As you enter, both Steve and Stephen rose, something unprecedented to this time. Stopping just inside the door, you wait for instructions. Stephen, smiling, indicates that you are to take your usual place at the table. When you are seated, the two men take their seats.

"Abby, it is good to see you up and about. Are you feeling well enough to enjoy dinner with us?"

You nod, some what embarrased at the concern being shown you. The meal continues quietly, filled with small talk about the estate, business and other affairs about the house. Never a word was mentioned about your ordeal or the aftermath.

After dinner, Steve excused himself, claiming he still had work to complete before bed. Stephen, sipping cognac and smoking a cigar looked at you down the length of the table.

"Abby, are you feeling well enough to come up to my office for a few minutes. I have some things I need to discuss with you."


"Yes Sir. I fee fine"

"Then come with me." Offering his arm, he leads you up the stairs to the office attached to his apartments on the third floor.

Once in the office, a place you had never been, you looked around. A fire in the fire place. It looked like a mans room. Shelves of well read books, items of clothign tossed about casually, and a huge desk littered with papers, folders and several computers.

"Sit Abby" he motioned to a large over stuffed chair near the fire place as he moved to a companion chair facing yours.

Once seated he sat back comfortably and began to speak.

"Abby, you have performed your duties for me without fail and without flaw. In every aspect you have exceeded what I expected from you. To be honest, I never thought you had about you the inner strength to even approach what I expect from a woman. You have been a pleasant unexpected surprise.

What happened to you at the Taylor womans place was my mistake. I never thought she would go to the extremes that she took you. It was not directed at you. It was all directed at me. She wanted the Chancellors job when I took it. She has resented me since that time. When I expressed interest in the property adjoining the school she saw her opportunity since she was tasked by the Board to see to the disposal of the property.

That is now past. It can't be undone, but I have seen to it that she will never have the opportunity to enact her evil again.

You know that I deal in pleasure and pain. The giving of pain is a large part of how I derive my pleasure. The difference is that where I do it without malice and with the understanding that there is pleasure to be found in the pain. Taylor used pain as an instrument of punishment, using it exact revenge on those she envied or despised. Her intent was always to destroy. Mine is always to create a sense of completeness.

Now, you suffered horribly when you need not have. To that end I feel responsible in large part. So, I have a few things that I hope will help alleviate the horro to which you were party."

Taking a file folder from the table, he removed several packages of documents. Handing you the one on top, he spoke again.

"This is the clear title to the townhouse in which the Taylor woman was living. It is not the place to which you were taken. That propery belonged to the school. This was her house. It is now yours."

Taking another set of papers he handed them to you.

"These are the documents that accompany an investment account that has been opened in your name. Most of the stock it now holds is stock in several companies that I own. The combined worth of the stock is a little over one million dollars."

Taking the last set of papers he hands them over.

"And this is a contract of employment. It basically offers you a job as my Executive Assistant, with a nice salary, a suite of benefits and perks. and full use of the estate and all of my company assets as needed for you to do your job. The one pre-requisite to this contract is that you agree to one qualification."

In a state of overwhelming shock, you sit with the papers in your lap. Property, money, position. What could the qualification possibly be.

"Sir. . . Master. . . . what would I be required to do."

Smiling broadly are your answer and the use of the word Master in addressing him, Stephen leaned forward, elbows on his knees as he spoke earnestly.

"Abby, the requirement that I stipulate is that you become my Mistress, that you become the Lady of the Manor so to speak, that you assume the position of my equal in this house."

And with that, he leaned back in the chair and watched you.