Maxine took a moment to admire the ring on her finger before she washed up, dressed in a scantily clad white robe and then cleaned up the entire chamber; Even changing the sheets, vacuuming the carpet and gathering all the dirty clothes.
All the while she inwardly blushed at her experience the day before with Philippe. Her eyes often wandered to the ring and to know she was a part of somebody’s life, albeit temporarily, made her feel warm all over.
Deep down she knew it was wrong to want to be someone’s property, but really she didn’t feel like that. Philippe made her feel as if she was a part of his world and without her there he was just as weak as she was when he wasn’t around.
She often caught herself smiling to herself and there seemed to be a pep in her walk.
Nicole came to her chamber near nine-thirty in the morning. “You look radiant today,” Nicole noted. “Your cheeks are in full bloom. I take it you enjoyed your night.”
Maxine blushed uncontrollably. “It was nice,” she said.
“I’m here for your private dance instruction Philippe arranged, because he noted before he left he didn’t want you to leave the chamber today until the dinner tonight.”
Maxine had heard what could happen to a slave’s value if a master kept them secluded, but she didn’t protest about the lesson. It was very much welcome to pass the morning.
“I would have sent notice but your private lesson was supposed to begin at one,” Nicole added. “Unfortunately there’s been a situation and I need to do this early to attend to some things.”
It only took a moment for Maxine to change into something she could dance in. When she returned to the front part of the chamber where Nicole had moved some of the furniture out of the way to give them a large area, Maxine asked, “I wanted to do a special dance for Philippe. I have some training, but I saw the women dance the last weekend and I liked that.”
Nicole smiled. “I’m glad you’re making an effort to please your master, Maxine. I’d be happy to help you learn a dance to entice Philippe.”
Maxine was very glad she had previous dance instructions because Nicole was a very hard taskmaster, but in two hours Maxine had almost mastered a performance Nicole was very proud of.
Once Nicole was gone, after another shower, Maxine started a nice lunch with the food that was in the refrigerator and cabinet.
****
Philippe had just gotten off the phone when his oldest son walked in. Deciding to come home to work had been better than going to the office and “bumping into” Ewan.
Pierre nodded at his father in greeting.
“Working as usual, Dad?” he questioned.
“Hopefully it’ll be a lot less once you make up your mind.”
Pierre came into the office. “I talked with Mom about everything. When I told her you were ready to hand over the reins, the first question she asked was who is she?”
Raising a brow of curiosity, Philippe asked, “What did she mean by that?”
Pierre sat on the edge of his father’s desk and chuckled. “I asked the same thing. She said the day you stopped doing your father’s beckoning was the day someone else was able to get between you and grandfather and it can be none other than someone who has your heart. Is that true, Dad?”
Reluctantly, Philippe admitted, “There is someone, Pierre.”
He looked very happy for his father. “It’s her. Maxine, right? How long? Did you know she was working on the project for us?”
“It is her and it’s been awhile, but I didn’t know she was working on the project. It’s all a long story.” Philippe was enthused by his son’s excitement for him. “I’m not able to answer your questions in short manner, right now. I know your grandfather won’t be pleased with me, so I decided to get out before…” he was unable to think of the words.
“Because she’s black?” Pierre guessed.
Stiffening, Philippe was shocked his son had figured out his father’s bigotry.
Pierre read his father’s expression and said, “I’ve always known grandfather hated blacks.”
“I’ve kept you and your siblings hidden from his animosity and bigotry for most of your lives.”
“So why didn’t you hate too?”
“Because your grandmother used to tell me all the time that once we shed all our skin we’d all look the same. She wasn’t supportive of your grandfather’s hatred, but she also always said the heart wants what the heart wants.”
“And you love this woman very much?”
Philippe could look inside of himself and answer truthfully. “Yes, I love her and I’m hoping to make her very happy.”
“Good, because I’m going to hold you to that, while I run Grandfather’s company,” Pierre teased. “Although it practically runs itself with all the hard work you’ve put into it. I was looking over everything you left on your desk yesterday and saw the eight government grants you were just awarded. Grandfather shouldn’t care who you’re with once he takes a look at that achievement.”
“Thank you. I wanted to make things as less complicated as possible for you, plus I want to start my own thing without having to wait for your Grandfather to try to sabotage it.”
“You think Grandfather could be so angry to try that?”
“I have no doubt Ewan would do his best to do his best to make my life miserable.”
“Is Maxine also the woman who was in the files you left on your desk?”
Philippe had forgotten about the information Onyx Heart had left for him and he really hadn’t planned on Pierre getting a hold of that information either.
“Yes. I really didn’t mean to leave that file out.”
Pierre looked a little disturbed. “I didn’t mean to read it, but you highlighted a familiar name. Horace Gallagher, wasn’t he in Grandfather’s employ?”
“Yes,” Philippe sneered, remembering what had been done to Maxine knowing it was Horace who had done it.
“And he’s the one that was arrested for what he did to those women?”
“Yes.”
Pierre nodded. “Dad, you know no amount of material in this world can make up for pain. Only love will do.”
It sounded like some old Motown song verse, but he knew his son was speaking only in his own best interest and he appreciated his son’s love and concern. “I know, Pierre, and I intend to give her that after she knows the truth.”
Philippe just hoped once Maxine knew everything, she would see his love and trust he would never allow anything or anyone to hurt her again.
“There is just one more thing,” Pierre noted. “I know Mother set us up with a trust with the money grandfather gave her when you married her, but…” he seemed hesitant to broach the subject with his father.
“All my money? Where is it?” Philippe asked for his son.
“Well, yes. I saw the papers and documents, Father. I know what will happen when you tell Grandfather the news of your departure, but have you really thought this out completely?”
Leaning forward, Philippe said, ‘”The only reason you and your sister have those trusts is because I forced your mother to set those up with the money my father paid her when I agreed to marry her.” He tried his best to keep his disgust of that forced marriage out of his voice, but it was very difficult. “She was getting a monthly stipend from the company just for being my wife, but I wanted to make sure you two would not have to make the hard decisions that I’ve had to make. Your Grandfather dangled money in front of my face most of my life to do what he wanted me to do and believe in what he wanted me to believe in. When that didn’t work anymore, he used guilt; Guilt so deep I must … I’ve had to do some terrible things in order to make sure you guys were set. These past few years I’ve been working on some things on my own and I would leave it all behind today if I could, but I know soon I will be able to. Don’t worry about me, Pierre. Your father can take care of himself.”
“But I know you won’t have the same living standard as all this,” Pierre said. “
Once you’ve resigned, Grandfather will demand you leave his property.”
Philippe would have loved to tell Pierre where Ewan could shove ‘his property,’ but he bit his tongue. “Sometimes when a man has the love of a woman, he doesn’t need all this in order to be happy.”
****
While Maxine kept herself busy, her mind wandered here and there. Often she found herself looking longingly at the ring.
On the other end of the spectrum, she kept wondering about the woman she had thought was Lisa and if that woman was still tied up in the room.
Then there was the body found before Lisa’s. Who had killed her and left the chain on?
Lastly, there was Lisa, Maxine’s best friend. Her killer was still out there. If she had been involved in the compound had Philippe been her master?
Devon had said that Philippe never kept them for long, but could that be true? Nicole said Philippe never had a permanent one before.
So had Lisa been Philippe’s slave?
Maybe she should just ask him?
Maybe once Philippe paid off her freedom she could tell Detective Heart everything and find Lisa’s killer. The law man seemed like a smart enough man who could figure it out and he didn’t look as if he was on anyone’s payroll.
“Still looking beautiful as ever,” Devon said behind her.
She turned around and dropped the sauce spoon she had been using. Coldness swept over her soul as she met his dark eyes filled with malevolence and lust.
“H-How’d you get in here?” she asked trembling in fear and disgust.
“That’s none of your business, slave,” he muttered. “You’re never to question a master.”
Forcing herself to be subservient, she said, “Philippe’s not here.”
“And who said I came for Philippe? Maybe I came for more.” He started to step towards her, but stopped as the door opened to the chamber.
“Good afternoon, Devon,” Philippe said coolly looking from Maxine to Devon several times to make sure she was okay. “I didn’t know you were in the compound, so early, sir.”
Devon turned to Philippe. “I thought you’d be alone. Most of the slaves are in lesson.”
“Mine didn’t make a request, so I saw no need to make sure she was secured since I had kept her up so late.”
“Most masters don’t leave their slaves alone like this in the chamber.”
“You still haven’t told me your purpose,” Philippe said, now allowing his irritation to surface.
“I’m personally inviting you to join us for dinner tonight. I let the others know this may be your last for a long time. Of course I didn’t tell them the insanity you’ve suddenly acquired over pussy, but that’s neither here or there, is it?”
“No, it’s not, but I’d prefer to pass this invitation up.” He had a feeling Devon was personally inviting to make sure that he attended.
Devon stepped to Philippe. “I insist.”
Philippe looked over at Maxine who looked terrified. Without words, he knew he needed to get Devon out of there for her sanity. “Fine, Devon, but don’t expect us to stay for long. I had other plans.”
“Just have a toast and then you can leave.”
“Good,” Philippe said.”Tonight, we’ll be there.”
Devon nodded with please confirmation and then left.
Philippe immediately went to Maxine, who collapsed toward him as soon as his arms moved around her body. The strain of trying to be unbothered had taken its toll on her.
“Soon love,” he whispered a promise. “Soon.”
Chapter 36
Lunch was a quiet affair. They spoke of pleasant things and she learned a lot about Philippe’s mother, who had been head of many health causes.
“Her marriage was arranged by her father,” Philippe revealed.
“Arranged?” she asked startled. “What century were they married in? Or did they get pregnant before marriage?”
“Their parents wanted a good marriage for their children,” he said obviously.
“What about what your parents wanted?”
“With our money, that’s not an option. It’s what’s best for the family.” He paused to reflect on something internally and then said, “I was away from home in my very early twenties when she became ill with breast cancer and she was trying to get better, but was at a point in my life I didn’t want to deal with past family issues. I didn’t know of her sickness until I returned.” He looked very distressed by this fact. “I missed her illness and almost her death.”
He tried to switch to be lighthearted, “She was an amazing woman. I believed I inherited my compassion for people from her.”
Maxine also wanted to note from all he had told about his mother, Philippe had gotten his inner beauty as well. “And you? Your life? Did you have to make those same decisions like your parents and have an arrange marriage?”
“Yes, I did. In exchange our company took over a failing company and I got two great kids from it.”
“Love?”
“My wife and I never loved each other. After the kids left the nest for college, she left for a golf instructor in Benton Harbor, which eventually turned in taking my alimony money and investing in his dream to own a golf course in California, while she started her own import/export business.” He shrugged indifferently. “It’s really no hard feelings although it pushed my father into thinking I’d want to be more a part of this organization.” He didn’t look too please about that.
Philippe didn’t ask about her past at all. She was glad about this, because Maxine didn’t like speaking about that much. Not much good could be remembered about her childhood and the only real lesson she learned was to stay focus in her life and not try to care about people because they eventually died or hurt her.
After lunch, Derrick came to get her and take her to get her hair done, and a full body massage, which was what she needed.
Philippe swept her up in his arms and kissed her until she was breathless, right in front of Derrick, clearly showing she was already missed.
It was a good thing Derrick didn’t mind steadying her as they walked down the hall, because the kiss had left her legs weak for several minutes.
Nicole picked out a beautiful lavender dress with splits to the middle of her thigh and matching open toe shoes. Along with her chamber key, Maxine still had the key Carla had given her. These she placed in the folds of her dress in the deep pockets to keep them secret. This dress had zippers and she was assured the keys wouldn’t fall out no matter her movements.
“I look like an erotic princess,” Maxine said, looking in the mirror.
Lanna had swept her thick hair in a beautiful French Roll filled with diamond balls and tiara.
Maxine was the epitome of exoticness. She felt like a rich African Queen and as Nicole dawned on her mask, she felt even more like she looked.
“Derrick’s going to take you straight to the ballroom. Dinner has already started to commence,” Nicole said.
Derrick appeared at the doorway as if secretly beckoned with a blindfold in hand. Maxine didn’t disagree about being blindfolded and was very glad Derrick was going to escort her. As they walked, he seemed to be hesitant in his step.
“I heard your master is buying you out,” Derrick said quietly.
She was shocked Derrick wanted to initiate conversation in the halls. “He’s doing that?” she asked pretending innocence.
“It was a rumor. He placed an outbid for you when he returned from lunch. A bid so large other masters would be a fool to try to match or go over. A slave hasn’t been paid for like that since Nicole.” He walked closer to her so their conversation could barely be heard.
She was aware there were others in the hallway where they walked even though she couldn’t see anyone.
Abruptly, Derrick stopped and tugged her into somewhere. She knew they weren’t in the hallway anymore, but he seemed edgy all of a sudden. A feeling of danger quickly sprung up in her chest as Derrick pressed somet
hing small and cold in her hand.
“Put this in your pocket,” he whispered.
“What’s going-”
He cut her off. “Don’t ask questions, just do it,” he ordered. “But don’t let anyone know you have it. Don’t even let Philippe know about it.”
She did as he told, confused as to what he had given her, but as he seem to drag her out from where he had pushed her into and back into the hallway to normally walk to their destination, Maxine was on high alert.
Arriving at the ballroom and hearing gasps all around her, she gripped Derrick’s arm tightly.
“It’s ok,” he assured her. “They are all looking at you because you’re beautiful.”
****
Philippe was very aware of all the eyes on him. Mostly premium members were invited to this special dinner, along with their slaves. The other members were ardent followers of Devon willing to do anything the man asked to get into a higher caste system in the organization.
In a small way, Philippe could understand why men joined the society; even if the sex element was taken away, the society was a pivotal way for networking in a business environment that could make a person a lot of money.
Philippe had used the society and contacts to gain a better advantage for his own family’s business, which he had every intention of passing on to his son to make sure they were financially secure.
Yet, Devon had taken the society to a whole new dark deeper level where he fostered his evil intricacies onto others who just wanted to have a good time.
A banquet was laid out as if there was a large feast and Philippe bit back his disgust for the waste when not many members were attending the function.
There were a lot of the members that didn’t like Devon’s leadership, but Philippe refused to do what his father wanted and oppose Devon’s reign. Philippe knew if he wanted to be head Master of this insane organization, the other founding masters would gladly promote him to the position. It was Ewan’s desire to have his son become head master, but it wasn’t what Philippe wanted and for that Ewan despised him.
Several times he tried to grab a glass of wine, but it seemed the servants were deliberately staying out of his reach on purpose.
Dark Facade (Book Four) (Dark Facade Series) Page 6