Free Midnight Eternal by NJ Cole Page A

off. Clearly she isn’t pleasing him if he’s jerking off. And if he were really happy, he’d bring her by the club. It’s his club for fuck’s sake. No, she’s just a toy and he’s probably embarrassed to be seen with her. He’ll get bored and then come back to me—his own kind.”
    Tears were streaming down my face but I couldn’t help it. I knew she could be making some of it up, but why would she? Why did he collar me and not someone else? And was there really a club he owned that he didn’t want to take me to? I remembered Sydney talking about one and saying I’d fit in, but Oliver saying that I was never going there. As much as I hated Gretchen at that moment, I was starting to wonder how much truth there was in her words. I couldn’t stay there anymore. I didn’t feel like having a manicure or pedicure; I just wanted to get out of that place and away from that woman.
    After picking up my purse, I opened the door expecting to see Trudy and Gretchen standing right outside. Instead, I could see and hear them in the reception area all the way down the hall. I wished there was another way out but there wasn’t, and there was no way I was going to stay here even though Trudy was being nice; I was just too upset.
    They were still talking as I hurried down the hall toward them. Trudy was telling Gretchen to act professionally, but I didn’t wait to hear Gretchen’s response.
    “Oh, butterfly, we still have to do your manicure and pedicure.”
    “I’m sorry. I need to go.”
    I didn’t wait for a response or to set up a return time, as I had no intention of ever coming back.
    I cried all the way home, and when I got to the building I pressed my floor out of habit. On the ride up, I considered using my key to get to the penthouse, but I just wasn’t ready to talk to Oliver. He’d clearly lied to me. As I lay in my bed crying, I realized I wasn’t upset he’d lied about being human, but lying about another submissive—that bothered me immensely.
    I knew I should’ve just gone to talk to him about it, but when I started to get up, I could tell the effects of my Master’s come were wearing off. I lay back down and closed my eyes, needing to rest for just a moment. As my lids grew heavier, I allowed myself the much-needed sleep. I’d talk to my Master when I woke, and hopefully he’d be able to clear things up.
     

Chapter Seven
    Master
     
    I waited an extra thirty minutes after the time my butterfly should have been back from the salon to call her cell phone the first time. I figured sometimes girl things took a little longer than planned. When I did call her phone, it rang several times and then went to voicemail. I wasn’t that alarmed, but thirty minutes later, when I tried again and got the same results, I decided to call the salon.
    “VonRhines.” It was Gretchen who answered the phone.
    “Hello, Gretchen, it’s Oliver. I was wondering how much longer my butterfly will be.”
    “How much longer? She left here like two hours ago.”
    The room began to spin. What if something had happened to her?
    “That’s not possible. She should have come back here when she was done.”
    “Looks like you should put a leash on that collar.” Gretchen’s words were uncalled for, and if I weren't so worried about my girl, I probably would have gone off on her.
    “Listen, let me talk to Trudy.”
    “She’s with a client.”
    “Put her on now!”
    “As you wish.” Her voice was inappropriate, and after I knew where my girl was, I’d deal with it. I was still clinging to hope that my butterfly was with Trudy at the salon and that Gretchen was just mistaken.
    “Oliver, how can I help you?” Trudy asked, concern evident in her voice.
    “I was looking for my butterfly. Gretchen said she left two hours ago.”
    “Yes, she did. She seemed fine when she got here, but then right before her pedicure she looked upset and left in a hurry.”
    “Upset? What the fuck upset her?” I felt the rage building.