Still holding Candice against the table in her bent-over position, George observed cheerfully as James and Kenneth joined in on the abuse and humiliation.  He'd invited these particular young colleagues because he had sensed undercurrents of maliciousness in both of them.  And he always believed that there's nothing like a ripe, quivering mass of helpless womanflesh to bring out one's nastiest impulses.<br/><br/>Responding quickly to another silent nod from George, one of the butlers brought over to him a dispenser of lotion, which George proceeded to slather generously over the reddened areas on Candice's rump.  A crisp fragrance of mint filled the air, while aloe vera and other emollients eased the stinging and burning of her skin.<br/><br/>George finally relaxed his grip on Candice and let her rise, standing next to her and fixing her with a stare of approval, his deep brown eyes glimmering just inches away from her.  His hand reached up to the back of her head, and his fingers made their way between the crimson strands, tenderly probing inward to the warm softness of her scalp.  With an enamored smile, he commended her show of submissiveness by granting her a single, quick kiss to the lips.<br/><br/>Then his capricious generosity dried right up.  Without a word, he headed out of the meeting room, closing his fist around a bundle of Candice's hair and dragging her along with him, leaving the entranceway door open behind them.  Tossing aside his pretensions of civility, he left the others to pursue their own whims and turned down a nearby hallway, disappearing with Candice into one of the six identical doorways on either side.  The enormous wooden slab slammed shut behind them, sending its menacing echo back down the hall where they had passed.