Mistress AC-0002

S ome thrived in socialization. Others in the chaos of deadlines and expectations. Me…I lived best in the depths of vengeance. In the space where emotion and morality were dead, muted by the deepest black. Maybe I should have cared about the lives that would be affected by my motives. I wasn't. My mind was a constant screaming loop of rage, even when I had moments of happiness. Until justice was served or my revenge was sated, it would never stop. Not against any of them. Especially those closest to me.

"Do you think kissing me is going to make me forget what I just heard? You're not even here while you're doing it; you're on autopilot. What are you up to, Georgetta? You need to talk to me. You've never crossed the line. Targeting Doris Pennington? Have you lost your mind? What are you hoping this crow will learn from her, and what does it have to do with Gilbert Marks and Elaine Walton? I know you're planning something. Do you realize what you're doing?"

"You're just afraid I'm going to get in trouble."

" Trouble? Listen to your words. Your nonchalant tone. Elec gave you an order and told you to leave it alone for now. I'm afraid your anger is winning and you're not thinking things through. She's an elder, and she's favored. That woman is vicious, both in person and through connections. That's why she's in our circle. There will be no slap to the wrist for this one if you get caught. Do you want to risk having her turn on us? Do you know what would happen if she did ?"

The anger in Jack's tone could not be mistaken. We'd be ruined. Humiliated. We'd tear the circle apart with how everyone would take sides…and most wouldn't take mine.

"Georgie."

At my silence, I watched his fury build.

"Enough with this. You have to talk to me. What are you hoping Doris tells him? What do you want to learn? Why can't you just be honest with her and ask her what you want to know?"

My jaw tightened the smallest amount through all the questions. They led me forward to give Jack another kiss. It was easy to hold in the anger and project the seductive woman most expected. It was my true mask. Learned in my teachings. The action came naturally, and tonight it was my role. I was the host to an anything-goes sex party. I had to act like it.

"I can't ask her anything. She's Elaine's Godmother. She'd tell me nothing."

"You say that, but what could she tell you that you don't already know? You're not making sense."

Not making sense?

The anger built to explosive heights. Betrayal even flirted in the background of my sudden confusion. Didn't he see? Didn't he understand why I needed to do this? Had he not watched the hell I had suffered because of them? Her?

"Jack, you're not listening. Maybe Doris will drop her guard around a slave. They're no one important. Maybe she'll let something slip. She could tell him… something ." I held tighter to his shirt, feeling my body tremble through the rage. " She could tell him everything ."

" You're not listening. I don't understand what you're hoping to learn. There's nothing left to discover. You're clinging to that slave as a last hope for revenge. First with Gilbert, and now with Doris. It's over. It's been over. This is pointless…unless you're not telling me something. What else could she know? What else could you learn?"

"Stop repeating the same questions. You know everything. You know what they did. If she—Maybe she—" At Amanda's shift in my peripheral, I clutched to Jack wanting to scream. My head was spinning. Paranoia was edging in. " We can't talk about it right now . People are here. They're occupied, but they keep looking at us. And you want me to talk about it right now? You want me to lay out my past and what Elaine did? How many times have we gone over it? That bitch has to pay. There has to be something I'm missing. Something I don't know or they're not saying. Why can't you just listen to me? Why can't you hear what I'm saying? Do you not care? Are you with them, or do you not comprehend the seriousness of what I'm trying to do? You can't be that fucking stupid ? — "

Dark eyes narrowed as his hand locked to my jaw, squeezing enough to pull me from what had to be delusions. Had I just accused my own husband of being against me? Was I so lost in this consuming pain that I couldn't see past it?

"Oh…love." Back and forth his head shook. "I've been trying to be patient with you, but you've done it now. We've been here before."

"Jack…I didn't mean that. I'm sorry." The regret was so thick, I nearly choked on my words. The hurt on his face. The surprise. The anger . "I'm so sorry," I whispered. "I promise we'll talk when we're alone. I'll explain better. I'm sorry. Please don't get out of character. I didn't mean that. You know I didn't. I'll make this right. I'll make it better. Touch me. I sent the crow. I…She'll know. We have to keep going. I'm hosting. This part has to be real, otherwise she'll notice and that'll only be worse. I messed up. I know I did. I think…I think you should." I stopped through the confliction and saw his expression harden even more. I was an open book to him. I didn't even have to continue, but I did. "I've overstepped myself. I deserve—It's been a while since you?—

"I should send everyone home right now."

"No." The tightness in my throat nearly strangled me. "That'll point to something bad happening between us. It'll cause a gossip storm. I deserve what's coming. Please. Don't stop this party."

"You're asking more than you know."

"I can take it. Don't make them leave."

"You're still not understanding, Georgie. What I'm about to do— What you've done ."

"I'm sorry. Make me understand. Show me."

"We're trying to have a baby."

"I know but—Jack. If you…If you show them something is wrong, if Doris suspects anything…"

"You don't think I know this? I'm looking at you, and I don't even recognize my wife right now."

My heart folded in on itself. For the first time, I didn't recognize my husband either. The love was hidden. The caring and adoration was locked behind the hard, stoic shell of his handsome face.

"Jack, I…I'm sorry. I messed up but?—"

"There's no ‘buts' to this, Georgie. Your sorry can't erase what you just did."

"You see me. You see what I'm going through. Look at what I just did. At what I'm doing. Look at me. I feel like I'm losing my mind. I need this. I need…help. Please. I can't do this anymore. Make me forget everything but you. Show me my place. Jack ." Tears began to surface, and I hated it. "I need this. I need you . I'm out of control, I see that now. The pain I feel. I can't do this anymore. Only you can help me. You can fix me."

A low sound vibrated deep inside his throat. "You've been getting worse for months, but ever since you learned who that crow was, I've watched you change. It hasn't been for the better. You planned this party for only one thing, one person: Doris Pennington. This wasn't about us, or me, or you. Dammit, Georgie. You just can't stop. You're your own worst enemy; you always have been. But now you've gone too far."

"I don't want to be this way. I don't want to remember what they did. I'm trying. I-I'm trying so hard. Please. Jack, please. Do something. Help me. Bring me back. Make it better for us. I miss us. Jack ."

Seconds passed. Jack hooked behind my knees and spun me in his lap to straddle his waist. My dress slid up to the middle of my ass, but modesty couldn't exist at these parties. We were all part of the same force. Here, we were open. We were free to do whatever we wanted. No judgment. No holding back. Twisted. Dirty. Savage. Nothing was off-limits between Masters, Mistresses, or slaves, and I couldn't start acting like it now. Shame ate at me, but I couldn't let anyone but my husband see that.

"You think spankings or whippings with my crop is going to suffice for punishment this time? One week or even a month isn't going to cut it. I've let you run wild without putting my foot down for far too long. That's my fault. What you're doing with your need for revenge is reckless and selfish. You've turned back into that spoiled little brat I had to break all those years ago, and you've disguised it with independence. Seems I'm going to have to take that away. You're on the verge of ruining us, and not just our name, but our love. No fucking way in hell I'm going to let that happen. I'm not spending the rest of my life in a loveless marriage. I don't deserve that. Our families don't. Our future child sure as hell won't be raised in that environment. Most of all, you're not going to push me away and hurt yourself on top of everyone else already doing it. If that means I have to take control to protect everyone against this obsession, so be it ."

"The crow?"

Jack's jaw flexed. "I should slit his throat. You're more worried about what he can give you than what I'm about to take away."

" Jack, please ."

"You want him to live?"

"Yes. I have to beg Elec to trade him or see if Doris will open to him. I've waited hours. She's had enough to drink. She can't help herself. I've watched her for years. You know how Doris gets. Please. She'll talk."

" She won't . You've done this for nothing. Sparing his life is the last request I grant you. I'll allow you to get your information, but only because of two reasons. One, it'll put your mind at ease and show you there's nothing else, and two…I know they hurt you, and that hurts me. This wild chase you're on to make Elaine and your mother pay is now governed and monitored by me. Your freedom is no more. If they suffer, it's from my doing because I know how to cover my ass and keep us safe. You don't. Your decision-making on everything ends tonight . Georgetta, the independent leader of her family, the CEO, the all-around bitch-badass of our circle is gone. You want my help, you fucking got it, baby. I'm all yours. Your revenge is now mine. You want me to fix you? Make you happy? You want us to spend more time together? You want the perfect family? I just inherited the ultimate devoted housewife whose mission is to manifest that very thing. What I say goes, no matter what. You're in my pocket from here on out. My new secretary. My fucktoy. My slave, if you will. Any wrong move on your part will come with consequences that will restrict you even more. You will be perfectly polished on the outside and monitored by Elec or a doctor of your choosing on the inside. You are the wife of the Jack Collins. You know what that entails. If you want to be my equal again, if you want my love and respect, you'll work your ass off to earn it. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

"Slave?" My head shook in disbelief. "Submissive, maybe, but I am no slave."

Fingers pushed into my hair at the nape of my neck, fisting near the root as he bared his teeth for the smallest moment.

"You are what I say you are. A submissive has a choice. A slave has none. That's you now, baby. You lost that right when you put yourself above me."

"But I didn't mean it. I have responsibilities. My job?—"

"Gone. Your father can get a replacement. I'll call him myself."

"Jack, what will people think?"

"I don't fucking care."

"But…what will I do? I?—"

"I've already told you. You'll do whatever I say. You are sick, Georgetta. You need help, and I'm going to give it to you. All you need to focus on is the bare facts. You are now my wife and nothing else. You married with duties assigned to you, and from here on out, you'll focus on them. As far as anyone is concerned, your new desire in life is to be a mother. Due to the difficulties that have presented themselves with conception, you have now made it your mission to produce an heir. Like I said…done, Georgetta. With everything. Done . Now, confirm. Say you understand what all this means."

The finality had my eyes lowering and me letting out a deep breath. I felt as heavy as I felt light. On some level, he was doing exactly what I prayed he'd do, but I knew my husband. We'd been here before. This wasn't a vacation; it was going to be hell.

"Confirm so I can make the call."

A sound left me. "Don't call him yet. Jack, please. It'll ruin everything ."

Dark eyes glanced toward Doris and the slave. They continued to sweep the room before stopping back on me. With how he was fisting my hair, I couldn't see anything but the blur in my peripheral, and even then, it gave me no hints as to what was happening. Was everyone staring? Did they know how much trouble I was in?

"Percy, your tie."

Moaning eased, coming to a stop as shuffling sounded. When footsteps approached, I tried to hold in the tears. My angry words were coming back. All I could see was the hurt on Jack's face. I couldn't remember the last time I had raised my voice to him. To go as far as I had with implying he was stupid, that he was betraying me…Regret. Yes. He was everything to me. He was all I had left. The only one I had ever wanted.

Rustling stopped behind me, but Jack didn't let go of my hair.

"Put it over her eyes."

"You want me?—"

"Percy…" Jack let out a slow, deep breath, trying to control his temper. "It is time my wife steps into her place. I need you to help me with that."

Hair broke free from my scalp as I tried to turn to look up at Percy. Pain webbed over the surface, somehow transferring the burn to my eyes.

To argue and tell Jack I wanted this to be between the two of us would get me nowhere. To fight the inevitable would make it worse. We were hosting. We had an image to uphold. If we knew anything, we knew our roles. This wasn't a game anymore. I was aware of what I had to become, and like he'd said…we'd been here before. It was a place I both loved and detested, and we were only just getting started.