The Love Lottery

By Rico Chet

It wasn't only winning the lottery that changed Denis' life; being dumped by his wife had an effect too. This combination of winning and losing sends him on an exploration of sex and self that gives him both excitement and disappointment. The novel contains graphic sexual descriptions, including domination, bondage, sadism and masochism, but also explores other relationships that are fulfilling in different ways.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Rico Chet
• Release date: Apr 16, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310925832

Rico Chet

A solitary man

Book preview

The Love Lottery

by Rico Chet

Smashwords Edition

All Rights Reserved

Text copyright © 2014 Rico Chet

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Chapter 1. Winning Linda

Denis had gone from nothing to everything. His face formed a grin as he drove. It had been a long day but he felt no trace of tiredness.

The morning had started as badly as usual. He had crawled out of bed at quarter to six, shivered, pulled on his clothes and got in the car. He arrived at the factory a few minutes before six thirty and fetched the bucket to begin mopping out the toilets. When you need the money you take any job you can get and Denis needed the money.

At eight he drove to an office block, emptied the bins, vacuumed the carpet, wiped the desks, cleaned the toilets and left for the pub just before nine. In the pub it was toilets, floors and tables in the public bar, carpet and table polishing in the lounge bar and the same for the restaurant. Wash all windows inside and finish just before eleven. At eleven he was at the Diner cleaning the toilets, tables and floor. At twelve he was in another office, cleaning round people who didn't notice he was there.

It was two o'clock when he finally got a break and had a ten-minute doze in the car. Then it was time to eat. He opened the bag that held his lunch and found that his milk bottle was empty, though he remembered filling it before he went to bed. This had happened before. He checked the sandwiches. The cheese was missing and had been replaced with a thick coating of mustard. This was one of Karen's little jokes.

Denis was hungry, so he scraped off as much of the mustard as he could and ate the bread. With the food gone he was thirsty. He checked his pockets and found one pound and nineteen pence in small change, so he decided to treat himself at a nearby shop. The only drinks were carbonated crap and the cheapest was one pound twenty so he went wild and bought a lottery ticket instead, ignoring the sneer of the girl when he paid her in small change.

By two thirty he was back at the factory. The toilets were worse than in the morning. He was at another pub at three thirty. George arrived as he was finishing the toilets.

I need you to do an extra, George said. A bastard let me down. It’s the office block on Grange Road. You should be finished by nine.

Denis sighed. George gave him a hard stare. If you don't want the work, just fuck off. You're replaceable. Are you complaining?

No, Denis said, but I need to get something to eat and I left my money at home.

I don't do subs, George said. I'm not a fucking bank. Pay day is tomorrow. George was such a caring employer.

At six Denis was in the office block cleaning the toilets, polishing the floors and wiping the desks. He helped himself to a drink from the water cooler to try to quieten his grumbling belly.

Poor old Denis was feeling hard done by when it happened. He was polishing the floor in the entrance hall and feeling envious of the security guard who was sitting behind a desk and eating a pie. There was a mug of tea by his hand and a small television in front of him. The lottery numbers came up on the screen and Denis paused in his cleaning and looked. He pulled out his lottery ticket and looked again. His hand began to shake. The numbers were off the screen before he could check them once more.

Denis didn't jump for joy or scream in happiness. He showed no feeling of excitement, just disbelief. He put the ticket away carefully and got back to work. By the time he finished at nine o'clock he was feeling a bit shaky.

Denis kept his phone in the car because the battery wouldn't hold a charge and had to be plugged into the cigarette lighter when he wanted to make a call. He phoned the number on the ticket and a cheery voice asked him to read out the numbers, followed by the identification number on the ticket and tell her where he purchased it. It was confirmed. Denis was the big winner on a rollover week. It was then his excitement begin to grow.

On the journey home he drove with extra care. The way his luck had been running for the last two years he had learnt to expect disasters. He could visualize having the winning ticket in his pocket and suddenly being involved in a car crash. He would be in a coma for six months. The ticket would be lost. He could see something like that happening. But it didn't.

The house was empty. Denis made himself a sandwich and a cup of tea and smiled at the extravagance of his celebration. Then he fell asleep in front of the television.

He didn't hear his wife come in, but became aware of voices and of Karen's little lilting laugh that had attracted his attention the first time they met.

Ah, Karen said, what have we here? Oh, it’s a toilet cleaner sleeping on my clean armchair. You are supposed to wash and change before you go near the furniture, Denis.

Richard Tarpon was with her. He looks like shit, Richard said. Karen's laugh tinkled again.

Would you like a nightcap, Richard? she asked.

No thanks, I shall leave you two alone, I'm sure you have things to discuss.

She smiled at him. Indeed we have. I'll see you out.

They left the room. Denis heard her giggle, then some whispering followed by another giggle. Karen returned a moment later and went directly to the drinks cabinet to pour herself a gin and tonic.

Denis was awake and anticipating the look on her face when he told her the news. Their relationship had been going through a difficult time since his redundancy two years before. He was sure that the money would help them rebuild and be happy again. Pleasure was rising in bubbles from inside him. He stood and moved towards her.

I have something to tell you. He grinned at her.

You smell. Don't come any closer. She stepped away from him. Denis, you are repulsive. You come in smelling like that and soil the furniture. I want to live in a nice house.

It is a nice house.

That is no thanks to you. When you're here it smells like a dirty toilet. You are the one thing that is really wrong with this house.

Denis stared at her, his joy of the moment dispersing.

Don't look all pathetic and I don't want a scene. I have come to a decision. I want you to move out. I want a divorce. Denis continued to stare. Don't try and act surprised, even you must have known this was coming. I have had all the necessary papers drawn up. We officially separated yesterday. Don't try to argue, I am not going to change my mind. Karen put her drink on the coffee table and opened her briefcase. It is a simple document and all it needs now is your signature.

She passed Denis a piece of paper and he glanced at it. It opened with simple statements. Karen and Denis agreed to separate because their marriage was irretrievably broken down. Denis had no claim on Karen and she had no claim on him. Both were fully satisfied with the distribution of their communal property.

The paper already had Karen's signature, along with the signatures of two witnesses. It was dated the previous day.

It should be witnessed after I sign, Denis said.

Don't be pathetic. Karen said. Just sign there. Do it. Sign now. She gave him a pen.

Denis was in a daze. He signed.

Now sign here. She put another piece of paper in front of him. He didn't even try to read it, just signed. Another piece of paper was put in front of him. He signed it, and the next and the next. Finally she gave him a wedge of papers. These are your copies.

So what happens next? he asked.

Your suitcases are on the landing. I packed all of your things. You can leave now. I want my life back.

Are we selling the house?

No, I am not.

Well this division of communal property that we are both so happy with, when do I get my share? I need to find somewhere to live.

Your share is in your suitcases.

I mean my half of the house.

It is my house. Her face was expressionless.

It's in joint names, Denis said.

You signed your half over to me. It is my house. You have your suitcases and their contents. You have your car. It is now time for you to put your suitcases in your car and leave. We will not need to see each other again.

Karen walked to the door and opened it. Richard Tarpon was in the hall and she waved him in.

I asked Richard to stay in case you became difficult. Now that you've signed all of the papers I wouldn't want you to change your mind and try to get them back. Goodbye, Denis.

Denis felt his whole body freeze. A thought went through his head. I didn't crash on the way home, I crashed at home.

Could you put these in a safe place please, Richard, and bring the suitcases down, I don't want Denis going upstairs again. Richard smiled and went to the stairs.

Denis stood there, totally still and silent for a moment. I suppose your relationship is more than work, he said at last.

Denis, you are a little prick and you have a little prick. Don't talk, just leave.

And Richard is a total prick and you are a total bitch. I shall be glad to go. I need my papers. He moved towards the bureau.

Your papers, driving license, birth certificate, passport and all the other proof that you exist are in the suitcases. There is nothing else of yours in the house. Goodbye Denis.

Richard returned carrying two suitcases. Denis took them from him and left.

It was cold in the car, so Denis passed an uncomfortable night and was pleased to start work at six. The factory, the office, the pub, the office, the pub. He still had no cash and therefore no food. He had no feeling either, other than a numb pain that filled his whole being. He worked mechanically, more like a machine than a human. He was postponing all thought, waiting for George's arrival.

When George came into the pub he gave Denis an envelope. He had worked sixty-eight hours the previous week, though that was not shown on the payslip. There was nearly three hundred pounds in the envelope; he was being underpaid as usual. George was a cheating bastard. Denis took the cash and stuffed it into his pocket.

I need you to do the office block on Grange Street again, George said.

Denis shook his head slowly.

Fine, you ungrateful little shit, I shall pay you off. You're not indispensable. He pulled a wad of notes from his pocket and counted out six twenties. Your choice, take this and you're paid off, or get your ass round to the office block and get to work.

Denis took the money.

Don't be stupid, Denis. You need the work. Where are you going to get another job, cause I promise you that if you let me down I won't take you back.

Denis shrugged his indifference and noticed the expression change on George's face. I don't want to sack you, Denis.

The landlord walked past them to unlock the pub's front door. Denis pushed the bucket and mop into the cupboard. Bye, George, he said and he walked into the public bar.

I'll see you tomorrow, George said. And don't be late.

You paid me off, George. Denis sat at the bar. The barmaid was arranging bottles on the shelves; he asked for a pint of beer and a packet of crisps, he was hungry. George had followed him into the bar.

You will be in tomorrow! he said.

Denis shook his head.

You can't just walk out on me with no notice, I rely on you. I can't replace you just like that.

You paid me off, George. I don't work for you any more.

George, now his ex-boss, changed the expression on his face from angry to an attempt at a friendly smile. OK, I was hasty, he laughed. You do a good job and I don't want to lose you. We'll let bygones be bygones. We were both a bit hasty.

Fuck off, George, Denis said quietly. The Landlord came in as he spoke the words.

You, out!

I just ordered a drink, Denis told him.

You are not drinking here. You are barred. I won't have a cleaner using foul language in my pub.

Ah go fuck yourself, Denis said. You can both go fuck yourselves or each other if you prefer.

As he left the pub he heard the Landlord having a go at George.

Denis walked away from his old life, got into his car and drove to the motorway. He stopped at the first Services for some food and some petrol, then drove to another Services with a travel lodge and booked in for the night. He had a long, hot bath, followed by bed and a restless sleep.

Next morning a confused Denis woke up in a strange bed. He dressed in his best and only suit and went to sit alone and eat a leisurely breakfast. After breakfast he drove to the official place of dream fulfilment.

An efficient team of smiling professionals welcomed him and his lottery ticket was validated. He was guided by a supportive group of advisors who assisted him to place money in his bank account, and organize share purchases and long term saving funds. He kept everything simple and refused all publicity.

What surprised Denis most was that everyone treated him as though he had become extra handsome, witty and intelligent overnight. He was still feeling emotionally numb but he recognized the power of money and was half amused and half disgusted by the effect it had on people's perceptions of him as an individual. He had gained so much and at the same time lost everything that he had believed to be important.

Denis was rich enough to buy whatever he wanted and free to do anything he fancied. He found a classy hotel and booked into the best room. He ate at a gourmet restaurant and didn't enjoy the food. He drank the best wines and they made him as drunk as cheap wines always had. He slept badly in a beautiful bed and woke up feeling confused and lonely. He did not know where to go or what to do. He was lost.

After three days of trying to think, Denis drove home. He wanted to see Karen. In a moment of dazzling perception he knew that all he needed to do was talk to her. He would take her out for lunch and reveal the new man he had become. She would fall into his arms. After all, she really liked money.

He ignored some implications of that thought. If it was money that pushed them apart why not use money to pull them together?

He timed his arrival at her office for her lunchtime. A girl he knew was on the reception desk, she had red eyes and a haunted look, not the bouncy bubbly girl he remembered. She gave Denis a half smile and then looked embarrassed and hurt.

Is Karen in? Denis asked.

No, she went out for lunch, with Richard. The embarrassed and hurt look was back again.

Are you OK?

Fine. She forced a smile. I heard that you and Karen, I mean, I was sorry to hear that you two are divorced. You are aren't you? She sniffed and looked as though she was about to burst into tears. Denis was surprised. He didn't think his relationship with Karen could be that important to a woman on the reception desk. Then he realized it wasn't. This was Linda and he remembered that she lived with Richard Tarpon.

Yes, Denis said, Karen and I separated a few days ago. I just wanted a quick word with her. Thought I'd maybe take her out to lunch. An idea slid into his head. He looked at Linda. Now I’ll be eating on my own, unless you would like to join me?

Linda looked surprised, and then her face took on a purposeful look. Yes, she said, that would be nice. I'm free at one.

Denis told her he would wait for her in the car park.

She came out just after one and he drove to a good restaurant. She looked impressed. Come into some money? she asked.

Denis smiled at her. I'm doing alright.

They ordered and asked for a couple of gin and tonics right away.

I'm glad you came, she said. I wanted to talk to you. You know about Karen and Richard don't you?

Karen and I are divorced, Denis said stiffly.

Richard's moved in with her, in her house. She began to cry, quietly. He moved out of the flat on Sunday.

I'm sorry, Denis said.

She sniffed. Karen is a bitch, she whispered. And Richard is a bastard. I can't afford the flat on my own. I hate going to work and seeing them. She went silent as the waiter brought their starters.

How long have they been having an affair? Denis asked.

Years. She sniffed again while Denis stared at her, shocked by the answer. I think it started when she went for promotion two years ago. She got the promotion and he got her. He told me about it before I moved in with him. That was a year ago, but he told me it was finished between them. I think she had a thing going with Mr Dwight in head office after him. Then six months ago it started again.

Once she began talking she couldn't stop and Denis got unwelcome insights into Karen behaviour.

They had finished eating when Linda suddenly realized that it