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LADIES IN LEATHER GLOVES |
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The Stepmother
Part One It was nearly a year since her husband’s death and Jennifer knew it was time to move her life on after a sustained period of grieving. Her husband – Sir Timothy Blackwood, considerably older than herself had died suddenly in a car crash, leaving her a large fortune, one very unpleasant stepson only a few years younger than herself and the continued use of the title "Lady Jennifer". Richard was the offspring of her husband’s first marriage. Spoilt, rude and completely idle, Richard still lived at the family home wasting his days, consumed with bitterness that his stepmother had complete control of the money his father had left him. Jennifer was a tall, attractive brunette with a superb athletic build. She always dressed immaculately in fashionable but conservative attire. Jennifer thought back to the conversation she had had with her lawyer earlier that day. There could be no disputing the words of her late husband’s Will – she had complete control and with her own Will carefully crafted, Richard would never see the money if she died unexpectedly. Normally a calm individual, Jennifer could not help a feeling of anger rise up within her as she thought back to Richard’s legal challenge. As she drove home Jennifer started to think about how she was going to tackle him. While she was extremely angry, Jennifer was a decent, thoughtful lady who wanted to see Richard make something of his life, just as his father would have wanted. Would Richard really submit to her demands? Despite all her efforts to try and change his ways and make something of his life, her thirty year old stepson remained a spoilt young man. His threat to challenge her husband’s Will was the final straw. This was highly personal now and she was determined to use any means to get him to grow up. She had thought long and hard as to the means and slowly came to the conclusion that threatening to cut Richard’s allowance was not enough. She had to make it clear to him just how childish his behaviour had become over the years. He behaved more like a ten year old than a thirty year old. When the idea first came to her, Jennifer laughed and quickly put it aside and tried to think of something else. But the idea kept resurfacing and slowly she stopped laughing at it and started to take it seriously. What young Richard really needed was a damn good hiding. In fact not just one good hiding, but many. At first she thought long and hard as to who she could employ to give her stepson the hidings he so deserved. But how do you go about finding someone to take on a task like this? She tried again to put the thought aside but she knew that a few sessions over someone’s knee could make a real difference and therefore she needed to do something. No, the more she thought about it, the more she recognised that it was her problem and she needed to deal with it herself. With absolute confirmation from her attorney that Richard’s challenge was over, Jennifer knew it was time to deal with Richard and execute her plan. As she drove up the long drive to the family home, she rehearsed for the last time how she would confront Richard using the financial control she had to get him to do as she bid. As her car pulled to a stop, Jennifer’s heart started to beat faster as she approached the confrontation. Jennifer started to panic. Surely Richard would never agree to her demands, blackmail or no blackmail. As she entered the house, Jennifer stopped to check her appearance in a huge mirror that hung in the hall. Immaculately dressed as normal, her outfit reflected the grief that she had felt for the last year. An Yves Saint Laurent haute couture coat, black dress and veiled hat magnified her beauty. With tasteful high-heeled shoes, she stood just over six feet tall and with her athletic build, confidence surged through her. Removing her three quarter length black coat, her superb figure was revealed accentuated by a body hugging black dress with sleeves that reached just below her elbows. A pearl necklace emphasised her elegance. A pair of perfectly fitting black kid gloves that extended to the sleeves of her dress embodied the true class of the woman. However, as she walked down the long hallway towards the library where she knew Richard would be lounging, her confidence started to fail her. She raised one of her leather clad hands and watched it visibly shake. "Come on Jennifer. Don’t panic", she thought to herself. "You know he deserves everything he’s about to get and it is in his own interest". She could almost hear her own heart pounding now as she entered the library. Richard was lounging on a sofa reading a magazine. He didn’t even look up as Jennifer entered. Jennifer’s heels clicked on the wooden flooring as she walked over to Richard. "Good morning Richard. I’ve just been to see my lawyer. I thought you might like to hear how I got on", said Jennifer in a voice that could not hide her mental state. "Simply put, there is absolutely nothing you can do to gain control of your father’s money." Don’t beat about the bush thought Jennifer, get straight to the point before I chicken out. "What is more, I have decided that its time for you to finally grow up once and for all and do something useful with your life". Richard stared at Jennifer with a look of both disdain and amusement. "Yea, sure you have" said Richard. "And how do you intend to do that". Jennifer sat down slowly removing one of her gloves. Richard’s pathetic attitude renewed her resolve and she gave Richard an icy glare. She held Richard’s gaze as she finished pulling off her fine leather gloves, neatly arranging them before placing them on her lap. "Well you see the problem with you Richard is that you have never had any discipline in your life." Jennifer paused to allow the word discipline to sink in. "Your mother spoilt you dreadfully, while your father was too kind and generous a man to see what a horrible son he really had. I have done a lot of thinking and I have come to the conclusion that it is not too late to bring some discipline into your life and furthermore I have decided that it is now my responsibility to ensure you receive that discipline." Jennifer was managing to stay calm as she started to confront Richard, although she nervously toyed with her gloves as she spoke. "Look Jennifer, I am thirty years old and I don’t think I need you to tell me how to run my life" sneered Richard. "And who do you think you are to lecture me"? "Richard. Firstly I have no intention of lecturing you. The time for lecturing is over. I simply will tell you how to run your life and you will do as I say. From now on, the consequences of not doing as I say will be very painful. I am now going to show you just how painful it will be". Richard looked at Jennifer in outright astonishment. "What on earth are you talking about Jennifer". "I am deadly serious Richard. Although I have to admit that I think I am going to enjoy giving you a damn good hiding, my main aim is to help you grow up and make something of your life." Jennifer had got Richard’s attention now. She got the impression that he understood that he was in trouble. They both knew the hold she had over him through her control of the money. Richard maybe childish, but he knew the importance of money. "Look Jennifer, I don’t know where you got this crazy idea from, but you can’t just go round threatening people with physical violence. It’s just not on" barked Richard with as much assertion as he could muster. "Not only that, but how can you – a woman – punish me." "Physical violence! I hadn’t thought of it as that before. I suppose it is, but if ever it was deserved". Jennifer stood up and walked over to Richard who was sitting bolt upright. "Richard. If you want your allowance to continue, you will do exactly as I say and take the punishment that I have in mind without question. If you refuse, then I will ensure that you will remain penniless. Now I am going to make myself a cup of tea. When I get back I expect you to have made your decision and I’ll show you how a woman can punish a nasty little boy." With a surge of strength, Jennifer brought her hand back and slapped Richard around the face with her leather gloves and marched off to the kitchen. Richard was so stunned that he just sat transfixed trying to get his head round what had just happened. "What the hell had come over her" he kept thinking. But slowly the reality grabbed hold of him. His lawyer had also assured him that there was no way he could get his hands on a single penny without Jennifer’s consent. Anger built up in him creating murderous thoughts. Not a solution assured his lawyer. Richard thought desperately of ways to get Jennifer off his back, but he could think of nothing constructive. "So what did she have in mind when she talked of punishment. She’s only a woman, so how badly could she hurt me" thought Richard. "Okay, its going to be extremely humiliating, but lets go along with her little game and get this over with". As Richard came to his conclusion, he heard the click, click of Jennifer’s heels as she entered the library. She walked over to a chair and sat down and took a sip of tea. "So Richard, what is it to be?"
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