"What do you mean by that?" Nicola challenged Meredith.
"You aren't calling the police are you?" James asked nervously.
"No" Meredith smiled "I have a better idea. Wait here a moment"
Nicola sighed and James nodded as the dark haired woman walked away into a sideroom.
"She's crazy" Nicola hissed "We should do a runner"
"You broke her crystal, we'd better hear her out"
"Hey, it wasn't just my fault.." Nicola began to protest as Meredith returned to quickly halt the discussion.
"Here, put these on" the shop owner smiled, handing both of her reluctant customers identical, plain looking rings.
"It's not my style" Nicola complained.
"I don't understand" James admitted.
"Just call it product testing" Meredith shrugged "It's either this or the police"
"You're a real oddball aren't you?" Nicola huffed, nevertheless slipping on the ring as she did so. James similarly complied, noting how it seemed almost to mold to fit around his finger as he put it on.
Meredith immediately burst out laughing and clasped her hands together triumphantly.
"What's so funny?" Nicola demanded.
"Nothing, you two just go and enjoy your obedience rings."
"Obedience rings?" Nicola repeated.
"From now on you are both compelled to do whatever you are told, quite literally. Whether you are asked to clean the dishes, strip naked and run around the block or turn into rabbits by anyone except each other I can assure you it will happen. And until you pay me fifty thousand pounds you are stuck with them"
"I told you she was crazy" Nicola shook her head pitifully at the older woman "Come on, lets go"