for awhile but finally, just as she was finished styling Kathy’s hair, she leaned close and asked, “Is it really true what some people are saying?”
    Again Kathy felt herself blushing furiously. “What are they saying, Marie?”
    “Your friend, Ann, was in last evening. She said that you are seeing that fat pig Simon Ruben. She said your husband, God rest his soul, was having an affair with Ruben’s ugly niece when she was only seventeen.” Kathy couldn’t answer. After a few minutes Marie continued, “Your friend has been coming here as long as you have. She doesn’t seem like the type to spread rumors or lie.”
    Kathy knew what she had to say. “It’s true. What Ann told you is true. I’m sorry, Marie.” In the mirror she saw Marie look at the other beauticians and nod her head. The shop became quiet. No one spoke to her. She paid and left. She went to a place where she wasn’t known to have a pedicure and her fingernails done. Part of her instructions from Jane was that the color should be a very dark, almost purple, red.
    Driving home, she felt a compulsion to take the service road to the Turnpike and keep driving west. In a few days, she’d be in San Francisco. But she was certain Mr. Satomi would have her traced and tracked down. He’d done it easily enough once before. There