May I Humbly Suggest?
The next afternoon, Brie took the light rail to Lea’s apartment to avoid traffic. She sat in the back of the train car, watching the constant stream of people enter and leave. It was entertaining because she made up stories in her head to go along with the people she observed, from the homeless bum (who was actually a millionaire trying to regain his humanity by denying himself) to the little grandma (who looked all proper with her perfect hairdo and conservative dress, but was actually a fierce Dominatrix who made grown men cry).
There was one couple, however, who caught Brie’s attention without her needing to make up their story. It played out clearly in front of her, even though no one else seemed to notice. When they entered the car, the young man pushed his girl down onto an empty seat. To the average onlooker, it might have appeared the grungy youth was being kind and making sure his girl was seated, but the force he’d used and the way he was lording over her spoke only of one thing—a power play.
Brie tried to catch a glimpse of the girl, not wanting to come off like a nosy onlooker. The young woman had an extremely thin frame and a despondent aura around her. Her watery eyes made it clear she was miserable.
Brie heard the man growl under his breath, “Do it.”
The girl bowed her head lower, shaking it slowly.
The male stared at her in disgust. The girl cowered under his intense stare, wiping away the tears that escaped her tightly closed lids.
“Do it,” he commanded again.
Her whole body shook in fear, but she did not move.
“I’m not asking…”
Again, the girl shook her head.
The look on the man’s face transformed from disgust to rage in the blink of an eye. His glare was so intense it looked as if it were burning into his girlfriend’s skull. His voice was cool. “Understand there will be consequences.”
Brie noticed the girl shudder in response before she looked up at him pleadingly. Brie was not surprised to see the collar around her gaunt neck, confirming her initial suspicion. “I’m sorry,” the sub squeaked.
“Don’t,” he said, turning away from her. “Apologies mean nothing.”
More tears fell down her cheeks, but the sub said no more, apparently accepting her fate.
The man glanced over in Brie’s direction and she quickly averted her eyes, trying to hide the abhorrence she felt. She knew there were submissives who enjoyed humiliation in public, but it was disturbingly obvious that this was not the case for the girl seated across the aisle.
The man snarled in a low voice, “You have one more chance.”
The girl turned her face towards him, and that was when Brie saw the bruise on her cheek. “I can’t,” she whimpered.
Chills traveled down Brie’s spine. This was not a power play between a Dom and his sub. This was an abusive Dom wannabe taking advantage of an inexperienced submissive.
Brie popped out of her seat and approached them. She knew the protocol needed to appease the male, so she turned to him first, trying to keep her tone respectful. “Sir, may I speak with her?”
“Who the hell are you?” he barked.
She could not meet his hateful gaze when she answered, but kept her eyes cast downward in seeming reverence. “I’m no one, sir. But I have a humble suggestion for your girlfriend with the lovely collar.”
He snorted, as though he understood that she recognized their D/s relationship. He seemed to stand a little prouder when he answered, “Fine, you may speak.”
Brie gracefully knelt beside the wretched girl and smiled tenderly. “Hi, my name is Brie. What’s yours?”
The girl looked up at her ‘Dom’ and waited for his nod before she replied softly. “Candy. My name is Candy.”
“That’s a good name. You look perfectly delicious.” Brie saw the slightest glimmer in the girl’s eye, and it suddenly dawned on her what to do. She dug through her purse and pulled out her wallet, then took out the business card Sir had given her. It was something she cherished, but Brie knew with certainty that this girl needed it more.
She handed it over, saying, “May I humbly suggest this course? It’s changed my life.”
Before the girl could read it, the man grabbed it from her. “What’s this?” He laughed unkindly. “Yes, this is exactly what you need,” he said, giving the card back.
Brie put her hand on Candy’s trembling knee. “Trust me. This will change your life for the better.”
The ‘Dom’ addressed Brie, so she stood up and turned towards him. He dared to grab her chin to look her over. “You are a lovely thing. Come with us, so I can see what you’ve learned at this Center of yours.”
Brie pulled away from him, trying to hide the revulsion she felt, afraid that a misstep on her part would guarantee that Candy wouldn’t be allowed to attend the Training Center. “I’m sorry, sir, but I cannot.”
His eyes narrowed angrily—he was obviously unused to subs denying him. “Why?”
She caressed the collar around her neck when she answered in a whisper, “Only my Sir commands me.”
The wannabe actually laughed. “Loyal, are you?” He turned to Candy and remarked, “You could learn a lot from this one. Maybe I’ll let you take the class. You need it, because truth be told, you suck.”
Brie backed away with her head down, muttering, “Thank you, sir.” She returned to her seat and gazed out of the window. She smiled to herself, thrilled that she had been given the chance to pass on the information to a sub who truly needed it. Once Candy learned what was expected of a real Dom, she would leave that poor excuse for a man.
Later that night, Brie sent an email to Rachael Dunningham:
Dear Rachael,
Today I recommended the Training Center to a sub that could really use it. If a girl named Candy contacts you wanting to join in the next few weeks, I do not want money to be an issue. If she does not qualify for a scholarship, I am willing to act as her sponsor. Although I do not have much, I can commit to fifty dollars a month until I pay the full amount.
Thank you,
Brie Bennett
She shut her laptop, then picked up her purse and fished out her wallet. She opened it forlornly and looked at the empty space that had once held Sir’s card. Even though she missed its comforting presence, she knew the card was exactly where it belonged.
Brie settled into her bed and let out a pitiful whimper. There were only two weeks left… Two weeks to experience all the trainers had for her in the safety and refuge of the Center. Even more distressing was the fact that she only had a short time before she would choose which Dom she wanted to call Master permanently.
In the suffocating silence of night, Brie couldn’t shut out the nagging feeling that her choice might not be based solely on her heart, but on the growth her chosen Dom could provide. She was stunned to find herself unsure which of the four men it would be.