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CHAPTER 10

CHARLEE

Opening Night! I couldn’t believe it was here. Months of planning, rehearsal and hard work got us to the end. The show will go on! I repeated the line Haven had said to me about two weeks ago like a mantra. Whenever I got overwhelmed, I thought about how everything was always working out as it was supposed to. Things were running smoothly and I had checked off all the last minute things on my to-do list. My wrist healed quicker than expected but I kept my splint on, mostly to appease my Daddy. Speaking of, he was set to join us in about ten minutes. Haven had gotten two of the stage crew hands to rig the feather and confetti bucket. Everyone backstage, with the exception of Pierce of course, knew about the initiation. All of us pretended it was a normal part of the set up and avoided the main stage door so that we wouldn’t wreck the “surprise”.

“Charlee! The props have grown legs and exited stage right,” Billy, the acting stage manager said as he rushed across the auditorium.

“What? That’s impossible. We had a dress rehearsal this morning!” Groaning, I left my spot and began searching for said props. They must have been misplaced or moved. Billy and I searched high and low before bumping into Haven.

“Whatcha doing?” she asked playfully.

“The props are apparently playing hide and seek,” Billy muttered, still glancing around.

“No, they aren’t. I put them in the utility closet.” Haven jerked her thumb in the opposite direction.

“All of them?” Billy asked, amazed.

“Yeah, someone… well I don’t know who now, but someone said they needed the space they were in so I moved them. I’m so sorry for causing an issue,” Haven apologized sincerely.

“No, it’s not an issue. I just couldn’t find them. Thanks, Haven.” Billy waved and jogged away in the direction of the closet.

Haven linked her arm through mine. “Hey. So, is your Daddy on his way?”

“Yes, oh my goddess. He just texted me that he’s on his way in. Come on! You need a front row seat, or a spot near me. I have three different people in place to video the initiation!”

We giggled as we stood about a foot away from the main stage door. I knew Pierce wouldn’t actually be angry with me, but butterflies swarmed my tummy all the same.

With bated breath we waited until the door opened to yell, “Welcome to the theater!”

As if watching a slow-motion car crash–the contents of a bucket containing confetti and feathers of all colors of the rainbow fell… onto the top and brim of a very familiar cowboy hat. Oh no !

The entire backstage gasped at the same time. It was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

“What on earth?” Master Derek shook his head making some of the feathers float off his hat and onto the stage floor.

Pierce had one hand over his mouth but he couldn’t stop the laughter as the picture made itself clear. “Confetti. Feathers,” he mumbled as if that explained everything while cracking up under his palm. “Oh, wow!”

I wanted to cry as much as I wanted to laugh. But then I saw Master Derek bent at the waist, wiping tears of laughter from his eyes. Phew ! He wasn’t mad, though it shouldn’t have been my first thought. Pierce crooked a finger at me as everyone quickly returned to their last-minute tasks. I didn’t love what this meant for my bottom. Crossing to the door, I worried about whether or not Master Derek might punish me for dumping art supplies on his head.

“Hi, starlet.” Pierce kissed my temple.

“Hi, Daddy,” I said very quietly.

“Hello, Charlee.” Master Derek removed his cowboy hat, shaking off the remaining mess.

“Hi, Master Derek. Fancy meeting you here in a place like this,” I said trying to be funny. “I’d never dump confetti and feathers on your head. Just in case you were wondering.”

“Well, darlin’. Seems like quite the prank that you meant to pull on your Daddy,” Master Derek said sternly but his eyes crinkled at the corners indicating that he wasn’t angry.

“Ah ha! Normally, I wouldn’t correct you, Master Derek. However, this was an initiation or induction into and the christening of the most hallowed of places. The Ranch theater!” I said, sweeping my arms out in a grand fashion. The motion chased away some of my nerves. “However, yes, you are correct about the initiation. The bucket itself was intended for my Daddy. Not for you. It is a tradition we do every production when someone new joins us. Pierce has been my right hand. Literally for two weeks. And of course he was already working on things before that.”

Pierce smirked, his arms crossed over his chest. “Initiation, huh?”

“Yes, Daddy. Initiation . Into the theater. Welcome!” I swept my arms out again. I hoped my theatrics saved my bottom a thrashing.

“I trust you had someone else rig the confetti, babygirl?” Pierce asked pointedly.

“Yes, Daddy. This was supposed to be a fun experience, a silly welcome. It wasn’t supposed to be something that put me in danger or broke any of your rules.”

“Very good, starlet.”

He looped his arm around my waist and pulled me into his side. The smell of his cologne calmed any remaining frayed nerves.

Master Derek winked. “I’m impressed, Charlee. The young woman I saw running around and stressed out of her mind the last production seems to have flourished into a very different version. Even on opening night when typically you’re a bundle of anxiety.”

Crap . Why’d he have to go and get me choked up with emotions? “Yes, thank you for noticing. It’s all thanks to my Daddy.”

“Don’t let her fool you, Derek. Yes, I’ve helped her follow some rules and rest her wrist, but she’s put in the work. Charlee has trusted me with her submission, allowing me to lead and guide her the past two weeks. It seems like a short amount of time, but we’ve made some solid routine changes. More self-care. Less stress,” Pierce said proudly.

“I’m thrilled for the two of you. I trust that I can walk around backstage without having any more confetti dumped onto my head?” Master Derek replaced his hat.

“Yes, Sir. There shouldn’t be any other surprises. At least not that I know of!” I let out a long breath, one I didn’t realize I’d been holding.

“All right, darlin’. Break a leg! I can’t wait to see the show.” Master Derek patted my head and slapped Pierce on the shoulder before strutting across the stage. I think he enjoyed getting caught up in the excitement buzzing before the first show.

Glancing up at Pierce, I checked to see if he was upset.

“I see those brows knitting. Don’t fret now. You have a big night, Charlee.”

“I was hoping you’d have found the initiation silly and heartwarming,” I said nuzzling against his arm.

“Yes, babygirl. That’s exactly how I feel right now. Look up at me.”

I raised my head until my eyes were on him. “Yes, Daddy?”

“Just because I’m not mad doesn’t mean I’m not going to toast your bottom when we get back to your apartment.”

“Psst,” I whispered.

He grinned and bent forward so I could reach the shell of his ear. “Yes, starlet?”

“Don’t tell my Daddy but that may have been the hope. Non-punishment spankings are very soothing,” I said matter-of-factly as if I had experience with them.

“Mmmhmm. I bet they are. But we haven’t explored those yet. Is it on your mind? Tell Daddy.”

“I think that’s pretty obvious. Duh,” I added sass into my tone while keeping my voice low. Pierce swatted my ass hard enough to make me jump. “Hey! Someone could see us!”

I quickly looked around to see if anyone noticed but no one was paying us any mind. My statement had been moot. I should have known that Pierce would ensure we had some semblance of privacy.

“No one is looking over here, babygirl. You’ve been a very naughty thing, hmmm? You were planning to cover me in feathers in front of the whole crew.”

“Well, initiating you into our theater.” I attempted to make it very clear that what I did had not been a prank of any sort.

“Uh-huh. Plotting with your friends no doubt.”

“Okay, Daddy. Yes, but as a welcome. We do this every year,” I said as if that would change the outcome.

“Don’t worry. Daddy will make sure you’re very well taken care of tonight.”

His words made me all fluttery. “Do you promise, Daddy?”

“Yes, Charlee. I promise. Do you know how very proud you’ve made me tonight?”

“Uh, I attempted to dump a huge bucket of stuff on your head, Daddy. How did my antics make you proud?”

“For the same reasons Master Derek spoke about. You’ve worked really hard to get here. You don’t have to burn yourself out anymore, starlet. I’m here to ease some of the burdens, okay?”

I wouldn’t cry when we were so close to showtime but his praise and acknowledgement of the hours of dedication to the theater filled my bucket. “I did a lot of work but we wouldn’t be here tonight without you.”

Pierce found a broom and dustpan. “You’re very sweet, starlet. Thank you. We make a very good team.”

“I couldn’t agree more.”

“Let’s clean up this mess together. Only forty-five minutes until the curtain rises.”

“Yes, Daddy.” I nodded, tugging the dustpan out of his hand. It was surprisingly satisfying to tackle the feathers and confetti with Pierce. He pulled me into a small side room and sat me on his thigh. “Rest for a few. I can see the anxiety building again, starlet.”

“It’s twenty minutes until showtime!”

“I know, starlet. Breathe with Daddy.”

We stayed there, my breathing evening out as he held me against his chest. “Thank you. I feel better. Usually, I have a full panic attack on opening night.”

“No worries, babygirl. Everything is going to work out just fine.”

And for once, I really believed him. Yes, I had a spanking headed in my direction, but it was for fun and not because I’d broken a rule. Plus, once my bottom was hot and sore, my pussy would also need attention.