Lapidot (SIN) Dump

HOUSEMATES (part 10)

She pulled onto the highway, headed north, as she relaxed behind the wheel and spoke.

"I am having some construction done on the house. It will take about two weeks, so we needed to be out of there for a while. I own a house on Copper Beech Lake. We'll stay there while the construction is going on."

I'd heard of Copper Beech Lake. It was about 250 miles away, up north, in the mountains. I'd never been there but had been told it was beautiful; the houses on the lake were known as getaways for the affluent.

Lapis' explanation raised many more questions than it answered. Construction on the house? Two weeks? Didn't we have to go to work tomorrow? At the distance away we'd be, we certainly wouldn't be commuting.

She looked at me a moment, smiling amiably. "Ah, but you've got more questions now."

I nodded slowly.

"The construction. Well, I want the house to be a certain way." She looked at me again. "When you gave up control to me you gave up control of your physical surroundings too. But don't worry -- all the work will be first-rate and will if anything increase the value of the house."

"But you're even more concerned about the fact that you have to go to work tomorrow."

I nodded.

She tried to suppress her self-satisfied grin. "Well, actually, you don't have to go to work tomorrow. In fact you're never going back to that job." I looked at her, wide-eyed.

She kept her eyes on the road. "I had a doctor write them an e-mail, informing them that you require an extended leave of absence from your job. The details aren't important."

I harrumphed silently. The details weren't important to her, maybe. But I had found out that my house was being remodeled and that my job was gone, both without my knowing a thing in advance, without a word of discussion.

She seemed to read my feelings with eyes still on the road, she said, "This is how it is, slut. You're owned now. Things that before you might have had a say in, you no longer do. But that collar around your neck not only means you obey, it means I look out for you, take care of you. Remember that, rely on that, and trust in that."

I listened and let her words help soothe me. I realized that I wasn't nearly as upset as I was trying to convince myself that I was. And, laughing to myself, I realized that a couple of weeks off from work at the minimum wasn't exactly a terrible deal.

I looked out the window as the scenery slowly got more rural. Mistress' voice broke the silence.

"Now, after we get back, I do have a new job lined up for you."

I turned to look at her as she continued.

"A good friend is the talent coordinator for a modeling agency. She needs a new assistant. It's a perfect job for you."

I listened, not convinced of how "perfect" this was going to be.

"It's a very dynamic, fast-paced place." I winced slightly. Dynamic and fast-paced wasn't my ideal environment. Dynamic and fast-paced meant pressured, political, with everyone hungry to advance. Not at all what I was looking for, or liked. Not to mention a modeling agency - who wanted to go to work and have to look at those 6-foot-tall gorgeous bitches all day?

I whispered. "That really doesn't sound like my kind of place, Mistress."

She laughed. "Nonsense. It's perfect. There's no chance of advancement. Your boss is looking for a hard-working, reasonably intelligent piece of eye candy. She's not bad to work for, but she tends to treat her assistants like submissive girls. You being in a collar won't draw any odd attention; in that place it will just look like an edgy fashion statement."

I gasped softly and touched my neck. I hadn't even thought about the locked collar, and going to work, or anywhere in public, wearing it.

She laughed again, hearing me. "So don't fret about it. There will be an interview of sorts shortly after we get back. But that's just so she can make sure you pass the attractiveness test. And you do, easily." I blushed.

"But we'll talk more about that another time. Our staying at the lake house until the construction is done will give you time to adjust to things, and give me time to thoroughly enjoy you and teach you some more basics, and to get you more completely re-oriented to your new role, your new life." She smiled at me. "And make no mistake. It is a new life."

Lapis went on. "Ever been to Copper Beech Lake? Or, 'The Beech' as my more pretentious fellow homeowners sometimes call it?"

"No, Mistress."

"You'll love it, Peri. It's beautiful. The house is gorgeous, and comfy. We're going to have a wonderful time."

I smiled, knowing that I would. Lapis obviously had wonderful taste, and valued the best in things. I fully expected the house and the lake to be spectacular.

"You're off from work for two weeks, Mistress?"

She nodded. "Well, theoretically, but I'll be doing a little work from the lake house. With a phone and my laptop there's not much I can't get done. That's helpful, since it allows me to extend our "vacation" should I want to. Your job is basically waiting for you whenever I tell my friend that you're ready to "interview," so there's no pressure to come back at any particular time."

I looked out the window. Gradually the road was rising; we were entering the foothills of the mountains. My eyes felt heavy. The gentle motion of the car slowly put me to sleep.