The Novelist Pt. 09

"I picked you specifically. I hate interviews, Tabitha. I hate exposure and publicity. But I couldn't escape it anymore. What I need now is someone who can manage it for me. I need someone on my team with a voice and platform that can look out for my interests."

"Me?" She asked confused by the sudden change in his demeanor.

"Yes." He replied. "I think you would be the perfect person. The label I hate the most is being called a misogynist. I love women. I have a great respect for strong women... like you. I may not like interviews, but they've become a necessity. I'd love to limit all interviews to just your show. That is if you'd be willing to steer them the way I'd like. To push the narrative that I want."

She began to realize what he was asking. He wanted softball interviews. He wanted to control them. It was something that she had never done in her career.

"And what narrative would that be exactly, Mr. Bolden?"

"That all of those rumors are untrue." He stated simply.

"Are they untrue?" She asked.

Tom looked back at her with his wry smile. "Does it matter?"

"Of course it does." She stated firmly.

She saw the amusement etched on his face.

"Well, I believe I already answered that question." The tone of his voice suggested that he may not have answered honestly. "I'm a very careful person. I know everything there is to know about you. I did painstaking research before I invited you into my home. So let me ask you again. Are we on or off the record?"

"Off." She said tentatively. "We're off the record."

"And why the change of heart?"

"Because..." She replied. "... I want to know."

"Of course you do." He spoke as if the answer would alleviate some great burden she carried. "You can't help yourself."

He turned to his assistant who had been standing quietly to the side holding a notebook.

"Kimmie, would you give Tabitha a tour of the house?"

"Thorough, Sir?" She asked.

"A full tour. Start with front yard and then the club house. Show her all the new changes."

"Yes, Sir." Kimmie grinned.

******

Kimmie walked with a brisk, confident stride. Her demeanor was far different than the girl that walked into this house a year ago. She wore a comfortable Armani skirt with a white blouse. Tabitha followed behind her trying to understand what exactly happened in the living room. He never answered her question.

Kimmie stopped her abruptly in the foyer. "You'll have to sign this for me please." She said holding out a non-disclosure agreement. Tom had one specifically drawn up for this purpose. It imposed further limitations for additional protection. "It's a standard NDA. You said off the record and Sir intends for you to keep your word."

Tabitha began reading it.

"Ms. Watkins, if you're going to read through it entirely then this is going to take a long time. Your signature please." She asked holding out a pen.

Tabitha knew he was hiding something now. Even if she couldn't tell anyone, she had to know. It couldn't all be true. She signed the agreement and watched the young girl open the front the door.

"Wonderful. Thank you." She said tucking it inside her notebook. "Now, we've had a very busy year here. Sir has updated the house... partly because the paparazzi took a brief interest in it. Originally the yard was open. We've had stone walls built around the property. They are ten feet tall to prevent unwanted visitors. Sir also had an electronic gate installed on the driveway."

Tabitha followed her down the front walkway.

"Why do you call him Sir?" She asked.

She was certain she knew, but she wanted some sort of confirmation.

Kimmie snapped her fingers. "Hold your questions, please." She reached the driveway. "Now, he's added a large turnaround at the top for additional parking. Originally there was a detached garage here. We had a club house built in its place. It makes things run a bit simpler."

They approached the club house. It was built to match the architecture of the main house and stood two stories tall. It was awfully large for an addition. The old fence around the back yard had been replaced by a stone one. Tabitha looked at the cars parked near the top of the driveway and then toward the club house again.

"Now," Kimmie said as they reached the door. "We use an electronic key pad for access. The code changes weekly." She typed in an eight digit number and the door unlocked. "When any of the girls arrive they always enter through here. I've spent the last year figuring out the best way to manage the traffic and the rules. It's part of my job here."

"Rules? Traffic?" Tabitha asked looking for answers.

Kimmie ignored her.

"So," She said stepping into a tiled entryway. "The girls enter here. We have two large monitors. This one is to sign in. Once you're signed in I can see who's at the house on our tablets." She held up a tablet showing her a list of faces and names. "Our other monitor is a list of responsibilities for the upcoming month. Every girl cycles through the different chores and jobs. Come with me." She stepped around the corner. It looked like the entrance to a spa with a small waterfall and fragrant candles. "We have lockers and a changing area here."

Tabitha kept trying to ask questions and kept getting cut off. She looked at the hardwood floor in the locker room. This whole place belonged in a country club. Each locker was made of well-crafted wood with a silver name plate. There were plush padded benches lined in front of them. The young girl led her forward showing her two finely furnished bathrooms with pedestal sinks and an array of soaps and lotions.

They took a left and Tabitha stood in the entryway to an immense room; in the center stood a large shower room encased in seamless glass. Four polished silver pipes rose from the floor on each side with their own shower head and handles. Each station had a tiled seat and a tiled set of shelves filled with shampoos, conditioners, soaps, body scrubs and facial washes. The center of the shower room had a raised, oversized soaking tub with wide tiled bench seat surrounding it. Outside the showers, the room was lined with pink marble counters and vanity mirrors. There were endless amounts of perfumes, makeup, hair products, powders and lotions. A small padded seat was tucked under the counter in each place.

"Can't I just ask what all this about?" Tabitha exclaimed in total frustration.

She didn't understand what was happening at all. This wasn't what she expected.

Kimmie huffed. "I've been asked to give you a tour. I'm giving you a tour. If you want to know more about any of this then you'll have to ask Sir." Her answer was curt and it bothered the British woman. "Now over here we have two massage tables." She walked to a set of stairs. "Follow me upstairs, please." She kept walking swiftly.

As they reached the top of the stairs, she saw a full gym complete with free weights, treadmills, tread climbers, rowing machines and bikes. The other half of the room was a small studio with yoga mats. The workout area was wired with in wall Bose speakers. There were flat screen TVs mounted on the walls. The side of the room had a small bar area with two small refrigerators stocked with bottled water and sports drinks.

After a brief tour of the upstairs, Kimmie brought the British woman back downstairs. She led her through the shower area. "So that's the door to the backyard. And this over here," she said walking into yet another room, "is the ladies lounge. We can all sit here and relax and chat and gossip."

The room was simple and nicely decorated with comfortable couches. There was a coffee table with gossip and fashion magazines. There were large potted palm trees. It was an elegant comfortable place.

"What's this about?" She asked looking at a white board on one of the walls.

"Oh! We keep a list of events in case anyone would like to participate." She said excitedly. "We like to view this place as our own private club with a select few members. We're encouraged to share our skills and have fun. If you look... Fran is doing a course on making your own pasta and homemade manicotti. Gabby is doing a course on South American cuisine with Ybeth. Jen is leading a yoga class three days a week." She pointed to another board next to it. "This other board is just for upcoming house requirements and rules changes and other updates. It's his birthday so we have some additional guests. Dom Erik is in town with his submissive Angie. Dom Stephen and Dom Frank will probably be here later tonight."

Finally! Tabitha knew there must be some sort of sexual undertone to what was going on. It really was true. All of it. But it was far more intricate than she ever expected. He didn't just have some sort of dominant tendencies. He'd created an entire life around it.

"If you're ready we can head out into the backyard. There's more to see." Kimmie continued.

She watched the woman nod her approval as she struggled to digest her surroundings. As they approached the door leading out to the backyard, Tabitha looked to her right and saw a wide set of stairs that led down into the pool from the inside.

"That's the grotto." Kimmie noted. "It's really nice you can swim inside from the pool." Then she stepped outside onto the flagstone patio, which had been extended when the club house was completed.

******

Tabitha stood stock still outside the door. The yard was more lushly landscaped than she expected. She looked to her right and saw the grotto that Kimmie had mentioned. The artificial rock wall and waterfall that fed the pool had been built out creating a large rock dome built into the club house. The landscaping continued in between the rocks up over the top of it making it seem like a natural oasis. Misters sprayed intermittently feeding the plants.

Tom's house had been shut down for the entirety of his recuperation. It had taken nearly nine months to complete all the renovations. He had additional bamboo planted around the edges of the yard and the new stone walls were barely visible through the thick chutes that rose up high into the air. The flagstone had been replaced and the new stone had grass growing in between the stones.

Tabitha admired the new double wide, cabana style lounge chairs around the pool. It was nothing short of resort quality. Then she looked up and saw Tom standing in the yard in between the guest house and the pool. There were two ten foot tall lacquered posts with a rounded post connecting them horizontally. She would have asked what they were, but she could plainly see a woman tied to it naked and bruised. He had whipped her, she thought. They were whipping posts. It sent shivers down her spine.

In fact, Stephen had built them for Tom after the renovations were completed. The shooting had changed everything. Tom allowed Stephen to train Karen and Jane in lieu of taking his mother. He wasn't allowed to fuck them, but their mouths were readily available. He enjoyed whipping the two women who reveled in the abuse. Tom had discussed it with Karen who agreed to the idea excitedly. Jane had begged Tom to be a part of it too. She didn't want to be separated from Karen in any way.

Alexis sat at the outdoor table having lunch. She watched the petite British blonde enter the yard. They stepped out of the club house and around the edge of the pool coming toward her. Alexis stood up wearing just her heels.

"Mistress, this is Tabitha." Kimmie began speaking.

"Tabitha Watkins." Alexis said with her graceful smile. "I'm glad you finally made it. Did you like the club house?"

"I..."

Tabitha was almost never at a loss for words. She couldn't seem to decide on what to say at this particular moment. She wanted to know whether or not the rumors were true. Now, she had many more questions.

"It was quite a sight." She finally replied.

Alexis looked toward Kimmie. "Did you see your locker, Kimmie?"

Kimmie's eyes opened wide at the statement. Her heart swelled in her chest. It couldn't be true. She must have walked right by it.

"Mistress, may I please..." She watched Alexis nod, and then she turned and ran back into the club house.

"What is all this?" Tabitha asked. "Why am I here?"

Alexis smiled at her warmly. "Please have a seat. Can I get you anything?"

She reached forward and jingled the small silver bell in the center of the table. Ybeth walked out of the French doors in the kitchen and stepped down the flagstone steps. She had her collar secured tightly on her neck and wore a pair of stiletto heels. She came to a rest on her knees at Alexis' feet.

"Yes, Mistress?"

Alexis looked back at Tabitha waiting on an answer. The woman didn't respond. Instead she quietly watched the Colombian girl kneel prone at Alexis' feet.

"Suit yourself, Tabitha." Alexis shrugged. "Ybeth, why don't you lick my pussy as long as you're here."

She spread her legs wide and Ybeth leaned forward and buried her head between Alexis' tanned thighs.

"I'm not really sure what's going on here?" Tabitha stated feeling awfully uncomfortable.

"He'll be with you shortly. Patience, Tabitha."

******

Kimmie shot through the door into the club house. She ran past the large shower enclosure and through the entryway into the locker room. She scanned the lockers one by one settling on a silver name plate bearing her name. Her heart was beating so fast.

She opened the locker door. The inside was filled with balloons and personal notes taped to the inside of the door from some of the other girls. She kicked her feet up in the air and jumped around like a kid exploding with excitement.

The last year had been difficult and rewarding. Sir had still not fucked her again. He teased her pussy daily, but he never let her cum. She was allowed to masturbate twice a week. She'd become his biggest challenge. It required a new level of commitment as a submissive to endure the yearlong game. She was paid well. The job had been entirely rewarding. But the sexual frustration forced her to learn a type of will power and obedience that she didn't think she was capable of handling.

It was about six months ago, when Kimmie was certain that she couldn't take the teasing any longer, that Tom had placed a collar in a small glass case on the dresser in her bedroom. She stared at the collar everyday remembering the end goal. She was desperate to be one of the girls, and she was falling more and more in love with the man that challenged her.

She cleared away the balloons seeing a small note on the shelf. Her finger slid through the flap of the envelope unsealing it. It was from Alexis. 'K -- Tonight you present your collar for ownership. Congratulations.' Kimmie slid off her clothes and slipped into the stiletto heels in the locker. She could be naked now in the house. She hadn't been naked since he cut the clothes from her body with the kitchen shears. It seemed like a lifetime ago.

******

Tom walked back toward Alexis and Tabitha. He was wearing his tan linen pants. He'd removed his shirt while he doled out a punishment for Gabriella at the whipping post. The time spent recuperating from his injury had forced him to do a bit of physical therapy. He began working out more than usual. His thin attractive frame became more muscled over the year. He wasn't bulky by any means, but he was slightly fitter and more cut. He looked attractive and healthy.

He walked up to the women. Ybeth immediately sat back on her heels. Alexis reached her hand out and instinctively touched the scar just above his belly button. It reminded her that she almost lost him. She had become even more protective. She'd never let anything hurt her man.

"Ms. Watkins." Tom said holding out his hand. "Let me guess. You have questions."

She shook her head yes. She took his and he lifted her to her feet.

"Let's finish our interview off the record."

She stood up looking at the scar on his front and back.

"So it is true." She didn't say it like a reporter having a 'gotcha' moment. It sounded soft with a layer of confusion.

"This could be one of the greatest stories you ever report on." Tom said gesturing to his fiancé, Ybeth and the other Latina woman tied to the whipping post.

She looked around at the grandeur of his home. It would certainly be a ratings dream to expose the truth.

"I hope it will be the greatest story that you choose to ignore." He continued. "I'm private. That's absolutely true. I enjoy my career and don't really like people acknowledging it. But the reason you won't report this story isn't for my sake. It's for theirs."

She looked back around at the women in the yard. Then she saw the young assistant come flying out of the club house clacking along in her heels and otherwise naked. It was hard for Tabitha to understand why these women felt so comfortable and happy prancing around so freely.

Kimmie saw Sir and immediately dropped to her knees. "Sir, this the happiest day ever! I don't even know what to say. I love you!"

"You've earned it, Kimmie. I need some time with Ms. Watkins, please." He replied genuinely.

"Yes, Sir." She stood and disappeared inside.

"These women found me." Tom continued his conversation with the British woman. "Or I found them. However it happened is unimportant. They are all different. A housewife, a maid, a chef, a student. There are others too... businesswomen, single mothers, doctors, lawyers... they're all missing something in their lives... something that they have found here. But because of the nature of this lifestyle they prefer to keep it confidential. I used to meet them one at a time. Last year I introduced them to each other... and... for the first time they felt comfortable being open in front of other people that were also in the lifestyle. This place became a safe place devoid of persecution and judgment. Tabitha, I write about this kind of thing for a living. If the world found out I was into Dominance and submission it wouldn't make much difference. But these women have real jobs in the real world, and that kind of exposure would be profoundly uncomfortable. So, I'm asking you to help me. You climbed to the top of your profession. It's not easy especially as a woman... It hasn't been for these women either and it would be devastating to have a reputation as a slut or a freak."

Tabitha Watkins stood there completely surprised by his little speech. Sure, it would make an excellent story, she thought. The lifestyle was not something she had considered much. He hadn't really explained it, but her thought was that a dominant didn't much care about a submissive. She had the more feminist viewpoint that a submissive woman was a weak woman, and a dominant man was a cruel man. But Tom Bolden certainly cared about these women.

"I'm not sure how to respond." She replied.

"I'm not a fool, Tabitha. You're a smart woman and I'm sure you could weasel your way around an NDA. It's a risk showing you all this. I've taken risks before..." He paused and rubbed his scar. "... It hasn't always worked out in my favor."

Tom spoke kindly and thoughtfully. He was intent on showing his vulnerability. It was something he had become more comfortable with over the last year.

"This isn't what I expected from a tour." She replied. "I don't think anyone would believe this unless they saw it. How many people live here?"

"Just my mother, my aunt and Kimmie for now. Alexis and I have moved in next door. They're still finishing the new house, but it's livable now."

"Your mother?" She said carefully.

"Yes." He replied. It was enough to let her know that all of it was true. "I won't keep you any longer. If you'd like to leave then please see yourself out." He began to step away and then turned back. "There's a place for you here, Tabitha. If you ever wanted it."

"But..." She began to respond.