The world was a fast changing place and I knew the importance of a successful image. At the age of 27 I had created a successful online brand for myself. My personal brand was as important as my business brand. My father was a renowned businessman and I tried to distance myself from him as I forged my own path. I had a fire in my belly and a need to prove myself. I was the first born in the family but my father wanted a son. He arrived two years later, my younger brother. Throughout my life my achievements always paled into insignificance when compared to my brother. I won medals and trophies but my brother was lauded for the simplest of achievements. A distance grew with my parents as I felt no matter what my achievement it was not good enough.

My father had always groomed my brother to take over the family business empire and I was almost relieved to be able to find my own path to success to know it was due to my own intellect and innovation. No matter what my public image the anxieties and doubts were hard to hide from myself. As I built a brand I relied on marketing experts to run my social media accounts and my real personal life was hidden from the public.

I had begun dating Russell 12 months ago in a “whirlwind” romance. We met while I was on holiday in the Caribbean last summer. Russell was the CEO of a fortune 500 company and he looked like he walked straight off a runway. He would be considered the ideal man for most women but all I saw was the potential for my online brand. He pulled out all the stops to charm me and after a little resistance I gave in. He was ideal for the photo opportunities and the projection of a successful business and personal life but soon it was hard to hide the emptiness of the relationship.

Sex was an obligation once a month and Russell was obsessed with contraception. He always wore a condom and I once found him filling our used condom with water to check it had no holes. He always made me take the pill even though he was wearing a condom, his obsession with contraception was bordering on the insane. I never took the pill and I only ever took it in my teen years to regulate my periods. I hated the idea of a man trying to control me in such a way. I was no one’s property and I was never going to belong to a man or be controlled by a man. But for my brand why else would I be with a man like this?

***

Jag

21 was a big year for me as it was the year I graduated from University after successfully completing my qualification in computing but there was bitterness as soon after my graduation my father became gravely ill and suffered from a stroke. I had a job at a leading company but my family priorities took over. I had to take over the family business from my father and I felt the sacrifice was necessary. I did not want my skills to go to waste and I used them to bring the business into the 21st century. My father had been a jeweller and I worked in the family business from an early age but in this new age it was about image and tried to utilise social media to my advantage. Our small store began to gain some attention and I was proud of our achievements.

The likes of Sonia Patel were leading the field in this respect and she was an inspiration to me to have a built a successful brand but everytime she posted a picture I felt I could see an emptiness behind her eyes. I could not believe she was dating a tool such as Russell Cooper. He was the epitome of privilege. Their relationship seemed the typical social media driven fake relationship.

At the age of 30 I wanted to settle down but I could not find someone that appealed to me. A lot of the girls that I met wanted someone that would take care of them without any ambitions of their own. They just did not appeal to me on an intellectual level. Most successful career women would not consider me as suitable as I did not have a career of my own. Despite the fact that I ran a successful jewellery business they wanted someone that worked in the city. I wanted what I could not have.

I was less involved in the sales side of the business and I was usually found in the back while the sales girls were front of house. It was a quiet Tuesday morning when one of the sales girls called me out, “Sir, we have a customer that wants to have a look at the premier collection of engagement rings.”

It was around 3 months earlier that I had to take extra precautions about displaying these rings after we had an attempted robbery. It was a snatch and grab and luckily the sales girl had her wits about her and was able to lock the door before the assailant was able to leave but as a precaution I asked to be called on to the shop floor when the items were out.

I came out with the intention of letting the sales girl continue to make her sale but that is when I saw her, I was struck for a second but then instinct took over as I held the sales girl back and said, “I will handle this.”

***

Sonia

I had to push Russell into taking the next step in the relationship but he was reluctant and deep down I felt he saw me as a holding piece until something better came along. We had a blazing row as I brought up the question of marriage. We had been dating for 12 months and I wanted that next step before I waste anymore time.

Deep down I did not want the wedding or relationship with Russell but what I really wanted was the social media points an engagement and big glamorous wedding bring.

He stormed out after our row but text me a few minutes later, “Just buy the bloody ring yourself. You are never happy with my decisions anyway.”

Here I was at a specialist jeweller. My good friend Divya had recommended as they had unique designs. I always wanted the next best or one of a kind thing. I had to be unique or a trendsetter. It was the influencer life.

The sales lady had said she needed to speak to the manager when I asked to see their collection. Now a man was walking towards me. I was immediately struck by his confident look and smile. His smile had a way of disarming me.

He brought over a collection of rings, “Hello there young lady. I understand you want to see our premium collection. It starts off at $80,000.”

I did not like the way he said young lady. It was patronising and it annoyed me. I snapped back, “Well your selection maybe a little cheap as I was looking to spend twice that.”

He leaned back and nodded, “Ok. Ok. I am sorry I did not mean anything by it. My name is Jag. Let me show you the collection.”

I hated the condescending tone of men when it came to money. He showed me the collection and I loved the exquisite designs. He made the usual promises that they were one of a kind and every design was unique. He also said he would be able to customise any ring to my specification.

It was when he held my finger to assess the size and suitability that I felt chills over my body. There was a sensuality to the way we touched but I ignored it.

I was going through my specifications when he said, “You look very familiar. Who did you say recommended you?”

I hated being seen by fans or followers but it seemed like he would not be familiar with my online personality, “A friend of mine recommended this place. Divya Kapoor”.

He had a wry smile on his face, “Oh yes. I remember her well. Her fiancé was going to pay twice the price for an inferior product before she came here. It takes an empowered woman to know what she wants and not wait for a man to buy the wrong ring.”

I laughed and thought he could not be any more wrong, my man had to be forced into the idea of engagement and then wanted me to buy the ring, “I am not as empowered as I look or the ring would have been on my finger long ago.”

I found myself revealing too much but I found the conversation with him so easy that my mask was slipping, “Only a fool would not have you tied down by now.”

I though “tied down” was an odd phrase but I let it be and finalised the designs before leaving. It was going to be a 2 week wait for the ring.

As the week progressed I thought about my conversation with Jag and I wondered why I was not getting the commitment from Russell that I needed. It was our date night and he had booked a meal at an upscale restaurant. We had date night once a month as we both had busy schedules and rarely saw each other. It was a pleasant enough evening over food and I liked the ambiance of the restaurant. I was having a glass of wine, it was my third glass of the evening and I always felt my inhibitions loosen after 2 or more. Our date night always ended in sex and I was eager to get back to my apartment to fuck. I began stroking his thigh as a signal to get out of here. He leaned over and whispered, “Have you been taking the pill?” He was really killing my mood and my annoyance was building up at his obsession with contraception, “No babe. We are engaged now and I want to be ready for our honeymoon. You can wear a condom tonight.”

He pushed me away as he aggressively whispered, “Are you fucking serious? You cannot rely on condoms and we are never having kids. I do not want to be married to some fat housewife.” I was shocked and shaken by his outburst. He tried to keep his voice down but the tables around us were aware of what happened before he stormed out.

It was an exclusive restaurant and it was a relief to know that this exchange would not leave the restaurant. I kept my composure and left the restaurant shortly after. Once I was home I was able to let my guard down and I broke down my anxieties and doubts all coming to the surface. How could I be with someone that only liked the idea of me? A thin successful business woman? If I was fat, would I be a different person? I wanted to be loved for who I was.

My emotions were everywhere and as I got into bed I thought back to my exchange with Jag. He was able to get through to the real me beyond the image that I cultivated for myself.

I was feeling hot that night. It had been a month since I last had sex and I would have to wait another month before I was able to see Russell again but in my current mood I did not want to see him or have sex with him. I hated masturbating but my body was feeling hot and I wanted to relieve the tension in my body.

I began to gently caress my vagina lips over my panties as I felt my body burn up with desire. But my mind could only picture Jag and the more I thought about him the hornier I felt. My panties were already wet and I had a hand under my t shirt gently rolling my nipple as I felt it become erect between my fingers.

My breathing was becoming shallow as I began to moan, “Oh God. Yes. Fuck.”

I slid my hand inside my panties as I inserted two fingers inside me and continued to rub my clit with my palm. I was so wet and hot. My body was writhing as I felt myself hitting my pleasure points. I needed this so much.

I could feel my orgasm coming and I began to finger fuck myself harder as the sounds of wet pussy squelching filled the room. I pinched my nipple and that pushed me over the edge as I came in a convulsing orgasm. I could not believe I came thinking of some Jewellery Store owner. I would not be seen dead with a man like that.

***

Jag

I was finalising the design for the ring but there was something that I could not get out of my mind. I did not want her to think I knew who she was as it would have created a power dynamic immediately. I treated her like any other customer and it seemed to work as she seemed more down to earth and her mask was beginning to slip about her perfect relationship.

I called Divya to thank her for the recommendation and she was as kind as ever to say that we had given her a first class service and she could not have asked for more. She told me about Sonia and how she can be a difficult person to deal with if you did not know her.

It took 2 weeks for the ring to be completed and I sent a message to Sonia to let her know it had arrived. She called me to say her flight would be landing late and if she could pick it up after 8.00pm. Our usual closing time was 6.00pm but I told her not to worry and I would wait for her to arrive.

I was in the back working through invoices when I heard the door buzz. I buzzed her in, “I have the ring in the back. You might as well come through to the office.”

I liked to keep the office clean and tastefully decorated. I had two art pieces on either wall that I picked up from a local gallery. I kept the furniture simple, desk, executive chair and a sofa for guests.

She followed me in as I remarked, “You are getting the premier experience. Not many customers get to see the office.”

She laughed and I felt an ease between us. I motioned for her to sit on the sofa and I brought over the box. I could sense she was giddy as she said, “Wow. It is really here.”

She opened the box and took out the ring inspecting the shape and running her fingers over it. She looked so elegant and sexy I could not take my eyes off her. I asked, “Here. Let me take that. I need to see that we have the measurements right.”

She handed me the ring and I held her hand as I began to run my thumb over her ring finger there was a connection between us as our eyes locked. I slowly slid the ring on her finger and she was lost for a moment before she seemed to shake her head and come to her senses. She lifted her hand in front of the love and marvelled in the sparkle.

She said, “It is so beautiful.” I muttered, “You are so beautiful.” After a few minutes she took the ring off and was about to leave when I said, “I have some champagne in the back. Why don’t we toast to a beautiful ring?”

She reluctantly agreed and I brought out the champagne and some glasses. She was more relaxed once she had her first sip of champagne and we eased into conversation. I asked, “Your future husband is so lucky. Why is he not helping you pick the ring?”

The alcohol seemed to loosen her, “Perhaps he does not feel as lucky as he should.”

I held her hand as I said, “Only a fool would not worship at your feet. Divya tells me you started a business from nothing and you are beautiful beyond compare.”

I topped up her glass, “You don’t know me. I worked hard to build my brand and my business. But all people see are my stick thin figure and my daddy’s millions.”

I looked at her quizzically, “Online brand? Daddy’s millions? Stick thin? All I intended was that from what Divya told me you had worked hard to be where you are. Your business is successful from what I have seen and heard. You are beautiful regardless of being thin. You have an elegance and confidence about you and I admire that. Your fiancé must think this for him to be wanting to marry you.”

***

Sonia

The problem was that my fiancé did not think any of this, he only wanted the stick thin model type girlfriend on his arm and I deserved so much more but I never seemed to be good enough for my family or fiancé and here was a stranger telling me that I am ‘worthy of worship’. It was the ultimate compliment but if I truly was then why did no one else see it.

We continued to talk and I did not know if I was on my second or third glass but I was feeling more comfortable than I should have been. My mind kept going back to his comment of being worthy of worship so I asked, “Do you really think I am worthy of worship?” He looked at me slightly confused and I felt foolish asking as he did not seem to recall making the comment. I turned to leave feeling foolish when he held my arm and said, “Yes. I do. You are an amazing woman.”

I sat back down relaxing a little, “Do you really mean that?”

He nodded his head but there was an authenticity behind it and I asked, “What if I asked you to prove it?”

He looked me in eyes and said, “Anything.”

I did not know where this thought came from but I unstrapped my high heeled shoes and said, “Worship me.”

I had never done anything this bold or reckless before but it was as though my unsatisfactory relationship and sex life was driving me to take these steps. I felt a nervousness as he seemed to hesitate and I thought was he going to make a fool of me. Was he filming this?

But then he dropped to his knees before me and began to run his hands over my feet and I felt a sensuality run through me as I ordered, “Kiss my feet. Worship them.”

Without hesitation he brought my feet to his mouth and began to kiss them. I felt an exhilaration through my body as he began to suck on my toes without instruction.

I lifted my dress to my thighs inadvertently giving him an up skirting opportunity or did I want him to look and would I be disappointed if he did not look. He began to kiss up my feet and ran his hands behind my calves. I loved this attention from a man. My arousal was building and we had not done anything sexual. I could sense how moist I was becoming and I wondered if he noticed. He was certainly throwing glances between my legs but was my dampness evident on black lace panties. I bit my lip threw my head back as I felt the sensuality grow within me.

I looked down at his eager eyes and I hooked two fingers into side of my panties and pushed them to the side as I heard myself say, “Worship me here.”

He raised himself up between my legs roughly holding my thigh and making space for his head between my legs. He began to bite the inside of my thighs and I nibbled my lip as I felt the build-up. I could not help myself and I put my hands in his hair directing him between my legs. I needed this more than anything, “Yes. Worship me. Adore me.”

He licked and sucked on my lips as he licked the wetness between my lips. He then used his fingers to spread my lips and direct his attention to my clit. It caused me to involuntarily push forward against his tongue but he seemed to enjoy this and he deliberately kept teasing my clit as I wanted more direct attention.

He was running circles around my clit with his tongue and it was driving me crazy, “I am so close. Please. Worship me. Oh fucking god just worship me.”