Joy

Sometimes time can be a healer. A salve that naturally soothes over the hurt and injuries we experience with time. And sometimes time is an illusion. A mask worn to disguise both the injuries and the face of the injured. Allowing us to move forward day by day and get on with the things we need to get on with each day.

These were the thoughts expressed by Joy in her black leather bound diary on the evening of her 30th birthday.

It had been a blast at the end there. But the day had started off like most any other day. She had risen, prepped and dressed, eaten, and been driven into work. Where she handled appointments, both in her office in person and via teleconferencing over the phone and computer. She worked very hard to maintain her ad agency's image of being top in the business in Boston and among the top along the East coast.

Prior to leaving for the day her secretary brought her the invite for drinks from her old college friends. She smiled to herself and thanked the secretary.

After gathering up the briefs she needed to focus on over the weekend she dialed the number given to her. As the phone rang she headed for the elevator and the parking garage.

"Hello?" a woman's voice shouted into her ear. "Who is this?"

"It's me, Joy. Stace. I got your message. Where we meeting this year?"

"Joy! OMG! I can't believe you actually got my message! Every year you seem to be just a little bit harder to reach. Anyway, yes. Um... hang on a sec." A hand clearly was being used instead of the actual mute button on the phone as Joy could hear the muffled conversation between Stacey and someone else in the room. "Okay, I am back. Finnegan's to start and then we have a surprise for you this year. And I know, you don't have to remind me that surprises are not your thing, but anyway. You are getting one. So Finnegan's in an hour. Wear something fun. No suits allowed. Just short, tight, and low-cut. Got it?"

Before Joy could answer, Stacey had hung up.

By the end of the call Joy was already seated in the back seat of her car and was headed home. A routine route that she knew she didn't need to instruct her driver to take.

Once home, Joy went over her weekend's itinerary and had a light dinner before getting ready for her annual meet up with her friends.

In her closet she chose a light blue mini skirt style dress with a somewhat conservative style v-neck in the front and fully covered back. It hugged her curves without making it difficult to breathe and set off her complexion fairly enough. Her hair she styled simply in a upsweep ponytail accented with wisps of curls framing her face. Jewelry she kept simple; a silver zipper style necklace, matching bangles on one wrist, a slim ladies Rolex on the other, simple diamond stud earrings, and no rings. She wore no makeup.

She arrived at Finnegan's on time, found her group of friends whom she could tell were already well into their fourth round of drinks at least. And sat with them.

Per tradition, she was not allowed to order her first drink, being the birthday girl. She had to drink whatever each of her friends put in front of her. Tonight that consisted of five drinks already lined up and waiting for her. First was a shot of some unremembered brand of whisky, followed by a shot of tequila and a side of lime and salt, followed by a high ball of some sort, followed by a large margarita and finally, a potent long island iced tea. She was grateful she had worn flats by the time she finished the tea. It was only afterwards she was permitted to eat anything. Thankfully Stacey had ordered her a steak and fully loaded potato, her personal favorite since college.

She felt much more steady after the food and was able to enjoy another drink or two (of her choosing) and conversations with her friends. Most of which was just generic catching up chit chat.

After about hour three, Stacey calls for a ride and the group migrate to a new location. The surprise awaits! As Stacey puts it.

Once in the Uber Stacey gives the driver the address and tips him extra if he can make the trip short.

Fifteen minutes later the group pulls up in front of a hotel where they are let in without any issue.

Stacey beelines for the front desk then quickly routes the group to a side door. As it opens the silence on the other side is shattered by a live band playing "Happy Birthday" as Joy and the others enter. Lights are brought up and a huge party with a uncountable number of people dressed in "casual evening wear" sing along with the music for Joy and welcome her and her friends in with cheers and smiles.

It takes a while before any of the faces she is introduced to begin to look familiar to her. And by that point Joy wants to kill Stacey.

Joy finds her friend and drags her over by the punch bowl.

"Why did you invite my family here? How did you even find them? You know what they put me through growing up and why I cut ties with them all these years."

Stacey had a utterly shocked look on her face. "I thought it would be a good way to bury the hatchet after all these years. Most of them it seemed had moved on. None of them asked for anything from either of us like we both feared they would. So I just figured it would be a nice birthday surprise." She paused. Concern for Joy plain on her face. "I am very sorry if I over stepped things between us. On the bright side though, your Uncle Eric isn't here. I heard from your mother that he passed away earlier this year. Some sort of health issues or something. She wasn't clear. But evidently he left something for you as a last wish or something like that. Your mom brought it and it is over on the table with the rest of the presents. Might be worth looking into."

All Joy could do was stare at her friend. In her heart she knew Stacey meant well but there was no way she could forgive this betrayal easily or quickly.

"I need some air and some time Stacey. Thank you for a lovely gesture. I am going home. If you wish feel free to send the gifts up tomorrow. Good bye." And with that Joy dialed for her personal car to come and get her.

The next day Joy woke up tired, highly emotional, and very hung over. After some coffee and a little breakfast she changed into exercise clothes and went into her personal gym to do some yoga and go a few rounds with her punching bag.

Later, in her office there is a knock on the door from her housekeeper.

"Ms. Joy?"

"Yes?"

"There is a rather large birthday delivery here for you from your friend Stacey. Where would you like me to put everything?"

"In the lounge will be fine for now Ms. Davis. Thank you. I will attend to it shortly."

With that the housekeeper leaves as quietly as she had arrived.

Upon completing her scheduled work for the day, Joy goes into the lounge to find an even larger mountain of gifts than she expected. Not sure what to expect she begins to wade into the wrapping paper and gift bags. Most were expected gifts of cards with checks in them from those whom she was currently closest with. But as she started getting to the one's from her family the gifts got more personal. Clothing that she might have liked when she was 12, cheap perfumes, and the most painful of all was old trinkets and odd items that had decorated her room growing up. These confused and hurt her the most. She wasn't sure if they were intended to rub salt in the old wounds that had led her to leave in the first place, or if they were intended as memories of good times had and shared between her and them. This second thought caused her heart to harden against them all over again. Those memories were lies and illusions.

Before she was able to get through any more of the gifts though, she came across the "gift" Stacey had mentioned last night. The one brought by her mother but from her Uncle Eric.

Joy dropped it when she realized who it was from. The man that had caused everything. All the lies, all the secrets, and all the pain. The man that had raped her when she was little. Over and over again. And then bribed her with "gifts" to keep her "happy".

When she was finally able to bring herself to breathe again (after first realizing she had been holding her breath), she gingerly opened the package. Inside was a copy of his last will and testament. In which he left everything to her on the proviso that she go through a kind of trial to "earn" the inheritance first. According to the legal documents she had one year upon receiving these documents to complete the terms or forgoes the inheritance in full.

After reading over all the fine print she realized that the entire inheritance equaled about $20,000 in cash and an additional $2,000,000 in stocks and bonds. To get it all she had to do was read the black book enclosed with the last will and testament and follow the instructions included there in on the designated time and places while documenting each experience in her own black book never to be shared with anyone except on her own death bed.

Joy was shocked and angry. More secrets! More abuse! Even from the grave Uncle Eric and her family was trying to rob her of any happiness!

Once she was done being emotional, Joy's next actions were to have her personal legal team come up and go over the documents with a fine tooth comb. Including the black book. She didn't want anything to do with it unless there was some sort of legal necessity to do so. And even then she wanted to know of any and all loop holes that might be present based on the wording of the documents.

By noon of the next day she had her answer. The money would not hurt in anyway to have for her company. In fact it would only aid in helping her develop it the way she wanted to. And while she was instructed to keep things a secret once she started the things asked of her in her Uncle's book, there was nothing saying that if someone should happen to stumble upon everything that the truth could not be exposed.

A week later Joy finally decided to open the black book and see what the expectations were.

It took her wading through diary entry after diary entry before the first task was given.

She was to have a sexual encounter with the next female she encountered. No matter what. Then within 24 hours she was expected to document the encounter in detail in her diary.

There was no expectation as to what constituted a sexual encounter. Just the point that it had to be with the very next female she encountered after reading the entry. She was instructed to read no further until these steps had been adhered to.

As fate would have it, the next female happened to be her secretary.

Joy rationalized everything in her head. She did find Samantha attractive. But she was married. And straight. And why in God's name was she even considering any of this?! The money. Only the money. How would Samantha react if she was to suddenly come onto her after all these years of professionalism? How would it change things between them? Would they be comfortable working together still? Would Samantha press sexual assault charges against her?

Or would this end in a different way where Samantha would be into it and pleased to be given the attention after all these years?

Taking a deep breath Joy decided honesty was the absolute best way to approach this.

"Samantha, please close the door. I need to talk to you about something."

"Okay."

Joy explained everything to Samantha.

"I will understand if this is something you want to part in. And it will in no way negatively impact your status here with us whatever you decide. Please take some time to think it over and even to discuss it with your husband."

"I don't need to take time. I am willing. My reason's are my own. I will in no way expect any sort of changed treatment nor compensation for this. You have always been a fair and honest employer and you are continuing to do so even now. You deserve whatever justice you can get over on your monstrous family. I am willing to help. My husband will understand." With that she wrote down a date, time, and place on a piece of paper. And handed it to Joy. Then she walked out to complete her duties.

According to the notations on the paper, Joy met Samantha later after work. Samantha was still wearing her suit from the office. They had dinner and few drinks. Then went for a walk in the nearby park. There was a secluded area that Samantha led her to.

"I use to come here with my husband a lot when we were dating. It is a good place to have some fun while still having a sense of privacy. So long as you are relatively quiet."

Taking Joy into her arms Samantha initiated things with a kiss. Timid and tender at first and then as Joy slowly responded things began to get heated. Clothing was removed. Sexual energy genuinely sparked. Real attraction blossomed between the two women during this encounter. Afterwards, they lay on the soft grass for a bit in each other's arms. Naked with their skirts and jackets draped over them for a bit of warmth and modesty.

Joy had never before felt so free. So alive. They lay there for what felt like forever, just holding hands. Until the prickle of a tiny twig poking it's way into Joy's hip made her uncomfortable enough to stand and help Samantha up to dress too.

They parted ways on good terms.

Joy went home and completed the other part of the initial agreement by writing about her experience in her own journal.

The next day she read more of her uncle's black book and smiled. His intent was clear to her. But she would ultimately have the upper hand in the matter.

Over the course of the year she successfully fulfilled the goals of the will without losing her dignity, respect, or company.

After she received the inheritance from her Uncle's estate there was a book published by a unknown author entitled "My Little Black Deeds: A Black Book about a Bad Man and the Family that Protected him."

Needless to say that despite names being changed, along with events and other information her family was still brought to bear the brunt of the illegal activities (legal and sexual in nature) that her uncle had been guilty of. Most of the family members either did prison time or had to pay incredibly steep fines. In short they were ruined.

And because it was proven that she was one of his victims, she got additional compensation per court orders from the family. Initially this was suppose to be in the form of money and/or property. In the end all she asked for was that her uncle's house be turned into a center to treat and care for abused teens. The only other things she requested from the courts was that her family never again contact her in any way.

This put into official documentation, Joy is once again able to move on with her life with her new friends and new aspects of her growing businesses in full swing. Life was once again to be a thing worth looking forward too for her.