Chapter 11
“This group of newbies is way more informed than we ever were! I’m not sure they needed an intro class.” Helena flashed her a smile as she moved a chair back to the seating area.
“We didn’t have the internet.” She caught her friend’s eye, and they both laughed and together got the space back to normal.
Tonight had been an excellent crowd and it was the part of Club Bandit that she wanted to participate in the most, educating newbies about kink
“I’m glad we got through the intro discussion and on to the demos.”
Spending the evening here also took her mind off of the phone conversation with Madison
She knew she needed to talk to Zee about it, but ever since he took the job, for whatever reason, she found it harder to loop him in on things, to stay open to him.
And like she and Helena just told the group of newbies, communication is everything, especially in a D/s relationship.
As his submissive, it was her job to come to Zee with things that were upsetting her.
Ella knew she had been holding back from him.
The emotional impact was getting to her, but she wouldn’t upset him.
But she didn’t want to upset him.
“Is Derrick the resident rope expert now that Logan isn’t doing as many demos?”
“I don’t think anyone will admit it, but yes. I’m glad Derrick came in on short notice.”
Rope was the most requested demo, and Derrick was so generous with his time, tying up all the newbies who wanted to be—over their clothes—and talking them through what he was doing, what they should look out for.
“Logan’s way of working is so intimate. I loved watching him tie. Derrick’s great but has a more detached way of tying.”
“He’s so quick and fun to watch. They make me feel old.” Ella strode up the stairs to the little lighting box to turn off the stage lights before joining Helena on the main floor.
“That should make you feel wise!” Helena’s trill of laughter filled the space and Ella grinned at her friend as they picked up the curved bench and moved it back in front of the stage.
“Helena, when that girl with the nose ring asked me how long I’ve been doing this, my mind blanked.”
“It is hard to keep count after a while. I did feel a little prudish when I said, longer than you’ve been alive, I’ll admit.”
They exchanged glances and then broke into laughter, the way two old friends can.
“It’s a good class. Even if they don’t confirm their membership, this is the kind of public openness I like, people who have been vetted by our members.”
“Yes, I agree. What do you and Zee have planned for tonight?” Helena brought a pile of chairs into the closet.
“I don’t know. We might just spend a quiet night in for once.” She grabbed the broom and started sweeping the floor.
She hadn’t heard from Zee since he’d dropped her off.
He knew she was in a class, but he usually checked in with her near the end.
Ella’s phone buzzed from where she’d left it on a side table, and she grabbed it. “Hello?”
“Mom, Madison is gone!” Annie shouted in her ear.
“Honey, what do you mean, gone?” Her stomach twisted in a knot.
“She signed the contract for that team, and she literally packed a bag and left for the airport. Telling me when I was in the middle of a practice session.”
Despite all the emotions rolling through her, Ella smiled at Annie being upset by being interrupted while her sister walked out, that was just the way it was between her daughters.
“I’ll try calling her. Thanks for letting me know.”
“I don’t know why she’d do that. Walking out on your current team can’t look good, right?”
“Probably not. But we make our own choices.”
“The audition is still open for that job, Mom, speaking of choices. Dad’s going to be so pissed.”
Ella bit down on a laugh.
That was her focused daughter, bringing up the job posting she wanted Ella to apply for in the middle of another crisis.
Though she didn’t think it was a crisis, and a part of her was proud of Madison.
Maybe a big part of her, her cheeks ached from smiling, thinking about Madison off on a new adventure, going for something that she’d want for a long time.
“I’ll talk to you later. Love you.”
“Love you, too, Mom.”
“Everything okay?” Helena gave her a curious glance.
“I think Madison is on a plane to Europe,” she choked out through a laugh.
“Good for her!” Helena clapped her hands together. “I always knew those girls were going to do fabulous things.”
“I hope this one turns out to be fabulous and not a disaster.”
“They’ve watched their father chase his dreams, right? You guys have done good with the girls. Give it time.”
“Thanks.”
“If we’re all done here, I’m going to leave you to get home to my submissive. We’re cuddling on the couch and watching a movie. How’s that for excitement?”
“The right speed,” Ella said, grinning. “We’ll have to get together soon. My husband has been so busy.”
“How are you adjusting?” Helena squeezed her arm as they walked back to the reception area.
“I’m fine. He’s happy. That’s all that matters.” She meant the words, but they were hollow.
“Your happiness matters too, Ella. See you soon!” Helena gave her a hug. “Text Zee to let him know you’re alone?” Her friend slipped into her Domme voice.
Of course, go!” Ella made a shooing gesture.
“You lock the door behind me,” Helena ordered.
“Got it.” Ella gave her friend another wave, then closed and locked the doors behind her, setting the alarm.
Ella tidied up the reception area, the overhead light flickering, casting the room in a half-white light.
The effect made her stomach roll and she frowned, annoyed that it hadn’t been fixed yet.
It was a minor detail, but Zee prided himself on all the carefully crafted touches throughout the space, and a flickering light made the entryway look dated.
She didn’t need any further reminders of being old, not tonight.
Ella shook her head, clearing her thoughts as Madison’s words echoed in her mind. No, she didn’t have experience managing a demanding academic schedule.
Why didn’t she go to music school or write her own album, driven by the pursuit of achievements?
It wasn’t that Zee told her to stay home with the girls. He was always supportive of her going to concerts, of her taking the occasional sewing class to upgrade her skills.
She didn’t want sewing to be her full-time job, and she didn’t care about designing that much either.
What made her happy was being a mom and a submissive wife to her husband. Maybe her daughters would never understand that, but that was enough for her.
At least it had been, for a long time.
The details of that job Annie had shown her filtered through her mind, but it was too far outside of her comfort zone.
Zee wanted to be out there chasing medals and goals and she supported him doing that for years.
Ella glanced at the light again. At least she could try to fix that.
Pushing down her jumble of emotions, she heaved the ladder out of the closet by the locker room, positioned it under the track, and then rummaged through the toolbox.
She could at least take the bulb that was acting up out of the track so it would stop giving off that horrible flickering light.
Ella positioned the ladder right under the track and placed her foot on the ladder. It swayed, she squared her shoulders determined to do this.
Her phone rang from the counter, but she focused on her task, ignoring it, reaching for the bulb. Being short wasn’t always helpful.
Ella shifted her weight, and grabbed the metal so hard it dug into her palms, as the ladder wobbled.
She reached out for balance and the ladder lurched from beneath her feet.
The air whooshed out of her as her body hit the floor.
Pain, sharp and shooting, raced through her. She tried to lift herself off the floor but couldn’t. Waves of nausea made the room spin. It hurt to breathe.
But she had to move.
Like she was trying to escape the pain, she crawled across the floor, realizing her voice was raw from screaming and stopped.
Her whole body convulsed.
She dry heaved as the pain kept rippling through her.
“Ella!”
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, Zee.”
She tried to lift herself up but fell abck with the effort.
“Hush, you have nothing to be sorry about, dear heart.” His ear was pressed to his phone, and that’s the last thing Ella remembered before unconsciousness took her, sinking her into blissful relief.