The Collaring of Chloe

Chapter 20: Slave's Truth

For a long moment, Chloe stood before the door, hand clenched into a fist to knock, but unable to lift it up to perform the act. A slight jitter passed through her body, feeling truly nervous for the first time since the day she first arrived in a taxi, unsure what was ahead of her. A part of her mind told her to just let this go and go back downstairs, but she'd felt the need for this moment since the munch that afternoon. It was like a splinter of something buried in her conscience that she could only find relief by pulling out.

Taking a deep breath, she lifted her hand and forced herself to knock on the door with enough force to be heard. She heard Master's response almost immediately. "Come in."

"Master? Do you have a moment?" She asked as she opened the door just enough to show her face and see him, sitting there at his large mahogany desk. It was littered with ledgers and papers, the central feature of his office, and was as splendid and beautiful as everything else in his house. It seemed to rise out of the deep blue carpeting and stood out dramatically against the blonde oak paneling of the walls and shelves.

"Sure, come in, Chloe." He said with a smile, waving her in and sitting back from his work.

Despite the invitation, it took Chloe a moment to pluck up the courage to enter, not just because of her current anxiety that had brought her here, but due to the office itself. It felt like taboo territory to her. Not that she'd been forbidden from it, but it was like a place separate from the rest of the house, from the rest of their whole world. In here, he was James Brooksend, landlord to a large chunk of the town and a man of business. It looked like a law office, as well appointed as the rest of the house, but mostly lacking in the same tone.

Nothing in this room spoke of the sexual side of her Master, no erotic imagery, no reminders of his connection to the kink lifestyle. She'd never known exactly why he'd kept the office clear of it, as it was the only room in the house that didn't have at least something in it of a sensual nature. Perhaps he just needed to focus on business here, which only made her feel so out of place within the room.

Especially at the moment, wearing only her slave ring and nothing else. He blinked in a moment of surprise to see her so fully undressed as she stepped in. The last he'd seen her, before he'd excused himself to do a little work, she'd been settled in the downstairs parlor talking to Mittens and August, still wearing the outfit she'd worn to the munch. However, that little splinter had continued to ache and sting inside her mind until she'd needed to excuse herself as well. She needed to come to her Master bare-bodied so that she could equally bare her mind and conscience.

Closing the door behind her softly, she took a few steps further into the office and knelt down on the indigo carpet, palms placed flat on the floor in front of her knees and her head lowered. It was her official pose of submission, meant to be used during official protocol moments. She realized that the posture would instantly speak for her of the importance of what she needed to say to him. It told him instantly that she was coming before her Master as his slave, not as Chloe before James.

"This one submits herself for punishment, Master." She said softly, feeling another quiver of anxiety tremble through her.

There was a brief pause, Master sitting there, caught more than a little off guard, but he stood a moment later, sliding effortlessly into his role. He came around the desk and stood before her, hands clasped gently together in front of him imperiously. "Punishment for what, slave?" He asked curiously, though the voice was firm as iron. "I didn't tell you that you had done anything wrong."

"This one lied today." She responded, speaking steadily and clearly, which took some effort. "She misrepresented herself out of selfishness."