The Girlflesh Institute (Nexus) (28 page)

As Vanessa exercised, washed and breakfasted she kept expecting the voice of Monitor to chide her for being slow or careless. She had flushed out and greased her anus before the fact that it was now unnecessary occurred to her, so strong had the routine become. Her own underwear felt incredibly light and flimsy. There was no cable hugging her spine, no controlling choker round her neck, no micro cameras in her earrings. She felt light-headed. This was freedom. What had she been doing acting like a slave?

She phoned Enwright and told him she had a day off work from Shillers, so she was able to give a full report of her activities. Enwright said she should come straight in and that he was sure Sir Harvey would like to hear what she had to say as well.

The thought of deceiving the man who had entrusted her with such an important assignment convinced her. It would not be easy but she had to do what was right. She would say she was close to uncovering
some
dark secret but needed a little more time. She would use that as a lever to force Shiller to give up the girlflesh trade.

Vanessa literally felt empty driving to the
Globe
offices, perversely missing the pressure of the seat pushing her twin control phalluses a little further up inside her. For the first time in a month she was absolutely alone and isolated, with no invisible monitor to watch over her.

She suffered a brief attack of doubt. What else would Kashika do? For better or worse she was a natural slave, like the other Cherry girls. Perhaps she could take care of her, even be her mistress? The thought of Kashika as her personal slave sent a thrill through her. But how was that better than slavery on a commercial scale? Slavery was slavery. Because it was consensual, of course, and it would make Kashika happy. But all the Shiller slaves had consented and were happy. No. She had to stick to her decision.

The conference room appeared just as it had done all those weeks before when Sir Harvey had given her the task of uncovering Shillers’ secret. Once again Sir Harvey’s face loomed large in the conference screen, puffing at his cigar, while Enwright looked at Vanessa expectantly.

Vanessa took a deep breath. ‘Over the past month I’ve explored most of the Shiller building, talked to as many other members of staff as possible and checked all the files I could get access to. It’s hard to tell for sure, with normal company security and the legitimate confidential work they do, but I think they may be hiding something …’

‘You only think they’re hiding something?’ Sir Harvey cut in with a scowl. ‘Aren’t you sure?’

‘No, Sir Harvey. Perhaps with a little more time …’

‘Yes or no, damn it?’ Sir Harvey demanded, jabbing at her with his cigar. ‘You should be able to tell by now, girl, with something as big as this!’

Vanessa began to wonder just how much Sir Harvey actually knew about Shillers’ secret. Could he possibly suspect the whole incredible truth? But if so, why not go to the police? And why keep her investigation secret even from other
Globe
staff?

‘As big as what, Sir Harvey?’ she asked innocently. ‘Can you give me some clue as to what I’m looking for?’

‘If you were any good, you’d have found it by now!’ he snapped impatiently. ‘I was told you had the right stuff in you. It seems I was misinformed.’

Enwright said: ‘I’m sure Vanessa’s done her best, Sir Harvey.’

‘I didn’t ask for your opinion, Enwright!’ Sir Harvey barked.

As she saw Enwright shrink back in his chair under the baleful gaze from the screen, Vanessa suddenly realised she did not like Harvey Rochester. She had admired his self-made success, but now she saw underneath that famously gruff, no-nonsense exterior there lurked a thug and a bully.

‘I’m sorry to have disappointed you, Sir Harvey,’ Vanessa said coldly. ‘Perhaps you’d better get somebody else to investigate Shillers. Maybe you’ll give them more to work with than you gave me.’ She made to rise.

‘Sit down, Buckingham!’ Sir Harvey bellowed. ‘I’ll say when you can leave.’

‘You don’t own me, Sir Harvey.’ Vanessa said.

‘You do what I tell you, girl or you’ll never work in this city again!’

Enwright had his head bowed, but Vanessa looked at Rochester’s glowering, livid features unflinchingly. She had survived a month that would have broken ten men like him and she knew it. How long would he have lasted as a sex toy in chains? Now she understood that when she had begged for a beating for the love of another it meant she was not weak but strong. She could do anything she wanted.

With all the contempt she could muster she said simply: ‘Screw you and this job.’

Before the conference-room door closed behind her, she heard Rochester shouting: ‘You’re fired! Enwright, throw that bitch out, do you hear me?’

This mood of defiant elation lasted until Vanessa got back to her flat with her cardboard carton of personal effects from her desk at the
Globe
.

The camera mirrors had been removed from the walls. The hose and douche gun no longer hung in her shower. Her control bra and thong, her house collar and charger were gone from her bedroom. Her bed was just a bed again, with only a few innocent screw holes where cuffs and anal locks had once been mounted. Swiftly and efficiently, Shiller had withdrawn from her life. Only her Press fedora was left to show for all she had been through.

She sat on the side of her bed turning the hat round in her hands and feeling horribly alone. There was no one to look out for her, no one to care. No, that was not quite true. There was always Kashika, and many others behind her who, in their strange way, did care about her. She had made one choice, now she could make another. If she was strong enough …

By the time she had parked her car in level B2 Sandra was waiting in front of the lift, bare and unashamed
amid
the concrete pillars. She was holding up Vanessa’s slave chains in one hand and had a questioning look on her face. Vanessa nodded, smiling foolishly. Sandra beamed, came forwards and kissed her passionately.

‘Welcome home,’ she said.

Vanessa stripped off her clothes as the lift ascended and let Sandra snap the cuffs about her wrists and the silver collar about her neck. She hadn’t realised how comforting their weight and solidity was until now. It meant she belonged.

‘What did you tell the Director about me that first day?’ she asked.

‘That you were a natural submissive and quite a pain slut,’ Sandra said with a grin, ‘but that you’d need a kick up the behind to dump your inhibitions and accept it.’

‘I’m frightened,’ Vanessa admitted.

‘Of course you are. We all are at first. But don’t worry, you’re not alone …’

Vanessa sat back on her heels on the green-leather top of the Director’s desk, her thighs wide, hiding nothing from Shiller’s penetrating gaze. She felt a stirring in her loins under the scrutiny of those bright-blue eyes. For the first time she appreciated the difference between the Director’s personality and that of Sir Harvey. Shiller carried the same aura of power, but had none of his barely subdued cruelty and anger. She cherished what she controlled instead of abusing it.

‘So, you’ve made your decision, Vanessa,’ Shiller said.

‘It didn’t quite come out as I planned, Director,’ Vanessa admitted, finding it delightfully easy to speak the simple truth. ‘I was going to say I was close to uncovering something here but would need more
time
, and use that threat to make you give up your girlflesh business.’

‘And what happened?’

‘Sir Harvey got angry before I could finish, Director. Then I knew I didn’t trust or like him. I told him … to screw himself.’

Shiller smiled. ‘Rochester always was his own worst enemy. Apart from myself, perhaps.’

‘You know him, Director?’

‘You might say we’re business rivals in the girlflesh trade.’

Vanessa blinked. ‘I … beg your pardon, Director?’

‘Harvey Rochester runs his own, less principled, girl-slave business. We’ve been competitors for years, and I’m afraid you got caught up in our rivalry. I doubt if he would ever have published any incriminating evidence you uncovered. He was using you to gain enough evidence to blackmail me into handing him this business. It would be financially far more rewarding than simply destroying me in some sensational newspaper exposure and then trying to pick up the pieces of my operation afterwards. He does not just want the competition eliminated, he wants to assimilate it. A greedy man, Rochester, but I’ll never let him get his hands on my girls!’

Vanessa was still trying to come to terms with this revelation. ‘Then … that’s why you were so suspicious when I first said who I worked for, Director? And why Zara seemed to distrust me?’

‘Yes. Zara despises Rochester even more than I do. She may have let it colour her attitude towards you, even after it became apparent you were simply Rochester’s innocent pawn. But I think she has mellowed now.’

‘Why didn’t you tell me about Rochester from the beginning, Director?’

‘Would you have believed me? Besides, I wanted you to judge my operation on its own merits, not as an alternative to Rochester’s crude business.’

‘But Director, if he’s as bad as you say, why don’t you expose him?’

‘Because I have no evidence that would stand up in court. Rochester’s very careful to hide any personal connection with his slave business.’ Shiller mused. ‘But perhaps one day he’ll get careless, then we’ll see … However, that’s for the future. What shall I do with you right now?’

Vanessa hung her head meekly. ‘Whatever you want, Director. I … I want to be a Shiller slave. I think that’s what I am. I won’t fight it any more.’

‘You know what will be expected of you? Obedience, acceptance of discipline, unquestioning service, the pain and the pleasure?’

Vanessa felt her nipples rising at the thought and a warm slickness seeping between her labia. ‘I think the last month has given me a good idea, Director.’

‘This is not just because of Kashika? Don’t deny your feelings for her must have some influence.’

‘I don’t, Director. It’s what I want to be, though of course I want to see her as much as possible as well.’

‘You know that Kashika’s service as part of Cherry Chain must come before any personal considerations? Chains are being rotated to our regional centres all the time. We would not deliberately keep you apart, but there will be periods of separation.’

‘Can’t I join Cherry Chain, Director?’

‘Twelve girls only to a chain is the rule. Besides, I would not risk upsetting the bond they have formed.’

‘Then may I beg to join a new chain, Director? I’ll go to the Institute and take all the tests. I could start tomorrow …’

Shiller smiled. ‘There’s no need, Vanessa. You’ve already passed the most important test. Dr Gold’s analysis of your responses the day you visited the Institute confirmed my own and Miss Kyle’s original assessment of your nature. You’d make an excellent chain girl, but you also have a certain independence of mind I want to preserve. For the moment I wish you to continue as slave reporter for the
Girlflesh News
. I’ve read your articles with great interest.’

Vanessa felt a thrill of pride and hope. ‘I still have the job, Director?’

‘On the same terms as before … though I assume we will no longer have to worry about you trying to liberate any of our girls in front of police stations?’

Vanessa blushed. ‘No, Director. When can I move into the slave dorms, Director?’

‘For the moment it would be best if you stay in your flat and continue with your routine. It’s possible Rochester is suspicious of you, in which case maintaining an outwardly normal lifestyle will confuse him.’

‘I understand, Director.’

With a twinkle in her eye, Shiller added: ‘Of course, your position will still allow you frequent opportunities to follow the activities of our newest chain girls …’

‘Oh, thank you, Director!’

‘Then report to Zara. You’ve got a graduation ceremony to cover this afternoon.’

The training yard was once again packed with an eager throng of naked slave-girl onlookers.

As before, the trainers stood on the low podium with Cherry Chain kneeling on mats before them, their hands cuffed loosely behind their backs. They wore special graduation dress of black mortarboards
with
red tassels, which somehow enhanced their nakedness. One addition behind the podium was a row of black-painted wooden boards set in ornate gold picture frames, which stood on hinged stands tilted back at a slight angle. Each board was hung about with restraint straps.

Vanessa happily snapped away and made notes, in between gazing longingly at Kashika. She felt ridiculously pleased for her.

Unexpectedly, Zara had accompanied her to the ceremony. ‘This brings back memories of my graduation,’ she said wistfully. ‘Believe me, it’s something you never forget.’

‘I do believe you, Mistress Editor,’ Vanessa said with a smile.

Shiller appeared and took her place on the podium. The yard fell silent and she gazed round at the assembly with a smile.

‘We are gathered here today to celebrate the graduation of the girls of Cherry Chain into the status of full slaves. To mark this happy occasion, each girl will shortly be fitted with a ring to mark her achievement, and also awarded a diploma …’

She gestured to a side table on which lay a row of scrolls bound with red ribbons and seals, then down at the Cherry girls.

‘Though these awards have no meaning outside the Shiller organisation, believe me when I say that we, your masters and trainers and most importantly your fellow slaves, take them very seriously. They are a mark of your special talent and achievement, the basis on which you will live for the next ten or fifteen years, and will forever shape the rest of your lives.’

She picked up a scroll and unrolled the sheet of laminated paper set between two wooden rods with bulbous ends.

‘Each diploma bears your name and chain number, followed by this statement:

“‘The above has been tested with whip, strap and rod and has proven herself to be a natural, willing and consensual submissive, ready to offer her body without reservation for whatever purpose that is required of her, be it pleasure or pain.