After I return to my apartment, I notice Catherine is sitting in the living room. She stands, comes towards me, and hauls me into a huge hug. She is delighted with me beyond belief. She asks me what I learned.

While wiggling my eyebrows, I tell her, “Well, he definitely appreciated my curves.” I smile and continue. “He does have a huge ego, but I don’t see it hindering him yet. That could change, but he still has enough guard about him. He sat back and studied the other men. He also studied me, but not like he should have, which left me room to maneuver around him. He likes arm candy, that’s for sure.” I shrug. “She was not too bright, but I guess she serves a purpose for him. The only weakness I could tell he had at the time was me.” Blushing again with thoughts of him, I lower my head.

Catherine smiles. “Did you like him?”

“Well, he definitely had a lot of sex appeal.”

“Yes, but were you attracted to him?”

I answer honestly, “Greatly.”

She walks around me and says, “You passed the test with flying colors. I think he enjoyed you as much as you did him. We’re nearly finished with training. All your hard work is paying off.”

“Who is this mystery man?” I ask.

“No one for you to worry about now. Just know you have made all of this worth it, I can tell. I am very proud of you, and one day soon I will be happy to call you family.”

The next day, Catherine starts teaching me more on the art of seduction.

“Men like to think they are the ones in control. Never show your cards. Always let him think he is indeed in control. A man is like...let’s say like a puppy. When you want a certain behavior from them, like a trick, you reward them. When they whine, you love them, and if they are naughty, you scold them. Do you understand, Fallon?”

“I think I do.”

“Well, you need to learn this. It will come in handy on many more occasions than you can imagine. Forget the puppy scenario. If you want any man to do something for you, you need to be persuasive. Give him a show of affection. If he is upset and his feelings are weakened, show him who the boss is, or at least who he thinks the boss is.” Catherine giggles on this. “Love him, and then show him he is the man and can do anything. If he is confused and has huge decisions to make, speak to him. Show him the way, but make him think he thought of it. Use your feminine wiles to get him to see the light. Now, when he has done something you don’t like, show him who the boss truly is. By this time, if you played all your cards right, you have become his everything.”

“What if he were to cheat, Catherine? Then what?”

“This is a tricky one for me, girl. After all, he is my son, but in my experience, there were some women I allowed, and some I didn’t. No man is perfect. Not even my sons. Their father had what I like to call adventures, but by the time he did, I was looking forward to them. I needed the mental break, but he would always come back once I started to gain attention from other men, which was done on purpose. When he thought his slot was slipping, he returned more than eager to be who I needed him to be.”

“Catherine, you said your husband was weak...what did you mean by that?”

“Well, that is a story for another time. Tonight, you sleep and rest. Tomorrow, I will come back and we will talk more. Goodnight, Fallon.”

Once Catherine leaves, I lay down in bed, but my mind won’t let me rest. Catherine baffles me. Sometimes she’s the mother I wish I would’ve had, and then other times she’s so devious, it scares me. I want all she promised: the lifestyle, the money, and the power. To be as strong as her. Not to be hurt anymore. I still can’t believe all this is happening to me. It makes me wonder why she picked me, especially for someone so important to her. For years I was treated and told I was nothing, but with Catherine I am someone. Someone who matters and deserves more.

I begin to wonder what her son looks like, and if this will work. Will he find me to his liking? I need it to work; going back to my old life is not an option.

I start to remember my handsome poker player. Would I be able to win him over and persuade him to my whims? I don’t think so. That man would never allow any woman to control him, but in my dreams, he can be whatever I want. I know, though, in real life that man looks like he has the ability to destroy me. I start thinking of having sex for the first time. I hope I can learn to enjoy it, but I don’t think I could handle it with my mystery man. He would demand too much from me, and without the experience he would lose interest fast. Even so, I start to get turned on thinking of him. My fingers lazily rub against my thigh. As I get braver, I start towards where my ache is. I go under my panties to touch, but once I am there, I can’t go through with it. I’ve never been able to touch, to feel. I’ve always worked so hard trying to hide any sexual part of myself away. I’ve never felt sexy, and with my past, I sure couldn’t allow myself to want something more. Maybe that can all change once I am married. I have heard of girls being slutty, and some being frigid. I didn’t want to be either. I just hope I can please my husband, and I pray I’ll get some enjoyment out of it.

The next morning, Catherine returns. We discuss more ways to lure men in. I have questions that need to be answered and had finally gotten enough courage to ask.

“Catherine, you know I’m a virgin. You can dress me up, educate me, give me class, and teach me how to turn a man’s head. But what happens once I’m alone with him? Your son, he will not see the confident woman then; he will see a scared little girl. I don’t think I could convince him otherwise. What then? Everything that lured him to me will vanish once he wants more?”

Catherine stands, walks over to where I am sitting, begins to rub my hair, and says, “Sweet child, I am hoping for it!”

What...what can she possibly mean?

“Catherine, once he realizes I am not experienced and at ease with my sexuality, the fantasy will disappear.”

“No,” Catherine scolds, “you will be even more than that; you will become every man’s fantasy. A virgin to a man is like his golden ticket, his jackpot, a brand new shiny toy that has never been played with. My son is no exception. I know my son. Like most mothers, I know what he needs, but unlike most mothers, I have looked beyond that and sought out what he wants, what he desires. He is the type of man to enjoy a lot of different women. He has strength of character. He was born to be a leader, and has always been treated as such. He will never accept those other women as his wife or mother of his children. He will not want the idea of another man’s hands on the woman who will belong to him. That’s why I wanted a virgin. It would never work with a woman who was not one. He needs a strong, intelligent, graceful, and confident woman. What he wants in a wife is a woman who is forbidden to all others. Someone he can teach and mold into what he wants. He will teach you how to be everything he needs in the bedroom. He will show you so much pleasure, and if the stories are correct, you will thoroughly enjoy him. I hear of tales, from women around, and I am proud to say my son is a very capable man.”

I whisper, “What if I don’t?”

“What was that, Fallon? What did you say?”

“I said, what if I don’t enjoy it? Will you teach me how to fake it?”

Catherine looks at me and says, “No, Fallon. With a lot of men, you can fake it, but with a capable man there is no way you can. If you try, it will only anger him. So, don’t try it with my son. Most men don’t care enough about the woman to care if she enjoys herself or not, but from what I’ve heard, my son cares a great deal about how his women feel. Which, my dear, is a wonderful thing. It is something that will be useful to you.”

“How can that be useful to me, Catherine?”

She answers, “I did not enjoy hearing about my son’s sex life, but it was necessary. It was the knowledge I needed to find him the right woman. It can be useful to you, because there might be times when he will be angered. When this happens, he might not be gentle. He might be rough, hardened, forgetting to think of you. Knowing he prides himself on being able to show a woman pleasure, though, will allow you to demand pleasure. This is a time he will need your body for release. It is your job to put him at ease, but also to put him back in his place. Your strength will become his.”

I lower my head. “I’m scared, Catherine. I’m scared it will hurt, or that he will hurt me. I have always shielded myself from men and their advances, trying to conceal my body so no one would think of me as sexual. You testing me has been easy. Those men you had me entice, I knew they would never be allowed to touch me. It was a game! But with your son, it’s different. He will be allowed full access.”

I take a deep breath and continue. “Also, I’m worried I won’t like it, or I won’t be what he wants. I don’t know if he will like what he sees...will I be enough for him?”

Catherine becomes softer. “Fallon, every woman is scared about all those things. Women have always had to worry about pressure from men. You are one of the lucky ones, Fallon. You made it to 21 without being forced. I can’t promise my son will always be gentle. He might be forceful at times, but at least it will only be him. If any other man touches you, my son will kill him. He will kill for you. It is a saving grace to have one man’s protection from all others.”

“Catherine, I don’t want anyone to kill for me!”

“Yes, I understand, my dear, but you have never been in a situation to want that. Like I said, you are lucky!”

She turns and walks over to the window, staring out, almost like she is remembering something. It seems like she is no longer there with me. Lost in her memories. Why? What has this woman been through?

“Catherine, are you with me?”

“Yes, child, I’m here with you, and for you. I will always guide you, Fallon.”

I admit, “Catherine, sometimes you scare me!”

She laughs. “Good, you should be scared. Like I told you, in the beginning I will be your ally, but my life is about my family. As long as you never cross my children or me, you will never have to fear me.” She turns serious. “If you cross us, I will end you! Make my son happy, give me grandchildren, and do right by them. Then I will always be there for you. Understand me, Fallon?”

“Yes, Catherine, I understand.”

Straightening, she shakes off whatever is bothering her and adds, “Our training is almost finished. In a few months, you will be twenty-one. I have a surprise for you. On your birthday, I will throw you a birthday party and introduce you into society. On this day, you will meet your future husband. He is not to know of our relationship. I will introduce you to everyone simply as Fallon, an old family acquaintance. No one will question my word on who you are. On that day, all your things will be moved out of the apartment and brought to my home. You will move in until your wedding night. If by any chance my son denies you and will not have you, then the party will give you connections to other powerful, wealthy men. Use your charms, and make them fall for you as a backup, but do not forget who you’re there for. Only my son can be allowed a choice. Do you understand?”

“Yes.”