Chapter 15
Chapter Fifteen
Atlas
Catherine brought Penny into Samuel’s office, the designated meeting point. Our stepsister’s eyes lit up when she saw us, but her expression quickly shifted to concern.
She stopped short of the circle of chairs we were sitting in, including one empty chair.
The three of us looked like shit—that was for sure. None of us had slept. Aside from stress over how this could play out, we’d also worked on a plan that followed our hearts. Time would tell if we got to use it.
Catherine clarified to Penny, “The three of these men haven’t been completely honest with you and are here to come clean. I can assure you that you’re not in any danger, but Samuel and I are happy to stay if you would like. If you’d prefer privacy with them, he and I will be in my office.”
Penny stared at the floor. “I would like to be alone with them.”
Catherine showed Penny the button on the landline that would ring her office if needed.
“Thank you.” Penny cautiously settled into the chair.
The counselors left, and after an awkward silence, I proceeded as we’d agreed. “I apologize for lying to you, first by omission, and then by my own words, a complete lie. But the one thing that’s been true are my feelings for you.”
Everest added, “I apologize for the omission and for not correcting a lie that I heard Atlas tell. And I also have genuine feelings for you.”
Phoenix said, “I’m completely ashamed of my role in this, and offer my sincerest apology. I never intended to lie to someone I care so deeply for. We will accept any decision you make once you’ve heard the truth.”
Penny took a moment to look at each of us as we spoke, but mostly stared at her hands clasped in her lap.
I continued with my turn. “We didn’t tell you who we were, and when you asked how we found out about this job, I lied to you and said a friend told us. The truth is that your mother told us.”
A few seconds passed as Penny absorbed the truth. Her mouth opened as if to say something and closed again. Her head hung. It killed me to see her hurting.
“Babygirl, I mean Penny, I—”
“Stop. My mother put you up to this?” She scooted her chair back, stood, her hands shaking, and she stepped toward the door.
I couldn’t let her leave. The three of us jumped up, but I motioned for the other two to stay back. I stepped in front of her and said, “Please don’t leave until we’ve told you everything.”
“What else is there to say? I’m not lovable. My mother doesn’t even trust that I can enjoy a kink camp where there’s no judgment.” She threw her hands up. “How did she know where I went?”
Phoenix’s voice was soft and soothing. “Can we please sit back down?”
“All of you sit down.” Her shoulders were hunched and her hands were clasped.
My heart was ripped out of my chest to see her so devastated. It made the rest of what we had to tell her even harder. “May I touch you, give you a hug?”
“No, sit.”
We took our chairs but she walked behind Samuel’s desk and sat in his chair, her eyes downcast. “What else do you have to tell me?”
Phoenix said, “According to our father, your mother was concerned with what kind of educational camp you were going to. You had been vague, and she wanted to protect you. We’d never met you, never even seen a picture of you, so we trusted her word.”
Everest said, “She told our father that you were a kinder soul than most and that you might be in over your head, so when she checked your emails and saw it was a kink camp, she was deeply worried.”
I took over again. “She asked around and somebody in your hometown knew about the Ranch. We grew up on a ranch so he asked us all to apply. We studied kink to get up to speed, or at least try. We were going to watch from a distance, do our job, simply make sure you were safe… but when you walked in that door the first day, my interest in you wasn’t strictly to satisfy your mother.
I felt it in my bones that I should care for you, to protect you, to guide you, to nurture you, to teach you.
I want to do all of those things. Penny, I want to be your Daddy Dom. ”
She glanced up from under her lashes when my monologue ended. I took a second to catch my breath.
“How does my mom know your dad?”
“Oh, shit!” Phoenix said. “They got married. You’re our stepsister.”
Penny calmly—too calmly—got up from the chair and said, “I’m going to my cabin. Don’t follow me.”
It was frustrating not to have finished our explanation, but we had to give her space. We’d committed to that.