Peter hated shopping with a passion. However, he also hated the online services, as they never seemed to be able to manage to stick to their delivery slots…

It was after he had waited in for yet another non-existent delivery that he caught sight of the small advert on his phone.

“Need shopping, but hate the online services, and no time to do it yourself? Free up thirty minutes for one of our women to interview you, and we’ll sort everything out for you from then on.

Personal service, no substitutions unless you are asked first, and prompt delivery when you want it. Our shopper is specifically at your beck and call, so you don’t have to wait for other orders. Contact The Personal Shopper Group on XXX-XXXX.”

Peter thought about it, then shrugged.

“They sound like exactly what I need”, he said. “Wonder what the catch is…?”

He rang the number. There was a few clicks, a pause, then a woman’s voice answered.

“Hi! You’re talking to Robyn. How can I help?”

“I need someone to get exactly what I need, when I need it”, Peter said. “I’m always running out of stuff because I loathe shopping, and the online delivery services have let me down too many times…”

“Not a problem”, Robyn said. “Our first one is free, so you can try the service out. You just pay for the shopping. After that, there’s a regular fee.”

Robyn named a figure that Peter felt was very reasonable.

“Can I pop round to see you? Just for the interview and to review your shopping lists.”

“Of course”, said Peter.

Shortly after, there was a knock at the door. Peter opened it and was greeted by a Five-foot tall young redhead.

“Hi! I’m Robyn, it’s about the shopping?”

“Oh, yes. Come in. Can I get you a drink?”

“Tea would be fine, thank you. Not everybody offers.”

Peter and Robyn sat down, and they spent the thirty minutes working out everything that Peter needed. Peter gave Robyn the cash to pay for the shopping up front; for some reason he trusted her.

Robin went off with the empty bags, then came back exactly when she said she would, with everything that Peter had wanted.

“I had to go to two shops to get the tea”, she said. “I was worried that I’d be late back.”

Peter was very impressed with the service and he said so. He then signed the paperwork.

Robyn’s attitude suddenly changed…

“Thank you, master”, she said. “I really appreciate being allowed to serve you. Would you like some tea?”

Peter was bemused.

“Surely you have other customers to attend to, Robyn?”, he asked.

“Not now, master; you’ve just bought me”, she said. “Didn’t you read the contract before you signed it?”

In a state of shock, Peter picked up the papers and read them…

“The client agrees, in return for the services of the chosen woman, to have the woman solely accountable to himself for any services required that do not require the woman coming to any sort of permanent harm. This includes, however, the client being solely responsible for the woman’s upkeep, providing room, board and food.

This does mean also that the woman will have no other clients during the working period…”

That section, along with the rest of the document, made it clear that Peter was now responsible for Robyn.

“Is this some kind of slave contract…?”, he asked, hesitantly.

“Oh, please, we don’t use that word.”, said Robyn. “If you have to use something, try servant, or home help. The only real difference is the post is a live in one; hopefully you have a spare bedroom and bed somewhere…?”

Luckily enough, Peter had a spare room which his daughter used occasionally when she came to stay. It didn’t have any personal items in it; just a wardrobe and a bed, really, as well as a TV.

“This will do me fine”, said Robyn. She literally sprang onto the bed, curled up on it and went straight to sleep.

Peter spent a few minutes just watching her from the doorway. Robyn then smiled and opened one eye.

“You don’t have to stay over there, you know…”, she said…

Hesitantly, Peter walked over to the bed and sat down next to Robyn. She rested her head on his leg.

“You know, I’ve got a good feeling about this”, she said.

Peter ran his fingers through her hair…

She looked up at Peter and smiled.

“Kiss me…”, she said…

Peter and Robyn got very close after that.

He was even more happy when he reread the final pages of the contract and found he could buy a lifetime membership of the ‘shopping service’ for a one-off fee.

Robyn cried with happiness when he showed her the receipt…

Then something interesting happened, something he’d been dreading and looking forward to at the same time, as he wasn’t sure how to explain Robyn.

His daughter Sally suddenly turned up on the doorstep. Her boyfriend had kicked her out…

“Dad, can I use the spare room…?”

Before he could say anything, Robyn chimed up, “Of course you can! You can’t turn away family, Peter!” She came out of the kitchen and waved to Sally.

“You may have to share, Sally”, said Peter. “Robyn here is in there at the moment.”

“Oh…”, said Sally. “I didn’t know you had company.”

Peter then said something that made both Robyn and Sally’s mouths drop open.

“It’s ok; she can sleep with me…”

Robyn let out a squeal and bounded over.

Peter said, “You’ve been living here for long enough, Robyn; I think we both trust each other by now. After all, it’s not as if we’ve not seen everything of each other…”

Robyn blushed.

“Dad…!”, squeaked Sally…

Robyn and Sally got on like a house on fire.

Each was always borrowing the other’s cosmetics and clothes; Sally, however, was fascinated by the silver collar that Robyn wore.

“How did you two meet?”, she asked Robyn one evening.

 “Oh, I came round about a job”, said Robyn. “One thing led to another, and…”

There was some cursing from the other room.

“Excuse me”, said Robyn. “Your father needs me.”

Robyn hopped into the lounge and helped Peter with a few things; she then disappeared out the door to do her ‘shopping run’. She was still doing it, even after all the time she’d spent with Peter.

“She’s amazing”, Sally said. “You’re lucky to have her.”

“I know”, said Peter.

“Only thing; I almost get the impression she’s been abused at some point.”

“Oh? Why?”, Peter asked.

“I came into the room to get some makeup the other day and didn’t realise she was resting. She was so shocked by my being there; the look in her eyes was like a trapped animal, and she almost jumped out of the bed and dived under it.”

Sally continued, “She also never takes off that collar. She even wears it in the shower. It seems to be rubbing her neck; I’m sure she was bleeding the other day. She needs to get that looked at.”

“I’ll be honest, I don’t know much about her history”, said Peter. “We just hit it off so well it never came up…”

When Robyn came back, Peter took her to one side.

“Sally’s been asking questions”, he said. “She said you’re showing the classic signs of someone that’s been abused.”

Robyn went pale.

“Drop it, Peter, please”, she said. “You can’t do anything about it now, and I don’t want to talk about it.”

“She also says she’s seen your neck bleeding…”

“That was my fault. I have to put some cream regularly around my collar, to stop it irritating, and I’d run out. It won’t be a problem.”

“She’s only worried about you; you’ve got to realise that. We both care about you.”

“I know”, Robyn said. “But please, don’t pursue it any further. Promise me!”

Robyn was really scared. She knew what could happen in someone rocked the boat…