“Yes, Mistress,” I shouted back.
4
Elena
As Ophelia and I approached the ACA offices for our scheduled meeting to finish negotiations, I pretended it was just another session, albeit in the glass-walled building of the most prestigious Hollywood talent agency rather than in the cozy dungeon where the majority of my sessions took place.
We hadn’t coordinated our outfits ahead of time, but nonetheless, we’d both shown up in power dresses and stiletto Mary Janes. Something about knowing how many men I’d had literally lick these shoes in submission always boosted my confidence when I wore them in a public setting.
My cream-colored dress draped at the neck without showing any cleavage, was belted around the smallest part of my waist, and flared out into a voluminous skirt that reached my mid-shin. It was Old Hollywood sophistication and class.
Ophelia’s dress didn’t hug her curves, it fucked them slow and dirty. She was covered from mid-calf to her neck, looking sleek and professional, but something about that midnight blue pinup dress always left me feeling like I knew exactly what she looked like naked. Although, to be fair, Ididknow exactly what she looked like naked. Which is why I knew she had “Made in China” tattooed on her left ass cheek.
Our heels were clicking in sync on the concrete as we reached the building. “Here’s the plan,” she said. “If Alex is at the meeting, we’ll start the preliminary talks, then when I nudge you, you’re going to need to step out to take an urgent phone call. You’re above this and it’s going to be harder to maintain the aura of your mystique if you’ve been through negotiations about whether he’s allowed to get to third base. It’s tawdry. I’ll text when you can come back in.”
I rolled my eyes, but knew better than to argue with her.
“Half of the clauses that go into a contract relationship aren’t legally binding. I’ve had clients who had nonsense agreements with their wives which stated the woman wasn’t allowed to gain more than ten pounds or that they were required to participate in sex at least three nights a week. It would never stand before a judge, but just like negotiating a scene, it’s important to lay out expectations to prevent things ever getting to a judge. The public should never hear about a dispute over a contract relationship or everyone involved loses. Except me. Because then I get to read about it in the gossip columns.”
“Just so we’re clear, there will be no third base,” I mumbled.
She cackled. She knew there wouldn’t be anything that intimate since we’d sat down to discuss what terms we wanted beforehand, but she also knew how to push my buttons.
When we checked in with reception, we were given printed sticker badges to wear. In unspoken agreement, we both immediately slid them into Ophelia’s giant purse.
“Seriously?” I nodded to the strap-on sitting loose in her bag.
“What?” She shrugged. “You never know when you might need one.”
When we got off the elevator at the correct floor, a junior-level minion escorted us to the conference room where we were the first ones to arrive.
I expected Alex Chase to skip the meeting and let his representatives handle it, but the handsome motherfucker was the next one to swagger in. He took a seat across from us.
Damn it. He’s still just as attractive in the daylight.
“Elena, lovely to see you again. And you must be Mistress Ophelia. I recognize you from your dungeon profile. I was impressed with your wrestling videos. You really make it believable.” He chuckled, rifling through the candy jar in the center of the table.
The charmer had managed to pinpoint Ophelia’s specialty and now she was preening. And he had somehow proven capable of using her title, remembering to call her “Mistress,” but not mine? I narrowed my eyes at him and his grin got wider. Bastard was deliberately trying to piss me off.
“Thank you for noticing. I take pride in my work,” Ophelia said. “No need for my title this afternoon. I’m here for my other profession.”
The rest of Alex Chase’s people entered the room in a line. Rami shook my hand. “Nice to see you again, Lady Elena.”
“You too, Rami.” I smiled before glancing at Alex Chase significantly. At least someone from his side of the table could respect the title.
He grinned. He was definitely doing it on purpose.
Next to enter was a tiny woman with a dark pixie cut wearing a bright pink sundress. She had glowing brown skin and her eyes where alight with enthusiasm. She was one of those sparkly happy people. I was kind of into it.
“Ladies, this is my outstanding publicist, Asha,” said Alex.
“I’m so effing excited to meet you in person. I’ve been low-key stalking you for weeks and am fangirling right now!” She seemed genuinely excited, but I reminded myself that it was her job to be excited.
“And finally…” Alex waved to a dark-haired white guy who looked like he probably played racquetball and refused to go down on his wife. “My agent, Chad.”
“Lady Elena.” He nodded, shaking my hand in that annoying way some men do where they grasp your fingers as though they’re going to kiss your knuckles, but do a limp little shake instead. “And I see you’ve brought a friend along!”
“This is my attorney, Ophelia.” She was a rare exception who used her real name in both worlds. What she did on the side was an open secret among her clients who were thrilled to discover she was a dominatrix in real life and not just in their fantasies.
