Pain and Pleasure Chapter 4

The following post possesses mature content. Reader discretion is advised.

Chapter 4

Annabel pulls up at the car park of the exhibition hall for the annual Bronson’s Sales and Marketing Conference. Stepping out in her Gucci power suit and Jimmy Choo’s stilettos, Annabel is oblivious to other men staring at her silent beauty and inaudible power, quietly desiring her. Sophie falls a step behind Annabel to admire her best friend and smiles to herself. Annabel never fails to make heads turn. Her long auburn hair which looks too straight forms a V-shape behind her back. Although standing at a smallish height of 1.6 meters, Annabel makes up for her height with dangerously high heels everyday. Her sharply defined face is a pale complexion, almost translucent like a doll.

Annabel is quick-wit, smart and intellectual, she also exudes a particular sort of elegance and confidence, sashaying in her heels, girlish laughter, even how she likes English breakfast tea in the morning, Earl Grey after lunch and peppermint tea in the evening if she stays up late in the office, makes every woman silently idolize her. Comparing to her, Sophie though towers almost a head over her best friend and superior at work, looks less sure of herself. She has tried to keep her hair long but finds it a chore to keep it so picture-perfect like Annabel’s, so she chopped it off in a bob-style and under Annabel’s instructions and has kept it that way since.

Annabel turns back to look at Sophie, “Everything ok?”

Sophie smiles, “Yap.”

The exhibition hall has turned into a seminar hall filled with over four hundred chairs. At the reception area, waiters and waitress serve mocktails and bottled sparkled water. It is still a good fifteen minutes before the conference commences but the reception area is already packed with people chatting and exchanging name cards. Making her way to the reception area, Annabel feigns ignorance as her eyes caught Michael speaking to a Chinese gentleman and sipping his mocktail.

She allows her eyes to sweep past him to other people around him but what she is doing does not escape Sophie. Noticing that Sophie is narrowing her eyes at her, Annabel flashes her girlish grin and shrugs her shoulders.

After putting her signature down beside her name, Annabel looks up in Mike’s direction again casually but does not see him there anymore. Maybe he went out of the exhibition hall for a cigarette, she thinks to herself. Almost at once, Sophie voices her urge to have a puff as well, “Let’s smoke before we can’t get out of this stupid conference.”

The automatic glass door opens as Annabel and Sophie walk towards it and out into the designated smoking area. True to her speculation, Michael is there with his assistant and another man. Annabel tries to look casual and surprise as she makes her way there.

“Hi, what a surprise to see you here, Michael.” Annabel says as she extends her hand to her former colleague and current lover.

“Annabel. Nice to see you.” Michael smiles and shakes her hand firmly. Annabel can feel the affection from Michael emitting from his hand. She flushes as he grins a little too widely. Both are unable to mask the joy to see each other openly at a conference but also the secret of them knowing each other so intimately which every single human being around them doesn’t know- except for Sophie. 

“Hi, Sophie. You look great.” says Michael offering his hand. Sophie grabs his hand unwillingly but doesn’t say anything.

Michael doesn’t seem to mind the hostility from Sophie but Annabel frowns at her friend. She shoots Sophie a disapproving look when Michael turns to introduce the gentleman to them.

“Ladies, let me introduce- William. He’s the associate director of Chomper. William, this is Annabel and Sophie from Morgan, my ex company.”

“Annabel.” greets William and extends his hand to Annabel. 

“Hello William.” Annabel smiles and reaches out to shake his hand.

“Sophie.” William turns to Sophie.

“Hi,” replies Sophie acidly. William looks like he just got spat on by Sophie. Michael’s eyes opened wide with surprise and Annabel frowns once more at her friend. Always quick on her feet, and trying to ease the tension caused by Sophie’s unexpected respond, Annabel turns to ask William about Chomper. 

William accepts this rescue gratefully and is most happy to fill in the awkwardness by sharing some facts on his company. But Annabel finds it hard to concentrate on what William is saying and is pleased that Mike has taken it upon himself to allow William to direct his attention to. Stealing a glance at Sophie who is silently puffing on her cigarette, Annabel sighs. Sophie’s dislike for Michael has extended to his social circle. Annabel makes a mental note to ask Sophie to back off from this treatment to Michael. 

The bell rings for the attendees to be ushered into the exhibition hall. Annabel silently gives thanks for this timely release of thorniness. She extinguishes her cigarette at the ashtray and makes her way in, pulling Sophie gently along. She can feel Michael’s eyes follow her for a brief moment and knows that he will be picking a seat near her where he can see her. As she walks into the hall, Annabel picks an empty seat in the middle where it doesn’t seem too obvious when Michael stares at her back.

When Annabel has decided she picks up the brochure and itinerary of the conference and settles down to flip through them, she turns around casually to see if she can make out Michael among the crowd streaming in looking for empty seats. Almost instantly, she sees Michael and just three rows behind her with his assistant at her four o’clock direction and smiles at her prediction of knowing Michael will definitely pick a seat where he can see her clearly. It thrills her to know he is watching her in such a businesslike situation now. She looks at him a little longer, hoping to catch his eyes. He does. They lock eyes for a brief moment and she gives him a tiny smile. He winks at her. Her heart dances in glee.  

It is then that she notices Sophie is not around. She looks up and scans the room quickly, thinking Sophie might have lost her on her way in. Quickly, her eyes pick out Sophie in her grey suit and short bob hair just a few steps to her right. She is speaking to a man but with her back to Annabel, Annabel cannot make out who the man is. Almost immediately, Sophie turns back to smile at Annabel and walks towards her. The man follows. Curious at who the man is, Annabel stands up to get a better look. It is Simon- her ex boyfriend.

“Guess who’s here too, Anna.” chirps Sophie excitedly. Annabel finds it odd that her best friend is happier than her to see her ex. Sophie steps aside for a young man to pass her. It is her ex.

Simon looks as handsome as ever in his black business suit. Nothing about him has changed, only his hair seems longer since the last time they met, covering his forehead sweeping his eyes a little making him look sexier than in the past.

Annabel is just as taken aback as Sophie to see him. She does not realise how much she misses Simon until now every since he left the country to pursue his career in Japan. Everyone used to talk about how good they look together, sexy hot Ana and stunning, handsome Simon. But there was just something that was always in the way between the both of them. They just couldn’t pick out what it was, until the love between the both of them just faded away and the inevitability of the obvious had to come- they broke up.

Annabel beams in delight and extends her hand to Simon. But he takes her by surprise by taking a step too close to her and embraces her. Annabel stiffens at first but this intimacy with Simon oddly makes her relax in an instant as she allows a familiar forgotten feeling to sweep over her. Annabel breathes in Simon’s scent- he still uses the same deodorant, the one that she has always like.

Before she can get enough of this comfort in the arms of her ex, Simon pulls her away slightly and plants a kiss on her cheek. Annabel lets out a girlish giggle, delighting in this cozy affection.

“How have you been?” Simon sings into Annabel’s ear.

“I’m good. Sophie and I are in Morgan now. Are you still with Yamashita?” She reaches up and speaks into Simon’s ear, aware that there is no need for her to do that; they still have their arms around each other.

“I know. Sophie told me just now. And yes I am still there. But hey, you look great! As hot as ever.”

Annabel blushes, “You too, Simon. You let your hair grow out, you look better this way.”

Smiling sheepishly, Simon runs his hand through his hair. “I haven’t got the time to have it cut.”

“You look good. Don’t cut it.”

“You think?”

“Absolutely.”

“Okay, Anna. You know I always listen to you.”

When the three of them settle down in their seat, Annabel turns her head to take a look at Michael. Expecting a smile, she is shocked to see that he is glaring at her coldly. What the hell? 

Puzzled at his expression, she tries to smile but Michael turns away as soon as he knows she has registered his acid glare and looks down at his brochure.

In an instant, she knows why he is radiating such anger. He is mad that witnessing her intimacy with another man.

In a desperate attempt to reassure Michael, she takes out her iPhone and texts him.

What’s wrong, Mike?

She holds her phone in her hand and waits for it to vibrate. It does. She slides her thumb across the screen to see what Michael has replied.

Who is he?

Ah, he is jealous. Glee skips in her heart.

My ex.

And she waits for his reply. But it doesn’t come. Simon turns to look at her, trying to ask her something but when he sees her looking blankly at her phone, he decides not to. The emcee has already come on stage to gently remind everyone to set their mobile phones to the vibration mode and the first speaker is already at the side of the stage, ready to give his speech.

Annabel frowns slightly, her mind trying to think of reasons why Michael hasn’t replied her yet. Maybe because the conference is commencing and he wants to concentrate on the speeches?

The speaker flashes a screen with a pie-chart but nothing goes into Annabel’s head. She looks at the screen of her iPhone, willing it to vibrate but no text comes in. A dark feeling envelops her heart slowly, squeezing her it. She dislikes it. It is sucking the breath out of her. She takes a deep breath and texts Michael.

Are you ignoring me?

Almost immediately, Annabel’s phone vibrates. She quickly slides her thumb across the screen, hoping against hope to receive a text from Michael. She exhales when she sees his name appears at the top of the text box on her screen.

No, I’m not.

The short text message says it all. He is mad at her. Anger seizes her as she feels herself tremble. Her heart is contracting tightly.

You are mad.

I am not.

Why are you so cold all of a sudden? Because of Simon?

His name is Simon?

Yes.

Okay.

What’s wrong with you???

Nothing.

Well, I don’t like the way you are behaving now.

I want to see you tonight.

Annabel’s heart releases its tightness instantly. Oh anything to have her old Michael back. Anything to make him less mad at me.

Okay.

Same place. 8pm.

 

Treat

Imma sink my teeth into some kickass macarons and moan, "Oh! Oh! This is too good!" 

Pain and Pleasure Chapter 3

The following post possesses mature content. Reader discretion is advised.

Chapter 3

Over at Big Ben’s the gang has already been drinking for the past two hours. Annabel appeared at the entrance; Sophie spots her and waves as though she has been watching the door all this time.

Annabel sees Sophie in the badly lit pub and walks over, her legs wobbly after a few rounds of amazing sex with a married man, well HER married man. She is one of his many other women now. Funny how this term transforms her! How she is feeling now is basically beyond any words. Moral-less? More attractive? Evil? Special? Brushing all the negative thoughts aside, she actually feel great. It’s like back to being in love for the first time many years ago. Flashing a sweet smile and trying to mask her jelly-like legs, Annabel moves carefully on her high heels to the where the gang is seated.

“Finally here!” yelled Bernard obviously high on his whisky. 

The rest of the gang cheers in unison and claps. Blushing a little at the attention, Annabel’s smile widens into an embarrassed grin. Sophie motions for her to take the empty chair beside her.

“One bottoms up first for being late!” continued Bernard, pouring too much whisky into a glass clumsily and shoves it into Annabel’s face.

“One is not enough! Three at least!” counters Hans. Bernard laughs and high-fives Hans as Hans proceeds to pour whisky into another two glasses.

Annabel laughs along with them.

“Anna takes two. I’ll take one for her.” chirps Sophie, grabbing one glass of whisky from Bernard.

Annabel looks up at her best friend to see her wink at her as she lifts the glass to her lips and knows that she is forgiven for putting work aside to meet Michael.

All geared up for some fun, Annabel pushes her sleeves up to her elbows and downs one glass of whisky after clicking glasses with Sophie. When she downs the other glass, the entire gang cheers and Annabel manages a smile feeling her tummy burn.

Bernard turns towards her, his whisky breath on her face, asks “So where have you been, Anna? Sophie says you took the afternoon off to meet someone. Not one more of your victims?”

Diana leans over Bernard’s shoulder and offers, “Of cause! How can our Anna, the ever gaming Anna be without a play thing?”

Annabel frowns. She has no idea why what Bernard said has made her annoyed and even slightly angry and empty when before she could be basking with pride and playfulness.

Seeing her frown, Diana continues, “Oh now, Bernard. You have angered our star-player. Come on, you have to down a glass to show you are sorry.”

Bernard laughs and raises his hands up in defeat. He picks up his glass and swallows whatever is left in his glass in a gulp.

Annabel picks up her glass and finishes her whisky too. She forces a smile at the duo, oblivious to Sophie’s glare.

The gang needn’t know she was with Michael moments ago, but how Diana insinuates the fact that Annabel has been with her ‘victim’, her ‘play-thing’ somehow makes Annabel upset. Michael is not my play-thing! A voice in Annabel’s head screams out at Diana.

Annabel reaches for her handbag to fish out her packet of cigarettes with the intention to head out for a breather, but the same voice in her head tells her to halt. If she should walk out for a smoke now, the gang as sensitive as gossiping housewives would detect that she is affected by the seemingly harmless joke.

Then as though on cue, Sophie stands up and suggests out loud, “Boy it’s getting really stuffy in here. Anyone wants to smoke?”

Grateful for her friend’s timely rescue, Annabel says, “I do,” and follows Sophie out of the pub into the cool night breeze outside. Lucky for them, the rest of the gang barely hear them.

The two ladies walk to the designated smoking corner situated at the bend of the sidewalk and lit their cigarettes, both of them not wanting to look at each other. Annabel senses a facial movement from Sophie and she knows she was about to open her mouth to say something.

“Don’t.” warns Annabel.

“Fine.” Sophie sulks and turns away.

Seeing how hostile her friend is, Annabel knows that she is in for some big scolding, but she isn’t ready for it. She is still amazed at her own decision to be in an affair with Michael.

Inhaling deeply from her cigarette, Annabel tugs her hair behind her ear then blows the smoke out towards Sophie. For the first time, Annabel can sense that her best friend and best colleague who has chucked everything in her previous promising job to join her at Morgon is mad at her.

She drags on her cigarette and blows the smoke at Sophie once again. This time, Sophie turns and glares at her.

"You are making my hair smell!” She snaps, irritated.

Annabel smiles, “That’s the point. I want you to stink more because your sulking face is already emitting the worst stench on earth.”

Sophie blinks then returns her smile. To retaliate, she sucks on her cigarette with a huge breath wanting to do the same to Annabel. Annabel shrieks like a little girl and skips to from side to side as Sophie holds in the smoke until she turns green and chokes. Annabel chuckles boorishly. The other smokes around them turn to look at Annabel slaps Sophie on her back; two attractive women in power suits behaving like little girls at a playground, happy and comfortable in their friendship of each other.

 

Well said

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Pain and Pleasure Chapter 2

The following post possesses mature content. Reader discretion is advised.

Chapter 2

Annabel lies beside Michael with her head on his shoulder, breathing in his scent. Michael cuddles her close and heaves a sigh. He loves the feeling of her smooth skin on his body.

“Penny for your thoughts?” Annabel asks.

Michael is silent for a brief moment before he opens his mouth to speak, “You know something? The last time I said ‘I love you’… Well, it really is the truth. I think I have fallen for you.” Michael says slowly and surely to the ceiling. Annabel inhales and keeps her breath in. He loves me? I’m not his fling, not his plaything? God, is this possible?

Michael turns his head to face her, willing her to say something to his response. The fact is she has fallen for him too, which is a bad thing. To be a player, you must be merciless, out only for sex and gains and never to fall for anyone, especially one who has so many other women in his life. Annabel smiles but does not know what to say; to say that she is feeling the same as he does? Be truthful or to say the opposite and keep her title as the world’s most formidable heart-breaker? Surely it’s too soon to talk about love isn’t it? But there isn’t denying the fact that she thinks about Michael every day. Every waking moment, and before she closes her eyes for sleep at night, all she can think of is him. Is she brave enough to run away from her true feelings?

Annabel arches her head up to look at Michael’s side profile. He has a sort of weathered look, like someone who has been to war, who has had a hard life, but still very handsome- a look unlike some of those men she has dated. That was what attracted him to her months ago.

Giving in to the need to see him all the time, to continue their sexual escapade, Annabel decides to be honest, “I have developed a certain kind of feelings for you too, Mike.” Annabel says shyly looking down at his shoulders.

Michael tilts her chin up with his hand so that Annabel faces him. He looks into her eyes and with the keenest and most sincere eyes, he asks for a relationship.

“An affair?” She wonders out loud.

“No darling, a relationship. These few months of seeing you, I realized that I cannot tear myself away from you. I think of you every day, baby.  I love you. We love each other. I want to be with you. I want you. I need you. Stay on with me okay?”

Annabel finds her heart fluttering as she stares into the eyes of this handsome man. His eyes plea… no, are almost like begging desperately for her to be with him. In an instance, a thousand questions flash across Annabel’s mind.

Can I really fall in love after playing on the field for so long? Am I ready for a relationship? And with a man like Michael too? Am I able to still maintain my need to always be a player and a winning gamer in that aspect then? Can I do this? I think I can be in a relationship and still be a player at the same time right? Moreover, he is married after all! No one expects to have future with someone who is married and having so many other affairs at the same time! But, maybe I can do this. Maybe I can be with someone and still be at the game at the same time.

Annabel nods.

Michael lets out a small cry of joy and wraps his arms around her slender waist and neck. He guides her hands to his hardening cock, silently asking for them to work their magic on his joy-stick one more time. She giggles her in her cute girly voice and Michael’s manhood hardens some more. Annabel wraps her perfectly formed fingers around it and moves it up and down. Then almost suddenly, she reaches down to his crotch and takes him into her mouth. Michael gasps at the sight, closes his eyes and indulges in the best blow job he has ever received.

Annabel and Michael emerge from the motel holding hands after their six-hour block is up. Wrapped in each other’s arms, both of them beam at each other like newly-weds.

The sky is now dark, way pass seven o’clock. Michael tightens his arms around Annabel as a cool breeze blows lightly, lifting Annabel’s hair from her shoulders. He feels her hair brushing his chin and his thoughts bring him back to their sweet love-making moments go. He pulls her closer to him and plants a kiss on her hair. Annabel grins, allowing herself to bask in this unexpected affection. The short walk to the car park though short and brief, feels fuzzy and heartwarming. Annabel feels she is on cloud nine.

“Shall we smoke before we go?” Michael suggests when they both halt at her red mini cooper parked in a crocked way beside his, an indication on her eagerness to see him as soon as she can.

“Sure,” says Annabel, flipping open her handbag to retrieve her cigarette case. Michael takes out a cigarette from his own pack of Marlboro lights, lights up a stick and blows the smoke into the cool evening air.

“You are like a gift sent to me from above,” says Michael, encircling his arms around Annabel once more. “The way our bodies fit as one when we make love… it’s unbelievable. It’s like we were made for each other.”

Annabel pulls away and looks at him, puzzled.

“What do you mean?”

“Did you feel it all this time when we make love?”

Annabel crooks her head slightly, still unable to understand.

“Our bodies fit each other’s like a glove. The way we move is a perfect synergy between both of us. Trust me, Anna, of all the women I have bedded before, none comes this close.”

Annabel’s eyes open big. Not even your wife or any of your other women? Her brain asks silently to herself.

Michael pulls her back to him and embraces her. “You see? Even our heights are perfect. When I hold you as we stand here, your head rests perfectly at my neck. Not too short, not too tall.” he says matter-of-factly. “And the love we have for each other. Darling, trust me. I am not playing anymore. Player-mode off. I swear I will not have it switched on ever again with you by my side.”

Annabel keeps her mouth tightly shut. Moments ago, she has just agreed to be this man’s mistress. It is a mockery to tell the mistress that he is officially off the player radar. It’s like telling the wife, he doesn’t have a mistress at all.

Michael pulls Annabel away slightly so he can look into her eyes. “What about you baby? Are you still on player-mode?”

Annabel looks into his eyes and feels a glimmer of amusement. She tries to pick up some sort of mischief or a sign of deceit but all she can see, is sincerity and a little fear. This man is not for real is he? Michael and Annabel have started this infidelity because both of them are natural players. Players toy with people’s hearts like boys with flies. Players cannot trust players. It is the rule of the game. They love with a fake heart and they will die doing that.

But these few months of mind-blowing sex that Michael has refused to acknowledge as sex but prefers to call it love-making has brought both of them to a total different level. Neither of them can stop seeing each other, nor keep the image of the other off their minds. When Annabel had wanted to build a wall between Michael and herself like how she has always done with her other play-things, she had warmed up to him pretty quick, knowing full well that she is not facing a potential can carrier but another deceiving heart breaker- one wrong step and she will be the lamb to the slaughter instead.

These few months together however, has made the wall that Annabel had built crumble and fall apart. In fact, she had forgotten that she has wanted that wall there in the first place, a wall so that she can be distant and protect herself. Now all that she has done is to have herself naked and exposed, vulnerable to this man’s game.

When she was so sure of herself that few hours ago that she can handle being one of someone’s many other mistresses and still go on with her gaming now, some particle of morality within her stirred a little. This request from Michael has taken her off her guard. She knows she will eventually be sick of gaming and when the right man comes, she might even settle to be a dutiful wife. But to stand away from her stance once and for all for someone who doesn’t and will not belong to her? Is it worth it?

Annabel sways, feeling light-headed.

“Are you still thinking of playing?” asks Michael, fear and disappointment creep into his body, projecting the extent of his feelings on his eyes. His hands reach out to grab her elbows, prompting her, urging her to say that she is not. “You are not staying with me because you still want to game me, are you?”

Oh his eyes, his deeply set, beautiful eyes speak out to her. They tell her of his fervor and his truthfulness, the intensity of the aftermath of their love-making shines from them.

At that moment, a thought strikes Annabel as though a gong has just been banged loudly at her ears. A feeling sweeps over her body and overwhelms her heart. She takes a deep breath and realises this is real love. She has fallen in love with Michael.

She wraps her arms around Michael’s neck and speaks into his hair. “I’m not gaming you, darling. I think I have fallen for you too.”

Michael tightens his arms around her, “Oh baby, I love you. I love you!”