THE DARKNESS WITHIN

Part 3: Meeting Sandy

Anyone else would be alarmed by the words of the lawyer, but not Stephan, whose expression remained cold and unaffected by the news dumbed on him from his lawyer.

"So?" He asked his lawyer coldly, his voice hard. He couldn't believe that the older man disturbed his morning for this. Then why the fuck is he paying such a massive amount of money for his retainer fee. It is so this kind of shit doesn't get to his table.

On the other hand, Stephan's careless response confounded his poor lawyer, who didn't know how to take it. He has worked for the younger man for the past ten years and has yet to understand his mind's mechanics.

"What do you mean so?" he ventured out softly, hoping his employer wouldn't bite his head off. You will never know what could set off the younger man's famous temper.

"Just as it sounds, I would like you to take care of this," Stephan growled and ended the call.

When his lawyer realized what happened, he slowly took the phone off his ear, a desperate look on his face. He stared at the phone as he had never seen the device in his life before. Let's hope that Mr. Buttercup loves money, the lawyer mumbled to himself and then pressed a number on his phone.

After the annoying phone call from his lawyer, Stephan called his wife. Their conversation ended weirdly, and he wanted to get to the root of it. He doesn't like the idea of his wife having a thought of her own. He must remind her that he alone gives her the freedom to do whatever she wants, and if he doesn't allow it, she can't do it. He is hers, and he can do whatever he wants with her. 

Rose had just finished cleaning up and was about to leave the kitchen when her phone rang. "Hello, love."

"I forbid you to see those ladies again," Stephan growled into the phone as soon as Rose picked it up.

Rose didn't flinch or react to Stephan's demands; she looked like she expected. So it did scare you. Rose knows her husband so well and knows he lashes out when he is scared, and although he thinks he hides it so well, his biggest fear is losing her.

"I am Stephan Hollingsworth. Nothing scares me," Stephan growled. He doesn't appreciate Rose, implying he is scared, and his dream last night made him want to prove that he is no longer that little boy at the mercy of his drunk father. He is grown, rich, and powerful.

Rose laughed, finding humor in Stephan's denial; he sounded like a two-year-old denying he was a child. She opened her mouth to reassure him that he had nothing to fear. She pledged herself to him and intended to keep it no matter what, but she didn't get the chance to express her loyalty to him before Stephan's fury exploded.

"Did you just laugh?" His countenance changed and became deadly, the look in his eyes dark and icy.

Rose froze at the menace in Stephan's voice. She had forgotten how much he hates being laughed at; not that is what she was doing, but he would not see the difference in his state of mind. She retracted her playful and confident self and let submissive Rose emerge.

"I am sorry, Master." Rose bent her head in submission even though Stephan couldn't see. She knew only her total submission would calm this raging storm, though sometimes even that was not enough.

Stephan took several breaths to calm himself, but nothing except punishing Rose would do. "I don't want you to leave the house today," he growled into the phone.

Rose froze, and then her head flashed up, and she lost the submissive look in her eyes. "No," she snarled.

"What!" Stephan was shocked that Rose dared to disobey him. She has never gone against his commands before.