Page 5 of Idée Fixe
“Careful Si, sounds like you’re excited,” I giggle, taking hold of the car handle with my free hand and awkwardly openingit. Dropping into the driver’s seat, I place the coffee in the cup holder and the key in the ignition.
“Have you checked your email yet?” Her excitement is filled to the brim. Turning the key, I start my Mercedes S-class and place my phone in the holder. Her voice immediately bleeding out over the in-car speaker.
“I haven’t.” I roll my eyes. “Because it’s stupid.”
“Open your fucking emails, bitch!” she shouts, making me laugh. Sliding my fingers over the screen, I find my emails and look through them.
Nothing in the inbox. Nothing in the… Oh wait here it is.
Clicking on the email, all I see is a black screen, then a neon mask expands from the darkness. Crosses over the eyes and a cross stitch mouth too. When the voice comes over the speaker, muffling Sienna’s, the voice is distorted.
“Welcome, to Idée Fixe, Cairo.” My name falling from the lips of whoever is behind the mask. “It’s nice to finally see you.”
See me?
“Your kinks and requests have been noted and delivered.” Rolling my eyes again, I swear I see my brain. What kind of shit is this? “Attached to another email is a link for appropriate clothing and what the company expects when you turn up. Feel free to dress up if desired.” The voice continues. “Doors open at 8PM for the initial party. The fun begins at 9PM. Please have a safe word ready. If you’re chosen by a Caretaker, you’ll need to inform them of it. The address of the premises will be sent on the day. Goodbye.”
Static fills my screen and with what looks like something from the Matrix. My screen clears instantly, and the email is gone.
“Uh, did yours disappear?”
“So cool right?” The excitement in her voice is unmissable. “We have two days before it starts. So I’m thinking we get together later and do some shopping and-”
“Do I really need to go to this?” I groan.
“Yes. You’re going to have so much fun here and-” Sienna begins rattling on about the whole thing, and I can’t help but drown her out.
Why did I even bother signing up to this?
This isn’t my scene; I have no time to be doing this kind of shit when my team are out here dealing with shit in my absence. I wouldn’t usually attend anything this ridiculous, but I’m humouring Sienna. She was right when she said that I rarely go out, and that was all down to Danny taking up all of my time.
It's not that he stopped me from doing anything, just that he made sure he made me feel bad enough so that I wouldn’t go and in the end, I just stopped altogether. I guess this could be fun though right.
“Are you even listening to me?” Sienna’s voice flows back into my ears, and I’m dislodged from my thoughts.
“Yes, I’m here and I heard you. I get off work at 3PM so I’ll come get you and we can take a drip to Lakeside View shopping centre ok?”
“Ok, great. I’ll see you then.” I can practically hear her smile. “Love you.”
“Love you,” I counter and end the call. Putting my seatbelt on the phone rings again. “Jesus, can I catch a break here.” Pressing the button on the screen I answer. “Yes?”
“Cairo, you need to get in here, cyber-attack on JP.”
“Fuck! Again?” Putting the car in drive, I check my mirrors, “I’ll be fifteen, set up a trojan 300 and I’ll be there soon.” Ending the call, I pull out of the parking space, speeding towards the bank.
I’ve been working in Cyber security for the past six years now. As a freelancer, I’m able to work my own hours. However, when I’m hired by a specific company to set up certain hardware andfirewall protections, they can call on me whenever they desire. This being one of those times.
After finally keeping the firewall for JP strong, I managed to get out of work a little earlier so, I changed out of my work clothes and met Sienna at Lakeside for a shopping trip.
“So what exactly are we supposed to be looking for?” I didn’t click the clothing link in the email, mainly because I haven’t had time. Sienna informed be that there is a ‘clothing optional’ section you can fill in, but there’s no way I’m doing that.
The other option is strictly all black. As this is a neon rave, the lack of colour allows everything else to stand out. The more I hear about this rave, the more intrigued I am to find out who is behind it.
Apparently, even though you’re accepted, there’s no guarantee that a Caretaker will select you. So for the whole event, you’re just left wondering; waiting for the inevitable to happen I guess.
“Well, with that body,” she starts looking through the clothing rack. “You’re wearing a black mini dress.” She winks. “Easy access and all that.”
“Oh God,” I snort.
