by Ivy Nelson
“Well they suck at their jobs then. We all got our last paychecks with whatever vacation time we had left added to it. I’m lucky I still had all of mine since I don’t take days off.”
Garrett clenched his fists. Apparently, his decision to spend some time in Colorado was necessary.
“That was not the deal I approved. I may not have hand-picked the people I was laying off, but I damn sure signed the approval for a better severance package than that. I’m going to fix that, I don’t care if your family will accept it or not, it’s happening.”
Isabelle shoved her chair so she spun around. If her eyes weren’t filled with anger, it might have seemed cute and childish. “I’ll definitely take it. I have two teenage nieces to feed and a lot of bills to pay.”
Garrett knew her family situation was complicated, but he never pried.
“How do I make this right, Isabelle? I don’t want you angry with me. I was looking forward to our weekend together.”
She blew out a lengthy breath. “I don’t know, Sir. I think I just need time. Is that OK? I can admit that I might have overreacted out there, but I don’t know if I can continue being submissive to you after this. I need to think. Maybe I should just leave for the weekend. I want to be a house sub. I’m just conflicted.”
Garrett steeled himself for the next part. It was going to be hard for both of them.
“I’m glad you still want to be a house sub. You’re a wonderful addition to this club, and I’m OK giving you as much space as you need. However, I can’t let your outburst go unpunished, Isabelle. I think you know that.”
Her eyes grew large and her lips parted in protest, but he held up a hand to stop her.
“I can see that the idea of me spanking you is not something you can deal with right now, so I’m going to give you another option. You can let Hunter or Patrick handle your punishment.”
“Does it have to be a spanking, Sir?” she whispered.
Garrett wanted to pull her into his lap. This conversation would be so much easier with physical contact, but he knew he couldn’t do that. “When we discussed your limits, you agreed to being spanked for two reasons. One of those was blatant disrespect for the dynamic we have at this club. This fits, wouldn’t you agree?”
She gave a sad nod and looked to be on the verge of tears.
“So yes, Doll. You’re getting a spanking. If I do it, I have a good mind to wash your mouth out with soap before I take a belt to your ass for speaking to me that way. If you choose someone else, your punishment will be up to them.”
Isabelle shuddered. He knew spanking was not something she got enjoyment from. Not the way Austin and some of the other subs did. It was purely used for discipline in special circumstances with Isabelle.
“I’ll let Master Hunter do it,” she finally whispered.
“Good girl. I’m glad you’re not leaving. I’m going to give you your space, but I’ll also ask that you let me make this as right as I can.”
Isabelle looked up at him with sad eyes. “I don’t know how you can, but I won’t stop you from trying.”
That was more than Garrett could have hoped for.
“I’m going to leave now, and you’re going to stand up and put your nose in the corner until Hunter comes for you.”
Isabelle gave him a solemn nod. She took her role as a house submissive seriously, and Garrett knew she would obey him, so he didn’t wait around.
Back in the lobby, he ran a hand through his hair and motioned for Hunter to come talk to him.
“Everything OK?”
Garrett nodded. “As OK as they can be. I think you’re going to have to take over for me for the weekend though. She’s angry with me and has every right to be. I’ll be around, but I’m going to keep my distance and give her the space she asked for. She knows she has a spanking coming though. Things were just starting to warm up between us, but this is definitely a setback.”
Hunter slapped him on the shoulder. “Don’t worry, buddy. I have no intention of trying to take her to bed. It’s our job to get her through whatever she’s going through. You go clear your head. I’ve got this handled.”
Garrett’s heart felt heavy as he made his way through the club to the stairs where he climbed up to his suite and looked around. He’d had every intention of staying here with Isabelle tonight. So much for that plan. If he couldn’t do that, he could at least make phone calls to find out who fucked up at the fulfillment center, so he knew who to fire on Monday morning. If he waited that long.
Chapter Four
Isabelle’s arms trembled as she held them up with her hands clasped behind her head the way they had taught her in her early days as a house submissive. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she replayed her conversation with Garrett. Things had been going so well between them. They weren’t dating exactly, but they’d been growing closer. She was regretting saying hi to her uncle before she left. Had she not done that, she would never have known that Garrett owned the company she worked for.
He’d seemed genuinely contrite when they talked, but it was hard for her to set aside her temper and hurt feelings. Things would probably never be the same between them.
The door opened, but she knew better than to turn around. It was probably Hunter. He’d been in once what felt like hours ago to let her know he would send for her when he was ready.
“Isabelle, honey, Master Hunter wants you to meet him in the bar.” It was Austin who spoke.
She slowly dropped her arms and moved them around to get the blood flowing again.
Turning, she gave Austin a sheepish look. “Sorry for my outburst out there.”
Austin gave her a hug. “It’s OK. It sounds like you have a lot on your plate right now.”
Austin stepped out and Isabelle picked up her bag.
In the lobby, she could feel eyes on her. Lance was at the reception desk and she knew he was filling in for her.
She paused, fidgeting with the strap on her bag. “Sorry, Master Lance,” she mumbled.
He looked up from his computer and lifted one eyebrow. “It’s going to be OK. Get moving sub, Hunter is waiting.”
She nodded and scurried through the double doors into the bar. Hunter was waiting, leaned against the long bar. His smile was kind when she approached.
“Let’s go into one of the parlor rooms and talk, shall we?”
Hunter reached for her bag and slung it over his shoulder, offering her his hand. She appreciated the comforting gesture.
“I would imagine this is weird for you,” Hunter said when they stepped into one of the small parlor style rooms off the side of the bar. It had a homey feel to it, with plush chairs and a fireplace. There was even a bookshelf filled with erotica and kinky reference books. If she didn’t know she was about to get a spanking from Master Hunter, she would have found the room comforting.
“It’s a little strange,” she admitted as Hunter sat in one of the chairs. She waited for him to give her an order.
“Kneel, Isabelle,” he said, nodding to the rug in front of his chair.
She complied with haste, not wanting to give him any reason to add to whatever punishment he had planned.
“I have to punish you, and I’m sorry about that. Maybe if you’d waited until you were in private to have your outburst that wouldn’t be the case. But first, I want to give you a chance to talk. I heard a lot of what happened, but a friendly ear might help prevent another outburst like that.”
Isabelle swallowed. He wanted her to talk about her feelings. A lot of Doms seemed to insist on that, but it wasn’t her strong suit.
“I just got really overwhelmed when I saw him. I didn’t find out he owned the fulfillment center until right before I left to come her tonight. I processed the information on the drive over and by the time I got here I was furious,” she whispered.
Hunter nodded. “Understandable. He owns a lot of places all over the country.”
Isabelle shrugged. “I had no idea. I had a vague idea of who he
was from the news, but we didn’t talk about his business here.”
Hunter smiled. “You would have no reason to. I’m not going to tell you what to do regarding your feelings for him. I will say I’ve been in his shoes and it’s not easy. I can promise you that the decisions he made were not made lightly. I own dozens of restaurants and nightclubs all over the country, on top of my Vegas casinos. I’ve had to let people go to keep businesses afloat. It’s painful. You’re right, some men do it out of greed or to protect their own bonuses, but I think you and I both know Master Garrett isn’t like that.”
Isabelle wanted to believe him, but she wasn’t sure how. She didn’t really know Garrett outside of Solitaire. It was going to be hard to look past this right now.
Bouncing on her heels, she twisted her hands in her lap. “Can we just get this over with, Sir?”
Hunter leaned forward and fisted a hand into her hair, lifting her head so she was forced to meet his gaze. “You’re lucky you threw a Sir in there. Do you get a say in how I do this?” Other than the limits you’ve already set, of course.”
Isabelle shook her head as much as his grip on her hair would allow. “No, Master Hunter. I’m sorry.”
He released her hair. “Now, you have a spanking coming, I think you knew that already, but I also understand how you feel about spanking, so that part of your punishment will be quick.”
Part? There were going to be multiple parts to her punishment? She cringed as Hunter continued. “For your second part, you have two options. You can either wear this gag for the rest of the night, or I take you behind the bar and wash your mouth out with soap in front of everyone.”
Isabelle’s mouth fell open. Was he serious? “Why does it have to be in front of everyone?”
Hunter smiled. “Think about it, little one, and you tell me.”
Isabelle squeezed her eyes shut as she spoke. “Because my outburst was in front of everyone.”
Hunter winked at her when her gaze met his again. “Bingo. Now, what’s it going to be?”
Isabelle squirmed and looked away. “Can’t you just spank me in front of everyone?”
Hunter shook his head, the kind smile fading from his lips. “No. Now quit stalling and pick or we’ll just make it both.”
The gag looked uncomfortable, but the thought of having soap in her mouth made her stomach churn.
With a trembling hand, she pointed at the gag Hunter held. “I’ll choose the gag, Sir,” she said, trying not to cry.
“Good girl. Before we get this over with, I have a proposition for you.”
“Isabelle eyed him warily. She wasn’t in much of a position to deny him right now, and she had no idea what he was about to suggest.
“Relax,” he said with a chuckle. “It’s nothing kinky. I want to offer you a job.”
“Where? Doing what?” she asked, her mind whirling.
“At the Glenview. I recently bought it. You do so well with some of the hospitality touches you’ve added around here, I would love to have you work with our hospitality team. It would be an entry level thing at first and you might have to start on the night shift, but you have the potential to move up if you want it.”
Isabelle’s eyes widened. He would have no way of knowing what she went to school for, the degree she never finished. No way he knew about her dream of owning a boutique hotel one day, did he?
“I… I don’t know what to say. I think I have to say yes, though.”
Hunter laughed. “Don’t feel obligated just because I’m about to take a belt to your ass. I’ve had my eye on you since I bought the place, though, so you can be assured this isn’t a pity offering.”
Isabelle swallowed and tried to force a smile. Did he just say he was using his belt? She blinked her eyes and said, “OK. Thank you, Sir.”
Hunter smiled. “You’re welcome, little one. Now let’s get this over with. Stand up and turn to face that chair, then bend over and get ready for a spanking.”
Isabelle sighed but did as she was told. When she was in position, he lifted her skirt to her waist but left her panties in place. Garrett would not have been so gracious. The jingle of Hunter’s belt buckle made her tense. Spankings sucked, and she didn’t see how anyone could get off on them.
“I’m going to go easy on you and just give you ten.”
“Thank you,” she said with a trembling voice.
His hand cracked down hard on her panty clad ass. “Thank you, what?”
She flinched as pain radiated through her. “Thank you, Master Hunter,” she whimpered.
He didn’t speak again, and she heard him folding the belt just before it sliced through the air. A searing burn in her ass followed the loud cracking noise the belt made as it met her rear-end. She fought the urge to reach back and clutch at her bottom. That’s how you earned extra swats and she had no intention of doing that.
The belt landed again, and she cried out as she gripped the chair with every ounce of strength she had.
Again, the leather struck her barely covered bottom, and this time, she jumped up and hopped around.
“You have five seconds to get back in place or your panties come down and we start all over.”
His threat had her flying into position again, and he soothed her with a gentle hand on the small of her back.
The next three landed with no pause between them. It was over halfway done. You can do this, Isabelle, she told herself.
Two more landed, and Isabelle couldn’t stop the string of curse words that flew out of her mouth.
“I had no idea you had such a colorful vocabulary,” he said. “You’re doing well. Two more and it’s all over.”
When she was calm, he let the belt fly again, both swats coming in rapid succession.
“Fuck,” she yelled. She could hear him looping his belt back into his pants, but she didn’t move, afraid of earning more punishment.
“You can get up now, little one.”
She stood up straight and smoothed her skirt down over her inflamed bottom. When she turned, Hunter opened his arms for a hug which she willingly accepted. “I’m sorry,” she whispered, dashing at the tears that were still threatening to spill.
“You did well. After the party is over tonight, we can talk logistics of the job, OK?”
Isabelle nodded. “Do I really have to wear the gag the entire party?”
Hunter gave her a solemn nod. “I’m afraid so, kiddo. Perhaps it will help teach you to control your tongue even when you’re angry.”
Her shoulders sagged, and she let him fit the gag in place. It was a small ball gag, not as big as some of the ones she’d seen, but it was still wide enough that she would drool on herself before the night was done.
“You’re a valuable part of Solitaire, Isabelle,” Hunter said as he buckled the leather strap behind her head. “I want you to remember that. If you weren’t, we wouldn’t take the time to guide you back onto the right path after you fucked up.”
Her chest felt tight and tears threatened to spill again as she gave him a nod. He kissed her cheek and dismissed her. She’d planned to change into a corset Austin had given her—they were much too costly for her to afford—but after everything that had happened, she opted to stay in her black skirt and t-shirt.
Back in the bar, she found Mitch, the club’s head bartender. She was scheduled to work a shift at the bar tonight.
“What the fuck is this, Isabelle?” Mitch asked when she stepped behind the counter.
She tried to respond, but it came out a muffled mess, so she held up her wrist which bore the house submissive bracelet she wore and gave him a shrug.
“For fuck’s sake, how are you supposed to work the bar when you can’t talk to anyone?”
A pad of paper and a marker landed on the bar in front of them. Isabelle jumped at the sound.
Figure it out, Mitch,” a voice that sounded like velvet said. She turned to find Garrett standing there. Her gaze wandered as she felt her face heat with embarrassment at him
seeing her gagged like this.
Mitch looked back and forth between them and sighed. “OK, figuring it out.”
Garrett reached for Isabelle’s hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze before backing away. When he was gone, Isabelle grabbed the pad and paper and wrote a brief explanation and a heartfelt apology to Mitch, promising to work extra hard and help him clean up when the party was over.
He tousled her hair. “It’s fine. Sorry if I sounded mad at you.”
By the end of the first hour, her jaw ached, and she wasn’t sure she could handle wearing it all night. It was time for her break though, so she took the notebook with her and sat at a table in the corner. After digging a pen from her purse, she wrote a note to the house Doms collectively, apologizing for her behavior. She would find Master Eli and give it to him since he oversaw the house submissive program.
Drool coated her shirt because she couldn’t stop it from coming. It seemed unsanitary, but Mitch just tossed her a towel to help catch it and made her wash her hands a bunch. By the end of her shift, she was ready to seek Hunter out and beg him to use his belt on her some more. This was miserable.
She did a quick scan of the bar and dungeon, but didn’t see him, so she searched for Master Eli. He was easier to find since he liked to spend a lot of time in his office away from the crowd unless he was playing with his wife.
The door was slightly open, and she knocked on the doorframe.
“Come in,” he called.
Embarrassed, she hesitated but forced herself to push the door open. He gave her a kind smile, never batting an eye at the gag.
“What can I do for you, Isabelle?” he asked, motioning for her to sit.
She shook her head at the chair but approached his desk and handed him the letter she’d written.
While he read it, she backed out of the room, but he held up a hand, stopping her.
“Wait, please.”
She shifted her weight from foot to foot as Eli read. The door opened, and she turned to see Hunter step in.
“There you are Isabelle. I meant to be at the bar when you finished your shift and got caught in a conversation.”