Authors Note: Thank you once again to everyone who leaves comments and feedback on my writing, it is much appreciated. Thank you very much to Aisielynn who continues to my second set of eyes, she is absolutely fabulous. I apologise that this chapter is late life has been a busy, busy time for me and my writing has had to take a back seat for a little while. Thank you all for your patience and understanding. ~ellie
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All of the freedoms Bella had earned for herself over the past six months had disappeared after New Years Eve. She had company for every meal to make sure she ate, and she couldn't put a foot outside her door without someone being there to escort her. Charity events she had been planning to attend had been cancelled on her behalf without any consultation, and when she tried to go to visit Dorothea in her new car there was general disapproval. Finally, she changed her plans to a more suitable time so Stephen could accompany her.
By the time she walked into the old woman's kitchen with her, leaving Stephen to his phone calls in the living room, Bella had burst into tears. Hugging Dorothea, she sobbed not saying anything, just enjoying the comfort of being close to the one person who she felt understood her better than anyone else. She felt Dorothea's body stiffen slightly and lifted her head knowing what she would see. Stephen stood in the doorway, concern written all over his face.
"I'm going to the bathroom," Bella announced, unable to deal with the look on his face, "Unless you want to follow me in there too?" She went to walk past him, and he grabbed her, frowning down into her face, puzzlement mixed with disapproval showing clearly. The Bella he knew would never speak to him like that. Bella looked up silently, holding his gaze with red-rimmed eyes.
"Let her go, Sir Stephen. She will only be a minute or two," Dorothea intervened. Bella pulled her arm away as his grip loosened and walked slowly down the short corridor hearing Dorothea demand an explanation.
The words of Rob rang in her head, "Trouble seems to find you, little brat." She was constantly under scrutiny for things that were out of her control. One randy young guy grabs her at the club, and suddenly she is a prisoner again. He didn't mean to hurt her the way he did, she was safe, and there were enough people in the club to have saved her from any wrong doing. She had been saved! Now she was back to where she had been six months ago, with her every step shadowed and watched.
"You can't put her in a cage and expect her to be happy!" Dorothea's voice was raised as Bella came out of the bathroom. "I warned you that she would run if you restricted her again. I am surprised all you're getting so far is a little bit of backchat rather than her running home, where she at least has some trust and freedom." Dorothea shook her head disgustedly. "All you arrogant men wax on about consent and choices and then take hers away."
"She was in danger," Stephen bit back angrily.
"Bella's was in danger from what?" Dorothea demanded, "A kid who just needed a clip around the ears, and a lesson on protocols?" She was unrelenting. "Where is that danger now? Is there some reason she couldn't have driven herself over here and picked me up for a ride in her cute little car like we planned?"
"The boy is being taken care of," Stephen's jaw was working as he ground his teeth together angrily.
"I'm sure," Dorothea shook her head. "Be thankful she is going to Jack's place and won't be pushed into making a run for freedom or resent you for stopping her."
Bella stood just beside the doorway, out of sight, listening. She wanted to work and build her business and enjoy her friends and family like any other normal person. What she wanted and what she could have though seemed to be two different things at this point though, and she felt the frustration building another wave of tears behind her eyes.
She looked at the front door. She could just go, take a drive and face the consequences when she returned that evening. Except Stephen would probably call the police and have her hunted down like a fugitive. There was no easy way to break into the conversation in the kitchen, so she took a deep breath and stepped forward into the doorway where they could see her.
"I won't run," she said into the silence. "I don't want to run away from everything I have worked for," Bella looked into their stunned faces. "Dorothea is right though, I do resent being caged up like a prisoner for something that could have happened to anyone. What she doesn't see or understand is that you," she touched Stephen's arm gently, "and Rob feel guilty about letting me go into the club uncollared." She smiled sadly, "It is me that should have known better, Mel warned me about that. It was a simple mistake, but one made by me. One I won't make again. Just as I need to trust you, you have to trust me to learn the lessons and move on." It wasn't anything she hadn't said before, but it seemed this time Stephen listened. She saw his face soften, and the anger dissipate to almost a look of relief.
Dorothea stepped forward and wrapped Bella in a tight hug. She was proud of how much Bella had matured over the last year. She was a beautiful and accomplished young woman who did not know her own worth or why the men in her life were so overly protective of her. Dorothea loved her all the more for that complete lack of ego.
"Why don't we call Lincoln and get Stephen a lift back to the club," Dorothea said with a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Then you and I can go for that drive you promised me.
Drawing a deep breath, Bella smiled a bit sadly, "Would you mind terribly if we did it tomorrow?" she asked quietly. "I think I need to have a similar conversation with Master Rob and maybe even Master Kurt. If I am ever going to have the semblance of the normal life I have been trying to create behind all the false celebrity and lifestyle restrictions, I need to talk to them about all this." She waved her hands about as if all this was an obvious notion.
"Of course, sweet girl," Dorothea looked at her with a sense of pride. "It will give us even more to talk about," the old woman grinned. "You've grown up so much this year, I barely recognise the confused young woman I knew not so long ago."
"That has more to do with your wisdom and the friendship you give me so freely," Bella impulsively hugged the frail older woman to her. "I love you, Dorothea."
"I know, and I love you too." The embrace lasted a long moment before Bella reluctantly let go and pulled herself up, straightening her shoulders. She turned back towards Stephen, who had been watching as the anger that had flared in the face of Dorothea's accusations disappeared with Bella's gentleness.
"We should go back now. I have some things to sort out, and I will be too busy tomorrow to get everything done I need to before I leave for Jack's ranch," her face held a steely determination. She walked to the front door. Farewelling Dorothea one last time on the doorstep, they drove back in silence.
Once back in her apartment, Bella called both Rob and Kurt and asked them to dinner in the club. Then she went about getting ready. She smiled, acknowledging that she never had any doubt that either of them would agree to the meeting. She was spoilt by both men, and she knew that they loved her enough to accept her invitation whenever she asked them to meet with her. Then she went about getting ready. She had a statement to make, and she wanted them to have no illusions that she was thinking very clearly about her future.
By six, o'clock she was dressed and ready. Her hair was pulled off her neck in a high style. The fading bruises on her throat sat above the simple chain and lock that Mel had given her as an everyday collar both inconspicuous and yet telling of her unavailability to the average dominant in the club. She did this not just as self-protection. She had purposely not tried to hide the bruises with make-up to make a statement to her guardians that she was not the fragile little doll they assumed her to be. She would no longer run from the things she found hard to face or confusing. She would be stronger than that and meet her challenges head-on. There was no need to cage her. She was strong and confident, and she knew what she wanted in her life. What she wanted didn't include bodyguards or the amount of restrictions she currently endured.
It was Rob who came to collect her. She had asked Stephen to allow her to meet with her guardians alone. It wasn't that she needed his permission as such, but she cared about him. It was indeed very probable, if she was honest with herself, that she loved the big, serious, darkly handsome man and didn't want him to feel as if she was excluding him entirely.
"You're looking lovely tonight," Rob eyed the still evident bruises on her neck and the chain that hung just below them as she greeted him at the door.
"Thank you, Master," she smiled and leaned up to kiss his cheek. "You look as wonderful as ever," she stroked the leather covering his hip as she threaded her arm through his, and they went down to the club. Smiling at Kurt as they entered, Bella made her way to the small booth at the back of the restaurant where they would have dinner. The prompt waitress smiled as Rob began to order for them, knowing the menu by heart it would seem, and Bella knew this was the time to act and start the conversation that needed to happen.
"I'm sorry," she said quietly. "I would rather not have the salmon, please, Master." Then she turned and spoke to the waitress, "Would you mind very much bringing me a menu. I don't think I have ever seen one myself in this restaurant." The waitress gave Rob a started look as if expecting him to decline the request, but at his imperceptible nod she looked back at Bella.
"Of course, I'll just be a moment," she turned from the table as Rob looked at Bella, raising an eyebrow.
"I thought you liked the salmon here," he said, slightly puzzled by her request.
