Chapter 12 - 12

The week sped by as I caught up on things I had to do to get settled into my new position. The first day had been taken up by trying to organize my desk and become familiar with the programs that Reed had installed on my new computer.

Every morning Reed would greet me with a smoldering kiss that had my toes curling by the time he was done and then ask me if I'd had a chance to sign the contracts. I would shamefully confess to him I hadn't had time due to trying to get used to my new role in the company. He would get a progressively disappointed look on his face as the days went by. I would always leave feeling as if I had just kicked a puppy. But then we would both get busy and I'd hardly see him again for the rest of the day. Lizzie apparently was occupied with her new position as well because I didn't see her all week either.

Every night I would go home and try to start on the contracts but wouldn't get much beyond the confidentiality agreement before I started getting agitated. It didn't help my anxiety at all that whenever I tried to call Lizzie she wouldn't answer, or if she did she would tell me she would never call me back. But, she never did.

By Friday I'd absolutely had enough.

"Did you get a chance to sign them?" Reed asked as he always did right after one of his exceptional, toe-curling, kisses.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Callaghan," I muttered my shoulders slumping. "I really have just been waiting until I can talk to Lizzie. I really want to sign it all, I'm just having some reservations on the whole thing. For the last three years, you have been nothing but a dream to me and now here you are in the flesh and unbelievably you want me. I just need to talk to her about all of this. But apparently, she has been busy and hasn't had time for me."

Reed came to me and pulled me to his chest so I could lay my head on him. I breathed deeply, his closeness and scent went far to calm me down and to help center my mind.

"Why didn't you say something earlier?" he asked as he pulled away from me to look me in the eye.

"I felt as if I was already disappointing you. I couldn't stand telling you that I was hesitating, because if that hurt you it'd kill me,"

He smiled softly. "That's one of the things that makes you a submissive, honey. The need to please me is already first and foremost on your mind and I love that. But honesty needs to come second, if you are having issues with something I need to know about it. Despite what you may think, I can't read minds. So, you need to tell me what's going on up there. Quite often you'll hear me ask you how you're doing or what you're thinking because I have to make sure of your safety and it gives me peace of mind."

I looked at him not quite understanding what he was saying. If I wasn't comfortable with something I could just tell him? That did not happen in the books I've read. In those, the Master's always seemed to know when things were wrong.

"Let me make this very clear, you are the one that will have the control to stop or slow down the scenes. If something is too intense or if there's something you don't understand or you are scared of, you must let me know. I will stop or slow down and try to help you, honesty and truth are the top priorities in a D/s relationship. You will pick out a safe word that you may use at any time. At the club you will have two, our personal one and a club safe word so the moderators will know if they need to step in and stop the scene," he explained.

He held my face towards him to make sure I was listening to what he was saying. I nodded and felt some more of my reservations disappear. He was right, of course. This whole thing was based on trust, and I would have to trust him to do what was necessary.

"I promise I'll look it over tonight and get it back to you on Monday," I swore.

"Do you still want to talk to Lizzie?" he asked.

"Yes, but it's not so vital now, I'll trust you to do what you think is best," I said to him letting the sincerity show in my voice.

I sighed and looked at the workload spilling over on my desk.

"I'm pretty sure I'll have to skip lunch again today. I have to get all of this stuff organized into some sort of working order otherwise I'll probably wither and die behind this desk."

"So you're just going to skip your lunch? Are you sure Mr. Callaghan is going to allow that?" she asked rather pointedly.

"I'm sure he'll appreciate it tomorrow when he can actually find his messages and memos," I said assuredly. "But I'd be extremely grateful if you'd bring me back a sandwich."

"I don't think Mr. Callaghan is going to like that, Mia," she said quietly.

I looked up and found her eyes staring down at the floor, her hands now clasped behind her back. Taken aback by her sudden change in demeanor I stood and walked around to her.

"Lizzie, it's not a matter of anyone liking or disliking it. It's a matter of necessity. I have to-"

"You have to go to lunch," a voice from behind me interrupted.

I jumped and spun around to find Reed standing there his arms folded and his face thunderous. I now understood Lizzie's change of attitude, if I had seen Reed looking at me like that, I would have done it too. He looked as if he was going to drag me over his knee right then and there.

"I have to finish up here, Mr. Callaghan," I said waving my hand at the desk that was covered with end-to-end paperwork.

His eyes narrowed and I could see the anger was almost at the boiling point.

"And I told you to go to lunch with Lizzie. I don't believe I asked your opinion. Any other time and I would punish you for even considering skipping a meal."

I gave him a weak smile.

"Why? It's not like I can't stand to miss a meal," I said trying to lighten the mood.

"Uh-oh," I heard from behind me.

It was as if the whole world had stopped right after I said that.. I watched Reed stalk towards me, as if he were in slow motion, and stopped in front of me until he was the only thing in my field of vision.