Alexander pictured above

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Exactly as the clock struck six, my doorbell rang. I stood from my desk and walked to the front of the house. A maid was in the process of opening the door. Nikki stepped inside and she offered to take his coat. I sauntered over to him as she pulled his leather jacket off his shoulders.

"Ash will be in with the paperwork in a moment." He informed me.

I nodded, prepared to respond, but his eye line suddenly looked past mine. Following where he was staring, I glanced back at the upstairs railing. Ghost stood there quietly and watched with distaste. He caught my scowl, yet did nothing about his own.

"Care to come say hello to Ashley and Nikki?" I asked him.

His eyes narrowed. Ghost said not a word and backed up from the railing. His unhappiness towards the situation and turned to that of pure loathing. His antipathy used to bother me, but anymore, I'm used to it. If Ghost wants to be a whiny little bitch, let him. He has adult temper tantrums like this on a regular basis.

I turned back towards Nikki and tried to shade my shame. My own fiancé is acting like a child. It's one thing for him to act this way when we're alone, but in front of guests? My fists tightened out of anger. I needed something to let my aggression out on. Lucky for me, the man standing in front of me had my antidote.

"I'm sorry for him." I said, "He's still pissed about this."

Nikki glanced out the window panel along the side of the door to check where Ash was. Then he lowered his voice, "Do you ever regret freeing him?"

I sighed, "Some days. I do love him but when he acts like this... I wish I could put him in his place... You've got them with you tonight, right?"

He nodded, "I had to. We need the space. Ash bought out another company, thinking they were halfway decent. Once we got to their facilities, we almost puked. The conditions were so bad. We couldn't leave those slaves in that mess. As much as I don't want to give up some of my best slaves, I was grateful when you asked to foster a few."

"We never worked out a price for Ricky." I replied as I saw Ashley coming up the drive.

"I'd bankrupt you if I asked for the price I wanted to." He snickered, "Base price for any of our slaves is three to five thousand, depending on the age. Ricky is actually older than he looks, so start at four. Another five hundred for his size, and fifteen hundred for his virginity. And how 'bout another thousand just because I'm pissed you're taking him?"

I calculated it in my head as he had spoke. With a poker face, I responded, "Seven thousand then?"

"That's what's on the contract. Is that a problem?" Nikki questioned.

I slyly waved my hand towards the maid to tell her to open the door. She did as she was told and let Ashley inside. A tall stack of papers rested in the crook of her arm. She handed them to Nikki to hold so the maid could take her faux fur coat. Then she hugged me, her sugary smell wafting in the air around me.

"Hey Harley Q." I teased her, "How are you?"

She shrugged, "Been better, been worse. Where's Ghost?"

"Probably burning my clothes in the backyard." I grumbled. I cleared my throat and addressed the help, "I'm going to sign these in the office. Can you please try to coax Ghost out of the bedroom in that time?"

"Yes, Mr. Cerulli." She responded and walked to the stairs.

I sighed once again, thinking about my obstinate spouse. He has to be so stubborn, doesn't he? Our last fight was rather violent, and I'm trying to break the cycle of abuse between us. Once I freed Ghost from slavery, he had no problem hitting me back. He still can't hit nearly as had as me, but that doesn't change the fact that it does leave a mark. I can't be going to business meetings with bruises on my face like I'm someone's bitch.

Ashley and Nikki thankfully understood our situation. They're not only old friends, but they're good friends. They don't judge me for having a tempered boyfriend. That, and they're used to this between Ghost and I now. I lead them back to my office to get these papers signed. The more I think over Ghost's behavior, the more I want those slaves in my care.

"I assume you want cash for Ricky?" I asked while reading through his sales contract.

"Is there any other form of currency in this business?" Ashley smirked with a snit.

I licked my lips casually with a snicker, "There's always sex." The words were barely out of my mouth before Nikki seeped a growl of sorts. I laughed upon standing from my office chair, "Relax, Nikki. You know I don't swing that way."

"Better fuckin' not." He muttered.

Ashley set her hand on his shoulder and gave him a motherly look. Nikki narrowed his eyes at her in return. They have their little arguments and moments like this, but they're still a good couple. I ignored their little quarrel. Pulling a painting down from the wall, I revealed one of my many safes. There's a few around the house, all well hidden. I dialed in the code, which was Ghost's birthday. Inside there was stacks of money. Some where less, others more. I counted out enough to satisfy the contract and threw it down in the desk.

With a small signal from Ashley, Nikki leaned forward. He counted the bills to make sure it was all there. They trust me just fine. This is simply procedure. I'd do the same if I was taking money from them. I locked the safe and covered it back up. Then I grabbed a fountain pen from a holder sitting on my desk. I signed the purchase contract for Ricky, and the housing contract for the other three.

"Is that all?" I questioned as I pushed the contacts back to her.

Ashley skimmed through the papers to make sure every line was signed properly. She collected them together, along with the money, and stood back up. "That's everything. Thank you. Nikki will get the slaves in for you. I've got to head out though. I'll be late for a dinner. It was good seeing you again, Chris."

"You too, Ash." I replied, "Thank you for everything."

She flashed her smile and slipped out of the office. Nikki told me to follow him and so I did. By the time we even got to the front of the house, Ashley was walking in the driveway to her car. She can move fast when she needs to. Nikki had me stay in the entry way while he went out front. Lucky me, that happened to be the moment Ghost decided to come downstairs.

He slowly descended the long staircase. I rested my hand on the end of the banister as I watched him. He was so graceful, when he wanted to be. Ghost was wearing tight black jeans, and long sleeve black shirt with a spider on the front, and a grey knit scarf. He barely had any makeup and his hair was messy. He looked absolutely perfect. When I see him this beautiful, this is when I get so frustrated with the way he acts. I love him more than anything. Why does he have to do this to me?

"You look beautiful tonight." I softly told him.

Ghost stared off at the ground and muttered, "Thanks."

"Nikki is bringing the slaves in any moment. I want you to know, I don't see you as one of them anymore. You're my beautiful, fucking gorgeous fiancé that I love more than anything. You're also the amazing woman of the house and they have to respect you as much as me."

He hopped down the last step and surprisingly came into my arms. Ghost leaned his head on my shoulder and rested his hand on the opposite hip. "I'm trying to get used to this but it's difficult." He said.

"I know it's going to take time." I gently kissed his forehead, "But if it makes you feel any better, Nikki said he needed the room to help some rescues they're taking in. We're helping save some slaves from by owners by doing this."

Ghost released a heavy huff, "I guess. I'm sorry, Chris. It's just... Different when you were once one of them, ya' know?"

"Yeah, I get it. Please don't tell them that I freed you, though. I don't want to give them any kind of false hope."

Those were the last words I managed to tell him before the door opened. Nikki, along with another steward, walked the four fragile slaves inside. Thankfully he did clean them up. When they were in the warehouse, they were covered in filthy and their makeup looked like it had been on for weeks. Their clothes were ripped and just as dirty, and their hair was a ratted mess. Now, though, they were the gems I knew they could be under all that dirt.

Freshly ironed clothes were tight against their clean, pale skin. Each one had their makeup freshly done and their hair was perfect. Nikki really did deliver for me. He knew I wasn't going to be happy if he dropped off messes to me.

Ghost stayed back by the stairs for a moment. I walked over to Nikki as he grabbed his coat from he rack. Quietly, I told him, "Thank you for everything. For as long as I can, I'm not going to tell Ghost that I bought Ricky. I don't want him to know."

"I understand. You will have to eventually tell him, or he'll figure it out for himself." He responded, "I better get back to the warehouse. Have a good night."

"You too." I said and saw him out the door.

The second the door shut, I was no longer friendly. My eyes darkened and my posture stiffened. I was now a Master once again. The four slaves he had brought me stood in a line awaiting my orders. Even Joy was being a good girl for the time being. Ghost kept his distance as he examined them. I hope he doesn't grow to be jealous of any of them, though I fear he will.

I walked around the line of slaves until I was in front of them. Each was beautiful in their own right. I've already grown lustful towards Alexander and Joy. Whereas, my heart is softened where Angelo is concerned. As for Ricky, I haven't decided what kind of craving I have to him. I just know it exists.

"Welcome to my home. Don't get used to the upstairs; You won't see it much. You'll sleep, eat, get fucked, and get punished in the basement. You are to respect the staff. Refer to them as sir and ma'am. I am the Master of the house, and my beautiful fiancé here is the Mistress of the house. I expect you to address us as such. You do not speak unless spoken to. When I do speak to you, you always respond.

Your posture should always be proper and I expect you in a waiting position, always. Your eye line is always forward. You do not hesitate when I tell you to do something. You do not disobey. If you do break a rule, you will be punished. You have to earn your pleasure with good behavior and endurance. You always ask if you want to please me, and you say thank you if I please or punish you. And of course, you always ask to cum." I grabbed Joy's face, seeing it difficult for her to not look at me, "Are we understood?" I asked her.

"Yes, Sir." She sassed me.

I clamped my hand around her neck and began to squeeze. The pain only provided her with pleasure. She gasped for air as I let go. A smile still played at her lips. I'll find a way to break that little bitch.