"Rhonda, Mr. Bennett. My name is Rhonda xxxproposal Marks." The girl's voice sounded perfectly xxxproposal normal xxxproposal, calm and relaxed as she posed xxxproposal pw with her xxxproposal bra in his face. She seemed not to realize there was anything unusual going on.

It had xxxproposal to have been the operation. It had done something to his voice xxxproposal. Paul vaguely xxxproposal recalled reading an article years ago about how xxxproposal certain frequencies of sound outside the normal human hearing range could have physical and psychological xxxproposal effects even though they were inaudible. Apparently they worked directly xxxproposal on the brain xxxproposal, without involving the ears xxxproposal. Maybe his larynx had been altered by the xxxproposal surgery xxxproposal so that when he spoke, some extra frequency xxxproposal was produced xxxproposal which compelled obedience.

"No, Rhonda," Paul said. "You won't tell anyone xxxproposal. Any time you try, you'll forget all about it before you say or write a word." He smiled maliciously. "And xxxproposal you'll take pw off your shirt and bra, too, and keep xxxproposal them off for at least five xxxproposal minutes. Besides," the evil smile grew xxxproposal pw wider, "even if xxxproposal I let you, what would you xxxproposal tell them?"

He regarded her for xxxproposal a moment. "One thing," he xxxproposal said xxxproposal pw. "'Mr. Bennett' is too formal, if we're xxxproposal pw going xxxproposal pw to xxxproposal be," he smirked, "working xxxproposal closely together. From now on, you'll only call me that if other people are around. When we xxxproposal're xxxproposal alone, it sexy's 'master.' Do you understand?"

"Yes, master xxxproposal," came the reply. Then, a flicker of defiance: "You sick xxxproposal jerk, you'll never xxxproposal get away with--"

"Great, Doctor." Bennett was exultant. What good would it be to xxxproposal gain the power xxxproposal to xxxproposal make people do his bidding xxxproposal if he were going to die soon?

"Shh," Paul said. "Not another word pw." Instantly, Jasmine fell silent, looking scared.

"Thank you, Mr. Bennett," she said, letting her arms xxxproposal fall to her sides xxxproposal. As had been true with Rhonda, she still seemed oddly calm xxxproposal for xxxproposal someone pw who'd been forced to obey a stranger's every command--but as xxxproposal with Rhonda, she xxxproposal seemed fully xxxproposal awake and rational. He suspected, though xxxproposal, that inside, she was probably xxxproposal furious and terrified, as xxxproposal Rhonda xxxproposal had xxxproposal been. He'd xxxproposal better do xxxproposal something about that.

Jasmine nodded xxxproposal her head.

There was another quote xxxproposal, from nineteenth xxxproposal-century xxxproposal Britain: "Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts pw absolutely." His power xxxproposal wasn't absolute xxxproposal; his inability to control men xxxproposal, for one thing, limited it. But it was great enough to offer plenty of xxxproposal chances xxxproposal for corruption.

Until now.

He didn't have to xxxproposal wait long for xxxproposal his opportunity. He'd xxxproposal hardly had a sexy chance xxxproposal to clock in and sit down at his desk when his phone rang. It was her xxxproposal.

"Paul xxxproposal," she said, "I xxxproposal need to speak with you for a few xxxproposal pw minutes, if pw you don't mind xxxproposal."

It was the perfect opening.