**Classic Shoot** The First Supper, Part One

Mr. Acworth lifts his glass and the room goes quiet. A toast to the inner circle, the core members, the directors, and Laura Antoniou seated front and center in her leather chair. Everyone drinks. Then the doors open and Mr. Mogul rolls out four new slaves. They’ve cleared the first stage of training, and now every eye is on them. He lines them up, hands bound behind their backs, eyes down. Mr. Acworth steps forward, voice low and steady, and orders them stripped. Leather slides off skin. One is Asian, body lean and athletic, chest rising fast. A ball gag is pushed between her teeth, buckled tight at the nape. The other three follow, naked now, breathing hard under the lights. Mr. Mogul runs a hand over each one, checking posture, reading the tension in their shoulders. At the far end of the table Torn watches, knowing what comes next. The night’s not done with any of them.