The Carrot and the Stick (11 page)

Beth turned to Celeste, urging her with her eyes to wipe the doubtful look off her face. ‘Mr Kearns can be very firm. Fair but firm. You would have to behave yourself.'

Celeste spoke, as if replying to Beth but looking at Kearns. ‘Sometimes,' she said hesitantly, ‘I do seem to get into trouble when I shouldn't.'

Kearns was silent for a moment, apparently lost in thought. ‘What exactly are you proposing?' He looked at them both in turn. ‘And I am not certain who that question should be addressed to,' he added with a slight smile.

‘A three month contract,' Celeste said frankly.

‘For a start,' Beth quickly intervened.

‘As a personal assistant,' Celeste proposed.

‘And public relations adviser,' Beth added.

‘Weekends off, but no holidays.'

‘I should hope not,' Kearns said. Again he appeared to be thinking. ‘Mrs Woods is my general factotum and has been for years. We must not put her nose out of joint.'

Both girls nodded their agreement, and Kearns looked at Celeste. ‘On occasion you might have to work late,' he pointed out. ‘And I travel a lot. There are times when I might want you with me, to deal with the press and clients and so on. Do you speak any languages?'

Celeste stole a sideways glance at Beth. ‘I'm not bad at oral French,' she said, and Beth put a hand over her mouth to suppress a gasp. ‘But I am not very good at writing it.'

Kearns picked up a pen and twiddled with it. ‘We seem to be working towards a conclusion,' he said. ‘Now there's the question of where I would put you.'

Beth spoke up. ‘I was thinking of Mrs Woods' office outside. She could...' Her voice tailed off as Kearns shook his head.

‘That wouldn't do at all,' he said. He stood up and walked to the wall at one side of his desk. He raised a hand and beckoned to them to join him. As they watched, he pressed a button and the wooden panelling slid noiselessly to one side, revealing a short, narrow staircase leading downwards only.

‘Welcome to my inner sanctum,' he said. ‘Not even Mrs Woods knows when I leave the office and retreat down here.'

‘Um, that looks like my cue to leave you two alone,' Beth said.

‘No, I'd like you to stay,' Kearns said.

‘Yes, please don't go,' Celeste added.

Kearns led the way down the short flight of carpeted steps. ‘It's a dungeon,' Celeste gasped, and made a gesture towards the main office door, silently suggesting to Beth that they beat a hasty retreat. But Beth took her firmly by the hand and pulled her after Kearns.

‘This is where I stay when I'm in town,' he was saying conversationally. ‘My family are in Oxfordshire and I can't always get home.' He opened a door and guided the girls into a small apartment, comfortable rather than luxurious. ‘We're one floor down,' he said. ‘Marketing and public relations are just through there.' He waved a hand airily in a vague direction.

He led the two girls into a hallway. ‘And between them and me,' he said, opening another door, ‘I just happen to have a spare office. Bare at the moment, but nice and handy.'

Celeste looked slightly glum at the lack of furniture.

‘It could be lovely,' said Beth.

He took the girls back into his sitting room. ‘Take a seat,' he said, and then looked at Beth, nodding towards a cabinet. ‘Help yourself to a drink. Now we are alone and not in danger of being overheard, I think I should find out more about this young lady I am considering taking on.'

‘Perhaps now I should go,' Beth said.

Celeste looked at her pleadingly, and Kearns said, ‘No, stay - I insist.'

‘Er, I'd like to know more about the contract, if I may,' Celeste piped up, and Beth glanced at her admiringly.

Kearns replied by picking up a telephone, apparently a direct line to Mrs Woods. ‘I'm downstairs, Mary. I may be a little while. Draw up an employment contract for a Miss Celeste Englund. I'll give you the address later. Three months. Public relations adviser.' When he mentioned the fee, Celeste's eyes widened.

‘That'll pay the rent,' Beth said quietly.

Kearns was still talking quite loudly, obviously wanting the girls to listen. ‘Put in the standard get out clause, one week's trial. Either side can terminate.' He listened for a moment and then said in a normal tone, ‘No, I haven't yet told Jim. But I will.' He listened again. ‘No. No. I won't, I promise.' He laughed. ‘Behave yourself. You remember too many things too well.'

He replaced the receiver with a smile on his lips. ‘That should answer your questions,' he said to Celeste. ‘Now, how about answering mine?'

‘What would you like to know?' Celeste asked.

‘The matter of ill discipline,' he said, taking a seat. ‘What am I supposed to do when you let me down or misbehave?'

‘But I won't,' Celeste insisted.

Kearns looked at Beth, and she spoke without looking at Celeste. ‘I find a good spanking helps,' she said.

‘I can see she could be the difficult type,' said Kearns. ‘But a good spanking helps, you say? You'd know, of course, as I remember only too well...'

‘I'd rather not talk about that, thank you,' Beth interrupted him. ‘But yes, a similar scenario to that. I find it works wonders with her.'

‘Would you not talk about me when I'm right here,' Celeste protested.

Kearns ignored her. ‘Has she been spanked recently, Beth?'

‘Just the other day,' she confirmed. ‘She asked for and received a real thrashing.'

‘And this thrashing, Beth,' Kearns went on, ‘was it on her bare bottom?'

‘Oh yes, T.J. It would not have been half as effective if it were not.'

‘Why don't you ask me?' Celeste complained. ‘I can speak, you know.'

Kearns looked at her calmly. ‘Was it on your bare bottom, my dear?'

‘It might have been,' Celeste said sulkily, shrugging her shoulders.

‘And was it effective?'

Celeste shrugged again. ‘How would I know?'

Kearns looked at Beth. ‘If it was effective, the effect didn't last long, it seems. I think perhaps we - you - should try again. Now.'

‘Me?' asked Beth.

‘Yes, you,' said Kearns. ‘You brought her here, you introduced her to me, you told me she can do the job. You are responsible.'

‘But T.J., I thought you would do it, if anyone,' Beth said. ‘I don't want to spank her here, in front of you.'

Kearns' voice was grave. ‘Don't make me remind you, Beth, that we have only just signed a contract with your firm. I could break it very easily now, before it comes into force, with only a very small default payment.'

‘Oh, isn't this fun,' Celeste said sarcastically. ‘The two of you discussing in front of me which of you is going to do the spanking. This is
me
you are talking about.'

‘Shut up,' Beth snapped.

‘You were right,' Kearns said, ‘she can be very difficult. I suggest you show me the remedy now or we can call the whole thing off.'

‘Stand up,' Beth almost barked at Celeste. She was surprised how angry she felt. She was angry with Kearns, but angrier still with Celeste. She was not going to let the girl ruin everything with her disrespectful ways.

‘No, I won't,' Celeste refused adamantly, gripping the arms of the chair.

Beth looked at Kearns; he gave her no clues, but turned to Celeste, speaking calmly and quietly. ‘Young lady, before I buy an expensive present I am accustomed to having a good look at what I am getting for my money. If I am paying a small fortune for your services, I expect at least the same privilege.'

Beth stood alongside Celeste's chair. ‘Take off your skirt and knickers,' she ordered.

For a brief moment that felt like an eternity no one moved, and then Celeste stood up and turned her back on Kearns. ‘You'll pay for this,' she murmured to Beth, reaching for her skirt.

‘Everything off, I think,' said Kearns, putting his feet up on the coffee table.

‘Do as you're told,' Beth said to Celeste. ‘Take everything off.'

As Celeste began to undress, Beth felt her anger fade. Celeste had been awkward but that was understandable. Kearns had been just as she had expected but even more generous than she anticipated. She did not have to get undressed, at least not at the moment. It was just the two of them and a semi-naked Celeste. She was beginning to enjoy herself.

It was like being an announcer at a fashion show. She should give a running commentary on each new act. She might be ashamed of herself later on, and undoubtedly Celeste would be furious with her and seek revenge, but this was fun. She could become quite good at it, she thought. And anyway, Celeste could not really complain; she had asked her to stay.

‘You'll see how lovely she is,' she said to the watching man. ‘Lovely and wilful.'

Celeste had already taken off her scarf and pulled the jumper over her head. Now she was unhooking her bra, and as she threw it to one side, her breasts quivered invitingly.

‘Aren't they lovely?' Beth said, cupping the nearest breast in one hand. ‘So soft and so, so sensitive.' She pinched the nipple between her thumb and forefinger, and Celeste squealed.

‘Take off the rest,' Beth instructed, and Celeste sullenly kicked off her shoes and unhooked her skirt, which fell to the floor.

‘And the best is yet to come,' Beth said, addressing Kearns again.

Slowly, facing him, Celeste pushed her panties down her thighs, past her knees and kicked them to one side.

‘Look T.J.,' Beth said. ‘An unobstructed view. No pubic hair. Isn't she sensational?' She spoke to Celeste. ‘Open your legs. No false modesty. Let T.J. see you clearly.' With flashing eyes Celeste obeyed. Kearns said nothing, but stared directly at the naked beauty standing before him.

‘So lovely,' Beth said. ‘And so inviting.' She ran her forefinger up over the exposed lips. She licked her finger and then replaced it, holding the soft labia open. ‘Good enough to eat.

‘And now, the
piece de resistance
,' she went on, and turned Celeste around. ‘Just look at that,' she said, but found her words were unnecessary. Kearns was already staring at Celeste's bottom. ‘Isn't it absolutely flawless?' Beth said. ‘Made for love and punishment.'

She cupped one buttock in her hand, feeling its weight. ‘Excellent skin tone, fine tensile strength and,' she said, ‘superb musculature control. If you could bottle it you would make a fortune! T.J., you're a very lucky man.'

She placed her hand against the small of Celeste's back, making her bend forward. ‘A beautiful bottom, but a naughty one,' she went on. ‘Touch your toes.'

When Celeste was bent double and the skin of her bottom was as taut as a drum, Beth spanked it once, hard across both cheeks. Her small hand left a red mark on either side of the cleft.

‘A bottom to be spanked - hard and often,' she said, and again she struck, this time on only one cheek.

‘A bottom to be paddled.' She spanked her again on the other cheek.

‘A bottom to be slippered.' She spank her again.

‘A bottom to be caned.' Yet another.

‘A bottom to be whipped.' And yet another.

She then stroked Celeste, fondling both buttocks and rubbing away the hurt. ‘Personally,' she said, ‘I prefer the hand. I like to feel my palm against her pliable flesh.'

She looked at Kearns. ‘She has been caned, you know. Not so very long ago.'

She smacked Celeste again. ‘You were caned, weren't you?'

‘Yes,' Celeste croaked.

‘How many strokes?'

‘Six.'

‘And what did he do when he finished caning you?'

‘He - he screwed me.'

‘Where?'

Celeste said nothing.

‘Where did he screw you?' Beth persisted, spanking her again.

‘I-in my bottom,' Celeste whispered.

‘Say it again; I don't think T.J. could hear you.'

‘In my bottom,' she said louder. ‘He screwed me in my bottom.'

Beth spanked her again. ‘Open your legs wider.' Celeste moved her feet. ‘Now hold open your cheeks.'

Celeste raised her hands and pulled her buttocks apart.

‘You see, T.J?' Beth gloated triumphantly. ‘He screwed her in this delectable little opening.' She placed her index finger on the vulnerable little anus. ‘You wouldn't believe it, would you? You wouldn't believe something so small and beautiful could accommodate an erect penis. Of course, yours is exceptional, if I may say so. I am not so certain yours could be accommodated here.'

Kearns' hands moved to his trousers, and she watched him unzip them and his fingers disappear inside.