Yes, Master

Showing Appreciation

A/N: Comment & Vote

My mother served meatloaf that night.

I didn't make a big deal about it of course, pushing the food around my plate. I felt awful. And bored. My father had walked in on me reading and threw a mild fit about it.

Now I wasn't allowed to read.

Without my books I had nothing. No escape from my dark looming future. Dinner was very quiet. They didn't ask me about my day so I didn't ask them about theirs. The scraping of silverware cut into the awkward silence a bit, but not enough to lessen the tension.

"It's burnt beneath, Evelyn." My father commented suddenly. He flipped his piece and scraped the prongs of his fork along the darkened, caramelized meat. My mother had asked me to take the meatloaf out when it was ready so it was completely my fault.

I'd forgotten until my mother asked me how it was going. I had hoped it wasn't this bad but it was. My mother looked at me then at her plate. "I got distracted. I'm sorry."

My father held his plate out. "Remove the burnt pieces please. I'm disappointed. How difficult is it to make meatloaf?"

I'd like to see you cook, I thought. I didn't say it of course--I was in enough trouble. But I was unbelievably touched my mother took the blame on herself.

She returned a few moments later with an apologetic smile. "Do you need more milk?" She asked seeing his empty glass.

He cut into the meat. "Is the cup empty? Use some sense Evelyn."

He wasn't normally so harsh--my behavior was stressing him out. I felt bad about that. My mother took the glass however and brought it back full.

The meal closed in silence and my father left his dishes on the table to be cleared away as he excused himself to his office. I blew out a heated breath when I heard him going up the stairs. "Thanks Mom."

She hummed with a small smile. "You're having a tough week sweetheart--you don't need extra."

"Who is?" I'd been dying to ask earlier but I knew my father would shut it down.

My mother paused. "I'm not sure exactly--your father met with him alone. He didn't tell me much about him except he was doing him a big favor letting him have you for the price he offered."

I bit my lip. "Is he nice?"

"Of course! Your father would just contract you to anyone. Why?"

"Dad made him sound... Not so good."

"He's not educated from my understanding, very low income. But he works hard and his employer is every affluent. Your father made the deal in an attempt to bring him into his firm but... I guess he manages his own expenses." She shrugged.

Not education? Low income? "Why would he think that kind of person would be a good Dom for me? Surely there are better options!"

My mother looked at me. "I raised you better than this Bailey. The size of a man's heart has nothing to do with his wallet."

I groaned. "I didn't mean it that way Mom. I just... He sounds possessive."

My mother smiled. "Of course. All the good Doms want to keep their subs just as safe as possible."

"To a fault," I added.

My mother was quiet a moment. "You get out what you out in Bailey. If you're going to argue and rebel you won't have an enjoyable relationship with him. Try to take a step down from your soapbox and give him a try, hm? Now help me clear the table."

***

"Bailey, a word?"

I looked up from my paper at Pearson. I had been pointedly not speaking to him. After all he was 50% of why I was being pulled. I was reluctant to get myself in more trouble so I nodded.

We went to his office and Pearson pulled something up on his computer. "I don't want you to feel as though all the work you've done was for nothing Bailey. So I'm going be presenting you with a certificate of completion following this semester. Seeing as we don't have a sub requirement for credits I was able to override the system. So, if you ever end up having the ability to, you'll have all your prerequisites for college."

I wanted to cry. Instead I swallowed hard and spoke with a wavering voice. "If you tell him not to pull me--"

"He signed the paperwork that day in the office. He's been looking for a good time to do it for a few months now. Don't think about it like a punishment. It's more of a...transition to a new part of your life."

I wiped away tears roughly. "What if I'm not ready?"

Pearson smiled. "You can never be truly ready without first jumping in Bailey. Keep that in mind."

"I was thirty second in my sub course class. Out of sixty one. I was less than average. Here the lowest grade I ever got was a 92! I've finally found something I'm good at!"

"A grade doesn't decide how good of a sub you'll be. Passion and willingness does. So don't sell yourself short, okay?"

"Well my father already sold me so..."

"He did not sell you, Bailey. You were contracted just like everyone else." Pearson sat back in his desk chair. "Look toward the positives Bailey."

"What positives? That everything I've done doesn't matter? That I can't go to college because I'm a sub? There are no positives left Pearson. Just the negatives. Just my shitty future."

"Hey--it's not very respectful to speak that way in front of a Dom. Filthy words shouldn't come from a presentable young man like yourself."

I hugged myself fighting back tears. I'd cried far too much this week. "I'm not ready." I whispered. "It's...overwhelming."

"That's understandable Bailey. But I want to appreciate every thing you've had so far, all the experiences and opportunities your father set up. He has vouch for you to come to this school. Not to mention paying almost twice normal tuition because you're an untraditional student."

"Why am I untraditional? Because I'm a sub?"

"I'm not here to argue with you. Just...show a little appreciation alright? And make your Dom your number one priority."

I nodded my head feeling unsure and unconvinced. It was nice of Pearson to try and comfort me but... It was obviously misplaced and misjudged.

I went back to class quietly, ignoring the eyes glued to me. "What was that about?" TJ whispered.

"Nothing." I lied quietly.