Mr. Hubble goes shopping

"This SUCKS!" 

She told herself for the two hundred and forty-third time, that day.

As she had done every day since her probation started, and she had been forced to to apply for this crappy job, as part of the deal. After successfully leading her own company for three years, she was now demoted, working as a secretary assistant in that very same company! Oh well, at least it had kept her out of jail, after her creative book keeping had been exposed. The worst part of the whole agreement however, was who they had put in charge after her fall from grace. Frederick Hubble was the former head of accountancy, and he had taken it as a personal offence when her rigging had become apparent. Under the new circumstances he insisted in still calling her Miss McKnight, in stead of Francine. He, on the other hand was now Mister Hubble, of course.

Lunch time! She closed her laptop, and threw herself back in her chair with a small shriek, seeing Hubble's face so close to hers. His dwarf like figure had been right there in front of her desk, his head hidden behind the screen. "I.. I'm sorry Mr. Hubble, I didn't hear you come in!" "Not to worry, Miss McKnight, not to worry! I wanted to ask you something: do you consider yourself a open minded person, a free spirit, so to speak?"

Her heart cringed: where was he going with this? "Well, I guess so...", she answered tentatively. "You see, I would like you to accompany me to a certain shop during the break. It is quite near, will only take some twenty minutes of your time? It's about a present I am about to obtain for my wife, you see..." A sigh of relief nearly escaped her. He wanted a female advice, probably over some jewelry or perfume. "Why of course, Mr. Hubble, it will be a pleasure!"

She didn't notice his wicked grin as a reaction to her answer.

As they reached the shop, her feelings of relief vanished into thin air rapidly. "Piranesi. Bondage toys, furniture and garments" it said on the frosted glass of the front window. "

I knew you would be open minded enough to help me out here, Miss McKnight!", Hubble said. "Well, I'm really no expert in the field, maybe you should...", she tried. But he already had her by the arm, and opened the door. "Oh, I haven't brought you along for your advice, Miss Knight; don't worry!"

And, shoving her inside and closing the door: "You see, I have selected an item, but I want to check out its effectiveness first. You, Miss McKnight, are here as a model!"