Chapter Twelve
Commitment
He smiled when he saw her approaching, Owen couldn't help it; it was purely natural reaction whenever she came to pick him up. She was the bright spot at the end of another dreary, frustrating day in Research, yet this was not just any day, it was the Friday at the end of his first week. He now had two days to relax and be surrounded by the ones he loved before starting the drudgery again.
"Hello, Master, how was your day?" Veronica asked warmly, with a look of love as Owen wrapped his arms around her and hugged her tight.
"Better, now that you're here," Owen said, at that he and Veronica shared a laugh before their 'hello kiss' in the middle of the law firm's reception area.
As Veronica drove them away from the law firm, Owen had to pause to consider the changes that this week had brought. It was one week today that the fateful Friday night out where everyone in the family got drunk to celebrate Veronica's and his end of schooling. The following night was when Veronica and her mother, Karen had submitted to him and became his Slaves. At the time, Owen wasn't sure how long it would last, and was positive that within a week they would both ask to be released. Sure, Karen was sincere in her assertion to become his Slave, but if her daughter, Veronica walked away, wouldn't Karen do so too? Owen was convinced Veronica would walk away from him any day now, yet here they were, Friday evening of the first workweek and a few things were evident, even to the doubtful Owen.
For one, Veronica had chosen the job that was closer to Owen's law firm, even though it was with the smaller company and paid a little less. Veronica said it was because she liked the work environment and wanted the experience of running a small company. Owen knew that part of the reason was so that they could carpool. This was not like the Veronica he knew; the Veronica he knew would have chosen what was best for her, period!
Another thing was that since becoming his Slave on Saturday night, Veronica had not put up nearly as much of a fuss or resisted his authority as Owen had expected. In fact Owen had only needed to spank her once, and even then she acquitted herself beautifully! Veronica had balked at Taryn's order to do the dishes, even though Veronica herself had cooked dinner. Everyone else was busy doing some other chore so that is why Veronica was chosen to do the dinner dishes and clean up the kitchen. Yet when Owen stepped in and told Veronica that her attitude and behaviour was unacceptable, she genuinely listened to him and sincerely apologized to Taryn and him. When Veronica was told that she was to be spanked for her outburst, she was sad, yet agreeable. At the right time she laid herself across Owen's lap in the proper manner and even counted out each spank, not complaining once. When the spanking was over she was tearful but they were genuine tears of shame and regret that she had been disobedient and let her Master down. Owen could see in her eyes that her emotions were genuine, not fake, put on, or show. It was clear that she Veronica was genuinely trying to be a good and obedient Slave! This concept was hard for Owen to accept and was why he didn't trust her long-term commitment.
If Veronica was going to run from being his Slave, Owen wanted her to do it sooner, rather than later. As they traveled home together, chatting about their days there was a genuine spark of attraction between them. Owen liked her, genuinely liked her, and knew that she genuinely liked him, and this was a problem. Owen didn't want to get his heart hurt by another uncommitted Slave, like he had with Rebecca. Even though he didn't Collar her, everyone at Heather's knew that Rebecca was his 'Mouse' and treated her like his Slave. Rebecca had turned on him after they had to part ways, and that was what hurt.
On Sunday morning, the family had their first "Family Meeting" since before the house burned down and it was a first for Karen and Veronica. It was explained that everyone in the house had a job and was responsible for that area yet everyone helped each other out where needed. As well it was explained that every week the family held this meeting so each person could explain what was going on in their area of responsibility. Problems were discussed and solved and any larger issues were to be debated by everyone before Owen made his final decision. As everyone expected, it was stated that Owen was "The Master of The Family" and was in essence the "Father and Husband" of the family. This meant that he had final say on all matters pertaining to the family, yet Owen preferred to have everyone's input. Because matters were to be discussed freely, this is why that during the family meetings everyone may talk freely. Owen didn't have a problem with discussion during family meetings as long as everyone respected each other and his authority.
The first thing Owen did was to assign duties to everyone and they went as follows: Owen: Maintenance (handyman), Taryn: Meals, Rosina: Laundry, Karen: Household Budget, Veronica: Household Cleaning. In essence Owen kept everything the same, Karen pays the bills with her own money as she always had been doing, Taryn worked upstairs to earn the room-and-board for Owen, Rosina and herself. The Thompson family kept their finances separate, even though he has taken on the responsibility of Karen and Veronica.
When the issue of sleeping arrangements was brought up and the need to change things around so that Owen had his own room, Owen dismissed this. Once again, Owen expected Karen and Veronica to walk away from him, not believing in their long-term commitment to him so he did not want to change things around only to have to change them back a few days later. There was some discussion, and a few of the ladies try to argue that it isn't right for him The Master of The Family, to share a room with anyone. Owen argued that the family isn't ready yet, and that he doesn't see how it will work, everyone will be cramped no matter how they rearrange things. When anyone tried to offer a solution, Owen shut them down, and after the third attempt the discussion was closed.
The same pattern followed over the two weeks: Owen and Veronica carpooled to work, Owen had a dreary day, yet Veronica had a great day at work. When they got home, Veronica would try hard to prove that she was a good and faithful Slave and Owen would view this with scepticism. On the surface, everything was fine, the family was happy, yet there was an unspoken tension which everyone knew about, yet didn't mention.
There was the "Inner Family" of Owen, Taryn and Rosina, and there was the "Outer Family" of Karen and Veronica. Two things, other than Owen's attitude reinforced this: one was the sleeping arrangements, and the other was the finances. While Owen made sure to spend a night with each woman, in turn, Taryn and Rosina's things were in the same room as Owen's, therefore they still shared a room together. Owen, Taryn and Rosina shared a single bank account yet Karen and Veronica still had their separate ones. In a family which was supposedly founded on "All for one, one for all" it was an insult for Karen and Veronica to be treated this way. They felt the insult and hurt, yet did not voice their concerns, for fear of insulting Owen and being rejected and turned away from the family they desperately wanted to be a REAL part of.
At the following Family Meeting, the issue of sleeping arrangements was brought up by Karen, even offering Owen her room. Karen suggested that she move in with Taryn and that Rosina could share a room with Veronica. All four ladies embraced this plan, yet still Owen rejected it out of hand. The following week the tension grew and at the third family meeting, Veronica decided to bring things to a head, she had to be heard.
"I just received my first paycheque, Master," Veronica said respectfully as she placed her paycheque on the table. "I give this to you so you may use it to bless out family, Master," Veronica said as she slid her paycheque towards Owen.
"That won't be necessary, put it in your account, you earned it," Owen said dismissively as he shoved the paycheque back towards Veronica.
"Yes, I earned it, and I want to give it to The Family, I want to do my part!" Veronica said firmly as she pushed the paycheque back towards Owen.
"You do, do your part by helping out around the home," Owen said in an equally stern manner as he shoved the paycheque back towards Veronica.
"Where does your paycheque go? Where does Rosina's paycheque go?" Veronica said in a daring manner as she briskly shoved the paycheque back towards Owen.
"In the bank!" Owen said with a growl as he harshly pushed the paycheque back at Veronica.
"What account? Separate ones or a joint account . . . for YOUR family!" Veronica retorted with a growl as she pushed the paycheque back at Owen with the hardest shove yet.
"What's your problem? I am your Master and I have told you to put your paycheque in your account!" Owen said angrily as he flung the paycheque back at Veronica.
"My problem is that you are playing favourites! You don't respect Bella or me! You make us feel like outsiders in our own house!" Veronica said in a forceful and hurt tone of voice as she leaned in and glared at Owen, her eyes reduced to slits.
"FAVOURITES!" Owen shouted in disgust as he stood up.
