Page 81 of Corruption
Turning to Jared in search of some stability, I found him still locked in a silent exchange of glances with Astrid. Neither of them uttered a word. Jared occasionally sipped his drink, evidently relying on alcohol to navigate the evening, while Astrid ate her meal deliberately with precise movements. A smug smile began to creep onto her lips, and I noticed how she seemed to be challenging Jared with her unwavering gaze. I wasn’t sure what the challenge entailed, but then I saw her reach for her napkin in her lap. She wiped her lips before lowering her hands, yet one did not return to the table. The man beside her seemed to shift slightly, and I couldn’t help but sneak a glance at him, witnessing his futile attempts to engage in normal conversation with someone else. However, his eyes betrayed him. Was she touching him beneath the table? Astrid continued to lock eyes with Jared, and I grasped the essence of her challenge. Was the man beside her... Astrid’s slave? Or simply a target for the night? Given the liberties she was taking, I could only assume that they knew each other. But to what extent?
I turned my attention back to Jared, who was now raising even more questions within me. But then I felt his hand on my thigh, and the slit in my dress made it remarkably easy for him to ascend. I swiftly moved, intercepting his hand with mine before leaning toward him.
“Please, Master,” I implored, not wishing to be put on display like this or used in some cruel game between the two.
However, Jared paid no heed to my plea. I was his to use as he saw fit, and his hand slipped free from mine, creeping higher. Summoning all my willpower, I forced myself to remain still, but just as his fingers were about to make contact with my pussy, he abruptly halted. I was astonished that he wasn’t intending to bring me to the brink of orgasm right at the dining table. However, instead of continuing, one of his fingers trailed teasingly along my skin, eliciting a little wetness, but not enough to provoke a reaction as evident as the man seated beside Astrid.
Jared lifted the hand that was connected to me and licked his finger, all while maintaining unbroken eye contact with Astrid. She ceased her attentions to her companion, instead holding up her hand and wiggling her fingers provocatively. What kind of sick game had I been thrust into? I wanted to scream at Jared if only I could, but considering our surroundings, I knew that drawing attention to myself was an exceedingly bad idea. These people surrounding me, I wasn’t entirely sure who they were, but a few faces appeared vaguely familiar, as if I had glimpsed them on television or online. Nevertheless, I was unaware of how deeply enmeshed they were in the criminal underworld. Given this gathering, I suspected their involvement was substantial. Therefore, it was wiser to avoid drawing attention to myself. My questions would have to wait until I no longer had a metaphorical dagger hanging over my head.
I attempted to distract myself from the fear that coursed through me by eating some of the food, but my apprehension ran too deep to savor anything. I knew the dishes must have been exquisite, but my taste buds remained numbed. I reached for the glass of alcohol before me, but Jared firmly grasped my hand, preventing me from taking a sip.
“What?” I whispered.
“You’re not getting intoxicated. By anything.”
“Why did you emphasize ‘by anything’ like that?” I whispered, anxiety creeping in. “What else could intoxicate me?”
Jared didn’t respond, merely placing my wine glass aside before taking a sip of his own drink. A desire surged within me to reach out and take the expensive scotch from his grasp, but I knew I wouldn’t wrest it away from his firm grip. So, I sank back into my seat, already disliking this evening intensely. Jared seemed to mirror my sentiments. After the first game with Astrid, he grew silent, retreating into his own thoughts. The only action he engaged in was sipping his drink. The courses changed, and we progressed from one dish to another. I tasted a little of the food, yet even the delectable steak failed to register on my taste buds.
However, as minutes turned into hours, I began to feel a modicum of ease creeping in. So when dessert arrived, I was able to savor the delightful chocolate cake and ice cream. Yet I had barely taken two bites when Jared leaned in close, his warm breath caressing my neck, and the scent of alcohol wafting to my nose.
“Feed me,” he ordered in a husky whisper.
I tilted my head slightly, noticing he appeared slightly tipsy. I glanced around and realized that Astrid was watching us once more. It dawned on me that he was still playing their game. I sighed but complied with his command, feeding him some chocolate cake. His eyes briefly met Astrid’s as he wrapped his lips around the small fork. Then he leaned closer to me, kissed my neck, and nibbled it. I attempted to resist the warm sensation it stirred within me, but Jared didn’t linger for long. He pulled back, ready for more. I managed to feed him at least half the cake, allowing some of the alcohol to be soaked up before he kissed me, letting the taste of cake swirl between us. The kiss was brief but laden with promises of more. He pulled back, finishing what remained in his drink before permitting me to finish my plate.
As the dinner progressed, and the final plates were cleared, I believed the night was drawing to a close. However, I noticed the household staff placing something in the center of the table. They were small iron bowls resembling eggs, and when the lids were lifted, I glimpsed an abundance of pills. Someone reached into the bowl in front of me, and I looked up to see Astrid taking one. She placed the pill on her tongue, smiled at me, and then leaned toward the man beside her. She pulled him closer using his tie, kissed him, and I noticed the pill passing from one mouth to the next. When Astrid leaned back, I could see the challenge in her eyes as she focused on Jared. Yet when I turned to him, he simply watched Astrid with a bored expression. She shrugged and redirected her attention to the conversation beside her. I understood her challenge but remained uncertain why Jared refused to accept it. He would gladly tease me, but for some reason, he wouldn’t allow me to be drugged. Was this a line he wouldn’t cross, or was it the location that he deemed unsafe for it? The questions weighed heavily on my tongue, eager to burst forth, but alas, I knew they would remain unanswered for now.
My attention shifted to the man at the end of the table as he stood up, capturing the focus of the entire gathering. A smile played on his lips as he extended his hands to us.
“Now, to celebrate this wonderful engagement between my cherished daughter and... Jared.” We all knew the pause was deliberate, but as I surveyed the intrigued faces around me, I wondered if they anticipated something. “We, of course, have arranged entertainment. We never conclude our evenings without leaving everyone feeling satisfied.”
I was surprised to hear light laughter from the people around the table. Evidently, they had experienced dinners like this before and knew what to expect. I, on the other hand, was the outsider among them, uncertain about the direction this night would take. I noticed people slowly rising, starting to exit the room. I remained seated, unable to move as long as Jared did. Vince slapped Jared’s shoulder as he walked by, conveying a message between them that I couldn’t decipher. I continued watching Jared, who took his time nursing his drink. Only when the last guest had departed did he finally rise.
“Let’s go.”
“Where are we going?” I inquired, but he offered no response.
Chapter 38
-Alison-
Jared hauled me upright, his arm still securely around me. As we prepared to depart the room, the servants once again lined the walls, many of them now clutching empty trays. However, as we approached some of the final servants, I noticed masks resting upon the trays. Jared reached for one, gently fitting a delicate black mask over my eyes before securing a larger one over his own face. They only partially concealed our features, leaving me curious about their purpose.
Jared encircled his arm around me once more, guiding me forward. We traversed down a corridor, reaching a narrow staircase that descended into the depths of the building. My instincts screamed at me not to go down there, but I had no choice. Jared propelled me onward. With not enough space for both of us to walk side by side, I had to lead the way. We arrived at the lower level, where soft music played, and the air was heavy with a sweet, almost intoxicating fragrance, making me feel slightly lightheaded.
Jared took the lead, tugging me along by the chain. The music melded with the sounds of moans as we walked down a dimly lit hallway illuminated by dark red lights. Doors to various rooms stood wide open, revealing naked dancers, people fucking, and people partaking in various substances. I even glimpsed a blindfolded girl chained to a wall with a group of men standing before her. At first, I couldn’t discern what was happening, but just before Jared pulled me away, I saw a knife hurtling toward the woman, narrowly missing her head and embedding itself in the wooden wall beside her. I gasped, a frigid wave of fear coursing through me as I realized I had been thrust into not merely a different world but one steeped in darkness ready to consume anything sweet.
I hastened my pace to catch up with Jared, ensuring I remained close to him. The chain, however, became an unexpected lifeline. I was relieved I couldn’t escape his grasp now, as this was an experience like none other. When Astrid’s father claimed that he ensured every need was met, he had not been exaggerating. Still, I wondered what needs Jared had that weren’t already being fulfilled. Wasn’t I doing everything required?
I soon received my answer as Jared swung open a door, and we entered what resembled a lounge area. There was even a small bar at one end, surrounded by tables and couches. Naked dancers performed in front of couples and singles, some offering more than just dancing as they fucked right in the open. The thick and bewildering scent had somewhat dissipated in this area, allowing me to breathe more freely. However, I quickly noticed that we were under scrutiny from various angles. I scanned the room, observing Astrid seated with some men who resembled her, watching us, while a woman gave one of those men a lap dance. When I turned my gaze in the opposite direction, Astrid’s father and Vince were seated among some older men, all of them watching us as well. It felt as though we had unwittingly become the entertainment, overshadowing the almost-naked women offering their services. I sighed in relief when Jared pulled me closer, wrapping an arm around my waist to keep me close.
He halted by the bar at the far end of the room, ordering a drink for himself before leading us to a booth in the corner. However, the booths were quite exposed, offering no shelter from the numerous prying eyes or the spectacle of naked women everywhere. I turned to Jared, noticing that he was observing a new dancer taking center stage, slowly disrobing, and I couldn’t help but roll my eyes. Jared must have caught my subtle disapproval, as he turned to me. The music played loudly, forcing him to lean in closer, his mouth near my ear.
“Are you enjoying the night?” he asked.
“I think we both know I’m not,” I replied with a hint of a snarl. “Why bring me here? Just to taunt your future wife?”
“We don’t see eye to eye on certain matters,” he explained.
