"What do you want to show me?" Penelope asks.

"Here, take a look at this," I say.

I hand her a half-meter long, six-centimeter wide band of leather. 

"Lovely craftsmanship," she says. "And, mm, soft as silk."

"I have three more just like it. And something else, as well."

"Well, bring it all out. I'd love to see everything."

"Do you trust me?" I ask.

Penelope's gorgeous eyes drill into mine.

"Not in the least," she says.

"Ah, too bad."

"Don't get me wrong. I like you, and I respect you. But trust you? Please, Cyril. I know you far too well to trust you."

She speaks without malice, and even smiles warmly at me. I can't help but find her honesty as refreshing as she herself is achingly attractive.

"Fair enough," I say, also with a smile to show no offense. "But that means I can't show you."

"Really? What if I pretend I trust you, just in order to see this mystery item?"

"That works for me. But first, you need to take off your shoes."

"Of course I do."

"What did you expect? It's me," I say.

"I expected just that," she says. "Which is why I came prepared. See, no stockings. And...a pedicure."

Having slipped out of her pumps, she shows me her lovely bare feet so I can see her meticulously pedicured toes. It shouldn't be possible for me to find her more beautiful than I already do, but I think it has just happened.

"Excellent," I say. "Please, have a seat in the chair over there. And put your feet up."

She follows my gesture and sits down in an armchair in the corner. Then she places her feet on the ottoman in front of it. Then she gestures back to me, indicating that she is ready.

I nod and bring out three leather bands that match the one she still holds. I retrieve that one from her. Then, I wrap one apiece around each of her wrists and the armrests under them. And then, I do the same with her ankles and the legs of the ottoman. Once each limb is bound, I secure the bands with latching clips.

"Those shouldn't be too uncomfortable," I say. "Tell me if they're too tight."

"No, they're fine," she says after I've finished. "Like I said, soft as silk."

"That's the idea. Now, please try to get out of them. Try your hardest."

"Hm, no, I can wiggle a bit, but I'm not able to get free."

"Good."

"Too bad now if I don't trust you, huh?"

"Exactly."

She shrugs and smiles.

"I'm committed now," she says. "So, if you'll be so kind as to show me what you're going to."

"You got it."

From my pocket, I pull out a velvet bag. As she watches, intrigued, I slowly withdraw a length of thick, silver chain. At the end of the chain is fastened a large, teardrop-shaped, pink-white gemstone. Once free from the bag, it sparkles in the ambient light. Penelope gasps as she sees it.

"That is lovely," she says.

"Agreed. Do you know what it's for?"

"No."

I hear the slightest hesitation in her voice.

"I think you do," I say.

"No...I don't. Please tell me."

"I think you know. In fact, I know you know."

"No, I really don't. Cyril, please tell me."

"Do you remember what you said?"

"About what?"

"About hypnosis."

"I've said lots of things about hypnosis."

"About gem hypnosis."

She swallows. Then she shakes her head. But her eyes never leave the gem.

"You said it was very pure," I say. "So now, we're going to test that."

"No, we don't need to do that."

"Need to or not, we're going to."

"Maybe another time. But now, please untie me."

I stare at her, but make no move to do as she asks. Then I shake my head. She may or may not see the movement because her eyes are locked on the gem. Still, she knows I'm not going to release her. She frowns.

"Normally, a subject needs to trust a hypnotist in order to be hypnotized by them," I say. "And we've already established that you don't trust me. Hence the restraints, by the way. But I don't think you need to trust me. Because I'm not going to hypnotize you. The gem is."

"Cyril, I don't want to do this. Please untie me, and let me--"

Holding my hand up, I dangle the gem in front of her eyes. As Penelope protests, it twirls back and forth at the end of the chain. Light glints from its many facets. Her protests stammer to a halt and then stop.

"Relax, Penelope. Relax. Relax. Stop worrying. Stop fussing. Just relax. Relax. Focus on the gem. It's all you can see. It's all you want to see."

Her eyes grow wide. Her mouth opens slightly, but she says nothing.

"Just the gem. That's all. Just the gem."

I repeat mantras of relaxation and focusing on the gem. Maybe I don't even need to. Even if I say nothing, I think the slowly twirling gem would hypnotize her.

After a minute or so, I change up my words.

"You are so relaxed now, Penelope, that you feel sleepy. All you want to do is sleep. Sleep. You want to just close your eyes and sleep."

Though never moving from the gem, her gaze begins to lose its focus. Her eyelids droop closed. I continue with this new mantra, and every few seconds, she drifts closer and closer to sleep. Finally, her eyes close, and her head lulls forward. I lower the gem.

"You are now hypnotized, Penelope. You can still hear me, and you will do whatever I say. Do you understand?"

It takes her a moment to respond.

"...Yes...I understand," she says in a slow, sleepy drawl.

"Good. When I snap my fingers, you're going to raise your head and open your eyes. You will remain hypnotized and will continue to obey me."

I snap. She does as I say. Once open, her eyes stare blankly ahead.

"Tell me, Penelope, did you or did you not know what I was going to use the gem for?"

"...I knew."

"And did you really not want me to hypnotize you with it?"

"...No...I wanted you to hypnotize me with it."

"That's what I thought!"

She may know me well, but I know her just as well.

"So," I say, "now that I have you hypnotized, what should I do with you?"

My question is rhetorical. But Penelope is in an extremely suggestible trance state and takes it literally.

"...Whatever...you want," she says.

"Whatever I want is right," I say with an agreeing laugh. "Well, let's see, you're bound and barefoot. Do you know what my other favorite 'b' word is?"

"...Yes...brainwashed."

"You really do know me, don't you? You don't have to answer that. No wonder you don't trust me. Not that it matters now. Anyway, yeah, I think I'll brainwash you. What thoughts shall I put into your beautiful head, and what thoughts shall I take out of it? Again, don't answer that. And then there are things to have you forget, and other things to have you remember. You already do remember that I appreciate your lovely feet. And they are on display right here in front of me. I think that's a good place to start: giving you the desire to use those feet in ways that I will very much enjoy. Yeah, that's the perfect place to start. Are you ready to be brainwashed?"

"...Yes...I am ready to brainwashed."

"I'm going to need my soon-to-be-brainwashed slave to call me Master. So, answer the question again."

"...Yes, Master...I am ready to be brainwashed."

She is ready, and so am I. And she was correct: Gem hypnosis is very pure. It's also very effective. Her mind is open and receptive. She will follow all of my suggestions and obey all of my commands. She will think, remember, and forget everything I want her to.

For the rest of the evening, and whenever else I want her, she is mine.