There were diamond encrusted straps on the four inch glass heels. It was mind blowing the expense he had gone through for her in advance.
Fifteen minutes later, she heard the door open and quickly stood near the dining room table for him to see her when he entered the chamber.
Philippe entered in a dark suit that fit him well. She couldn’t help herself at being drawn to touch his shoulders and arms. The fabric was baby soft and she found herself as usual affected by just the sight of him.
“You’re beautiful,” he said breathlessly.
Blushing because she had been thinking the same thing about him, Maxine said, “You aren’t bad looking either, my Master.”
Philippe smiled at the title, which came so easily out of her lips and leaned down to lightly brush his lips over hers.
Derrick cleared his throat, drawing attention to himself still standing at the doorway. He was holding a familiar velvet box open.
Maxine panicked a little because the boxes always caused dread in the pit of her stomach when they were left at her door but she was dying to want of know what was inside this time now that she was already at the chamber.
Philippe took a key out his pocket and moved behind her. He removed the chain that had been locked around her neck the first day and adjusted a diamond choker on her neck.
Derrick took the chain and put it in the velvet box and closed up tightly. “I’ll return it clean in the morning, sir,” he promised before leaving.
She touched her neck, so used to feeling the chain there. When Derrick left, she asked when she saw Philippe picking up the blindfold, “Do we have to?”
Philippe chuckled, kissing her cheek lightly. “We’ll talk over dinner.”
“What time is it?” she questioned as he put her blindfold on and noting the unusual quietness from outside the chambers.
“Too late. Three in the morning and it’s costing me a pretty penny to keep your surprise warm.” He already had his mask on.
Taking a really deep calming breath, Maxine let him lead her out. All was quiet around them.
He didn’t speak, increasing her own nervousness. They walked off the elevator and then she was suddenly swooped up to be carried up several flights of stairs.
Philippe gently put her down and then led her somewhere else. They walked inside somewhere deceptively warm. A jungle? A forest? She heard birds and just the feeling of being outside came over her.
It smelled natural like a fresh rain forest all around her. When they finally stopped walking, he moved behind her to remove her blindfold.
“Beautiful!” came her whispered exclamation as she looked around the large greenhouse. There were white Christmas lights everywhere. The entire place was lit up and the floor was covered in pink rose petals. In the center of it all was a decorative dinner setting.
Maxine was purely flabbergasted by the extravagance of it all and she turned to Philippe .
“All this was for only us?” she asked, realizing they were the only couple around.
“For you.”
She was touched by this gesture and without forethought, threw her arms around his neck and kissed his cheek. He didn’t push her away and let her hold on for the moment she wanted. Looking at his face, she saw the look of pain cross his features for a brief second before he pushed it away and then guided her to the table to let her sit before him.
Maxine didn’t know if she should say something about that look that was in his eyes, but when more moments passed, she decided not to ruin their night with her newfound inquisitiveness.
A slave pushed in a cart with food on it and Maxine started to rise to serve Phillip, but he put a hand up to stop her.
The slave placed the two trays in front and then moved the cart closer to make it easy to reach them at the table.
Philippe dismissed the servant after he was passed a small black remote control. When they were alone again he pushed a button on the remote and soft jazz played.
“Do you like jazz?” he questioned.
“Is this really all about me?” she asked suspiciously not believing he had really done all this just for her.
He raised an amused brow. “Do you suppose to answer a question with a question?”
Biting her lip for her disobedience, she answered, “Yes, I like jazz.”
Reaching over and removing the top off her tray, she felt her stomach rumble and realized just how hungry she was. She still waited for him to take the first bite of his food before she even picked up her fork.
Maxine could feel his eyes on her and even more nervousness set in. There was something wrong with him.
“I’m a man who likes to get down to business first, Maxine, when business is on the line.”
“Business?” she questioned.
“Yes,” he said, wiping his mouth. “I believe we left off with anything.”
She blushed profusely remembering her promise in order to get her freedom. Yes, that was still an open subject.
“And what does this entail?” he questioned. “Your anything?”
Not really knowing how to answer this, Maxine shrugged, “The same services that are provided now.”
Philippe leaned closer. “I take it you don’t intend to sell me on this.” He reached inside of his jacket and pulled out a card with a price on it.
“Eighty thousand?!” she read out loud.
“That is the price I’d have to pay just for your freedom. That is your worth. Can you give me that much?”
She didn’t even make that much a year, let alone have that amount just lying around in a bank account. “No,” she said somberly. “I would be indebted to you for a very long time. At least three to four years.”
“Please don’t look so disappointed by that,” he chuckled. “I just want you to know your worth here and that Devon offered me double that for you.” Picking up the card, he ripped it in half. “This is pocket change to me. Obtaining your freedom will be easy with a simple check, but I want to know my advantage in this payment. I like our cards on the table now so there will be no confusion later on.”
His advantages? What would she know about advantages for him? She could only vow to be his mistress and making that up as she went.
“You’d have access to me whenever you wanted during the week and weekends – outside of my job or with an agreed upon notification,” she pointed out.
“That would require a key to your home?” he questioned.
“I-I guess,” she said, feeling a little confused and innocent. This was no ordinary subject, yet he was discussing it as if this really were business.
“Is that all?” He took a sip of the poured wine.
“I’m not use to being a mistress, so I should ask you what is it you require or feel would be an advantage?”
A wicked glint crossed his handsome features. “Now we’re talking,” he said amused. “I want complete forgiveness.”
“Forgiveness?”
“Yes, complete forgiveness; Even for things you don’t know or whatever is to come.”
“Do I get the same… if I messed up?”
“Yes,” he said without hesitation.
It was a strange request, but she nodded with agreement because it didn’t seem as if it was too much to ask for. Plus, Maxine wasn’t a person who held grudges and she didn’t think that Philippe could do anything to her to make her to become mad at him more than a day or so.
“No submissiveness all the time,” he continued. “Docility is fine every now and then. It works great in bed, but I enjoy a challenge especially in conversation, but no disrespect.”
“Stimulating verbal conversation,” she noted out loud, letting her sarcasm come to the surface. “Should I be taking notes?’
“You have an excellent memory.”
“Anything else?”
He removed a box out of his jacket and placed it on the table. “You will never wear that chain again, Maxine.”
Those words felt like such a relief.
She picked up the box to view a beautiful silver rose with a ring of diamonds surrounding it and a silver band.
On the inside was an inscription that read, ‘Always mine, petit ami.’
‘His sweetheart.’
A rush of blood came to her cheeks at the thought of being his and knowing she would wear this all the time as a reminder to herself. “You thought about a tattoo?” she questioned sarcastically.
“And mare that beautiful skin of yours?” he asked with insult. “Never.”
She smiled liking his response.
Philippe stood up and took the ring from her tenderly to come around the table and stand in front of her.
Maxine didn’t know how she was supposed to feel as he knelt in front of her and took her left hand.
“Is there anything you expect of me?”
His question surprised her. Knowing she owed him so much money, she really hadn’t expect him to be so agreeable and… nice. “Would you still call me slave?” she inquired.
“Why should I when I really am yours, Maxine?” He gently cupped her chin. “As you are mine.”
His words had a powerful effect not only physically, but mentally. The ring slipped easily on her finger.
One captivity to another, she said to herself. But why did it feel like a better place to be?
The ring felt heavy on her finger and she looked up at him. It seemed as if he had gotten closer. Leaning forward, Maxine knew what he wanted. Moving her arms around his neck, she lightly kissed him. His arms slowly circled her waist.
Tilting her head and parting her lips, she deepened the kiss. Philippe matched her passion and soon they were lost in each other.
He lifted her out the chair and carried her over to a bed that seemed to magically appear out of nowhere through a curtain of vines. She didn’t care; she wanted him as much as he wanted her.
In his arms, she felt only Philippe’s care and passion for her. In his arms, she felt whole.
In his arms, Maxine felt truly loved.
Chapter 35
When they returned to the chamber, it was nearing the morning daybreak. Philippe had carried her almost sleeping body all the way there.
She was sound asleep, but Philippe had so much on his mind, although he was exhausted, he couldn’t sleep a wink.
His cell phone chimed to let him know he received a text from Nicole.
“You up?” her message inquired.
“Yes,” he texted back.
She responded immediately, “Are you at your chambers?”
“Yes.”
“On way.”
Quickly, he responded, “I’m coming to you.” He rose from the bed and left his chamber fully clothed with intentions of coming back to take a shower to dress for the day.
Nicole’s private chamber and offices were located on the first floor by the ballrooms. Her master had paid for her release, but Nicole wanted to stay here and look out for the girls and that she tried to do without upsetting the head masters.
Philippe knew Devon’s reign was becoming more and more dark, making Nicole’s job harder.
She was expecting Philippe and smiled upon seeing him come inside. He noticed she locked her door on the other side a privilege reserved for very few slaves in the compound and usually only done if the slave felt they were in danger of someone violating their chamber which members were prohibited to do.
“Why are you locking us in?” he questioned.
“Let’s just say Devon feels his member can control anyone. These slaves have bolstered his confidence to over abundance. He came to ask me for personal information and books.”
“Why?”
“Because the man is absorbed in power, Philippe. Why are you acting as if you don’t know how over arrogant that man is? Power has corrupted him.”
“This isn’t my fight, Nicole. I’m only here to be with Maxine. I didn’t agree to any of this until I saw her at the auction.” Philippe started to leave out. “I won’t be a part of this organization’s internally fucked up system no matter how much my father tries to entice me.”
“Even if I think it has to do with murder?”
He stopped where he was just before leaving out of the door.
Nicole approached him closely, but didn’t touch him. “A slave came up missing. She was supposed to report two weeks ago, but she didn’t. Since she was our outside Lisa, I worried only a little because we give her a little bit more room to come and go as she pleases.”
Philippe was aware the society assigned the name “Lisa” only to the slave that “recruited” the women.
Continuing, Nicole said, “When she didn’t report this past weekend either, I sent Derrick over there in the middle of this week to see what was going on. He arrived just as homicide detectives were leaving.” Nicole went over to her desk and took out an auction picture with a seal on the edge of who bought her. “She’s dead. She must’ve said or did something very disagreeable by the extent of her wounds or she was just tired of his horrendous treatment. I pulled others he’s purchased. When he first arrived, before I started logging the women’s injuries, there was another slave that has come up missing.”
The ‘he’ in questions clearly meant Devon. A sick feeling ripped down Philippe’s stomach at the implications Nicole was making.
Philippe looked down at the picture of the slave and worried what he had become involved in. “I’m not going to be a leader.” He couldn’t drag Maxine through anything else. She had already been through too much. Getting involved in this ‘mess’ could possibly endanger her life and she could end up like the woman in the photo.
“”You’re the only one not afraid of him, Philippe. The counsel who appointed him now even fears him. I’ve tried to ask even mine and he wants to stay out of it. I don’t know who else to turn to unless I violate the rules and go outside of the club.”
Nicole took a file from her desk and handed it to Philippe. “Since Devon’s come into power, the injuries have increased and we’ve never had deaths. Never!”
“Power corrupts,” he seethed under his breath.
“And Devon has corrupted this whole place into violence and madness. There’s another thing. Derrick followed the homicide detective and took this picture.” Nicole handed him a photo.
Although taken at a distance, he could clearly see Maxine speaking with the detective. Why would she need to speak with a police officer?
“Do you know why he was speaking with her?”
Nicole shook her head. “I utilize resources and it seems she made an attempt to file a missing person report a couple of weeks ago on a coworker. This officer was assigned to her case.”
“A missing person of anyone we know?” Philippe inquired.
“No slave or anyone associated with the organization, but he’s also assigned to the homicide of this woman. He could find out information from Maxine which could lead him here.”
“What do you want me to do about it?”
“I know you can’t move any mountains with the investigation, but when others see what I’ve seen, do you really think they’ll come directly to you with this information or will they take care of Maxine themselves to make sure she never speaks to anyone about the organization? And with Devon’s new power, do you think he will just stop at beating her?”
“Have you told anyone else about this?”
“Not this and I swore Derrick to secrecy. I know he’ll keep it a secret because it took him a long time to tell me what he found out. He cares about her and highly respects you. We both hope you do something to protect Maxine.”
“Keep this information safe, Nicole. I’ll get her out of here tonight and I’ll make sure she never comes back here.”
“One more thing,” Nicole said regretfully. “Devon’s planning a premium member dinner tonight. Everyone else has been asked to leave except the needed staff; even
I have been asked to leave before the evening and the building to be locked up tight. If he even thinks you suspect he’s doing something or knows something she could still be in trouble.”
“I’ll go to the damn dinner on high alert and never come back to this place e ever again.”
“But what about her safety? Even after you buy her, if Devon knows she’s spoken to the police about this-“
He cut her off. “I’ll use this information to keep him the hell away from her.”
“Will you report him?”
“I’ll figure that out. Just give me until tonight.” He didn’t go back to the chamber, but ordered Derrick to leave a note on her pillow for him.
He needed to find Onyx Heart and see if she could help him. She would know what to do.
***
Awaking the next morning about eight from the closing of the chamber door, she again was greeted by an empty pillow and a note.
Will return by noon for lunch. Had to do some more work. Philippe
Had she just missed him? Damn! She really wanted to see him, touch him… taste him… A wicked smile came to her lips and she pulled his pillow close to her nose to smell his essence wishing he were there.
You’re insane, Maxine, her conscious told her. After all that’s been done to you, this is what you settle for?
What was she settling for? A life of servitude with him? A man that seemed to adore her fully and wanted to make her happy.
But he would never want to be with her truly. Not married! Not even in public!
Was that what she wanted? To be someone’s shameful secret?
Should she take an all or nothing stance?
What good would it do? For once in her life she was finally happy! Someone wanted to be with her as much as she wanted to be with them?
True there were large faults in the relationship, but should she really just push him away just because she felt certain things weren’t right?
It was too early in the morning to delve so deep into her heart and she really just wanted to enjoy their time they had together. Hopefully tonight would be her last night to ever step foot into this chamber and Maxine wanted to give Philippe a wonderful night. She really wanted to do something magnanimous for him.
Dark Facade (Book Four) (Dark Facade Series) Page 5