Chapter 7
Alicia awoke first when dawn touched her eyelids. Her arm was outstretched, and her cheek was still resting against Danica’s bare chest. Fingertips ran against the fuzz on her skin, breath returning her, and her consciousness a grim reminder that things were not always grand.
Danica had released Alicia from her blindfold and handcuffs shortly after returning from the bathroom. Alicia took a shower and spent half an hour combing her hair and replaying their encounter in her head. As Danica watched her from the bed, she asked, “Do you really know how radiant you are?”
No. Alicia didn’t. She still didn’t quite believe her.
“I love you,” she muttered against Danica’s skin. Alicia was glad she was still fast asleep.
She quietly got up, careful not to wake her Mistress before her alarm went off.
She works so much and sleeps so little. Even so, dawn meant she would be getting up soon.
Alicia pulled the hotel bathrobe on and went into the main room of the apartment, where all was quiet and peaceful.
She called up room service to have breakfast delivered in time for Danica to get up and eat. Of course, it was also for her.
When she had her thoughts to herself, it was easy to think things like I want to take care of her like she wants to take care of me.
Not in the same way, but with the same conviction.
She offered to take care of Alicia financially, to give her a lavish lifestyle she could never have with another woman.
Anything material she could want was at her disposal.
What could she do for Danica that was enough? Alicia was thinking beyond the sexual realm now. It was clear how they served each other’s needs in the bedroom. Alicia’s submissive awakening was enough to tell her that. How could she show Danica devotion outside of bed?
Danica had hinted well enough at what she wanted from her future wife.
She wouldn’t outright say it, but she wanted a woman who would take care of her.
Run her household. Mind her children and ensure that at least one or two of them grew up competent enough to take over the company.
Greet her warmly when she came home and make sure she was comfortable after being the big bad corporate wolf all day.
That may include sex in front of the fireplace.
Alicia had spent the last few weeks thinking about her own life ambitions.
What did she really want? Her “career” as a hostess was going nowhere.
The best she could ever do was open her own business and hope for the best, or run a big show like Midnight.
Big whoop. Perhaps a nice spouse would be in there somewhere.
Maybe two or three kids. A house. Two cars.
A simple life in the suburbs or a medium-sized town.
I wouldn’t mind being the housewife of a billionaire.
Alicia wanted more, of course, but there were plenty of new challenges to face in life to last her a while.
Then she could tackle other things. Doubtlessly, she would make connections and garner some ideas while married to Danica Moreau.
What she wanted to do now, career-wise, would be very different a few years from now.
Who knew? Maybe she would learn some things about her business.
First, though, she would arrange breakfast.
Second, she would reenter the bedroom and begin laying out her girlfriend’s clothes, already picked out the night before.
Usually, Ms. Clayborn did this for her, but that woman was still asleep, or so Alicia assumed.
That was one less thing for both of them to do.
Besides, Alicia liked the feel of Danica’s clothes between her fingers.
She placed Danica’s shoes by the bed. She went into the bathroom and lined up her grooming materials. Danica may have been meticulous, but she was used to having other people do things for her. Alicia didn’t mind being that person.
By the time she went back to bed, sleep hanging from her, she felt good about herself.
“Thank you for arranging things for me,” the text Alicia read three hours later said. “Ms. Clayborn thanks you as well. Because of your foresight, I will have plenty of time to rehearse for my presentation this morning.”
Another text waited for her after that. “I will be out very late tonight. You will need to have dinner on your own. I am sorry. There are no plans for us today. Take this time to do as you please, and to think about us. We’ll resume your training tomorrow.”
Was this another punishment? Was Danica removing herself from Alicia’s life (for one whole day, the poor dear) because she disobeyed?
Or was this always the plan? I really should start learning her schedule.
If she had to be out late, then it was probably for work. What the hell did she do, exactly?
Dee was the only other person in the apartment. At least this time, Alicia expected her.
“You all right?” the bodyguard asked, as Alicia glumly sat at the table. “Who do I gotta punch? Just don’t say Ms. Moreau. I know a gal who could punch her for you, though.”
Alicia laughed for the first time all day. “Nothing’s really wrong. Personal stuff.”
“With the girlfriend, hm? Like I said. Know a girl.”
“Are you supposed to say that kind of stuff about her?”
“About who? Your girlfriend or the girl I know?”
Alicia shrugged. “Either one, I guess.”
“Don’t think you heard me say anything, ma’am.”
“You’re right. I didn’t.”
Alicia had no idea what to do with her day.
A million things were waiting for her in Chicago, but all she could think about was Danica and their relationship.
So, while Dee sighed in boredom, Alicia sat at the table with coffee and a plaintive expression on her face.
The morning turned into the afternoon, and Alicia still had no answers.
“Think it’s time to go out,” she finally announced. “Mind coming with me?”
“Whatever you want. Ms. Moreau should have a car for you on hand.”
Alicia didn’t want to drive around Chicago.
She wanted to walk, damnit. Put on some comfortable flats and take in a new city.
Maybe shop a little. Take pictures on her phone.
Pretend that she and Dee were BFFs instead of bodyguard and charge.
Think about my girlfriend. Every time Alicia encountered a businesswoman in a smart outfit, she thought of the woman she was falling in love with – or at least was already in love with.
She wore a blouse with a high neck, but she had slipped the collar on beneath it. The silver loop rubbed against the fabric of her blouse, reminding her that Danica could put whatever she wanted there. Like a leash.
Alicia stopped in the middle of the sidewalk and stared at the concrete in front of her. She imagined Danica leading her through downtown Chicago on a leash, of all things. I don’t know how I feel about that. No, not in public. That would not be allowed in public.
Well, not downtown Chicago public, anyway.
She didn’t know if it was dinner or not, but she had a meal in a sweet-looking café sporting sandwiches and soups from around the world. A true northeastern girl at heart, she ordered the clam chowder and internally declared it passable but nothing like the real thing.
“I’m gonna duck into the bathroom real quick,” Dee said. “Gotta see a man about a horse. You be okay for five minutes?”
“Sure.”
“All right. Don’t tell the boss, ‘kay?”
“You take care of what you need to.” Alicia wasn’t going to tell a woman she couldn’t go to the damn bathroom.
Dee wasn’t in the ladies’ room for five seconds before the reason for her existence became stupidly apparent.
“What are you doing!” The busy café suddenly became a prison as the crazy woman from not too long ago sat in the chair across from Alicia. “I told you to get away from those people!”
Alicia, who was frozen to her seat and struggling to even breathe, dropped her spoon in her half-eaten clam chowder.
“Y… you!” Where had she come from? Had she been following Alicia?
Holy shit! All the way out here in Chicago?
“I know who you are.” That’s what Alicia hissed as she lowered both her head and voice. “You’re Julia Moreau, aren’t you?”
“Hmph.” The woman pulled at her crinkly red hair instead of spitting in Alicia’s food. “I’ve been legally advised to no longer use that name. I was born a Johnson, and I’m to die that way, if my ex-shitfuck for brains has anything to do with it.”
“You mean Russell?”
“Russell! He can choke on a rope like he tried to make me choke on smoke!”
“Whoa!” Dee appeared, already heading for Julia. “What the hell happened while I was gone? Who is this?”
As Alicia figured, Dee was too new to the roster to instantly recognize the Moreaus’ #1 “do not let pass Go and collect $200” candidate. “It’s all right, Dee. I know her.”
“Don’t know about this…”
“It’s fine,” Alicia reiterated. To Julia, she said, “I’m afraid it’s not that easy. Matters are keeping me with your daughter.”
This was not the way she would meet her future mother-in-law in normal life. Julia was not only crazy, but she was adamantly opposed to Alicia dating Danica… and not because she thought Alicia wasn’t good enough. She’s trying to protect me, I think?
“Oh, no…” Julia’s crestfallen countenance struck fear in Alicia. “You’re pregnant.”
That wasn’t the awe of a future grandmother.
“No,” Alicia said, fighting to retain her posture.
“I’m pretty sure I’m not. Anyway… how would I be?
” Was there something about Danica she should know now?
There’s no way… is there? Huh? Alicia would have figured that one out by now! And probably not give one fuck…
Relief spread across Julia’s face. “I know about my daughter’s ambitions.
She has eggs frozen in the same place Russell made me…
anyway, you wouldn’t be the first one she’s asked to be a surrogate to get back at her father.
” Before Alicia could ask for clarification about being a surrogate, Julia continued, “Please, don’t take me the wrong way.
I’m sure you’re a lovely young woman I would love to have in my family, but that’s why I really, truly must implore you to get out while you still can. ”
“As I said, it’s not simple.” Alicia braced her knuckles against the table. “We’re in love.”
Dee glanced between the two women. Julia looked as if she had been given a death blow.
“I suppose I should be happy for the two of you,” she whispered. “Ever since she was born, I imagined her growing up to be a beautiful young woman with true love. Please don’t take this personally. I don’t want any woman to go through what I had to endure.”
“What happened?” Did Alicia want to know?
“No.” Julia shook her head. “Not here.” She looked around the busy café as if someone would slam her out of her chair. What is this woman so afraid of? No one even stared at the burn scar on her face. “It’s not safe to talk here.” She looked at Dee.
“Hey, I ain’t gonna say anything.” The bodyguard held up her hands. “My job is to make sure Ms. Colbert stays safe. Not spread gossip.”
“Who assigned you? My daughter or my ex-husband?”
“Ms. Moreau picked me out and assigned me.”
“Good.” Julia sighed. “Also not good. That means she suspects that this young woman may be in danger.”
“Danger? I thought having a bodyguard was a formality.”
“Perhaps my daughter doesn’t know what she is protecting you from. Russell had us watched by his spies until our divorce. I… no. No, not here. Do you have time tonight?”
“Tonight?”
Julia scribbled something on a piece of notepaper and slid it toward Alicia.
“Meet me here tonight at seven. I’ll tell you everything.
” She glanced around the café again and stood up, bag clutched tightly in her hand.
“You can bring her if you trust her. I must get going before someone sees me. I don’t want to make things even worse for you. ”
The woman disappeared as quickly as she appeared. Is this how she lives her life? Always looking over her shoulder? Alicia shuddered. So consumed she was by this shared paranoia that she almost didn’t notice Dee sitting in the chair Julia once occupied.
“I dunno about this,” the bodyguard said for the second time since coming back from the bathroom. “Something’s off about that lady.”
“That lady is your boss’s mother.”
“So I gathered.” Dee didn’t seem fazed by that info. “I’m not gonna pretend I know what’s goin’ on in your personal life or in that family, ma’am, but I do know that she gives me a bad feeling. Pretty sure my boss would not be happy with you meeting that woman.”
Alicia unfolded the paper and saw the address. “Do you know where this is?”
“Sure. That’s not too far from here. Could drive there in about ten minutes, unless traffic is really bad.” Dee held up her hand. “No, ma’am. I have to discourage you from going.”
“You’ll go with me if I do go, right?”
Sighing, Dee softened her concerned demeanor. “I sort of have to, don’t I?”
“If I go, you can’t tell anyone. You get me, Dee?
” Alicia was of two minds about going as it was.
On one hand, she was desperate to know more about the family that Danica would ask her to join one day.
On the other… shit sounded a bit ominous.
There was also the chance that Julia really was crazy, and everything coming out of her mouth was a crazier lie cooked up in her own head.
She didn’t get that scar from nowhere, though.
“I’m serious. There’s some weird shit afoot, and I intend to find out what’s going on.
I might be the next Mrs. Moreau if things continue the way they are. I don’t want any surprises.”
“Neither do I, yet we got a big surprise.”
Alicia ignored that. “Danica said she’ll be out really late.
I should be able to meet her mother without anyone noticing.
She did tell me to go out and enjoy myself.
This may not be enjoyable, but it’s a chance to learn some things.
” Alicia held her hand out toward Dee. “Promise me you won’t tell anyone anything. ”
The bodyguard slowly shook her head before clasping Alicia’s hand. “I make no promises if my boss directly asks me about it, but I guess we won’t give her a reason to?”
Alicia would take it.