Glimmer of Hope: A gripping psychological thriller novella with a nail-biting ending Page 4

  Alecia was still learning the ropes and the behaviours of the men who viewed her. She stripped off down to her sexy underwear, exposing her legs, body and bra then switched on her webcam. Having spent a couple of minutes seductively rubbing her hands over her body with attention focussed on her breasts, Alecia could see more and more usernames listed as watching her online. In the chatbox option available to her, she messaged her audience.

  What would you like me to do for 200 credits, she typed, starting off with a minimal amount, taking offers and awaiting your instruction. A user by the name of JizzyJay private messaged her and asked to go for a private show for 2000 credits, ten times the amount she wanted initially. Thrilled that this was the best offer she’d had, so she clicked his username, confirmed a private show request, accepted the credits and within a few moments, he was filtered to be her only watcher while all others had an away for remote show notification overlaying her webcam display.

  Alecia felt exposed, being alone in the bedsit on webcam just felt awkward because she was never able to see the other person on cam. JizzyJay was the only username in a chatbox who paid a small amount of money to request whatever she wanted to accept. She knew he could hear her from the internal microphone. As he asked for her to remove her red silk underwear and the sexy bra that created an illusion of a better cleavage, he wanted her to moan as if she was having an orgasm.

  It had been a few minutes of escapism and another batch of credits to add to her account for later use. Alecia closed the laptop lid to consider that a job perfectly executed for the afternoon. If she had the willpower and confidence to stay online longer, she would have. Performing on a camera made her feel awkward and the earnings although would end up as extra money was a pittance in reality. She’d rather have a website of her own and skip the middleman. Still, everything cost so much to set up due to regulations on adult website hosting services.

  Everything seems to have its price.

  7

  Alecia’s next plan of action today following her brief stint on webcam was to concentrate on getting dressed up for the meeting of Mr X in a couple of hours. She had already pre-booked the taxi for 7 p.m. and allowing for it to be late, she would still get to the Hadleigh House Hotel estate in plenty of time.

  Concentrating on perfecting her appearance, Alecia selected three different outfits to match each of the styles she had in mind. Combining both sexy with professional, she found a cheap metallic backless slit dress that had been gathering dust at the back of her wardrobe. With a bit of a wipe down to freshen it up, the dress looked way more expensive than it was. She remembered all the compliments she got from the guys at the work Christmas party last year while the women gave her daggers with their eyes. Not that she wanted to cause any upset or jealousy, but the attention was gratefully received.

  Somehow, Alecia was one of those women that seemed to be the talk of the place and not necessarily in a good way. Keeping her private life just that – very private, Alecia could never really understand how other women could be so bitchy towards her only because she doesn’t relate to a body with stretch marks, cellulite or join in with the small talk about who’s cooking what for dinner during work breaks. The wig chosen to compliment the outfit is a short brunette pixie cut style, she loved to show off how her dark brown eyes had been smoked perfectly with eye makeup.

  It was still about an hour away before the taxi should arrive to allow her time to think about the questions she wanted to ask Mr X. Her curiosity about Sordida was overgrowing as she was interested to know if she could advertise her escorting page, were there any employment opportunities, was it filled wall to wall with wealthy, filthy businessmen who threw money at the face of a woman with a decent smile and a dirty mind. Could this be the job of her dreams right now?

  For the right price, nothing was off-limits. Just as she was getting dressed, Alecia noticed the red leather thigh high boots she had put aside for a visit to Jakes tomorrow. Shit, she thought, I better not forget them, Jake’s so particular with his demands. She pulled the boots out of the wardrobe and placed them by the bed so as not to forget them. Jake suddenly didn’t seem as important. If she could bargain a deal with Sordida, who knew what opportunities it could bring. An end to living in a dirty small bedsit was what she hoped for. Life was starting to seem like it was getting better. She had hope.

  Making sure all her electrical appliances were unplugged before she left the bedsit became a part of her ritualistic compulsive habit being sure that she could save a few pounds a month on the electricity this way. Alecia sat on the sofa after double-checking everything was unplugged, and she hadn’t left the iron on to await the beep of the taxi horn. It was five to seven, and the taxi beeped twice outside, making her jump slightly as it arrived earlier than planned. Shaking a little due to the nerves of not knowing what to expect, Alecia was of the mindset of going all in.

  She closed the door behind her on the way out, locked it, placed the keys into her black clutch bag and heard her own high heels kissing the pavement as she headed towards the taxi. Alecia turned to smile to the driver who had stepped out to open the rear door for her and switched straight into character.

  ‘Well hello driver.’ She teased, giving him a little wink as his eyes gave her the once over. ‘Are you booked for Alecia?’

  The driver nodded at her, almost drooling.

  ‘Hadleigh House Estate, love?’ He responded, with a beaming smile. ‘Jump in. I have to quickly stop off for some diesel on the way. We’ll get there in about twenty to thirty minutes.’

  Alecia nodded to agree and entered the taxi. I can do this, she thought, I need this right now.

  The taxi journey to Hadleigh House Hotel would have been more bearable if the taxi driver hadn’t have eyed her up in the rear-view mirror for the duration of the trip. His conversation centred around questioning if Alecia was single, or had a date for the evening, among an abundance of suggestive discussions that repulsed her. She smiled but thought he was a right twat. It made her realise that the low mentality of men and their sexual desires is what could potentially make her more wealthy. She had to target the right type of men. Men like the taxi driver didn’t make her feel guilty for taking their money, only in this instance, it was her paying him.

  It had taken a little over thirty minutes, but the fuel stop at the station about half-way was a moment for Alecia to calm herself. She could barely think with the driver’s constant interruption of her thoughts and was appreciative of the length of time it had taken him to browse the snacks before paying for the diesel. When the sign displaying welcome to Winston appeared twenty-five minutes into the trip, the rain was splashing on the taxi windows which caused her concern. She hoped it was only a brief shower. Alecia didn’t have an umbrella on her, and now the rain was starting to get heavier.

  Hadleigh House Hotel looked every bit the country house she was expecting. It was a distinctive eighteenth-century manor house set in twenty acres of grounds according to the sign displaying an advertisement for one of the South West’s most magnificent wedding venue at the entrance to the estate. The taxi had to drive a further half-mile trek before arriving at the entrance adding another one-pound to the journey fare. The views were outstanding and tranquil with the hotel surrounded by nothing more than fields and trees for what looked miles on end. It was just starting to get dark, Alecia paid the driver twenty-pounds since the fare was only a few quid under that.

  ‘Keep the change.’ She said as she opened the door to get out, relieved the journey was over because she’d hoped never to endure seeing that driver again. ‘Cheers and goodbye.’

  ‘How are you getting back?’ The driver asked, handing her a business card. ‘Do you want my card so that you can give me a call later?’

  ‘No, it’s fine. Thank you.’ Alecia replied. ‘I’ll call a taxi when I need one later as I’m not sure what time I’ll be leaving this evening.’

  Alecia ran as fast as she could to the hotel entrance so that the rain wouldn’t destroy the style she’d brushed into her wig. Little droplets of rain dampened her dress with the chill in the night air blowing on her back to give her a slight shivery feeling. In her mind, she was imaging all the other useful things that twenty pounds could buy right now. It would have been a few days food, a small contribution to the monthly electricity allowance she set aside for herself although accepted it as a little outlay for the bigger picture. Sordida was hopefully one step closer to her reality.

  As she walked through the lobby, she portrayed a facial expression of familiarity as an act to continue her plan. The reception area was on the left side of her with a handsome young man who must have only just left school. He was dealing with well-dressed couples who were congesting his time with check-ins. To the right was the hotel bar decorated in the theme of a country pub with wooden tables and dripping in oak.

  Alecia headed to the bar area, noticing the elevator and stairs were not far. It wasn’t bustling, but she needed a drink to settle her nerves. With just under half an hour until she was to lead to room 232, she perched on a bar stool with a beaming smile to attract the attention of the waiter. He looked about thirty-five, muscular build, very short dark hair with blue eyes, and she could see the tattoos on his arms through his pristine white shirt. His buttons undone enough to reveal a teasing view of his pectoral muscles and chest hair. Alecia found him very attractive, exactly her type of guy. Although she hadn’t planned to flirt, her glancing stares at his body made it visible that she found him attractive. Thinking that he was probably used to a lot of female attention anyway, she noticed his name badge read Matt.

  ‘What can I get you?’ Matt asked, with a polite smirk to acknowledge her glances. ‘Would you like to see our cocktail menu? We have a limited two for one offer on the pornstar martini’s?’

  ‘I’ll just have a dark rum and Diet Coke, please.’ Alecia replied. ‘I won’t start on the cocktails just yet.’

  ‘Coming right up.’ Matt replied. ‘That’ll be four pounds fifty please, shall I apply it to your room number?’

  ‘I’ll pay by cash because I prefer to pay in an old-fashioned way.’ Alecia explained. ‘Thank you, but I don’t have a room here. I’m meeting someone.’

  Matt brought her drink complete with a little black straw she had only ever seen in the nightclubs, Alecia swirled it around her glass to stir up the taste before taking a few sips.

  Having finished her drink while reading the menu to pass the time, she glanced around for a clock to save fumbling about for her phone in her bag, and spotted it was almost 8 p.m. Alecia stepped down from her stool giving a thumbs up to the sexy waiter Matt, who acknowledged her departure from the bar with a wink and then continued to walk towards the elevator. I’m ready for this, she thought to herself, I can fucking well do this.

  8

  Standing at the door of room two-three-two on the second floor within the hotel, Alecia straightened her dress, held her bag tightly by her side before taking a quick deep breath and knocked on the door twice. Two gentle taps above the electronic room card reader, she looked around to discover she was the only person in the hallway. The door clicked to unlock, she looked down slightly to see the small light on the card reader flash green indicative of being able to gain entry. However, Alecia still stood there, waiting for Mr X to open the door.

  Looking directly at the silver-plated room numbers nailed into the wooden door, she knew this was the correct room, two more taps to the door only this time louder. Alecia became impatient at the lack of response. The light was still green to enable her to walk right in if she wanted. Now pondering with the choice of walking in or walking away; getting dressed up for this evening, spending money on the fare to have travelled here for no response would irritate the shit out of her. She was pissed right off!

  ‘Hello, is anyone there?’ Alecia asked while holding down the door handle, pushing the door open just slightly. ‘I’ve let myself in. Hello. Are you here?’

  Alecia closed the door behind her before turning around to realise she was alone. A neatly made double bed, a veneer bedside cabinet with a telephone, what could be a small bathroom, vanity desk with a mirror and waste paper bin made this room appear like any other hotel room that could have been in any other city in any other country. It was a generic cabin-style run of the mill layout and poor taste not in-line with the hotel’s great brand. She wasn’t expecting such an extravagant building to have such a bland room. Alecia heard the click of the electronic door again, turned towards the door, but this time the light was red to indicate it was locked.

  ‘Hello.’ She asked out loud. ‘Anyone here?’

  She opened the bathroom door to reveal yet another empty room. The face looking back at her was her own in the reflection of the mirror on the back of the door. But how did the door unlock? She questioned herself, how did that hotel room door unlock for me without a card?

  The telephone on the bedside cabinet rang. Alecia closed the bathroom door, was just able to squeeze through the small gap on the floor between the end of the double bed and the vanity unit to get to the telephone. She picked up the receiver and sat down immediately.

  ‘Hello.’ Said Alecia.

  ‘Thank you for coming here, Alecia.’ The voice she recognised as Mr X said. ‘I appreciate you travelling to see me tonight. Thank you. I’m glad you made it.’

  ‘Where are you? I’m here in the room, and you’re not here.’ Alecia continued. ‘Somehow, the door unlocked, and I was able to let myself in?’

  ‘I can see you on the bed. I can see the silver backless dress that you’re wearing too.’ Mr X replied. ‘The black bag you are carrying, and I must say that you look remarkable. I am impressed. I am alone too and no one else can hear me on this call.’

  ‘This is getting stupid. You asked me to come out all this way, and I paid for a taxi with what little money I have to speak to you on a hotel telephone.’ Alecia ranted down the phone. ‘Are you having a laugh at my expense?’

  Alecia was angry. She didn’t wait for him to reply and slammed down the telephone. She got off the bed, walked towards the door to leave only to discover the door was locked. She pulled the handle tightly, no matter how hard she pulled, it wasn’t budging. She had been locked inside with no electronic door card insight. Her mind was overactive, conjuring up a thousand different ways of how to escape. She was starting to panic, then the telephone rang again. Should the police be called?

  ‘Alecia, please calm down.’ Mr X said. ‘I can’t reveal my identity to you just yet, but please, I promise you don’t worry. I need to trust you. I need you to trust me. I appreciate this could all look a little odd, but it will all become clear in the end. You are safe. I promise you.’

  ‘If you do not let me out, I’ll scream for help.’ Alecia replied. ‘I’ll kick the fucking door down. I have a mobile phone. I can call someone for help. I’ll call the police.’

  ‘This room for Sordida has been made soundproofed, and the windows securely locked. No one can hear you, nor would they come to help you.’ Mr X responded. ‘A mobile phone signal blocker is already in action. Your only way out is to jump out of the window which would cause some damage to your body, should you even succeed to open it or smash it.’

  ‘You absolute fucking freak, how and why are you doing this?’ Alecia asked again. ‘Please, just let me go?’

  ‘Alecia, one of the fundamental rules of Sordida is to leave no trace. We are a group of high profile professionals who cannot have our club exposed to the working class and their social networks.’ Mr X explained. ‘I have full control over this room. I need the assurance that you’re not recording our conversations.’

  Alecia sat down on the bed again. She didn’t feel in any immediate danger but was uneasy about the situation she was facing.

  ‘I can see you with a camera in the room to monitor your behaviour. My number one priority is the safety of my information.’ Mr X continued. ‘You have said you’ve been to Sordida before as part of a hunt event evening. You must be aware of the privacy and expectations. We pay the price to compensate for the trusted few we invite to play, which brings me to my question. I have something I want to run by you.’

  ‘I’ll co-operate with you.’ Alecia said. ‘I need to be assured of my safety and privacy too.’

  ‘I can’t reassure you enough that you’re in safe hands here. If I didn’t trust you, I wouldn’t have even invited you to be so close to Sordida.’ He replied. ‘The only place I can’t see you is in the bathroom for obvious privacy reasons.’

  ‘What has this room got to do with anything?’ Alecia asked. ‘I understand your need for privacy. However, this is some extreme lengths to invite me to a hotel and lock me in, don’t you think. I thought we were going to have dinner?’

  Alecia held the phone still to her ear as she looked around the room for any trace of a camera. It must be in the mirrors, she wondered, or the smoke alarm sensor above? Nothing was visible to her to give away that a device was recording her every move within the room.

  ‘Sometimes, we use this room as part of our sex games within the club.’ Mr X confirmed. ‘Think of it as an annexe to the club where we can stay at a safe distance. Sordida pay a substantial sum to this hotel for exclusive usage all year round. I have installed this room with some state-of-the-art technology, all of which is used only for Sordida purposes. This room is strictly on a need to know basis, and only those who request a private secluded room with Sordida are made aware of its location.’

  Alecia composed herself to remember why she had put herself in this situation in the first instance. Play the game, she thought, go along with it.

  ‘For my safety, I want to check a few things out if that’s ok?’ Alecia asked. ‘If you can see me, then I’ll leave the phone on the side while I look around the room for a few minutes.’

  ‘Do as you please. I will let you go when I have the assurance of your discretion. You are completely safe.’ Mr X said. ‘I need you to understand my need for privacy.’