The majority of the next day was spent preparing for the ball. The girls hurried around Sydney in synchronized fashion performing the usual routine: hair, makeup, clothing or as Sydney referred to it “the grizzly shit”. She’d only managed to a couple of brief moments alone without someone poking at her or asking for her attention. And then there was the situation with #3 staring her down.


I need everyone’s attention,” Sydney said abruptly.


The girls froze in place. Natalie’s knees buckled and she caught her balance on the door frame. Quickly she reentered the room with dress in hand.


“Sit,” Sydney ordered, the girls complied. She gazed at each of them and a piece of her ached. “I pride myself on honesty. I do what I feel is in the best interest for all of us. I’m demanding, egotistical and selfish. But I am also loyal and I insist on loyalty from those around me,” her eyes cut through #3. “The art of submission isn’t done on your knees with bowed heads and closed minds. It’s done when you tether your happiest to mine and serve me faithfully, without question. As your Mistress it is my job to provide you a safe atmosphere for you to willingly offer yourself to me that doesn’t demean you as a person. In this regard I have failed at times, but I have never abandoned you girls,” she shook her head looking at their faces and stiffened her back. “Come here #3.”




The girls eyes widened as #3 stood before Sydney. Though only three inches tall, Sydney seemed to tower over #3. Natalie nervously looked on confident that she was the next in line for whatever Sydney had in store.


“What is your name?” Sydney asked sternly.


“Candice, Mistress.” She answered just above a whisper.


“You know why I’ve singled you out?”


Candice’s brow wrinkled and her eyes filled with tears. “Yes, I know.” She gasped for breath.


#2 and 4 looked on in a mix of terror and confusion. They shot side glances to Natalie but she stood stone-faced waiting for her turn at the chopping block.


“I trusted you and you let me down.


“Was I ever abusive?”


“No.”


“Did I ever mistreat you?”


“No.”


“Then why?” Sydney asked.


“I was jealous,”


“Of me?”


“Of everyone! I wasn’t sure if I was performing my duties properly. You never spoke to me. You spoke to #1, she was always at your side. The rest of us tagged along hoping that you’d pay attention to us,”


“You betrayed me,”


“Yes,” she panted. “Yes, I did. But it was only because…”


“Stop!” Sydney cut her off. “Did doesn’t matter what your reasons were. Your devotion is not contingent on my temperament. You knew what submission entailed. You also knew that you had the choice of leaving at anytime.”


Candice shook her head and dried her face. “I couldn’t leave you. Where would I have gone?”


Sydney took her by the shoulders. “It wouldn’t have been permanently. You could have taken time off and come back. But now you’ve left me no choice.”


The girl’s chest rose wildly, each fingering their collar. This was the first time they’d witnessed a decollaring. Next to collaring, the removal of ones collar was the most powerful ceremony in Kink especially to a submissive has worn his/her Master/Mistress collar over a long period. The collar was their lifeline and signified their close bond.


“Her contract and a pen, please.” Sydney gestured to Natalie.


Natalie retrieved Candice’s contract and began reading on Sydney’s prompt. “Your service to Mistress Sydney Cummings is hereby terminated. Upon termination, all physical evidence of your service, including this contract, will be destroyed, along with all materials and belongings. Candice Levy, owning nothing, shall once again be responsible for her own wellbeing. Under special conditions explained within this contract, Mistress agrees to one time payment of a year salary, but nothing thereafter.” She finished and nodded to Sydney.


“Kneel.” Sydney heard herself say in her most commanding Domme tone.


“I’m sorry,” Candice mouthed and dropped to her knees and slowly bowed her head, moving her hair to one side.


#2 and 4 covered their mouths, drowning out their sobs while Natalie headed Sydney a small key and prepared the final documents.


Sydney’s fingers found the little locket on the back of her neck, inserted the key and with more than a tiny turn, freed Candice from her ranks. “Stand.” She ordered.


Candice complied wearily, unable to meet Sydney’s eyes. Natalie passed Candice, she quickly signed followed by Sydney.


“You’re done. #2 and 4 will see you out.” Sydney turned to finish getting dressed.


The girls followed Candice from the room.


Sydney placed her hand on her stomach and inhaled and exhaled deeply. Nervously Natalie gathered the last of her belongings and prepared to leave.


“Natalie,” Sydney called. “We need to talk.”


“I’m gonna be sick,” Natalie thought to herself. “Yes Mistress,” she said.


“You’re in love with Charles.”


Her eyes combed the floor. “Yes Mistress.”


Sydney raised her chin. “And you’re sure he loves you? I know he loves you but I need to hear it from you.” She spoke softly.


“Without a doubt, I know he loves me.”


“And if I objected to your relationship, would you leave me?”


“No.”


“Why?”


“Because I couldn’t be happy anywhere else.”


“Charles is taking you away from me,” Sydney gave way to a smile. “But I don’t have a choice. I can’t prevent you from dating.”


“Does this mean you’re not firing me?” Natalie bit her thumb nervously. “And we have your permission?”


“No, I’m not firing you. I need you and of course you have my permission. You made it possible for me and Mark and to be a couple. How could I deny you the same right? All I ask is that you two take things slowly for the next year while I’m grooming Charles.”


“We can wait.”


Sydney burst into laughter. “I’d like to hear what Charles would have to say about waiting. Thank you for your gesture but it’s not necessary. You have my permission so please go…go get dressed your man is waiting for you.”


What?” Natalie’s frowned.


“Did I tell you?” Sydney shrugged. “You’re going to ball with us. The dress you designed is yours.”


“Oh my God. Are you serious?” she panted.


“Yes, now get out of here. You still have to get your hair and make-up done. We can’t have you looking like a rag doll on Charles’s arm. Tell #2 she is to be your assistant for the night.”


“But that will leave you with only one assistant. You can’t manage with one assistant.” Natalie said on the verge of panic.


Sydney smiled warmly. “I’ll be fine. Don’t worry about me,” she turned Natalie to the door. “You concentrate on Charles and dancing and enjoying your first night out.”


She stopped half way to the door. “Thank you, Mistress. You don’t know what this means to me.”


“Yes, I do. And Natalie…there is one other thing.” Trepidation laced her words.


Natalie’s stomach sunk. “Yes, Mistress.”


“Your collar. I need yours collar.”


“No Mistress, please I don’t wanna take it off,” Natalie grabbed the back of her neck, shaking her head franticly, tears ran like streams down her cheeks. “Please don’t.” she slowly walked back and stood in front of Sydney, dissolving into open sobs.


Sydney’s heart broke for her. “I have to do it. You know you can’t wear my collar to a formal event while you’re on the arm of another Dom. You belong to him.”


“No I don’t.”


“Yes you do but it’s only temporary. I’ll put back on Monday but for the weekend you’re his.”


Natalie refused to uncover the locket, shaking her head.


“Please don’t make this more difficult for me.” Sydney voice cracked. “Please kneel.”


Natalie reluctantly obeyed, resting back on her knees, bowing her head and pulling her hair to one side.


Sydney retrieved her key and reached around Natalie’s trembling neck for the locket bearing her initials. With no more than a tiny click, it was removed. Natalie held her neck as Sydney helped her to her feet.


“You see, it’s wasn’t so bad.” Sydney chuckled humorlessly. She’d broken her little chocolate geisha’s heart--even she had to acknowledge the weight of the moment.


“What am I gonna do?”


“You’re going to dry your tears, straighten your back and carry yourself like the diva I know you are. Charles is waiting. Go get cleaned up. We don’t have much time.”


Natalie did as instructed, leaving Sydney to dress herself. There was no ominous silence as she thought it would be. There were no tears or regret. There was, in fact, a profound sense of sanguine peace.



                                                            ******



“What taking her so long?” Mark asked jutting his sleeve to Greta for her last minute adjusts to his cuff link and fingered his perfectly groomed hair. He fanned her away.


“Women,” Charles snorted humorlessly as #2 fussed over him. He grabbed her by the wrist, stopping her incestuous movement. “Please.” He urged, his nerves getting the better of him.


“Where is Lee?” Mark held his arms out while Greta slid on his coat and straightened his lapel.


“He’s meeting us there.” Charles stood akimbo while #2 continued her attack. Being waited on was the one element of being a Dom Charles that got under his skin. He never understood Sydney’s level of patience with assistants tending to her every need.


“My God,” Mark murmured watching Sydney cascade down the stairs followed by Natalie. He was struck breathless. The dress, a spaghetti strap ivory charmeuse cowl neck fluted gown with exquisite hand beaded crystals and embroidery trimming her hips then tumbling down one leg, light brushed the contours of her figure. From for graceful forehead to the cashmere smooth curve of her bare shoulder, Sydney’s caramel skin glowed with pure radiance. With each step she took, her mother’s tear drop diamond earring glittered, and her long romance curls gently caressed the shoulder from which they hung.


Mark took her hand with the masculine sophistication of James Bond and spun her in place revealing the deep cowl back of her dress with a delicate beaded insert. She wore it proudly as if she dared anyone to stab her in the back.


Mark kissed her softly. “You look amazing, Sydney.”


“I know,” she smiled up at him.


“Understated elegance indeed,” Charles scanned Natalie’s angelic face, pushing back a stray tendril from her upswept hairdo. He looked into her eyes and whispered, “I want to kiss you, Natalie.”


She gave a slight nod, Charles gently pressed his lips to hers, caressing them with his.


“I love you, Charles.”


“I love you to. I’m never letting you go,”


Acutely aware of the sentimental mushiness of the moment, #2 quietly called Sydney’s attention to the time.


“Shall we go?” Mark prompted everyone, motioning them outside to the cars, two shiny blacked out Maybach 62 limousines.


“Holy shit!” Natalie said louder than she’d reckoned. Everyone laughed as she covered her mouth bashfully. “I’m sorry. I feel like Cinderella! I’m just waiting for it all to go ‘poof’”. She gestured.


“It’s wouldn’t go ‘poof’, I promise you.” Charles helped her into the car.




                                                     ******



Mark and Sydney and Charles and Natalie were in contact with Lee during most of the drive discussing logistics. Everything was in order. All of the naysayers were in attendance—it was time for Mark and Sydney to make their appearance.


Their cars pulled up to the front of the auditorium and Sydney was struck by the sheer number of limos, lights and people entering the hall. “I thought this was a regional event? This looks more like the national ball.”


“It’s not everyday that Sydney Cummings and Mark Bryant arrive arm in arm. We’ll be under the microscope all night.” The driver opened the car door. “Here we go. Are you ready?”


“Never more,” Sydney took his hand and he helped her from the car. They looked like a million bucks standing beside one another proudly. All eyes immediately, fell on them as they ascended the stairs to the elaborately decorated entrance with Charles and Natalie following close behind. Richard Guy, Sydney’s former mentor met them with a wink and walked in stride with them into the dimly lit main hall filled with hanging crystal chandeliers and party goers.


Silencing anyone who dared to question their power and influence, they marched in together: The past, the present and the future of Kink. 




                                                The End