Germain. She had a gut feeling that Karl knew about him and what had happened between them, but of course, that was not possible. Still, she felt weird and shook her head. Kristen answered "No Karl. There is no one. Everything is fine." Karl looked disappointed. "Very well then, until tomorrow." He nodded as he exited.
Kristen walked through her living room and gathered up her new items. She placed them in her closet without giving the dress a second glance. It was like an evil spirit was warding her away from it.
The next morning Kristen met up with Ashley to go to the fitness club. They were very competitive and liked to jog side by side on the machines. Ashley was jealous when Kristen told her she would be meeting the British Ambassador that evening. She pleaded "Oh, come on! Get him to find me a date too. I want to meet the Ambassador. He is so cute and he is available! He recently got divorced." Kristen looked at her in disbelief. "Since when do you know about the British government? Did you start reading newspapers?" Ashley gave her a rude laugh. "No. Of course not! I read it in Vogue. Complete with glossy pictures of him."
Kristen mockingly acted relieved "Oh, good! I would hate to think that you actually cared about what goes on outside your world." Ashley poked her in the side and reached over to Kristen's treadmill turning up the speed on it. "Diva! You should talk. Run! You need to work it girl. Work it!"
Kristen had a great workout and felt enough ounces lighter to fit into her new dress. When she returned home she pulled it out of the closet and slipped it on. She still did not want to know who it was by, but it fit perfectly, like it was created for her.
It took much finesse to gather her long hair and wind it sleekly up on top of her head. She gasped as she viewed the clip that Karl had given her. It looked like an heirloom and was encrusted with diamonds and rubies. She looked beautiful, straight out of a medieval romance.
As instructed, she met the limousine on time and was rushed off to her special evening with Karl. The lights of the city blended into a dazzling display as they sped through the streets. As they drove down Lake Shore Drive and then turned west down Walton Place, Kristen realized that the party was being held at the Drake Hotel. This was a classy affair and she was ready!
As she strode through the front door, Karl was standing in the front lobby waiting to greet her. He looked very handsome in a black tuxedo and she was daunted by his appearance. Her nerve endings began tingling with excitement as he took her hand and walked her into the banquet room. He smiled at her and said "You look ravishing my dear."
From the polished silver gleaming under the lights, to the beautiful tapestries on the wall, the room was old-world magnificent as only the Drake could do. There was a receiving line for the Ambassador, but Karl led Kristen straight up to him. The dignitary was very attractive with a firm build and straight, thick hair. He looked to be in his early 40's. "Thomas. I would like you to meet Miss Kristen Stratford. She is the young lady that I mentioned to you."
Thomas pulled away from a group that he had been greeting and bent down to kiss Kristen's hand. "Miss Stratford it is my great honor to finally meet you!" Kristen was taken slightly aback by his special attention. She wondered why Karl had even talked to him about her. Why were his friends so interested in her? Just exactly what did she mean to Karl?
Kristen smiled at Thomas and then couldn't help herself looking up into his eyes. He gazed back into hers and she felt an immediate connection. She felt her breath leave her as he pulled her towards him to kiss her gingerly on her cheek. His demeanor was seductive.
Thomas then held tightly to her hand and had her stay by him while he continued greeting his guests. Kristen knew it would not be polite to step away and she wanted to be with him, in fact, she felt compelled. Curiously, Karl seemed more than alright with this, and stood off to the side with his back turned to Kristen while he chatted with a few men.
The guests gave their fond greetings to Thomas and as they walked past Kristen, she could not help noticing how perfect they all seemed to appear. The men were relatively the same age with their handsome faces frozen in time with no hint of aging. Their partners were all much younger with the same lustrous skin as Anna Marie from the night before. The couples all seemed to be matched sets! They were eloquent in their speech and manners and were dressed immaculately in trending fashion. Above all, they seemed at peace.
The Ambassador dominated Kristen's attention throughout the evening. He had her placed next to him at the long dining table, and Karl was seated at the other end with two gorgeous women adorning each side. He seemed quite happy with the arrangement. Kristen enjoyed the Ambassador's attention but still didn't understand why this was happening.
Occasionally, Karl would look towards Kristen as if he was evaluating her and Thomas. He seemed as if he was acting more like a matchmaker than her date. It was too strange how this was all taking place, as if it was planned.
After dinner, there was some light dancing taking place, and at this point, Thomas departed from the room. Kristen was left sitting at the head of the table by herself. She was glad to see Karl's familiar face as he walked up to her and held out his hand leading her to the dance floor.
Karl pulled her close and said "Kristen, I hope you are enjoying Thomas. I know that he is also enamored with you." Kristen looked up at him in confusion and was ready to refute his statement when Karl held her more tightly. "Thomas and I would like you to accompany us to another gathering that is being thrown in his honor later tonight. He really wants to get to know you better. That is something that I want too. You can have the best of both worlds." Kristen started to reply, but Karl brushed his finger across her lips to stop her. They silently danced a bit longer and then he gave her a friendly spank as he walked her towards her chair.
Kristen knew exactly what he had been proposing and finally opened up. She slyly replied "Karl, if you think I am going to do a twisted threesome with you and the Ambassador you can just keep dreaming on. It's not going to happen." Karl's eyes blackened with anger. Kristen grew fearful as he snapped "We have not even had relations with each other. How can you go so low to make that statement? Get your pretty head out of the gutter Miss Stratford. This is neither the time nor the place to speak like that."
Kristen still believed that she was right. Though she enjoyed the Ambassador's company, she still resented Karl for not paying enough attention to her this evening and especially for all past transgressions. She now sarcastically said "Please tell Thomas that I would love a hook up alone with him. You can watch us if you would like!"
Karl replied with disdain "I can only assume Kristen that you have had too much to drink and that is why you are completely out of character right now. This is exactly why I have not delved further into a relationship with you. It is not that I am older than you; the problem is that you are just too immature for me and most everyone else for that matter."
Kristen still wanted to keep on annoying him. "I believe you know Karl that I am just enough woman for you. Tell me exactly what type of place that you want to take me to? Do I need to bring my black square with me? Is that the only way you can express yourself?" She gathered more courage. "Karl. Why can't you show that you have feelings for me?"
With that, Karl pulled her into his arms and consumed Kristen in a kiss for the ages. When he finished, as far as Kristen was concerned, she had become his and finally quit challenging him. He looked down at her with a knowing smile. "Now Miss Stratford... What were you trying to tell me?" Kristen said nothing as she clinged to Karl while he said his good-byes and then walked her out of the hotel.
The couple climbed into a limousine and headed south. As the surroundings gradually looked more ramshackle, it soon became obvious that they were returning back to the closed nightclub in the questionable part of Chicago that he had taken her before. This time the building was dark and there was no one in sight.
The front door was wide open. As they walked in there were sheets partially d
raped over the furniture and the place had a musty smell. Karl led her through the main room and then downstairs to the lower level.
Kristen had still not said a word. Karl took her into the room with the three crosses. This time they were all facing downwards. He lit a large floor candle and then held Kristen up towards the middle crucifix and gently strapped her hands onto the crossbar. As she hung from it, he slowly walked behind her. Kristen cringed as she felt the teeth of her zipper scrape against her skin as it was being pulled downwards. He then held his arms around her as he slid the dress off her body and onto the floor below. His strong hands followed the curves of her slight frame as she pulsated against them.
Kristen closed her eyes and longed for Karl to press his body against her, to become one with his dark mind and be taken into his world. She knew she was supposed to be with him…
After a minute of silence, Karl's deep voice brought her back from her thoughts. "I am sorry Kristen. It's still not time yet. Please understand." He then quickly pulled her out of the restraints. As he released her, she opened her eyes as the candle flame flickered and the room filled with light. She felt vulnerable without her clothes and pulled her arms