THE HEALING HEART

by Zelda Clemens

  “Sure, I would love to get something to eat,” Olivia said.

  Janet smiled with satisfaction. It was clear that she had something planned. Olivia just hoped that it wouldn’t be too late when she found out.

  “Great,” Janet said with a snarl. “Let’s go now before the big lines.”

  There was a moment of silent tension between the two women. Olivia knew that everyone in the office was probably listening to every word they exchanged. Maybe they all had put Janet up to this. Maybe they had chosen Janet to send Olivia the message that they were not happy with the way she was being treated.

  Carter was the only person that she could rely on in the office. She figured that everyone else was against her. She wasn’t used to being so isolated. She had always been good at integrating into different work environments. She did work well and punctually and she treated everyone with respect. That was usually enough to get her on good terms with most people. But this job, her first in the legal profession, was proving to be much different than anything she had ever experienced.

  She took several deep breaths and tried to calm herself. She was afraid of what would happen if she found herself alone with Janet but she didn’t want to show any fear or hesitancy. If people sensed that she was afraid, they would feel emboldened to come after her in more direct ways.

  Right now everything was happening just below the surface. It was clear that there was plenty of tension in the office. But everyone was doing their best to pretend that they didn’t notice anything.

  Once Olivia had calmed her nerves, she got up from her seat. The two women walked towards the elevator. As they moved between the cubicles, several pairs of eyes turned in their direction. Olivia scrutinized the faces of her co-workers, especially the women. She sensed anger and jealousy in their eyes. They wanted revenge and they weren’t going to wait for it.

  Olivia felt her legs begin to wobble beneath her. Maybe this was a setup. Maybe a group of her co-workers were just waiting for the perfect opportunity to corner and confront her, to let her know that the best thing for her would be to find another job.

  They stepped into the elevator. A sly smiled played on Janet’s lips. It was the most frightening smile Olivia had ever seen on a woman’s face.

  *****

  The two women stepped out of the elevator and walked down a long hallway to the building cafeteria.

  Without turning her head towards Olivia, Janet began speaking. “You think you’re the only one who’s ever been chosen by Carter?”

  Olivia didn’t know how to respond so she kept her mouth shut and waited for Janet to continue. She figured that letting her talk, no matter what she said, was the best strategy. No matter what happened she would be sure to gain some insight into what exactly was going on in the office.

  No more words were exchanged between the two women before they sat down at a table and began eating. Olivia cast her eyes around the large cafeteria. There weren’t many people in there and that worried her. What if Janet began threatening her? What if Janet attacked her?

  Olivia did her best to calm her nerves. She would have to defend herself. That would be her only option. No one was going to save her, not even Carter.

  “You never answered my question,” Janet said. “Do you really think that you’re the only one?”

  Olivia swallowed and struggled to make eye contact. She knew that it would be dangerous for her to reveal any sense of fear but she couldn’t help herself. Janet’s angry, bitter energy was just too intense.

  “I’m not sure I know what you’re talking about,” Olivia said.

  Janet glared at her without saying a word. She didn’t have to. Her eyes blazed with contempt and disdain.

  “Don’t try to bullshit me,” Janet said between clenched teeth. “You know exactly what I am talking about. Do you think you’re the only one?”

  Olivia sighed. She realized that there was no point in feigning ignorance. She wouldn’t find out anything that way. But there was no way that she would admit to what precisely had gone on inside Carter’s office.

  “You saw me on my knees yesterday,” Olivia said. “So why are you wasting time asking me questions that you already know the answer to.”

  Janet’s eyes were about to pop out of her head. She had probably thought that she would be able to easily intimidate her younger co-worker. Olivia’s refusal to back down both surprised and infuriated her.

  “I was in your position once but then someone new and younger came along,” Janet said, “and I was replaced.”

  Now Olivia could see more than anger in Janet’s eyes. There was clearly pain there as well. She had the feeling that she was the younger woman who had replaced Janet as Carter’s chosen girl. The thought filled her with satisfaction but she did her best to control her emotions. She didn’t want Janet to think that she was mocking her, or reveling in her pain.

  “I’m sorry to hear that,” Olivia said. “But I don’t think that has anything to do with me.”

  Janet slammed her fist into the cafeteria. Olivia jumped up, terrified. She looked around the cafeteria. A few heads had turned their way but most of the people seemed to be ignoring them. Once again, Olivia couldn’t be sure whether or not some elaborate game was being played on her—a game that everyone understood except her.

  When Olivia realized that no one was looking at her anymore, she slowly sat back down. But she needed to get out of there and fast. She didn’t feel safe being around the angry, jealous women even if they were in a public place. She feared that Janet would make a scene that could end up getting both of them fired.

  There was no telling how far a scorned woman would go to exact her revenge.

  “Thanks for eating with me today,” Olivia said, as she prepared to leave the table.

  “Where are you going?” Janet asked. “I’m not done with you yet.”

  But Olivia was done. She wouldn’t endure one more minute of this treatment. Carter was the only person that she would submit to. She wouldn’t allow her co-workers to push her around. If she had been chosen by Carter to be his number one girl, then there was no reason to tolerate any disrespect around the office. If Carter told her that she had no choice but to put up with the jealously and contempt of her colleagues, she might have viewed things different. She might have accepted the disrespect without complaining. But Carter had made no such demands of her. He had only specified that he expected her to submit to his will. He hadn’t said anything about other people in the office.

  “I’m sorry but I have to get back up to the office,” Olivia said. “I’m really sorry.”

  As she got up from the table, she felt Janet’s hand gripping her wrists. Her skin was still sore and bruised from the handcuffs that Carter had put on her. Janet’s tight grip made her grimace. But she did her best not to show any pain.

  “You better watch yourself,” Janet said. “It might not be me, but someone will come along and take your place. You just wait and see.”

  Olivia didn’t respond. Instead she pulled herself free from Janet’s tight grip and walked out of the cafeteria.

  *****

  She was relieved when she stepped into the elevator. Her entire body tingled with excitement. She had been chosen. All the other women in the office would have died to be in her privileged position.

  When she walked back through the office doors, she felt a new sense of power. She was beginning to understand how things worked in this firm. She didn’t worry about whether or not another woman would come along and replace her as Carter’s preferred submissive. She figured that Janet had probably done something to upset or disappoint their domineering boss. She was determined to never let that happen to her. She would do whatever she had to. She would do whatever he asked.

  For the next couple of hours, Olivia did her best to concentrate on the stack of briefs that she had to complete. It wasn’t easy because her mind and her eyes kept drifting. Every few minutes she would lift her head and stare towards Carter’s offic
e. She knew that he was in there because she had caught him staring at her through the blinds.

  His intense eyes set her body on fire with lust and fear. She was anxious to feel his strong hands all over her body. But she was afraid of how far he would continue to push her past her limits.

  All she wanted was to please him.

  As the end of the workday approached, Olivia worried that Carter would not call her into his office. This immediately made her insecure. Had she done something wrong? Had he already become bored with her?

  The thought that he was already losing interest was too much for Olivia too handle. She suddenly became very anxious. This wasn’t the way that things were supposed to go. He should have already summoned her to his office. She should have been bending over his desk while he yanked on her hair and slammed his cock into her.

  When the clock struck five, most of the employees began leaving the office. The door to Carter’s office was still closed. Out of the corner of her eyes, Olivia could see Janet gathering her things. Both women seemed to be moving very slowly and watching each other. Something was bound to happen between them. The animosity and the tension were too thick.

  It was Janet who made the first move, slowly approaching Olivia’s cubicle. Olivia could feel her colleague’s jealous energy. She looked quickly towards Carter’s office. What would happen if Janet attacked her? Would Carter come rushing to her defense? There was no way to know. She would have to be brave and get through this alone. That seemed to be her only option.

  Janet stared down at her for a few moments without saying anything.

  But this time Olivia didn’t look down or away, she stared directly into Janet’s fiery jade black eyes. She was refusing to submit or back down.

  “Don’t worry,” Janet said threateningly, “Your day is coming.”

  Olivia kept her eyes locked on Janet’s. She was waiting anxiously for her to say something else. But Janet must have sensed that the young, paralegal had a lot more backbone than she had expected. She lowered her eyes and stomped away from Olivia’s cubicle and out the office doors.

  Olivia was shaking. She had never been threatened by a co-worker before. She was proud of herself for not backing down but she wasn’t sure how much more abuse she would be able to tolerate before she reached her breaking point and lashed back at her colleague’s. There was only so much mistreatment that she would be able to endure.

  Just when she had given up all hope of being called in to Carter’s office again that day, she heard his door opening. Waves of excitement rolled through her body. This is what she had been waiting for all afternoon. The moment was finally here.

  “Olivia!” Carter yelled. She had never been so happy to hear her name called. She quickly straightened up the papers on her desk and hurried to her boss’ office. What could he have in store for her? She couldn’t wait to find out.

  But when she walked into Carter’s office, she had the distinct impression that something was wrong. He seemed agitated and a bit upset. All of her excitement drained away and all her fears and insecurities came rushing back.

  Carter was standing up and staring out his large window that looked down on the entire city. He sighed deeply and turned toward Olivia. She was anxious to hear what he had to say, so anxious that she nearly leaped out of her seat.

  “Olivia, do you have any plans for this weekend?”

  She shook her head no. She had always hated working on the weekends but she would be glad to come into the office if it meant that she would have the opportunity to spend time alone with Carter.

  “That’s good,” Carter said. “Because I’m going to need you to work this weekend.”

  “Anything you want,” Sir Carter. “I can come into the office on both Saturday and Sunday.”

  Carter smiled. He clearly seemed satisfied with her answer.

  “Excellent, but I don’t want you to come into the office,” he said staring at her suggestively.

  Olivia was confused. What was he asking of her? So many questions swirled in her mind but she knew that it would be best to keep her mouth shut and let him continue.

  “I want you to come with me to my summer home in Connecticut. You will be pampered and treated with the utmost care by my staff but you will remain my submissive. Is that clear?”

  “Yes, Sir Carter. That sounds wonderful.”

  And there’s one more thing…Carter paused and fixed his eyes on her. She could feel her entire body trembling with anticipation. “I’ve finally made a decision about which woman in the office that I would like to have my firstborn.”

  Olivia swallowed hard. Was he really about to say the words that she’d waited to hear for so long, the words that she wouldn’t dare repeat to herself because it just seemed too far-fetched. Had he really chosen her out of all the other women? That would almost be too much for her to handle.

  Carter sat down on his desk directly in front of Olivia. He leaned towards her and took her chin in his hand. He kissed her tenderly on the lips and then brushed a tangle of hair out of her face. It was an exhilarating kiss that set her body on fire with desire. She hungered for more of them. And she wanted them all over her body.

  ****

  Months Later…

  Olivia looked down at her belly, rubbed the prominent bulge and smiled.

  She still couldn’t believe that she was carrying this powerful man’s seed. She’d never felt so honored. She’d never felt so proud and confident and sure of herself. She loved walking around the office with that beautiful baby bump. The other women could only smile and look away, wondering what they'd done wrong, wondering how she'd become the chosen submissive. But Olivia didn't care about those other women.

  The only thing that mattered was that Sam’s baby was inside of her and they were going to build a life together, a life beyond anything she could have imagined.

  Over the next several months, Carter continued to invite Olivia into his office for his dangerous games of submission and domination. Each session was more intense than the previous one. Whenever Olivia informed Carter of the harsh treatment that she was receiving from her colleagues, he stepped in and quickly fired them. Janet, the woman who had been Carter’s chosen submissive before Olivia arrived, was one of the first to be fired.

  His willingness to defend and protect her, made Olivia feel that she had finally found the love that she had always been searching for. And after two years of working at the firm, she was more thankful than ever to have finally found a dominant man capable of turning her into willing submissive. It was delicious feeling—one that she wanted to hold onto forever.

  THE END

  Another bonus story is on the next page.

  Bonus Story 30 of 44

  The Ranch of New Dreams

  Description

  Stephanie has been trying to stay away from her grandfather's ranch for almost ten years. She once loved this place and spent most of her summers here riding horses. She had met her first love here and experienced the most painful loss the guilt which she has yet to overcome.

  Now, one year after her grandfather passed away, Stephanie has to return to the ranch to decide its further destiny. She is intent on selling it to invest the funds into her prospering IT company.

  One thing she dreads the most is seeing Erik again. Her grandfather has left him in charge of the ranch. As great as her teenage love for Erik was, she knows deep in her heart she will never find the courage to forgive him for the heartbreak she went through.

  *****

  "Let’s stop for a quick coffee break, Nana," Stephanie suggested.

  The closer they were getting to the ranch, the more she was looking for reasons to stop and kill some time. Anything that could prolong the trip and delay them from reaching their destination.

  A part of her wished to be back there again, after so many years. Yet, she knew there were ghosts from her past that she was not ready to face yet. Ghosts that gave no rest to Stephanie for days and nights.

 
"Darling, it's getting late. I'd rather we got there before dark," her grandma said. Stephanie knew she was also impatient and wished to arrive a moment earlier. "I can't believe your grandfather is not going to be there to meet us." Grandma shook her head and signed. She looked out of the window and Stephanie knew her grandma was struggling to hide her tears. "He knew we were visiting, he'd always surprise us. Meeting us halfway to the ranch and riding on his favorite horse."

  "Yes, I remember that, Nana," Stephanie smiled. "We all miss him a lot." She squeezed her grandma's hand.

  It had been almost one year since Grandpa Jonathan had passed away. To Stephanie, he had not only been the head of the family but a true friend. She had shared many secrets with Grandpa. Now, he was gone and had taken her secrets with him—as he had promised.

  The rest of the way they drove in silence. The road was slowly taking her back to where the most daunting memories of her past rested.

  Now, following Grandpa's will, she was headed back to the ranch. She knew he would not be happy with the decision she had made. Stephanie missed him more than ever now when hard decisions were ahead of her.

  "You're very quiet," Nana said.

  "I know... I am just thinking that Grandpa would not be very happy that I'm planning to sell the ranch," Stephanie said, not looking at her grandma. She knew, in her eyes, she was going to see the same disappointment. They had hoped that one day she'd be in charge for that piece of land that had been such an important part of the family history.

  "He had started it with only a small piece of land, a small cottage, and two horses," Grandma's voice sounded nostalgic. She had shared the big part of that rocky road to success standing by his side—always supporting him, believing in him, reminding that he could build his dream despite every hardship that came their way.

  "Times are different now, Nana," Stephanie knew she was breaking her grandmother's heart with her words. "I wouldn't know what to do with a ranch. But if I sell it and invest the money in my company, I'm gonna build an empire in a couple of years. Trust me, Nana, I'm one of the best tech girls in the field and what we're working on is an innovation that can change the world!"