Smiling, Domina Katarina set aside her laptop computer. She had just finished reading her e-mail. The last e-mail she read had confirmed the time of a party later on that day, to which she had been invited. A party! Such fun! Now, what would she wear tonight? She had to give it some thought...
She looked down. On 'her' knees before her was her maid "Josephine", a man about forty years old. Josephine was busy licking Domina Katarina's boots clean, making sure not to miss a bit of the dirt that was on them. Cleaning her boots was Domina Katarina's latest instruction. Josephine would keep licking Domina Katarina's boots until given another instruction!
Katarina smiled. Josephine had been her latest conquest. How long ago had it been? Why, just two short months ago! That was when Katarina met John (now Josephine). And, now that she thought about it, the meeting had taken place at another party...
Two months earlier:
John was at the party. It was the usual noisy affair. He was standing talking to someone, who happened to be boring. John was looking around the room for some means of escape. There was a break in the crowd and then he saw... her! A woman standing by herself across the room, looking around in a disinterested sort of way. Then her head turned and their eyes met! Her eyes locked onto his and did not turn away! He felt himself moving toward her through the crowd, bumping into people as he moved. He found himself by her side. She was still gazing deeply into his eyes.
"Oh... oh hi!" John managed to stumble out. "How are you? My name is John... uh..."
"Well hello!" said the woman, "my name is Katarina! So very nice to meet you, John!"
Katarina extended her gloved hand to John, and John bent and kissed it.
John could not take his eyes off her! So beautiful! And so sophisticated looking! Dressed conservatively (for a party) in a mid-length black dress, black high heels, blonde hair done up in a bun, dark red lipstick around two pouty lips and eyes darkened beautifully that accented her strong eyes that John felt he could fall into!
There was the usual small talk of course. John told her about his work as a successful investment dealer. Katarina told him she was self employed, running a kind of school dealing with social skills and etiquette. But, by now it was getting late, and Katarina told him she had to leave. John offered to drive her home but she declined. Not willing to let her escape, John asked for her phone number. Smiling, Katarina handed him one of her business cards. It read "Katarina's School for Gentlemen". On it was the usual contact information. Katarina produced a pen and wrote her home cell phone number on the back. She said goodbye and extended her hand to him. John bent and kissed it, raising his eyes to meet hers. She was smiling in a mysterious sort of way! John was intrigued! A woman of mystery!
Several days passed before John phoned Katarina. He invited her out for dinner the following Saturday. Katarina accepted, asking him to pick her up at exactly 7 PM.
Due to traffic, John was a few minutes late. He rang her condo from the lobby of her building.
"Yes?" Katarina answered, "who is it?"
"Uh.. it's me, John! I'm in the lobby. Are you ready?"
"But... it's after 7! I thought I asked you to be here at 7! Oh my! Well, I'll be down in a minute!"
John paced the lobby for what seemed like ten minutes. Finally, the elevator came, and out strode Katarina! Gorgeous! White blouse... pearls... knee high black skirt... black laced boots... long black leather gloves... a black leather jacket... long blonde hair lying elegantly on the jacket... crimson lipstick! A picture of beauty itself!
Katarina looked a bit serious. She extended her gloved hand and John bent and kissed it.
Katarina looked at her watch. "Oh dear, we're running a few minutes late, John! Please be on time in future, would you? Well let's go!"
John opened the lobby door and walked outside, holding the door for her. Katarina shook her head. "Oh dear! That's not the way... I mean, John, there is a certain way a gentleman opens the door for a lady, and that is not it! You must open the door for me, and allow me to pass by first, don't you see? Now. let's try it again, shall we?"
John came back inside, face red! He had just been scolded (ever mildly) by Katarina! John opened the door again and held it open from the inside. Katarina smiled and nodded. Holding her head high, she passed by him, closely, so he could smell her perfume and almost touch her hair as she walked out! Once out, she stopped.
"Well?" she asked.
"Well what?" asked John.
Katarina sighed. "Perhaps our customs are different, John... that must be it! I believe the correct etiquette is, in the case where a man performs a service for a lady, he must thank her for being allowed the privilege! Aren't you going to thank me for letting me have you open the door for me? Well?"
John looked puzzled. "Uh... thank you, Katarina!"
Katarina smiled. She walked up to him, close, and holding his eyes with hers, patted him twice on the cheek with her gloved hand.
"Better!' she said, "much better! Now, I'm starving! Let's go for dinner!"
Katarina walked to the car. John rushed ahead of her and began opening the front passenger door. Katarina shook her head. "No, I would prefer the back seat while you drive us to the restaurant! We will have lots of time to talk later- for now I have to phone a girlfriend of mine!"
John opened the right rear door of the car for Katarina. To show that he had not forgotten, he said "Thank you, Katarina!" as she got into the car.
Katarina said, "No, from now on, say "Thank you, Miss!". It's more respectful, and you can say it to any woman who allows you to do something for her! Now, say it for me! Say "Thank you, Miss!""
John's face reddened a bit. "Th... Thank you, Miss!"
"Very good!" said Katarina, "now drive us to the restaurant!"
John assumed the role of chauffeur and drove to the restaurant. There was no talking between him and Katarina. As he drove, Katarina chatted happily with her girlfriend. John caught a bit of Katarina's conversation: "No... this one's new! Yes, I think so! Probably a few weeks... hard to say! Always hard to say at the beginning! But I'm usually pretty close with my estimate... well, gotta go! Here's the restaurant!"
John pulled up to the restaurant entrance, turned off the car and went around to the passenger door. He opened it and offered Katarina his hand. She got out of the car and looked at him. She arched her eyebrow expectantly. "Thank you Miss!" John said. Katarina smiled and walked into the restaurant with John trailing behind. A valet parked the car.
They entered the restaurant and were greeted by the owner, who evidently knew Katarina. "Oh! Hello D... Miss!" he cried, and bent and kissed Katarina's outstretched hand. "I had no idea you were coming here tonight! Let me see... yes! I will seat you at our very best table!" He led the way, not even looking at John. The owner seated Katarina, and said "Thank you very much, Miss!" He departed, leaving Katarina and John alone.
John asked "How do you know the owner, Katarina? He seemed delighted to see you."
Katarina replied "Oh, him? Well, you see, he came to me about a year ago for some... etiquette lessons! So very important to have proper etiquette in the restaurant business, don't you agree? Now, I know this restaurant very well! Why don't you let me order, John?"
John had never been to the restaurant before, and nodded his assent.
The waiter came by and Katarina ordered the meal and the wine. "You know," she said, "they have rather large portions here... why don't we... share the meal... hmmm?"
John agreed.
Presently the waiter came by with the wine. Katarina tasted it and approved it. The waiter poured glasses for the two of them. They conversed, with John asking questions about the classes she gave. "Oh," she said, "I realized a couple of years ago how many people, mostly men, had not been properly trained in proper social skills. Most of my students have been very successful businessmen, but were lacking the skills that make a man a true gentleman! Now, take you for example. I have already noticed a certain roughness about you, which may have a certain charm for some, but not for me! You know John, I have been thinking. If we are going to be seeing each other... socially... I could give you some small lessons at the same time! Would you like that, John? Hmmm? Would you like Katarina to teach you?"
John stammered "Why... why yes!"
Katarina looked at him, sternly, and tilted her head up, suggestively.
"I mean, thank you Miss!" John exclaimed.
Katarina smiled. "Better! Much better!"
The waiter arrived with the meal. Katarina looked at it and said to the waiter "Yes, I was right, the portions are rather large here!" Nodding her head toward John she said to the waiter "Take away his plate and cutlery! All he needs is a small plate and a small spoon!" The waiter did as he was told, and John found himself facing a small empty plate with a small spoon beside it.