Dominated (Obsessed II)

02.

Richard Dawson  (Junior)
The Past
•••

My head was pounding, but that was nothing new. A quick glance at the clock told me it was just after 8 AM. Four hours of sleep, if you could even call it that.

The space beside me was empty, the sheets cool to the touch. Isabelle was already up and out, probably at Pilates, her usual early morning routine. She'd be back soon, but for now, I had the house to myself.

I reached over to the nightstand and grabbed my phone. No meetings, no business calls—today was a rare day off, I didn't take a lot of those. I allowed myself a moment to smile, thoughts of last night creeping back into my mind. The woman's name escaped me, but the memory of how she looked, how she felt—those were vivid. The best €5,000 I've ever spent, no doubt about it. No strings attached, just a simple transaction. My kind of deal.

I swung my legs over the side of the bed and stood up, feeling the ache in my muscles from the late night. A hot shower would take care of that. In the bathroom, I splashed cold water on my face, letting the chill snap me into full consciousness, and then brushed my teeth.

Downstairs, the house was already buzzing with quiet activity. The staff moved with the usual efficiency, maintaining the perfect balance of being present without intruding. My breakfast was already laid out on the table: a plate of scrambled eggs with smoked salmon, fresh fruit, and a croissant, accompanied by a cup of black coffee. Simple and exactly what I needed.

As I sat down to eat, I glanced at my calendar. It was packed as usual, but today's events were more personal than business. I had a round of golf with Dominik—a plan I'd completely forgotten about. The thought of hitting the greens with him was a welcome change of pace.

After that, lunch with my mother and sister Madison. Family time was always a delicate balancing act. My mother had high expectations, and my sister... well, she was a different challenge altogether. The image of the perfect family was one we maintained with care, even if the reality was far more complicated.

And tonight... tonight was my anniversary with Isabelle. Dinner was planned, something that she'd appreciate. She loved the grand gestures, the proof that I still cared. And in my own way, I did.

I took a sip of my coffee, the bitterness grounding me in the moment. The day ahead was full, but it was mine to control, mine to shape. I heard footsteps approaching and looked up to see Isabelle entering the room, her expression relaxed and calm, her Pilates workout evidently having set the tone for her morning.

She took a seat across from me at the breakfast table, "Happy anniversary," I said, smiling a little as I looked at her.

Her smile was warm, but it wasn't the usual kind that touched her eyes, "Happy anniversary," she replied, the words almost hesitant.

"Did you already have breakfast?" I asked, studying her carefully.

"Just something light," she said, her tone measured.

"Good. I have dinner planned for us at 7 tonight," I said, finishing my coffee and setting the cup down.

Her eyebrows arched in surprise. "Dinner at seven? Are you working today?"

"No," I said.

"Yeah, I thought so," she replied, her voice carrying a trace of something new—an edge of passive aggression. It was a tone I hadn't heard from her before. Isabelle was usually the calm, accommodating partner, but today was clearly different.

I raised an eyebrow. "Is there a problem?"

She looked at me with squinted eyes, "What will we do all day?"