The Love Of Money - S02 E145

Story 4 months ago

The Love Of Money - S02 E145

Read Story: SEASON 2 EPISODE 145

She returned it, dimples deepening into something almost girl-next-door sweet. “My pleasure.” She put just enough weight on the word to make it suggestive, then turned and left.

Emiko’s eyes followed her retreat, sharp. Then she turned her attention back to me.

“As I said—brilliant move. Helen’s presence is a strong influence, and I believe it will continue to shape Bobbi for the best. She has come a long way, but that strong hand must be tempered. Bobbi is emotionally fragile. She needs reinforcement, not just discipline.”

Silence stretched. Just when I thought it might break, Emiko spoke again. “I’ve noticed Natasha and Emily paying her special attention.”

I sighed. “Yeah. Emily and I had a falling out after she learned what Bobbi was. We made up, but I think she’s taken it on herself to play that tempering hand.”

“Precisely,” Emiko said. “I know the nature of your relationship with the girl, but if you wish to nurture her mind as well as her subservience, I suggest giving her a day of freedom each week. Make her leave the apartment, still under orders, of course. Let one of the others accompany her. Give her an allowance. Let her treat herself. I believe you will find her continued development to be all the more effective.”

“I’ll tell Helen—”

“Respectfully,” Emiko cut in, “I think you should tell her. Helen is a wonderful mistress, and their bond is powerful. But Bobbi is yours. My recommendation is that you not surrender too much responsibility or power.”

It felt like I’d just been reprimanded by my mother—and yet… not.

I nodded. “You may have a point.”

“Ultimately, the decision is yours. I’m honored you value my opinion.”

“I’d be a fool not to.”

“I wouldn’t go that far.” She gave a light, tinkling laugh that warmed me all the way through. “But I do have years of experience managing women. I’d like to think I’ve cultivated at least a modicum of wisdom.”

She did—that much was clear. With every passing moment, I felt direction forming for the women of the house.

“What are your thoughts on Helen?” I asked.

“Helen is… an interesting case.” Emiko leaned forward. “I misjudged her when I first arrived. The collar threw me, but a few minutes speaking with her told me the relationship wasn’t just submissive and dom. She commands authority among the others. You’re shaping a hierarchy. Where do you see her in that hierarchy?”

I sighed, considering. I hadn’t thought much about an “official” hierarchy. “If I had to, I’d put her near the top. Not under Erin, not over her either. Most of the others definitely look up to her.”

Emiko steepled her fingers around her teacup. “Helen is wise, but prideful. Stubborn. Sadistic at times.”

The housekeeper had her number. “I’m not going to argue with you on any of that.”

“I don’t believe she needs constant supervision, but there may come a time when she takes things too far or oversteps. If you are unavailable, do I have the authority to take the necessary actions?”

“This stays between us?” I asked.

“Anything you say to me is held in the highest confidence. In this house, my loyalty is to you.”

As I studied her, I found that I believed her. Completely. Something deep down told me I could trust this woman. Besides… wasn’t this what she was hired to do? Manage my household?

Didn’t my household include Helen?

“Yeah,” I said. “If you feel Helen’s being too harsh, or overstepping in a way that hurts the house, you have authority to intervene.”

“I’ll need you to tell her that.”

I hadn’t expected that. Helen and I had come a long way, and the submissive dynamic felt real… but telling her the new housekeeper outranked her in my home wasn’t something I relished.

Once again, though… Emiko was right. That news should come from me.

“I’ll do it,” I said.

“Very good,” Emiko replied. “I like Helen, and I think she is good for you. Good for this house. That goes doubly for Erin.”

“Do you need to manage her, too?”

Emiko shook her head. “Erin is a special case. I manage the household. Erin manages you. She answers to you.”

“Well, that one was easy.”

“Shea, I believe, you are underutilizing.”

Honestly, Shea hadn’t really been all that close to me until Europe—especially that night on the Eiffel Tower with Erin. It was after that night that I began to consider her a more integral part of the group. Still… she was something of an outsider compared to Helen or Erin.

“You should keep her closer. There are many rooms here that are still unused. Make one a massage parlor. Encourage the girls to get regular massages. Shea has a calm, healing presence. She is a gift—and one you need to use.”

She moved on. “Charity… is new. I’ve known her for the past week as your public relations officer. I have only known her for forty-eight hours as a potential lover. She’s eager. Sweet. But you must manage her emotions, or you risk breaking a young girl’s heart.”

I sat up straighter. “You think she’s—”

“No, sir,” Emiko said firmly. “But I don’t believe it’s impossible. My advice: Be careful with her. Unless you wish to pursue something deeper, remind her casually what this relationship is. She has the maturity to accept that—so long as you set the expectation.”

Emiko suddenly grew silent, her thoughtful expression hardening ever so slightly as her eyes flicked toward the kitchen door. “That will be all for now. Please leave us.”

I turned just in time to see Camille standing in the doorway. She glanced at me, then quickly slipped back into the kitchen.

“That one,” Emiko said, still watching the door, “lacks subtlety.”

“I don’t think that’s technically true.” I leaned back in my chair. “When we first met, she was a lot less obvious. I didn’t bite because she has a fiancé, but since I’ve returned, she’s decided to turn up the heat.”

Emiko’s lips thinned, her eyes still fixed on the door.

“What’s her deal?” I asked.

“She has… unusual tastes.”

“…What?”

“I’d rather not say more. It is not my place, but I can assure you, she means no harm. My recommendation is that you have a frank conversation with her—along with Mr. Wiggin. Make sure you understand what she wants. If you need further advice after, I am at your disposal.”

“That wasn’t cryptic at all.” I glanced toward the heavy wood of the kitchen door, as though she might pop through it again at any moment.

When I turned back, Emiko was sipping her tea, watching me thoughtfully. “I would also recommend you meet with Carla Tanaka soon. I’ve spoken with her once already. If you put it off much longer, she may do something… rash.”

“I’ll meet with her tomorrow.” I scrubbed my eyes. “Right now, I think I need a nap. Plus, I’ve got a date tonight.”

“With Miss Bander?”

This woman seemed to know everything.

“Yeah. How did you know?”

“Ms. Malik informed me. We’ve already arranged a dress for your date—it should be delivered an hour before you pick her up.”

“Oh? What are we doing?”

“Miss Malik is handling that. She said she would present you with three options. Unfortunately, I don’t know what they are.”

I exhaled, relieved Erin would boil it down to three choices. It felt like the perfect marriage: narrow enough that I wasn’t drowning in decisions, but still leaving me the final call—sufficient for it to feel like I’d had a hand in making the night a reality instead of leaving the entire thing up to my staff.

“Thanks, Emiko. Narrowing things down like that helps a lot. I’m nervous about tonight. I’ve liked this girl for a long time.”

My housekeeper set her teacup aside. She made doing something as mundane as that seem graceful. “Have you discussed your lifestyle with her?”

“I have,” I said.

“And she accepts it?”

“That,” I said, “remains to be seen.”

“Well. If she is aware, yet open, then give her room to dwell on what you offer—and what she can tolerate. She’ll be grateful you allowed her space to think.”

“Thanks.” Her advice made me feel a little better. I was glad I’d been honest with Natalie from the beginning. All I had to do now was go on this date and be the same Marcus I’d been when we first met. She’d decide for herself where to go from there.

“Well,” Emiko said, rising, “this has been enlightening. I think this is a suitable place to stop. Perhaps we can follow up after my trip to your vacation home later this week.”

“What about you?” I asked.

“Me?”

“We haven’t talked about you at all. I mean, I know you used to work at a brothel. You said you were—” I made air quotes. “Unattached. You really don’t have anyone over here?”

Emiko gave me a calm smile and a soft shake of her head. “I have all of you to look after. I am far from lonely.”

“What about parents? Siblings?”

“No,” she said simply.

When she didn’t elaborate, I decided not to press.

But we’d been talking about love—or something close to it. My next question didn’t feel too far out of left field. “What about outside this house? Do you have any plans? Are you going to be dating, or…”

I wasn’t quite sure how to end the question. It felt intrusive, but I couldn’t help it. This woman had moved halfway around the world to manage my house and my harem. I was curious.

She fixed me with a gaze I couldn’t read if there’d been a gun to my head. “My work fills my time… and most of my needs.”

I wasn’t sure what she meant by that. Did she mean she got companionship from this job? Sex? Was she becoming involved with one of the girls? Was she hinting at something else? I wanted to ask, but then the door behind me opened—not the kitchen door, but the one to the main hallway.

I turned to see Erin heading toward us at a brisk walk, phone in hand.

“Hey,” she said. “Sorry to interrupt.”

“We were just finishing up,” I said.

“Good.” Her face was devoid of color, and she looked worried.

I tensed. “What is it?”

“It’s Rajesh Desai.” She handed me her phone. “The police just found him in his hotel room. He’s dead.”

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