CHAPTER FIVE – DECEPTION
"So, this is how the other half lives, wow! This is going to be the best vacation ever." The valet parking at Tuttle's Corner, the limousine ride through parts of Stokes State Forest, the breathtaking first view from the winding driveway of the Alpine chalet all contributed to Stephanie's (aka Stefana's) elation. Most world-wise individuals would have questioned how such grandeur could be had for a mere pittance of $400 but to a girl from the Burg who is impressed with real china and salad forks at a restaurant, this must be the other side of normal.
She shared the ride to Hermitage with two other women. Courtney was the younger of the two and closer to Steph in age. Her boyfriend had surprised her with the trip for her birthday. She was from Fairview a small town outside of Poughkeepsie, New York. NeeNee, as she liked to be called, had met Alan at the State University. He was really a great guy but older and so much more sophisticated than her. He was from 'The City', as New York City is called by anyone who has lived or is living there. His hope for her was that a stay at Hermitage would expand her life experience and help her to fit in more comfortably with his circle when they visited NYC for the holidays in four months. NeeNee was bubbly and open and laughed a lot. Steph liked her immediately.
Gwyneth, the other passenger, was quite the opposite. Steph guessed her to be in her early 40s and very well-preserved. Her perfect manicure, high-style hairdo, flawless skin (Botox, no doubt) and impeccable clothes announced to the world that Gwyn was at the top of the pecking order. Her short and impersonal answers to the girls' questions left no doubt that privacy was paramount in Gwyn's world. She spent the whole drive simply looking out the limo's window. One got the distinct impression that she saw none of the beauty, but merely needed a place to focus her eyes while disassociating herself from her traveling companions. Steph disliked her immediately.
The limo pulled under the portico and up to the grand staircase leading to the intricately carved double doors. A handsome, uniformed bellman opened their door. They were greeted warmly by a woman wearing what would become recognized as the uniform of the staff…white buttoned blouse, navy A-line skirt, 3-inch navy pumps and hair pulled back in a loose chignon. "Ladies, welcome to Awakenings at the Hermitage. My name is Victoria and I am your personal concierge. My job is to see to your comfort and answer any questions you may have during your stay. Andrew will see that your bags are placed in your rooms. If you will follow me into the lounge, you can enjoy some light refreshments while you are completing your registration packets." NeeNee squeezed Steph's hand tightly in excitement. They were going to be treated like princesses for two weeks. Gwyn shared none of their exuberance. In fact the slight nod exchanged between Gwyn and Victoria hinted that this was not her first visit.
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Sitting in one of the plush leather Oxford chairs Steph looked at the clipboard on her lap in dismay. There are more papers to fill out here than I had when I applied for college. And some of the questions…geesh! There were the typical name and address blanks. Those she dutifully filled out with her new alias and a random street number on Stark St. Then there was the question of next of kin. This seemed a little drastic for a vacation stay at a spa…sex education or not. Steph flagged Victoria down.
"Why do you need to know this?" she asked in a whispered voice. The solemnity of the lounge implied a quiet atmosphere.
"Well, we do have swimming and exercise areas we hope you will take advantage of while you stay with us. Our insurance company requires that we have an emergency notification number for all our guests. Is that a problem?" Vicky was so sweet and reassuring, Steph felt almost guilty in asking her.
"I don't have any next of kin. Will a friend do?" The irony wasn't lost on her. I'm spending good money and two weeks to learn to be honest with myself. Yet here I am filling out pages of lies! I'll be honest with the rest of the stuff. I just can't take the chance that my family or, God forbid, Ranger would find out where I am or what I'm doing.
"A friend will be fine, Stefana. We just need a name to notify. Any other questions?"
"Nope, I'm fine. Thank you." Steph filled in Mary Lou Stankovic as friend and next of kin. If something went wrong, she knew Mary Lou would cover for her. Of course Mary Lou wouldn't know who the hell Stefana Plume was but she was pretty smart and could probably figure it out. Besides, what were the chances that anyone would need to call her? With that unpleasant thought dismissed from her mind, Steph took a sip of her complimentary Mimosa and began the task of completing the other eighteen pages of the "Help Us Get to Know Your Needs" packet.
NeeNee, sitting in the chair opposite Steph, was giggling as she filled out her information. "I feel so naughty writing some of this down. What did you fill in on page nine?" she asked sounding more like a giddy teenager than a twenty-something woman.
Steph had taken so long getting her new identity right she hadn't even started the "Things I know vs. Things I'd like to know" pages. She turned to page nine and quickly turned all shades of crimson. There, in black and white, were questions she had never even dared to form in her head. And there were blanks after the questions waiting to be filled in…in detail!
1) Circle those activities you have participated in: Fellatio - Cunnilingus - Masturbation - Anal intercourse - Vaginal intercourse - Bestiality - Group sex – Bondage - Sadomasochism – Dom/sub - Other _
Cunnilingus? Do they mean with another girl? Ick. Bestiality? Group sex? I'll never feel guilty about my showerhead again.
2) From the list of circled items above list your three most favorite activities:
1. _
2. _
3. _
I've only ever done three. Well, almost four. Ranger and I were working on that anal thing before he got all weird.
3) From the list of circled items above list your three least favorite activities:
1. _
2. _
3. _
This part is easy…all the other things above.
4) From those activities not selected in question #1 list and explain why you have not participated.
Well, duh! They are just disgusting for starters. And they have never come up in any conversations I've had with normal people…I won't count Vinnie or his duck.
5) Is there anything not listed here that you would like to experience while a guest at the spa?
I wonder if they mean something besides the hot tubs and massages. They can't be talking about having sex here with strangers, can they? No. This place is too high class for that. Get a grip, girl.
6) Please write in detail about your favorite sexual fantasy.
Where would I start? Carlos on a tropical island. Carlos on a king-sized circular bed. Carlos tying me up and having his way with me. Shit! Where did that come from? Probably from that third Mimosa. Slow down, Steph you just got here.
7) If given the opportunity and needed instruction, would you like this fantasy fulfilled?
Oh, yes. Oh my, yes.
8) How did you learn about "Awakenings" and "The Hermitage"?
The internet. How does anyone find out about anything anymore…Google rules!
9) Is your current sexual partner aware of your attending the classes here at The Hermitage? If so, were you encouraged or discouraged to attend? Why?
No. Why? Because he owns many guns and knows how to use them…maybe not on me, but he'll sure find someone to shoot.
NOTE: Please answer the above questions honestly and completely. You cannot begin to know yourself and we cannot begin to fulfill your needs if you are not open and genuine with your answers.
Steph didn't know how to even begin answering these questions. Even her standard list of little white lies wouldn't help her. She turned to see if Gwyn was having problems with her questionnaire and was surprised to see that their other travel companion was nowhere in sight. Hesitantly, Steph began to answer the questions. I might as well try to answer them truthfully. Maybe I'll learn something about myself after all. The question of the missing Gwen was soon lost in the waves of reoccurring embarrassment.
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"The younger one, Courtney, was sent by Alan De Luca out of New York City. He wants her primed for one of his clubs by New Years. She's clueless and pliable and I see no problem with her. The older one, Stefana is hiding something. I want her vetted before we go too far. I'm not sure we can find a suitable buyer for her. They all want them younger and younger. There is one house in Maryland looking for an older slave, and of course our friend in Rio can always use her in his stable. If we have to go that route, he'll have to supply the drugs. I'm not absorbing that cost along with all the expense of breaking and training her. We'll see, one step at a time. Now put on your shining smile and see to our guests, my dear."
Gwyn dismissed Victoria with a slight wave of her hand as she returned to the pile of paperwork waiting on her antique mahogany desk. So much to do and so little time to get it all done.