Angela and Vonda Ch. 09

He got the woman on the phone, explained the unique circumstances she'd be dealing with at their house, made her a ridiculously high salary offer, one he knew would underwrite his unstated ambitions for Angela but would also insure her silence when she was finished.

Mrs. Vermillion assured him she would be available within four weeks. First she had to complete the work she was doing, then, considering what he'd said about Angela, she had to order certain kinds of special paraphernalia that would be required in her work with their patient. Brandon agreed to sign off on any purchases she made. The two settled a few other minor matters such as Mary's position in the house, Vonda's situation, and all the legal guarantees the older woman felt she needed. He hung up the phone confident he'd made the right decision.

While Brandon discussed matters with Mrs. Vermillion he watched from window as the two former nurses Marge and Dorothy loaded their possessions into a rental car he'd provided for their departure. These were two women with histories of their own. Neither, he was sure, considering the generous separation bonuses and lavish letters of recommendation each had received would ever be a problem. Yes, they'd done their jobs, and done them well, but the train had passed them by. He had to move on, and to do that he had to move them out.

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As Marge and Dorothy loaded the rental with their possessions Dorothy grumbled for the ten thousandth time about how they were being displaced for only doing what they'd been expected to do.

Marge had agreed silently all night with only an occasional nod or harrumph. Now however, once they were fully out of earshot she had something else to say, "Dorothy," she asked, "has it occurred to you that the plan we'd evolved involved the rescue of that poor woman upstairs there. That we had planned to get her out of the clutches of that evil woman Vonda and then persuade her, that is Angela, to reward us. Hell, let's remember Angela is a rich woman. Her rescue would have been our pathway to the good life."

Dorothy answered, "Don't you know it. Now I guess we're just shit out of luck."

Marge wasn't so sure, "You know girlfriend our little upstairs prisoner had a life before she came to marry and live out here."

"So what," answered Dorothy, "don't we all have past lives?"

"Yes, but I know something about our little hostage's past. She had a lover, another man, a man who really cared for her, but the stupid one upstairs was ambitious. She wanted too much. Now she's trapped, alone, and without a chance of ever escaping."

"So what, we're stuck too."

"Oh no we're not Dorothy dear; I know some things."

"Oh yeah, like what?"

"I know who her former lover is. I know where he lives, what he does, and I'll bet he'd still be interested in what our little Angela might be up to."

"You mean you think he might still care about her?"

"I don't know. I really don't care. But if he did, he might care enough to want to do something."

"You mean like help?"

"Maybe and then maybe he might want to show his gratitude to anyone who knew what we know."

"You mean like play Galahad, and rescue the trapped maiden."

"Well some men are still like that; the kind who love, really love, and will stop at nothing to save the beleaguered heroine."

"Where does this hero live?"

"All the way on the other side of the country?"

"Well that sort of does it, don't you think?"

"I don't know Dorothy. Why don't we use some of this money old smart ass Croesus gave us and pay the other guy a visit. Who knows? He might still care."

"Does this guy have name?"

"You bet. His name is Travis O'Donnell."

"Christ an Irishman."

"Who better? You know they're almost always the syrupy ones."

"Well Margie girl, it looks like a plane ride across country for somebody."

"You mean two somebodies don't you?"

"Yep, two somebodies."

Brandon smiled to himself as the rental car pulled down the long tree lined gravel drive. Yes, he thought, there go two headaches he'll never have to worry about again.

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Brandon used the intercom and called Mary's room, "Good morning sweetheart. Did you sleep well?"

Mary blossomed. He called her his sweetheart, "Yes, I slept wonderfully. I kept dreaming I'd died and gone to heaven."

Brando smiled to himself, "No not yet. Get dressed and meet me downstairs in the breakfast room."

Mary answered, "Yes darling." She turned off the intercom and sped to the bathroom. She needed to shower, wash her hair, shave her legs, and re-trim her vagina, and then find something other than a maid's uniform to wear. She remembered Brandon, in the soft aftermath of their lovemaking, had told her to consider wearing some of Angela's things.

She rushed through her shower, gave her legs a slap and a promise, wrapped herself in a bathrobe and dashed down the hall and up the stairs to where all Angela's clothes were closeted. She ran inside and looked everything over. There were so many nice things she just couldn't decide. Finally she settled on a crisp white Vee-necked button up short sleeved blouse; a blouse with the slightest hint of lace trim on the collar and sleeves and the tiniest suggestion of capped shoulders. Beneath the blouse she put on a simple white camisole that held her breasts in place. She decided to eschew the use of a brassiere. She found some dark blue stockings, a pair of black patent leather low heeled shoes, and an equally dark pair of navy blue panties. Everything fit perfectly. Looking around the hangers she found the matching dark navy blue pleated mini-skirt, and slipped it on.

She remembered watching Angela wear this very outfit once. The skirt was tastefully short, but of such a light weight material that the slightest wind caused it to flit and roil about.

She stayed in Angela's old room; she looked over the other woman's make ups. She applied some soft pink eye shadow and pale pink lipstick. She went to work on her hair and tied it back in a tight pony tail. She looked herself over, and decided to redo her hair. She undid the pony tail and redid it in a tight bun. The ponytail was too youthful. It might remind Brandon of the other woman alone upstairs.

In fact she checked the clock. The woman upstairs probably needed someone. She was probably hungry, and certainly lonely, maybe even a little desperate. Well Angela would have to wait a little longer. Mary readjusted her look and went downstairs to the breakfast room.

Brandon was there waiting for her. He'd been up and about fixing breakfast. On the table was a pile of scrambled eggs, some strips of bacon, several pieces of toast, two glasses of orange juice and two cups of coffee.

Mary took one look and realized she was really hungry, "Mm, breakfast."

Brandon pulled out a chair, "Good morning Miss Mary."

She smiled sweetly and answered, "Good morning Mr. Brandon."

He thought, yeah, they all fall for the same lines. He added, "It's good to see you darling. I've been thinking about you all night." In truth he hadn't given her a moment's consideration, but he knew women liked to hear that nonsense.

She doubted if he had really spent that much time thinking about her, but it made her happy to hear him tell it. It made her doubly happy that what had occurred the night before wasn't just a flash in the pan. He evinced no sense of guilt or embarrassment about their prior night's love making. In fact he seemed mighty pleased. It made her even happier.

They both sat down and looked over the repast he'd prepared. He smiled, "You look nice this morning."

She smiled back, "So do you."

For the next several minutes they ate in silence.

As they were finishing up, drinking their coffee Brandon gave Mary her instructions, "Starting today Angela is to believe you're my personal secretary. You'll be in and out working for me in my office. I prefer that she remain upstairs. You'll be the only person to care for her until another woman I've hired arrives. The other woman is much older, and has some very clear ideas about how to handle Angela."

Mary only nodded.

He looked at Mary thoughtfully. There was something more he had to say, "Mary I'm very fond of you. I'd like it if you'd agree to stay on."

"Of course I will," she answered.

"No I don't mean stay on as my secretary. I want you to become a more permanent part of my life, a more personal part of my life."

Mary understood what he meant. She understood too that Vonda had intimated the very same thing. She knew it was wrong. Brandon had another woman. She was upstairs, upstairs even as they talked, upstairs all alone and probably a little scared, "Brandon I don't know what to say. What do you want?"

"Mary you know what I want. I've been watching you for a long time. Angela was a mistake. I know that now. I also know I can't abandon her the way she is. I'm fully prepared to take care of her, provide for her, keep her warm, comfortable, and reasonably happy. But I want you. I need you."

He reached over and took her hand. He pulled her over and sat her on his lap, "You need to stay here, with me." He drew her closer, allowing her breasts to softly press against his chest.

She felt his heat. She didn't want to do this, not right now, not while Angela was upstairs, "Brandon we can't do this now. I have to see about the girl upstairs." She refused to use Angela's name, and she deliberately referred to her as the girl, not the woman. It was her own little subterfuge, her way of helping Brandon distance himself from his wife. It was cruel, cruel to the woman upstairs, but Mary knew what she wanted.

"That's my girl," said Brandon. "You go see to Angela. I'll be in my office. For the next few weeks you'll be the only person seeing Angela. Don't overdo it. Two, but never more than three visits a day; one in the morning, one in the late afternoon, and maybe an occasional visit in the late evening just to make sure she hasn't hurt herself. Keep her clean, keep her in clean clothes, but she's not to be unfettered, not under any circumstances. Ration that candy you and Vonda invented carefully; not too much, but enough to keep her interested in it. You understand. I don't want her spoiled. If she says anything, tell her these are my instructions. Tell her I'm very disappointed in her, and I really don't want to see her."

"This is cruel Brandon."

"Not really. Her life has to change, but before it can change, really change, she has to be desperate, ready for anything. Cruel in the short term yes, maybe. In the long run, it'll be the kindest thing we can do. You'll see."

Mary put her hand on Brandon's wrist, "I'll do whatever you want. I love you."

"I know, and it's good you should trust me. I know what I'm doing. Hey, maybe later we can go for a walk or something."

"I'd like that," answered Mary.

They kissed; just a simple peck on the lips. Brandon went down toward his office. Mary started upstairs. She prepared and carried a tray for Angela. Angela had her own foods. Vonda had made arrangements that she be given certain things, things that had special extras infused. On the side of the tray Mary placed a piece of Angela's candy; the candy that had such a profound impact on the other woman's emotional state.

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Mary made the first of what would become a regular pattern of trips to see Angela. She crept up the steps slowly, and opened the door. Angela was sitting up in the corner. She looked frightened, "Mary, I was afraid. Where have you been?"

"Don't be afraid Angela. I'm here. I'll always be here."

"Where's Brandon. Why didn't he come back?"

"Brandon's angry with you. He saw you, and what you were doing. He's ashamed and disgusted. I don't think he'll be back up any time soon."

"What about Marge and Dorothy. Is he really getting rid of them, and where's Vonda. I haven't seen anybody."

"Marge and Dorothy are gone. He paid them off yesterday. Vonda's is being sent away too. Brandon has hired a new person, someone older, more mature, to look after you. That person, I didn't get her name, won't be here for several weeks. In the mean time I'll be the only person you'll see."

"Brandon isn't going to let me out? He said he would."

"I don't know. I doubt it. He said you were to remain stabilized."

"Stabilized?"

"Shackled."

"Shackled like this?" She held up her hands to show Mary the manacles and the short piece of chain that held her hands and wrists together, "and this" She pushed out her feet to show Mary the ankle chains. Angela shook her wrist; the bells jangled, "What about these?"

"They all stay."

"Oh no, Mary you've got to get me out here. I can't face another day in this, in this place locked up like I'm some convict, a prisoner. I'm like a caged animal trapped in my own house, not even the whole house, just one tiny room in it. Mary please help me! Even a mongrel dog gets a run, a small space outside where they exercise.

Look at me." She pointed up to the ceiling where the windows stretched like a ridge across the top of the wall. "I can't see out. I'm in an airless almost windowless box. I'm choking to death in here."

Mary walked over and sat down beside her one time mistress, now her ward, her prisoner, "It's not so bad. I'll be up every day, two or three times. I'll bring you your food. I'll clean you, change your clothes, make your bed, wash and comb your hair, dress you up, put make up on you, make you look pretty, feed you. You'll see, we'll have a good time together."

"Oh sure we'll have a good time. You'll come up. We'll sit around. I'll get fed that broth, get a piece of candy, and we'll talk. Then what? You get to play dolls. I'm the doll; you're the person. Mary I'm not some toy doll. When you leave I'm all alone, and I, I get to sit here all day, all day long, alone, no books, no television, no newspapers, no radio, nothing, just me, my chains, my god damn bells, and," feeling between her legs, "this, my twat."

Mary sympathized, but it didn't seem fair that Angela would take everything out on her, "Look if you feel that way I'll leave right now. I'm starting a new job today. I'm Brandon's personal secretary." She felt mean, and had to add, "See my new outfit for the first day? How do I look?"

Angela had seen the outfit, and she knew whose it was, "I saw it. I guess you're the woman of the house now, and me, I'm the nut case you'll all keep locked away upstairs."

Mary felt extra mean, "If you say so."

There wasn't anything Angela could say or do. She'd seen this coming. She'd hidden from it for some time. Vonda had planned it this way. She really was the imbecile upstairs. She really was the one they'd decided to lock away. It was too much to handle, not just one day since her erstwhile husband had gotten home. She dropped her head in her hands and wept.

Mary relented. She pulled the bowl of broth over, "Come on Angela. You've got to eat something."

Angela knew she was beaten, at least for the moment. This woman beside her held the keys to her sanity, or what was left of it. Why she could turn out the light when she left and leave her in the dark. Angela smiled wanly, "OK."

For the next several minutes Mary warily fed Angela her broth, spoonful by spoonful, careful to periodically stop and wipe Angela's chin. Once the broth was finished Mary asked, "Want a piece of candy?"

Angela looked up. She pretended to be more pleased than she really was. She wanted the candy. It gave her a mild mind rush, but she'd have preferred a pistol. She nodded, "Yes please."

Mary leaned back a little, "OK, here it comes." Mary held up the small sweet, heavily augmented, morsel. "Now, open wide."

Angela held her mouth open, and Mary dropped the candy in.

While Angela chewed and swallowed the candy Mary explained, "I'm going to leave you alone for a while. I'm just a little angry with you myself. We're supposed to be friends, but you've been talking mean to me. I'll come back later after you've had a chance to think. I'll help you undress. We'll get you a nice bath. I'll wash you hair and do you up in pig tails. I'll give you some make up. I'll find a new outfit, and we'll dress you up like a real baby doll. How about that? Won't that be fun?"

Angela nodded her head. What choice did she have, "Yes Mary I'd like that. When you come back could I have another candy?"

Mary ruffled Angela's hair, "I'll bring another piece. If you're good, I mean really extra good; I'll let you have it."

Angela tried to give her a sweet smile, "Thank you Mary."

Mary got up, walked to the door, turned around "Till later then?" She blew Angela a kiss.

Angela reached out and pretended to catch it. The bells on her left wrist and around her neck jingled softly. She inwardly cringed, but smiled at Mary and blew a kiss back at her.

Mary walked out and closed the door. She thought about it. She wasn't really sure anymore if she even cared what happened to Angela. Angela had Brandon, at least on paper. She'd have to figure out a way to change that. She walked on down the hall. She and Brandon were going out for a walk. Maybe they'd walk around the rear of the house. She could look up and see the high paned windows of Angela's room. She'd be able to see from the outside where Angela was kept. Angela, being locked up wouldn't be able to climb up and look out. That was forbidden anyway. When Vonda saw her try she'd beat her with the spatula.

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Downstairs Brandon found his sister, "Vonda it's time we had a heart to heart talk."

Vonda had been looking forward to this. She hoped she'd found a way to rid themselves of Angela. Then after a few weeks they could send Mary on, and it would be her and he, just like it used to be.

Brandon didn't even wait to sit down, "I want you to leave."

"What," reacted Vonda?

"Yes, it's time the two of us parted ways. I've already made arrangements to bring in a new nursemaid for Angela, at least until such a time I can legally institutionalize her. Meanwhile Mary and I are probably going to get married. She'll be my immediate cohort, my sidekick. That means you'll be in the way."

"In the way?"

"Come on Vonda. I know the truth about our mother. I know what you did. You drugged her up so much she went insane. I've got the medical reports to prove it; I've just had them sequestered. So you've got a choice. Get out now, or face charges. I'll have you thrown in prison for our mother, and for what you've been doing to my current wife."

Vonda started to object, but Brandon cut her off, "Don't act like I'm stupid. There was never anything wrong with Angela's teeth. That was a game you played to undermine her confidence. I've got the dental records," he got down to brass tacks, "Look you want to fight this; I'll have you in an institution. You want that?"

Vonda looked at her brother. He didn't get it. He didn't understand, but she realized there wasn't a damn thing she could do. She'd get out, sure, but in the end it wouldn't be her, it would be Brandon they'd lock away, "I'll leave. When do you want me gone?"

"I've set aside a handsome amount of money for you. You'll be one of the richest women in the country. When do I want you out? How about tonight."

"Tonight?"

"Sooner if you can make it."

"I'll leave tonight Brandon," she paused, "If you should change your mind you'll have my cell number."

"I won't change my mind." He walked away.

Later that evening, close to 11:00 p.m. Vonda was in her car headed for their private airport. She'd be gone, out of his life, and with luck she'd be able to start a life of her own. She wasn't too old to start a fresh. She thought it over. Brandon was mentally unstable; had been all his life. He wasn't driving her out; she was escaping. She was lucky. She remembered reading about the emperors of old Rome. Who was Drusilla? Her brother Caligula had killed her. Yes she was getting out in time. Too bad about Angela though, that poor girl has no idea what's in store for her, and pity poor Mary, she had no clue.