Chapter 41: The BFF

2 December 2025

Drips & Dregs - the Double D to the uni kids who frequented it the most - was a classic London success story. John Gardner, an American exchange student, was religiously opposed to the corporate coffee shops like Starbucks, so he got the idea to found his own. But this being London, he didn’t want to offend his potential hometown clientele and their traditional sensibilities.

So his solution was to recruit a partner who knew something about tea. One of his professors directed him to Priya Parveen. Priya was born in Sheffield, and her parents were of Iranian and Indian descent. She was short, skinny, and could spell Darjeeling before she was three.

John and Priya butted heads on everything. Where to locate the planned shop. How to decorate it. How to orient the seating arrangements. But the one thing they were in total agreement about was that each of them knew what they were doing on their respective sides of the drinks menu, and somehow they became a hit.

Their relationship hit it off too, and before long they were lovers along with business partners.

They were also fortunate to have started their planning in the winter of 2020. If they had signed their lease in February, they might have been bankrupted by the pandemic, like a lot of other restaurant and shop owners. Instead, their inability to agree on the little details dragged out their process and saved them from financial ruin.

By the time the world was back in order again, the landlord they had been talking with was desperate for any tenant, and cut them a remarkable deal. They signed their lease on 30 September 2021, and opened the doors on 15 November.

Three years later, business was booming. John and Priya were celebrating their first anniversary, and she was five months pregnant with their first child.

“Hey, Priya!” called Talia. “You alright?”

“Bit under the weather,” the proprietor replied as she patted the curve of her tummy. “You good, love?”

“Right as rain,” Talia responded with a smile. “How’s your Yank?”

“As frustrating as usual, T. He thought he knew what he was doing, and we ended up with three times too much green tea, and we’re out of Earl Grey. What am I supposed to do with that?”

Talia shrugged with a smile as she gathered up her chai and slipped a pound coin into the tip jar.

“Cheers!”

Talia found a standing table and set down her cup. She checked her watch: 19:58.

“Any minute, Livy. Wouldn’t want to make a dramatic entrance or anything, would you?”

***

Mary stopped her Volvo V90 at the kerb to let Olivia out. “She’s waiting for you, my love. You’re just who she needs right now.”

As she got out, Olivia realised that she wasn’t nervous at all. She was excited to the point of shivering.

She had missed Talia something fierce. She was her best friend, and the months of distance and so little contact were like an eternity. Life was infinitely different from summertime. And she couldn’t wait to show her everything.

Olivia took the few steps from the car to the door to the shop. As she walked, the lace of her provocative lingerie pressed against her skin, a constant tactile reminder of her purpose. And for the first time in her life, she bathed in the sensory overload provided by each piece of her outfit.

This is right. I should look like this. I should feel like this.

And I should give this gift to Daddy.

“Yo, Livy! How’s tricks?” shouted Priya from behind the counter.

“Hi there, Priya. You look amazing. Like you’re glowing.”

“Oh, stop it, Liv. I’m fat, my ankles are starting to swell, and my tits haven’t even started catching up yet.”

Olivia tapped her card to pay for the green tea Priya had waiting for her, and keyed in a big tip for her. The Double D was a home away from home for her, especially being only a few streets away from the halls.

She took a sip - perfect as always.

“Priya, is T here yet?”

Without warning, Olivia felt herself wrapped in a monster hug. She barely got her cup on the counter to save it from spilling before…

“LIVEEEEEEEEEE!”

Talia’s shriek sounded like an angel’s song, and her hug was the sweetest sensation she could remember.

“Talia! Shit, it’s so good to see you!”

“It’s so good to see you too, Livy. And fuck me, what are you wearing? Who the fuck are you, and what did you do with my friend?”

After finally extricating herself from Talia’s embrace, Olivia did something she had never done before. She struck a pose, and gave a little spin.

“Damn, girl, you look like a bloody model. God, you look amazing. What happened to you?”

I got infected with a virus and enslaved by my dad. The thought passed through Olivia’s head, but obviously she couldn’t say that out loud.

“I found the answer, T. The answer to all the noise. And once I quietened down all the bullshit, I could find the real me again.”

Talia stared at her, and Olivia could feel her attention as sure as if it were a physical force. Talia shook her head, as in disbelief.

“I’m so fucking jealous, Livy. I wish so much that I could do what you’ve done. You’re beautiful, and you’re looking so confident.”

They worked their way back to Talia’s table, and Olivia set down her drink. She saw Talia’s shoulders scrunching down and her head dropping slightly.

“Hey, T, no way you’re going to fall into that funk again. And definitely not over me.”

Olivia wrapped her arms around her friend, and this time she was pulling Talia into a tight embrace. Her heart was overflowing. She loved this girl, and she couldn’t bear to see her lack of confidence taking over like this.

Even though she was a couple of inches taller, and more in her platform trainers, Talia seemed small at that moment. So easy to take advantage of.

No. She’s my friend. I’m not doing anything to hurt her.

The push and pull lasted an eternity even though it was only seconds on the clock. And in the end, the duelling instincts merged as one, inspired by a text that pinged her Apple Watch.

I’ll see you at home with your friend soon, my love.

Olivia blinked. Talia couldn’t have seen the flaring ruby light. It burned away any hesitation Olivia was feeling, though. The moment of doubt was replaced as the thrill of obedience sliced through her.

Yes, I am about to enslave my best friend, and hand her over to Master.

The mental commitment triggered a flow of liquid heat that she knew was soaking her lace knickers.

“I’m sorry for being such a pathetic prat, Livy. This was supposed to be a happy reunion.”

Olivia rubbed her friend’s back before taking Talia by the shoulders so she could face her.

“No apologies, T. I’ve got a way to make it all better.”

Olivia sensed a surge a moment before her mouth was flooded by the coppery flavour she had grown used to. Her role as an apex predator was ingrained within her. Without any foreplay, she grasped Talia’s shoulders firmly and kissed the girl while nibbling her lip.

As desired, Talia gasped, which allowed Olivia to slip her tongue into the other woman’s mouth. She knew that this assault would flood Talia with a substantial payload of the infectious virus.

Olivia lingered in the kiss, enjoying the feel of Talia’s body sagging into hers.

“Oi! Get a room, you two!”

Priya called out from the counter, but with a smile and a wink. She was playfully chiding rather than complaining. It was, however, enough to snap Olivia out of her predatory haze.

Olivia understood implicitly what Talia was experiencing right now. She knew the feeling of the virus rushing through her. She remembered how the heat bloomed from the site of the kiss into her head and then her chest.

She also knew that Talia was feeling disorientated and aroused all at the same time. She was so happy that she would be able to explain to Talia everything that she had gone through, and everything that Talia was about to experience. It almost wasn’t fair that she didn’t have a loving guide when she went through it.

Jenny is many things, but her bedside manner was rubbish.

Olivia nuzzled against Talia’s throat and whispered to her. “T, everything’s alright. We’re going on a little trip now, and I’m going to explain everything. Walk with me, and it’ll all make sense soon, okay?”

Talia nodded, scarcely blinking. Olivia could see that her eyes were already projecting a bright green glow.

The two women slowly worked their way through the crowded tea room. Before they could escape, Priya interceded.

“Is she alright, Livy? T’s looking a little green about the gills.”

Olivia stiffened at Priya’s comment. Had she seen too much? Did Priya know something? Should she be infected and silenced?

Right. Slow down there, Olivia told herself. Get a grip. You’re not in danger.

“T’s just feeling a bit peaky. She hasn’t eaten all day. My mum is waiting to pick us up. She’ll make sure T gets a good meal and a comfortable bed tonight.”

Priya nodded and gave Olivia a quick hug. “You’re a good friend, Livy. It’s been nice seeing you again.”

“You too, Priya. Say hi to John for us.”

Olivia escorted Talia out of the shop and to the much-quieter street. Once the cool air hit them, the soothing peace was palpable.

“Livy? What happened to the noise?”

“Hmm? What’s that, love?”

“It’s so quiet. I can’t hear anything. My disaster of a life is… it’s not yelling at me anymore.”

Olivia kept her arm around Talia’s waist as they waited at the kerb. “Your life isn’t a disaster, T. It never has been. You just need to see things differently.”

“Livy, my academic tutor is a prick, my mum is calling me three times a day, and most days I feel like I'm crawling out of my skin. But right now… right now I don’t feel any of that. I just feel calm.” She looked at Olivia, and her eyes were gleaming like emerald beacons. “Why can’t I panic, Livy? I should be having an anxiety attack right now, and yet I’m chill.”

“Talia, right now, you’re feeling the initial effects of a virus. I gave it to you so that you could understand how my life has changed.”

Talia’s expression didn’t even change. No amount of anxiety or shock could cut through the surge of endorphins flooding her sympathetic nervous system. She was fully in the grasp of the virus.

“I don’t understand, Olivia, but I trust you.”

The Volvo rolled up and Olivia ushered her friend into the back seat. She reached over Talia’s lithe frame to grab and fasten the seatbelt. Then she put on her own.

“We’re ready, Mum.”

Mary nodded and pulled away.