Page 165 of Brie's Submission
Sir turned and looked down at Brie. “Such a union is not to be entered into lightly. Are you secure in your decision?”
She glanced up at him and nodded. “I am, Sir.”
He then commanded in an official tone, “Miss Bennett, present your collar now.”
Brie gracefully rocked off her heels and stood up, looking at Tono and Faelan on the other side of the room. The men stood side by side, but both only had eyes for her. She held herself erect as she started towards her Master. She walked fluidly and with confidence, just as she had been taught.
Brie peeked at Tono. He was smiling, peace and assurance flowing from him like a river. Beside him stood his father. The small man was also staring at her, but his mouth was a hard line, his disapproval easy to read.
She glanced at Faelan. He was gazing at her intently, a half-grin gracing his handsome face. Brie caught a glimpse of Mary behind him and saw a look of complete devastation. It made her stop in her tracks.
Brie could feel the tension rise in the room.
Time slowed down to a crawl as everything suddenly came into focus. As much as she loved Tono, he would not be able to meet her deepest desires. Faelan shared those same desires, but she did not love him. Brie knew what she wanted beyond a shadow of a doubt. There was no other choice—there never had been.
She turned around and walked towards Sir, the delicate collar held out before her. She saw the slight shake of his head but she ignored it.
Brie knelt down at his feet and held the collar and key up to him. Silence filled the huge room. She patiently waited for Sir to take them from her. As the seconds dragged by, however, a cold chill entered her heart.
He finally spoke a soft but commanding, “No.”
Brie shuddered in disbelief, her heart crushing in on itself as she remained bowed before him. He had warned her that this would happen…This is my fault.Now the entire room knew her choice and there was no turning back.
Tears fell as she slowly stood up and turned from him. Her feet made their way to the exit as if of their own accord. No one spoke as the crowd silently parted in front of her.
She would scream later, in the privacy of her own pain. Right now, her only goal was to make it out of the Center with what little dignity she had left. She lifted her head, even though she could not see through the tears.Don’t run, Brie. Walk…
Brie Bows BeforeHim
Before she could make it to the elevator, his voice floated over the sea of people. “Brie.”
She pressed the button, unsure if it was her own wishful thinking.
“Come back and face me.”
Brie inhaled deeply before turning around. She wiped the tears away and looked Sir straight in the eye as she hesitantly made her way back to him. His eyes conveyed nothing—neither hope nor disapproval.
“Kneel.”
It took all of her will to kneel before him again. She felt his hand on her head and gasped at the warmth that flowed into her soul. He announced in a voice that encompassed the entire room, “I resign as headmaster of the school.”
Brie could feel the shockwave ripple through the multitudes.
“I offer up Master Anderson as a worthy replacement, but the panel will be in charge of the final decision.”
The room remained hushed.
“Offer your collar to me again,” Sir commanded. She held her breath as he took the collar and key she held out to him. “I accept this collar as a symbol of the offering of yourself, and promise to thoughtfully guide and lead you.”
A chime sounded, marking the beginning of the formal ceremony.
Breathe, Brie, breathe…
He knelt beside her, stating, “You belong to me from this day onward. I will do all within my power to protect and keep you as you join me on this journey.”
Her lips trembled as she felt the hands of her Master fasten the collar around her neck and click the lock into place.
Sir stood back up. “You will wear this symbol of my ownership as a sign of our commitment to one another.”
