-06-

<flashback>

Alicia Keys' 'Girl On Fire’ streamed at a low decibel from the audio system of the glitzy red Lamborghini Aventador that sped up the street.

Its owner, a young dominatrix, selected a Moët from the cooler, traced her finger along the outline of its gold label leisurely and passed it to her bodyguard who popped it open in a second.

She lit a cigarette stick and watched its bright red flame burn slowly through the tip. After taking in a deep drag, she pulled the cigarette out and coughed loudly to expel the smoke from her lungs.

“Are you okay Mistress?" Her bodyguard questioned as he passed her a champagne flute filled with the fine French wine.

After downing the alcoholic goodness in one complete gulp, she handed it back to him.

The hem of the white bridal lace jacket she wore slipped off her thigh as she repositioned her legs, left over the right and snapped her fingers to stop the music.

She took in another puff and blew out a thick ring of smoke through her nostrils.

Her bodyguard extended another glass to her but she waved it away and reclined in the plush red velvety seat instead, shutting her eyes tight.

The car slowed down as it neared the entrance of the Estate and stopped momentarily, allowing the wrought-iron gates to part open.

A gigantic metal sign standing by the fountain was the first to come into view before the three tier edifice in all its magnificent entirety. Alexander-Grant Residence.

The chauffeur sent the car up the rounded driveway and halted rather inelegantly in front of the fountain with a piercing screech, filling the evening air with gasoline.

“We’re here Mistress,” her bodyguard announced, causing her to open her eyes and  dump her cigarette in the ashtray.

Just when the scissor doors of the limousine lifted, the double  mansion doors also flung open, revealing a smallish mousy looking blonde in a firmly pressed grey skirt and suit with a clipboard in hand.

Her bodyguard alighted first and offered her his hand. She outstretched her gloved palm, placed it down in his and one neatly waxed leg after the other, gently stepped out.

She checked the time from her diamond Rolex and trained her eyes on the blonde that had descended the spiral staircase and was quickening towards them.

When the blonde got close enough, she lowered her clipboard with her lips curled upwards in a polite smile. Instead of returning the smile, the young dominatrix pursed her lips tightly, not a single expression crossing her face. Her eyes fell on the silver work tag pinned on the breast pocket of the blonde’s suit. It read ‘Amy’.

Amy swallowed visibly and cleared her throat awkwardly. “Miss Ale--"

“Mistress,” she corrected firmly in a thick French accent, taking a step closer to Amy with a disapproving frown.

Amy’s smile died as her small brown eyes met the bold green ones of the famous dominatrix.

“I’m sorry,” she apologized nervously. “Mistress Alessandra. Please, this way,” said the visibly intimidated  blonde in a hurried tone as she stepped out of the way.

Mistress Alessandra shot the blonde a glare and walked, swaying her hips elegantly from side to side with her chin lifted high like the Queen of England.

The heels of her boots clacked loudly on the pavement as the train of her   coat flowed behind her gently like a bride.

“This way please,” Amy said and ushered them into an elevator.

The elevator went to a stop on the second floor and opened up into another  hallway. They stopped in front of a silver door in front of where two bodyguards stood on either side.

“Your bodyguard can wait in the visitor's lounge,” Amy said to Mistress Alessandra who whispered something into her bodyguard's ear. He nodded and followed Amy around the right bend of the hallway.

“Mr. Alexander-Grant will see you now,” one of the bodyguards said to Mistress Alessandra and pressed a green button on the wall.

The door buzzed open and  she cat--walked in.

“Mistress Alessandra?” Mr. Alexander Grant, the fifty two year old business mogul perched on top of a King sized bed with a pipe in between his lips, stood up.

Mistress Alessandra cocked her head to the right and caught her reflection in a gold rimmed mirror.

Eyeing him from the corner of her left eye, she flashed him an impish grin whiles twisting the lapis Lazuli ring on her finger and took a few paces forward.

"Tu sembles surpris. Surprised?" She asked, her voice oozing amusement.

“I’m sorry--" he sighed in admiration and continued, “it’s just… it’s just that I didn’t expect you to be so--"

"Young?"

"Beautiful," he said this as if in a hypnotic trance.

“Don’t be misled Alexander,” she went closer, unbuttoning her coat sluggishly. The coat fell off, exposing openly the tight black leather corset and lingerie she wore underneath. "All that glitter is not always gold."