Teresa smiled. “Maybe you’re a dominant at heart.”
“I wish I could talk to her alone. See what she’s like,” said Zoe.
“Wait till she hits the ladies room and follow her in.”
Zoe waited a half hour before spotting Gloria enter the restroom then took Teresa’s suggestion. While the younger girl was reapplying color to her full lips, Zoe came in and began to brush her hair.
“Excuse me,” said Zoe, making eye contact in the mirror, “but weren’t you doing that sexy whipping scene with the handsome man?”
Responding as expected to the flattering tone of Zoe’s query, Gloria began to sing the praises of her escort and herself.
Zoe was duly informed of Dr. Honeywell’s profession, his residence, his income, stock portfolio and penis size. She was told of Julian’s complete infatuation for Gloria, what he had promised to do for her, what presents he had already given her and more.
“He says he’s never met anyone like me,” Gloria bragged. “He compared me to “Beauty,” as in Anne Rice’s Sleeping Beauty books.”
“Did he?” Zoe smiled.
“Oh yes. Of course, my nose is slightly different than “Beauty’s” and that does bother me. But fortunately Julian specializes in that kind of surgery. He says I can have any kind of nose I like!”
“Wow,” marveled Zoe, “that must be a five thousand dollar value, at least!”
“God yes!” agreed Gloria guilelessly.
“So what’s he like to play with?”
“Perfectly charming.”
“What’s he into?”
“Oh, spanking, humiliation, breast punishment, hot wax, dildoing, oral sex, anal sex.”
“I hope he practices safe sex!” said Zoe in spite of herself, for she always did.
“Well, he is a doctor,” Gloria informed her. “But sometimes I think he’s too cautious.”
“How do you meet someone like that? Not at a place like this, I’m sure.”
“Oh no! But there’s this wonderful organization back East that just exists to get submissive girls lovers. Here, I even have a card.” Gloria withdrew a Matchmakers, Inc. card from her tiny purse and handed it to Zoe. “Subscribe to their publication and you’ll meet the most upscale dominants in the country.”
“Can this be true?”
“All I know is, I’m sleeping on Ralph Lauren sheets tonight,”
Gloria blithely confessed before drifting out the door. “Good luck!”
Zoe made her way through the crowded rooms in a heartbroken daze clutching the Matchmakers card in her hand. On her way towards the door as she passed through the bar she was suddenly confronted by Julian.
“Zoe! I had no idea you’d be here!” Julian protested, distressed.
“It’s okay, I’m just leaving.”
“How long have you been here?”
“Long enough to have met Gloria. I was sure you two were perfect for each other and I was right. Excuse me.” Zoe pushed passed him, a lump in her throat.
“Wait a minute,” he grabbed her wrist and pulled her back.
Without asking her leave, he unceremoniously lifted her to a bar stool and capturing her hands in his, made her look at him. “Just what did Gloria tell you?”
“Only that you’re about to make her your mistress.”
“Oh, Zoe, that’s not true!”
“You’re madly in love with her. She’s your own little Beauty, or she will be once you’ve chiseled her nose.”
“She does want a nose job,” Julian admitted, “but I keep telling her I only do eyes. Don’t you see, Zoe? She’s grossly exaggerating everything I’ve said to her.”
“So you didn’t take her shopping on Rodeo Drive just like you did me?”
“I did take her shopping, but it was more or less in payment for our one and only other date.”
“Just the way you paid me?” Zoe asked peevishly.
“Not at all. I paid a hell of a lot more for the privilege of meeting you, young lady.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You know I met you though a private introduction.”
“I don’t understand.”
“It’s a service The Matchmakers provide. I told them to go shopping for me and they found you.”
“Whereas Gloria was connected enough to find you herself!”
“She is a bit of a prodigy when it comes to the scene,” Julian admitted.
“You said you only planned to see her once,” Zoe pointed out.
“Well, I was curious about these OOTC parties and you can’t go to one unless you’re a member or a member takes you as a guest.”
“I see. Excuse me,” said Zoe, jumping off the stool and trying to exit the room. Julian followed her out to the street where she leaned against the old brick wall as hot tears clouded her eyes.
“Zoe, come back inside. This neighborhood isn’t safe,” he insisted.
“You go back inside. Your submissive is awaiting your command.”
“I’m not leaving you out here by yourself.”
“Oh, all right!” Zoe replied and marched back inside.
Almost immediately they encountered Gloria who had been searching the rooms for her escort.
“Oh master! There’s a man who wants to ask your permission to play with me.” Gloria confessed with some excitement.
“Tell him yes,” Julian encouraged her, anxious to continue his conversation with Zoe.
“Thank you, master!” Gloria cried and disappeared into the other room to submit to a rope enthusiast’s art.
“You see how meaningless this is?” Julian demanded of Zoe.
“All I see is that you’ve found exactly the kind of girl you specified in your ad and on your tape,” Zoe replied over folded arms.
Taking her expression of resentment for dominant scorn, a passing foot slave fell on his knees before her and began to kiss the tips of her pumps.
