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A lice snoozed her alarm clock and turned to one side.

She couldn’t remember if she’d dreamt anything but whatever it was, she was sure it had involved Axel.

Her alarm clock rang again, and she turned it off.

Her eyes widened as she realized the time.

Shit. She was going to be late. She rushed to get dressed and practically ran out the door.

Luckily, she barely arrived five minutes late to work but when she walked through the door the commotion startled her.

“What’s happened?” she asked the receptionist.

“OMG, Alice. You happened.” She pointed excitedly at the enormous bouquet of flowers covering her desk.

“What?” she murmured. Her face flushed. Heat ran through her body. Confusion mingled with embarrassment.

“Alice,” another colleague yelled out her name. “Dish out! Who’s the admirer?”

She ignored her and unsteadily made her way to the desk. The folded envelope with her name on it caught her eye.

“Aren’t you going to open it?”

“Yes,” she managed to croak out. I’m admiring the flowers.”

“Open it, open it,” someone chanted.

“Maybe we should let her open it privately and go back to work.” Her boss popped out of nowhere giving everyone a stern look.

The gossipers mumbled an apology and walked out.

Her boss then looked at her. “I know you have no fault in it, but tell your admirer not to do it again. It disrupts the office.”

“Of course. I’m sorry,” she murmured.

Apparently satisfied, her boss returned to his desk. Finally alone, she sat down. Trembling slightly, she picked up the envelope.

Good job, Baby Girl. I imagine the ruckus this bouquet might have created, and I apologize. See you tonight at 7PM at the bar.

Yours Always, Axel – Daddy.

Her heart skipped several beats. Daddy. Last night’s fantasy burned brightly in her mind. She pressed her legs together, her pussy tingling in remembrance.

Tonight? Was that an invitation? It wasn’t phrased like a question.

So, it was an order? She couldn’t quite decide.

Both? He’d included his phone number at the bottom.

Should she write to him? Shoot. She should refuse.

He was ordering her about and they hardly knew each other.

Surely, that was a red flag. Nessa wouldn’t like it.

“Too old and bossy,” she’d say. The issue was, she enjoyed being told what to do, and she didn’t think he was that old.

She put the card in her purse. She had the option not to go. She didn’t have to obey. Yet, she wanted to. Every fiber in her being was compelled to do as he asked. Surely, this was her last chance. How many more opportunities could the universe grant her?

She stared at her laptop. She had to work, though how she would manage to do so all day was beyond her.

****

S omehow, she made it . She’d sat through the day and ignored the curious glances from her colleague, or the occasionalpestering question.

She didn’t know if it had anythingto do withthe letter because every time she glanced at it, or felt nerves assaulting her, she’d rememberthe first words: Good girl, Baby Girl.

How could a set of four words calm her? By the end of the day, she’d decided it wasn’t the words, it was the man behind them.

Knowing that Axel was the one saying them was what kept her grounded.

He was counting on her to be a good girl. She couldn’t disappoint him.

Alice stepped onto the street. The Gin Room was a few blocks away.

Yesterday, she’d walked there. Anxiety kicked her in the stomach like a freight train.

It was time. He was waiting for her. She had saved his phone number, but she hadn’t responded to the card because she wasn’t sure if she’d go or not.

What if he had left? What if he’d decided she wasn’t coming?

She should have responded. She bit her lip.

It hadn’t been a question. He was waiting and this was her final chance.

What did they say? Third time’s thecharm?

That was it.