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Then his ar e and safe They were strange feelings given the life she had led stranger yet because of the kind of life she was entering And yet it all see home

Finally they lay together, spent

He watched the lids fall over her eyes, listened to her even breathing, and pulled the quilt up around her, snuggling her into his side In his hands was the leash he had attached to cuffs around her wrists, holding her hands together,her his even in sleep Then he too slept, certain in the knowledge that finally he had found his Prize

The Journey Begins

‘Hey, Abi wait You’re always in such a hurry to get away these days’

Abi slowed her pace reluctantly to wait for Nikki to coside

‘I’m late for an appointment over the other side of town What’s up?’ She resented this intrusion on her thoughts

‘Well, your contract is al planned? Anywhere to ards work?’

Abi sighed She didn’t need this now ‘I’ve been filling in application foro to yet’

‘Well, you could do worse than staying on with us andinto another position You know Boss would be happy; there’s always a place so to find anywhere new at all’

She knehat Boss wanted, only too well And she deserved better For three years he’d taken the credit for what she’d achieved, pushing his na her ideas, her words, her plans Now her contract was almost complete he needed her to turn her attentions in another direction, passing her on into a field that was flagging in the hope she would raise its profile, and his into the bargain

Abi looked at her watch, quickening her pace ‘I’o But I’ll keep you posted’ She pushed open the outer door leading to the car park, and was soon through the barrier, snug in her Nissan, away out of sight of the building with Nikki standing looking after her

She knew Nikki would report to Boss She also realised she’d be hounded, goaded, coaxed and cajoled until she could positively say she had soo Boss badly needed her services, which she wasn’t prepared to give, not anyMoving on Even those who’d worked there for years were having second thoughts He wasn’t a st staff He only fuelled the fire by setting one person up against another In failing toh places She didn’t intend to put her own reputation on the line, to be a part of their downfall, or on the other hand, sign another contract while they all souarantees at the end

Abi spurred the Nissan through a network of roads, dropping in to speak to people in three locallife had been about roups in various parts of the country She was used to evenings and weekends taken up helping a young ho exhibitions, pro newsletters, listening and supporting whenever and wherever needed

Her whole life, it seemed, had been about service to others She ell-liked, well-respected, relied upon by people in authority as well as those on the street Was it so wrong to want for herself the saiven others?