Chapter Text
Chapter One – Sounding Her Out
Jeremy watched Cassandra in staff briefing, as usual she looked like she was trying to disappear into the background. She was an attractive woman, who’d caught his eye when he’d first interviewed her. He’d be the first to admit that he’d noticed her breasts before anything else, but she had also been head and shoulders above the other candidates. In the classroom she was incredibly confident and at ease in herself, but she seemed the opposite when among her peers. He’d see sparks of her when she got particularly passionate about something in a department meeting, arguing her case. As far as he knew, she’d been single throughout the five years they’d worked together, which was such a waste in his opinion. He wasn’t looking for anyone to date but he did have some other ideas that involved her. He had some predilections that his colleagues didn’t know about and he kept very private. He and his girl-friend had parted ways agreeably six months before and while he’d dated since then, he wasn’t in the market for another girl-friend, he was more interested in satisfying his other urges. For a moment he got distracted thinking of Cassandra on her knees ready to follow his every command, then had to stop himself remembering where he was, before any kind of physical reaction began.
“Jeremy do you have anything to add?” Andy Wilman, the Head, handed over to him and he had to pick up quickly.
“Thanks Andy,” he replied quickly and glanced down at his notes. He smoothly outlined the new form-time literacy plans he’d developed. Looking round at the staff, he could see Cassandra listening carefully to every word and smiled at her.
Over the course of the week, Jeremy paid more attention to Cassandra, complimenting her attire, watching her reactions. He wasn’t mocking her he sincerely meant what he was saying. By Friday, when the staff decamped to the local pub, she came with them for a change. Sitting in a quiet corner of the pub, he took the opportunity to talk to her, to try and get her to open up a little.
“Any plans for the weekend?”
“Nope other than the usual food shop and cleaning the house, you?” She replied, sipping her glass of wine.
“A quiet one to be honest it was a bit of a heavy one with Hammond and May last weekend, so I need to give my liver time to recover,” he admitted, Cassandra smiled and rolled her eyes at him. “Why don’t you have a date Cassandra?” Her jaw dropped at his question.
“Are you kidding Jeremy?”
“No I’m serious, I’ve known you for what, five years now?” She nodded. “I’m not sure I can ever remember you mentioning going on a date, and you should be.”
“What has gotten into you? I know it’s not alcohol because not even you could get drunk in the short time we’ve been here,” she replied, a tone of anger trying to hide her defensiveness.
“Nothing, I’ve had half a glass of wine. Have been thinking about you this week and don’t understand why you’re single,” he tried to explain.
“Well no-one wants to be with me, it’s as simple as that. Even more so, they don’t even notice I’m there,” she sank back into the seat in defeat. “I’ve watched others couple up, get married, while I’ve been here and no-one has given me the time of day. Why do you think I don’t go out with staff anymore? It got too lonely, so why put myself through it?”
“Well more fool them, you are an attractive woman, clever, witty, interesting to talk to,” he insisted.
“Sweet of you to say so Jeremy, but I’ve been here long enough to know better. I only came out today as I thought that I might get a decent conversation out of you, after the way you’ve been this week, put off going home to an empty house. I’ll be leaving now that I’ve finished my drink.” She gathered her things and began to stand up.
“Sit down,” Jeremy let a tone of authority into his command and watched as Cassandra followed his instruction instantly. “Good girl,” he smiled and patted her knee, watching a slight flush develop on her cheeks, which definitely wasn’t from the wine. “I’m not going to stop you leaving but I don’t want you to leave.” She put her things down and let her hands fall into her lap, waiting to see what he said next. Jeremy raised an eyebrow and nodded his head approvingly. “That was a fast response, it pleases me.” Cassandra smiled shyly. “I don’t know why other men can’t see you but I can see you, perhaps even the real you that you’ve hidden from everyone. I want to take the time to get to know you properly.”
“We’ve known each other for years, I think that we do by now,” Cassandra tried to insist.
“Oh trust me there is plenty that you do not know about me Cassandra and I’m suspecting, much that you may not know about yourself. If you’ll give me a chance, perhaps I can show them to you. I don’t expect an answer right now think about it, I think that this could be very interesting. I will text you because this is not a conversation that is suitable to continue any further this close to colleagues.” Cassandra nodded hastily. “Now it is time for you to leave, get your things and go, but keep an eye on your phone.” Cassandra followed his instructions, getting to the door she turned, giving him a slightly nervous smile. Jeremy winked at her, turned away. Cassandra headed for her car, both bemused and confused by their conversation.
Another glass of wine landed on the table in front of Jeremy, followed by a beer and a guy dressed in jeans, an open-necked shirt and flamboyant waist-coat.
“Thanks Hammond, cheers, but this is the last one,” Jeremy raised it in acknowledgement in his direction.
“Oh really, plans for the evening then?” Richard asked, settling back in the seat.
“Potentially, either way I’d like a slightly clearer head than I ended up with last weekend!”
“Oh it was quite a session wasn’t it,” Richard chuckled. “I was sick as a dog on Sunday, half my powerpoints didn’t make sense.”
“As if any of the kids would notice the difference in one of your lessons, not like it’s a proper subject,” Jeremy couldn’t resist pushing that button.
“Art is a proper subject, even if we’re not a core department,” Richard shot back instantly.
“We have to roll it together with May’s lot and Fry’s lovies to make a semblance of a department,” Jeremy teased. “Creative and Expressive Arts” Jeremy air-quoted round it. “You have to explain what it is to anyone outside of a school.” Richard leaned forward, ready to deliver a heated defence of his department.
“Hammond, down, Jez, stop teasing,” Andy flopped onto the stool between them, raising an eyebrow and shaking his head at the pair of them. “Sometimes I think my staff are worse than the kids, the pair of you being fine examples, so much for my Senior Team!”
“Oh chill out Andy, we’re off the clock. Hammond is just so much fun to wind up,” Jeremy grinned unrepentantly.
Cassandra opened her front door with a sigh. Heading straight for the kettle, she had a cup of tea and flopped down on the sofa. Jeremy had been decidedly confusing all week. From time to time he’d commented on her appearance, often in a slightly letchy jokey way about her breasts, she put up with it, it was part of him. He might have been a teacher but it didn’t mean that he was ever PC, he was unapologetically himself. He’d clearly been watching her, not as a professional though. His behaviour in the pub had been even stranger, wasn’t like him to ask about her personal life so directly. Oh but when he ordered her to sit down, she gave a shiver remembering the moment. She had to obey, it was pure instinct and excited her to be praised for doing it. She wasn’t attracted to him per say, he wasn’t conventionally handsome, but was very charismatic. His height and broad shoulders gave him an imposing air, when he wanted it, the kids certainly thought twice about taking him on. He could be a major wind-up merchant, especially when he conspired with his sidekicks in Art and Music, she knew Andy despaired of them sometimes, but this hadn’t felt like a wind-up. When he spoke to her in that tone and told her to go home and look out for a text, oh that was good, it had surprised her just how much it aroused her. He’d left her very interested to know where he was going with this, but determined to not let it rule her evening. Finishing her tea, she headed upstairs, undressed and quickly put on a dressing-gown. Sorting out a wash, she loaded up the washing machine and decided to have a soak in the bath. Pouring a glass of wine, she started the bath running, adding bubble bath, and clipped her long red hair up high on her head. Lighting several candles, she checked the temperature, hung up her dressing-gown and slid into the water fast. Sighing comfortably, she lay back against her bath-pillow, sipping the wine, the bubbles up to her chin.
Jeremy relaxed on his sofa, considering how to handle Cassandra. She had reacted in delightfully positive way earlier and he didn’t want to lose any momentum. It had been a while since he last tried recruiting, he’d forgotten the kick of it, sounding someone out, finding their trigger, how to spark their interest. Pulling out his phone, he debated for a few minutes and tapped out a text.
What are you doing right now? J
Cassandra raised her eyebrows at the text, certainly not what she’d been expecting.
Having a glass of wine while relaxing in the bath C
Now that must be a delightful sight. J
Not much to see, bubbles come up to my chin C
What a shame. What if I asked for a photo? J
Why would I send something like that to you? C
Because I want you to J
I don’t feel comfortable with that reason C
And if I order you to J
Cassandra took a deep breath; this was more what she’d been expecting.
Then I would but I don’t think you will C
Jeremy smiled, she definitely was starting to bite.
I want to see you tomorrow. You will make yourself available at home at 7pm. J
Cassandra gasped, a curl of excitement in her stomach, debating how to answer. There was a convention of safety seeing Jeremy at the pub, but bringing a man into her home sent a different message. Could she do that? Let him in, knowing that if he told her to do something, she probably would do it and goodness knows where that could lead. Actually she knew where it could lead, he’d discover her secret and that would get rid of him, ending things quickly. She sighed, knowing she’d do it anyway.
With pleasure C.
Oh yes, this could be fun. Jeremy started to think about how to approach the evening. Cassandra clearly had low self-esteem and he’d need to work on that. One day she would send him a photo if he asked but to believe that there would be nothing to see, no woman should think that of themselves. As far as he could tell, there was plenty to explore and excite and he planned to do exactly that. She needed to learn to let go, to just feel and not think so much, he hoped that this would be something he could do for her.