The Stag Party

'Can I talk for a minute?' Alan had put his head round the door of my office.

I beckoned him in. 'You look worried!' I had known him for ten years and employed him for five, so I could read his face. 'What's the problem?'

'It's these, Fred!' He laid out several large photographs on the desk in front of me. They all showed a man tied down and spread-eagled face-up on a very large round bed with black sheets in a room with expansive mirrors to all sides. Three beautiful young women, bewigged respectively in pink, blue and green, wearing nothing but black suspender belts, stockings and stilettos, appeared either separately or together in all of the photographs. None showed their face to the camera, but they were obviously enjoying themselves playing with the man's body and especially his erect penis.

'It look's like the pink lady is in charge!' I pointed out that she seemed to be ordering the other two about. 'And enjoying herself hugely!' I was quite flippant, as I could tell from the glimpse of the man's face, the dark red socks that he was wearing and the dinner suit, shirt and red tie disgarded randomly on the floor, that he was indeed Alan. 'What did you get up to in that hotel after your stag party?'

'I don't know!' He shook his head. 'You lot got me so drunk! I just hope that whoever e-mailed these to me, doesn't send a copy to Josie!'

'I should think not! After all, if they want money, then they'll send a blackmail note.' I shook my head. 'And there's no point in breaking up your marriage, unless of course they want to bed the delicious Josie!' I smiled. 'I might like do that myself, but then I've been married far too long and I'm far too old!'

'I'll see you and Angela, tonight!' Both of us, plus a lot of friends and partners, were all going to dinner at Alan's new house in North London to celebrate his first year of marriage.

'Of course! I'll sweep our bedroom for bugs and hidden cameras first!'

***

It had been an outrageous stag party. And to think that he had not wanted to have one!

But as our business had grown from being just successful, to extremely so, Peter, David and myself, felt that the youngest of our fellow partners in the company, needed a very special send-off for his third marriage at the very tender age of thirty-five. We had also felt it might not be a bad idea as it might help to curb his wandering tendencies. Especially as Josie was young, beautiful and extremely streetwise. She also knew the man she was marrying only too well!

We'd originally intended to have a meal in a London hotel, perhaps take in a strip show and then end up at some dodgy club.

But then, about two months before the wedding, Angela and I had gone for a meal at a rather special hotel near to our home in Suffolk. We'd only ever been there for meals as the chef had a Michelin star and his food suited our tastes. We also knew that some of the rooms were slightly over the top and possibly bizarre or even kinky. So as it was very quiet that evening, I broached the subject of holding the stag party at the hotel with the owner.

'It's a good market for us!' We'd known Steve Ogden for about ten years. 'I've checked and that week in June is free at the moment. You can have six rooms on the Thursday and two if you want them on Friday. That is in addition to the special mirrored suite. You'd like that!'

'That will be fine.' I quickly counted. 'I think we'll need to put up ten or twelve for dinner, but I'll be staying at home and we can take any overflow. I'm pretty certain that it'll be just two on Friday, as Alan and the best man will stay over.'

'That won't be a problem!' Steve continued. 'We'll give you dinner in the large function room. It's all steel, marble, glass and leather. And so easy to clean up after the sort of do, that you'll be having!' He stood behind Angela's chair, pulled it back as she rose and motioned for us to follow him.

***

'Wow!' Angela exclaimed. 'We'd heard that the room was spectacular, but the rumours don't do it justice!'

'I thought you'd like it!' Steve was pleased. 'I just wanted something so different, that you'd always want to have your special parties here!'

He was right. It was totally different and obviously appealed to his rather camp sense of humour! For a start it was elliptical, with the longer dimension about twenty-five metres and the shorter perhaps fifteen. The floor was a light grey and probably expensive marble and the walls were similarly lined to about two metres. One side opened through a series of high stainless steel French windows onto the garden behind. The ceiling too was high and the room lit by lights about halfway up the white walls, which left a dark mysterious void above. A long glass table was set for about a dozen and ran along the long axis of the room. Angela and I sat in two of the leather chairs arranged at the table. We smiled at each other to agree that despite their odd looks they were very comfortable.

'I do like it!' I looked around. 'Some might think it's a bit stark! But it's so practical!'

'We had an old guy's eightieth in here on Sunday and everybody loved it.'

'You'd say that wouldn't you!' Perhaps Angela wasn't as keen as I was. She had stood up and moved towards the centre of the table. 'What's this here?' She indicated a circular hole about a metre across in the centre of the table. 'Is it something to do with that glass plate over the other hole in the floor?'

'Partly!' Steve was grinning. 'On Sunday we had an enormous flower arrangement in the centre. Because of the hole in the table, we could stand it on the floor.'

'Very practical!' Angela at least liked that idea. But she was one for flowers!

'We also have a variety of suitable table centres.' Steve pointed to the floor. 'We can also fit an enormous cake over that hole, so that someone can come through a tunnel into the cake and then jump out of it!'

'I thought that girls out of cakes was very old hat!' Angela was being sarcastic.

'It's not just girls!' He raised his eyebrows. 'I'm really looking forward to when same-sex relationships become legal. It'll be a whole new opportunity!'

***

'What's that?' Angela looked upward as we heard a whirring sound. She pointed as she saw something like a swing descending. 'It's not a trapeze is it?'

Steve smiled. 'It is at the moment! But it can be a gondola, so that the happy couple can leave after a wedding reception.' He switched on the lights in the roof using a complicated remote control to show it fully. 'See up there!' He pointed. 'The floor shuts and then you can walk to the upstairs bridal suite.'

'Very naff!'

'Absolutely!' Steve appeared to be very pleased with himself. 'We can arrange the trapeze complete with a topless artist if you would like. She's very good. Erotic too!'

'I bet!' Angela was laughing. 'Not my taste though! What other delights have you got?'

'Just the usual.' He touched a button on the remote control and a screen rolled out of the wall. 'Video and full surround sound! We've got a stage and under the floor over there, there is a jacuzzi!'

***

'That all seems fine!' We were now in the mirrored suite. I looked at Angela and she nodded. 'We'll take that and I'll confirm the number of rooms tomorrow. This'll do for the victim!'

'It's like that, then!' Steve pointed to the mirror in front of the large round bed. 'You realise that there can be a camera behind that mirror! For filming we find that black silk sheets are best! Unless of course those in the bed aren't white!'

'No!' Angela put her hand to her mouth.

'It's the latest craze! Couples like to have their first night of passion on video for posterity!' Steve had another thought! 'What sort of waitresses do you want? Traditional, sexy, topless, whores? We can do anything within reason!'

'How do you mean?' Angela probably knew what my choice would be!

'For one do recently, we had four very overweight, topless waitresses. They were disgusting!'

'How about some beautiful girls, tastefully dressed in stockings, suspenders, thongs and stillettos?' I asked the question and Angela giggled as she'd guessed right. 'And how about some of those coloured wigs like Natalie Portman wore in Closer?'

'Consider it done!' He had a second thought. 'If you want to avoid serious trouble, we can arrange for the waitresses to have their virtue protected in steel chastity belts! That usually goes down very well and avoids all sorts of embarrassments!'

The look Angela gave me, said that she had had an idea! I doubt if she would tell me!

***

On the day of the party, I was surprised to see that Angela had not gone to the hospital. She told me that she was having a day off, as with all the men staying overnight, she had to get the house prepared. She hoped that I'd chosen guests, who were less likely to throw up! But judging by her attitude that morning, I knew she had a bigger and more devious plan on her mind.

I had arranged a meeting with Alan at about three in our offices in London and the plan was that he would be kidnapped by two appropriately dressed ladies in a stretch limousine and then taken to Suffolk. Hopefully, he'd be well into the intended downward spiral before he arrived.

The meeting and the kidnapping went exactly as planned!

I may have wondered where Steve got the two girls, but I certainly didn't question his choice, as they were absolutely gorgeous. As promised, they were in the requisite underwear, with one bewigged in green and the other in blue. To hide their identity, they wore exotic mask-like make-up, with lips painted to match the wigs. As promised by Steve, to protect their virtue they were in steel. They wore long fur coats to attempt to protect their modesty as they escorted him reluctantly to the limo, accompanied by shouts, cheers and cat-calls by a crowd that was trying to work out what was going on! As a finale, they both let their coats fall open.

I was pretty certain that it was going to be a very enjoyable evening!

***

I finally caught up with Alan at about seven in the mirrored room. He was sitting, dressed ready for dinner, with a glass of champagne in an arm-chair watching Anne Robinson humiliate people on her popular game show. The television screen was almost too large for the palatial room.

'Do you like her?' I asked.

'I can imagine her with lots of leather, thigh high boots and a whip!' He laughed. 'But I've always been a coward! The reality might be painful!'

'Perhaps you need a touch of it!' He was twenty years younger than me, and I was trying to give him some fatherly advice. 'Remember, your last marriage cost you a lot of money. And a lot of shares in this company. Don't fuck it all up! Again!'

'Thanks!' He didn't seem happy. 'I needed that!' He shrugged. 'Was it your idea to keep those girls under lock and key for the journey?'

'No! Steve, the owner here, had suggested it!'

'Oh! I thought it was your idea!' Alan laughed. 'It made me behave though! They even bathed and dressed me! Something definitely to be remembered!'

'Glad you're enjoying it!' I made to leave. 'Shall we go to the bar and meet the others!'

***

Alan was pleased to see that all of the usual suspects were in the private bar. I thought that about a third were single and another third were divorced. Peter, David and myself all fitted into married and fairly long with it too. The girls had now become four, with one of the new ones in orange and another in pink! Steve was keeping order from behind the bar!

He received another drink from the orange lady. She kissed him gently on the cheek, which was the thank you that everyone seemed to get with their drink. As the night progessed kisses turned to cuddles, hugs and more.

And it continued in the same vein until about eleven. Food was served in several small courses, wine of all colours was drunk, girls kissed gently and rubbed backs and generally fondled. Everybody talked, told jokes and remembered past times, that were both good and bad. All teased Alan about his two previous weddings and divorces. And then as if by magic two stainless steel poles rose slowly out of the floor. I didn't at first realise what was happening, but others in the room had seen pole-dancing before and cheered as pink and blue danced to a varied selection of music. Tips were placed in stocking tops, kisses were exchanged, the girls replaced each other in turn and more champagne flowed.

As the orgy progressed, I sat, drank and watched, until the lady in pink approached me. Perhaps, she had decided that as I was the eldest that I needed special treatment, but she led me from the chair at the table to one of the soft leather sofas that had been strategically placed around the room. 'Are you comfortable?' She whispered and started to remove my jacket and tie. I didn't stop her. 'Feel me!' She moved my hand to her steel crotch. 'Do you like that? So near and yet so far!'

I couldn't really think of anything sensible to say. 'It's different!' It certainly was.

'I have to be shaved totally bare underneath!' She moved my hand to stroke the stainless steel and feel the two brass locks that held it in place. 'Otherwise I itch! Do you like your women like that?'

'Itching or shaved!'

'Shaved! Silly!' She moved my left hand to her breast. 'Play with my nipple! I need relief! Now! Please!'

'My wife has no hair at all! She had it lasered away! So the answer must be yes!' I gently stroked, touched, fondled and squeezed her nipple, whilst the other hand rubbed the steel. 'Can you really have an orgasm like that?'

***

Suddenly the lights dimmed and spotlights shone up towards the ceiling. A black leather-clad figure was descending on the trapeze, which was gently swinging backwards and forwards. Gradually it became obvious, that it was a woman in a heavily-corsetted cat suit with a hood, stiletto-heeled boots and a long riding crop in her left hand. Slowly the swinging stopped and she stepped onto the table before she was helped by two gallant men down onto the floor. She marched straight over to me!

'What do you think you are doing?' The dominatrix winked at me through the eye-holes of the hood. I also knew that Angela was left-handed. 'You're almost old enough to be her grand-father!'

Everybody laughed and the pink lady stood and ran for the door of the room, slamming it as she left.

I realised I was part of some cabaret. Or at least I hoped I was! So I thought the best thing to do was to kneel and beg forgiveness. The lady winked again. 'What would your wife say? Angela isn't it! I suggest that you lick my boots. And lick them well! Otherwise I'll tell her everything!' I complied. 'Now put your jacket on and go and get that silly girl back. I need a drink! Paddy and a little bit of water!' The girl in green rushed to the bar. If it wasn't Angela then the choice of alcohol confirmed it.

I didn't have to go far, as my erstwhile plaything had sheepishly decided to return to the room. I grabbed her arm and brought her back to Angela. 'You're in trouble!' I whispered. But I got no reply.

***

Angela beckoned her to come forward with the whip.

'Miss Pink!' She waved the whip in a downward motion. 'What were you doing with that old gentleman over there?' Angela pointed the whip in my direction. 'I suggest you grovel!'

The pink lady knelt! 'Please! He encouraged me!'

'This is a stag night!' The whip was waved in a circle. 'So you must do what all of these disgusting men want! How many blow jobs have you done?' Angela was enjoying herself.

'I haven't' Pink stammered.

'I suggest you need a substantial punishment!' Angela pointed towards the door. 'Can some of you gentlemen get what's behind the door?' Several of the particpants walked towards it and retrieved what looked like an unusual vaulting horse or a fiendish chair with lots of polished wood, padding and leather straps. 'Strap her in please!'

Soon she was head down, bottom up and completely immobile.

***

The pink lady appeared to be crying and had a very red bottom, as she was unstrapped. She had received several hard strokes from Angela's whip. Slowly, she got unsteadily to her feet. 'Show your punishment to everyone!' Angela waved the whip again. 'Say! Thank you!'

'Thank you!' She stuttered the words out as she turned a full circle.

'Now go and get me another drink!'

Pink complied and walked as quick as she could towards the bar.

Refreshed by the whiskey, Angela addressed the audience, who were gathered round. Most of the men had discarded their jackets and several were very drunk. 'Is there anybody else who'd like to be punished for past or future sins?'

At this moment the door opened and two women burst in. They were dressed in identical strapless, blue silk ball-gowns. 'Yes! Yes!' They cried in unison and rushed straight towards Alan.

He tried to run, but just fell over. 'Fuck! It's the ex-wives!' He just about managed to say it, before they dragged him to his feet and marched him towards his fate.

***

I woke in bed the next morning at about nine, with a sore head and Angela cuddled around me. She was still wearing the leather corset, as in our drunken state, after we'd returned from the party about two, I had been unable to undo the laces to let her out. As I tried to turn, she grabbed me and I realised that she was also awake. As one does, I asked the unnecessary question. 'Are you awake?'

Angela gripped my penis and giggled to say yes.

'Are you comfortable in that corset?' Angela didn't reply. Although, she likes to be laced into a corset for special occasions, I'd never seen her in anything like the one she was wearing. It was black leather, just about covered and severely uplifted her breasts, had no front busk and was tightly laced at the back. It must have been made to measure as it fitted her perfectly and reduced her waist more than I'd ever seen. 'By the way, who laced you in?' Normally, that would have been my pleasure.

'That's my secret!' She put a finger to her lips.

'Well you'll just have to stay in until I decide to let you out!'

'That will be fun!' She raised herself, swung her legs round and stood beside the bed. She then reached down and aligned and reattached the black seamed stockings she was still wearing. 'I think I'll wear it today. You don't mind do you?'

I smiled. 'But as we've got guests, you had better make yourself decent!'

She walked to her wardrobe and held up a very short, black leather skirt, that I'd not seen before. 'Will this do?' As she put it on, I could see that the waist had been specifially made to fit the corset. She retrieved a short jacket that obviously matched the skirt. 'Do you want me to put this on?'

'No! Our guests won't mind!' I looked at her feet in red Scholl sandals. 'You'll have to put some stillettos on though!'

***

The kitchen was busy, although none of our four guests felt like conversation. Angela had stopped short of a fried breakfast, but everything else we might have needed was provided. I just kept to a few Corn Flakes and some grapefruit juice.

An hour later, everyone had left and Angela and I were clearing up the debris in the kitchen. Goodbyes had been long and drawn out, as all the guests wanted to give Angela a very good hug for the hospitality. The general consensus had been that it had been one hell of a stag party and perhaps we ought to do things like it more often. Partners might even be involved! But unaminously they all wanted Angela for the cabaret!

'You were a real hit there! Not bad for someone my side of fifty!' I put my arms around her. 'Will there be any repeats?'

'Probably!' I knew from the smile that she wasn't lying. 'I'll certainly wear this skirt and jacket over it when I want to have some power! But on the other hand I get enough of that at work.'

'It would be interesting for you to go to into theatre with leather underwear!' I was feeling the firmness of the corset. 'Could you operate in this?'

'It would be ideal for things like vasectomies! Get men in the right mood!' She paused before continuing. 'But, I'll admit that I do minor surgery in my office, in a suit, stockings and heels. Usually though, I have my knickers on!' She laughed. 'Not like today!'

My hand had raised the hem of her skirt and I was playing with her. She was responding by kissing me, with one hand behind my neck and the other struggling to get down my trousers. 'Did you enjoy last night?' She moved her legs apart, so that my hand could probe inside. 'I thought you did! You'll have to be corsetted at night more. Your tiny waist means that you are so easy to hold and control!'

'It also means that all the bits pulled apart by your children are much tighter and my pleasure is so much better!'

I'd picked her up and was in the process of carrying her to the sitting room, when the phone rang. We looked at each other and both decided that the phone ought to be answered. Disappointly, I picked it up. It was Alan! He was agitated and needed to come over urgently. 'Take a taxi! See you in twenty minutes or so!' I put the receiver down and turned to Angela. Again, I could tell that she knew more than she was telling.

***

'Look!' Alan was standing in the kitchen with his trousers and underpants lowered. 'I woke up this morning and found that I'd been shaved and locked into this!' His penis and balls seemed to be locked into an acrylic shell secured with a brass padlock.

Angela came forward and examined it closely. 'I've never seen one before myself, but it looks like one of those chastity devices!' She looked at the padlock. 'It seems secure to me. 'Someone must have a key somewhere!' She stood up and looked him firmly in the face. 'Who shared your bed last night? I suspect you were up to something!'

'I thought it was the girl in pink!' Alan looked very worried. 'Can you get it off? You're a surgeon aren't you?'

'Yes! I normally do little bits of general surgery like vasectomies!' She smiled. 'It seems this is a bit bigger than that!' Angela pointed at me! 'Fred! Have you got a hacksaw with a sharp blade? And get those small bolt cutters. Also, you might be able to smash the plastic, with that hammer you use to break up hardcore.'

'Stop it! You ... can't!' He was stuttering and very white. 'You can't use anything like that on me!'

'I could take you to the hospital! They'd love that! Your story would be in the Sun tomorrow!' I could see she was enjoying herself. 'Groom needs the help of four firemen to release his tackle for his wedding!'

'It's not funny!' Alan was not very amused. If at all!

***

I returned to find Angela strapping Alan securely to the large kitchen table, after first laying out some fiendish looking implements. She was also wearing a mask and surgical gloves. 'Why are you tying Alan like that?' I asked.

'For something like this, we'd normally use anaesthetic. I haven't got any and obviously you haven't, so I've got to make sure he doesn't move.' She tightened another strap holding him around the waist. 'Here! Put this mask on!' She handed me another surgical mask. 'Alan! Would you like to be blindfolded? It'll help! Barber surgeons used to use a gin soaked rag to bite on as well! You won't need that.'

'If you think it would be best!' His voice was frightened and weak. 'I'm a real coward!'

I took the blindfold, placed it over his eyes and tied it around his head. I could feel he was sweating profusely and breathing quickly.

As I looked back towards Angela, she had her finger to her mouth, asking me to be silent. Her other hand then held up a small key, which looked like it would fit the padlock. So I had been right all along and Angela was deeper in to this, than I had originally thought! 'Come here and let's see if you can cut the padlock whilst I hold it!' Angela took hold of the padlock and held it so I could try to cut it.

But as I didn't need to cut it and my hacksaw wasn't hard and sharp enough to cut it anyway, I decided that all we needed was the sawing noise. So I reversed the blade for safety and started scraping it on the hasp of the padlock. The noise was absolutely right for the purpose and we could both feel Alan shaking. After five minutes or so, Angela motioned me to stop.

'Is everything OK?' Alan was sounding very apprehensive.

'All is well!' Angela reassured. 'Fred's going to have a drink and put in a new sharper blade! You should be out in about fifteen minutes or so!' I noticed that she had retrieved a tray of ice cubes from the fridge.

I made noises as I took the blade out and put it back in. 'Hold still! Alan! You should be more careful about getting drunk and sleeping with a certain type of lady!' I started the simulated sawing again.

'Hang on! Fred!' Angela lifted the saw out of the way. 'I'm afraid we've cut you slightly.' She touched him with the ice cube.

Alan screamed.

***

After a lot more simulated sawing and applications of ice, Angela brought out another identical padlock. Except that this one had had it's hasp previously sawn through. She indicated that I should continue sawing. 'We're almost through now, Alan! Can you lie perfectly still, as Fred's going to use the bolt cutters?'

I placed the cutters on the hasp and squeezed. Nothing happened, as even these very special double-acting cutters, couldn't make any mark on the hardened steel. 'I'm sorry, Alan! We'll have to continue sawing!' I resumed with the back of the blade.

Then a minute or so later, with great care and still masked by the noise of my sawing, Angela undid the lock and quickly dropped it into my pocket out of the way. 'We're through now! The padlock is just coming off now! You'll be free in a minute.' She quickly threw the remaining ice into the sink, so that Alan wouldn't realise he had been duped.

We made an elaborate ritual of removing the device and then unstrapping Alan from the table.

Finally he stood and quickly dressed himself again. 'Thanks! I don't know what to say!'

'You'll be OK in a few hours!' Angela put her arm round him for reassurance. 'By the way, how are you going to explain the haircut to Josie?' She laughed.

Alan went bright red!

***

Despite his two failed marriages, Alan had managed to acquire a large Edwardian semi-detached in Muswell Hill, a short walk from the back gate of Alexandra Palace. Much to everybody's surprise, Angela and I had walked up the stiff hill from the main line station in the evening sunshine, after getting a slow train from Cambridge. At least it avoided the persitent problems of parking anywhere in London.

The dinner was formal and we changed in the stark modern bedroom where we were to spend the night. This time I got the pleasure of lacing Angela very tightly into the leather corset. Not for the first time though, as she'd started to wear the short black suit she'd worn after the stag party with quite a regularity. Especially, when she wanted to impress or perhaps stir people up. But this time she didn't wear the black suit, but a long red leather skirt, that was split far up her right thigh. She tottered on a pair of black stiletto heeled boots. I was not as boring as usual as I was wearing a white jacket.

As we descended the stairs I recognised the waitress in the green wig. She was more discrete this time in that she wore a lace corset and a thong instead of the steel of a year ago. But the make-up and everything else was the same. She offered champagne to both of us and then gave the kiss just as she had done before. Behind her I could see girls in orange, blue and pink.

'Are they the same girls?' I quietly asked Angela.

'Yes!' She giggled.

'Who's idea were they? Josie's?'

Angela shook her head. She bent over to whisper in my ear. 'Mine! But you paid!'

'What's going on?'

'Watch, wait and obey everything I tell you!'

***

'What's going on?' Alan approached me as soon as I got into the living room, where everybody was drinking and talking. 'These are the same girls as you got at the stag do. What's Josie going to do, when she finds out the truth?'

'What is the truth?' I asked the question, to which I was sure he didn't know the answer.

'I don't know!' He was distinctly worried. 'First I get the pictures, now I get the same four girls in corsets and stockings. It's the nightmare from hell! Sorry! Heaven?' He grabbed a drink from the girl in orange.

Before any more could be said, Josie who was dressed in a stunning sequined sheath dress, approached us, gave me a kiss and led us both into the dining room, beckoning everyone else to follow. 'You're all placed! That is if you can read!' I sat down at one of the long tables, each of which seated ten. I liked it that Josie seemed to have arranged that everybody's partner was on the other table. Nothing cramps your stories and style, than having your partner hear them again.

She had dealt me a good hand, in that I was sitting next to two of the most beautiful of the girls in the room. Albeit that their combined age, was probably about the same as mine alone. I am not one to decry beautiful young girls, but sometimes I do find that opportunities for serious conversation are lacking. Perhaps, it was because my musical taste had been set in the sixties. But it would be if you had seen such as the Beatles, the Stones and the Animals live!

Just as the meal in Suffolk had flowed, this one proceeded at a fast pace. The best wines were poured and as before several small courses were served by the multi-coloured girls. The conversation was good too, as both my companions were quite prepared to stand up to my provocative arguments. At least, I could see Angela was still at the opposite table and there was not enough height in the room for a trapeze.

But I did sense that a surprise was coming.

***

After an appetiser, a sorbet to clear the palette and a fish course, the girls under Josie's instructions brought in plates with domed covers for everybody. I noticed that different coloured ribbons were applied to each. I got red, whereas the girl to my left got green. But I knew she was a vegetarian. But why did Alan's have a black ribbon? He was three places away from me and I could see he was nervous.

With all the fuss and excitement caused by the current course, I'd missed the fact, that Angela had dissappeared. Josie stood and was adamant. 'It's not time to take the hats off yet! I've got to get something else!' As she left the room, followed by the waitresses, the lights dimmed, so that the only light was that of flickering candles.

Out of the dark, Angela entered.

But it was not the Angela in the red leather skirt, but the Angela of a year ago in the tight leather cat suit and boots, with the whip in her hand. 'Do you remember me, Alan?'

He got up and walked towards her between the two long tables. 'What have you in store for me this time? Last year, it was my ex-wives!' The men in the room laughed and those of the women who knew, joined in. 'What is it this time?'

'Nothing at all!' She threw the whip to the floor and unzipped her hood before pulling it back. 'Did you realise who the lady was last year?' Alan looked stunned. 'I suggest you sit down and all tuck in to the main course.'

Everybody raised the covers to look at what fate had delivered them. Most smiled. But Alan did not and he lifted the acrylic device with which he had been imprisoned a year ago. 'Fuck! What's this about?' Everybody started to laugh as they realised what was on Alan's plate.

It was at that point that what had happened a year ago, all became clear.

The girl in pink returned to the room with a large candle in her right hand and another dome covered plate in the other. But she had changed and she was now wearing the chastity belt of a year ago and no corset. After she had placed the candle and the plate in front of Alan she stood back and removed the pink wig.

'Happy first wedding anniversary, darling!'