Games people play

[Chocolate Thai]

"Entertainment" I snort in disgust, dropping the pillows and glaring up at the ceiling.  "Haven't you ever heard of Anita Baker??" I ask loudly, not getting an answer and not really expecting one.

I turn my head and glance at the digital clock on the night stand next to the bed. It is almost 6:15. I have a little over an hour to get dressed and ready to leave. I yawn and rub the aching muscles of my neck. I am so tired. I want nothing more than to lay back down and try to get some sleep, but the thought of having more nightmares, along with my strong desire not to be shocked again if I don't follow his instructions, gets me moving.

I pick up the phone that also sits on the nightstand and push '2' to order something to eat. I don't trust any of the staff here. They work for 'him' after all...but I can't ignore the stomach rumblings or hunger pains any longer. I place an order for buttered toast and a whole, uncut, grapefruit . I don't put it past the Judge or his staff not to try to drug my food in an effort to keep me from winning this game, and I figure that these things would be hard to tamper with. I don't order a drink. I plan on drinking water from the tap.

While I wait for the food to be delivered, I take a lukewarm shower, hoping that it will help alleviate some of the sleepiness and fatigue I am feeling. I shower in the dark. I know he says that he can see me anyway, but I'm sure the picture he sees of my naked body won't be as clear as it would be if the lights were on...at least that's what I tell myself.

 When I'm done with my bathroom rituals, I pick out a pair of shorts and a tank top from the closet.  I don't know how physical this game will be, and I don't want to be restricted by stiff jeans or overheated by a long sleeved shirt.  Other than a dab of lip gloss, I don't bother with the cosmetics. I'm not trying to impress anyone here after all...I just want to win this stupid thing and go home as quickly as possible.

After I've eaten the food that was delivered to my room while I'd been in the bathroom, I look at the time and see that it's 7:35. I sit on the sofa for the next five minutes, my eyes closed, trying to mentally prepare myself for whatever the Judge might have in store for me next.

At exactly 7:40 I hear the sound of the room door unlocking and I get up with a sigh and head toward it.

'I guess it's about time to get this show on the road...'

[Sprayman]

Judge

It is obvious that Simone is tired and irritable, exactly the way I want her. It would be very easy to simply forgo the game and enslave her with the collar, but where is the challenge in that. Far better this way as she hopes and dreams of winning and returning to her humdrum life right up to the end. At some point, reality will set in and she will know that slavery is inevitable. Until that time, we will play the game!

Simone tries to foil the cameras and keeps the bathroom dark for her shower. I activate the invisible infrared lights and continue to watch as she fumbles in what is to her full dark. At some point, I’ll probably show her the video we are recording right now.

After eating and dressing, Simone sits on the sofa and waits for time to pass. At 7:40, I unlock her door and watch silently as she stands and walks out into the hall. No need to harass her at this point because I can see the tension in het face and body. I open the elevator door as she nears it, and when it is closed again, send it and her down one floor to the 9th. Max is already in the conference room and has looked at the handout sheets on the table there. Soon Simone will do the same. When the elevator door opens again, she is facing the door of the conference room. Oddly enough, the door is marked ‘Conference Room’ in brass letters. After a brief pause, Simone steps to the door, pauses again for a moment before opening it and entering the room.

Simone’s eyes glance around and settle on Max. At the same time, Max looks up and sees Simone. A small smile forms on his lips as he looks up and down her lovely feminine body. Max reacts just as I hoped but Simone’s reaction is much harder to read.

Max

I’m in the conference room at 7:30 sharp but no one else is here. There are some papers on the table though, so I walk around and take a look at them.

Game rules!

Not many of them but now I have an idea how the game will work. One thing catches my eye right away. Rule #1 says ‘Female contestant poses the first challenge,’ so I guess I will be playing a woman in this game. Damn… this will be a piece of cake. I wasn’t worried about winning when I thought my opponent was a man… but a woman… this is in the bag!

As I stand at the head of the table musing, I hear the door open and look up.

Coming into the room is a woman… a very young black woman… wearing a collar like the one around my neck! This must be her… my opponent! Damn… a real looker. About 5’6” or 5’ 7” and maybe 125 lbs. Long straight shiny black hair and skin the color of milk chocolate. She’s wearing shorts and a tank top that show off her body… and a great body it is! Long firm legs that lead up to a fine tight ass. A small waist and great tits!

Her face though isn’t what you’d expect for a black girl. Fine features with full but sculpted lips, a pert nose, and high cheekbones. Her eyes aren’t brown or black but a striking hazel and have more than a hint of an epicanthic fold. I’m absolutely sure there is Asian blood in the mix somewhere. The result is simply… gorgeous!

Then my mind regroups as the voice calling itself Judge begins to speak…!

Judge

Time to get started!

“Good morning again to both of you. Let me introduce you before we start the briefing.”

“Simone, this is Max. He is 32 years old and owns his own business.”

“Max, this is Simone. She is 19 and a student at a university.”

“Each of you will decide if there is any other personal information you wish to share with your opponent. I won’t provide further data unless you say I can. Please take seats now as we have a lot of things to cover.”

“First, some very exciting news. The game will be recorded and broadcast by several television agencies in Europe and Asia as a mini-series reality show. It will be edited to met the standards of the broadcasting countries but will likely be used for cable only transmission. My staff will handle the editing needs so don’t let this affect you or the way you decide to play. It does mean however that the game will be viewed by thousands, perhaps hundreds of thousands of viewers all over the world. It may even be picked up by HBO or Cinemax in the US, although this hasn’t been decided yet.”

“Now, as to the game itself. Max, there are handouts on the table in front of you. Please give one to Simone. Both of you take a moment to read the game rules, and then we will discuss them.”

<The Handout>

Game rules

Each contestant will pose a challenge and both contestants will then compete in that challenge. Each contestant will pose ten challanges in the game. Judge will determine the winner of each challenge. To win the game and the $100,000.00 prize, a contestant must win twelve of the twenty challenges.

1. Female contestant will pose the first challenge. Male contestant will pose the second challenge.

2. Each challenge must be possible for both contestants. Impossible challenges will be voided by the judge. Any contestant who poses two impossible challenges in a single game will pay a penalty to be determined by the judge.

3. Normally there will be two challenges each day but if time allows and both contestants agree, the number can be increased to a daily maximum of four.

4. Any type of challenge is acceptable as long as it is possible for both contestants.

5. No challenge can be used more than once. Any contestant can protest a challenge for any reason but the decision of the judge is final and cannot be protested.

6. In the event of a tie score (10 – 10) or an insufficient majority score (11 – 9) the judge will declare a tie and administer a tiebreaker challenge. The winner of that challenge will be declared the game winner.

7. No weapons of any sort are allowed in any challenge. Use of any item deemed a weapon will be cause for instant disqualification. Disqualified contestants will be tortured to death – slowly!

8. No intentional injuries. The contestants cannot try to injure or incapacitate their opponent other than temporarily. Contestants must be able to fully recover in no more than one hour. Pain is acceptable – damage is not! A contestant that injures his or her opponent will be subject to a penalty to be determined by the judge.

9. Any contestant who refuses to compete in the game, or who refuses a specific challenge deemed acceptable by the judge, will be confined in their cell until they agree to compete. Said confinement will be without the luxuries of food and drink.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“A bit more general information and then I will answer questions. Simone, you will pose the first challenge. You will have one hour after we adjourn this meeting to formulate your challenge.  You are an intelligent young woman so this should be enough time for you to think up a good one. We will then break for lunch and Max will pose the next challenge when we reconvene. Both of you are strong, healthy, and intelligent so I expect the challenges to be… well… challenging!”

“When you pose your challenges, you will state where they are to take place and any special conditions that apply. While you may stipulate the challenge take places out of doors, you cannot stipulate it be more than ½ mile from this building. That is the distance limit permitted. You also cannot stipulate the use of any communications equipment. Sorry – no satellite phones as part of your challenge.”

“One final thing before I answer your questions. I have already explained what the winner gets from the game. What about the loser? Well… the loser becomes a slave. For the first 30 days, the loser will be the slave of the winner. After that… the loser belongs to me…!”

“Now then, ladies first. Simone, do you have any questions?”

[Chocolate Thai]

After I step out of the elevator, I stand for a moment in the corridor, taking in my new surroundings. The building is eerily quiet. I have never seen a hotel like it before. There are no people walking to and from their rooms, no staff bringing food or cleaning rooms...in fact there are no people other than myself at all. It's like I've walked into the twilight zone.

I walk up to the door marked, 'Conference Room', and pause a moment, straining to hear any sounds from the other side, but there are none. The urge to turn and run back to the elevator is almost overwhelming but I know the judge is watching. Even if I did go back, he wouldn't allow me to operate it and all I'd most likely get for my disobedience would be another shock...and I'm sure it wouldn't be delivered at the lowest setting.

Taking a deep breath, I reach out, open the door, and peek inside. I let my eyes roam the room for a moment,  making sure there is no ambush, or any other nasty little surprise from the Judge waiting for me in there. When I  confirm that there isn't,  I finally step inside and let my gaze fall on the room's only occupant; a man of about thirty or so. He is tall, ruggedly handsome and powerfully built; with short brown hair and piercing blue eyes that follow my every move as I let the door close behind me and lean against it, ready to bolt out of the room if he comes at me.

Upon first seeing him, I'd been more than a little wary. My first thought was that he one of the Judge's henchmen, or maybe even the Judge himself...but those thoughts are quickly banished when I see the metal collar gleaming dully around his neck.

'He's like me...they must be forcing him to play in one of these games too..' I think as I stare at him.

I look into his eyes and wonder if he's as desperate to escape this place and the Judge as I am. I wonder what he would do to be free...If he would be willing to help me get free.  I wet my lips and take a step in his direction, ready to whisper to him one of the questions in my head, when the Judge speaks up and tells us to take a seat. We both take a seat opposite each other across a long cherry oak table. The Judge introduces him as Max and then tells him my name.

 I sit back in the chair as he speaks, my eyes widening slightly when it dawns on me that the man across from me is to be my opponent. The collar fastened around his neck tells me that he is also an unwilling contestant, but I thought he was here to meet an opponent for his own game...not for mine! I shake my head at my own stupidity.

'So the judge did have another nasty little surprise waiting in here  for me after all...'  I think bitterly.

  My eyes travel over Max's broad shoulders and muscular arms and I get a sinking feeling in my stomach. He would easily beat me at most, if not all, physical challenges. He outweighs me by almost a hundred pounds, and from the looks of him he is in peak physical condition.

I listen in growing disbelief as the Judge tells us his 'exciting' news. I can't believe any reputable cable stations, surely not HBO or Cinemax, would broadcast a show that stars kidnapping victims fighting for their survival. He had to be exaggerating the scope of his audience...I don't have time to dwell on this thought, though, as I begin reading the list of rules that Max pushes toward me across the table. As my eyes scan the document, the sickening feeling in my stomach grows steadily worse and I blink rapidly in an effort to fight back the stinging tears of outrage and fear that are threatening to overflow.

According to the paper rattling in my shaking hands, this man could do almost anything to me in these challenges, short of killing me or shooting me, that is.  These small restrictions don't do anything to lessen my feelings of fear though, as my eyes repeatedly come back to and reread the words...Pain is acceptable – damage is not!


I shake my head in denial of what this means and quickly read the next rule on the sheet. From what I understand, I wouldn't even be able to refuse his challenges if the judge deems them acceptable.. ... no matter how painful or one sided they might be. If I did refuse, I would simply be left to starve until I agreed to participate.

I place the paper back on the table in front of me after I finish reading it. My head is swimming and my stomach is churning. I meet Max's eyes and see the smug look on his handsome face. He no doubt knows the odds are stacked in his favor. I'm sure he's probably planning what will be the first thing he does after he wins...how he'll celebrate his victory and freedom while I am left here in the Judge's clutches to suffer.... 

I am wondering what the punishment will be for the loser when, as if reading my mind, the Judge begins to tell us.


'the loser becomes a slave. For the first 30 days, the loser will be the slave of the winner. After that… the loser belongs to me…!' He says.


The words echo in my mind as I look from Max, to the ceiling, and back to Max again in dumbfounded disbelief and shock, my lips moving soundlessly as I try to force my frozen vocal chords into working again.


"What???" I say finally, my voice shaking noticeably. "A-A slave??....belong to you... I-Is this a joke???

The bastard Judge had tricked me. He had to know that there was no way I coud compete with this hulk of a man physically, and I'm sure that will be the type of challenges he'll choose. He'll be able to crush me easily, probably without even breaking a sweat! Even if there is a tie, I'm sure the Judge will decide in Max's favor... and then what? Then I'd be turned into some kind of mute, obedient, little slave?... like the girl who had come to my cell??

'Hell no.'

My hate for the Judge boils over into an uncontrollable rage and I jump up from the table, slamming my fists down on it as I shout at the ceiling.

"This isn't fair! You're a liar and a filthy cheat! Fuck this game....Fuck him" I shout pointing at Max who looks up at me with a mixture of shock and amusement," And fuck YOU!" I scream at the ceiling, before plopping back down into the chair and folding my arms over my heaving breasts.

"Do whatever you want, take me back to the cell, shock me, starve me...you'll do it anyway... I'm not playing your game, freak." I growl, turning my head and avoiding Max's gaze as tears stream down my face.

My heart is beating a mile a minute. I know the Judge will be angry and I will no doubt be punished...maybe even killed... but at this point my mind is made up.

 I'd rather die than live as the Judge's slave, or Max's either, for that matter.

I close my eyes and wait for punishment or death to come...and pray that the pain won't be too unbearable when it does.

[Sprayman]

Judge

“Simone, I didn’t hear any questions then, just nasty language. I thought we had already agreed you would play the game. It seems I misunderstood. I really expected more from you.”

“I now have a couple of options I can put in effect. One would be to have you striped and returned to your cell. It is a shame that you didn’t eat more at breakfast because there won’t be any food or drink with that option. I’m fairly sure Max would be willing to strip you for me.”

Max answers with a nod and a wide grin!

“I think I’ll use another option however. I don’t believe you’ll change your mind again. You sounded very definite about your decision. So, the easiest thing for me to do is disqualify you and begin searching for another competitor.”

“Rule #7 applies for disqualified contestants. Death by slow torture is in store for you. Since you brought it up during your rant… Max… how would you like to be the first of many to rape Simone? I can stun her with her collar if you wish.”

Max

“Thanks judge but since I don’t have to follow the rules with her disqualified, I’m sure I can manage. She may be a little battered when I’m done… but what the hell! I can’t wait to see how tight that ass of hers feels when I stick my cock up it. Unless you want me to save that for you…?”

[Chocolate Thai]

I knew he would threaten me with starvation. I expected that much and still would have held my ground, but now Max is getting up from his chair and talking with the Judge about raping my ass. I look up at him, shocked that he is so ready and willing to side with the Judge. As he pushes his chair back and starts around the table toward me, I hold out my hands to ward him off.

"Wait.." I say, but he smiles, shakes his head 'no' and keeps coming.

"Wait! Wait a minute!!"

I jump up and run to the other end of the table as he finally stops and looks around questioningly, waiting for instruction from the Judge. Before the Judge gets a chance to say anything I quickly speak up.

"Ok...Ok. I-I'm sorry. I've changed my mind." I say, eying Max who looks disappointed but doesn't make another move in my direction. "I'll do it....I'll play.

'You are such a coward!' I scold myself, '...agreeing to play a game that you know you can't win...a game they aren't going to let you win...' but starving is one thing...being tortured to death and raped up the ass at this very moment by Max is a whole other.  As much as I want to be strong...I can't.

I keep my eye on Max, ready to keep the table between us if he comes toward me again, and wait for the Judge to speak.

[Sprayman]

Judge

“Max, sit down while I think this through!”

“Simone, I can’t tolerate this constant indecision from you. You may think it is a woman’s prerogative to change her mind every five minutes but that doesn’t mean I agree. I’m beginning to think it would be more expedient to find another contestant. One who is able to make a decision and stand by it!”

“You want me to reinstate you… allow you to compete and perhaps win this game… after your abusive outburst two minutes ago? How long will it be before your next tantrum? How many times will we have to listen to your verbal abuse and still be expected to forgive and forget?”

“I’ll tell you how often Simone. The answer is… never again. If I reinstate you… and I’m not sure I will even now… this will be your last chance! Your next tantrum will be your last because I will cut my losses and disqualify you instantly and irrevocably. You will be slowly tortured to death, and when I say slowly, it will take you several days of agony to die. Having your ass raped at that point will seem like a vacation!”

“Knowing this, do you still want to be reinstated? Because if you do, I expect an apology from you… right now! You also owe Max an apology and while I will accept a verbal apology, Max may want something more…!”

 

[Chocolate Thai]

Max returns to his chair as the Judge instructs and I breathe a small sigh of relief. I force myself to say what he wants to hear.

"Yes, judge. I want to be reinstated. I'm sorry about before. It won't happen again, I swear.

I feel like I could almost choke on the filthy words as they leave my lips. Here I am apologizing to the man who is forcing me to play a game that will result in my eventual enslavement...but for the moment it is necessary. I glance over at Max, but drop my gaze quickly, not liking what I see in his eyes.

"Max, I apologize for cursing at you. I shouldn't have done that...I'm sorry" I say softly, hoping and praying that this will be enough.

[Sprayman]

Max

“Sorry don’t cut it with me Missy. You’ll have to better than that. The first thing you said to me was cusswords and the way I see it, being cussed at by someone you just met is a damn good way for them to get their ass kicked. Your comment was “Fuck him” and you pointed at me. Well, Miss Simone… Miss High and Mighty… why don’t you try?”

Judge

“Max, you don’t have to accept Simone’s apology but I don’t want the two of you fighting. I want you to play the game. If words aren’t enough, think of some way Simone can show you she’s sorry!”

Max

“Well, I suppose a blowjob might convince me, but with her temper, she’d probably try to bite it off!”

“I’ll tell you what Missy. Get up, walk around this table, and get down on your knees in front of me. Then you beg my forgiveness. If you do a good job… and I mean beg, not just talk… maybe I’ll be satisfied.”

“If that’s too hard for you… then fuck you too… and believe me when I say sooner or later… I will…!”

[Chocolate Thai]

I stare at Max in silence; at a complete loss for words, as he suggests that I make good on the curse I hurled at him earlier and actually fuck him. As I struggle for a response, the Judge comes to my rescue and denies his proposal. For the first time, I find myself grateful that the Judge is watching. Max, however is undeterred.

My eyes widen and my heart skips a few beats when he mentions me giving him a blowjob.  Thankfully though, he realizes what a bad idea this would be.

'I surely would have bitten it off...' I think hatefully, but being careful not to let the resentment show on my face, '...bitten it clean off, and spit it right into your perverted face!'

With the idea of a blowjob abandoned, he comes up with another source of humiliation.

Now, he wants me to beg.

I hate the thought of graveling on my hands and knees before this bastard, but again, I have no choice if I wanted to prevent myself from being abused and slowly tortured to death. I had to get back into the Judges good graces and do what he expected of me.

Swallowing my pride yet again, I slowly rise from the table. Max smiles, pushes his chair back and then turns it to face me as I reluctantly approach. I walk up to him and drop to my knees in front of his slightly parted feet. He looks like an evil king sitting on his throne as he gazes down at me, smiling smugly as he waits for me to beg him to pardon me and spare my life.

"Max...please forgive me." I say softly, looking up at him pleadingly.  "I am so sorry that I cursed at you...I had no right to do that...it was stupid, and I was wrong. Please forgive me. I'm begging you...please...it won't happen again. Please forgive me..." My words trail off into sobs of humiliation and self disgust.

'If my family were to see me now...' I think and begin to sob harder.

My family would be horrified to see me like this, and even though I'd done nothing to be put in this situation, I was sorry for what I must be putting them through as they no doubt searched for me.

"I am so...so sorry." I whisper tearfully, lowering my head and waiting for Max's reply.

[Sprayman]

Max

“You need practice but I guess it will have to do. Let me help you up.”

I feel the need to impress this woman… no… girl with my strength. It’s juvenile, I know, but I have to do it. Reaching down, I grasp her upper arms and lift… not until she is standing… but until we are eye to eye. Her toes are six inches off the floor! Then carefully, I lower her until she is standing.

“Apology accepted.”

The look on her face is priceless. A mix of anger and resentment with a large measure of fear on top. She quivered as I lifted her but didn’t try to pull away. She seemed almost paralyzed.

Judge

“Good, I’m glad that’s settled. Now then Simone, do you have any questions… or can we move on to Max? You have us somewhat behind schedule and we need to do a challenge this morning.”

[Chocolate Thai]

When my feet touch the floor, I back away from him quickly; happy to be out of his grasp and eager to be out of his reach. I wipe the tears from my eyes as I head back around to my side of the table, shaking my head 'No' when the judge asks if I have any questions. I know all I need to know about this charade the Judge calls a game. What I haven't figured out yet, is how to avoid the inevitable outcome.

I sit down heavily in my chair, crossing my arms over my chest and absently rubbing the tender flesh of my upper arms. There isn't any real pain there, just a dull throb where his hands clamped down on them as he'd lifted me. I was more bothered by the ease in which he'd picked me up and held me off the ground; as if my 125 pound body weighed nothing at all. He was strong. I would have to rely on my wits if I were to win even one of these challenges.

 The Judge doesn't expect me to win the game, this is clear, but he does expect me to pose some type of opposition to Max, and I have every intention of doing so; if for no other reason than to regain some of the pride I'd lost earlier, both from my own cowardice, and from submissively kneeling at the feet of a man I'd know for less than a hour.

As I try to come up with a challenge idea that will level the playing field and possibly give me the upper-hand, my eyes flicker toward Max and narrow thoughtfully as I try to imagine what his weaknesses might be...and then begin to think of ways to exploit them to my advantage.

[Sprayman]

Judge

Max gives Simone a taste of his strength as he lifts her off the floor and holds her at his eye level for several seconds. She scurries away from him as soon as she is able and retreats to her own side of the table. She also shakes her head negatively in answer to my query about questions.

“Very well then, Max, do you have any questions about the game?”

Max replies, “No judge, I think I have the general idea. Let’s get started.”

“Good! The two of you may return to your rooms and plan your strategy. Simone, you will pose the first challenge in one hour. It is now 8:25; we will meet here again at 9:30 to begin the game. Since you have been introduced, you may as well ride the elevator together. I will announce when your room doors are unlocked, so you can return here. I know you both want to win the prize and that both of you are very competitive but no fighting in the elevator please. I will see you in one hour. Good luck to both of you.”

Max

As we leave the conference room and cross the hall to the waiting elevator, I decide to mess a little more with Simone’s mind. Walking behind her, I lean forward slightly and speak softly into her ear.

“Sorry I had to embarrass you like that, but I have my orders too…”

[Chocolate Thai]

 I walk briskly to the elevator after the Judge dismisses us. I am not happy to find out that it is Max, who is occupying the only other room on the same floor as mine.  I am even less happy to share an elevator with him, even if it is only to go up one floor.

 After the way he'd acted and treated me during the meeting, I wanted nothing more than to get as far away from him as possible. The man intimidated me. It wasn't only his size and strength that made me feel small in comparison to him...it was also his demeanor. In the conference room, he'd talked and acted as if he owned me already. It seemed as if threatening females with sodomy, and making them gravel at his feet for mercy, was a regular past time for him and one that he thoroughly enjoyed.  Something was 'off' about him. He wore a collar like mine, so I wasn't convinced that he was here willingly...but he didn't appear desperate to escape this place either...

'Maybe that's why they chose him in the first place...' I think.

I am mulling this over when he startles me by suddenly leaning forward and whispering into my ear that he is sorry for embarrassing me and that, he also, has orders to follow.  I whirl around to face him, taking a step back when I see how close he is. I want to believe him...need to believe him in fact, but as I look up at him, I can't help but to feel like he's toying with me. I work hard to keep my temper and tone of voice in check before allowing myself to reply.

"Embarrassed me Max?? You humiliated me!!...Are you telling me that all of that was just a show for the Judge?" I ask, skeptically. "... that you were just trying to follow his orders, and you didn't enjoy making me beg like a dog in there...because it sure looked like you were having the time of your life to me.." I say, and turn to step onto the elevator.

I quickly walk to the back, and lean against the wall as he steps in behind me. He opens his mouth to respond, but I interrupt him before he can speak, finally asking him the question that has been on my mind since the Judge told us what would become of the game's loser.

"Tell me something Max..." I say as the elevator doors close shut. "If you win this game...what would my duties to you, as a slave, include??"

[Sprayman]

Max

Simone asks me, “Tell me something Max... if you win this game...what would my duties to you, as a slave, include??"

“Christ girl, give me a break. First of all, I never said I didn’t enjoy slapping you down. I said I have my orders too… and I do. That doesn’t mean I like being cussed at by a college girl and it doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy putting you in your place.”

“On the other hand, I’m in the same boat you are. I have to win this game or I’ll be the slave… and that isn’t going to happen if I can help it. I don’t know anything about you… except you are just a 19 year old kid and a student. I guess you have a family and I guess they are or will be worried about you soon if they aren’t already. I’m sorry for them and I’m sorry for you.”

“But I own a business. I have responsibilities. Hell girl, I have 34 employees that depend on me to sign their paychecks and drum up new clients so there is money in the bank to cover them. I can’t afford to lose this game but I was trying to be nice… and apologize for being rough on you.”

“OK, maybe I did get a little carried away but Missy, I didn’t start that crap back there. You did!”

The door closes and the elevator starts up.

“Simone, I haven’t thought about that slave part. I didn’t even know about it until about 30 minutes ago and I’ve been sort of busy since then. Mostly arguing with you.”

Simone can’t see my face, since she’s standing behind me in the elevator but I hope I said it with a straight face anyway.

The elevator stops at the tenth floor and the door opens.

Stepping into the hall, I move a few feet toward my door and then turn back to the elevator as Simone starts toward her room.

“I’m not even sure I’d want you as a slave girl. You have a nasty temper and a nasty mouth and you jump at all the wrong conclusions. I like my slaves to be a little more laid back and easy-going.”

“Oh yes… and blond too…! See you in an hour.”

[Chocolate Thai]

I breathe an internal sigh of relief; the horrible images in my mind, thankfully, put to rest by his words.

After Max's verbal tirade, I find out the true reason behind his eagerness to win the competition and begin to feel as though I might have misjudged him. After all, I was only finishing up my second year of pre-nursing courses, and I was willing to beg, cheat, lie and kill to get back to it...Max, on the other hand, had a business and his employee's livelihoods at stake. I could understand why he might feel as though he had to put on a good show for the Judge. It was essentially the same thing I'd done when I'd been on my knees begging and pleading  for forgiveness...

As we wait in front of our doors for the locks to disengage, I turn to him.

"Look, Max...you're right... I didn't realize it then, but now I see that we are in the same boat here. There's no need for us to fight more than we already have to, OK?. I apologize...For everything." I offer him a small smile and he nods curtly before turning back to his door and disappearing inside.

In my room, I think things over and try to develop a real game-plan. It appears that I had been wrong about Max, and I am hoping that I have been wrong about the game, too... maybe I do have a chance of winning it after all.

 I write down my challenge ideas and weigh out the pro's and cons of each one before deciding on which of them will be my first. At exactly 9:28, the Judge speaks up and announces that the door to my room is now unlocked, and that I am to report back to the conference room.

Max and I ride the elevator in silence to the floor below, and when I finally do speak, it is in response to the Judge's question of what the nature of my first challenge will be.

"Judge, I challenge Max to a race." I say, noticing out of the corner of my eye the smirk that spreads over Max's face as the words leave my lips. "The race will take place outside, on either cement or tar, if there's no race track, for a distance not to exceed a half of a mile. The attire can be anything the player wishes..but the footwear, Judge...will be a pair of six inch, stiletto, pumps." The worried look on Max's face at that stipulation is priceless but I purposefully don't react to it. Instead, I sit back silently in my chair and wait for the Judge to respond.