The Life and Times Of Erin Wilson

The Sisterhood held its monthly meetings in the grand homes of its members. This month, it was Lady Dunston's mansion in Kent, a sprawling, elegant estate with manicured grounds that seemed to swallow the light. Six of them were there, gathered in a wood-paneled library that smelled of old books, beeswax, and expensive perfume. They were not there to discuss business or politics. They were there to play a game.

Each lady had submitted two names. One, a potential dominant, a woman who showed the spark of their own nature. The other, a potentially submissive male, a man whose soul cried out for a firm hand. Each name had been thoroughly investigated, their lives laid bare, their secrets cataloged. The findings were placed in numbered files: the dominant ladies in red, the submissive men in black.

The game was simple. They rolled a red die and a black die. The numbers picked out the corresponding files. The goal was to see if fate, with a little nudge from their collective influence, could bring these two people together. It was a game of creation: building their ranks, finding new members, and new toys.

Erin had entered Jack Gardner as her submissive. She had also entered a woman named Janet Murphy, who ran one of her most successful estate agents' offices. Janet was sharp, ambitious, and ruthless, a younger version of herself, and Erin had seen the fire in her eyes. She was a perfect candidate for the red files.

Lady Dunston, a woman in her seventies with the imperious grace of a queen, rolled the dice. They skittered across the polished mahogany table. The red die landed on a six. The black die landed on a three.

"A six and a three," Lady Dunston announced, her voice a melodious purr. She retrieved the corresponding files. "The red file is Vanessa Walker. The black file... is Jack Gardner."

A murmur of appreciation went around the room. Erin felt a thrill of satisfaction, a sharp, predatory pleasure. It was perfect. One of her names had been chosen.

"The black file," Lady Dunston continued, opening Jack's file, "was put forward by Erin. An employee who has shown some very definitive submissive qualities. It seems he's a natural."

"And the red file?" Sheila asked, her eyes glinting with amusement.

"Vanessa Walker," Lady Dunston said, smiling. "Put forward by Coleen, she owns a string of dry-cleaning establishments. Coleen has met with her on a number of occasions and has prodded her with priming questions, and Colleen believes she is ready."

The plan was formed quickly. They would push these two people in the right direction. As luck would have it, they belonged to the same singles club. So they already knew each other. It would be to place one of our girls to help things along a little.

The hopeful outcome was clear. They would have found another willing candidate for the Sisterhood in Vanessa, and another toy for them all to play with in Jack. Erin leaned back in her chair, a slow, satisfied smile spreading across her face. The game was afoot; it would be good to sit back and see how things transpired. She thought of Jack, of the quiet submission in his eyes, and of Vanessa, of the raw ambition in her soul.