Elsa's Gift - Episode 9

Novella Thursdays

Steam rose all around Fujimoto in the traditional Japanese bath as a young woman massaged his neck and shoulders from behind him. With the arrival of Elsa and her escort the masseuse stood from out of the water and reached for her kimono, her nude body catching the eye of Elsa before it was covered.

The maid who had prepared Elsa guided her over to the traditional bath, and from Elsa’s back reached around to her front and removed the kimono from her body. Now naked, Elsa’s hand was taken so she could be led into the bath to join her boss.

She sat down in the heated water opposite him, head slightly bowed, hair pinned high in the Japanese fashion. Her kimono was folded and placed to the side before the maid left the two alone.

‘There’s nothing more I enjoy than my afternoon baths,’ Fujimoto commented. ‘Ever since I was a little boy bathing in the rivers of my home province. Only then, hot water was a mere fantasy. Now I wonder how I ever did without it. You are from a province also, correct?’

Being respectful yet refusing to engage in conversation Elsa just bowed her head lower with a nod.

‘We are much alike, you and I,’ he continued. ‘We come from nothing but were destined for much more. The others, they are satisfied with wasting the day away. But you, you can’t help but to stay productive. When others prefer to play, you prefer to work. These are the traits of a natural born leader.’

Elsa just sat there, non-responsive to Fujimoto’s compliments.

‘I have a very important business proposal coming up, and if you don’t mind, I would like for you to work with me on it.’

So this was his seduction, his foreplay. To throw her a bone before humiliating her. But all she had to do was think back on the plan, on her loved ones, to keep her resilience.

Yes, place your trust in me. The easier it will be for me to nail your coffin shut.

‘I look forward to it,’ she said to him.

‘I knew you would.’

Fujimoto moved across the bath to be directly in front of her. She didn’t move, her obedient posture unwavering.

He reached up and took the hair piece from her hair, causing her long locks to fall to her shoulders. Next he took hold of a nearby sponge, dipped it into the water and squeezed it above Elsa’s head, slowly making wet her hair and shoulders.

He bathed her neck, her shoulders, her arms, her chest, then let the sponge drop from his hand as he washed her breasts.