The following morning Ursula made pancakes. It was a Saturday, and snow had fallen over night. Stephen was showering while she cooked breakfast in nothing but a robe. She heard him walking down the stairs as she flipped each pancake over.
The coffee had finished percolating, and she poured him a cup before grabbing the syrup from his supply cupboard.
"You're making breakfast?" he asked.
"I always make breakfast." She handed him the coffee while he stared at her. Turning away, she put the cooked pancakes on a plate then poured syrup over all of them.
She did the same for hers. They sat opposite each other eating.
"Okay, what do you want?" he asked after a few moments had passed.
"What makes you think I want anything?"
"You're not looking at me directly but keep casting those eyes over me wondering what I'm thinking. What do you want, Ursula?"
Busted.
She put down her fork and thought of the best way to ask him. The longer she put it off the harder it would be. "I told my parents I was seeing someone. They didn't like Paul, and they want to meet you."
"Okay."
"They don't know who you are. I haven't given them a name other than Stephen. They want us to visit in the next few weeks. Maybe even spend Christmas with them." She looked at him under her lashes.
"Okay."
"Okay? What do you mean okay?"
"I'd like to meet your parents, Ursula."
"Are you sure?"
He chuckled, which only made things tighten inside her. His chuckle shouldn't be so sinfully addictive.
"You sound like you don't want me to meet them."
"I do, but they have these tests that they do."
"Are they going to want me run a marathon?"
"No. Wordy tests. They'll ask you all sorts of
questions, and that can be embarrassing."
He reached across the table taking her hand. "I'll do
anything for you. Are you worried about the age gap?" "What? No. Age doesn't mean a thing to me."
"I see the age gap being a factor with your parents,"
he said.
Ursula laughed. "The age gap won't bother them.
There are over ten years between my mom and dad. They'll ask you about your attentions towards me and other little questions."
"I look forward to the inquisition." He kept hold of her hand as they finished breakfast. "I've got to work today."
"All right. I'm going to study and bake a cake. I feel in a baking mood."
"That reminds me. I want you to have this." Stephen let her go to go into his pocket to pull out his wallet. He handed her a card.
She took the card seeing it was a credit card. "What is this?" she asked.
"This is yours. I want you to use it."
"Stephen, you can't give me a credit card." She tried to hand it back. He refused to take it.
"I want you to have it. Spend it on what you like. I don't care. Please, just keep it."
"I don't want you for your money."
He laughed. "I know. I feel better knowing you'll have this. Every shop will accept it."
She hesitated but eventually put the card on the table.
"I've got to go. I'll be back soon. Do you want me to bring some food?" he asked.
Ursula shook her head. "You've got plenty of food in the house. I don't want any of it to spoil. I'll see you soon."
She stood and went to see him out. He caught her up against him, kissing her deeply. "I'll see you soon," she said.
"I don't want to leave when you look at me like that."
"I don't want you to go. I'll be here waiting for you to get home." She liked teasing him. Their teasing was one of the aspects about her day she enjoyed. He made her feel wanted.
"I could get used to this," he said.
"Me, too."
Stephen wrapped his arms around her waist. His hand
disappeared up the slit in her robe. She pulled away, giggling. "When you get home."
"Promise?"
"Do you even need to ask me that?"
He chuckled and walked towards his car. "Phone me if
you need me."
She nodded and watched him pull out of the gate.
Ursula watched the gate close before going back inside. There were some bits to clean away from the party last night. She finished clearing away the glasses and food, and then she vacuumed the carpets. When everything was done in the other rooms she went back to the kitchen where their breakfast plates were left. She moved the plates out of the way and then stared at the card he'd given her. The plastic glinted up at her making her feel uncomfortable. How could she take the card from him? There was no way she'd be able to pay him back.
Ursula cleaned away all the breakfast plates and frying pans, and then she grabbed the phone and dialled her sister's number. Her mother had given her the number when they last talked.
"Hello," Caroline said.
"Hi. Have I called you at a bad time?" Ursula asked.
"It's a Saturday. Of course it's a bad time. Why do you think I left mom and dad's? They always wanted me up early." She heard some movement then the sound of a tap. "I'm getting the coffee on. Why are you so perky?"
"I've been up awhile." She thought of Stephen. He made getting up worth the early rising.
"Yeah, you sound like a woman who has been laid properly."
"Wouldn't you like to know?" Ursula said with a giggle.
"Mom has already phoned and told me you've got a new man on the scene. I've heard all about Stephen, but I don't believe a word of it. It was good to hear you'd gotten rid of Paul. He was a slime-ball."
They talked for several minutes catching up. All the time Ursula kept staring at the card in her hand.
"Actually, there is something I haven't told mom about Stephen."
"Really.The good girl being naughty. You know I was proud when you stood your ground about Paul even if he was a total loser. This just makes me giddy. Does he have a job? Is he cute? Tell me if he's in a band?"
Ursula laughed. Caroline had a reputation for screwing things up. She still loved her sister.
"Stephen is older than I, and you may have heard of him. Stephen Knox?"
There was silence on the other end.
"You're dating the Stephen Knox? Ursula, he's rich beyond your wildest dreams and, holy shit. You're banging one of the wealthiest men." Ursula scrunched her nose up. "I haven't told mom or dad."
"They're not going to like it, Ursula. His reputation is not the best. He's in the media with snotty models not to mention the fact you don't have a fortune to your own name." Caroline said everything she'd already been thinking herself.
"I know that, but I like him, Caroline. He's nice, and he makes me feel special."
"Are you in love with him?"
Ursula thought about it. She loved the way he smiled and the moods he had. "Yes, I think I'm in love with him."
"Wow, you'll have to tell them. Springing that surprise on them wouldn't be good."
"He's agreed to go next week. I figured if he was with me then they wouldn't be a problem."
"You're surprising me more and more."
"He gave me a credit card," she said. She wanted her sister's opinion on the next stage up.
"Is he treating you disrespectfully?"
"No, not at all. He wants me to use it."
"Then don't think it's a big deal. He clearly wants you
to have it. I'll be at the parentals' house next week. I want to meet the man who my sister is in love with."
"Caroline, don't embarrass me."
"Would I do that to you?"
"Yes."
"Then enjoy. I've got to go. My own man is moaning
about being alone. Take care, and have fun with your rich guy."
She put the phone down still hating the card in her hand. Shaking her head, she walked up the stairs to put the card in her purse.
Afterwards she took a quick shower.
The house was large. She'd been in every room. Her favourite room was his library. The scent of the books always soothed her chaotic mind. She needed to write a paper for her psychology class. Opening the curtains, she let in plenty of light then went investigating the books in his collection. He owned plenty of classics, along with textbooks.
Ursula gathered the books she needed and took a seat. The moment she opened the first textbook, she was
absorbed into her studies. ****
Stephen met James outside his club. The other man wore a pair of leather pants, white shirt, and leather jacket. Stephen couldn't help but chuckle at his attire.
"Stephen Knox is laughing early in the morning. This is news to report. Should I get a hold of the media? Your woman must be good for you," James said as he got in the car.
"Ursula is none of your concern. I'm happy. Cadeon is meeting us at Rebecca's. He has a key."
"I hope your thoughts are not true. I would hate to have to deal with the Dominic shit again." James closed the door, securing his seatbelt.
"Everything adds up. I don't like this either."
"Have you done any digging?" James asked.
"Nothing new. I haven't gotten 'round to it this
morning. I don't want to alert Ursula. She still doesn't know about Possession, and at the moment I want to keep it that way."
"You'll have to tell her eventually."
"Not today. At the moment this is too dangerous for her. I want to keep her as safe as possible."
"Black is dangerous, I'll give you that, but prostituting women? Or buying them? I don't get it." James stared at him.
Stephen knew it sounded far-fetched. "There is a lot of shit going on in this world that I don't agree with. Money is money no matter how it is earned. If you've lost a large sum of money and you need to get it back and quick, wouldn't you do everything you could to get it back?"
"I'd earn it the good old-fashioned way. I'm not wired to earn off the backs of women, Stephen. I never have been."
He knew James spoke the truth. Stephen would do the same. No woman would earn his crust.
"Well, I wouldn't turn a woman black and blue," Stephen said.
"I would turn a woman's ass red, but I'd never abuse her. Hitting a woman in violence is wrong. I don't agree with it. If Lloyd is looking to get out of jail then I don't know how we can stop him."
"I don't think him getting out of jail is the problem, James. I think the means he is going to use is the problem." The more he thought about Lloyd the more he began to worry. He could use the clubs as leeway to try to get out of prison. Possession and Ravage could easily be shown in the wrong light.
"Fuck, he better not have a death wish. If he tries to take my club down, I'll fucking kill him," James said.
They sat in silence for the rest of the journey.
Cadeon sat in his car waiting for them when they pulled up outside her house. They all got out, the cold biting Stephen through his jacket.
"I told Tate and Kevin to not bother today. They're meeting us with the others at the club."
"Okay," Stephen said.
Cadeon knocked on the door. It had been a few years since Stephen had last seen Rebecca. The door opened, and her head popped round. He noticed she didn't greet anyone but Cadeon.
"I've got some friends with me who want to ask you a few questions." The door was left open, and Cadeon escorted them all in. They found Rebecca in the sitting room. She'd wrapped a blanket around her. She sat on the farthest end of the couch.
"I'm sorry. I'm cold," she said.
"You don't need to be afraid, Rebecca. I care about you. How is everything with Tate and Kevin?" Cadeon asked. "They try to help me. I find it so hard. I want to go outside. My doctor doesn't think I have that symptom she mentioned. She thinks I'm repressing memories, and it
makes me think I don't want to go outside." Rebecca chuckled.
"Do you remember me?" Stephen asked taking the seat in front of her.
"Yes."
"And me?" James asked.
"Yes."
"We need to ask you a few questions."
"Ask away. I don't have a lot of guests. I'm not slow. I'll
answer anything you need me to." She gave a nod at all of them.
"Are you comfortable talking about your time with Lloyd Black?" Stephen asked.
He noticed the fear in her. She fidgeted on the couch and stared between him and Cadeon. "Yes," she whispered. "I'll talk about him."
"What about your own life?"
"What do you mean?" she asked.
Stephen glared at James. "We've recently come into
some information that may be crucial to something that is happening. Do you recall much of your life before marrying Lloyd?"
"I don't want to talk about it. Ask me anything about Lloyd, but I can't tell you about my past."
"Why?" Stephen asked.
"Because I'll be in trouble. I'm only allowed to say that I met Lloyd and fell in love. I'm not allowed to say anything else."
Stephen nodded his head. He would need to wait until Monday to get the answers he needed.
"I want you to tell me about Lloyd. Were you his only woman?" Stephen asked.
"No. He would have meetings at his house where a selection of girls would come. He'd pick them out, and then the others would leave," Rebecca said. "I had to provide entertainment after he made his purchase."
"He brought these women?"
"Yes. He always said they were a good investment. Men always needed a hole to fuck, and they kept him in the lifestyle he was accustomed to." He saw the tears in her eyes. The barrier she was fighting against was breaking down. "When he had the meetings I was so afraid. He would warn me that if I didn't please the man he handed me to, then he would sell me, too, and make sure I didn't have a good life."
Her hands kept rubbing her legs.
"I'm so sorry. I wanted to tell you everything when we went to the club, but he made sure I was never alone. The pain if another man spoke to me hurt so much. I wasn't brave enough to fight him. I wanted to fight him all the time. I was never strong enough." Cadeon wrapped his arms around her. Stephen watched the woman come apart at the seams. Guilt filled him to the very core. He hadn't been paying attention when this woman needed it most. He'd been too upset by the lack of a woman in his life to give a shit about anyone else.
He would change it. Every member was being thoroughly checked from now on. All his existing members would be investigated.
"The man you had to entertain, what was his name?"
"Dominic, and he was British. I never knew his last name."
And there was the connection he needed. Cadeon comforted her while James and Stephen left. They drove in silence to Possession. He pressed the security digits then waited for the gates to open. Like always he went through the back entrance.
When they were in the privacy of his office, Stephen lost it. All his anger he took out on the furniture in his office. James stood in the corner with his arms folded, watching him.
"Trashing your office is not going to change anything that happened. This was not your fault," James said.
"Not my fault?" Stephen threw the computer to the floor. The screen smashed. "Do you think my father would have let that slide? He would have known instantly what was going on. What did I do? I sat back and did nothing." He walked over to where James stood. "That woman has no life because of me. She lives in a house that she refuses to leave. What kind of life does she really have? She depends on a lot of people, James."
"And you think trashing your office will solve all of those problems?"
"Your father gave you one piece of advice, to look after the club and make sure all members are safe. You've done that. Ravage is flourishing, and you're in complete control of everything you do. My dad asked me to keep Possession in the same high regard. I fucked it up, James. He asked this one thing of me, and I messed it up." He started to laugh at the situation. James stared at him. "Do you know what the funny thing is? I was jealous of all you. You knew what possession was all about, while I thought it was a load of crap. I now know it's not."
He stared round the office, the same office his father had used and his father before him. There was a lot of history in the room, and he'd trashed it.
"You've fucked up, so deal with it. You don't have to spend the rest of your life messing up. Rebecca got hurt. You're on the ball now. Don't mess up again."
"That simple?"
"I wasn't always a dominant, Stephen. When I found out about my parents' preferences I freaked out and rebelled. It was only after time that I realised the real person I was. This is who I am. The woman I meet has to accept me how I come. I'm not going to change."
Stephen nodded, unable to do anything else. There was a knock on the door, and Lucas entered. He took one
look at the mess then left.
"I guess we're meeting elsewhere." James left him to
go find Lucas. Stephen grabbed his cell phone to call Ursula. He needed to hear her voice.
The call carried on without answering. When it went to voice-mail he hung up and re-dialled her number. She answered on the third ring.
"Hello," she said.
"Hi, it's just me. I wanted to check in."
"You couldn't stay away too long. Are you missing
me?" she asked.
He glanced around the room, his temper calming
down the moment she began to talk. "You have no idea how much I'm missing you. How come you couldn't get to the phone?"
"I was sucked into college work. I have this paper to write. When I get interested in it, I can't do anything but work. That's the way I am." She chuckled.
"I'm glad."
"My sister is going to be at my parents' next weekend. She wants to meet you."
"It should be fun," he said. Every word she spoke allowed him the chance to completely calm down.
"Yeah? What if you see her and decide you like her more than me?"
"That would never be possible." He knew there was no other woman on the planet for him.
"How do you know?" she asked. Stephen heard the doubt in her voice.
"When I'm with you do you really think I could pass you over for someone else?"
"You haven't met her."
He sighed. "She wasn't the woman who came for the job interview to clean my house. Also, she hasn't put up with my temper and made me work for a conversation. You do all of those things."
"What about sex?"
"Are you seeking a compliment?" he asked.
"Always."
He laughed at her playful tone. "If you're ever in
doubt of my affection, touch the pendant I gave you."
There was rustling, and he knew she was touching the
necklace. "It is a beautiful necklace."
"I would not give that to any woman in my life. I gave
it to you." He sensed her smile down the line.
"Will it always be like this?" she asked.
"Yes. The only difference between now and the future
is I'll be sitting by you when we're talking."
James came to the door and gestured for him to hurry
up.
"I've got to go. I'll be home soon."
"Okay, I'll miss you."
He hung up wanting to say so much more to her.
Stephen shut the phone then walked out the door to find James waiting for him.
"Are you okay?" James asked.
Stephen nodded. "I'll get by. Are they all here?"
"Yes," James said. Stephen followed the other man out
of the room then down the hall. They were inside a small room with a pool table. Cadeon sat at the bar nursing a beer. Tate and Kevin looked worried.
All the men stood when he entered.
"What's going on? We heard you went to see Rebecca. What's going on?" Kevin asked.
"It would seem Lloyd Black has other business ventures," Stephen said. "He was involved with Dominic in some way, and he's going to do everything he can to bring down the two clubs."
Cadeon took a long swig of his beer.
"But he signed one of those forms keeping the club protected," Sean said as way of an argument.
"You've met Lloyd. Do you really think he'd give a shit about a piece of paper? He's in prison. If he can feed the police or someone any information about this place then that is his escape clause."
They all looked shocked. Stephen was past shocked. He had no clues about what to do. His father would know, but he wasn't his father.
"Then we need to link him to Dominic and the underhand dealings," Tate said.
"How are we going to do that? It would be our word against his. When he blows the lid off this place we'd be nothing but suspects in anything they wanted to throw at us. Wealthy businessmen in the line of fire sells newspapers and promotes people. You all know this," Stephen said.
"I've got contacts in the police force as well as other places. I can keep this story out of the paper, but it will require payment along with membership," Lucas said.
"Membership? This club is supposed to be exclusive. No one is supposed to know it exists," Stephen yelled.
All the men snorted at his statement.
"Exclusive? Stephen, I knew about you and this club many years before I even met you. Your club stays quiet and out of the media because there are men who want in," Lucas said.
Stephen glanced around at all the men. He noticed James smiling. "Is what he says true?"
"Yes. Our clubs remain but a rumour among most people, but then most rumours have a slight edge of truth. It doesn't take a person long to find out what is the truth and what is not."
"Then we do what we can. I need to talk to my lawyer about Lloyd." Stephen stood, running his fingers through his hair.
"I'll reach out to my contacts. I'll see what I can do," Lucas said.
The others spoke in agreement. Stephen made sure to announce to the members present in the club the danger they might be in. Several men offered their services to try to help the club while others left without the intention of returning. Stephen noted all the men who left and would dissolve their membership. Anyone who left without offering assistance was not a true Owner. His club would remain for the true possessives, like his father had kept it before him.
He left early to make it home with enough time to spend with Ursula. The weekend was looking up, but he still had much to do. His only consolation was his woman.
She stood in his kitchen frying up some chicken. Her smile greeted him as he circled her waist and held her close. He inhaled her scent, and all of his worries disappeared into the night.