Page 71 of Enthrall
She kissed my forehead. “Mistress Scarlet would like a word with you.”
Lotte left, a delicate waft of perfume trailing behind her.
My gaze roamed over Richard’s neatly organized desk, his collection of contradicting ornaments, the Buddha, those crystal champagne flutes, those thumb screws, as well as the leather sofa I’d never seen him sit on.
Having never experienced these feelings flittering in my chest before, I wondered if it was too late for me.
MISTRESS SCARLET’S OFFICE reminded me of a French coffee shop.
It was all bright colors and big flashy prints of Parisian streets. Everything in here screamed of well-travelled and worldly. There was a chocolate colored couch in the corner, with several blue and brown chenille throws strewn over it and tasseled pillows lined along the seat. Beside it rested a spanking bench; I’d seen one similar in the dungeon.
I dragged my gaze from it.
Her heady perfume of jasmine and roses reached me from where she sat behind the desk. Remembering how she’d watched Cameron play with me in the dungeon, it was hard to keep eye contact with her. She still scared the shit out of me. I knew I’d done something wrong. And from her sternness I was about to get read the riot act.
I went to sit.
“No,” she said. “You’re not staying.”
This probably had something to do with me hanging out with Cameron and Richard last night. I searched for the words that might offer my point of view without getting either of them in trouble. I bet they were scared of her too.
“I like you, Mia,” she said. “In fact, I like you an awful lot.”
“Oh.”
“That’s why I wanted to talk with you.”
“Okay.”
“Do you like working here?”
“Yes.”
“Do you want to stay working here?”
My heart missed a beat. “Yes.”
“I’ll make this short. What I’m about to tell you must go no further.” She sat up straight. “Can you promise me this? That our conversation will go no further?”
“Yes.”
She held my gaze as though gauging my honesty. “Your well-being is extremely important,” she lowered her glare, “to us ‘girls’.”
Thanks for sharing that with them, Richard.
“The director hired you because of your innocence,” she said.
“Oh.”
“It’s an appealing quality that brings a great deal of pleasure to our clients.”
My mouth felt dry.
“That, along with your blossoming sexuality, is extremely desirable.” She lowered her gaze. “Dangerously so to you.”
I swallowed hard.
“We, that is the girls, want to protect you, Mia.”
