The Mask of Mr. Connel

CHAPTER 5

Alexis had always known that her fierce determination would have caused her to do something depraved that she would regret, and here she is, she finally screwed up terribly but for some reason unfathomable to her she did not regret anything, not one moment of it. Jane had lain in the bed of that dark room with nothing but the smooth satin to cover her naked body. A million and one thoughts should have been rushing through her consciousness; “What have I done to John? How do I get out of this? Maybe I should leave.” But all she could concentrate on was Connel. She somehow convinced herself that there is some kind of electricity between them that cannot be explained, something that they should both pursue.

Justin was barely dressed. He had on only a pair of black Chino’s, whilst Alexis had lain down, still very nude, watching him from the bed. He walked up to the shelves on the main wall where the hidden button was and pressed it, when he did so, a large flat screen monitor(located just above the bed-frame) had retracted into the wall behind it, and a mirror(which reflected the bed below) retracted back into the ceiling. When Alexis had seen the both the mirror and monitor, which she had not noticed before, she started to feel a bit embarrassed because, not only did he participate but he watched it as well. At that realisation she felt embarrassed and her cheeks flared up to a bright crimson. She kept wondering whether she had messed up or what if she just did not look good whilst he made loved to her. Connel got dressed and walked out of the room leaving Alexis to sit alone. Her curiosity had gotten the better of her. Alexis got out of bed and threw on Justin’s shirt before she went about exploring this chamber. To the right, adjacent to the bed, she found frosted glass sliding door. Jane walked up to it expecting to find some sort of cult like shrine. She opened the door. Behind the door, she found that there was a small bathroom. It had the same colour scheme as the rest of the ‘hidden s*x room’, there was not much in there, there was a slate gray free-standing bath tub toward the centre or the room, dangling from above the tub were steel shackles, and there was a glass wall sink next to which was a small cabinet with bath salts, oils and washes. Alexis walked back into the main room, heading toward the brackets and shelves on the wall. She stared at the brackets where she found the paddles, whips and tassels; they were pristine with not even a spec of dust, but Alexis did not want to interfere with them. She moved to the shelves which was right next to the holding brackets. She found a few strange contraptions but only one of them stood out to Alexis, it looked almost like portable defibrillator, it was Spanish blue and it had small electrodes attached to it, at least three of them, on this device were an on/off button and a dial with a ring of colour around it to specify intensity. Why, in all that is good in this world, would he need something that has electrodes attached to it for s*x? What also confused her is where he got it from because this is not exactly from an adult store and she was pretty sure that Wal-Mart did not have a torture department. Alexis whispered to herself, “What did I get into? This guy is crazy.”

Of course she believed that there was something wrong with him but she still had feelings for him. All of this mixed emotion and these crazy sights had left Jane befuddled.

“That one is my favourites. It is the only one like it, and provides a feeling that is almost indescribable.” said Connel as he walked back into the room.

“What is it exactly?” asked Jane looking pensive.

“I call it the e-stimulator.”

“Does it hurt?” inquired Jane.

“No, not at all Alexis. It is subtle but it stimulates the body to tantalizing lengths, especially yours.”

“Then why did you not use it?” followed Jane.

“Because you are not ready for that yet.” said Connel in a commanding tone, “Are you hungry?”

“Famished.”

Now both fully dressed, they went downstairs going pass the living area which was to the left of the grand staircase and into the hallway. The hallway was really cliché. The lighting was warm; there were frames of random beautiful abstract art pieces, a large rug that ran the length of the hall and then followed the family portraits, Connel was probably not older than ten years of age. All of those portraits looked forced, as if there was a facade of happiness on everyone’s faces just for the moment. There were portraits for every year since Connel was an infant till he was ten, but nothing else. She started wondering what could have happened to them because they were not here when they arrived and Connel never mentioned them. Could Justin be an orphan, it would explain his strange behaviour and hobbies or maybe he lived separately from them or perhaps they were on holiday and the rest of the portraits were in storage? Two thirds of the way down the hallway, they come along a door to their left. They entered and it led directly to the garage. There were at least five cars parked in that garage; there was a black limo, the Porsche, a dim gray Aston Martin 177, a winter blue 1967 Ford Mustang Eleanor and white Range Rover Evoque. Alexis followed Connel to the Aston. They got in and this time Alexis was sure to strap up because of Justin’s playful driving. He started up the engine and with a lengthy screech, he wheel spun out of the garage, through the driveway and onto the open road.

The erratic weather had stilled temporarily as Connel pulled up to an upbeat corner cafe about ten minutes away from where he lived. He got out of the car and opened the passenger side door for Alexis. Justin handed his keys to the valet and took Jane inside the cafe. They were immediately seated at a corner booth.

“Listen Justin, what happened between us, I’m the adult and...” blurted Alexis before being interrupted by Connel.

“Cut the crap Alexis. You are just afraid of the consequences.”

“Well of course I am. This time I screwed up big.” murmured Alexis.

“You mean to tell me that this was unintentional and that you did not enjoy a single bit of it?” snapped Connel.

“That is not what I meant and you know it!” said Jane in retaliation.

“Alexis, you seem to have a lot on your mind, so I am going to give you a chance to ask me as you please.”

She was caught off guard by Connel. She did not know what to ask him even though she had a million questions pacing her mind just a moment ago. Only one came to mind and she blurted it out, “When did you become that, sadist or s*x freak or whatever you are?”

“Firstly I’m not a s*x freak, more of a carnal explorer. Secondly I started two years ago. Last question.”

“Uhm okay, do you take all of your girlfriends to that room to make love to them?”

“That is a good question. Well from my understanding you make love to someone to whom you are emotionally involved with and I have never been in that type of relationship, nor have I had a girlfriend. But yes I do take all the women to that room.”

Alexis was surprised by the prospect that Justin had never been romantically involved despite his looks and charm. Just before Alexis could go into interrogation mode on Connel, the waitress arrived to collect their order.

“Good day Mr. Connel, can I take your order?” inquired the waitress, who seemed to grin a lot at Justin, as if she knows him.

“Not yet, but in the meantime bring us two glasses Michel Chapoutier. Thank you Jess.” responded Connel, sounding like a man in forties.

 Alexis could not help but just sit there and watch Justin, just observe him. His face was impassive and Alexis would give anything for just a glimpse of what is inside of his mind. Her fascination for Justin was immense. Alexis felt safe around Justin and for some reason she did not want to leave him.

“How are they serving you alcohol? I thought you were under the drinking age.”

“You should know me by now Miss Jane. I do whatever I want and I could not possibly give a f**k about what anyone else says.” responded Connel in a rather placid manner.

“You and the waitress, do you two know each other?” inquired Jane.

“Has anyone ever told you that you ask a lot of questions? And yes, she and I knew each other for a brief period of time.”

“Were you and her...”

“Yes we were sleeping together. But she became too attached.” said Justin.

“Too attached?”

“I get into this sort of arrangements for my gratification not so that the person I am screwing falls in love with Me.” he snapped.

“Are you not curious about what being in love is?”

“Not even the least bit.” he said, getting more and more agitated with each word.

Alexis realized that she was grazing over a very touchy topic so she decided that she should back off. Right in the nick of time the waitress arrived with wine.

“Can I take your order now?” politely asked the waitress.

“What are you having?” he asked Alexis.

“I think I will have the Alfredo.”

“So that will be one Alfredo and a bagel with prosciutto. Thank you Jess.” said Connel to the waitress who was clearly swooning over him.

Justin took a gulp of wine and began conversation.

Connel left Jane at the school at around 4:30pm. She got into her car and drove through the stormy weather to her apartment. She parked of her old reliable, white Toyota Corolla beneath the undercover parking and took the stairs to home sweet home. She approached the apartment door and on it she found a written note. It was from John, it read:

‘To: Alexis

I am extremely sorry for my inexcusable behaviour on that devastating Saturday evening. I sincerely hope that you will forgive me; after all I will fight for you until I have breathed my last breath.

Love John’

She tried not to pay attention to it and she wanted to be angry, but she just could not bring herself to do so anymore, and just like that the guilt started pouring in. Jane unlocked the front door and stepped into her living space. She was immediately kissed by a familiarly gentle scent. The room was lit up by a rich scarlet colour. The room had been filled with bouquets of deep red roses. Alexis felt like she had just stepped into a scene of a typical romance movie. A lump formed in her throat and her face flared up, she could not fight back the tears any longer so she let it all out. The guilt that she had hidden had finally shown itself.