Free Slave To Love by Bridget Midway

face hadn’t changed from when she’d done her TV show, but her style had. She chopped off her long, chocolate locks in favor of a short shag with blonde highlights that framed her angular face. Today she wore a solid white maxi dress with braided fabric that created a halter strap around her neck. With her complementing caramel skin tone, she looked flawless.
    Ananda held her cell phone in her hand. Oh, no. Taren hadn’t thought about the fact that Ananda would text Dori to confirm.
    Ananda peered down at her cell phone, scanned the restaurant, then turned to leave.
    “No.” Taren bolted from the booth and chased after the woman who could change her life. As soon as she got outside, she wasted no time in making herself known. “Wait! Ananda, wait!”
    Ananda turned to Taren, paused, but continued marching to her car. “I don’t know who you are. Apparently, I contacted the wrong person.”
    “No, you didn’t. You sent a text to Dori, right?” Taren stood a couple of feet from her but far enough back to make Ananda feel safe. “I mean Meadow.”
    When Taren mentioned Dori’s scene name from the show, Ananda stopped.
    “Who are you?” Ananda stood by the driver’s side of her car.
    “My name is Taren Kerrigan. I’m a friend of Dori’s. She told me that you had been contacting her about doing your new show. I have to tell you, Mrs. Morton, she doesn’t want to do it.” She shook her head.
    “What are you? Her attorney? Her agent?” Ananda’s chest and neck started to turn red as she spoke to Taren. “She could have told me that instead of making me come all—”
    Taren interrupted her. “No. I’m not her attorney or agent. I’m a friend of hers. Five years ago, I wanted to try out for Love My Way . Dori went in my place because I was too young at the time. She doesn’t want to do your new show. But I do. I want to find my Dom.” She smiled to sell her story.
    Ananda stared at her, almost studying her to see if Taren told the truth. “Why?”
    Taren needed to be seated to explain that part. “Can we please go back into the restaurant?” She pointed to the front door. “I promise you. I am harmless.”
    After a beat, Ananda strolled around her car. “I’ll decide that.”
    Taren clasped her hands together and had to convince herself not to hop up and down in excitement. “Thank you so much. I truly appreciate your time.”
    Ananda didn’t speak again until after she sat and ordered herself a glass of water. “I don’t appreciate being tricked and lied to, Ms. Kerrigan. If you think this would cement you this job, you’re sadly mistaken.”
    Taren swallowed hard. “I’m sorry. Like I said, I’ve wanted to be a part of the show and lifestyle since I heard about Love My Way five years ago. If I was eighteen then, I would have given you a run for your money.”
    Ananda glared at her. “Are you saying you would have won had you competed?”
    Taren sat up taller but kept her hand around the base of her glass to keep cool. “I love learning. I would have been a great pupil.”
    Ananda snickered and shook her head. “That’s another thing. This show will be about a submissive looking for her Dom or Domme.”
    “Oh. You will have Dommes on the show?” Taren never considered that women would also be competing to be her Mistress. She picked up her glass of water and took several gulps.
    Ananda nodded. “Of course. A true submissive’s need to serve isn’t because of sexual attraction. But an apt pupil like you knew that already, right?” She twirled her glass of water between her two hands, making the ice clink against the sides.
    The waitress returned to get their orders. By the time she left Taren alone with Ananda, Taren had her wits about her and organized her thoughts.
    “I’m sorry for using Dori’s phone to pretend to be her to get you out here. I’m not sorry about why I did it. I do want to—” Taren paused before she completed her answer. “I want to submit.” She saw