by Red Phoenix
“Not too bad?” Lea snorted. “We’ve created a virtual fairyland for Hope. Makes me wish I could be a kid again.”
“I bet you were cute back then,” Brie mused. She looked around the room and muttered, “Now, where did I put that present for Jonathan?”
“I think it’s hilarious you insist on no gifts for Hope, but you’re giving Jonathan a present.”
“Hope is going to be the center of attention today. I think it’s only fair that Jonathan feels special, too.”
Lea wrapped her arms around her, pressing her big boobs against Brie’s chest. “And that’s why you make such a great mom.”
Brie stared at Lea tenderly, overcome with emotion. “I love you, Lea.”
“Same here, Stinky Cheese. I think this calls for something special.”
Brie waved her finger back and forth. “I’m not drinking, remember?”
“I wasn’t talking about booze, girlfriend,” Lea giggled. “I hear you’re having a new baby.”
“Yeah…”
“What’s wrong with the old one?”
Brie rolled her eyes. “Was that supposed to be a joke?”
Lea grinned. “Hey, Brie?”
“What?” she groaned, waiting for the next one.
“If a baby refuses to go to sleep…” Lea paused for a moment, then looked up, tapping her finger on her chin as if she were thinking. “…is he resisting arrest?”
Brie giggled.
Seeing she was on a roll, Lea continued. “Hey, Brie?”
Realizing she must be a masochist at heart, Brie played her part. “What?”
“Who’s bigger? Mrs. Bigger, Mr. Bigger, or their baby?”
“I don’t know.”
“Their baby—because he’s a little Bigger.”
Brie snorted. “Where do you come up with these?”
Lea winked. “I’ve got one more. So, there’s this dad who tries to keep his wife happy through labor by telling a bunch of jokes, but she doesn’t laugh—not even once. Do you know why?”
“Because the jokes are terrible?” Brie answered in a deadpan voice.
“No silly. Because it was the delivery!”
Brie slapped her palm to her head, chuckling despite herself.
“What’s so funny?” Sir asked, walking through the room.
“Lea’s telling me jokes.”
“And you’re laughing?” Sir’s comeback was quick and unexpected, catching them both off guard.
Lea put her hands to her heart, a tragic expression on her face. “That hurt, Sir.”
“Ms. Taylor, while I’m sure they were of the utmost quality, I have yet to find any of your jokes funny.”
Sir delivered his humorous retort in such a matter-of-fact manner, it reminded Brie of the critiques he used to give at the Training Center.
Lea stared at him in disbelief as he walked away.
Brie threw her head back and started laughing. She couldn’t stop. Every time she looked at Lea, she broke out in a fresh peal of laughter.
It wasn’t until the doorbell rang that Brie was able to finally gather herself. Heading to the door, she wiped her eyes before welcoming in Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds and little Jonathan.
“I’m so tickled you guys could make it.”
“Nothing could keep us away from Hope’s first birthday,” Judy told her, bouncing Jonathan in her arms.
Jack glanced around. “Where is the birthday girl?”
“She’s just waking from her nap. Sir will be down in a bit. Can I get you any refreshments while you wait?”
Judy stopped to admire the decorations. “Oh, Brie. I love what you’ve done. It’s so festive and sweet.
Brie winked at Lea. “We had fun setting it up.”
“You two always have fun together,” Jack observed, smiling at them both.
When he set Jonathan down on the floor, the little boy stood there clinging to Mr. Reynold’s leg, staring at Lea shyly.
Brie spied the gift on the counter and grabbed it. Kneeling beside him she said, “This is for you, Jonathan.”
The little boy looked up at her with his big brown eyes and long lashes. Those eyes, along with his classic good looks, left no doubt that he was Lilly’s son. Although it was disconcerting for Brie, she felt only love for this innocent boy.
She stood back and watched with joy as Sir’s uncle helped Jonathan unwrap the gift. Mr. Reynolds opened the box and handed Jonathan one of the colorful balls inside.
Brie explained, “The elephant shoots the balls out of his trunk whenever Jonathan presses the button.”
“Oh, he’s going to love that,” Judy exclaimed excitedly.
“I thought he would enjoy chasing them.”
After he set the elephant on the floor, he filled it with the other balls and held Jonathan’s hand to help him press the button. The elephant began playing a happy little tune as a green ball shot across the floor.
Jonathan’s eyes widened and he squealed as he toddled off to get it.
“I think you have a winner there,” Sir said from behind her.
Brie turned and saw Hope dressed in the frilly dress she had picked out for the big day. The yellow dress had a puffy fairy skirt with a big satin bow in the back. She looked just like a ray of sunshine.
“Hello, birthday girl!” Brie cooed.
Hope reached out to her and let Brie cuddle for a moment. However, she was entranced by the elephant and was soon squirming in Brie’s arms, wanting to be put down. As soon as she saw Jonathan, she completely forgot about the elephant.
Hope was entranced by her cousin as he toddled to her, and she stared at him with open adoration.
Brie had to excuse herself from the adorable moment to answer the doorbell again.
Soon the house was filled with the guests she had invited to the small celebration, including Mary, Mr. Gallant and his family, and Celestia and Marquis Gray. Despite their heated confrontation recently, Sir and Marquis Gray were cordial to each other, acting as if nothing had happened.
Only one person was missing—Hope’s dyadya.
When Rytsar came, he burst into the house without waiting for Brie to answer the door and called out, “Where is my favorite girl?”
Hope looked up and smiled, squeaking with delight as he approached her. He was carrying a large box wrapped in a purple bow.
“We said no gifts,” Sir reminded him.
Rytsar scoffed. “I am her dyadya. I follow no rules.” He pulled a check from his breast pocket and handed it to Brie. “For the other babes.”
She unfolded it, surprised to see it was for ten thousand dollars. “That is going to help a lot of babies!”
He winked at her, before sitting down on the floor beside Hope. Pushing the box toward her, he exclaimed, “Happy first birthday, moye solntse.”
Just like at Christmas, Hope was far more interested in the pretty bow on the package than the present itself. But Rytsar found it charming as he unwrapped the gift for her.
Pulling out a large cloth box, he placed it in front of Hope, then reached into the opening on top and pulled out a stuffed butterfly with crinkly wings. Rytsar handed it to her and reached into the box again. This time, he pulled out a fuzzy sunflower with a mirrored surface for the center. Each item he pulled out of the box had a different texture and shape, including a white pony with a long mane. He stuffed them back into the box and shook it before sliding it toward her.
Hope grinned as she stuck her hand into the top of the cloth box and pulled out a fuzzy violin. She squeezed it and the toy squeaked, making her giggle.
The smile on Sir’s face touched Brie. He patted Rytsar on the back before turning to their friends. “Shall we light the candle?”
Everyone gathered around Hope as Brie brought out the cake, which looked like a miniature fairy garden.
Several of the ladies “oohed” and “ahhed” as she set it on the table. Sir lit the candle in the center of the garden and Brie waited a moment singing, “Happy birthday to you�
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Brie looked around the room, smiling to herself as all of the Doms in attendance joined in, singing the simple song in honor of Hope. Remembering her first night at the Submissive Training Center, Brie could never have imagined such a thing—not in a million years.
It was a testament to the close-knit family they had built in this community.
She gazed lovingly at her daughter, who refused to let go of the violin, even though she was mesmerized by the candle on the pretty cake.
Brie felt as if Alonzo was with them and she knew he would be proud of his little granddaughter. She wondered if Hope’s natural affinity for the instrument might manifest itself later on in her life.
Leaning toward the cake, Brie and Sir blew out the candle together.
Rytsar walked up and threw his arm around Sir while Brie was cutting the cake. He smiled down at their little girl. “Moye solntse will have the childhood you and I never had, brother. She will know the love of both parents and will meet the world with joy.”
Sir stared at Brie tenderly. “That she will, old friend.”
Slaying Them
Brie had started taking long walks in the early morning. Walking beside the ocean as the sun slowly dawned had become a cherished part of her day.
During those daily walks, she crossed paths with an older homeless woman at the same garbage can each morning. The woman had an adorable furry mutt with matted hair. It wagged its tail eagerly and sniffed the can while she collected the plastic bottles from it.
Brie always greeted the woman with a cheerful smile and a wave as she passed, although the woman never returned the smile.
Seeing them at the same time each day became part of her morning routine. Brie was moved to help her and had offered the woman money on two separate occasions, but she was vehemently turned down both times.
While Brie admired her strong work ethic and didn’t want to insult the woman, she became concerned when she noticed the dog was losing patches of hair.
The woman’s distress over her ailing companion was easy to see by the way she kept constantly glancing at her little dog as she retrieved the plastic bottles from the trash can. It troubled Brie enough to speak to Sir about it when she returned home.
“I really want to help her, Sir, but I’ve tried in the past with no success.”
He closed his laptop and looked up at her. “I can understand her position. I felt that way once. When you’ve been forced to be independent for so long, accepting help feels like you’ve failed somehow.”
“But she needs help. I can’t just keep walking by every morning and watch her little dog slowly die, Sir.”
He glanced briefly at Shadow before meeting her gaze. “Find a way to give it to her anonymously and she may be more receptive to it.”
Brie nodded, grateful for his insight. “I’ll do that, Sir. I don’t know how, but I’ll find a way.”
He took her hand and squeezed it. “I am certain you will.”
Sir insisted on taking Brie shopping for the award ceremony coming up. “This is an important moment in your career. I suspect you will be met with fear and resentment from your peers. However, you will stand before them in confidence. I want you to slay them, babygirl.”
His confidence in her reinforced her determination to act as the victor and not one of Holloway’s victims when she took the stage to receive her award. With that in mind, she entered the high-end shop determined to find the perfect dress.
Brie was treated like royalty. She sipped her mock champagne and chatted with Sir while they sat in white leather chairs. Meanwhile, the wardrobe stylist walked through the shop, singling out designer dresses for her to try on.
“I think this one will be stunning on you,” he told her, showing Brie a purple sequined gown.
Brie left Sir’s side and smiled while two women followed her into the luxurious changing room to help her into the dress. She gazed at the three-paneled mirror and turned slowly. The gown clung to her curves, and the low cut of the bodice showed off her cleavage nicely. She was grateful the event was fast approaching because she wouldn’t be showing yet, so there would be no need to have the dress altered.
She walked out to show Sir, who smiled as soon as laid his eyes on her. “Turn for me.”
Brie turned slowly, enjoying his critical gaze as he assessed the dress. She was not surprised when he shook his head no.
“I agree, Sir.” She looked at her reflection. “It would be perfect for a party, but not as a statement.”
“Exactly,” he agreed.
Listening to their comments, the stylist picked out a new dress that was bright red and angular in its cut. Brie walked out and slowly spun for Sir, basking in his attention as he studied every curve of the dress.
“Your thoughts?” he asked her.
Brie smiled as she looked at the mirror. “I actually think it is too much of a statement. I feel like a stern businesswoman in this dress.”
“Agreed,” he replied, “although it is a flattering look on you.”
She blushed. “Thank you, Sir.”
The stylist looked her over once more and nodded to himself. “I know which one will kill it,” he declared as he left them to get the dress.
Sir handed her the champagne flute. “Having fun, my dear?”
Brie grinned as she took a sip. “I feel like a princess.”
“You are far more than a princess.” Cradling her cheek, he gazed at her in admiration. “You are my téa.”
Goddess…
“You make me feel like one, Master,” she said breathlessly, closing her eyes as he leaned in for a kiss. Brie almost dropped her glass as she gave in to the passion of his kiss.
The stylist stood quietly waiting until Sir released her. Holding up a royal blue dress, he told her, “Blue denotes truth and wisdom. It is also linked to intellect and has a calming effect over others.”
“I might need that,” Brie laughed. “I’m expecting to walk into the lion’s den.”
“This should work perfectly, Mrs. Davis,” he stated with confidence.
She left to try on the dress and felt a surge of excitement when the lady helping to zip it up let out a gasp and stepped back to look at Brie.
Glancing at the mirror, Brie felt tingles of providence as she gazed at the gown. The dress had a wide V-neck that showed off her shoulders but did not dip down low enough to make her cleavage a distraction. The three-quarter length sleeves gave it a professional look, along with the tight waist and the alluring slit in the skirt. The cut of the dress was both feminine and sharp. A real showstopper.
Brie walked out to Sir, carrying herself with an air of self-assurance that she knew was inspired by the dress. As soon as he saw her, his eyes widened and he stood up. “Turn…”
She turned slowly, smiling at him the entire time.
“Not only does the color suit you, but it brings out the honey color of your eyes.”
“Do you like it, Sir?” she asked, loving the dress.
“No.”
Brie looked at him in surprise.
“‘Like’ is not a word I would use for this dress. You look stunning, babygirl. Absolutely stunning.”
She threw her arms around his neck and stood on tiptoe to kiss him. “I feel like I could conquer the world in this dress.”
“And you shall,” he answered, pressing his lips against hers.
“Should I wrap it up for you, then?” the stylist asked, sounding pleased.
“Yes, along with the other two.”
Brie’s eyes widened. “Sir?”
“You looked striking in all three dresses. I would hate to part with any of them.”
The stylist’s smile grew. “Wonderful.”
He turned to Brie. “You make any dress look eye-catching, Mrs. Davis.”
“You’re being too modest,” she said, chuckling lightly. “It was your talent as a stylist. Thank you.”
“It was my pleasure.”
Brie stared lovingly at
Sir after the stylist left the room. “How did I get so lucky?”
He held out his hand to her. “I ask myself that same question every day.”
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.
