Combining Business and Pleasure 8

Not only Andreas did have a look at the lobby, to see who was attending dinner, but also Melissa. She also was off duty, but she wanted to see whether Hannah had finally appeared and also speak to Johanna. None of those appeared, but she saw Jeb, together with a brunette that looked as if her IQ matched her bra size. The sight gave her an idea.

Melissa hadn’t yet returned the general key, and now, with be definitely not at his cabin for the next hour or so, she could se if she found evidence of him being the one who had attacked Hannah. So, she quickly checked one of the passengers lists they kept at the »Sherrif’S Office« before she went for the bodyguard’s cabin.

At first sight, it looked like the typical room of a man – a bit messy, and with an empty tumbler standing beside the bed. Melissa knew that she couldn’t rummage around too much, for it could raise the man’s suspicion, and so, she only carefully opened his cupboard, not knowing what she expected to find. She spotted a shoulder holster, but no weapon, and as a bodyguard, he would have a license to carry a gun anyway.

Just to be able to say she had tried, she looked under the bed – and there, she spotted something. She reached for the black piece of cloth – it was a thong, torn at the seams. Melissa felt a slight tingle at her nape.

Hannah had reported that her attacker had cut her panties from her before spanking her. Was it possible that he had taken them with her, as a trophy?

Of course, it was also possible that the girl he currently was having dinner with had been here with him, and that the garment had belonged to her. The thought of Jeb ripping away a girl’s thong in the heat of love wasn’t appealing, but it was a perfectly legal act.

She looked closer at the seams, and the tingle at her nape grew stronger: the fine threads at the seams had been cut, not torn. Still, this wasn’t enough of evidence, since she hadn’t asked Hannah about details of her lost panties, but now, Melissa was convinced that Jeb had been in Hannah’s cabin, alibi or not.

»Or does he have an accomplice? That’s unlikely, too!«

She placed the thong back under the bed and, checking the corridor, she left the cabin. Melissa felt like electrified, now convinced she was on the right track, but unable to find the way. If only she had someone to talk to! However, her colleague was an idiot, just capable of handling the usual small problems aboard an ocean liner.

Johanna! She was an author of detective novels, and she had somehow already gotten involved in the case! Melissa went to her cabin and knocked, but no one opened.

»She went for dinner when I was away, just my luck!«

Melissa headed for the dining hall, forcing herself not to run. At the lobby, she noticed that something must have happened, as a group of people were discussing something. A crew member recognizing her took her aside:

»You really missed the drama!«

***

The evening had been a catastrophe.

It had started well enough, with Suzette playing some slow tunes, and people appreciating it, some even applauding to her. Then, John had appeared, at his arm the blonde bimbo, and not only had she been wearing a dress that revealed every feature of hers, but it was clear that the two weren’t just acquaintances who were sharing dinner.

To add insult to injury, the two had their table close to Suzette’s podium, forcing her to watch them laugh and flirt. Her play had become disharmonic, and she had missed more than one tone, causing people to look at her with disapproval. And then, John had waved towards her, smiling as if nothing had happened – only to get distracted by the blonde who made him taste something from her fork, bending over the table to emphasize her cleavage.

At that moment, Suzette had lost her nerves and had stormed out of the hall, leaving her instrument behind. She had only stopped when she had reached  her cabin where she had thrown herself onto her bed, crying.

Now, she still was lying on her belly, her face buried in the pillow. She no longer mourned John being with the bimbo – it had been a superficial flirt anyway. However, her reaction would get her into serious trouble. The shipping company could cancel her remaining gigs, even force her to pay for the cruise – and if rumours about her behaviour spread, she could also miss other renowned engagements! The end of a career, before it even had started!

She heard a knock at her door.

»Leave me alone!«

There were steps, and she heard someone clear his throat.

»Susi? Sorry, it’s me – Andreas! Petty Officer Andreas, I mean! You – the door was just ajar, and – I brought your double bass!«

Suzette was tempted to send him away, but then, she forced herself to turn around and face the man. He stood there, his arm around the case as if it was his lover, and he showed an expression of friendly concern.

»Thank you«, she croaked. Then, as he made no attempt to leave, she got to her feet and looked at him with a wild expression.

»So, did you enjoy the performance?«

With a smile, he admitted:

»The beginning more than the end!«

»You more or less just described my entire career!«

Then, she threw herself against his chest, sobbing again. Andreas caressed the back of her head, looking at the cabin door he had just closed behind himself. Then, he reached for his pocket.

»You might need a handkerchief, Susi!«

She looked up, and when she saw the white cloth in his hand, she wanted to reach for it, but he held it to her face. Suzette sensed a sweet stench, and then, he firmly pressed it over her mouth and nose whilst tightening the grip at her scalp.

»Mhhm? Uuuhhmmm! Mmhhmmmph!«

Too late, she started to struggle, and he pressed her against the wall, still forcing her to inhale the fumes.

»Relax, Susi!«

She bucked, and the double bass case landed on the floor.

»Is it empty?«, was her last coherent thought before her vision blurred and she felt too weak to struggle or yell. Moments later, she collapsed in Andreas’ arms. He held her for a little longer; then, he lowered her to the bed and went for the double bass case. It was indeed empty, for he had done an extra stop between taking her belongings from the dining hall, promising the conferencier that he would handle the situation, and attending Suzette’s cabin.

He rummaged through her drawers and took two pairs of pantyhose he cut in half, using them to tie the unconscious girl and wrists, knees and ankles after having removed her shoes. Then, he spotted the dirty laundry sack at the door and emptied it to the bed, picking a pair of plain black cotton briefs and a white thong with a treble clef on the front panel. Both, he crammed into her mouth, securing it with the last half pantyhose before he placed Suzette inside the double bass case, pleased that the petite musician just fit in. Once he had closed the lid, he put the remaining laundry back into the sack; Yema would take care of the room whilst he would go to the purser and explain why Suzette Bonhomme had disappeared.

»Two down, two to go!«, he said to himself as he pulled the now considerably heavier case to the corridor and towards the elevator reserved for staff only.

***

»Now, that is that Sato! It must have been Davenport!«

They were at a remote table at one of the ship’s bars, and Conradi had before checked that neither Davenport nor his henchman were around. He had again thought about the assault the day before, and it was the obvious explanation.

»Nothing was stolen, and Leonora has got some precious jewellery lying around in the bathroom! Also, someone has rummaged through the folder, and it is only luck that it didn’t contain anything – interesting!«

Sato showed his usual emotionless expression, but his thoughts were not completely with his boss. They also wandered around the blonde woman tied up and gagged on his bed. He forced himself to participate in the converstion:

»You think he has got another accomplice?«

Conradi nodded with an enigmatic expression.

»Since he and his gorilla have alibis, he definitely has! I mean, Davenport seemed almost amused about this security girl questioning him! It must be someone who has got access to my suite – someone who knows what to look for!«

Sato forced himself to fully concentrate on Conradi’s words.

»Are you talking about Babette?«

»I know it sounds ridiculous – but it could be possible! I left her alone, and she looked through the folder, but found nothing of interest! Then, for some reason, she decided to fake an assault! Maybe, she brought the papers in disorder, or she hoped it would further distract me from ever suspecting her! Anyway, it could be possible!«

Sato thought about it, and he had to admit Conradi was right. It would have been easy for Babette to gag herself, and it was also possible she tied herself up convincingly enough for someone who wasn’t an expert. The removal of her bikini top and her being gagged with Leonora’s panties just needed the will to set success over modesty and convenience.

»If you accuse her wrongly, it will be hard to find a replacement before the cruise is over! I may have some qualities, but typing fast is not among them!«

Now, Conradi looked as if Sato had insulted him.

»I may not be the ›rags to riches‹ poster boy like Davenport, but I also have some ability of strategic thinking! Tomorrow morning, I will have another meeting with Davenport, and it is then we will set the bait – and pull in the line, if necessary!«

***

Though he was holding her hand and his thumb brushed over her knuckles, John didn’t look at Babette but at the now empty podium. Some guests had laughed at the sudden cacophony, followed by Suzette storming out of the room, but he hadn’t. Instead, he had shaken his head, considering whether it had been him flirting a bit with her that had caused the outburst of the musician.

»You may go after her – but don’t expect me to still be here if you return!«

He looked at her, showing an apologetic expression.

»Sorry, Babsi! I know, it looks as if I somehow feel flattered by this, but that’s not the case! What can I do that you forgive me?«

»Hm, how about you start focussing on me – and look at my eyes!«

Now, John grinned, ostentatiously glimpsing at her cleavage.

»I was also looking at your eyes! They are 34D – I mean, blue!«

Babette giggled, and she pulled back her shoulders a little. Actually, she didn’t mind him looking at her like that. They had not gone further than kissing at his cabin, but the evening was still young, and though she knew that this would end in an affair rather than a relationship, he made her feel wanted and desired. Playfully, she covered her lips with her fingers.

»Mr. Beauregard, you naughty boy! How dare you guessing my bra size? And how dare you to even guess it right?«

John bent over the table, and whilst he kissed her cheeks, soft as a breeze, he whispered:

»It’s even harder since you are wearing no bra, Miss Martens!«

He withdrew and again let his eyes wander over her skimpy dress and her ample breasts.

»Poor girl, you must be freezing! Maybe, I should get you a pullover! It looks as if it’s indeed a bit cold in here!«

Babette chuckled.

»Next thing you do is intending that I follow you to your cabin and see which of your pullovers will fit me!«

»I really must learn not to be that predictable!«, John sighed and ordered the bill.

***

The rags from which Andrew Davenport had risen to his riches had been those of a Chicago gangster, and though his edges had smoothed over the years, he still didn’t care much about manners, and Jeb knew it. So, though he clearly accepted Davenport as his superior, he grunted:

»Fucking cockblocker!«

During dinner, he had made further progress with the brunette who had been quite impressed on how easily he had put the two guys to the mat, and he was sure that soon, he would send her to the mat when Davenport had messaged him. Now, at his boss’s suite, he still was grumpy, but Davenport didn’t care.

»Two days, and we are still at the point where we have been before, though at least the brewery deal is fix now! Seems we have to up the ante! Now, get your blood above your waist and listen!«

Jeb indeed listened, and when Davenport was finished, he had to admit that his boss hadn’t lost his guile. He considered looking for the brunette, but he now realized he hadn’t asked for her cabin number. So, he decided to retire.

To his astonishment, when he reached his corridor, he saw a person he knew just pass the next corner: Sato, his colleague in Conradi’s service. Jeb was just about to ask the Japanese if he would share a beer with him when he frowned: the man’s cabin wasn’t here, so, what did he have to do here?

He went for his cabin, and here, he once again frowned as he routinely checked the doorframe: the small piece of transparent tape he had placed there earlier had come off. So, someone had been in his room!

A few minutes later, Jeb had found more evidence: nothing was missing, but someone had been inside and looked for whatever. And since he knew that Sato had a general key, he could narrow down the list of subjects.

»So, the others are raising their bets, too! Well, I never dodged from a fight!«

***

Little did Jeb know that Sato’s presence at his corridor had been a sheer coincidence, since Johanna’s cabin was also located there. After his meeting with Conradi, he had spent a quick visit there, to collect a few things.

Now, he felt a growing nervousness as he approached his cabin: it wasn’t so much the fear that someone might have found the blonde, or that she had managed to free herself: if so, there would be a commotion, since the ship just had a security, not professional Policemen.

It was also the fact that he could finally learn the ropes for real, with a real woman trying her best to get free. Finally, Sato had to admit it, it was Johanna herself, and so, he felt a bit as if he was going to a date.

When he opened his door, he could hear the moan over the sound of the radio, and when he stepped into his bedroom, he saw that Johanna had gained a partial success in freeing herself: She had managed to loosen her hogtie, and right now, she was kneeling on the floor, trying to loosen the ropes tying her to the bed, the outer layer of her gag no longer covering her nose.

»Good that I didn’t have a beer as I originally intended!«

Johanna mewed when she saw him, her eyes expressing both fear and disappointment. She had fought to complete exhaustion, and had he returned an hour, half an hour later, she might have been able to get loose!

Sato placed a bag on the desk and then squatted beside her. She shied back, fearing that he would punish her, but he just looked at her.

»You are really determined, Johanna-San!«

It sounded rather impressed than angry. She wondered why he had used her real first name, and he seemed to have read her thoughts:

»I spent a short visit in your cabin, and there, I saw your passport, revealing your real name! I hope you forgive me using it, it’s easier to pronounce for me than ›Joanne‹!«

»Mph!«

He seemed to take this as an agreement, for he slightly bowed before reaching for the desk, grabbing her glasses. She twitched when his other hand approached her face, but he just brushed a few strays of her dishevelled hair from her nose and forehead before he put her glasses on. Johanna blinked, and she still could not read anger in his face.

Sato finished the job of loosening the rope and then gently pulled her up, so she could sit down on the bed. She panted, and she had to fight down the urge to cry from frustration. Now, the Japanese untied the narrow belt and then untied the first cloth of her layered gag. Before he undid the next layer, he asked:

»I guess that whilst Joanne von Gröbern is a stage name, other details of your biography are true?«

»Mhmm?«

She knew he was referring to the short CV given on the back of her book covers, but she had no idea what exactly he meant.

»It says that you studied German and English at the University of Hamburg. So, you are an educated woman?«

A bit suspicious – and also a bit curious –, Johanna nodded. Sato seemed pleased and loosened the second cloth.

»So, you will understand that I can’t have you yelling, and that I will have to gag you more severely if you try! You may, however, talk, have some water, and I won’t blame you for sobbing either!«

Again, Johanna nodded, and Sato loosened the cleave gag. Then, he helped her to get the cloth wad from her mouth, and though her dress was crumpled and covered with sweat, she felt slightly embarrassed when some drool ran down her chin and on her cleavage. Sato dabbed her chin and looked at her.

»I guess you are also a woman of honour?«

Johanna scoffed, and though she was still a bit out of breath, her voice was steady:

»I am not – the most – criminal person – in this cabin!«

The fine smile appeared on Sato’s face, and Johanna also couldn’t help that the corners of her mouth twitched. The Japanese said:

»Just don’t take advantage of me turning my back towards you, Johanna-San! Would you prefer Coke, or something stronger?«

He opened the minibar, and a ridiculous thought shot through Johanna’s mind: though she could now call herself quite wealthy, she still divided between luxury and unnecessary luxury – and the overprized drinks from a minibar belonged to the latter. For a moment, she wanted to tell him that tap water would be okay; then, she thought twice and ordered a Gin Tonic.

Sato prepared two drinks and sat beside her.

»I hope you don’t insist on a lemon slice – to get one, I would have to gag you again!«

Johanna giggled and shook her head. This was so absurd! Sato clinked the glasses and then held the glass to her lips.

»Kanpai!«

»Kanpai!«, she reflexively answered and took a sip. Then, she looked at him.

»I guess you are not trusting me enough to release me? My limbs ache!«

Sato sipped from his drink before he answered:

»You know that you could finish this inconvenience quite soon!«

He pointed at the camera. Johanna shivered, but she didn’t hesitate when he offered her another sip. Then, she focussed him, forcing herself to sound calm:

»So, you are not one of those rogues with a golden heart?«

»In ›Bloody Monday‹, you let your heroine say that these are a cliché with no basis in reality!«

Now, Johanna couldn’t hold back her laughter, and she had to blink tears from her eyes before she could speak:

»A celebrity being kidnapped by an obsessed fan is a cliché, too!«

»Don’t worry, I won’t cut your foot if you refuse to change your next novel!«

Johanna waited for a few seconds before she asked:

»Could you give me a Whiskey? Pure?«

Sato frowned, but filled a glass for her and let her have the drink. She cringed from the strong liquor; also, Whiskey had never been her favourite drink, but she needed something to encourage her to ask her next question:

»These photos – why are you not just, you know, ripping off my clothes and taking them? Wouldn’t that be easier – for you?«

Sato looked down on her body, and Johanna suddenly felt nervous.

»Tha-that wasn’t an i-invitation!«

However, he just shook his head and for a while, they just sat in silence, finishing their Gin Tonics. Then, Sato proved that he had been living in German for quite a while.

»So!«, he stated, slapping his hands on his thighs and raising from the bed, »time to go to bed!«

He placed Johanna in the armchair and rearranged the bed sheets that were crumpled from her efforts to get free. Johanna frowned. Was he expecting her to sleep on the floor? Would he be such a Gentleman that he would sleep there? Or-

Sato now began freeing her legs, starting at her toes, and she looked at the slight rope marks on her skin. Then he assisted her in getting up and asked:

»You want me to tie your arms in a more convenient position?«

She nodded, and Sato undid her arm ties, too, allowing her to shake out her sore limbs. She looked at the cabin door, but somehow, she didn’t feel the impetus to try another escape attempt. Then, she saw Sato grab her gag, still damp with her saliva.

»I haven’t screamed since you removed it«, she protested.

»I thought you might need another trip to the bathroom! Besides, I brought your nightie, and you perhaps want to change for the night without me watching!«

Johanna frowned.

»I – I haven’t got a nightie!«

Sato reached for the bag and produced a flimsy white silk garment. Johanna chortled.

»That’s a camisole!«

Sato held the garment on its spaghetti straps.

»Anyway, you will look beautiful in it! Now, open your mouth!«

He gently, but thoroughly stuffed the cloth back into her mouth and reapplied the cleave gag and the cloth covering her lips, but spared her the third layer. Then, he handed her the camisole.

»Five minutes! Don’t force me to come in!«

Inside the bathroom, Johanna looked at her gagged face. However, she knew that Sato was on the other side of the unlocked door, and so, she didn’t remove the gag and just relieved herself. Then, she looked at her crumpled, sweaty dress and the camisole. Whilst wondering about herself, she took off the dress and then once again looked at the flimsy garment. The straps of her bra would show under the thin spaghetti straps, and somehow, this was against her sense of aesthetic. So, looking if the door was really closed, she removed the bra and then slipped into the camisole.

The neckline was rather modest, but still, it emphasized her ample breasts, and it ended at the top of her thighs, barely covering her panties. These didn’t match the camisole, too, but Johanna would not take these off, though she felt that they were sweaty, too.

When she stepped out of the bathroom, she saw admiration in Sato’s eyes, and somehow, she felt a little flattered.

He then stepped behind her, grabbing one of the ropes and telling her to put her arms to her sides. At the height of her elbows, he slung the rope around both her arms and upper body, three times before knotting it off at her back. Then, he used the ends to cinch the bond between her elbows and her body before he knotted them in front of her. Placing the knot between her breasts, he brought the ends over her shoulders and knotted them off at her nape.

In the mirror fixed to the wall, Johanna could see that the ropes framed her breasts, and she could also see that the silk was so thin her aureoles were visible. Also, the bond had raised the camisole a little, so her white panties were also showing. She felt her cheeks redden as Sato now slung a second rope three times around her waist and then tied it off below her belly button.

»Please, part your legs a bit!«

Her chest heaved as he led the ropes between her legs and threaded them through the rope belt. He pulled the slack out, so the crotch rope was snug; then, he brought the ends back, parallel to those already running over her pubic mound, and worked them through the waist rope again. Johanna slightly shifted her hips. This rope wasn’t tight, but it was there, and it felt very irritating.

Having tied another knot, he then used the ends to tie her wrists to her sides and then, he tied the ends off above her butt. She could feel the ends dangle to her calves, and indeed, Sato wasn’t finished yet.

»Mph! Nnngg!«

She protested when he now touched her pubic mound to thread the ends through her outer crotch ropes. When he then pulled, the two ropes in the middle tightened as the two outer ones formed a rhombus on the front panel of her crotch. Johanna mewed, and Sato tied the ropes off under her buttocks.

When he made her lie down on the bed, she felt the touch of the ropes between her legs – not painful, but it was as if a hand was touching her there. Her breath accelerated, but Sato just produced two long silk scarves and used one of them to tie her ankles and fix them to the lower bed post.

The other one, he tied around her neck and then fixed her to the upper bed post. The noose was knotted in a way it couldn’t tighten, and Johanna could move and squirm a bit, but not leave the bed. Sato excused himself and left for the bathroom, and Johanna tested her bonds. They were indeed more convenient, and she was sure that she would have gotten loose after some time, but not with Sato present, and he returned after a few minutes, clad in just shorts and a white T-Shirt. Johanna gulped: obviously, they would share the bed.

He bent over her and took off her glasses, placing them on the nightstand. Then, he once again looked at her.

»I knew you would look beautiful in that garment – though I think I would also say so if you were wearing a potato sack!«

***

»Excuse me, Mr. Schneider!«

Helmut Schneider looked up from his computer screen. It was rather late, but as the purser of a large cruise ship, he had lots of work to do, since he not only had to organize the food and drink supply, but also the board entertainment. In the door stood one of the petty Officers, and he was searching for his name when the man continued:

»It’s about Miss Bonhomme, the musician!«

Schneider scoffed. Though he hadn’t been present, he had of course heard that the little diva had stormed off after a few minutes. Luckily, the guests had taken this rather amused, but he still had to organize an alternative for the remaining evenings where Suzette had been intended to play. The petty Officer now told him that he had spoken with the girl:

»Miss Bonhomme is of course sorry, and«, he lowered his voice, though nobody was around, »she also confessed that she has got psychological issues. Anyway, I think I found a solution that is best for both the company and for her – provided your consent!«

Schneider made an impatient gesture, and the man (Andreas Holm, as he could now remember) told him that Suzette would remain in her cabin until the »Mauretania II« would reach her next stop in Porto the day after tomorrow. There, she would go from board and take a flight back to Germany. Her only concern was that she could not afford the trip and maybe a hotel at Porto.

»I should sue the little ginger!«, Schneider grunted, but in reality, he was glad how the young man had handled the situation, discreet and allowing the musician to keep her face. So, he pretended to check some numbers and then, he said:

»Tell Miss Bonhomme that the company will offset her not taking the complete tour with her not performing on the other evenings, so if she leaves, we will pay her, let me see, 1.000 Euro! Would you tell her that, please?«

»Miss Bonhomme took something to calm down, and she might be sleeping right now, but once I will see her again, I will tell her of your generous offer, Sir!«

The purser turned back to his computer, and Andreas withdrew. He guessed that Suzette had meanwhile regained her consciousness, but her reputation as a musician would be her least concern, bound gagged and locked inside her own double bass case!

»And yet, I didn’t even lie! She will leave the ship in Porto, together with the others!«

***