They settled on a subtle bow with a thinner black ribbon, offset to one side. Sarah then braided Belledor's hair elaborately to the other side, applied some mild pink lipstick, and declared her ready to go.
The two of them still had some time before Mr. Kade arrived, however.
"Are you sure about this?" Sarah asked, suddenly serious. "A theater outing with your manager?"
Belledor shrugged, her lips curling into a smile. Sarah nudged her. "I'm serious.. There's a power dynamic in play. I just don't want you to get hurt."
"His friends are also going to be there. It's not like I'll be there alone with him."
"If you say so," Sarah said. "But I'm going to come check on you at work tomorrow. If you're not there, I... might have to hire someone."
"Sarah!" Belledor laughed, nudging her friend back.
"I'd do it!" Sarah declared, getting serious again. Collecting some things into a small bag, Belledor, shook her head.
"I'll be fine. I'm learning to take care of myself."
--
Sarah left to go to a gathering of her own before the car arrived, exactly on time. Belledor took a deep breath and put on her coat, looking one last time in the mirror before she walked out the door. She had no idea if Mr. Kade would also be in the car or if he had simply sent one for her.
She opened the door and found it empty save for the driver. Her stomach unclenched in relief, but her chest ached, feeling suddenly hollow, as she got into the car.
It was a short ride to the theater and almost dark by the time she arrived. Belledor wondered how she might find Mr. Kade in the crowd, but she saw him standing at the entrance in a dark blue suit with three other people. He must have been waiting for her because he saw her immediately and nodded her over.
"Welcome, Belledor," he said jovially, easily slipping into introductions. "Belledor, these are long-time friends, Peter, Amelia, and Terry. You might recognize Terry--she has headlined at a few of the lounges around town." Terry nodded at Belledor, giving Mr. Kade a knowing look.
"Serio. Always looking for opportunities to flatter me," Terry said, her simple red cocktail dress sparkling.
"You're only in town so often," Peter supplied, himself wearing a light blue suit, "we have to take all the opportunities we can get!"
Terry laughed good-naturedly, turning back to Belledor. "I'm glad you'll be joining us this evening."
Before Belledor could say anything, Mr. Kade--Serio--gave his friends some context. "Belledor just moved to New York. I promised to show her the ropes." Peter raised an eyebrow.
Amelia, wearing a pale yellow skirt and white sequined shirt off one shoulder, smiled brightly. "Lucky girl! Serio knows all the best places." Belledor didn't know what to make of the woman's wink. She smiled and tilted her chin down, a light laugh on her lips. She found it was easy to feel excited to spend time with each of these people.
Belledor's Short Story
Re: Belledor's Short Story
"Oh, there's Michelle!" Amelia suddenly shouted, running down to greet yet another friend--a blonde in a sparkly black suit--giving her a huge hug that nearly knocked the other woman over. Both of them laughed pleasantly in the distance. Belledor was grateful for the way the introjection saved her the trouble of having to say anything herself.
Mr.--no, she really shouldn't think of him that way here--Serio looked at her, and Belledor had the impression he was taking a moment to admire her outfit. But he didn't miss a beat. "We already have seats inside, and a few others should be joining us. I'll introduce you." Serio then offered Belledor his arm, and she took it as he guided her into the theater.
They walked up to the bar, which had a prominent sign saying, no alcohol served--do not ask.
While they stood in line, Serio leaned down to Belledor and said, "I want you to know that you can say no to anything--anything at all--that makes you feel uncomfortable. And in fact, it would help me feel more comfortable if I knew I could trust you with that. Can I trust you with that?"
Surprised, Belledor nodded instinctively, wondering what in the world he thought might happen at this play. But then, she didn't want to seem like she was just agreeing out of habit. "Yes. I mean, yes. I feel comfortable saying no." Serio looked at her for an extra moment but then nodded.
"Good. Thank you. So, then, your first test," Serio said, a glint in his eye. "Would you like an alcoholic drink?"
Belledor looked at the sign again and back at Serio, confused.
"Don't pay attention to what's allowed. Don't think about anything external. Would you, Belledor, enjoy an alcoholic drink?"
She blinked, startled at the ways he had picked up on her cues. She closed her eyes for just a moment, thinking about it.
"Y-yes. Yes. I would like that." She could hardly believe she was saying it, but it was true. She didn't drink at work, though she knew the alcohol was plentiful. On some level, she knew that the lounge was dealing in illicit alcohol, but she didn't let herself think too hard about it, and besides, she didn't anticipate that trouble would come down on her specifically. But she had drunk at Colleen's party, and she had been offered drinks by her friends before. She liked the floaty feeling it gave her, and she felt safe in Serio's company. Surely he would take care of her if she lost track of herself?
Serio nodded, and soon it was their turn with the bartender.
"Two fruit punches, both trussed," Serio said with a wink. The bartender smiled and nodded at Serio, soon procuring two drinks. Serio handed one to Belledor and waited for her to sip it. "What you wanted?" Serio asked, that glint in his eye again. It was fruity, but there was a hot, bitter taste to it that she wouldn't have expected in a virgin drink. She looked up at him with something like awe and surprise, startled.
"It's... really good. Thank you. How did you...?" She started to ask, still confused about the sign.
"We all have games we play, dear girl. And this theater," Serio said, gesturing around them, "this is where my friends and I play the best games." He winked at her, then, reminding her that she had forgotten to use the restroom before she had left her apartment.
Mr.--no, she really shouldn't think of him that way here--Serio looked at her, and Belledor had the impression he was taking a moment to admire her outfit. But he didn't miss a beat. "We already have seats inside, and a few others should be joining us. I'll introduce you." Serio then offered Belledor his arm, and she took it as he guided her into the theater.
They walked up to the bar, which had a prominent sign saying, no alcohol served--do not ask.
While they stood in line, Serio leaned down to Belledor and said, "I want you to know that you can say no to anything--anything at all--that makes you feel uncomfortable. And in fact, it would help me feel more comfortable if I knew I could trust you with that. Can I trust you with that?"
Surprised, Belledor nodded instinctively, wondering what in the world he thought might happen at this play. But then, she didn't want to seem like she was just agreeing out of habit. "Yes. I mean, yes. I feel comfortable saying no." Serio looked at her for an extra moment but then nodded.
"Good. Thank you. So, then, your first test," Serio said, a glint in his eye. "Would you like an alcoholic drink?"
Belledor looked at the sign again and back at Serio, confused.
"Don't pay attention to what's allowed. Don't think about anything external. Would you, Belledor, enjoy an alcoholic drink?"
She blinked, startled at the ways he had picked up on her cues. She closed her eyes for just a moment, thinking about it.
"Y-yes. Yes. I would like that." She could hardly believe she was saying it, but it was true. She didn't drink at work, though she knew the alcohol was plentiful. On some level, she knew that the lounge was dealing in illicit alcohol, but she didn't let herself think too hard about it, and besides, she didn't anticipate that trouble would come down on her specifically. But she had drunk at Colleen's party, and she had been offered drinks by her friends before. She liked the floaty feeling it gave her, and she felt safe in Serio's company. Surely he would take care of her if she lost track of herself?
Serio nodded, and soon it was their turn with the bartender.
"Two fruit punches, both trussed," Serio said with a wink. The bartender smiled and nodded at Serio, soon procuring two drinks. Serio handed one to Belledor and waited for her to sip it. "What you wanted?" Serio asked, that glint in his eye again. It was fruity, but there was a hot, bitter taste to it that she wouldn't have expected in a virgin drink. She looked up at him with something like awe and surprise, startled.
"It's... really good. Thank you. How did you...?" She started to ask, still confused about the sign.
"We all have games we play, dear girl. And this theater," Serio said, gesturing around them, "this is where my friends and I play the best games." He winked at her, then, reminding her that she had forgotten to use the restroom before she had left her apartment.
Re: Belledor's Short Story
Belledor took another sip as Serio led them over to a standing table out of the way of the bar and its line. Several of his friends only just joined the line, waving at Serio in the process. Serio waved back. He seemed so at ease here. Or, more than that--happy. It wasn't exactly that he was serious at the lounge, but his manner was more calculated. Here, he genuinely allowed his enjoyment to show. Belledor was thrilled to see it so plainly.
"What... sorts of games?" Belledor asked, both trying to keep the conversation going and honestly curious. Serio gave her a measured look, glancing from her face to her drink and back again. He leaned in toward her in a way that made her breath catch.
"What would you call what you and I have been doing together?" Serio asked her. Belledor blinked.
"What... what do you mean?" she asked, instinctively playing innocent.
He gave her sharper look, his eyes narrowed, though a ghost of a smile still remained on his lips. He gestured toward her drink.
"You know you don't need to ask me before you use the restroom," he said, and immediately, her face began to turn beet red. "Isn't that a kind of game?" He gave her some time to think about it, which she appreciated. She looked down at the table as though she might find the answer there.
She finally met his gaze. "Y-yes. You could call it that," she said, a small, embarrassed smile on her lips.
"I'll admit I'm curious which part you like about it," Serio said, leaving her only enough of an opening so she could change the subject if she wanted. She didn't, but she did need to look down again, momentarily.
"Well, there's... a lot to like. The... possibility, at least in my mind, that you might say no, and the anticipation that causes," she smiled, almost forgetting he was right in front of her as she talked about it, thought about it. "The pressure on my... in my body," she said nervously, "feels good. And, the... the relief after the fact... it's nice." She put her drink down and tucked a stray piece of hair behind one ear nervously. It felt insane to be so candid about this, but as she looked around, everyone was so engrossed in their own little worlds--they weren't paying any attention to what she and Serio were talking about.
Serio nodded like she had just told him about the weather. "A lot of my friends spend their spare time coming up with and playing games of that nature. I hoped to bring you here to introduce you to the community. It's possible you'll find more games that you like... and more people to play them with."
The thought both excited and saddened her. "Does it bother you? When I ask?" she said, concerned. Serio leaned just slightly closer.
"Belledor," he said, his voice low but stern. "If it bothered me, I wouldn't have kept doing it."
"What... sorts of games?" Belledor asked, both trying to keep the conversation going and honestly curious. Serio gave her a measured look, glancing from her face to her drink and back again. He leaned in toward her in a way that made her breath catch.
"What would you call what you and I have been doing together?" Serio asked her. Belledor blinked.
"What... what do you mean?" she asked, instinctively playing innocent.
He gave her sharper look, his eyes narrowed, though a ghost of a smile still remained on his lips. He gestured toward her drink.
"You know you don't need to ask me before you use the restroom," he said, and immediately, her face began to turn beet red. "Isn't that a kind of game?" He gave her some time to think about it, which she appreciated. She looked down at the table as though she might find the answer there.
She finally met his gaze. "Y-yes. You could call it that," she said, a small, embarrassed smile on her lips.
"I'll admit I'm curious which part you like about it," Serio said, leaving her only enough of an opening so she could change the subject if she wanted. She didn't, but she did need to look down again, momentarily.
"Well, there's... a lot to like. The... possibility, at least in my mind, that you might say no, and the anticipation that causes," she smiled, almost forgetting he was right in front of her as she talked about it, thought about it. "The pressure on my... in my body," she said nervously, "feels good. And, the... the relief after the fact... it's nice." She put her drink down and tucked a stray piece of hair behind one ear nervously. It felt insane to be so candid about this, but as she looked around, everyone was so engrossed in their own little worlds--they weren't paying any attention to what she and Serio were talking about.
Serio nodded like she had just told him about the weather. "A lot of my friends spend their spare time coming up with and playing games of that nature. I hoped to bring you here to introduce you to the community. It's possible you'll find more games that you like... and more people to play them with."
The thought both excited and saddened her. "Does it bother you? When I ask?" she said, concerned. Serio leaned just slightly closer.
"Belledor," he said, his voice low but stern. "If it bothered me, I wouldn't have kept doing it."
Re: Belledor's Short Story
Belledor could barely contain her blush, and she sipped her drink, trying to cover for how wordless she felt. She wasn't fully sure she could keep up with this man and his witty banter. But she wanted to. And maybe, just maybe, she could hold his interest. She found herself perking up, maybe emboldened by the illicit alcohol already, as she said, looking him gently in the eye, "One of these times, will you make me wait?"
Serio raised both eyebrows, and she found herself gratified at having surprised him. He quickly recovered, however. "That depends. How long do you ask me before it becomes urgent?"
She found herself pleasantly surprised about the thoughtfulness of the question.
"About 15 minutes." He nodded.
"And how long between when you start to feel sensation and when it becomes urgent?"
She had to think for a moment about that question. Eventually, she said, "30 minutes."
He nodded again. "In the future, ask me when you start to feel it, and perhaps..." he took a breath, giving her a sly look, "I will say no when you ask."
Serio raised both eyebrows, and she found herself gratified at having surprised him. He quickly recovered, however. "That depends. How long do you ask me before it becomes urgent?"
She found herself pleasantly surprised about the thoughtfulness of the question.
"About 15 minutes." He nodded.
"And how long between when you start to feel sensation and when it becomes urgent?"
She had to think for a moment about that question. Eventually, she said, "30 minutes."
He nodded again. "In the future, ask me when you start to feel it, and perhaps..." he took a breath, giving her a sly look, "I will say no when you ask."
Re: Belledor's Short Story
Belledor instinctively squeezed her pelvic floor muscles, sending a large, visible shiver throughout her body and potently reminding her that she had needed a bathroom since she had left her apartment. She blushed deeply, looking down at her hands beneath the table before glancing at her half-finished drink.
"Has it already been longer than that?" Serio intuited, and Belledor snapped her eyes back to his, her mouth slightly agape, giving herself away as if she hadn't already. But, quickly, she collected herself and shyly nodded with small smile, looking down once more.
"Do you need an escort?" Serio asked, and she liked the idea of him standing outside the door, but he then added, "I could get Michelle or Yukiko to..."
"No, that's okay," Belledor said, shaking her head. She wasn't ready for that kind of socializing, not on her own. She was about to stand up when a tall Mongolian gentleman with long, wavy black hair approached the table. His red-orange tie almost reminded Belledor of a snake, but maybe that was just its texture.
"Good to see you, Mr. Kade. And who is this lovely guest you have here?" the man asked congenially, taking a tiny sip of his drink. Belledor was a little intimidated by how severely the man held his posture. Thankfully, the question wasn't directed at her.
"This is Ms. De Lacerda, an associate of mine," Serio said fluidly, and Belledor tried not to react to the word associate. She supposed it was better than admitting to this stranger than she was Serio's waitress. But, the word still made her sit up straighter and attempt to appear more elegant, maybe even a little intimidating herself.
"A pleasure, Ms. De Lacerda," the man offered with a slight bow in her direction. She nodded in return, suddenly feeling queenly. She noticed that the man did not bother introducing himself, but she couldn't bring herself to ask him any questions.
Serio turned to Belledor and gave her a long look, but then he turned back to the stranger. "Will you be staying after the show tonight?" Serio asked.
The tall stranger gave Serio a small grin and, with the briefest of flashes of his teeth, said, "I wouldn't miss it." Serio nodded, appearing to consider something. Finally, he turned his attention back to Belledor. When he made eye contact with her, he tilted his head to one side ever so slightly. Having caught his signal, she straightened even more in her seat and stood, brushing her skirt flat and contemplating whether she should take her drink with her. Thinking of the kind of advice Sarah might give her, Belledor picked it up and gently raised her glass to the stranger--still riding the high of being called Serio's "associate."
"May we meet again," she said liltingly. "For now, I must excuse myself."
"Has it already been longer than that?" Serio intuited, and Belledor snapped her eyes back to his, her mouth slightly agape, giving herself away as if she hadn't already. But, quickly, she collected herself and shyly nodded with small smile, looking down once more.
"Do you need an escort?" Serio asked, and she liked the idea of him standing outside the door, but he then added, "I could get Michelle or Yukiko to..."
"No, that's okay," Belledor said, shaking her head. She wasn't ready for that kind of socializing, not on her own. She was about to stand up when a tall Mongolian gentleman with long, wavy black hair approached the table. His red-orange tie almost reminded Belledor of a snake, but maybe that was just its texture.
"Good to see you, Mr. Kade. And who is this lovely guest you have here?" the man asked congenially, taking a tiny sip of his drink. Belledor was a little intimidated by how severely the man held his posture. Thankfully, the question wasn't directed at her.
"This is Ms. De Lacerda, an associate of mine," Serio said fluidly, and Belledor tried not to react to the word associate. She supposed it was better than admitting to this stranger than she was Serio's waitress. But, the word still made her sit up straighter and attempt to appear more elegant, maybe even a little intimidating herself.
"A pleasure, Ms. De Lacerda," the man offered with a slight bow in her direction. She nodded in return, suddenly feeling queenly. She noticed that the man did not bother introducing himself, but she couldn't bring herself to ask him any questions.
Serio turned to Belledor and gave her a long look, but then he turned back to the stranger. "Will you be staying after the show tonight?" Serio asked.
The tall stranger gave Serio a small grin and, with the briefest of flashes of his teeth, said, "I wouldn't miss it." Serio nodded, appearing to consider something. Finally, he turned his attention back to Belledor. When he made eye contact with her, he tilted his head to one side ever so slightly. Having caught his signal, she straightened even more in her seat and stood, brushing her skirt flat and contemplating whether she should take her drink with her. Thinking of the kind of advice Sarah might give her, Belledor picked it up and gently raised her glass to the stranger--still riding the high of being called Serio's "associate."
"May we meet again," she said liltingly. "For now, I must excuse myself."
Re: Belledor's Short Story
Many questions circled Belledor's mind as she walked away from Serio and his companion. How did they know each other? Who was that man? But the questions were quickly overrun by thoughts of her conversation with Serio where he said he would tell her no. Next time. If she told him soon enough. She shivered again as she walked, turning the corner and out of view of the two men.
She did not see any of Serio's friends or anyone else she knew. The theater was a sea of unfamiliar faces, though some of them looked more excited than others. Perhaps they knew more of the play than she did. In all honesty, she didn't have any idea what the play would be about. That wasn't entirely what this outing was for.
When she got the bathroom, there was a short line of other women, several of them chatting with each other. Belledor's bladder demanded attention from her, but she closed her eyes and tried to relax--but not too much. It was a balancing act, and it aroused her deeply, but arousal was far better than letting it all go. At last, she was next in line, and she bit her lip now, trying not to make it obvious how much she needed a stall. She started counting to an arbitrary number in her mind--thirty-two--hoping one of the women would come out of their stalls by then. At twenty-seven, a stall opened, and Belledor was only barely courteous as she took the woman's place.
Immediately, Belledor slid her skirt down and sat down, letting breath out slowly. She had held her sphincter tightly enough that it was difficult to relax now, and she needed to seek that aroused, open sensation to coax herself to let go. As that sensation mounted, Belledor's eyes rolled back, and at last, fluid began pouring out of her, startling her at first. She tensed, stopping the fluid, but sought the arousal again, and this time she stayed relaxed, letting the rest of it pour out of her. She leaned her head against the stall wall momentarily, breathing deeply and quietly.
She did not see any of Serio's friends or anyone else she knew. The theater was a sea of unfamiliar faces, though some of them looked more excited than others. Perhaps they knew more of the play than she did. In all honesty, she didn't have any idea what the play would be about. That wasn't entirely what this outing was for.
When she got the bathroom, there was a short line of other women, several of them chatting with each other. Belledor's bladder demanded attention from her, but she closed her eyes and tried to relax--but not too much. It was a balancing act, and it aroused her deeply, but arousal was far better than letting it all go. At last, she was next in line, and she bit her lip now, trying not to make it obvious how much she needed a stall. She started counting to an arbitrary number in her mind--thirty-two--hoping one of the women would come out of their stalls by then. At twenty-seven, a stall opened, and Belledor was only barely courteous as she took the woman's place.
Immediately, Belledor slid her skirt down and sat down, letting breath out slowly. She had held her sphincter tightly enough that it was difficult to relax now, and she needed to seek that aroused, open sensation to coax herself to let go. As that sensation mounted, Belledor's eyes rolled back, and at last, fluid began pouring out of her, startling her at first. She tensed, stopping the fluid, but sought the arousal again, and this time she stayed relaxed, letting the rest of it pour out of her. She leaned her head against the stall wall momentarily, breathing deeply and quietly.