Ben
When I walk into work on Monday, I feel like I’m on top of the world. Alice and I had a lovely time together on Saturday night. On Sunday, we met with Joanna for brunch. We haven’t slept together, but it was perfect. Wonderful. Getting to know her has been really, really fun.
It’s been just about magical.
And I wonder how I ever managed to survive without her in my life.
Now it’s back to reality, back to paperwork and sassy comments from the employees who think I’ve somehow wronged them.
It’s not that I meant to.
I never meant to hurt anyone.
We all have things in our past we aren’t proud of, and Hannah is mine.
What started out as innocent workplace flirting escalated into her feeling scorned when I didn’t want a relationship. I never asked her out. Never told her I wanted something more. Nothing. Still, when I began dating someone else after what I considered to be playful flirting, Hannah viewed it as me scorning her.
Then the rumors started.
I learned about them after they had already spread through the marketing department. I don’t know who else has heard them. It’s likely that most of Blossom Falls has. Although it’s a large company, the truth is that gossip travels fast. Everyone likes a good story.
I just don’t want those stories to be the reason things don’t progress with me and Alice.
Chances are she’s already heard a tale or two. Maybe she’s noticed that women in the office seem to be nervous around me based on those rumors. I’ve had more than my fair share of negative and rude comments thrown at me. The worst part is that I can’t even defend myself.
Who would believe that I was the victim of a rumor?
It’s easier to blame the guy, especially in a world where sexual harassment is on everyone’s mind. It’s harder to admit that sometimes, both parties are in the wrong. Miscommunication can lead to a plethora of problems. It’s one of the reasons I love BDSM. There’s such a focus on communication. It’s all about understanding what each person wants and needs. Sometimes, those needs are bigger than what you can offer. Sometimes, you have to ask for help.
In the world of domination, it’s okay to ask for help.
Now, as I sit at my desk, I wonder how I’m going to bring this up to Alice. It’s going to be best if I’m just blunt with her and up front. Honest. I need to be honest. It’s what I want from her, as my sub, and it’s what she expects from me, as her Dom.
Her Dom.
I don’t know if I’ve officially earned that title yet, but I sure do look forward to the day when Alice and I make that agreement, if our relationship comes to that.
I like her.
A lot.
More than I ought to.
“Knock knock.”
“You don’t have to say it,” I look up. It’s Rex. “You can just knock, you know.”
“Where’s the fun in that?” He asks, leaning against the doorway.
“What can I do for you?” I ignore his playfulness.
“Somebody woke up on the wrong side of the bed,” Rex cocks his head to the side. “Lady troubles?”
“Not at all.”
“Ah,” he comes in, closing the door behind him. “What’s wrong, buddy?”
Rex and I aren’t super close, but he’s a good man. I like him. He’s kind and he’s a Dom, too, so he understands having those needs. He gets what it’s like to need to Dominate a woman, to feel her come apart beneath his hands.
“It’s Alice,” I say.
“The new kid in marketing? She’s cute. She seems kind of sweet, though. What’s this about? She break your heart already?” Rex comes in and takes a seat. He doesn’t ask. He just does. It’s one of the things I like about him. We have a comfortable workplace friendship that sometimes extends beyond these walls. Sometimes it doesn’t. Sometimes it’s just nice to have a friend.
“We played together on Saturday.”
“At Anchored? Wow. Go Alice. I wouldn’t have guessed she had it in her.”
“Yeah, well, she was great.”
“So what’s the problem?”
“She was too great.”
“And you’re…what? Scared of getting your heart broken? That doesn’t seem like you,” Rex comments.
“It’s not that,” I say slowly, trying to figure out how to word this. “It’s about the rumors.”
“Dude, everyone knows Hannah is full of it.”
“Not everyone.”
“She told everyone you cheated on her, man. You two never even dated. Who comes up with a story like that?”
“I don’t know.” I apologized to her if I led her on in any way, but I’m certain I didn’t. The two of us never even exchanged phone numbers, let alone had a date. How could I possibly have cheated on her if we weren’t in any sort of relationship? The rumor myth never made sense to me, but then, I suppose it didn’t have to. What matters is that Hannah feels cheated and now other women will see me as this sort of womanizer.
That’s not who I am.
I’ve never wanted to be that guy.
“Look, if you want to know what I think,” Rex starts.
“I didn’t ask, man.”
“Well, if you want to know what I think,” he repeats. “Just tell Alice the truth. She seems like a cool girl. Understanding. She’ll believe you and she’ll trust you. More importantly, she’ll respect you for being honest with her.”
“And what if she doesn’t, Rex? What then?”
He stands and turns to leave.
“Then she’s not right for you, buddy.”
He nods, and then Rex vanishes, leaving me alone. It’s almost time to meet Alice for lunch, so I grab my jacket and get up, heading out of the office. He’s right, I know. He’s right. I think Alice will believe me, and I think she’ll trust me, and I think she won’t get all worked up over something this silly and minute.
We had an incredible time together on Saturday night.
Surely I didn’t misread her.
Surely everything is going to be okay.