It's been two weeks since I started this journey and already I feel myself changing. There are two more weeks to go until this fiasco is over. I call it a fiasco because my emotions have been stimulated much more than my logic. I've uncovered a name. The last name of Master is Oak. It surely fits his stature. It is a simple name that will be of use to me when I return home. I can't break this media story without taking Master and his family down. As many people that I can uncover, the better. My editor will want names and locations, but the location will be hard to determine. The name was actually easy to find out. I had just kept my ears low to the ground and Shara had been the one to say his name out loud. She was answering the phone and I was shadowing her like I always do. She said his name, and like candy, it stuck to my gums and wormed its way into my brain. Shara wouldn't know that I wanted a name, she couldn't know. Plus, Shara was still wrapped in her jealousy like a warm blanket.
Master has been using me the last two weeks. He had been pretty tame with me, minus the racial slurs. In the world of fetishes, racial slurs had to be pretty tame right? Michael however hasn't been so tame. When he does appear, it is to make my toes curl with a glance this way and that way. Master watches him watching me, but he doesn't see me watching Michael. I do watch him though and for the first time in my life I don't know why. Men are supposed to be useful, but with Michael his use goes out the window, because all he does is cause me trouble. His way of looking at me causes me to feel like a woman.
Michael doesn't limit our interaction to the hallways. He showed up in my room last night. I had just gotten back from serving dinner to Master and two friends. Each friend was completely different from each other, but they seemed complacent to be waited on by black slaves. Anthony was Italian and he bought in to the pseudo plantation with a large black hat and white cotton suit. I want to remind him about some of his ancestors by dumping hot liquid into his lap, but I don't. I'm learning that I shouldn't even dare to think like that. Master is watching me overly closely. Lou is blonde and young. He seems out of place and almost starts to pour his own liquid. Master seems to be intrigued with Lou like a cat with a bird. I'm intrigued with Lou too, but it is more with the idea of bystander syndrome. If he seems so out of sorts with us being here, why does he let it all go on? I serve him extra meatballs without thinking.
Leaving the dinner table, I'm tired, but Michael stands by the window in my room smoking a cigarette. Michael is a Marlboro man like his brother. The smoke floats hauntingly out the window as I close the bedroom door behind me.
"What are you doing here?" I say in an angry whisper. He shakes his head in immediate response which hushes me almost instantly.
"I needed to see you," he responds gently.
I don't know why but I'm happy to see him as well. Even though the walls are paper thin, I still want to slide on top of him right now and make love to him. My breath is caught in my throat at the idea that he needs to see me. First Master, and now him, I've opened myself up to love and the universe has given me abundance. In an instant I clear the gap and practically fall in to his arms. I don't care what tomorrow is going to bring as long as I can have this moment.
"If I had known your reaction," he says with a smirk, "I would have come sooner".
Tears well in my eye, and it is almost too much emotion for girl like me. I hug him. His eyes widen as he runs his nails along my chocolate skin. Leaving marks with his depth I moan in silence. Putting his cigarette out, he grabs me with both hands and kisses me. His lips wrap loosely around my own as I struggle to keep my footing. Every passionate moment of his life is energy in this kiss. The mystery of him is hidden behind cold green eyes. I run my fingers through his cold black hair. The fine texture of his locks wraps delicately around my fingers.
I want him. He wants me to but it may be too much to risk. A free hand finds the hem of my dress and weasels further up almost soaking in my wetness. Masters warning had come with a slap and my disobedience could come with much more. I tremble at the thought of Master punishing me and am even wetter. These two have me almost in a permanent state of ecstasy.
I kiss him again and he is hesitant now too. I stare behind him at an open doorway and a pair of hazel eyes staring back at me. I practically jump out of my skin but manage to separate myself from Michael without such a drastic pace. He turns to the doorway as well but he doesn't seem as scared as I am.
"Shara?" I say aloud, but she is already gone. Her eyes tell all and I would give anything to question those eyes and know what her next move is going to be.
Michael leaves just as quickly as he came and I'm left to ponder alone what the next day will bring. The excitement keeps me awake for several more hours. I fall asleep and am happy to sleep past the sunrise until later in the afternoon. Wiping the sleep from my eyes, I do wonder if Master summoning me so late is because of Shara's pensive eyes.
Master summons me at noon and Shara faithfully arrives to get me ready. I'm not sure how or if I should ask her what she's seen. She doesn't talk, but instead sets out to straighten my hair. Each time her hand touches my hair I shudder. There is something about the way she is able to remain placid. I still don't say anything and she doesn't either.
Throught the mirror, I can see that Shara is much more dressed up today in a blue tunic dress and silver strappy sandals. Her own hair lies in waves around her shoulders. I wonder what has caused the Grecian outfit, but again I remain silent. She looks like she wants to say something to me with her eyes cast downwards on my frame.
She never says anything as she leads me to the large dining room downstairs. This dining room is the most colorful room in the house with golden place settings and silver chairs. Shara matches the theme of the dining room. I'm surprised that at lunch we actually eat. Master is again with his two friends, Anthony and Lou, but Shara and I are never addressed. I feel like there is an undercurrent of danger in the way Master reacts towards us. Shara seems comfortable. We are fixtures in the room dolled up like plastic toys. Master stares at me from across the table and I wonder if he knows. Shara keeps her head down and I mimic the motion contentedly.
"Renee," Master says finally, "Lou has requested your presence tonight for a drink in his room."
I'm shocked. Lou doesn't seem like the type, but Lou doesn't seem like anyone I've ever met before. There is a slight anger to Master's voice but he is the one who suggested it.
"I want you to do everything Lou instructs," he says and that is the end of the conversation.
The gentlemen start to talk amongst themselves again and Shara leads me out of the room. I can't take it anymore. I wait until we are upstairs before I grab Shara's arm.
