Page 42 of Her Sweet Surrender
With an outfit that would silence her cynics, Brie was set to face her next hurdle.
The night of the event, Brie felt a calm she had never experienced before. Despite the humiliation of having Holloway blacklist her, she knew she would become the victor. Tonight was the first step toward her return.
Brie walked into the hotel where the event was being held with an air of confidence. With Sir and Mary by her side, she felt protected. Having a silent ally in the audience made her a force to be reckoned with.
Knowing there was someone in the industry who had her back was humbling—and incredibly empowering.
Finn had made this moment possible, but could not publicly take the credit. There was something fantastically heroic about it, and Brie was determined to repay him in the years ahead.
In keeping with the pretense of siding with Holloway, Finn kept his distance from Brie, as did every other person in the room. People made a wide berth around her as if she were infected with the plague. They refused to look her in the eye, afraid of being seen even looking at her.
It was humorous to Brie, so she had fun with it. With a tiny smirk on her lips, she walked about the room making them scatter on purpose. It reminded her of walking through a flock of pigeons on the ground.
When it finally came time to announce the awards, Brie sat down with Sir and Mary at a table in the front. No one joined them. Only the hotel staff interacted with the three of them while serving food.
Brie glanced around the room, thinking how surreal it was to see professional men and women acting like scared children.
Sir put his hand on hers.
She smiled at him, unfazed by the callous treatment. It was to be expected in an industry ripe with exploitation and fear.
Mary leaned in and whispered, “You are knocking it out of the park, Stinks. Who’d have guessed that timid little girl I met on the first day of training would turn into the woman I see now?” She sat back in her seat staring at Brie proudly.
“I have to admit, I never would have guessed the Blonde Nemesis would end up becoming one of my dearest friends.”
Mary picked up her wine glass, snickering. “The world sure is a fucked up place.” She glanced at Sir having momentarily forgotten her place and immediately apologized. “Please excuse my language, Sir Davis.”
He nodded. “Apology accepted. I, for one, agree with your assessment.”
Mary smiled to herself and took another sip of her wine just as the ceremony began.
Brie clapped along with everyone else as all the winners walked up to receive their awards. She clapped even louder when Finn accepted the prestigious Landmark Award.
When she finally heard her name called, it felt as if time stood still. Brie glanced at Mary and then Sir and smiled.
She stood up feeling like the queen of the world.
Brie took her time, walking slowly as silence enveloped the room. No one made a sound as she ascended the stairs and took the plaque that the emcee handed to her.
She turned to face the assembly and smiled warmly at the crowd, unaffected by their icy silence.
This washermoment.
Glancing at Sir, she gave him a grateful nod before beginning her speech. “I am honored to receive this award tonight. This documentary sprang from my need to share my deep respect and passion for BDSM. But the award for Most Compelling Living Subjects of a Documentary is not about the lifestyle. Instead, it recognizes the people who practice it.”
Brie paused and scanned the room, wanting them to hear her next words.
“In a world full of pressure to meet archaic societal norms, BDSM brings a healthy alternative to those who are open-minded. No longer forced into the shadows of society, this film celebrates people who are courageous enough to be true to themselves and their sexual desires. There is no shame in embracing the entirety of who we are and living out that truth with like-minded people. Shame only comes to those who are afraid of what they will find when they face their secret desires. I believe that is what drives their need to cast BDSM and those who practice it in a bad light.”
Brie held up the plaque. “So, I am happy to accept this award for everyone who participated in the documentary and for all those courageous souls who live out this dynamic every day in their real lives. Here’s to living a full and authentic life!”
Sir and Mary stood up and started clapping, while the entire assembly watched in hostile silence.
Then, from far across the room, one person stood up to join Sir and Mary, clapping his hands loudly. Brie was shocked when she saw who it was.
Darius…
The boy who had traumatized her as a child was the only one who was brave enough to acknowledge her now—possibly end his budding acting career.
