“Secrets between a Domme and her sub should never be, little one. You will never be able to fully submit as long as you are holding anything back from me. I will never be able to fullycommand unless I know all the ways in which you need my guidance. The dungeon and our relationship are sacrosanct. You can tell me anything and rest secure in the knowledge that I will never tell another soul what you have entrusted to me. Do you understand? You may speak.”
“Yes, Mistress Eve,” Ruthi whispered, trembling, her tears pooling again.
Crooking her finger, motioning Ruthi to lean closer, Eve bent and put her scarlet-painted lips next to the shell of her submissive’s ear. “You are already aware that disobeying me is unacceptable. That is not news to you. However, Ruthi? Keeping secrets from me is even worse.” Pulling back again, her vibrant eyes turned even more intense as tears rolled down Ruthi’s face once more. “We will be taking a journey together. You cannot be the submissive you long to be with me unless you can trust me enough to share those secrets.All of them.To let go of the fear and anger you have been holding on to.
“I cannot command that which will not allow me to do so, little sub. Therefore, as you learn to serve me, you must also entrust every single thing you are to me. Including your fears. Including your anger. Including your secrets. Because I promise you, if you do, you will experience a freedom you never knew was possible, if only you will trust.”
11
Madeline stood at the edge of the cove, toes curling into the warm sand. The air carried the scent of salt and hibiscus, mingling with the faint tang of sunscreen and the metallic whir of gear being assembled nearby. She had woken before sunrise, restless with nerves and hope. The jeep ride across the island was thankfully uneventful. Now, as the day stretched ahead, every sense felt heightened. The light shimmered on the water, catching the white curve of the breaking surf, and the sweep of palm shadows across the set. She watched the crew move with practiced efficiency while Kel hovered nearby, clipboard in hand. Although it wasn’t technically her role, she was double-checking settings with the sound tech, her eyes flicking to Madeline every few minutes. When their gazes met, Kel gave her a small, reassuring smile. It helped. Madeline’s pulse still raced, but it steadied under Kel’s attention.
Already in her element, Ruthi stalked the perimeter with a focus that made everyone straighten their spines. She barked an order to the gaffer, snapped her fingers for a new angle, then finally turned to Madeline with a critical eye. “Mark is here,” Ruthi said, pointing to a patch of sand where a small piece ofdriftwood sat. “Don’t move off it. When I call action, you start. Look at the camera, not the crew.”
Nodding, Madeline swallowed hard. She smoothed a hand over her dress, feeling the heat prickle at the back of her neck.This is it, she thought.My chance to impress Ruthi Shay. She took her place and tried to steady her breathing.
Kel drifted closer, a little out of frame. “You’ve got this,” she whispered. Madeline nodded and let the words settle inside her chest.
The camera team finished setting up, the lens gleaming in the morning sun. The boom mic hovered overhead. Ruthi lifted her hand. “Quiet on set.” A hush fell. Madeline let her gaze drift to the horizon, searching for calm. She thought of every audition, every live taping, every moment she’d stood in the wings wishing for a shot at something more. She was ready. She knew it.
“Roll sound,” called the first assistant director. The camera operator gave a thumbs-up.
“Action,” Ruthi said.
Madeline opened her mouth, the first lines forming on her tongue. A sharp crack split the air. The operator cursed, hands flying over the controls. A thin wisp of smoke curled from the camera’s side panel. Crew members rushed in, voices rising, confusion spreading like a ripple. Ruthi strode over, jaw clenched, rattling off questions. “What happened? Can you fix it?”
The camera assistant shook his head, already pulling out his phone. “It’s the gimbal. Fried the board. We don’t have a spare.”
Ruthi’s face tightened. “How long?”
The operator grimaced. “Ninety-nine percent sure that part isn’t on the island,” he said. “We’ll have to fly one in. Earliest is tomorrow, maybe later.”
The energy drained from the set. Crew members murmured, gathering equipment and pulling cases back into the shade.Madeline stood forgotten in the sun, arms wrapped around herself, the adrenaline in her veins replaced by a cold ache. She felt exposed, foolish, as if she’d been caught pretending.
Kel appeared at her side. “It’s not your fault,” she said quietly. “No one could have seen this coming.”
Madeline tried to smile, but her mouth wouldn’t cooperate. “I just… I was ready. For once, I was actually ready.”
Kel’s hand found hers. “You still are,” she said. “We’ll get another shot. This isn’t over.”
Ruthi took control, her expression unreadable. She addressed the crew first, issuing orders to shoot B-roll and scout alternate angles, her voice brisk but not biting. Then she turned to Madeline and Kel. For a moment, Ruthi’s gaze softened, the steel in her posture easing. “It happens,” she said, quieter than normal. “You prep, you plan, sometimes it falls apart anyway. You’ll get another chance. Be ready for it.”
Without waiting for a reply, Ruthi walked away, calling for the AD. Madeline watched her go, then looked down at her hand still clasped in Kel’s. The disappointment in her chest shifted, replaced by something steadier. She squeezed Kel’s fingers, letting herself lean into the touch. The cove was quiet again, the crew dispersing. Madeline looked out over the water. She felt the sting of the setback, but under it, a stubborn spark. She would not let this stop her. When the camera rolled again, she would be ready.
“It was sabotage,”Ruthi said, her face tight as she paced the length of Ms. Leighton’s office. “The sensor control board of a gimbal won’t up and bite the dust like that one did, out of the blue. The board is more likely to sustain damage during a drone crash or if the gimbal has been used for aerial cinematography. Neither scenario was the case here. The camera equipment wasalso thoroughly checked during the test shots, and it functioned with no issue. Which leads me to wonder… who doesn’t want this shoot to be successful?” She turned her sharp gaze on the two women.
Thinking through the new information, Ms. Leighton was quiet for a beat, the peaceful sunlight flooding through the windows at odds with the ugliness of their speculation. “That is the question. Do you have any suspicions on whom it might have been?” she finally asked. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Antonia’s face was sharp and assessing.
Ruthi shook her head. “No clue. But, if you ask me, someone or something on the Isle of Dreams is a target, for reasons yet unknown. Clearly, a discreet inquiry needs to be made and the occupants of the island investigated. The guests, the staff, the crew, everyone.” Pausing, Ruthi put her hands on her hips. “Since the clock is running, my priority at the moment is to move forward with shooting B-roll footage, which is supplemental film,” she continued briskly. “While experimenting with different shot angles. There are cinematic alternatives the crew can use to stabilize those shots without a gimbal.
“Neither will I need Madeline since she’s the principal subject and belongs to the A-roll shoot, which we can resume when the gimbal replacement arrives. In the meantime,” Ruthi’s gray eyes narrowed as she turned away, “you have a rat to catch.” A fleeting thunder crossed her face. “This may not be a shoot I was particularly eager to direct, which has certainly not been a secret. However, I take my work very seriously. I’ll be damned if I’ll allow some disrespectful piece of crap to ruin a project that, while perhaps not my cup of tea, will benefit a noble, worthy cause.” Without a backward glance, Ruthi walked out the door.
“And there’s our Ruthi,” Ms. Leighton said softly. “The old Ruthi Shay still lives under that hard, brittle exterior, Antonia.Perhaps Eve is already having a positive effect in bringing her out into the light of day. We shall see.”
Antonia cleared her throat. “What shall we do about the other problem?” she asked. Ms. Leighton puffed out a breath, her white-blonde hair catching the rays of the sun. “We do precisely what Ruthi told us to do, Antonia,” she said, the tones of her voice filled with steely determination as she steepled her fingers. “She told us in no uncertain terms we have a rat to catch. Therefore, I do believe there’s no time like the present to start investigating. Don’t you agree?”
Kel letthe afternoon sun warm her shoulders as she and Madeline walked the winding path away from the jeeps. After the chaos of the morning, it felt good to be back on the more occupied part of the island. “How about we go for a walk on the beach?” she asked Madeline, knowing the best thing to do would be to distract her from the disappointment of the day. Before Madeline answered, Kel’s phone buzzed. Looking at it, Kel saw it was a message from the main house. “Please come to Ms. Leighton’s office immediately,” the text read. “Both of you.” She met Madeline’s eyes, any hope of fun draining from the moment.
“Guess that walk will have to wait,” Kel said, trying to keep her tone light. Madeline nodded, pulling her hair into a messy knot. They walked toward the main house together, and Kel’s heart felt uneasy. When they reached it and went inside, the place felt different. It was quieter, the usual warmth replaced by a thread of tension Kel couldn’t quite place.
