Page 23 of Slave

Following him, we walked around what looked to be a thin paper-like wall similar to something in a Japanese restaurant before going down another hallway. This one was shorter, but we took it to the end where it opened up to another large room. Leaning over a big table filled with piles of large books was Lily.

She heard us enter and looked up. A huge smile broke out on her face. “Stephan.” Then she saw me, and before I knew it, her arms were wrapped around me, giving me a tight hug. “Brianna!” she squealed. I didn’t know what to do, but I didn’t want to offend my Master’s friend so I lightly hugged her back.

Lily did eventually let go of me, but she stayed by my side as she turned back to face Stephan. When I looked up for a second to see his face, he looked . . . happy. I breathed a sigh of relief. I’d done something right.

“Lily, do you think Brianna can stay with you for a half hour or so while I run upstairs?”

Her eyes fell to the clock and mine followed. It was four fifteen. “Sure,” she said. I wondered if she had somewhere to be tonight.

“Thank-you,” he replied, already moving toward the door. “I’ll make sure you’re not late, Lily.” He winked at her before leaving. Obviously, my original assumption was right. Lily had some place she needed to be.

I didn’t get a chance to dwell on that, however, as Lily pulled me farther into the room and started talking. “Come see what I’m working on.”

She dragged me to the table she’d been leaning over when we’d walked in the door. The books I’d noticed were full of fabrics, and there were pictures of large round tables and what looked to be some type of seating chart.

Lily noticed my staring and answered my unspoken question. “For the ball. I’m trying to find just the right fabric for the table dressing.” She picked up three samples on the other side of the table and placed them in front of me. “I’m down to these three. What do you think?”

Me? She was asking me? “Um. I . . . I don’t know.”

She smiled encouragingly at me. “Sure you do.”

I pressed my lips together in concentration. All three pieces of material were beautiful, elegant. Whatever ball this was for, I’m sure it would be beautiful.

Fabrics and fashion were never things I’d taken much interest in and for ten months, none at all. However, my eyes kept falling to the square of soft gold. Before I could stop myself, I pointed to it.

“Ooooh. I like that one, too. Good choice,” Lily said, beaming.

Then she looked at me, and her expression changed. It was pensive. “You’d look good in this color, I think. But then again, you look great in that blue you have on. Hmm. I wonder . . . Oh well, I’ll just have to think about it a little more. Not like we don’t have time,” she smiled.

Time? What was she talking about? “Lily?” I asked quietly. “Time for what?”

She waved her hand dismissively. “Time for the ball, silly.”

The ball? What ball? And then I looked down at the pictures again showing the large round tables with fake guests sketched in. At the top of the paper it said, 18th Annual Coleman Foundation Charity Ball.

Coleman. Stephan Coleman. This was my Master’s company.

He owns this place. Just like he owns me.

I felt myself start to panic. He was more powerful than I imagined. My new Master could do anything he wanted. To anyone he wanted, and it wouldn’t matter.

The next thing I knew, I was sitting down, and Lily was handing me a glass of water. I felt her hand brushing along my back, trying to sooth me. It was hard but I tried to calm down. Nothing had changed. Not really. The plan was still the same. Survive. Make him happy with me.

“Are you all right?” she asked, her hand on my arm in a comforting gesture.

“Yes,” I managed to choke out. “Thank-you.”

“Do you want to tell me what happened?”

Should I? I wasn’t sure. But then again, I hadn’t been sure of anything since last Wednesday night. So I spoke. “He owns this.”

Lily pulled back a little before answering. “You mean Stephan?” I nodded. “Yes, he’s the president and CEO here.” Then she cocked her head, and her eyes squinted marginally like she was trying to get something into focus.

She didn’t get to say anything else as a knock sounded at her door a second before a man walked uninvited into her office. “Have you gotten . . . ?” his voice trailed off as his eyes fell on me. “Well, well. I didn’t realize you had company.” He walked toward me, and I instantly knew I didn’t like him.

This man had a predatory walk. He reminded me of Ian, and I felt a shiver run from my head to my feet.

Lily stepped in front of me to block his progress, and I could see his frown. “What can I do for you, Karl?”

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