Part 5

Following his late night chat with Jennifer Minnie carefully planned how

to draw Donna into the game of submission and reprimand he longed for.

As they cleaned one of the guest bedrooms together, Minnie, with a sly

smile, pulled his iPhone from the pocket to play candy crush. He knew

the risk - each morning when she assigned duties to Minnie and Maria,

Donna always finished with, "Don't forget...door wide open while you

clean the room."

Maria continued her work fully aware of low Whoosh, Womp-womp, Ta-da,

Ding-ding from time to time. "Donna will hear, you are asking for

trouble," Maria innocently warned.

Donna paused at the doorway as she made her rounds by clearing her

throat Donna signalled for them to acknowledge her presence. Acting

startled, Minnie quickly slipped his iPhone into the pocket in the folds

of his maid uniform. "Oh, Donna! I was just... um, taking a short

break."

Donna, her gaze shifting between Minnie and Maria, crossed her arms.

"Minnie, we've discussed this before. No unauthorised breaks during

working hours." As the words left her lips she realised there was a

simple way to reign in this aspect of Minnie's unruly behaviour. Donna,

portraying her angriest of faces, couldn't help but smile on the inside.

"I'm sorry, Donna. It won't happen again, I promise," Minnie responded,

his gaze lowered.

"If anything I blame myself," Donna said with a smile. Addressing both

maids she decided to reshape the dynamics. "This incident highlights a

problem, as Minnie has demonstrated, two equal-status maids can't be

trusted when left unsupervised." Donna's smile widened as she paused

briefly for effect. "Starting now Maria, you are senior maid, as such I

hold you responsible for Minnie when I'm absent." Donna smirked,

"Minnie, you have earnt yourself the job title 'junior maid' and I

expect you to behave as such."

"I won't let you down Donna," Maria said and, with a nod of

acknowledgment, resumed her work. Junior maid Minnie seethed inside. His

playful game had both worked and backfired. He loved the way Donna

gently reprimand and humiliated him. He hated the thought of Jennifer

learning he had been demoted to nineteen-year old Maria's junior.

And Maria's way of sweetly saying things like 'would you like to clean

the bathroom while I finish up in here...is that okay?' made him even

angrier...

Cook had been busy since first light, the delicate aroma of bread and

pastries filled the air, Minnie and Maria bustled about the sitting

room, preparing to serve refreshments for Jennifer's book club. Dressed

in their matching lilac maid uniforms embroidered with their names,

lilac heels, and white half pinafores they moved purposely, ensuring

each cup and plate was placed with precision. From time to time Donna

popped her head around the door to check everything was going to plan.

Jennifer once disliked the country gossip-mill that worked like a high

speed instabook or some such. Now she took pride from the way it carried

tales of her well ordered household after bridge mornings, lunch

gatherings, book club, or similar charity events. In fairness, there was

little else for the women of the surrounding villages to do while

successful husbands ran businesses in the city. At times they voiced

envy of Jennifer, passing little comments along the lines of 'she's so

lucky' or 'it will be like another honeymoon when Samuel comes home' if

Samuel's name came up in conversation - usually in the context of

another lunch companion complaining about their own overbearing

husband's unreasonable demands.

'If only they knew' Jennifer mused as she watched a contented looking

Minnie passing around cups of tea and coffee. Seeing him so happy had

Jennifer feeling all warm and fluffy inside.

As the members of the book club settled into the plush chairs, engaged

in lively discussions about the month's literary selection, Maria and

Minnie discreetly moved through the room, anticipating the needs of the

guests. Silently, they observed the animated conversations, the rustle

of pages turning, and the occasional burst of laughter.

Minnie had recently re-read the book they discussed, it was one of his

favourites, and he harboured deeper insights than the opinions being

aired around the room. Minnie decided book club was his perfect chance

for revenge on Donna for demoting him. He daydreamed - Donna would have

to step up - take back control - reprimand him...his daydreams wandered

directionlessly, like a carrier bag blown by wind...no more delegating

to Maria! - and best of all, there was a chance, a small chance, but a

chance that soft natured Jennifer would be so angry by Donna's lack of

control that...

Minnie snapped back into the moment, approached the group, cleared his

throat, conversation paused, his timing perfect. "I couldn't help but

overhear your discussion about the book, it's an old favourite of mine,"

Minnie began, a gleam of enthusiasm in his eyes. He began, "I found the

protagonist's journey quite captivating..."

Jennifer shot a quick, uneasy glance at Minnie, Maria looked shocked.

There was a subtle shift in the atmosphere--a deviation from the expected

role of a maid serving silently in the background. Jennifer wished there

were a discreet way to stop Minnie blurring the lines between servant

and participant. Thinking someone should invent a remote control for

maids like they had for video recorders, Jennifer finally caught his

attention. Minnie locked eyes with Jennifer, smiled briefly, and

continued voicing his opinion on the book. Inside Jennifer felt angry

and amused, in a 24 to 76 ratio, by his intentional misbehaviour.

Book club members, initially taken aback, exchanged glances before

politely responding. They hesitated to offer anything more than cursory

acknowledgement of Minnie's unexpected engagement in their meeting. In

the confusion Maria silently slipped out of the room to summon Donna.

As the conversation continued, Minnie contributed insights with grace

and intelligence, his thoughts began resonating with the book club

members. However, unspoken discomfort lingered in the air, a tension

that Jennifer couldn't ignore.

After the book club members departed, still angry, Jennifer headed

toward the kitchen, toward sounds of Minnie and Donna talking. Upon

hearing Donna's tone of voice Jennifer paused, still out of sight, near

the door that stood ajar...

Donna had seized the opportunity to address Minnie's behaviour. "...you

rudely overstepped your boundaries during the book club. As a maid, your

role is to serve, not to engage in conversation with the guests. I

require you to remember your place at all times."

Minnie, thinking 'this is more like it' nodded obediently as he kept his

eyes locked toward Donna's feet. "I can only offer my sincere apology

Donna. It won't happen again."

Donna, temporally mollified with the acknowledgment, silently continued

with her tasks. However, she was not done. Donna, gaining second wind

felt the need to re-emphasise the status of Minnie's role, engaged her

in a longer conversation. "Don't misunderstand, Minnie. Your duties as a

maid are crucial to the smooth running of this household. Mrs Collins

values your commitment, and so do I." Jennifer sensed a rising anger in

Donna's voice. "Guests should never feel any discomfort, as they did

earlier, due to any unexpected deviation from the usual routine."

Minnie replied respectfully, "I understand, Donna. I appreciate the

reminder, now that you have warned me. From this point on I am committed

to maintaining the proper boundaries."

Jennifer, hidden from view, was on the verge of intervening. A strange

mix of curiosity and excitement gripped her, Jennifer found herself

trying to remember the German word for taking pleasure from someones

misfortune before returning her attention to eavesdropping. Jennifer was

enjoying overhearing the scenario as much as she would an excellent

radio play. Especially lead character Donna's confident and

authoritative tone. Jennifer decided to let the situation play out when

Maria entered the kitchen from the maids passageway.

Donna, calmly addressing both maids now, outlined Minnie's misbehaviour

again, "...as you witnessed Maria, Minnie purposely disrupted the book

club by engaging Mrs. Collins guests in conversation. It's essential for

her to understand the consequences. She will be kneeling on the kitchen

floor for the next fifteen minutes as a lesson."

Maria looked on in surprise. As Minnie knelt Donna continued, "This will

remind her of her place as junior maid, and the importance of adhering

to established conduct standards." Maria, though taken aback, nodded in

understanding.As the minutes passed, the tension in the kitchen grew.

"You will remain in the kitchen and wear this for the rest of the day"

Not wishing to risk discovery Jennifer silently walked away.

After the allotted time, Donna allowed Minnie to rise, a stern

expression still etched on her face. As much as he wanted to rush off

and masturbate with humiliation fresh in his mind, Minnie silently

resumed his duties with a renewed sense of humility. Donna and Maria

left the kitchen. Alone, still high with discipline overload,

unsupervised Minnie worked diligently.

When Jennifer made her way to her bedroom a little earlier than usual

that night it was to review the events of earlier undisturbed. Sensing

the humiliation Minnie must have felt filled Jennifer with a peculiar

thrill as she watched the event. Donna had drawn a line that set apart

housekeeper and, by ensuring Maria witnessed the punishment, both maids.

As the recording reached the part where Donna said, "You will remain in

the kitchen and wear this for the rest of the day" Jennifer was stunned

to see Donna place a length of duct tape across Minnie's mouth.

In the past city-Jennifer's knee-jerk reaction would have been confront

Donna. Since moving country-Jennifer had learnt to take a more

considered approach. Returning to the security footage she saw that once

alone Minnie in the kitchen, even wearing duct tape, looked happy.

Having invested so much money in the covert camera system Jennifer

decided, rather than reveal its existence, for time being at least, she

would remain a covert observer.

Waiting for tiredness to sweep over her Jennifer replayed earlier events

on her iPhone, skipping back and forth looking for any earlier mention

of 'junior maid' without success. Jennifer assumed that conversation

must have taken place in a place not covered by the cameras. Jennifer

made a mental list of where that may have been; a bedroom, Donna's room,

outside...

The thrill at watching Minnie purposely misbehaving, the shock at

witnessing her husband endure such humiliation, continued creating a

strange tapestry of emotions within her. In the quiet moments that

followed, Jennifer logged back onto the security camera live feed;

Minnie's room.

Feeling a little guilty at snooping on a private moment Jennifer watched

Minnie in his bedroom. He was dressed in his sleep corset, kneeling on

the floor - like the scene earlier, slowly masturbating while mumbling a

phrase over and over. One hand stroked his cock, the other alternated

thumbing one nipple then the other. Jennifer skipped back to the point

where Minnie laced himself into the sleep corset. She popped in AirPods

and turned up the volume. Now the scene made sense. 'This will remind

you of your place as junior maid in this house' Minnie repeated over and

over as he masturbated.

Anger welled up inside Jennifer, she put her iPhone aside and turned the

light out. In the dark bedroom she lay wide awake, angry at seeing her

husband masturbating, his mind focussed on another woman. One hare-

brained punishment idea after another came to her.

Dawn light filtered through the curtains by the time Jennifer calmed.

If anyone was at fault, she told herself, it was her. She had supported,

no, encouraged her husband to explore his fantasy.

Then refused to be the mistress he begged her to be.

Then encouraged him to manipulate Donna.

If anyone was in the wrong it was her, Jennifer, who selfishly embraced

living as if a single woman, free to come and go as she wished, free to

embrace her passion to live a philanthropic life. Her mind had wandered

to nights when they still shared a bed, when Samuel would press his

desperate cock into the small of her back, when she would feign sleep.

While she chose a chaste life it was not her right to impose that on

Minnie. Jennifer decided she had no right to judge him for whatever

fantasy accompanied his masturbating.

Jennifer sent Donna a text 'no breakfast, no sleep last night, fresh

bedclothes while I bathe' By the time Jennifer had taken a bath Maria

had the bed looking five star hotel crisp. While making small talk

Jennifer mentioned her sleepless night had left her with a stiff neck

and arm.

Donna tapped softly at the door. "Maria mentioned you had a sore neck

Mrs. Collins, would you care for a neck massage, my mother, a qualified

massage therapist, taught me."

Not ready to initiate a conversation about events of the previous day,

Jennifer resumed small talk. After some pillow and cushion arranging

Donna slipped Jennifer's towel down and, oiling her hands, began work

on her shoulders. Suggesting Donna call her Jennifer while in private,

she continued polite conversation while avoiding any mention of events

of the past day.

"A bed is not ideal for a massage Mrs. Collins." Donna said as she

repositioned Jennifer.

"Jennifer," Jennifer reminded, "you are used to a massage table?"

"In a perfect world every home would have one, there is no better way to

relax. My previous employers had a folding massage table."

With them both relaxed Jennifer slipped in a few questions...Donna and

Maria had settled in very well...they were becoming a cohesive team...

"I worried Minnie might find the change difficult, struggle to fit in"

Jennifer said.

"Not at all Mrs. Collins."

"Jennifer"

"Is that any better?"

"Marvellous" Jennifer enthused while describing circles with her once

stiff arm as if a visual proof was required. Donna prepared to leave "my

house really should be better equipped Donna, please order a suitable

folding massage table."

"Straight away, Mrs. Collins," Donna said as she softly closed the door.

Jennifer called her back. "Please ensure there are no interruptions at

book club in future."

"Yes Mrs. Collins." Donna re-closed the door and walked away smiling.

With sleep approaching at speed Jennifer quietly chanted into her pillow

"Jennifer, Jennifer, call me Jennifer...my name is fucking Jennifer," as

if casting a spell of overfamiliarity on Donna.

First thing Jennifer did when she woke was call Katie for advice.

"Should I say nothing to Minnie, just forget what happened" she asked

after explaining book club events while omitting most of the kitchen

indecent.

"No Jennifer, you should reprimand Minnie...and let the others see."

"I cannot be horrible like that."

"If you let this slip Donna, Maria, and people in your social circle

will loose respect for you."

"What do you suggest?"

Katie said she was certain staff would have their own gossip-mill. "One

running in parallel to the gossip-mill you ladies of leisure have."

Katie and Jennifer laughed softly. "That is why I'm suggesting you have

Donna and Maria witness the reprimand." Katie paused. "And, from what

you say, Minnie will enjoy a proper telling off."

"Then that is exactly what he will not get," Jennifer said cryptically

before ending the call.

"I wanted Donna and Maria to witness me handing you this Minnie Smith,"

Jennifer began, Donna, Marie, and Minnie stood the other side of the

desk in the rarely used study. Jennifer handed Minnie an envelope. "I

need you to understand how serious a written warning is. For the next

month you are one step away from dismissal."

Switching back to her easygoing self Jennifer said "now that is dealt

with I want everyone to put recent events behind us. As it is a nice

sunny day Donna and Maria can wander into the village, have lunch." She

smiled, looked in Minnie's direction. "I think a treat would be wrong

for you, so we will have lunch at home."

"Time out Minnie," Jennifer said as she sat at the kitchen table. "Sorry

I had to do that. Did Donna say anything to you about book club?"

"She tore me a new one." Minnie laughed softly. "You sounded so serious

this morning."

"I was!" Jennifer said. "If you pull a stunt like that again I can't

back down Minnie...so tell me what happened with Donna."

Minnie looked shocked, he played down what had happened with Donna. "She

sounded angry, said how I disappointed her...and you."

"That's all?"

Minnie nodded "yes." Over lunch he mentioned Donna and Maria would, in

all probability, be gossiping about his written warning at that very

moment.

Pleased by how easily he had fallen into her trap Jennifer said, "And,

one way or another, your maidly gossip gets back to employers." Jennifer

laughed kindly. "Like the gossip I heard recently that Donna now has

allocated positions of senior maid and junior maid...is that so?"

Minnie blushed, avoided eye contact. "Well, I haven't heard anything

like that."

"Perhaps I should ask Donna...or better still, Maria." As recently as a

few days ago Jennifer could not have imagined herself taking so much

pleasure from a conversation like the one they were having.

The ongoing silence was too much, Minnie folded, explained how he became

junior maid.

"I think my husband is ready to come home?" She added a hint of rising

inflection to encourage a one word reply that began with 'y' Jennifer

was hopeful the punishment he received from Donna would make him

receptive to the idea. "I mean everyone knows Minnie is on the verge of

dismissal...all it would take..."

"Just a moment, Jennifer," Minnie cut in, "we agreed Minnie would be

here for six months. What has changed?"

"Okay, if that is what you want. Six months it is." Jennifer tried not

to look serious, but hiding how angry she felt at being refused took up

all of her self control. "Time out over Minnie." Jennifer stood, her

heart raced, rushing blood thumped in her ears as she took a pad of

paper from the drawer. "Write 'I will not address Mrs. Collins as

Jennifer' until Donna returns." She threw the pad down. "And make sure

you remember that for six months"and walked out slamming the door behind

her.

Katie was right on the money, the staff rumour-mill was very efficient.

Next morning at the gym one of the book club ladies, on the adjacent

treadmill, asked if Jennifer had threatened Minnie with dismissal for

the prank at book club. "And, to think, everyone thought you a

pushover."

Jennifer wore her AirPods music paused, in transparency mode.

As the line of treadmills filled new gossip arrived, someone explained,

third or fourth hand, Minnie's written warning to a newcomer. Jennifer

did not recognise newcomer, but newcomer knew of the Collins household.

"And she had the junior maid writing lines while her housekeeper was

out," newcomer offered.

"Minnie," Donna began, her tone measured, "I need to borrow your cell

phone. Mine's out of battery, and I need to make an urgent call."

"I'm sorry, Donna, but I can't lend you my cell phone," Minnie replied,

he noticed Maria paying attention.

Donna's expression tightened, her eyes narrowing with a subtle

challenge. "Minnie, you will hand over the cell phone. I need it for an

important call, and this isn't up for negotiation."

Memories of the humiliating punishment Donna had subjected him to

flashed through Minnie's mind. The thought of defying her was too much-

too soon, with a reluctant sigh, he reached into the pocket of his

uniform and handed over his iPhone to Donna.

Donna, satisfied with her victory, retreated to a corner of the kitchen,

her fingers tapping on the screen as she made the urgent call. Minnie,

standing by, felt a sense of vulnerability as he watched. Maria quietly

told Minnie "this is your fault Minnie, using your cell instead working,

Donna took my cell and changed my lock code earlier."

As Donna concluded her call, she turned to Minnie with a cryptic smile.

"Thank you, Minnie, I'll return it shortly." And left the room.