Possessing Bella Ch. 04

"Good, then let's show those arrogant bastards that they have no idea whom they are dealing with," she took the list from Bella's hand, "Let me know if you need anything else, Miss Biancotti," she winked making Bella giggle.

Bella sat and lost herself in the business proposal again until the internal messenger service on her computer beeped to life. Her first interviewee for the assistant's position had arrived and was apparently very handsome. Bella smiled as she typed back, "Well send him in!"

Bella stood as the door opened, and Dorothea ushered in a tall, muscular man. This was to be a pattern Bella soon found as every half hour another applicant who looked more like a bodyguard than an assistant walked through her door. Five of the six applicants had been male and by the time the last one left, Bella was beyond suspicious about this short list Kurt had given her. She was also starving, despite the coffee and treats Dorothea had supplied during the long morning. She looked at the draft schedule and then at her watch; lunch wasn't scheduled for over an hour so to distract herself from her rumbling belly she called Dorothea in.

"So what's your verdict, was that the PA or bodyguard list?" Bella sat back in her chair.

"Both," Dorothea cackled, "Not very subtle were they?" Bella shook her head. Dorothea looked at her shrewdly, "Okay. Here's what I found out," she loved Bella like a daughter and was proud of the way she was handling herself. She wasn't about to let Rob and Kurt manipulate her. "The club rules now state that unless proven or spoken for by a club member any new aspiring Dominant is required to have a mentor from within the club's elite. Each of those men and the woman has all applied for consideration by the club elite recently." She let Bella take in that information.

"Now, three I believe are independent contractors, muscle for hire, professional bodyguards. One of the others come from old money and has an independent income from investments; the other is a private investigator and the woman was the only one not to trust an old lady like me with her secrets. None of them truly need this job, but it would be no hardship to them to undertake it rather than what they are currently doing in order to grease the wheels at the club."

"I see and entry to the club, with let's say Rob, the grand dragon of the underworld there as a mentor, is a prize worth babysitting me for," Bella sighed.

"I did find out that one of the muscle bound men has been putting himself through night school to get his business degree," Dorothea added, "It's amazing what they will tell the old lady that they think is temping here."

Bella slid the CV of the business student across the desk to Dorothea, "They are going to make me choose one regardless of what I think of their short list qualifications and let's face it that woman was just plain scary," she shivered, "Call him back," she tapped the file, "See if he is still close enough to the building to come back in for a few more questions." She gave Dorothea a wicked grin.

Fifteen minutes later, Bella sat across her desk from both, Dorothea and Andrew Braithwaite. "You have heard about me before applying for this job, Mr Braithwaite?" She paused, "My accident in Italy, its aftermath and about how I came to my new position within this company?"

"Yes, and I am so sorry for your loss, Mr. Marino was a truly great man with all he accomplished in his lifetime," his words were sincere and it showed in his expression.

"So here is what I know," Bella began and recounted the details of the bargain Kurt had made with the applicants that Dorothea had informed her of, "True or false?"

"True," Andrew looked her in the eye.

"And you would see this as an easy babysitting job while you got a mentor and instant membership the MR. Club, true or false?" Bella didn't drop her gaze.

"That is not as easy to answer with a single word," Andrew began and paused. When Bella did not speak, he elaborated. "I saw this as an opportunity on both professional and personal fronts. Yes, I would become a member and gain a mentor at MR., but I would also be helping to build a brand new business proposal from what I understand, and that in itself is an exciting prospect. As for the baby-sitting duties, I expect with so many people looking out for your welfare you hardly need me to do so." He looked at Dorothea meaningfully before turning back to Bella.

"Have they told you who would mentor you?" for some reason this was important to Bella.

"I expect that as you will be working with the big boys here, I will get only the best introduction to the world of big business," he deflected her question keeping the extra interview about the work place.

"And at the Club?" she pressed him.

"I have asked for Stephen, though he has not agreed," Andrew finally admitted.

"I could possibly help you with that; he has been appointed my personal watcher, so I am sure he would love someone on the inside, so to speak," Bella cringed at the tone in her own voice.

"Honestly, I thought this would be a good job professionally, and while easing my pathway into the club is a huge bonus, I would just as soon keep the two separate, please," he said frustration clear in his voice.

"You realise I live in the same building as the club, and that I am seen there on occasion that could make things very uncomfortable for us both," Bella wouldn't let it go so easily. "You know I am treated as a submissive there. Could you work for a woman whom you might see willingly sitting at the feet of say, Sir Stephen?"

"In that case, we would need ground rules of course; perhaps Stephen could help us out with that as I would be the new one there as well as here," he looked at her seriously, "I can keep work and play as separate entities; I always have, and in my line of work that is not always easy."

"Do you at least have office skills?" Bella asked more tentatively finding that she liked his straight forwardness.

"You were a business major too not so long ago, you tell me," he gave her a cheeky grin as he let her know he knew more about her than she realised.

Breaking the stiff business persona, she turned to Dorothea and giggled, "Gee, he had good answers didn't he?"

"I guess I could babysit him while he settles in, I really would rather work part-time eventually," Dorothea grinned and Andrew looked between the two women as they chatted happily as if he wasn't there. "Plus he is very handsome, so it won't be too much of a hardship really."

Bella turned to Andrew grinned, "Still want the job?"

It was Andrew's turn to laugh. He had an idea he was going to enjoy working with these two women. "Yes, when would you like me to start?"

"About three hours ago really," Bella shrugged. "I guess right now is too soon? You could call the other applicants and tell them the good news for me."

"Sure, why not," Andrew grinned back at her. "I hadn't made plans beyond this interview today."

"Excellent," Bella said. That had gone better than she thought it would, and she found herself liking the man even if she didn't fully trust his motives. She did, however, trust and love the people who were trying to protect her by manipulating her choices. She wasn't mad, and she was glad that at least one of the applicants had a real interest in business and the project she was about to embark on.

Fifteen minutes later, Bella walked into the outer office to where Dorothea and Andrew sat, "I am going to this lunch thing that's on the schedule like a good girl, walk with me Andrew and I will introduce you to a few of the others, and you can get all the good gossip they don't tell me."

Andrew stood beside Bella realising just how small and petite she truly was. Sitting the behind the desk, he had not realised, but his large build and height dwarfed her as he walked beside her. She seemed unconcerned by the disparity and walked on heading towards the other end of the executive floor. Dianne looked up as she entered followed by the big man, surprise showing on her face.

"This is my new assistant, Andrew," Bella introduced him, "This is my good friend Dianne," she continued. "Could you two give me a minute with..." she took a breath, "Kurt," she had dropped the Master from his name for the first time, and it just felt wrong.

"Sure honey, go on in," Dianne smiled.

Bella walked with as much bravado as she could muster into, Kurt's office. She did a double take seeing Rob still there and realising he was here for the lunch, as well. They had looked up as she entered and beckoned her over to where they sat comfortably. She took a seat on the edge of the couch and looked at them shaking her head.

"What's wrong?" Kurt asked, his concern touching his voice.

"How am I ever supposed to fully trust you when you won't even tell me what's going on?" she asked calmly. "You didn't think I wouldn't notice that the King Kong of the bodyguards arrived to be my secretary? And then I found out you had to bribe him to be there at all," she finished sadly.

"You'll be travelling. We needed to know..." Kurt said in a soothing tone even though his temper had spiked behind the calm exterior.

"I understand really I do; I made some stupid decisions and you have every reason not to trust that I am making any better ones lately when I am on my own, but a heads up would have been nice," she sighed, "Now I just look foolish to those people, how can they do what I ask when they can't respect me because the boss thinks I need a babysitter. None of them wants to be a secretary to a little sub like me, they're all alpha type's; they own little subs like me, not the other way around."

"It's the way it is," Kurt said his impatience showing slightly, "Just choose one, I won't let you go gallivanting around the countryside dealing with people in the fetish industry by yourself."

"Like I said, I understand why you did it, Master, and I love you for it. If I choose one of these gorillas can I keep Dorothea part time as a project manager? I have an idea about keeping samples in my office and well with the renovation she could help the person I choose with any little hiccups that happen along the way, she has so much experience with all things... umm in the company."

"Part-time, no travelling," Kurt negotiated.

"Yes Master," Bella gave him a dazzling smile. "Thank you Master," She stood up, "One moment, please, Master."

Rob had said nothing as he watched Bella manoeuvre to get her own way. He wasn't surprised at all when a large man followed her back into Kurt's office, and she introduced him as her new assistant. Rob stood to shake his hand and introduce himself before moving to stand beside Bella, whispering low in her ear, "One more stunt like that and if Kurt doesn't I will spank your cheeky little ass."

Bella blushed as Kurt turned his affable smiling face back to her after greeting Andrew and turned it into a frown. Checking her watch she took a deep breath and opened her mouth to speak but Kurt held up his hand growled ominously, "Be very careful what you say next, little one."

"I know what he was promised at the club and I want to be sure that some rules were put in place to forestall any umm... uncomfortable situations.." Bella rushed on regardless and blushed deeply.

"What sort of rules? You are rarely there except to eat occasionally," Rob asked curiously saving Kurt the trouble of swallowing the explosion that seem to be about to boil over.

"Even then," she touched the chain around her neck, there is a hierarchy, I am what I am there, and I need to be slightly different here, now, in my own office, with him," she said uncertainly all the bravado she had clutched at this morning having disappeared under the gaze of the two Masters she respected and needed to obey.

It was Andrew who spoke up though, seeing her wilt under their scrutiny, "I had thought, if Stephen agreed to mentor me; he might be best placed to suggest some rules surrounding time spent there. I am fairly serious about keeping my professional and personal sides quite separate from each other."

"Sounds reasonable," Kurt, though still unhappy with her approach, could see now what an awkward position he and Rob had put Bella in. Those people in the company, who lived this particular lifestyle, had jobs that matched their positions for the most part, and he could see that it may cause strain in the working relationship. He also knew that the recent copycat threats against the club and company were not directed at Bella specifically, but he still could not risk anything else happening to her. The man who had trusted him, befriended him and given him practically all that he had now, had entrusted him with his most precious possession, Bella. He felt a strong bond to her now, and he was going to ensure she was successful in business regardless of where her current journey in the lifestyle took her.

"Come to the club about six, you can join us for dinner and we can discuss it," Rob said his mind working over what had been said. Truthfully, after losing first Kitty and then Mel, he didn't care how awkward or uncomfortable it became for her; she would stay safe while he was her guardian.

Watching the two men who did not look happy with her at this moment, Bella longed again for the freedom she had felt with Sire, outside of this cage Mel had built for her with his death. She chewed her lip as she looked at them thinking about her freedom and believing she had something else to say Kurt sat back down.

"I can see there is more to negotiate," he looked at Andrew and then back at her.

"More of a question really," she paused, "I am meeting with interior designers after lunch according to my schedule."

"Yes," Kurt said slowly raising an eyebrow.

"Well, what sort of budget do I have to play with?" she gave him a small smile and trying to lighten the mood said, "You see I have my eye on this diamond encrusted desk..."

"If it weren't for the awkwardness of having Andrew watch you being punished for being a brat you would be over my knee right now," Kurt growled, his temper simmering under his calm exterior.

"Oh, don't mind me," Andrew held up his hands, "If you think she deserves it who am I to argue. Were it anyone but the two of you esteemed gentlemen, however, I would feel it was my duty to intervene, until her guardians had been informed of course."

"Good man," Rob laughed breaking the tension. He stood and walked over picking Bella up and sitting with her in his lap protectively. He kissed her forehead. "I somehow don't think a diamond encrusted desk is quite your style."

"Oh I don't know, I could at least try it out for a week or two," she grinned up at him.

"I think your time with Sire has turned you into a brat," he chuckled, "You remember the deal we made with Stephen before you left. He will do more than just threaten you, he will discipline you if there is need and by the look on Kurt's face you may be skating on thin ice."

"Yes, Master Rob," she said quietly having been reminded of agreeing to Stephen's discipline if any of the Masters found her behaviour unacceptable.

There was a soft knock at the door, and Dianne stepped in and waited to be acknowledged. Kurt nodded, and she spoke quietly, "Rhys, David and Jeremy are all here, Master."

"Thank you, Dianne. Take Andrew with you to whatever it is you have planned with the other assistants," Kurt said watching the young man who rose easily and left the room. He had the quiet confidence of a man who was comfortable and self-assured in any situation, to Kurt it spoke volumes and that he seemed genuinely interested in the business side of things impressed him even more.

Kurt had practically memorised the bios of the applicants who made the short lists. He was impressed that Bella had chosen Andrew. Like himself, Andrew came from a background better suited to brawling than business but had worked hard to get himself up and out of it. Once this guy hit his stride, Kurt thought, there would be no stopping him and after having met him face to face, he considered offering to mentor him himself.

*****

Lunch had flown by as Bella met with the other senior executives and passionately outlined the basic premise of her business plan. She agreed that there was a lot of work to do and that it was a long road between having an idea and making it reality but she spoke with conviction and absolute surety that she believed it was not only possible but would be profitable.

The afternoon had gone by equally quickly as she discussed her plans for the office interior and the anteroom where Andrew's desk was, with the designers and both her assistants. Her bubbling enthusiasm still brimming from the lunchtime talk she had with the executives was contagious to everyone who came into the office space. She had bookmarked the exact desk she wanted on the Jova furniture site, and though not available the winning interior designer knew where to get a similar piece custom designed for them.

An artist was contacted, and it seemed all was falling into place, so by the end of her first day back at the company she was happy. Happy to be there, happy with the decisions she had made, happy even to let her mind drift to Mel and what he might think of all she was doing. She smiled as Andrew came in, "What a day."

"It's not over yet, and if it's okay, I would like to leave now so I have enough time to go home and change before meeting Rob for dinner tonight?" Andrew tugged at his jacket.

"Gosh, look at the time; I am so sorry, you could have gone ages ago, I have been wrapped up in the plans and details," she burbled her apology to him and he caught her hand clasping it strongly in his.

"Hey, it's okay! You're the boss remember, and I am just as enthusiastic as you to see it all happening from the ground up," He said. "I'm just glad to be here, so I will meet you at the club for dinner and don't worry we'll work something out." He left leaving her to her thoughts. She looked down at her own suit and wondered if she should change for dinner too, she suddenly felt self-conscious about Andrew seeing her in some of the more revealing items in her wardrobe but she knew she should change and freshen up.

She called the number she had been given for Lincoln who agreed to meet her in front of the building, and she grabbed her briefcase putting the files she had worked on in it and added her android. She walked out shutting the office doors, not that there was anything in there to worry about yet but finally she had her own space and planning for it this afternoon had given her a sense of ownership of it. She stood waiting for the elevator still thinking about her plans. She felt more confident about who she was and what she was doing than she ever had in her life. It never occurred to her that it was because she was finally making decisions for herself that this was true, especially as there were so many people around her influencing the decisions she made.

"Oh, good, you haven't left yet," Dianne broke into her thoughts appearing in the small space where Bella waited. "Master, would like to see you, before you leave." Dianne seemed agitated and grabbing her hand almost ran back to her desk, and let Kurt know that Bella was there and waiting to see him.

"Go on in she said softly," not quite meeting Bella's eyes making her worry and begin chewing on her lip as she opened the door and walked into Kurt's office. He was standing leaning back on the edge of his desk with his arms folded.

"There," he pointed to a spot on the carpet about two meters in from of him, "On your knees." He voice wasn't harsh but was deadly serious.

"Today, served to prove two things to me, little one," Kurt began as she knelt before him. "The first is that you are a smart, capable young woman, and every bit as tough as Mel always said you were." He paused briefly watching her chew her lip with a worried expression. "The second is that you have been far too indulged for far too long. Mel was my idol in a way, for many years. We had our differences, it's true, but I always respected his passion and keen sense of what it was to be the best and demand the best from all those closest to him."