Quinn POV

I don't know why I set an alarm. I glanced over at the clock and it read 7:00am. I groaned in irritation, throwing my pillow at it. I heard a chuckle come from further in the room.

I glance over to see Jerome in nothing but his boxer shorts. I must have been staring for a few minutes because he continued to chuckle as he asked "like what you see Dollface?"

I throw my other pillow at him in response ,and hide my head under the other one to try and hide the fact that I'm blushing. "Is it me or are you actually blushing at seeing me shirtless instead of wanting to strangle me?" Jerome asks a bit of amusement in his voice.

I frown at him. "Who says I don't want to strangle you? Now get out, so that I can get dressed."

"Why?" Jerome asked I could see the amusement shinning in his beautiful eyes.

"Look, just because I let you sleep next to me in bed, doesn't mean that I'm going to let you see me in my birthday suit." Jerome pouted but did not reply. He however, did not do as I asked. Instead he just stood there in the doorway.

"Just get dressed Quinn. I promise I won't watch."

"Jerome...." Before I could finish my protest Jerome we heard crying coming from the baby monitor. I sighed in relief and Jerome chuckled "saved by the baby's cry." He replied his eyes still sparkling in delight. "See you in a few Dollface." Jerome said with a wink as he exited the room.

"You need to work on your timing little one." I heard him telling Bella over the baby monitor. "I was just about to watch my beautiful girlfriend get dressed when you cried. Now I'm going to miss it."

I heard Bella whimper and Jerome coo at her. "Shhh. Don't cry little one. I'm not angry." I heard Jerome heading in my direction I frowned wondering why I didn't hear Bella's footsteps.

Knowing that he'd be in the room at any second, I quickly threw on some clothes he sighed in disappointment upon entering the room carrying Bella in his arms.

"I know what your thinking. Why am I carrying her? Well, the answer is simple. She's too young to walk too far by herself. She often falls down. I don't want her to get hurt, so I carry her instead."

"So you weren't kidding. You had that crazy hat head hypnotize her. What I don't understand is why." I replied and Jerome sighed.

"Bella sweetheart, I need you to turn your listening ears off while I have a privet conversation with Quinn, ok?"

"Otay. Ginanut, Me dwaw you a pictua."

"What did you just call me?"

"Ginganut." Bella said with a giggle.

"Bella, I want you to listen to me very carefully, You are never and I mean never to call me that again. Is that clear?!" I replied angrily.

At this, Bella's eyes filled with tears and her lower lip began to tremble and she let out a small whimper..

"Me sowwy."

"Shhh. It's alright. It's alright. You didn't know. I didn't mean to be so hard on you. It's just I dislike being called that." Jerome replied with a slight growl shooting me an irritated glare.
Once he sat Bella down, he turned to Me and asked me a simple question.

"When you look at Bella what do you see?"

"Upon first glance she looks like a toddler."

"Exactly. To be an adult trapped in the body of a child is no walk in the park. The world is cruel, they judge Bella before they even know her."

"They treat her as if she's incapable of doing anything on her own. They talk down to her and treat her like a baby and I saw how it was continuously breaking her heart."

"Which, as her big brother, breaks mine. I can't stand to see my sister cry. I love her to much to allow her to suffer any longer. So yes, I asked my dear friend Jarvis, to hypnotize her into believing that she's a toddler. Why? Because now, she no longer gets upset when people treat her like a baby, because as far as she's concerned, she is one."

Bella POV

I cocked my head listening to the conversation my brother was having with this strange girl. I  knew Jerome said not to listen to it but it sounded interesting. Crawling over to Jerome I tugged in his pant let. What did they mean by hypnotized? "Jewome? What's hypnopies?" (hypnotized) I asked completely confused.

At first Jerome didn't reply and I wondered if it was because he didn't know what to say. "Tisk tisk. Naughty, naughty Bella. You really shouldn't eavesdrop on someone else's conversation." He scolded me bopping me on my nose. Instantly tears filled my eyes.

"Me sowwy. Me not mean to be bad."

"Shhh. It's alright little one." Jerome replied rubbing my back and moving in a rocking motion. "Your a very good little girl. Don't ever let anyone tell you otherwise. Now what would you like for breakfast?"

"Me want Pancakes wifh butta and sywip Pwease."

Jerome cleared his throat "Now Bella, what did I tell you last night?"

"Me sowwy. Me fowagot (forgot) Bella replied and Jerome just looked at her expectantly.

"Bella." Jerome replied a hint of warning in his voice.

."Me want pancakes and me want them NOW!" Bella replied hitting the pillow on the bed. I looked at Bella in shock. Jerome on the other hand, seemed quite pleased by her response and nodded in approval.

Quinn POV

"That's right little one. We don't ask for something, we demand to be given what we want. Isn't that right Quinn?"

"No. If you want something you ask politely. With a Please and a thank you. It gets you better results every time." I replied.

"Oh? Really? Care to test that theory?" Jerome asked.

"How?"

"Simple, you ask my men for something politely, and we will see what their reactions are. Then if they don't do as you ask, then we will see how they react when they aren't asked but ordered to do things. Whichever one gets you the better results is the one we will teach Bella to do."

"Ok, but you can't tell your men about this experiment. I want their reactions to be real not rehearsed. I don't want them to say what they think that you'd want to hear out of fear of being punished."

"Agreed. I give you my word I won't intimidate them into giving you the answers they think I'd want them to give."

"Jerome, can I go out today?"

"Why?"

"It's a surprise."

"If you don't tell me your reason for wanting to go out, then the answer is no."

"I wanted to make you a home cooked meal like my mother use to make us, but we don't have all the ingredients. I was hoping Bella and I could go to the local Walmart to get what we need."

"Alright, as long as you take one of my men with you." Jerome replied and I groaned.

"If I have too."

"Well, look at the time. I really must run, I have a city to turn upside down. You two have fun now." Then turning to his men he whispered something to them and they nodded in agreement.

"Jerome, what did you just say to them?"

"Nothing." Jerome replied with a smirk.

"Jerome, tell me what you said to them!" I replied irritatedly.

"What no please?" Jerome asked with a smile and I rolled my eyes at him.

"Fine. Would you please, tell me what you told them?"

"Nope. Oh, and just to make things a bit more interesting, how about a little wager?"

"Like What?" I replied warily.

"If I win this bet, you must promise me that you will never try to escape. That you will stay by my side as my Queen."

"And if you lose?"

"Then I will have Jarvis reverse the hypnotism he's placed Bella under, and the two of you will
be free to leave. I will let you live your own lives and I won't interfere in them. So what do you say?"

"You have yourself a deal." I replied shaking his hand he smiled at me.

"Then let the games begin." Jerome replied turning and leaving the room.

Jerome POV

I walked into my office and turned on the monitors as well as the recording device in Bella's doll that she brings with her everywhere.

"Excuse me sir."

"What do you want?" The man replies irritatedly.

"I was hoping that you would escort us to the grocery store."

"Forget it. I'm not a chauffeur."

"Well if you won't take us to the store, could you please grab some grocery for me when you do go out? We are almost out of food and I want to make Jerome a home cooked meal tonight."

"Do I look like a butler to you? Now go away and quit bothering me. If you want groceries so badly then go get them yourself." The man replied with a scoff.

"I would, but your boss has forbidden me to leave this apartment with out and escort. Please? I need to get groceries and your the only one around."

"Look lady, I am not your butler or your personal chofer. I am certainly not an errand boy. You are not my boss, you can't tell me what to do. It's bad enough that Jerome ordered me to watch over the two of you and make sure you don't get into any trouble. I should be out doing more important things but I'm stuck babysitting."

"You wowk fowa Jewome don't you?" Bella asked and the man frowned.

"Yeah, so what's your point kid?"

Bella backed away slightly and began to whimper. "Now don't start that. Your tears will do you no good. I don't have the time or patience, to deal with a spoiled little brat like yourself, so go away and leave me alone! Or so help me, I'll give you something to cry about."

He warned raising his hand as if he was going to strike Bella. Just as his hand was about to come down I blocked his path his hand colliding with my cheek. I ignored the sting and glared up at the man angrily.

"Don't you dare talk to her like that!" I replied picking Bella up and holding her in a tight embrace. "And Don't you ever and I mean EVER threaten her again!"

"Oh yeah? Just what are you going to do to stop me Dollface?"

At this, I let out a low growl and placed Bella in her playpen. "Only Jerome is allowed to call me that." I replied slapping the man across the face. He responded by grabbing me by the neck and holding me in the air.

"Just who do you think you are girl?"

My eyes flashed in anger this guy was really starting to irritate me. "I am Jerome's girlfriend and future fiancé and queen. That means that when Jerome is not here, I am the boss do you understand?"

"I have no intention of taking orders from a girl. Especially not one as weak as you." He replied tossing me to the floor.

At this My eyes flashed in anger once more. "Lets Get a few things straight One: I am not weak, 2 when Jerome is not here I am the boss and You will do as your told, or their will be consequences. Ones I can promise you that you won't like. 3rd and probably the most important of all, do not underestimate either Bella or myself. That is the worse mistake that you will ever make."

"In fact, it might very well be the last mistake you'll ever make. Now, since we've established that I'm the boss, I am politely asking you to take us to the grocery store. Or should I tell Jerome that you not only refused to assist me, but you threatened to hit Bella, and you hit me twice?"

At this the man's face went white as a sheet. "No ma'am. I'll bring the car around right away."

I gave the man a smile. "Thanks  for being so understanding." I replied giving the guy a wink and a small peck on the cheek. "You see Bella, people respond to politeness."

The man groaned "the boss is so going to kill me."

Jerome POV

I watched on a monitor as Quinn approached one of my men requesting that he take a trip to the grocery store to get her a few items. I was shocked when it took only a few minutes for the man to go from being snotty to terrified. I frowned had I missed something? What had she said that made this guy look like he was about to wet his pants? I rewound the tape slightly and turned up the volume.

"Excuse me sir could you please take me to the grocery store?"

"No."

"Well if you wont take me to the store, would you please grab a few things for me if and when you go out? I want to make Jerome a home cooked meal but I'm missing a few ingredients."

"Do I look like your personal butler? Go to the store and get it yourself!" The man replied.

"I would, but your boss said I'm not allowed to leave the apartment unless accompanied by him or by one of his men and I really need those groceries."

"Look lady, I am not your personal butler or chofer and I'm certainly not your errand boy. Your not my boss. I don't have to listen to a thing you say. It's bad enough that Jerome ordered me to watch over the two of you and make sure that you don't get yourselves into any trouble. I should be put doing more important things but I'm stuck babysitting the two of you. Why don't you do me a favor and leave me alone." I chuckled wondering what Quinn's response would be.

To my surprise it was Bella who spoke up first. "You wowk fowa Jewome don't you?"

"Yeah, so? what's your point kid?" The man replied irritatedly and Bella backed aways slightly letting out a slight whimper.

"Those tears won't don't any good. I don't have patience to deal with a spoiled rotten little brat like yourself. Now go away and leave me alone, or I'll really give you something to cry about." At this I let out a low growl. Just as he was about to hit Bella, Quinn stepped in his way receiving the slap across the face that was meant for Bella. Now he was a dead man walking. No one threatened my baby sister, and gets away with it. And No one, and I mean NO One gets away with hurting my girl.

I continued to watch the monitor though I was tempted to go back inside. Quinn's eyes flashed and I could tell that he had made her angry. "Don't you dare talk to Bella that way! And don't you EVER threaten her again!"

"What are you going to do about it Dollface?" The guy replied and I chuckled knowing that Quinn hated that nickname.

"You are to address me as Miss Young or Quinn. Only Jerome gets to call me Dollface and I don't even like it when he does it." Quinn replied slapping the guy across the face.

The man then responded by grabbing Quinn by the throat and he started to squeeze. I wanted to burst into the apartment and shoot the man but I had to remain uninvolved. "Just who do you think you are girl?"

Quinn's reply shocked me. "I am Jerome's fiancé and queen. That means when Jerome is not here, I'm the boss do you understand?"

"I have no intention of following a girl's orders. Especially not one as weak as you."

I shook my head and chuckled at his stupid response. "Wrong move." I replied as I continued to watch the monitor.

"Let's get a few things straight one: I am not weak. 2: when Jerome is not present that means that I'm the boss. Which means you will do as your told or their will be consequences ones I can assure you, you won't like. 3: never underestimate Bella or I. It would be the last mistake you ever make."

"Now since we've established that I'm the boss, I am asking you politely to take Bella and I to the grocery store. Or should I inform Jerome that you not only refused to help assist me, you threatened to hurt his baby sister and you hit me multiple times?"

That's when the man's face pales and he quickly agrees to take Quinn to the market. "Good." With that Quinn opens the door and picks Bella up. "You see Bella, when you ask nicely people respond better. Isn't that right?" She asks the man who nods.

I chuckled "well played Quinn. However, the game has only just begun."

WC 2875