Page 96

“People are afraid, and that’s understandable.” Damn, this is the Kathleen I rarely get to see. The one who gets shit done. “This place has always represented a core part of our community and heritage. We ask you to please have faith. While property values will be going up due to this renovation, it is not projected to further displace the people living here.” Damn straight! Unless we’re displacing millionaires? “Our goal has always been to make The Ace a shining example of what we offer. This can only happen with improvements.”

A rabble begins. Security has arrived and is making sure the protestors stay off private property. Which is about five feet in total. Someone’s terrible body odor is all up in my space.

“I would also like to remind the media and anyone watching that the council signed off on this venture, and we have been given their full blessing. Aside from that…” Kathleen gestures to the sign hanging up behind her. The one showcasing all those signatures she got. “Community members have given us their blessing as well. In fact!” She shields her eyes and smiles at two people holding signs. “Seems that some of them are here. How do you do?”

Feet scuff and throats clear. That’s my girl. My ass-kicking girl who doesn’t take shit and dishes it out as well as she takes it.

With her hair up, all I can see is the white of her throat. That gorgeous throat I can’t stop myself from kissing when we’re alone. I can feel her heartbeat there. Feel the blood pumping through her veins and telling me how alive she is. I wish I could kiss her now.

I wish I could place our new collar there, telling these people standing around us today that she’s mine. Mine!

Kathleen Allen, you may be a Domme to everyone else who knows you, but I fully intend on creating the perfect sub out of you. You have no idea. As soon as the cameras are out of my face, I slip away, pulling out my cell phone and sending you a very important text that you’re sure to get in a few seconds.

“Wednesday night. I’ll text you more details later.”

One minute later I look back and find her staring at her phone. Her cheeks are pink. So pink that someone taps her on the shoulder to ask if she’s not feeling well. Then they tell her how much she kicks ass… because the protestors are dispersing, and the news crews have everything they need to smear us tonight.

I don’t care about that. All I care about is making sure she understands my appreciation on Wednesday night.

Work doesn’t matter. Only Kathleen Allen matters.

Chapter 37

Kathleen

They’re not lying when they say the camera adds about ten pounds. It also does not help that you can see my puffy pink cheeks and my body drowning in my thickest coat all over the news. This cold snap has been hell on my fashion choices.

KATHLEEN ALLEN – CULTURAL EXPERT. Yes, news channel, I am surely an expert. God, that sounds so pretentious. This station is pretending to be sympathetic toward me, but in reality, it’s making me look like some rich douche. Well, me and Ira, who is lurking about ten feet away in some shots.

Please note how she did nothing to rescue her ship from the cannonballs hurled in its direction. Sure, those protestors were mostly a nuisance that was easy to deal with, but never let it be said that the Mathisons know how to diffuse situations with the public. They’re too far removed from the affairs and worries of the common man.

Then again, so is most of my family. I’m the weird child who wanted to learn how to help people. Weird as in I actually felt sympathy for the protestors outside my father’s buildings and for the homeless people wandering around the streets. I’m basically a pariah for it.

“You don’t look so bad,” Eve says, popcorn falling all over her chest as she tries to eat it while slouched on my couch. “You could look way worse, is what I’m saying.”

“Thanks.” I turn off the TV, unable to look at the scene anymore. When I got the call from Carolyn about what was going on, my first thought was how I could scatter the stupid situation. Know what was even stupider? The fact that some of those supposed protestors were some of the same people who signed my petition! Fuck ‘em.

Eve clicks her tongue before choking on a piece of popcorn. I reach over to slap her on the back, but she’s got it under control and acting like the white wine we’re drinking is going to make a difference. It’s a miracle I’m seeing her at all. This morning, I got a text from her saying her midterms were hell and that she wanted to find a way to relax. Since the club isn’t open today, that means crashing at one of our places. I wasn’t surprised to see her on my doorstep an hour ago, carrying popcorn and the bottle of wine. Winning combination.

“Bet you’ll be glad when this hotel bullshit is over,” she mumbles on a handful of popcorn. I can barely understand her.

I shrug. “It’s not that bad. Just a lot of busy work and meetings.”

“Like I said, boring.” Eve turns the bowl upside down to catch the last of the popcorn in her mouth. A kernel bumps off her chest and lands on my couch. Thanks, Eve. “I would go crazy doing a job like that for more than a couple of weeks.”

“It’s not all boring…” I stop there. In my mind, I am associating my job with Ira. Even when we’re doing boring shit like walking around the hotel looking for problems, or getting into another meeting with the Anderssens, all I’m thinking about is the way she kisses me, as if I’m the hottest woman in the world. I’m sure that’s how she kisses every woman she likes bedding. I don’t care. Just let me live in this reverie for now.

“Even if it’s not boring, you’re dealing with the Mathisons. I’d shoot myself. Ira alone makes me want to scream.”

There’s a lump in my throat. “Why’s that?”

“You have to ask? I thought you hated the pompous ass.”

“Don’t know if I’d call her an ass…”

“Eh?” Eve looks at me, laughing in disbelief. “Going soft on me, are you? I hear she’s a lady killer but come on. You’ve got a reputation to maintain.”

Does she know? What the fuck! “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”