Page 30 of The Boss' Pet

“The police aren’t looking for me, but I do have a bit of a stalker at the moment, so like I said, you haven’t seen me if anybody asks, okay? I’m going to go back down the fire escape, if that’s alright with you.”

I can tell it is. Sasha can’t wait for me to go so she can get on her phone and tell our scattered friend group what I am up to. We used to be close in college, but now half of us are in different cities, and others of us are married, and some even have kids. Gossip is the only thing that keeps the gang together.

“Okay, I’ll see you again soon.”

“Okay, Charlie. Be safe, please.”

“I will be. Don’t worry.”

I proceed to drop onto the fire escape and fall off it. One moment I’m clinging to the rusty railing, the next the railing has given way. I’m tumbling through the air, trying to land on my feet the way a cat does.

So this is how I die. Stupidly, and right on the cusp of being the richest I’ve ever been. My body is panicking, but there’s part of my brain dedicated just to berating me about how stupid I’ve been, even with the last bits of consciousness I’ll ever experience.

“Oof!”

I am caught in a strong, capable pair of arms. I look up and into the eyes of Marcus Waterstone.

“Charlie!? Are you okay?” Sasha is leaning out her window.

“Fine!” I wave up at her. “I’m okay.”

“You are not okay. You are in a tremendous amount of trouble. You snuck out of the house, and then went on a crime spree,” Marcus growls down at me.

“I don’t think I did.”

“I thought you might be disobedient, but I didn’t think I’d have to intervene to stop you from dying in a spectacularly stupid way. I’m going to assume that building has internal stairs.”

“Why, are you going to buy it?”

His eyes narrow at me. “Now is not the time for cheek,” he says. “You’ve been a very bad little pet, and you are going to suffer the consequences. You could have been a little lap dog, being spoiled and petted and given treats. But you’ve decided to act more like a scruffy mutt who runs off, gets into trouble, and has to be collected from the pound. Don’t worry, Charlie. I know how to tame and train a pet. You won’t be trouble for much longer.”

He carries me off, away from Sasha’s place. I know she’s watching, and I know that everybody in our little friend group is going to know about this in about five minutes. It’s not that she’s a gossip, it’s that expecting anybody to keep this series of events to themselves is practically inhuman.

“You can put me down.”

“I absolutely cannot. You cannot be trusted out of my sight, let alone on your own two feet. If I were to put you down now, I’d expect you to crawl for me.”

“Marcus!”

“Close,” he says. “When you are in trouble, you call me ‘Master’. Understand?”

“Uhm…”

“Master,” he repeats. “Say it. Now.”

“Master,” I mumble, feeling ashamed. The streets are not empty. I am sure someone probably has a video of me falling off the fucking fire escape, too.

He bundles me into a car that must have been waiting. As soon as he is in the back, he taps on the glass to indicate that we are leaving. Then he sits back, in the very middle of the car, and pulls me over his lap, whipping down my leggings to expose my ass in one movement.

“I was nice to you last night,” he says. “I didn’t lock you away like I should have. I let you sleep with your crate open. I won’t be making that mistake again. You’ve earned yourself confinement when you cannot be actively supervised. I hope you’re happy with yourself.”

Before I can respond as to whether or not I am satisfied with the outcome of my behavior, his palm meets my ass in a harsh, stinging smack that makes me yowl.

“This is the beginning of what’s going to happen to you,” he says. “You could have gotten yourself killed today. If I had not been there—and you went out of your way to ensure that I wouldn’t be. But I told you I’d be keeping track of you, didn’t I.”

“Ye… ow!”

I curse and squeal as he spanks me again. Hard.

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