Bella smiled as Lincoln held the door open for her. It had been a wonderful afternoon with her friends. She was so glad Dorothea had begun what she hoped would be a monthly gathering of friends at her home. They had all been so enthusiastic about her decision to start a small business venture within the company and of course had fabulous ideas about the kind of merchandise she should carry. They had also been very accepting of her choice to learn more about the lifestyle by spending time with each of their masters and their friends, though there were some reservations.
Mostly Bella was happy that this lunch was not all about her and she enjoyed the glimpses she got into her friends lives as they talked about the things that were important to them. She had not realised how little she had known about them all.
"I am sorry I have ruined your Sunday with having to drive me around," Bella spoke into the silence of the car as the drive home began. "I'm sure you have better things to do on the weekends."
"I don't mind at all and I get the weekends off when you're out of town," he winked at her. "If I am honest, this is a pretty good gig. You're hardly demanding of my time; you don't often go out in the evenings and when you do I am hardly ever needed. You have so many men willing to escort you," Lincoln teased.
"Still, I wouldn't mind having a small car for just little shopping trips or going home on the weekends, it's such a long way for you to go and a boring place for you to stay and wait until I am ready to go back," Bella laughed.
"Don't worry about that," he said with a soft chuckle to match hers, "I am writing my own epic novel, so I enjoy the quiet times and the opportunity to write while being paid to watch the car gather dust."
"Well in that case I think I will introduce you as an author the next time I go home," she laughed, "It just seems so pretentious to go home to my very ordinary family with my own driver."
"And it wouldn't sound pretentious to be hobnobbing with a best selling author?" His chuckle was warm and friendly, "I'm sure they would just be happy to know you are safe after..." He paused "That you are being safe."
"I guess," she admitted and they lapsed back into silence, Bella lost in her own thoughts and Lincoln feeling guilt for bringing up the worst time of her young life.
They pulled into the parking garage and Bella smiled. "Thank you," she said softly and got out of the car walking to the elevators. Lincoln took an extra thirty seconds to text Stephen that Bella had returned and got out of the car following her to the elevator doors.
"Don't over think everything Bella," Lincoln said. "Most of us just want you to be happy and safe, there is no ulterior motivation or secret plan. It's okay to be happy you know." Bella raised an eyebrow at him, so he continued, "I enjoy driving for you. Never feel bad about calling for me. I didn't mean to make you feel bad in the car..." he said finally getting to his point and Bella understood.
"I'm sorry too. Sometimes it just hits me again, then I forget how my reactions affect everyone else," she smiled crookedly. It seemed Lincoln was about to speak again but at that moment the elevator opened revealing Stephen who looked at them questioningly.
"See you in the morning, Miss Biancotti," Lincoln said formally and turned back to his car.
She gave Lincoln a small wave and stepped onto the elevator, "Hello Sir Stephen, how nice of you to escort me up to my apartment. But it's only really the trip down to the club that makes me anxious when I am on my own." She explained, "I don't want to monopolise too much of your time."
"How was your lunch?" Stephen ignored her comment and watched as a smile changed her whole demeanour.
"It was wonderful, I love those girls like they're sisters and honestly, I really don't know them that well. They're all so..." she searched for the right word and was at a loss. "There is just no ego involved when we are all together. No judgement," she tried again. "They are all just so accepting of each other and me.." She finished lamely knowing that wasn't what she wanted to say but couldn't find the right words.
"They are," Stephen nodded seeing her struggle to explain the relationship she had with the small group of women. As the manager of the club and having Mel as his mentor meant that he knew this group of women very well, as he did their Master's. They were the best of the best and passionate about their Master's and the lifestyle they chose to lead. "Accepting is a good word to use to describe them, they are also passionate and beautiful, loyal and loving and a host of other adjectives. As are you," He let a smile tilt the corners of his mouth.
She looked up at him surprised that he had given her a compliment. He was always so stern and authoritative with her. She was saved from having to respond immediately by the elevator door opening. She didn't question that he too got off the elevator with her and walked her to the small apartment and opened the door for her.
"Thank you for walking me up," Bella smiled at the door, "I know its part of your job now, but I do appreciate that you do so much for me."
"You're welcome little one," he said pleasantly but Bella noted that it was like a cloud had come over his features and his mouth tightened into a straight line. "Enjoy your evening, call if you wish to come down for dinner tonight," he turned to leave but added over his shoulder, "Jake would love to see you, you could eat in the kitchen or my office, with us."
Bella was confused, as she watched him step onto the elevator that had not moved from their floor. His mood had changed so quickly, she wasn't sure exactly what she had said to have caused the change. Did he not like being reminded that looking after her had become part of his job? He had no trouble reminding her of the fact when it came to disciplining her or instructing her on proper etiquette and behaviour. He was always so stern and uncompromising with her, as if holding her up to some impossibly high standard she didn't know about.
Stephen had been quiet and moody as they had left the party last night as well. After stopping discreetly some distance away to remove the tail she had been wearing, he had allowed her to sleep as they drove in silence through the early hours of the morning. He had carried her upstairs, even after she woke fully in his arms, saying that she weighed no more than a small pet would. He was a big man and his strong arms had made her feel so safe that she had not protested, instead leaning into his broad chest and taking in his scent. She smiled at the memory of the rare tender moment with Stephen as she kicked off her shoes and went to get her laptop.
After putting in a couple of hours work, Bella called her parents and spent a long time on the phone catching up with her mother. She had begun emailing her father this week about the business and her plans and found him an easy sounding board outside of the company. Feeling guilty for not having seen them this fortnight that she had been in the city, she wondered whether she would be going to stay with Hunter on the Friday or the Saturday; she would have to ask Sir Stephen and maybe see if she could go home on Friday night or Saturday even if only for a few hours because she didn't know when she would have the chance again. It could be another month or two the way things were going and she knew her parents worried about her even more so recently with her return to work.
She picked up her phone after a few moments thought about going home and decided to called Stephen, "Hello Bella," he answered on the second ring, his moodiness of earlier seemingly vanished.
"Hello, Sir Stephen," she greeted him in return, "I was wondering if you could spare me a few minutes tonight, I have a few questions you might be able to answer?" Bella asked hopefully.
"Sure, why don't I come and bring you down for dinner in about," he drew out the word and Bella could imagine him checking his watch, "thirty minutes." He paused and she froze momentarily. She hadn't planned on dinner; she had had such a late lunch but she couldn't expect him to just drop everything for her, so she agreed.
"Will that give you enough time to dress appropriately for the club?" He guessed at her hesitation reminding her gently of the club expectations.
"Yes Sir," she said hesitantly. "I will be ready."
"Good," he said and hung up. Bella looked at her phone; it was frustrating that she never knew if his abruptness was directed at her or it was just his natural way. She found his constant serious manner disconcerting at times but coupled with the abruptness she could never quite place if she had done something to offend him or make him angry in just a few simple words.
Bella went into her closet and ran a finger over the clothes hanging there. So many things she hadn't even tried on yet. She pulled out a corset style bodice with thin straps and matching short skirt and considered them. It was not her usual style but then none of her current wardrobe had been her style a year ago. Mel had changed her world completely but she felt as if her life before becoming his had been a lie and he had only shown her where she truly belonged.
She smiled at the memory of him as she changed. Back in this world of her own choice had eased the pain a little, especially this week with the changes she was making in her role and place in the company. She silently thanked him once again for all he had given her which included the courage to make hard choices. She laughed to herself; the little choices didn't matter much, she still had people around her influencing those if not making them for her, at the club, at work and even here. She knew she would never find a love like his again, but she felt happy, she had the constant watchful eyes of many Masters to look after her and she still had the freedom to choose her life's path.
She looked at her reflection in the mirror and admitted the black and red ensemble looked a little severe, so she softened the look by leaving her hair loose around her shoulders. She wore it up so often that she hadn't realised just how long it had become. Satisfied she took her phone and put it in the small suede pouch attached to a garter that could sit high on her thigh under the skirt. She loved its simplicity and smiled thinking of the day she had spent with Sire when he had created the garter for her. She was waiting at the door when Stephen arrived. He smiled and inclined his head as she hurried toward the elevator not wanting to hold him up any more than necessary.
