Not quite a Honeymoon 5

»So, this isn`t about Pearce, you don`t have any enemies except for the usual concurrence and you also don`t know of anyone holding a personal grudge against you?«

»That about sums it up!«

It had taken the girls a few minutes to refresh themselves, but now, they were both sitting on the couch. Mathilda had wrapped herself inside the blanket and Mike could just see her head and the hand holding the mug. Julie sported a bathrobe she had closed so tight it had been possible, obviously not realizing how that emphasized her breasts and hips.

So far, Julie had done the talking whilst Mathilda had only occasionally added a small comment to her report. She had not left out any details this time, though she felt awkward. Mike had saved them, but he had also seen them nearly naked. Both girls had accepted a sip from the bottle of Rum Mike had found in the kitchen, but whilst Julie more and more regained her strength, Mathilda still seemed shocked.

In fact, she was still suffering from her ordeal, but Mathilda also had another demon to fight. She remembered Adele`s threat that they would come for her if she would talk. And the fact that the two masked women had been at her apartment twice caused that she didn`t feel save currently.

»Maybe, this man will find them without me telling him anything!«

So, Mathilda decided to wait, at least for a while, whilst Mike questioned Julie.

»These women – what can you tell me about them?«

The description didn`t really narrow it down: both were of medium height and had looked quite athletic. Despite their masks, they had seen that one had green eyes, whilst the other`s had been blue. Both had spoken accent-free English and obviously, both were skilled burglars.

»I mean, this isn`t a high security lock, but I have always considered this apartment to  be save!«

Julie shivered. Mike offered her the Rum, but she shook her head and forced a smile on her lips.

»This problem doesn`t get solved when I am drunk! Now, I still have a newspaper to run!«

She got up, but staggered and though she glanced at him, she was grateful that Mike prevented her from falling. She sat down again and said:

»Seems I am still a little strained. However, I have to show up at the office for a few hours – and I don`t want to stay here!«

So, they agreed upon a solution that sounded reasonable to all of them: Mike would call a taxi and accompany them on their way to »Changing World« where Julie could organize her being away for a few days. In the meantime, Mike would talk to Isabelle and find a place where Julie and Mathilda could stay for a while.

»I think that our hotel still has a few free rooms! Then, with you two securely stowed, I can hunt down the criminals and bring them to justice!«

Julie smiled at Mike`s exaggerations and even Mathilda seemed to relax a little. Mike then waited until the two had gotten fully dressed and had packed a few things they would need at the hotel into their handbags. The taxi already waited and soon, they were heading towards the newspaper.

Mike had agreed upon meeting with Isabelle for lunch and he decided that he would talk to her then. As long as Julie and Mathilda were at the office, they would be save and so, he could more or less park them there. He even escorted the girls inside and then left for the taxi that had been waiting for him. To his surprise, when he checked his phone, he found a message from Isabelle. It contained no text, just a photo of what looked like a business card:

»Lolly`s Panti-Monium!«

The card showed a drawing of a girl in underwear, draped over a QR-code and an internet address. Frowning, Mike checked the latter.

»So, these are Lolly`s future plans!«

The website offered tailor-made panties, according to the advertising »for reasonable prices«. The photos proved that Lalita offered a wide range of designs and he had to admit that she had further developed her skills. However, why would Isabelle send him that business card?

»If Belle is just amused by Lolly`s career choices, she could have told me at lunch. Maybe, it`s a hint – perhaps, it is her way of telling me I should get her a nice pre-nuptial present!«

He wondered a bit, for Isabelle had never been one who had seemed interested in designer underwear – or in her boyfriend buying it for her. However, Mike was willing to accept this change and if it turned out to be a misunderstanding, he had at least distracted himself from Julie`s problem to which he had no idea where to start yet.

The website had an imprint, giving him Lalita`s business email and the data for postal order. However, there was also a real address and Mike told it to the cab driver. The man grinned and after about an hour, Mike knew why: the address was so far in the East End that the man would earn about 100 Pound even without tip.

»Mom always said that I am not good in saving money! So, now that I am a millionaire, I will perhaps lose my wealth on strange scavenger hunts!«

He once again looked at the panties on the website. The model that presented most of them had a light brown skin colour and he guessed that this was Lalita, though he had last seen her in a swimsuit when she had been a girl.

»Oh, Ravi, do you know how little Lolly makes her money?«

Ravi Singh was Lalita`s older brother and one of Mike`s childhood friends. The Singh`s could not be called very conservative, but of course, he had always been very protective towards his sister. Since Lalita had been just nine when Mike had finished school, this had never been a problem between him and Ravi, but years later, then 14 years old Lalita had complained that Ravi always »accidentally« needed something from her room when she had a male visitor.

Mike forced himself to think about who could be after Julie N`Kono. The whole Pearce thread was leading to nowhere and he was also sure that »Changing World« wasn`t the main target. Someone who wanted to destroy the newspaper would have tried to damage the office rooms, in the worst case by placing a bomb. However, according to what he had seen, the today`s issue was online and so, the newspaper was working, even with Julie taking some time off.

»But how has she made enemies that don`t shy away from committing real criminal acts?«

He was also almost sure that the whole affair had no racist background. Of course, Julie was black and there still were people who thought that her having something like a career was »offensive«. In addition, the two intruders had humiliated their victims – Julie even more than Mathilda.

However, the fact was that they had seemed to find pleasure in humiliating both girls and though Julie had suffered a little more, like being gagged with her own panties, one could not say that Mathilda got away with it.

»Sir, we are almost there!«

Mike looked at the streets that were dominated by people of Asian or African origin. There were fast food restaurants, shops of all kind and the cab had stopped in front of a big store window behind which an elderly woman in a Sari was arranging a mannequin.

He paid the cab driver enough that he handed him his business card and told him to »just ask for Billy«; then, he stood in front of the boutique. It was simply named »Benisha`s« and the woman in the window definitely wasn`t Lalita. According to the sign at the door, the shop would only open in one hour. Mike further read the sign that told him that »L. Singh« was the co-owner. However, though Mike thought that the dresses in the window could be designed by Lalita, there was no hint of a »Panti-Monium«.

He knocked at the window, but though the woman smiled friendly, she just pointed at an imaginary watch at her wrist and then ignored him. For a moment, he thought of getting more energetic, but then, he once again studied the imprint. The given house number was 16a – but whilst »Benisha`s« was number 16, the adjacent building showed a sign with an 18 on it.

The two buildings were separated by a narrow door. Obviously, there was a fire protection alley or something like that. Mike tested the door and found that it was open. Quickly, he slipped inside a narrow corridor.

However, he could tell that this wasn`t just a gap between two houses. The floor was clean and there wasn`t the usual smell of garbage and urine. Mike followed the corridor and at the corner, he saw a cardboard sign, showing an arrow with the drawing of a woman in underwear lying on it.

»Well, that`s almost too easy!«

There was another unlocked door and he was now in what seemed the storage area of »Benisha`s«. Mike felt his anticipation grow. He had never expected Isabelle to play hide and seek with him at a lingerie shop, but he definitely wouldn`t complain about that change!

Another corridor led him to a door that was marked with a bigger sign, marking it as »Lolly`s Panti-Monium«. At the door, a white bra was knotted. It was plain and didn`t look tailor-made, but even before he could read the label saying »32C«, Mike had recognized it as Isabelle`s. Fixed to the bra with a clothespin was a small red envelope. The message in it was short.

»Can you find the content of that, Mikey?«

Mike slightly frowned. »Mikey« wasn`t a nickname Isabelle used on him very often and in addition, it wasn`t her handwriting. Had she asked Lalita to write the message for him?

»Well, I just hope she isn`t subverting my expectations somehow!«

Mike straightened, quickly checked his breath and opened the door.

FWOF!

The glistening lightning blinded him and his reflexes had sent him to the ground and made him draw his gun before he realized that this had been neither a flare bomb nor a real explosion; he looked up at a camera. Obviously, he had just triggered the flash.

»Mhhmmm! Uuhhmmm!«

Blinking the white circles in front of his eyes away, Mike entered the room, careful and the gun in his hand. His eyes fell on the chair that stood opposite to him. A woman was tied to it – and despite him still recovering from the flash, Mike immediately could tell that the pair of ample, naked breasts wasn`t Isabelle`s.

She was tied with a number of scarves or cloth strips. The girl`s ankles were tied to the chair`s rear legs, forcing her to sit with her thighs open, and her knees were also tied to the chair. Her arms were pulled behind the backrest and two horizontal scarves, one at her waist and one below her breasts, held her upper body to that. She was wearing just a pair of silver panties and as he approached, Mike could also see a little emerald in her belly button.

However, her head was what caught the most attention. Mike could have told by her caramel skin tone and by simple elimination process that this was Lalita, but her head was hidden by what could only be described as a cloth bulb. A bright red pair of panties, ornated with green, white and golden emblems, had been pulled over her face and below, there was much more.

»All right, Lolly, call me impressed!«

»Mhhmmm!«

He pulled the panties from her head, only to see two more, both coloured brightly, too. Now, he could look into Lalita`s wide open eyes. Again, she moaned and pulled on her bonds. Mike loosened the scarf tied over her mouth and nose. Lalita`s chest heaved as she could breathe freely through her nose. Mike tried not to look too directly at her boobs as he undid the next cloth that covered her face from nose to chin. Beneath, a knotted cloth was tied between her teeth, holding a sizeable packing in her mouth.

»One thing, Lolly«, he said as he loosened the knot of the cleave gag. »You may sob, call me names and I will untie you as soon as I can, but, please, don`t yell! Okay?«

Lalita mumbled something through her gag that could be everything between agreement and swear words. He loosened the cloth and then slowly pulled the dense packing from her mouth, not too surprised that this were not one, but two pairs of coloured panties. Whoever had done this to her seemed to have used half of her collection on the girl.

Once her mouth was free, Lalita wanted to say something, but just drooled over her boobs and was unable to form any words at all.

»Don`t yell, Lolly!«, Mike repeated and untied her wrists before loosening the scarves tying her to the chair. Then, he said:

»Now, do you need some water or can you tell me what happened whilst I untie your legs?«

Lalita stammered something and Mike saw tears in her eyes. So, he took the girl in his arms.

»Let it out, Lolly! I will see how far I get with one hand!«

Lalita cried into his shoulder, cuddling against him, whilst he caressed her dishevelled hair and worked on the scarves tying her right leg. He had to oppress the urge to shake her and ask about Isabelle´s whereabouts, but he knew that he would not gain anything by yelling at Ravi`s little sister.

»All right«, he said as he had freed her leg, taking the girl`s head into his hands and looking at her, »you may understand that I have to know what has happened. So, you will now ignore that this is an expensive piece of silk, clear your nose and whilst I finish freeing you, you will start telling me what happened to Belle!«

He hadn`t yelled, but spoken in a strict voice and Lalita snivelled and nodded. He handed her one of the scarves and whilst he untied her knee, she quite unladylike cleared her nose. Then, she burst out, telling him that two masked women had suddenly stepped into the room.

»They – they tied us up, gagged us and then, they took my hamper and-«

She had to fight back her tears, but she managed to tell Mike that the women had forced Isabelle inside the hamper and left her like Mike had found her. She had no idea how much time had passed, but she remembered that she and Isabelle had met at around 7:30 am, telling Mike the assault had happened some one and a half hours ago.

»Ozzie, who were they? What has happened?«

Lalita had come to her feet, but only to stagger against him and again, he had to hold her in his arms. He fought down his impatience and asked:

»Did they say something?«

»Nothing except for a few orders! But-«

Lalita pushed her hand between them and for a terrible moment, Mike thought she wanted to touch his dick. However, she reached into her own panties and handed him another small envelope.

»They left this«, she said, lowering her head and blushing slightly. Only now, she seemed to realize she was naked except for her panties and she crossed her arms in front of her breasts. Mike opened the envelope. This time, the message was longer:

»A simple game for a simple mind, Mikey! Follow our orders and the little ginger doesn`t get hurt. First order: get back to your hotel! Go there directly and don`t talk to anyone!«

»Don`t go over ›Start‹ and don`t pick 200 Dollars!«, he murmured.

»Mhm?«

Lalita had put on a silk bathrobe and seemed to have relaxed a bit. He handed her the letter and then, he asked:

»These masked women – were they both of medium height, one had green eyes, the other blue?«

Lalita frowned, but then, she said:

»The one with the green eyes is a brunette, 5`6``, slender, but athletic. The other`s blonde, one inch taller and also seems to do a lot of sport!«

As Mike looked at her, she smiled:

»I am a fashion designer, I have an eye for such things! In addition, the eyeholes of the masks were big enough that I could get a glimpse of a few hairs. I am not sure whether I would recognize them on a photo, but I could for sure sew them fitting clothes!«

»Including the underwear!«, Mike joked and Lalita once again managed to smile.

»Of course. BTW, the brunette`s a 32C, like Belle, and the blonde a 34C!«

»Five minutes, and you already narrowed down the number of potential suspects! Lolly, as you have read, I have to go to my hotel to wait for further instructions. And since I can`t risk you call the Police behind my back, I have to take you with me!«

He could read a mixture of fear and curiosity in the girl`s eyes. As he had guessed, the latter won and she agreed.

»Give me two minutes!«

She picked her discarded clothes and vanished behind a Spanish wall. After two minutes, she had indeed managed to get dressed and to even get her hair in order. Mike let his eyes wander over her.

»Now, the hotel clerk will maybe think I am cheating on Belle, but he will not accuse me of lowering my standards!«

Lalita, who understood that this was Mike´s way of coping with his worries about Isabelle, took up the punchline.

»If you behave less than a Gentleman, Ravi will kill you and eat your liver raw!«

»Ravi and I watched ›Silence of the Lambs‹ when we were both 11! He would have my liver grilled, with Fava beans and an excellent Chianti!«

They left the studio and their eyes fell on Isabelle`s bra that was still knotted to the door handle. Mike looked at it, but then left it dangle.

»No! I won`t need memories, for I will soon have her back!«

***

When Lalita had helped her choose her dress the day before, she had praised the advantage of silk, telling her it was the perfect combination of lightness and strength. Now, Isabelle knew that this also was true if it was used for binding someone up.

The two intruders had wasted no time on preliminaries. Lalita had been ordered to remove her bra, just to match her co-captive; then, at gunpoint, she had to gather an armful of cloths and scarves the two had used to truss both women up.

In Isabelle`s case, they had started by tying her wrists behind her back, followed by her elbows that were brought together and now were only separated by the cinch in the bond right above her joint. The one who had tied her arms had then pressed her gun at Isabelle`s temple whilst her other hand had brushed over her thrust out breast. Her accomplice had slung a long piece of cloth and slung it around her waist. She had then tied some knots in it before she had brought the ends between her legs, slung them over her wrist bonds and brought them back to the front before tying them off below her belly button. This crotch rope was almost convenient compared to those Isabelle had endured in the past, but the knots rubbed over her sensitive spots on every move and though it didn`t hurt and she still had the little protection her panties offered, her arms were now pulled towards her upper body.

Isabelle that had to sit on the desk and one of the women tied her legs at the thighs, above and below the knees and at her ankles. She then even took a small strap and pulled it around her big toes. She moved it back and forth; then, realizing that Isabelle wasn`t ticklish, she shrugged and just tied her big toes together.

»Now, open wide!«

The next part of her bondage was the only thing that wasn`t made from silk, but cotton. The slightly taller one had picked up Isabelle`s discarded panties, ostentatiously turned them inside out before balling them up and then pushed them into her mouth. Isabelle had worn these for just a few hours and so, the taste was tolerable.

Next, a knot the size of a fist was tied into a scarf and wedged between her teeth. Then, the ends were brought to her nape and the woman repeatedly pulled until the knot had almost disappeared behind her teeth, forcing the panties deep into her throat. She had knotted the ends off, only to tie another scarf over her lips. Then, strictly speaking, another non-silk detail followed: her ears were plugged and then, a thick scarf was tied over her eyes.

The next layers of her stifling bondage followed. Another scarf was tied over her nose and mouth; then, two pairs of panties, »February« and »March«, were pulled over her head. Unlike Lalita, in Isabelle`s case, they completed her head bondage by a scarf that was pulled over her head and knotted tightly under her chin. The girl now had to fight for breathing, she couldn`t see and only hear indistinct sounds. Isabelle had waited for them to test her gag by pinching her nipple, but obviously, they were convinced she couldn`t make much noise.

With two pieces of cloth, they finished tying the girl up by first tying her knees to her neck, so she had to sit with her breasts squeezed by her thighs. Then, the final cloth was tied to her ankles and fixed to her wrist ties, forcing her into a tiny ball. Like that, they had then packed her into a wicker basket and stuffed the space around her with rags and cloths before closing the lid and securing it with a piece of rope.

Isabelle had felt them carry the basket and she had moaned, unable to tell whether someone else was around. She knew that they were carrying her the same corridor she and Lalita had used and when she thought that they had reached the street, she doubled her efforts to make herself noticeable. However, after a few seconds, the basket was dumped onto a flat surface and then, she felt that now, she was transported by car.

Who were her kidnappers? Was this a terrible coincidence, had she stumbled into something Lalita was involved in or were they really behind her? Isabelle counted the number of women who could hold a grudge against her. There was Linh, her nemesis from previous encounters – but not only was Linh in Switzerland, her two kidnappers were definitely Europeans. She thought of Guylène, but this was also unlikely: the tight spandex suits her abductors were wearing hadn`t left much to imagination and both were better endowed than the French woman.

»Of course, these could be just the henchwomen of one of them! But how have they found me, even if they managed to escape?«

So far, they had been effective in binding her, but not especially brutal. She had been allowed to keep her panties, the crotch rope had not been pulled inside her and her bondage, though inconvenient, seemed to serve the main purpose of just rendering her immobile. And yet, there had been signs that these two were enjoying their work and were no strangers to humiliation. The taste of her panties gave evidence to that and she remembered how the taller one had caressed her breast.

So, the girl forced herself to remain calm and to focus on getting enough air through the layers of her gag and hood as the ride seemed to take no end. According to the many stops and curves, she guessed that they hadn`t left London, but were heading to somewhere on the other end of the city. Finally, the car stopped and the basket was carried for a short while before the trip once again became smooth. Isabelle guessed that they had placed her upon a cart.

Then, they stopped for a final time and the basket was opened. Isabelle felt two pairs of hands heave her outside and she was placed on a soft surface, maybe a bed. Through her earplugs, she could hear indistinct female voices and then, hands worked on her bonds. Her arms and legs were freed, but then, four of the scarves were used to tie her spreadeagle to the bed. They left the crotch rope, however, and even retied it after it was no longer connected to her wrists. Still, it wasn`t painful, but tight enough she felt every of the knots and was very aware of its presence.

She then felt the cloth under her chin undone and the two panties were pulled from her head, too. Nimble fingers plucked the earplugs from her ears and Isabelle now heard a female voice say:

»You may take over now! After all, she already knows you!«

»Just from seeing so far!«, another woman answered and Isabelle rummaged through her memories as she heard vanishing steps and the closing of a door. Both women had spoken English; as far as she could tell, both were native speakers. Who were they? And who was the one she »already knew from seeing«?

She felt that someone climbed on the bed and then, hands worked on the knots of her blindfold. As it fell, her eyes looked at the taller one of her kidnappers, still sporting the mask and the spandex suit.

»Last time we saw, it was me who couldn`t speak! Now, let me refresh your memory!«

She took off her hood mask and Isabelle saw blonde, shoulder-length hair, tied to a ponytail. The face was pretty, but the blue eyes showed nothing but cold determination.

»Mhmmph!«

»If you were trying to say ›Amy‹, you are right, Isabelle Veronique! I don`t know how much your Mikey told you about me, but you sure remember our only meeting so far!«

Isabelle shuddered as she mentioned her second name, but then, she guessed that she had taken her passport from her handbag. Amy! When she had been investigating a case of kidnapped pharmacologists – a case on which she had learned to know Mike`s ex, Lioba –, Mike had at the same time hunted a girl trying to sell secret information to the CIA. Amy had been another agent of the Secret Service, but she had been more a concurrent, even an enemy. In the end, Mike had overpowered her; on the only occasion she and Amy had met, she had been naked, bound and gagged and he had sent her off to the street, like she had been, as an alternative to a trial. Now, it seemed that she hadn`t forgotten either.

»Well, it seems that the Wheel of Fortune not only has turned, but it also has a strange kind of humour! My new job had nothing to do with my old profession – but now, it seems that Mike has stumbled into it and so, I can combine my wish for revenge by doing my work and earning money!«

Isabelle mmphed and Amy laughed coldly. Then, she bent over her captive and whispered:

»Oh, don`t worry, my prime target is your bastard of a boyfriend. We won`t torture you more than it takes to make him suffer! Oh, and maybe a little to have fun, too!«

She cupped Isabelle`s breasts and groped them, obviously waiting for a reaction, but Isabelle managed to endure getting fondled without a reaction. Amy just shrugged and then let one hand wander down her belly until it touched the waistband of her panties. She gave the crotch rope a playful tug and then, she cocked her head.

»My colleague and I have a little bet running about our victims and so far, I owe her two Pound! So, I will cheat a bit, for I am young and need the money!«

She pushed her hand inside Isabelle`s panties and her fingers followed the line of the crotch rope. She felt over her shaved pubic mound and her smile became impish. Her other hand withdrew from Isabelle`s breast, but only to playfully wave her index finger, as if she was reprimanding a child.

»Oh, Isabelle Veronique, you naughty girl! There is no grass on a busy road, eh?«

Isabelle couldn`t help blushing as Amy withdrew her hands. The blonde left the bed and blew a kiss to the bound and gagged redhead.

»See you later, Isabelle Veronique!«

***

Not wanting to have the cab driver overhear their conversation, Mike had been quite silent during the ride to the hotel and Lalita had also managed not to speak about what had just broken into her life. The girl had still shown self-control on their way to Mike`s and Isabelle´s room, but once the door had fallen shut, she had cuddled against Mike and he had felt that she trembled. He held her tight and tried to ease the situation a bit:

»There, there! Belle only cries once every time she gets freed by me!«

»Y-you mean, for you, that`s – routine?«

Lalita`s voice sounded a bit shrill and Mike felt that she was fighting to control her emotions. He shrugged.

»Well, not because we want it that way, but so far, our relationship has been a bit unconventional!«

»Unconventional!«

Now, Lalita giggled, though at the same time, her eyes filled with tears.

»Well, you are doing something obscure for the Government and Belle`s a Policewoman – but I am a tailor and today, I got assaulted, tied up and gagged with panties from my own collection! IMHO, that`s – very unconventional, to say the least!«

»I thought you are a fashion designer!«

Lalita stared at him. Then, her lips trembled and though she still cried, she also giggled. Then, she snivelled and croaked:

»S-Sorry! Belle got kidnapped and I-«

Mike placed a kiss on her forehead and forced himself to smile.

»For an innocent bystander, you are doing quite well, Lolly! And besides, I am glad to have someone on my side who also cares about Belle!«

Lalita nodded. At that moment, someone knocked at the door. Mike made Lalita hide behind the corner and her eyes widened as she saw him draw his revolver. However, she only heard a few calm words and after less than a minute, Mike returned with an envelope.

»Sent by a delivery service! So, asking the maid who has sent it was pointless! Now, let`s see what Belle`s kidnappers want from me!«

He read in silence and positioned himself in a way Lalita couldn`t look over his shoulder. So, the girl could only see that this letter was considerably longer than the short message the brunette had placed inside her panties before they had left her, taking Isabelle with them. She noticed that the wrinkles on his forehead grew deeper as he read, though he showed no further emotion. Then, he folded the letter and put it into the inside pocket of his jacket.

»Bad news?«, Lalita asked and scolded herself immediately after it had left her mouth. Sure, this wasn`t a letter from his Mom, telling him that they had gotten a puppy! However, Mike took her hand and made her sit beside him on the bed. As he spoke, his voice lacked the usual joking.

»Lolly, so far, this isn`t about you, though you already got involved. But for you, it can be over from now on – if you do as I say!«

Lalita looked at him with a mixture of fear and curiosity and Mike continued:

»You take a taxi to the next train station and get into the first train to Sheffield. There, you stay with your parents for the next two weeks! I have some 1000 Pound in cash here and can send you more as a compensation, but you`ll have to bury yourself in your room until you hear from me again!«

He gave no further explanation, but Lalita understood that Mike was in some serious trouble and that he wanted her to be save. Suddenly, situations from her past appeared in front of her inner eye: a scene when she had been three years old and fallen from the climbing frame. Then 12 years old Mike had carried her home and also told her parents a white lie, so she wasn`t forbidden to get to the playground; flash forward six years when Mike had taken her with him to see the Owls play. Then, there was the present: Mike who had prevented her family from losing their house. Mike, the childhood friend of her beloved brother.

»Wha-what if I – what if I – don`t want to go?«

The smile on Mike`s face was both warm and grim.

»Well, in the game Belle`s kidnappers want me to play, there are no side characters! They want me to do some not so nice things for them. So, I am their pawn, Belle is both my reward and the lever they use against me – and once you decide not to go, you will be involved, too! And then, you will maybe encounter worse experiences than you just have!«

Lalita gulped.

»Not so nice things«, she breathed and Mike nodded, brushing through her hair.

»To be precisely, it will be definitely illegal and against your moral compass and chances are high it will also become dangerous!«

Again, the girl gulped and it took her two attempts to speak, but when she did, her voice sounded steady:

»But I could be helpful if I stayed?«

»Admittedly. But as you said, you are a tailor and I can`t expect you risking your life for a girl you hardly know!«

Now, Lalita managed to smile.

»I am a fashion designer – and I am just planning to start my own business in that shark basin called London, with nothing but 8K on my bank account and a few creative ideas! So, one can definitely say that I am brave, reckless and ignorant of potential dangers! So, I will now go to the bathroom and then, you can count me in as your ally!«

***