Paralysis

7th Level

I step out of the bathroom, all ready to go. Guillaume has given me a long, form-fitting Belgian dress with bare shoulders and a slit that reaches halfway down my thigh, as well as a stunning silver necklace studded with a few precious pearls. Stepping out dressed like this, with just a touch of make-up and my hair down, I can’t help but notice my husband’s unsettling gaze. He looks me up and down and smiles. He moves closer and strokes along the slit in my dress. He then places both hands on my bottom, caressing it in circles.

_ You look stunning

_ Thank you

He turns me round and pins me against the wall. He runs his hand over my stomach and pushes it back to lift my bottom.

_ I want to make your bum bounce with a good spanking

He breathes heavily down my neck whilst kneading my bum. What’s his problem with spanking!?

_ Isn’t hitting a woman abuse!?

_ *He smiles mischievously. Not when it feels so good she’s begging for more.

What do you mean, ‘good’? How could a spanking possibly feel good? I don’t understand any of this.

He pulls away from me and locks himself in the shower. After 30 minutes, we’re in the car, driving through streets I don’t recognise. After another thirty minutes’ drive, we pull into the car park of a huge, lavishly lit building with about twenty storeys. We enter what appears to be a reception area. We approach a woman in a suit, sitting behind a large glass desk.

_ Good evening, Mr Grishwall, says the woman politely. Is that your wife?

_ Yes, Mélodie. Where is the party being held?

_ Madam

She smiled at me and nodded, and I did the same.

_ The party is on the 11th floor, in the main hall,’ she continued. ‘I hope you have a lovely evening.’

So, arm in arm, we made our way towards the lift. Following us, two men and three elegantly dressed women stepped in. The lift began to ascend. After a few floors, Guillaume started gently stroking my back, which sent a shiver down my spine. It was as if the people around us didn’t exist for him. The lift doors finally opened on the 11th floor, putting an end to my ordeal.

The room is packed to the rafters. There are Asians, Africans, old people, young people; dresses of all kinds, from the most luxurious to the simplest. It’s a veritable fashion show themed around colours. Waiters weave their way through the crowd, carrying trays laden with glasses filled with liquids of different colours. There’s a buffet of exotic fruits on the left, and at the back of the room an orchestra is playing classical music. It’s a law firm, this!

As we make our way through the room, all eyes are on us.

_ You’re so beautiful that people can’t stop staring at you, he whispers in my ear

I blush at the thought. A middle-aged man approaches us with a broad smile on his face. He gives Guillaume a warm hug.

_ Grishwall, the genius of my company. I’m glad you were able to come.

_ I wouldn’t have missed this for the world.

The man then turns to me and stares at me, puzzled.

_ Who, then, is this marvel of nature? he says, kissing my hand.

_ She’s my wife, Guillaume says cheerfully, pulling me into his arms.

_ My friend, you have excellent taste. Above all, make sure no evil eye falls upon her. A woman is a precious thing

His advice sends a chill down my spine. The man leaves us and we make our way towards a group of people.

_ Come, I’ll introduce you

I’m not keen on the idea, but I follow him.

We’ve only been here for barely 30 minutes and Guillaume has already introduced me to more than twenty-three people. Whilst he’s chatting with his colleagues about a case involving a lost child, I decide to slip away towards the exotic fruit buffet. There’s something for everyone: fruit salads, fruit skewers, fruit juices, toffee apples… . I opt for a skewer of dried fruit: green and red grapes, cherries and strawberries. I’m about to literally devour this skewer when I see Guillaume in the distance, staring at me. The fact that he’s looking at me changes everything and I decide to tease him a little.

I look at him and forget the presence of hundreds of people. I take the first grape and suck it slowly, rolling it back and forth in my mouth, then bite into it just as slowly. His eyes widen; he seems absorbed by the movements of the grape in my mouth. I repeat the process with the rest of my skewer. At the end of my tasting, he finally approaches me with a devastating smile.

_ Come on, I’ll show you my office

He holds out his hand; I take it and follow him into the lift. This time, we’re alone in there.

_ Are you trying to push me over the edge?

_ Yes

_ Does that amuse you?

_ Yes

_ Do you know the consequences?

_ Yes

The lift doors open and we step out. We arrive in a long corridor with three doors on each wall and another door at the very end of the corridor. We head towards the latter. It opens onto a magnificent, spacious room. At the far end of the room, three small steps lead up to a large glass desk. Behind this desk, a window stretching across the entire wall offers a marvellous view of the illuminated city. The light blue walls are covered with framed newspaper clippings. To the right, a large bookshelf full of law books.

_ Wow! Is this your office? I asked, running my hand over the hard glass desk

_ Yes. But when you’re here, I see it in a whole new light

He turns me round and lifts me onto the desk. He kisses me passionately, lifting my dress. I feel his erection against my thigh. I let myself be swept away by his kisses and savour the moment; after all, I’ve asked for it. Someone opens the door without warning. Guillaume steps back and I jump off the desk at lightning speed.