Veronica looked over the parts of the room she was able to see, but didn’t see anything that could be considered interesting. Maybe it was out of her range of sight.
That’s when she noticed Terrence appeared to be looking directly at her in the mirror.
“We have an uninvited guest, Hayley,” he said.
Fuck, hewaslooking at her. She considered turning and walking away. Was it possible he knew someone was watching but not clearly enough to know who?
“Come on inside, Ms. Fair,” Terrence said, shattering that possibility. He put down the crop he’d been holding on top of a table off to his side, beside several others. “It’s not polite to watch and not let people know you’re doing so.”
Veronica stepped inside the dungeon. Hayley was still bound in the same position, so Veronica couldn’t tell if she knew her. There were a few part-time employees who came at irregular times to take care of odds-and-ends-type jobs, and she hadn’t met all of them yet.
Terrence stood, arms crossed, frowning as she walked in.
“Some would argue that is the exact point of the mirrors, to watch undetected,” she couldn’t resist saying.
“They would be wrong,” he countered. “This is a school, and the mirrors are used in instruction. In addition, while the students don’t know, every instructor is shown where the mirrors are in the room that shows who’s outside watching.”
Sothatwas how he knew. Veronica didn’t say anything, and after a long moment, Terrence ran a hand through his hair and started unbuckling Hayley from her bonds. “I’m sorry our time was cut short today, Hayley girl. I’ll check with Master MacLure and see if he needs any further information. Are you okay to go into the dressing area and waiting for me?”
“Not a problem, Master Buchanan,” Hayley said, rubbing her wrists once she was free and shooting Veronica a nasty look.
Damn it, Hayley wasn’t a part-time employee. She worked in the housekeeping department, and Veronica had seen her around.
“Apologize to my sub for ruining our scene, Ms. Fair,” Terrence said in a firm voice.
“What? You have got to be kidding me,” Veronica answered instead. “Just because you’re Mister Hollywood doesn’t mean you get to tell me what to do.”
“I assure you I am not kidding.” Terrence had no hint of joking in his tone. “And when we’re in a dungeon, you are to address me as Master Buchanan or Sir, and yes, I do get to tell you what to do. Especially when it concerns my scene.”
He was out of his flipping mind, that’s what he was. Veronica opened her mouth to tell him as much, but he spoke first.
“Don’t even think about arguing with me,” he said. “Did you not read your employment contract before you signed it?”
No, she hadn’t. She’d thought it was just a normal contract. That being the case, she didn’t have a leg to stand on with the current discussion. She looked at Hayley. “Forgive me, Hayley. It was not my intention to ruin your scene.”
Hayley nodded. Terrence slapped her ass. “Go get dressed. I’ll be right behind you.”
As soon as the naked submissive left the room, he turned his attention back to Veronica. “I assume you had a reason for coming to find me,” he said.
“Yes, I —”
He held up a hand to stop her. “That’s all I needed. I don’t need to know why right now. I’ll come find you, and we can talk when I finish aftercare with Hayley.”
“Yes, Sir,” Veronica said.
He gave a quick nod of acknowledgment and left her standing in the room alone. With his words, she’d remembered the aftercare he’d given her after their one scene. She’d been shaking a little, and he’d wrapped her in a blanket and sat with her on his lap until she’d stopped. For those moments she’d been in his arms he’d whispered about how well she’d done and how much he’d enjoyed playing with her. She thought she remembered him saying they’d get back together soon to play again if she wanted to explore more with him and they’d discuss removing her initial limit on sex.
Of course it was also possible that she’d made up that part of the conversation.
If the paparazzi hadn’t documented their exit from the club and plastered it all over the internet for everyone to see, would they have gotten back together for another scene? And if so, if that horrible time following that night had never happened, where would she be right now?
It almost hurt to think about, and she wondered if that was why she never had? Had she always known deep down where she could pretend to hide such thoughts that if it weren’t for those pictures, everything would be different?
Or maybe not. Maybe not much would have changed. His words on realizing who she was rang in her head as clear as if he stood beside her once more saying them.
“I guess that makes two of us then. Because I’d have gotten the hell out of that joint as soon as I saw you if I’d had any idea you were the nineteen-year-old daughter of Senator Lewis.”
Those two sentences pretty much summed up everything. Terrence wanted nothing to do with her.