Beneath her Notice – Chapter 2 1 min read

Chapter Two: The Point of Her Heel

Three days later, Adrian returned.
Elena wore ivory beneath a fitted black jacket. Her Louboutins were patent black, their pointed toes severe and their red soles visible whenever she crossed her legs.
“You’ve been thinking about what happened,” she said.
“Yes.”
“Mara’s heel—or the fact that you chose not to move?”
“The second.”
“I thought so.”
Elena approached until her shoes stopped before his.
“I’ve devised a game.”
He glanced at the heels.
“You may end it whenever you choose,” she said. “Until then, you will remain where I place you.”
“I agree.”
“Under the desk.”
She positioned him precisely, his hands open upon the carpet. One heel settled into his palm.
“Mara will come in. We will conduct an ordinary meeting. You will keep both hands where they are.”
Pressure followed.
“If you do not stop it, I shall assume you want me to continue.”
At the knock, Elena’s eyes remained upon Adrian.
“Come in.”
Mara presented revised terms from Copenhagen. Her face revealed nothing when she noticed Adrian’s folded jacket.
Above the desk, numbers were tested and discarded. Beneath it, Elena aimed her heel with the same precision she brought to negotiation. Adrian’s fingers tightened, then opened again.
Mara closed the folder.
“Anything else?”
“No. That will be all.”
After she left, Elena rolled her chair back. The impression of her stiletto lay in Adrian’s palm.
“You nearly stopped me.”
“Nearly.”
“But you chose not to.”
“Yes.”
Elena placed the pointed toe beneath his chin and raised his face.
“Next time,” she said, “we shall see whether Mara’s powers of observation are as good as I believe.”
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