Chapter 7
Erica & Natalie
Only two people were allowed into Erica’s chambers after a certain time of day: her girlfriend Natalie, and her head bodyguard Sherman. Natalie was allowed in because they slept together. Sherman dropped by out of necessity.
Like late in the morning on New Year’s Eve, when the misty, rural Californian morning promised more gray skies and maybe a hint of much-needed rain. It was a miracle the ranch had survived that year’s wildfires. In return, Erica had ordered the landscapers to cut back on watering to help replenish reservoirs following the drought. She never looked out the window to enjoy “rolling fields of green” enough, anyway. Besides, it was winter. Green fields looked weird in winter.
“I said,” echoed a male voice behind her, “everything is prepared for tonight’s party.”
Erica slightly turned her head, but kept her hand poised above the letter she crafted on her desk. “Thank you. Let me know when people begin to arrive.”
Sherman sighed. “Of course I will. But do you really think…”
“They’ll come.” Erica signed her name – almost forgetting the A on the end of Erica. “I know how to appeal to people’s love for a good mystery. Is the cook prepared?”
“Just checked in with her, and she said dinner for fifteen will be ready at six.”
“Good. Do you know where Natalie is?”
“Last I saw her, she was giving the housekeeper hell.”
“Why?”
“Like I know. You know how she is, Erica. If she’s not giving herself an aneurysm over what they wear, she’s taking the mop out of someone’s hands and doing it herself.” Sherman chuckled. “You really need to keep her busier on your vacations.”
Erica tapped her pen against her cheek. “I’ll assume that wasn’t a sexual comment.”
“Assume what you like. I simply observe.”
Note to self: keep Natalie busy. Erica thought she had kept Natalie plenty busy since coming to the family ranch for the holidays. December had been such an exhausting shit show that Erica couldn’t think of a quieter place to go that was still near home. Not that she had any love for this ranch. More often than not, she considered selling it. This was the place her parents sent her to keep her female body hidden from the world and to fill her head with gendered brainwashing. I spent most of my childhood behind these gates, being fed lies about who I was and what my destiny was set to be. Her therapist urged her to get rid of this place. But Erica remained curious – what if she could turn her associations around? What if she could turn this place into a sanctuary, as opposed to a prison?
With any luck, this ranch would no longer be “hers.” She would keep a piece beneath her name, but it was her intention to rip apart the shame imbued into the walls of the manor and let the people it hated most feast upon its bloody soul.
She folded up the letter and locked it in a box for safekeeping. It wouldn’t be picked up in the mail until the second, and there was no use wrapping it up in an envelope when Erica might want to make a few corrections over the next couple of days. She could be obnoxiously meticulous like that. No wonder she got along so well with her new girlfriend Natalie.
New girlfriend, yet it feels like we’ve been together for years already. Erica could have sworn she heard Natalie’s voice reverberating down the hallway to the master chambers. She was proven correct when the door flew open and Natalie sashayed in like the Queen of Sheba.
“This place is a mess!” she declared. “How could you have such an incompetent head housekeeper for a place like this? It makes me miss Margot. And that’s not something I ever thought I would say.”
Erica stood from her desk and extended a calming hand to her girlfriend. “Everything’s fine, Nat. Trust me. Everything is exactly as it should be.”
“But she hasn’t even waxed the foyer floor!”
“Bit late for that. Do we want people breaking their necks as they cross the threshold?”
“Security is not cleaning their shoes before coming into the manor. There are dirty tracks all over the marble floor downstairs. What if…”
“Natalie, I appreciate your dedication to tonight’s party, but I don’t think most of our guests will care if there are a few scuff marks on the floor. It will be dimly lit enough.”
“But the guest list is comprised of billionaires, Erica. Some of them are actually richer than you. I know, I know, a feat…”
“Yes, and I’m sure they have a level of cleanliness that they are accustomed to, just like I am. It will be fine. One thing at a time, Natalie.”
She produced her iPad out of her bag and presented it to her girlfriend. “I need you to recheck the place cards one last time before I put them on the dining table.”
Erica snatched the tablet into her hands and quickly shook her head when she realized everything was still wrong. Certain guests knew others, and some were said to not get along well. Their best bet was to sit like minds together and hope nobody chewed somebody else’s face off. All of security would be on hand tonight.
Erica didn’t doubt that princess and duchess personalities would be out in force. She knew the type well, even if she was never allowed to indulge in it. Not even sure I know how.
“I think it’s best if we keep these two closer to your end of the table.” Erica showed her girlfriend the new arrangement.
Natalie scratched her head. “Why can I not remember who this person is?” She pressed the name, bringing up the sparse profile she had on hand. “Oh, right. The escort.” Her countenance instantly changed. “Erica…”
Erica had learned to distinguish that growl from all others quite well. “Yes?”
“Is this one of the escorts you used to sleep with?”
There is no way to answer that without offending her. “Close enough.” Might as well tell the truth.
“God damnit. Why do you want her sitting next to me then? Think we’re gonna bond over your pussy?”
That would be something. Erica would almost throw a few of her dollars at the possible spectacle just to see it. “The alternative, if we rearrange everything again, is much worse. Or at least I’m pretty sure you’ll agree, if you look at the guest list again.”
Natalie glanced down at the iPad screen. “Oh. You invited her?”
“See? I’m not the only one of us who is looking down the barrel of the previous experiences gun.”
“What does that even mean?” Natalie turned the screen off on the tablet. “Is this more of your cryptic bullshit? ‘Cause I don’t have the patience for it today. I’m about to have a full-blown Mandarin meltdown, and I don’t think you’ll like what I have to call you. Totally not translatable, either.”
“Not trying to be cryptic. But I suggest you take a nap before tonight’s party, Nat. I’m worried that you’re more anxious about it than I am, and I’m the one throwing it.”
“It’s my job.”
“No, it’s not. You’re not working or on any job today. Your only job is to enjoy the party and mingle. Some networking is the largest amount of work you’re allowed, do you understand?”
“Oh, yes, Mother.” Natalie turned around in a huff. “Meanwhile, the manor is a mess and I’m pretty sure the cook has already burnt half of the dinner.”
“She hasn’t even started cooking it yet. It’s way too early.”
“It’s definitely way too early for this headache I have.”
“Would you let go for once?” Erica grabbed her girlfriend by the midsection and pulled her down into the desk chair. They both rolled back, Natalie squirming in Erica’s lap. “Even on Christmas you were a nervous wreck! I don’t think you know how to turn off, Nat. It’s becoming a problem.”
Natalie stopped squirming long enough to shoot her girlfriend a derisive glare from above. “Because Christmas consisted of my mother crowing over how awesome you are for being rich, and I was about to be sick.”
“Relax. It’s not a big deal if not everything goes to plan.”
“This is a big deal, though. You’ve invited over ten of the most influential women in their respective fields. How am I not supposed to be freaking out, especially when you didn’t even hire a plan…”
Erica silenced those words with a kiss.
Natalie gradually relaxed against her girlfriend’s lips. “Fuck you for making so much sense.”
“I knew you would come around to my arguments eventually.”
“Oh, I don’t know. I might need some more arguments than that. I was always taught in school that we should hear from multiple sides before forming a decision.”
Erica slid her girlfriend’s ass off her lap and made her next point clear when she pointed to the bed. “All my arguments can be made over there.”
“Really? A romp at noon?” Natalie shrugged in defeat. “Whatever. Maybe it will calm me down. But I expect some semi-decent arguments to come out of this.”
If there was one thing Erica was good at constructing, it was an argument. So she made sure to send her girlfriend plenty over the course of the next hour. It may have included the use of at least one restraint to make her point absolutely known, however.