Thread: The Manor (Mr. Quixotic & Malicious Lullaby)

She didnt expect him to come back with such a powerful tone and stance to his words. Even more, she definitely didnt expect him to yell and hearing him do just that, Harper recoiled and stepped back from the door. She never saw him so angry. Then again, she had never been so angry either. It came from practice and training as a kindergarten teacher to not lose all control that she would yell. Even when she first started teaching the five and six year olds, she never once yelled. She waited until she got home and self medicated until she didnt feel frustration. Sometimes she wondered why she wanted to teach such young children but on the good days which was so much more than the bad, she always remembered why she wanted to teach them they were young minds that held so much innocence and wonder, so much curiosity and at a young age, a lot of habits and beliefs were molded then and not so much as they got older. She could be apart of that and it was so rewarding. So she never yelled. She wouldnt even yell at an adult. Steve yelled and then he had the clout to say that he wouldnt treat his woman like a slut. Wasnt there a difference between a man treating a woman like a slut when she wasnt one and treating her like one because it was consensual? And when did it become treating her like a slut to have unbridled and raw passionate sex that didnt consist of just lying on her back while her man pounded at nothing until nothing? It was like a slap in the face. Because what she liked was categorized as being a slut and being treated like one. She worried about that and Steve said that exactly. Was she a slut? The sound of the door slamming shut rattled her and she swallowed hard. There was a big lump in her throat and she blinked back the tears that were forming in her eyes and rapidly as well. Even after he left, Harper stayed standing in the small living area of her apartment for a long while, just staring at the door. She worried that it might have been too slutty to want to be so naughty with her boyfriend. She thought that since he was her boyfriend, it would go along the territory of them getting to know each other more and better and there would be no judgment. She wasnt sure if she judged him for being too safe and vanilla or if he judged her for being too naughty and by extension, acting like a trollop who wanted her boyfriend to disrespect her. She didnt think it was disrespecting her if she wanted it and felt safe enough with him to open up that kind of chapter in their relationship. Perhaps it was too soon. Apparently it was since it didnt end well at all. He left her feeling no longer turned on, no longer disappointed and definitely no longer angry. She simply felt ashamed to have such thoughts to begin with. She was wrong in feeling this way, wanting her boyfriend to do naughty and unspeakable things with her. It was wrong. It didnt matter how Robert made her feel and how she wanted Steve to take her. It was all wrong. It was all wrong on so many levels and Steve made that painfully clear. The fuck was wrong with her?! A few hours later, Harper found herself still awake. She felt numb and was just glad tomorrow was a weekend day. She was sitting in the living room having cleaned a pint of Rocky Road ice cream like it never once was contained in the container. The lock to the door unlocked and it swung open to reveal a beautiful Stephanie. If she had a wild night with her client, it didnt show. She looked as impeccable as she did when they first got there. Immediately, her eyes landed on Harper and confusion hit. She didnt know when her roommate left the party and based on the fact she had cleaned an entire pint of ice cream and lookedmiserable, something must have happened. Hey. There was concern in her voice as she put her keys down and shut the door. Harper just raised her eyebrows in acknowledgement and paused the movie. She was watching Never Been Kissed that starred Drew Barrymore. It was one of her favorite movies, with so much romance. Yet apparently she didnt seem to have a romantic bone in her body if she wanted something so naughty with her boyfriend. When did you leave? Probably around midnight. She rubbed her eyes and sighed softly. Did you have fun with your client? I always do. But Stephanie still looked weary and suspicious about Harpers behavior. Are you okay? Was she okay? Lets see she had been promptly seduced by some stranger at a ball she only went to for money, she left to go home and try and get her boyfriend to fuck her as opposed to making sweet vanilla love to her and it ended with a huge fight and she still felt rattled that he yelled at her. She was not okay. Mmno. She shook her head and her eyes watered again. She covered her face and just sort of broke down. Stephanie was at her side in an instant, taking her roommate in her arms. Once she calmed down, she told her everything. From the seduction of some guy named Robert at the ball to the entire debacle with Steve and it ended with Stephanies intense words. Do notunder any circumstancesever let someone tell you that there might be something wrong with you or make you think such a thing just because you wanted something different. She stroked the back of Harpers hair soothingly. Just because you wanted something different, maybe something naughtier than what he is accustomed to, does not mean there is something wrong with you. She said softly. There is definitely nothing wrong with that. Especially if it is between boyfriend and girlfriend because a relationship is about trust and feeling safe and you shouldnt feel worried or self-conscious. Harper told her about the word said between her and Steve but Stephanie didnt take back what she said. Neither of you should make the other feel like what they want is something wrong. It can be against what you might want or you dont feel comfortable in it but at the end of the day, you shouldnt feel like what you want or like is something morally wrong and if he made you feel that way, then She shook her head. She had met Steve. She thought he was a really nice and good guy and the fact he either intentionally or unintentionally made someone feel ashamed of something they liked which was totally sound, especially in a relationship, she had new thoughts toward him and lost a little bit of respect for him. They talked a little bit more and Harper felt a little bit better but at the same time, as she managed to quiet her mind, she felt deeply exhausted. She retired to sleep and Stephanie did the same. Stephanie made sure to not be needed for work and spent the remaining weekend with Harper. If anything, she wanted to lift her spirits up a bit so she wasnt taking her personal life into work. Those poor kids didnt need the ire of a woman jilted, ashamed and confused. Monday came quick and for the most part, Harper felt a lot better but she wasnt looking forward to seeing Steve. She didnt call him and she didnt hear from him over the weekend. They worked at the same school so it wouldnt be impossible for them to run into each other. She did her best to kind of avoid him and she was thankful that the kindergarten playground was separate from the older kids and that the kindergarteners didnt have P.E. with Mr. Steve Kirk. Although as the week progressed, she couldnt avoid him forever. It was probably Tuesday when she came face to face with him. She didnt talk about the fight but neither did she insinuate anything else. As far as she was concerned, with how standoffish she was being, it displayed her want to no longer continue their relationship since it wasnt going to be a good math if she was to be judged by her boyfriend and if she didnt desire him the way she probably should. She still liked him a lot but it would be a bad idea. No exact words to define where their relationship stood was voiced. She was just making assumptions but as far as she was concerned and she was sure Steve could tell too, their relationship was as good as dead. It was Friday that she finished with her duties at school. She saw Steve and he looked like he wanted to talk to her but she quickly ducked away and left the school altogether before he could have. She should have just gone home but all this time, she couldnt take her mind away from the Manor or Robert. She wanted to find him but figured that would be too clich or obvious. He would probably be expecting her if he was a regular at the establishment. So she went under the pretense of collecting the thousands of dollars she was promised for her attendance that night. Since she didnt sleep with anyone, she was expecting at the most, a couple grand. But in all honesty, the money was not on her mind at all. She just wanted to an excuse to see him again. Pulling through the iron gates of the Manor, she parked her car in one of the guest spaces and got out. She locked it and walked into the beautiful establishment. Since she was a woman, it was just sort of assumed that she was a worker and she didnt need to define or justify her purpose of being there. Which was good because she had no idea what she would say to justify her presence there. As she walked into the grand foyer, she looked up at the large marble staircase. The detail of this place was exquisite and looked just the same as it did the night of the ball beautiful, refined with so much elegance no one would ever associate this place as a sort of gentlemens club slash brothel. An attendee came into the foyer and looked at her. And who might you be, Miss? Harper turned and she looked at the man, dressed in a sort of butler get up. U-Ummy name is Harper Collins. I attended a ball here last weekend and I was promisedahem, a check? She bit her lower lip hard sounding frighteningly awkward about asking for money. It sounded sopeasant. The man nodded his head, his expression neutral and no judgment. Well he must deal with a lot of the women that were employed here. The Madame is currently out but I will convey your arrival to the esteemed owner. Please wait in the parlor. If you wish something to eat or drink, by all means, simply relay it to the barkeep. He spoke so eloquently and without any accent but she felt like she sort of time warped back into the 1800s or something. Thank you. Nodding her head, she turned started for the parlor when he addressed her. Miss Collins, what was your name during the party? As real names are not used, it is crucial I know to tell our owner so he knows which check to give you. Izabel. She said softly. Some sort of recognition seemed to flare in his eyes but it was only for an instant. Of course. He turned and went to speak with Mr. Tisch. Harper walked into the parlor and found it to be relatively empty except for some gentlemen but they were engrossed in the newspaper, the newscast or sports televised on the TV or something else really anything but her. She was dressed nowhere to the nines like she had been and looked nothing like the women that worked her she wore a pair of ripped skinny jeans with a soft cotton white blouse that had polka dots on them of various colors. It was colored and she wore a soft orange cardigan with it. Her long hair was tied back into a messy ponytail and because she didnt get new contacts yet, her hazel eyes were shielded behind sensible glasses so she wouldnt be blind as a bat. In other words, she looked like someone incapable of having ever been in attendance to this ball but appearances could be misleading. They said to never judge a book solely by its cover. Walking to the barkeep, she sat down and he looked her over. He smiled a true and friendly smile and leaned against the bar. You are certainly not from around here are you? What gave it away? The glasses? No, the cardigan. He teased. Im Gustav. Whats your name? Do you want my real name or my fake one? He chuckled. Considering I dont peg you as an often lady of the night and since it is day time, I would like to know your real name. Harper. Well Harper, what can I get for you? On me. WellI would be fine with some water. Water? He asked. You look far too nervous for water. Am I so obvious? You read easily like a book my dear. No matter, Ill serve you something special. Loosen those nerves instantly. O-Oh, no alcohol please. She said softly. He looked at her, unsure if he heard her correctly. Why not? Well last time I was here and I had alcohol, I think I made some bad choices. So as much as it does help the nerves, Id like not to make the same bad choices that have otherwise, probably hindered some relationships at the same time. So anything else He chuckled. She spoke fast. It was charming. Water it is. He gave her a glass of ice cold water with a lemon wedge and she sipped thoughtfully through the straw but also drank like she hadnt had water in days. Her voice was so dry, she was so nervous. A little while later, the same butler-man who had greeted her came into the parlor room. Miss Collins? She had two glasses of water and felt refreshed and not so nervous. Standing, she looked at the man. Mr. Tisch will see you now. This way please.