In The Thick of It Ch. 03

Stephen was completely shell shocked as Terrance's thugs held him face down on the pavement, passersby glancing over but going about their business as normal, not wanting to interfere with whatever was going on. Despite having not seen him in months, his old political rival still bore the same shit eating grin that he so despised. Rage rose in his stomach as he met the gaze of the man that had ruined his life, wishing he could throw off the heavys holding him down and beat the incumbent PM within an inch of his life. Of course, this was only a fantasy, not something he would be able to accomplish in his current position. The best he could do was spit out "what the hell do you want?" with as much venom as he could muster. It didn't come off as intimidating as he expected, voice wavering as he spoke probably in part due to the humiliation Rosie had just put him through. Terrance just chuckled amiably in response, not even remotely phased by the outburst.

"Gentlemen, could you let the former leader of the country up please, I'm sure he's not going to put up a fight, isn't that right Stephen?" He cocked his eyebrow at him, waiting for his reply.

"No, I won't," Stephen answered begrudgingly as the two men picked him up off the floor and ushered him towards the rear door of the SUV. Stepping inside the car, Stephen hoped that Diane would be sitting in the passenger's seat, but was disappointed to find it empty. The larger of Terrance's security guards took up the other rear seat beside him and the other rode next to the Prime Minister. The large, sleek, expensive vehicle pulled away from the curb and their journey to an unknown destination began in silence. "So what exactly is it you want?" Stephen asked after a few minutes, patience wearing thin as fear rose inside of him. He was alone, no-one knew where he was and he wouldn't put it past Terrance to have him 'rubbed out.' His links to the elite of the country would certainly make it easy enough for him to cover up a murder and Stephen's brain continued to race with possibilities, desperate for any clue of what was going on.

"We can talk once we get to Number 10 old friend," Terrance replied calmly, flashing a smile over his shoulder as they waited at a red light. "I can promise you however that you are not in any danger. Tom and Edward are just here to protect me, isn't that right boys?"

"Correct sir," they both replied in unison. They were clearly both well trained, most likely from a military background and undoubtedly generously compensated for their skills. Terrance could certainly afford to pay top dollar for his own protection.

"Things have gotten rather messy lately Stephen, but I think we can get everything all straightened out, so just sit tight, we'll be there soon." As the journey continued, Stephen felt a little more at ease, but he knew he would need to stay on his toes to deal with whatever Terrance had planned. Eventually the SUV pulled up to a disused building a few streets away from Downing Street and Stephen instantly recognised it. When he had become Prime Minister, the head of MI5 had arranged a meeting with him during which he disclosed several national secrets, including one pertaining to a hidden entrance to Number 10. Inside the seemingly abandoned house they were currently parked was a cellar door, which looked completely normal to anyone who might happen to stumble across it. If a code was entered onto a hidden keypad, the cellar door would open revealing a hidden underground tunnel that went directly to the Prime Minister's office. The outside of the building was covered in scaffolding, the signage for a fictional building firm adorning it in order to not raise suspicion. In previous years it had been disguised as a solicitors office and a small family home, among countless other covers for its real purpose.

It had been incredibly useful for the ruling political class, allowing them to sneak in people that would not be able to enter via the usual means, for a variety of purposes. One former leader had used it to smuggle in prostitutes, others to speak with vilified world leaders and countless other purposes which were too many to mention. Ironically, it was this passageway that Stephen had used after his night of infidelity with Rosie, it was almost appropriate that he would now use it on his return to his former residence. The two members of Terrance's security detail stood on the pavement to ensure that the Prime Minister and his guest could enter the house without being noticed by any members of the public before following them inside and locking the door behind them.

"Did you use this much when you were in charge Stephen?" Terrance asked jovially as he pulled aside the section of the wall that hid the keypad. "I've found it quite useful, but of course they've changed the code since your unfortunate fall from grace." There it was again, that arrogant, posh boy, 'better than you' smile. Stephen considered just taking his shot, throwing a punch at the man he hated most on the planet and then dealing with the consequences, but logic won out. If Terrance wanted to hurt him, he would have done so by now and in a three on one situation, he would lose any potential fight that could break out. Best to keep his cards close to his chest and wait to see how this all played out before making a rash move without knowing all the facts.

"Yes, I used it a few times," Stephen replied, trying to keep things amicable as they descended the stairs, "but I preferred trying to be as transparent as possible. If the public ever found out about this place, they'd have a field day."

"Yes, agreed," Terrance answered as they started their walk down the long strip light lit corridor, "but after seventy years as a secret, it's pretty unlikely anyone will ever know about it. Unless they are elected of course," he chuckled, pleased with his own remark.

"Quite," Stephen replied as he walked alongside him surrounded by bare brickwork, Terrance's security officers trailing close behind and keeping an eye on his every move.

"Here we are," Terrance said jovially as they reached the stairs at the other end of the passage, walking up them and opening the secret hatch in the PM's office, emerging into the very same place where the blackmail had started all those months ago. The place where Stephen's life had started to unravel. "Take a seat Stephen," he offered, gesturing towards the chair in front of his desk. As Terrance's heavies secured the trap door and covered it up with a beautiful Persian rug, Stephen weighed up his options. Deciding to take a seat, he watched as Terrance opened up his desk, pulling out a bottle of whiskey in a crystal decanter, along with two glasses. After putting them down he produced a small wooden box and a lighter before settling down in the luxurious leather chair that he had commissioned and made to his exact specifications. The two security guards took up position behind him, folding their arms and looking stern, eyes not leaving Stephen for even a second.

"Ah, that's better isn't it?" Terrance asked as he pulled the stopper out of the decanter, pouring a healthy measure of the strong brown liquor into each glass before handing one to Stephen across the table.

"I'm okay thanks," he said between gritted teeth, doing his best to remember that he was at a severe disadvantage right now.

"Oh come now Stephen," Terrance drawled, "this is the finest whiskey in the land, bottled by hand at a tiny distillery in Orkney. This one bottle costs more than most people get paid in a month. Now take it." His last three words were deep and authoritative, making it clear that Stephen didn't have a choice in the matter. Begrudgingly he leaned forwards to take the glass and sat back in his chair, trying to look relaxed as the scent of Rosies ejaculate still in his facial hair wafted into his nostrils, reminding him of where he had been less than an hour earlier. Why exactly had he been brought here? What did Terrance want from him?

Taking a swig from his glass, Terrance smiled like the cat who had got the cream, opening the small wooden box and pulling out a thick Cuban cigar. He snipped the end off before popping it into his mouth and lighting it up with a spin of the wheel on his sterling silver lighter. Everything about him was decadent and expensive, begging to be seen as wealthy and successful. Stephen had always found it pathetic, but sitting in his damp clothes, stinking of sex and shame, there was only one pathetic man sitting in this room. After drawing deeply from the cigar and exhaling a cloud of thick smoke, Terrance turned to his security. "Wait outside, I'll call you if we need anything."

"Are you sure sir?" the larger man asked, eyeing Stephen warily.

"Certainly, me and Stephen are old friends aren't we?" he asked, turning to look at his former rival for his approval. "He won't be doing anything crazy, after all, he's a smart man, I'm sure he knows that any kind of physical attack would be pointless, isn't that right Stephen?"

Stephen sighed. He was right there. Even if he tried to get his hands on the man he so hated, he would only have a matter of seconds before those two thugs would be on top of him and any punishment he managed to dish out would be repaid two or threefold if not more. He took a sip of the whiskey, scowling a little at its harsh flavor, swallowing before addressing the other three men. "Yeah, you've got nothing to worry about," Stephen said in a defeated voice.

"Okay sir," said the security guard, seemingly satisfied with his answer, "we'll be right outside the door if you need us." With that, they made their way out of the office, both of them eyeballing Stephen as they left, making it clear what would happen if he did anything stupid. As they were left alone, Terrance took another drag on his cigar, picking up his glass and getting out of his chair to look out of the window.

"Ah, finally just the two of us, eh Stephen? Mano a mano." he mused as he indulged in the combined pleasures of tobacco and alcohol in the comfort of his luxurious office. "I guess it's time we get down to business old chap" Walking around his desk, he took a seat on the edge of it, one leg slightly raised off the ground as he faced Stephen, reaching over to pull an ashtray within reach so he could smoke at his leisure.

"So, why exactly have you dragged me here?" Stephen asked as he tried to hold his nerve, gripping his whiskey glass hard.

"Well, you didn't give me much of a choice I'm afraid, did you Stephen? I've been trying to track you down for weeks, but you're a very elusive chap!"

"Well, I'm here now, so you might as well tell me what you want," Stephen shot back, frustration rising in his voice.

"I guess you're right," Terrance replied, picking up a brown folder off the table and holding it in the air with a flourish. It looked exactly the same as the one that had contained the pictures of Rosie and Stephens infidelity and the former PM wouldn't put it past him to have done this on purpose. Mind games from someone who was proficient at getting under his opponents skin.

"Oh crikey, what have you got pictures of me this time?" Stephen asked and despite the hostility the two had always held for each other, they both burst out laughing at his quip.

"Good to see you haven't lost your wit despite everything Stephen, It was always one of the few things that I admired about you," Terrance admitted while still managing to get in an insult as he downed the rest of the contents of his glass. "No pictures this time I'm afraid, I think you probably know what's in here, don't you?"

"The divorce papers?" Stephen asked dryly as he too finished his drink. The rush of booze went to his head and gave him a warm feeling in his belly. Hopefully it would deliver some of that famous 'dutch courage' people always talked about.

"Exactly," Terrance replied, placing the folder on his knee. "You've been refusing to sign it for months, ducking and dodging all contact from your wife's legal counsel. Do you not think Diane deserves to move on?" He asked in a superior, hoity-toity voice that finally pushed Stephen over the edge.

He sprung up from his seat, glass tumbling onto the floor as he screamed, "YOU STOLE HER FROM ME, YOU SON OF A BITCH, YOU BLACKMAILED ME, YOU RUINED MY LIFE!" His fists were curled up, ready to strike, but he didn't have time to make a move as the door behind him swung open with a loud slam.

"It's ok gentlemen," Terrance said calmly to his security, "Stephen here just got a little heated, nothing to worry about." They both watched Stephen intently until he returned to his seat before once again leaving the two men alone to talk. That had been a close call, he was going to have to try and keep his emotions in check if he wanted to make it out of here in one piece. "Look Stephen," Terrance said, taking on a more measured, reasonable tone, "I understand, I really do. You were married for a long time, your world has fallen apart and you don't want to accept it."

"If I sign the papers, it means I've really lost her," Stephen muttered softly. He'd never said it out loud, but he'd always known it was the truth. Some small part of him had thought that he might somehow be able to win her back. Maybe with one of those big romantic gestures like in the romantic comedies she had loved so much when they first met. He smiled to himself remembering the times he'd been forced to sit through the Notebook, Notting Hill or Pretty Woman. At the time he'd despised it, but now, if he could have Diane back, he'd sit through every cheesy movie ever made if it meant he got to spend time with her.

"I'm afraid you have lost her old chap," Terrance explained matter of factly. "You broke her heart, broke her trust, you know that don't you?" Stephen just nodded dejectedly in his seat, unable to raise his gaze from the floor. "We all need to move on from this Stephen, but we can't do that until you sign the papers and the divorce goes through. Then you and Diane can carry on living your lives separately." The idea of it being official, that Diane was no longer his wife was too much for Stephen to take and even though what Terrance said made sense, even though she deserved the right to live her life without him, he still couldn't face it.

"I'm sorry Terrance," Stephen replied through misty eyes, "I just can't do it."

"I was worried you'd say that old chap," Terrance said sadly as he rose from his desk, towering over Stephen in what could be seen as a sign of dominance. "I have a proposal for you, one I think that you'll be interested in, if you'll listen to what I have to say?"

"Go on," Stephen answered warily. The last time Terrance had made a proposition to him, he'd ended up fucking Diane in front of him, ruining his career by leaking the photos of him and Rosie to the press before somehow wooing his wife and becoming her lover. To say he needed to be cautious was the understatement of the year, if not the decade.

"You can have one more time with Diane. Sexually. So long as you sign the papers. Consider it a farewell outing. A reminder of what the two of you had before you threw it all away." Stephen's jaw almost hit the floor. Was he really hearing this? Terrance was offering him sex with Diane in exchange for moving ahead with the divorce? This couldn't be right, Diane surely couldn't have agreed to this. "I understand that you're shocked Stephen, I do, but the alternative is that I leave you alone with my men for ten minutes and see if you feel like signing once I come back, but I think that will be far less pleasant than what I'm proposing." Stephen's mind raced as he tried to comprehend what was happening. Today had already been painful enough with Rosie taking advantage of him and kicking him out onto the street. Could he really face his wife in his current state? Could he make love to her one last time? Could he handle the raw emotions it would bring up? As his cock twitched in his trousers, it seemed like maybe he could.

"Surely Diane can't have agreed to that?" Stephen asked, throat dry as he looked up at Terance who once again was wearing his signature cocky grin. Before he could answer, the door behind Stephen opened and he cowered without even thinking, expecting to be grabbed and beaten any second, but instead, he was greeted with a familiar voice. A soft feminine voice that he had missed every single day for the past several months.

"Actually, it was my idea," said Diane as she strode into the office standing next to Terrance, wrapping her arm around him and kissing him lovingly on the cheek. "Hello darling, are you boys behaving?" she asked, shooting Stephen a withering look that made him clutch onto the arms of the chair with need. It had been so long since he had seen her. God she was beautiful. Her blonde hair was still short, styled in a fashionable inverted bob that framed her face perfectly. Her plump soft lips made him want to get on his knees and beg for her back for just a chance that he may get to kiss her again, her soft baby blue eyes no longer holding any love for him, instead cold indifference. She still had those cute little dimples when she smiled, that was what had made Stephen drawn to her in the first place, but now it wasn't him that made her smile, it was Terrance instead. Those cute little dimples were for him now. He was being torn in two, overjoyed to see the woman he loved but devastated to see her in the arms of another man, and not just any man, but a man he despised.

"Stephen had a little outburst earlier, but it's been rather civilized otherwise, hasn't it old chap?" Terrance asked as he held Diane's waist as she stood beside him. He didn't need to say another word but every inch of him, his smile, his eyes, his body language all screamed, 'I've won, she's mine.'

"Yes, he even offered me a Whiskey, very decent of him," Stephen said, flashing Diane his best smile, although it was not returned.

"I'm glad to hear it," Diane smiled slightly as she pulled herself closer to Terrance. "So, the offer, do you accept or not?" Straight down to business, he shouldn't have expected it to be any different.

"I... I mean, I don't know..." Stephen stammered in response, "can I have some time to think about it?"

Diane walked across the room, swaying her hips as she walked, Terrance leering appreciatively at her rump as she went. The combination of a suit jacket and tight fitting black skirt was to die for and Stephen could feel his member awaking from its slumber in his trousers as he gazed upon the woman he loved. She bent down in front of him, placing her hands on top of his, showing off an ample amount of cleavage as her low cut blouse hoovered inches from his face. Her touch was almost orgasmic and Stephen had to fight to control himself. She was right here, in front of him, touching him. Maybe, just maybe if he could give her the fucking of her life, she would remember what she was missing out on and come back to him and they could be happy again. Stephen's idyllic fantasy was shattered when he saw Terrance's smiling, arrogant face over her shoulder. He knew that wasn't going to happen, as much as he might want it to, no, need it to.

"This is a one time offer Stephen. It happens today, or it's off the table forever. No kissing, no weird stuff and once you cum it's over and you sign the papers." She leant closer to Stephen, her lips touching the lobe of his ear as he shivered with desire. "Isn't it bad enough that you broke my heart? The least that you owe me is a divorce, a clean break. If it was up to Terrance, you'd have two broken legs right now. I had to beg him to do things my way. Don't be a fool and refuse my generosity sweetie." Straightening up, she walked back to Terrance who slid his hand back around her waist and grabbed her ass roughly which elicited a soft, approving coo from Diane.