After that night a week ago, I wanted to fire her on the spot, but then I decided to sit back and watch her. I’d grown too complacent over the years where Loveland was concerned. That was my mistake.
One I won’t make again.
I gave her specific, seemingly insignificant tasks to see to, and she didn’t do even one of them. I told her I wanted a new policy implemented for new members. It hasn’t been done. I asked for a list of names of any members who have received warnings in the past year. She hasn’t delivered. It seems she believes that she can dowhatever the fuck she wants around here, and she’s going to pay for that.
I’ve just started looking through emails when there’s a knock on the door, and Loveland walks into the office. She’s still wearing the same white dress she wore for work last night.
“It’s not like you to call a meeting so early in the day,” she says as she sits across from me and crosses one long, thin leg over the other.
I lift an eyebrow and stare at her for a long moment until that casual, comfortable look in her eyes is replaced by fear.
“You’ve been running the playroom the way you see fit for a while now,” I begin.
“I’m the manager,” she says simply. “That’s my job. To run it for you so you don’t have to.”
“To run itfor me,” I repeat and lean back in the chair, feigning relaxation. “To my specifications.”
“Of course.”
“To the letter.”
She tips her head to the side. “Yes.”
I nod and turn the laptop next to my desktop around so she can see the screen, watching her eyes as she takes it in.
“That’s Mr. Deluca.”
I don’t say a word, waiting.
“He’s a newer member,” she continues. “We vetted him about three months ago.”
“We?” My voice is granite, and she starts to breathe a little faster.
“Yes. Don’t you remember him?”
“Oh, I remember him. But I didn’t vet him, Sarah.” I only use her first name when I’m pissed, when she’s in trouble.
And once upon a time, when I fucked her.
Her pupils blow wide.
“This sack of shit hurt my girls.” She squirms in her seat. “And you know it. I told you to revoke the membership and make sure he didn’t come back.”
“I did.”
“Lie to me again.” It’s said in a challenge, and she bites her lip.
“Look, it was the spanking bench. I talked with Beth, and she said he didn’t leave marks or break the skin.”
I want to fucking rip her heart out of her throat.
“He ignored her safe word.”
“He didn’t hear it.”
I slap my hand on the desk, making her jolt. “He. Ignored. Her. Safe. Word.”
“We’re all human,” she says with a negligent shrug. “He fucked up and assured me he wouldn’t do it again.”
