For those who have read this story already, this next chapter is where I am adding a new genie. I like my original group but I have had several suggestions for others and a couple of ideas that I think will help the story. I hope you all enjoy it, and again if you have comments, make them polite and useful. Thank you.
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Chapter 7, Samantha
Rick scowled at the TV and shot Lacey a look that made her tremble.
"Damn it Lacey, what part of "Stay away from the paparazzi" was it that you didn't understand?"
The TV show was actually a streaming video on a YouTube Channel. The video showed a very pretty blonde woman talking with Lacey in a very exclusive Beverly Hills salon. The woman had a microphone up to Lacey's face and Lacey was smiling and talking about how well they did her hair. The interviewer kept trying to pull information out of Lacey, like her last name, where she lived, and most annoying, information about Rick and "his other women". The show then cut to several other short clips, obviously taken from a distance that showed Rick with Bridget entering a gallery, Rick and Susan going into a courthouse to sign some papers, and then a shot of Rick and Nicole running on what Rick had thought was a secluded beach.
To her credit, Lacey dodged the questions and didn't give any information. But the paparazzi reporter had ended with a blurb on the "new mystery millionaire and his groupies" and promised that she would be tracking this developing story and get the real story out for the public to see.
Rick growled again when he saw how many likes the clip had. He really got mad when he started reading the comments. Rick saw several of the other paparazzi who had been trying to track him down had commented on pooling resources to track the "Mystery Women" down. There were also hundreds of comments on Lacey, and his other genies, and how hot they were.
Rick sighed as he clicked off the TV and stared at the blank screen. He turned to his assembled genies and looked at Ali who had a very dark frown on his face.
"Ali, this is bad. I had hoped that with a proper staff and the construction done we were to a point we might be able to slip beneath the radar for a bit. But now," Rick said with a bit of a growl "we are front page news again."
Lacey looked very uneasy. "Master I am so sorry. I didn't provide any information and I didn't realize she had those other clips. I figured that maybe if I gave her a little bit she might go away after seeing she wasn't getting anything juicy."
"Well, that is true to an extent." Lacey thought. In reality she was very happy about her clip. She had enjoyed the flattery Samantha had heaped on her, and she was very happy about the comments on her beauty and the number of likes. "I very much enjoy the limelight." She thought as she kept her face sad.
"Well, that didn't work now did it? Now this bitch is going to keep digging. Nicole, I want you to dig up everything on this woman, call your police friends if you have to and ask some favors. Ali, scry the hell out of her. Lacey, cancel the reservations tonight. We are all staying in until I figure out what to do with this woman."
Lacey's face dropped and all the genies and Ali bowed and said "Yes Master." As Lacey left the room Rick called out "Once you have cancelled everything, return to your lamp. I will get you out when I am done figuring out what to do next. Do not disobey me again."
Lacey's lips trembled and she got out a quaking "Yes Master." and did as she was told. "Damn it. Tonight was that red carpet movie premiere. I had that designer French dress flown in from Paris just for this!" Lacey thought to herself. "But then again, it's nice to see Master in his strong form. He is that way more and more."
Rick moved up his dais and sat on his throne as Lotus typed away. Lotus could sense her Master was in a foul mood and given how his personalities could shift very suddenly and sometimes erratically, she felt it best to not tempt fate.
Rick scowled at nothing. "Damn Lacey. She can make her hair the envy of every woman on the planet with a snap of her fingers and she has to go once a week for a salon treatment just because she can. Cripes, I should have bound someone a bit more reclusive."
Rick thought for a while until Ali and Nicole returned. Nicole bowed and said "Master I have done as you have ordered. I have done some very thorough searching and questioning on this Samantha Asters."
Rick nodded for her to continue. Nicole pulled out a folder and opened it. "Ms. Samantha Asters, graduate of USC, double degree in journalism and theater. Tried to land a job as a reporter in several major newspapers and local TV affiliates, failed at each one. Tried to do some acting, failed at that as well. From what I have dug up it appears she is a bit of drama queen and was considered too much work to keep happy even though she does have a great deal of talent. So she started her own YouTube show called "Samantha's Mad Method" in which she became part paparazzi, part investigative reporter, part Entertainment Tonight Co-Hoist."
"Her show has actually become quite a hit. She had been able to find a couple of scoops on some Hollywood stars, and a couple of juicy scandals and she is now a bit of an underground sensation. She had a lot of followers and her show even has some pretty good sponsors. Given the buzz that you and Lacey have created around the club scene it was really only a matter of time before someone like her would come looking for a story."
Nicole frowned. "But this Samantha is not stupid. Rather than just approach you or one of us, she has been carefully working out a pattern. It was pretty easy once she figured a couple of things. One, Lacey demands only the most expensive and most exclusive clubs when you go out. So simply standing around a hot spot she was able to get photos of you and Lacey. And since it normally only takes Lacey a few days to determine the newest hot spot, she can reasonably predict when you might be there and be waiting. With Bridget its art galleries, shows and exhibits, and that is easy to find on line. With us others, that was some more very good detective work on her part. She identified me through a friend of hers on the force and was able to put together some of my old patterns and places I hung out at. Such as the beach we run on sometimes Master."
"She apparently hasn't identified Heather yet, but Susan was easy as the legal paperwork is public record. Once she had established Susan as your lawyer, she just had to check the court docket."
Nicole frowned. "I am so sorry I have failed Master. I should have been more alert for this. But I was focused on securing the palace and your more public appearances. I ask your forgiveness."
Nicole knelt and bowed her head down to the floor and Rick sighed.
"Stand up Nicole. You are forgiven, and it is a minor forgiveness. I have not used you in the best way. I have insisted on private time with my other slaves and you have not been allowed to come with me. If I had been more conscious of your function as my bodyguard, likely we would not be in the situation we are now."