Something Different (Part 1)

I'm leaving off the other storyline for now. Here's something different.

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anastasia walked into the hotel bar and stopped to look around the room. she stood there in her tight red dress, white stockings, and red 'fuck me' high heels, hair and makeup perfect and, not wanting to look too anxious, casually glanced around for Him. she was supposed to be there 20 minutes earlier, but as usual, she was running behind. she had called Him to let Him know, and He had told her to meet Him in the bar, instead of going directly to their room. He also told her to expect to be punished.

The thought of punishment made her nervous, who knows what He'll do or demand this time, but it also made her excited. she wasn't supposed to enjoy His punishments, they were supposed to actually be punishments, but she couldn't help herself. Even when He demanded something of her she didn't want to do, she knew her submission pleased Him - and that pleased her. After accepting a punishment, she knew she also could count on Him to tell her she was His good girl and, almost always, something naughty would follow.

It didn't take long to find Him. He was sitting at a corner table in a dark, out of the way area, sipping a drink, and talking to someone. Someone female. Someone young. Someone with long, blonde hair and a shapely backside. Someone who, as anastasia approached, was laughing at something Frederick had just said.

Frederick saw sta approach. Damn, she looks good, he thought. Almost hate to punish her. But, that's not even an option for Me now, is it?

He got up, looked directly at her (I mean really looked at her), and said, "Have a seat," while motioning to the booth. Although He said it in a pleasant, courteous tone, she also heard the firmness in His voice. she was in trouble.

"sta, this is Melissa. She's been taking care of Me until you could get here." sta thought He put a little too much emphasis on the words 'taking care of Me', but chose to ignore it, assuming He was just trying to push her buttons because He was irritated by her lateness.

"Hi, Melissa. Nice to meet you," sta said while sizing up the girl. Even nicer from the front than from behind, she thought. If Frederick wasn't so busy trying to make me jealous of her, He might just find me willing to flirt with her, too. she turned to Frederick, "Am i having anything to drink?" While this probably might sound like an odd question to the casual passerby, it was the exact proper question for her to ask. He had told her she was not to directly ask permission for a drink or food in such situations, and she certainly wasn't to simply ask the waitstaff for something. Rather, she was supposed to either simply wait for Him to take care of her needs, as He saw fit, or do exactly what she had done - ask Him what He intended for her. (There were often such distinctions drawn for how she should speak in His presence, and while other might think the distinctions to be small and of little significance, they knew better. He had impressed upon her long ago His belief that word choice is important, that words matter.) she was thinking about this and other rules she had so easily learned to accept and follow that she almost missed His reply.

"Yes, I've already ordered you your favorite, but I've been keeping Melissa from going to get it, since I wasn't sure when you'd get here anyway." As He finished, He smiled that grin she loved so much and used it to make His otherwise snide comment into playful teasing. He was irritated about her lateness and would probably continue to rub it in (until something else amused Him), but He wasn't angry with her or mean-spirited about it. It merely gave Him an opportunity to remind her that, by being late, she had failed to follow His direction, and therefore, punishment would be forthcoming.

The waitress excused herself to get sta's drink, and Frederick turned His attention to sta.

He said, "you have one minute to tell Me why you were late and attempt to reduce your punishment."

she looked Him in the eye, not defiantly, but deferentially, and replied, "i have no excuse, Sir. i failed to perform per Your direction, and i willingly accept whatever punishment You deem appropriate."

she was learning. Many times, sta had attempted to excuse her conduct, to justify her actions when she failed to comply with His commands. she finally had learned there were no excuses or justifications, only success or failure. she also had learned that failure was not the end of the world - He did not love her any less for it. He only expected her to do her best. her wanting to please Him and trying to please Him was what He truly needed. The punishment, even under circumstances where she could not avoid failing to meet His demands, was necessary to remind her of the need to do her best.

"Did you try to get here on time?"

"Yes, Sir. i tried my hardest."

"Do you dispute you deserve punishment for failure, despite your effort?"

"No, Sir. i know i must be punished, regardless."

"Good girl. you will be punished, as you should be, but for the moment, let's enjoy our drinks." At that moment, the waitress silently appeared at their table and set down sta's drink before disappearing just as casually. She apparently knew her involvement in sta and Frederick's evening, beyond providing the service she was there for, had ended.

Great. Now i have to sit here and wonder what my punishment will be, thought sta anxiously.

Frederick just sat back, sipping His drink, with a wicked smile on His lips.

(To be continued.)