More Than A Game

Chapter 12

Rosalina unboxed a a box of product, doing her best to ignore the protestors outside. Then the Priest at the new church approached the crowd. "Not again," Rosalina's coworker, Courtney sighed. "Yesterday he said something that really riled up his pathetic crowd of supporters after you left work." Rosalina sighed, "Is there anything that can be done?" "Gina is trying to find a security guard to keep them from getting too close. If they don't get violent there isn't much we can do because they're on public property and have the right to protest," Courtney told her. "But seriously, they're making some of my favorite clubs close until these protestors find something else to do with their time. My last few weekends have been with me stuck at home, unable to get my party on. What have you been doing since this craziness started?"

"Spending time with my boyfriends," Rosalina told her. "With an S, as in plural," Courtney asked. Rosalina nodded and showed her a picture on her phone of the three of them, "I'm in a poly relationship." She nodded, "Damn you struck gold." Rosalina smiled softly, "Yeah I did."

After Rosalina finished putting the product away she carried the empty box to the back. Gina was coming out of her office, "Is the front of the store cleaned?" Rosalina nodded,"Yes." She nodded, "Good. Mrs. Stella is coming with the architect to discuss design elements if she remodeled all stores to match the new ones." Mrs. Stella was the owner of Lacy Doll and she was incredibly hands on with her company and staff. Sometimes her managers feel she is too hands on.

Rosalina smiled softly at the idea of seeing Ricardo while she worked. She was pulled from her thoughts when customers began to brave the protestors and enter the store. Ricardo gave the protestors an annoyed look. "Ignore them," Mrs. Stella told him as they walked to the entrance of the store. "I do my best, but it is hard when they make work for my girlfriend and my friends a nuisance," Ricardo told her. She nodded as the entered the store. Ricardo's eyes instantly went to Rosalina who was helping a woman. With the woman was a man who had trouble keeping his eyes off of Rosalina.

As he and Mrs. Stella talked about various things and displays that would have the be incorporated into the stores, he would glance every now and then at Rosalina who was still talking to the woman over different lingerie sets, the man's eyes intently admiring Rosalina's backside and curves. The need to be possessive was a strong feeling that Ricardo had to clamp down on before it got Rosalina in trouble with her boss.

When the couple left, Ricardo was able to pay better attention to his discussion with Mrs. Stella. They went to leave to discuss more over lunch but as soon as they stepped out, some of the protesters threw black paint on to them, covering them from head to toe. Rosalina gasped as Gina called the cops and Courtney went and got some towels. "Are you okay," Rosalina asked them. "Clearly not," Mrs. Stella snapped. "I'm fine Rose, it's just a little paint," Ricardo told her. "But it's going to ruin the shirt and tie Zack got you," Rosalina said as she took in the state of his clothes. "I can always buy another," Ricardo sighed. "Am I missing something," Mrs. Stella asked them. 

"I was trying to keep my business and my personal separate to avoid any conflicts," Ricardo said. "Given what just happened, that's not happening. This is Rosalina, my girlfriend." Rosalina gave her a shy smile. "And before you ask, we met at a coffee shop, and I didn't know she worked for Lacy Doll at the time." Mrs. Stella waved a hand, "I don't mind at all. I just hope this means you'll be spending money at one of my stores." Ricardo chuckled, "I plan too." Rosalina looked elsewhere as her cheeks burned. When the police arrived Rosalina stepped away to let them talk to the cops about pressing charges on the paint throwers. 

Gina was fussing over the floor that had been hit when the paint had been thrown, "This is so not coming out of the carpet." Rosalina looked at the glass door and winced. It would take a miracle to get it cleaned up without peeling the tint from the glass. "I'll have a professional come to clean it up," Mrs. Stella told Gina. "I don't want you ladies to risk making it worse. I want you to go through the displays near the door and make sure no splatter got on any of the products." Gina nodded, "Yes ma'am." After that Ricardo left to go home to shower and change. 

Rosalina went through it all with Gina and Courtney. By the end of her shift she was more than ready to change and and eat. When she got in the passenger seat of Zack's car, she noticed he looked furious as he glared at what few protestors had come back after the cops broke them up earlier."Did any of the paint get on you," he asked as he pulled out of the parking lot, his jaw clenched. "No," she told him. He nodded, "Good. Master wants us to meet him at the club with the others. They spray painted the side of the club, declaring it needs to close or they were all damned to hell." She ran a hand through her hair, "This is just getting out of hand. What's being done to stop it?" "The vandalizers are being arrested and charged but nothing else," Zack said. "What caused them to throw paint?" She shrugged, "The priest of that church showed up and riled them up even more."

He nodded, "Of course he did."

When they got to the club there were only a couple of protestors, security keeping them back. They went inside and went to Vance's office where everyone else was waiting. Dominik and Rafael were sitting with Mitchel on the couch while Lester was in a chair, Peter sitting in his lap. Christopher was sitting in Vance's chair behind the desk while Vance sat on his desk. Ricardo was leaning against the wall, arms crossed. He gestured for them to sit in the chairs on either side of him. "These damn protesters have gotten out of hand," Lester said while crossing his arms. "It's not good for Vance's business, and it's not good for Rosalina to have to deal with it every time she has to go to work." "It's also not good for Ricardo's wardrobe," Mitchel said with a chuckle, and Ricardo flipped him off. 

"All joking aside, I think it's best we all take some time off and get away for some much needed self care," Mitchel continued. "That sounds all good and all, but that's easier said than done," Ricardo told him. "Plus they'll more than likely still be here when we come back. That priest at that church surely does know how to keep it going." "It doesn't help that now people are starting to protest outside of the church, declaring that the church and it's following leave us all alone," Vance said. "It's gonna create some weird protest war." "What is even being said at that church to get a reaction like this," Mitchel asked. "The priest has a great way with words," Lester replied. "He declares that sexual desire outside of trying to have kids is wrong. That they're ill thoughts brought on to them by demons, and that those who embrace it are deep within the devil's clutches can no longer be saved, and that it was their responsibility to cleanse this city of the demons that sought to bring it crumbling to ashes . Not once, though does he ever reference any higher power other than himself. No God, no bible of any kind."

"It keeps sounding more and more like a cult to me," Ricardo said. "How did they even get established as a church?" "Money buys you anything you want in this day and age," Vance answered with a sigh. "At first I was hoping this would just all go away on it's own, like most things, but that priest doesn't seem to be coming down from his soap box anytime soon. I have to reopen, I can't afford to be closed any longer." "A lot of the businesses do," Lester said. "Or it'll cause a economic crisis." The protesters went to every department store that sold lingerie, to gyms that allowed women to wear only shorts and sports bras and men to be shirtless while they worked out, to businesses where the owner has openly supported the LGBTQ community, to clubs of all kinds. Many closed their doors to keep their employees and customers safe when the protesters began to increase. 

They continued to talk about what they should do. Eventually they agreed to take it as a day by day basis. When they got home Zack and Rosalina could see the tension in Ricardo's muscles. It had been a royally fucked up day for him. "Master," Zack said, gaining his attention. "Yes Pup," Ricardo said, looking at him. "I don't have any appointments tomorrow," Zack told him. "And Mrs. Stella closed the store till the paint is cleaned," Rosalina told him. "And I don't have any meetings tomorrow," Ricardo said, following their trail of thought. His inner sadist was pleased with his subs. 

"If we go to the playroom, I will not be gentle. You will cry, and you will most definitely be sore tomorrow," He told them, giving them the choice to back out. "We understand sir," Zack said while Rosalina nodded. Ricardo nodded, "Good, go to the playroom and strip." They ran up the stairs, eager to have the stress from today taken away from them, wanting to only feel what their Master does to them.