The Devil's Handshake

2

Holland Park, 2007

With a heavy heart because Stephen felt he had been left with little choice but to resign his position, which was why the butler found himself opposite Sir Thomas in the study of the house explaining what his “Woman” had done to the young and inexperienced member of his staff.

Twenty minutes later, having finished his explanation and despite being red-faced Stephen waited for his Master’s response. He didn’t have to wait long. It was instant and without hesitation.

“Stephen please pay the girl £30,000 on the condition she signs a binding Private and Confidentiality Agreement, and please make sure we give her an excellent introduction and reference,” Thomas ordered his face impassive as he came straight to the point.

The statement caught the old butler off guard because Thomas had used his Christian name. That was something done he hadn’t since he was young boy. Gathering his thoughts, Stephen offered first a singular nod as to his acceptance of the task. He then answered. “A very generous offer, Sir Thomas. I am sure young Jackie will accept.” as he believed it was an extremely fair offer for it was equivalent to two years’ salary for the girl.

“So there will be no need for your resignation?” queried Thomas, hoping he had put an end to the matter.

The man was the only real link he had left to his mother, as he had chosen to cut all ties with his father and didn’t want to lose Pritchard over the incredibly stupid actions of Nara.

“No, Sir Thomas, my mind is made up! I cannot work for such a person who has no respect for the people who are only trying to make her life easier! Physically attacking a poor young girl over an accident is just not acceptable in any society,” Stephen answered sticking to his guns resolutely.

“He’s right of course, Nara is thoroughly out of bloody order and has acted no better than the bloody animal that once owned her life!” Thomas reasoned inwardly. “Well I am certainly putting a stop to that! Right now!” He thought with conviction. “Maybe that will work” he concluded, his mind made up as to his next course of action.

“Stephen would you mind waiting for one moment please?” he asked trying hard not to show his anger.

“Of course, Sir Thomas,” answered the butler as his master got up and left the room.

Less than a minute later, he returned with a sweat-covered Nara in tow from the private gym in the house. Looking up at her, Stephen immediately felt uncomfortable.

“Does he really believe an apology from the little tart is going to work,” Stephen angrily thought with distain and disappointment showing on his face. He had expected more from Thomas.

“Nara, did you hit Jackie?” Thomas asked, ignoring the disapproving look from his long-standing butler.

“Yes, my Thomas, I did!” Nara answered without remorse and with fire in her eyes.

“Why?” Thomas queried.

“Because the little ‘gullukçy’ spilt boiling tea over me in front of my friends, so she needed to be taught a lesson!” Nara answered, using the Turkman word for servant disparagingly.

Suddenly without warning, all in one movement Thomas smacked Nara across her face with a stinging slap.

“HOW DARE YOU, THIS IS NOT FUCKING TURKMENISTAN!” Thomas shouted loudly towards Nara. “WE DO NOT ACT LIKE THE DICTATORS OF YOUR COUNTRY AND HIT OUR STAFF LIKE ANIMALS! IN DOING SO YOU HAVE NOW EMBARRASSED ME AND MY NAME WITH PRITCHARD, FOR THAT YOU WILL BE PUNISHED”

“N-O, N-O P-L-E-A-S-E M-Y THOMAS” “P-L-E-A-S-E,” Nara screamed with terror as it suddenly dawned on her that Thomas was about to beat her.

Unknown to the Butler watching them, she had not experienced a beating since Turkmenistan at the hands of her pimp. “NOT IN FRONT OF PRITCHARD. PLEASE I BEG-”

The fury in Thomas’s eyes burned her like a hot iron.

“Sir Thomas! PLEASE!” Pritchard had pleaded with perspiration starting to form on his head from a raised heartbeat. The dark look from Thomas as he turned his head sent shivers through Stephen, even more so than the one he had given his own father over his mother’s grave.

Suddenly as if realizing he had gone too far, Pritchard watched the devil in Thomas’s eyes disappear back into the depths of his soul.

“My god!” he thought, “He’s punished her for my benefit!” Unsure of what he should do next, he looked on in stunned silence that was until his master made the decision for him.

“Go to our room Nara,” Thomas ordered evenly as when punishing their daughter for being naughty.

Watching her quickly scurry out of the room, his master’s eyes now normal again, the room fell silent as though everything was now settled. Thomas focused his eyes on Stephen.

“I take it that has satisfied you as suitable punishment and your honor is restored?” Thomas asked breaking the uneasy silence between them. The butler nodded.

“Good, I am certain she won’t ever do it again! Oh and thank you Pritchard,” Thomas said.

Taking this as the signal to leave the difficult meeting, Stephen nodded once more, but this time chose not to say anything as he left the room for his resignation was no longer needed, his honor had been restored.

A distressed Nara ran through the house and up the stairs with tears streaming down her face. The “Gates of Hell” that had been held back until that moment in Nara’s mind unlocked and opened with a vengeance and in doing so with it came all the worst nightmares that she had long forgotten.

The image of her pimp from Turkmenistan, the man who had purchased her from her Papa as a thirteen-year-old, manifested in front of her and with it his evil laughter ring loudly in her ears. Endeavoring to escape from him, Nara fled into their bedroom.

Nowhere else to run, having hit the wall, she turned and collapsed to the floor. She began rocking herself with her arms clutched in front of her legs that were pushed up into her chest, sobbing loudly.

Thirty minutes later, a distraught and now an extremely guilty Thomas came up the stairs to their bedroom to find her. Entering the room he immediately found her in a semi-comatose state, rocking herself back and forth and staring into the floor.

“Oh my God! What have I done?” he thought in horror as he rushed to her.

He sat down at her side and gently pulled her under his shoulder. She flinched at his touch. He went to kiss her head but she pulled away without saying anything.

It was half an hour before the intimacy of them locked together finally appeared to work its magic. Nara looked at up him weakly. She attempted to offer him a smile.

Taking it as his cue to make amends, in response Thomas kissed her hair.

“I am sorry, my Thomas,” she said shaking, fearing he might slap her again.

“Shh,” murmured Thomas before releasing her. Then without a word he stood and offered his damp hand for her to take.

“Nara,” he said simply, his foolish pride stopping him from apologizing to her for his loss of his temper despite her unacceptable actions with regard to Jackie.

Nervously, Nara looked at him for a second. Despite fearing another assault she, with a touch of hesitation, took his outstretched hand.

Pulling her up and into his arm, it suddenly dawned on him by the way she was shaking that she still was terrified of him.

“God!” he thought guiltily. “What have I done?”

Trying to make amends. He leaned down then kissed her on the lips. She flinched again at his touch.

“I won’t hurt you my love,” he whispered.

It was only when he picked her up in his arms in one movement that Nara started to realize that he was no longer angry with her.

Nevertheless, still gripped by fear she carefully placed her arms around his neck while he carried into the bedroom.

In effort to please him, just had she once done with Oleg all those years ago, she kissed him on his lips.

“I am sorry my love,” she repeated again, earning another. “Shhh,” in return from Thomas.

“I am the one at fault,” he stated.

“I should know better!” he admonished himself.

Reaching the bed, Thomas gently placed Nara on it, stroked her face again and lightly as a feather brushed her long hair away to the sides while never losing eye contact with her.

“Tell me my darling. What was it?” Thomas had guessed that his raising of his hand and slapping her had released something terrible from her past in Turkmenistan.

She nodded, wiping her face with her arm while releasing a little sniffle. Wanting to please him so his terrible beast would not return Nara looked up him once more then started to tell him what had happened to her the afternoon Allah had sent him to save her.

By the time she finished, with tears in his eyes, he swore he would never raise his hand again.