Hit by Tara Moss Page B

I know. You’re right,’ Brenda said. She bit her lip, giving her canines a vampire-like look as she stained them with bright red lipstick.
    ‘You feel empowered in the role-play scenario,’ Mak said.
    ‘Yes,’ Brenda conceded.
    That was no surprise. Brenda Bale, as it had turned out, worked several evenings a week as a highly paid bondage mistress. She arrived at Mak’s house each Friday afternoon smartly dressed: suit, heels and matching handbag, hair slicked back in a ponytail, the very picture of corporate style. The only hint as to Brenda’s clandestine work activities was her unnaturally bright red dyed hair and scarlet lips—hence the name she used for work, Mistress Scarlet. It had taken Mak until their second session to clue into this pertinent information, which appeared to be quite relevant to Brenda’s concerns.Loulou had not informed Mak of this, but, knowing her mohawked friend, Mak was hardly surprised that Brenda Bale had an unconventional career. Everyone Loulou knew seemed to be unconventional.
    ‘But there are other ways you can feel empowered outside of your work. We have spoken before about this,’ Mak reminded her.
    Brenda Bale was a youthful and sexual forty-two, intelligent and successful in her trade. She had previously worked in a well-known bondage–dominance house called The Tower, but now operated from home, where she had the necessary accoutrements and a dedicated ‘slave’ named Julio who guarded her safety. But Brenda had grown increasingly concerned that she was becoming ‘less Brenda and more Mistress Scarlet’ with each passing day. Makedde now suggested that taking her work home might have caused this psychological shift, blurring the lines between Brenda Bale and Mistress Scarlet until the more dominant of the two was taking over.
    Brenda shook her head at Mak’s comment, seemingly frustrated with herself, her bright red ponytail flipping back and forth. ‘I tried joining one of those rock-climbing classes you suggested and I just felt so out of place,’ she said, exasperated.
    ‘That’s okay. It may take a while for you to find activities that connect with you outside of the role you play in your work life. The more dedication you give to developing activities andfriendships in your personal life, the more fulfilling your personal life is likely to become. It’s like anything else: the more you put in, the more you get back.’
    ‘I know…you’re right…’
    ‘Give some more thought to what we’ve discussed,’ Mak said, wrapping up.
    ‘Oh yes, thank you. I will,’ the red lips responded.
    It was now ten to five and the fifty-minute hour of the psychologist was up.
    ‘I hope you have found our sessions helpful. You know, this is not my area of expertise. I still suggest that if this issue remains unresolved, you would really benefit from speaking to a specialist in the area. I would be able to get the name of someone for you.’
    ‘I know, I know,’ Brenda responded. ‘I really do appreciate our talks, though.’ Brenda stood and straightened her suit. She looked to Mak, and the arched eyebrows lifted in a sincere expression. ‘You’ve helped me so much. You’re really good.’ She leaned in to give a hearty handshake.
    I am?
    ‘I won’t impose on you much longer, I promise. But I really feel we are getting somewhere. I feel I’m close to a breakthrough,’ Brenda continued, bringing her smooth pale hands to her sides and making determined fists.
    Mak hoped she was right. She couldn’t afford to keep doing this for free for ever.
    ‘If there is ever anything I can do for you, let me know,’ Brenda continued. ‘And I mean anything. I have all kinds of friends who owe me favours,’ she said.
    Mak didn’t venture to think what kind of favours might be returned.
    She saw Brenda out, bade her farewell for another week and closed the door behind her. She locked it.
    Mak walked back and looked around the living room. It was furnished with a plush