As Veronica stepped out of the limo she would delicately lift the chauffeur’s chin so that their eyes would meet, taking advantage of the bow he performed as he held her door open, and praising him for being a good boy. She giggled as he began to shake, but ultimately maintained his composure. “What an entrance,” Veronica thought to herself, confidently making her way into the restaurant. At first the hostess seemed unsure about Veronica, only to be met with a stern and unyielding gaze, and a calm “we haven’t got all night, girl.” When the hostess gave in Veronica would feel another boost to her own confidence. She felt like she was beginning to understand how good it felt to be a commanding presence and for others to obey. Her attempts to channel those like Evelyn seemed to grant her the ability to make her authority clear without causing a scene. The feeling that the hostess giving a bow and responding with “yes Miss, please forgive me. I will lead you to your table immediately” gave was intoxicating.

As Veronica approached the table Sabrina would greet her, “I’m so happy you made it! How was the ride? The chauffeur is new, so if he’s a little unrefined I’ll apologize to you on his behalf.”

”He was an excellent choice. I have no complaints about him, and he’s kind of cute.” Veronica would reply before she was hit with the realization that the only empty seat was right next to Evelyn. Her heart began to beat faster as their eyes met, with Evelyn smirking, but she felt herself calm down as Elias spoke.

“Everyone, this is Veronica. I know some of you have met her, but if you haven’t, this is my best friend.” He looked back to Veronica as she sat down next to Evelyn and continued, “I’m happy you were able to come. I know you have a lot on your plate right now.”

“You will later too,” someone she vaguely recognized said in an attempt to make a joke about dinner, with most of the table laughing or talking about how much they’d been looking forward to this all day. “I’m Paul Smith, and now that I’m looking at you I actually think we’ve met before.”

”It’s been too long!” Veronica feigned, hit with some vague memory of talking to him briefly at Elias and Sabrina’s wedding. If she remembered correctly he was actually Sabrina’s cousin, but she’d had a lot to drink that day. She was somewhat embarrassed by that, but remembered that everyone else had as well. The couple had gone all out, and were known for enjoying big celebrations when the occasion called for it. The odds of anyone there being sober by the end of the night were low. “We had a conversation at the wedding about real estate development.” She still wasn’t sure if they had actually talked at all, but fortunately he bought it.

”That’s right. You had a great idea about how to best utilize abandoned malls.” he said, though she had no real idea what he was talking about or how to do that, but her attempts to fit in seemed to be working. “Any progress on your project, or are you working on anything new?”

”Oh,” Veronica’s nerves shook but she would do her best to contain her anxiety when put on the spot, “I have something in the works. We’ve secured enough funding to buy one, but with so many of them sitting empty we’re able to explore our options. In the meantime I just left my position with my old firm. It’s time for me to dedicate myself fully to my true path in life!” she said, hoping she pulled it off. She wondered if she should have specified a specific type of firm, but knew that the more specific any questions became the more obvious she would be as a fraud. 

“You learned a lot from me.” Evelyn smiled, before turning to the woman sitting on the other side of her. “Caroline, this is Veronica. I’ve told you about her before but you’ve never been properly introduced. She was already a skilled worker, in any task one gave her, but she was always willing to learn and proved to me that she could manage finances extraordinarily well. I’m sad to see her leave, but she deserves to spread her wings and follow her true calling in life. Now we can collaborate when the occasion calls. As more than a mentor and one who needs guidance.” 

Chills ran down Veronica’s spine. What was Evelyn doing? She knew exactly what she was referring to. The financial lesson she taught her, washing her cars and fetching her drinks, but now Evelyn was helping her maintain the charade that she was an equal to anyone here. What was in it for her? She responded with an attempt to keep this up, playing the part of someone who was still rising to the top. “I will always remember and appreciate everything you’ve taught me. I never forgot any of it.” To Veronica’s horror, as others were handed menus and shifting their focus, she heard Rebecca whisper a drawn out “good girl” in a sultry tone into her ear. Veronica’s heart sank. Her nerves were on fire.  Her head was spinning. She wasn’t sure why but intrusive thoughts of her serving Evelyn began crawling into her mind. Bowing down. Wearing a maid uniform. Being beaten for disobedience while Miss Porter cruelly laughed. Being forced to march around in a military uniform declaring Miss Porter the God Queen. Veronica lost track after this, and had no idea where these thoughts came from, but her brain felt like it had been fried beyond repair . Something about Miss Pieter calling her a good girl felt like someone had flipped a switch. A strange feeling began to surge through her body like some sort of jolt of electricity. The worst of it was how much it turned her on. Miss Porter had praised her for her obedience, and was doing her a favor in helping her keep up this act. Expressing appreciation for her guidance was the least she could do. “I should be waiting on this table, not sitting with them. Wait no no no where did that come from” Veronica thought to herself. She hoped that Elias may step in, trying to direct her slowly collapsing thoughts towards him, silently begging him for help as she barely managed to stop herself from tearing up. She didn’t want to be ensnared by Miss Porter, but the idea of showing appreciation for not outing her as a lower class tag along and the idea of being praised again for obedience was making her wet. Despite her efforts to focus her attention on Elias in hopes he may notice and shift the conversation she realized that Elias, Sabrina, Paul, Caroline, and two more men she recognized as friends and now business partners of Elias were busy discussing the menu. They hadn’t noticed a thing. Much to her horror she was all Miss Porter’s now. She didn’t understand why but she had to obey this woman. She was mentally begging for her freedom, but in an instant felt enslaved. 

”It’s nice to see you again, Veronica.” Miss Porter smirked while keeping her voice low. “Having fun? I’m sure it beats washing and waxing cars. How mind numbing that would be.” Miss Porter’s face twisted into a victorious grin. 

Veronica squirmed in her seat. Her brain felt like someone had dumped water on it, scrubbed between all those brain wrinkles, and was waxing it. As she glanced at Miss Porter she felt butterflies in her stomach, excited to see her even if she was also terrified. Veronica managed to whisper a “stop, please, please not again.” She had no idea what she meant, and Miss Porter felt no need to explain. Instead Miss Porter would discreetly raise one hand as if to say “stop” while she briefly made eye contact with Veronica. Veronica’s eyes locked onto her’s for a moment before she blinked and looked away, and felt that she could no longer speak.

“I think that such a good. little. slave. deserves a treat! At the very least for the,” she barely contained a laugh, “effort you put into trying to fit in. That and not resisting my guidance tonight. Such a good girl.” She grinned and pointed at something on the menu as Veronica squirmed again, struggling to process the mix of euphoria and fear she felt. “This is what you’ll order, slave girl. Fine dining isn’t something you’re ever going to get used to, but this is suitable for what is frankly an unrefined palate. However it’s also not such a beginner meal that it would out you as a, well, you know. Just trust me, and do exactly as I say. You know I know best, don’t you?”

Veronica didn’t see prices on the menu and knew that meant she technically couldn’t afford this place. She could have worried about that more, but with Miss Porter’s words she noticed that her own dress that she believed was nice and classy was not anything close to what the others here wore. If anything it was closer in quality to the uniforms their servants wore. She tried to fight it but wondered if she should have brought a white apron and offered to wait on this table. Maybe it could have resulted in her being hired here. For her the dress had been expensive, but when compared to the dresses and suits everyone else wore it looked cheap, and Miss Porter in particular wore an expensive power suit that told everyone she was an extremely powerful businesswoman. Veronica desperately wanted to resist, trying to force herself to maintain composure without giving in, but her nerves were screaming at her to be obedient. She only felt relief when she finally submitted and whispered “yes Miss Porter.” It was like an instinct. Natural, programmed, and a massive turn on. 

Miss Porter quietly laughed, and once again whispered “good girl. good. slave. I’ll have you remade soon. Into something greater. Don’t you worry that empty empty empty littlrbhead, that simple little slave brain of yours.” Miss Porter contained a giggle as Veronica seemed to twitch like a malfunctioning robot. 

The evening seemed to drag on after this. Elias didn’t seem all that attentive to Veronica, which should have hurt her feelings, but she knew that any time he seemed to begin speaking to her one of his colleagues would bring up business again. He had more important things to deal with than her. Veronica would be here when he was ready to speak, no matter how long it took, just waiting for her empty head to be filled with whatever he chose to discuss with her. Besides, she could barely keep up with conversations about politics and business even on a normal day. Fortunately someone was discreetly coaching her when she could get away with it. Maybe Miss Porter liked her more than she thought if she was even bothering to do this. Maybe she should be more appreciative. She was making sure to keep Veronica conversing with others as much as she could, and so when Veronica could keep up she was more or less just doing what Miss Porter told her to do. She would get to experience being a part of this city’s elite, but rather than it being due to her own status, it was as a reward for her unquestioning obedience. The more she thought of her as Miss Porter the more her anxieties seemed to ease. Thinking of her as Evelyn just felt wrong. Like she wasn’t allowed to use her first name. Her thoughts began to wander as she tried to eat and ignore how turned on she was by Miss Porter discreetly taking control in exchange for the gift of getting to pretend to be something she wasn’t. All Veronica had to do was obey. She was thankful Miss Porter was here. She couldn’t relate to any of these people like she could to Brianna. Without Miss Porter she would be completely lost. 

Further relief came when discussions drifted into memories. Miss Porter was kind enough to lengthen Veronica’s leash since she could keep up now, with Elias expressing fond memories of their friendship in front of his friends. “She’s always been here for me. She’d drop anything to support me if I needed it,” he said. “She didn’t even let me be dramatic when I was devastated about my first big breakup” he said in a lighthearted tone.

”I know that was high school but I still don’t like that girl” Veronica laughed, but it felt like a programmed response. Normally she had no opinion of that girl anymore, but suddenly she felt protective of the Porters and their honor. “I wasn’t going to let her of all people drag you down. I think I made your favorite pie and convinced my parents to let you stay with me. All I wanted to do was help you feel better. I couldn’t let it derail you from becoming the excellence you were destined to be.”

”You did. You begged your parents. You even offered to sleep on the couch so I could have some privacy. You also convinced me to ask her best friend out to prom.” He laughed at that. “I guess she was mad enough at her about something to say yes. You even drove us to and from prom and refilled our punch for us. You helped make it such a great experience. I think about all the things like that you’ve done for me more often than you may realize.”

Veronicas heart was filled with joy, even though she felt chills as Miss Porter lightly elbowed her and prepared to chime in. Veronica knew that she sounded pathetic. She’d been willing to just drop everything for her best friend her entire life, but unable to express her feelings for him. It was so humiliating, but why did she feel fulfilled in the others potentially seeing how much reverence she had for this family? “She’s also why you and Sabrina got together. She encouraged you to ask Sabrina on a date after you’d been hanging out for awhile. I think she was actually closer to Veronica when she first integrated into your circle than she was to you.” Miss Porter sipped her drink to mask her amusement in pointing out that Veronica practically handed off the love of her life to another woman. A superior woman.

Sabrina would confirm this to be the case.  “That’s right. I met Elias first, but got along with Veronica right away. When it was clear that we liked each other but struggled to do anything about it, Veronica made sure that we didn’t let the opportunity pass us by. I was crying about Elias one night, thinking he wasn’t interested anymore, and this wonderful girl came over to calm me down and take care of me all evening. She made the perfect bath for me, brought me drinks and my favorite snacks, and let me vent while only giving advice about her best friend when necessary. She’s a very kind and giving person, and always will be no matter how successful she is. This is all just scratching the surface of how dependable she is for us.“

Elias nodded and continued “No matter what happens we always have a place for her. She’ll always be with this family.” The words sent a rush of joy through her body, but part of her was screaming inside. In part because she did not understand her feelings and in part because this felt like the opposite of whatever reputation she wanted to create for herself tonight. She didn’t believe it to be intentional on the part of Elias. He was just bragging about how much she meant to him. He’d never treated her as anything less than an equal, but despite this, it felt like the two Porter siblings and Sabrina held the ends of invisible leashes that were somehow attached to an invisible collar around her neck.

     Dinner soon began to come to a close as the conversation shifted again. Veronica felt left out as everyone tried to get the check, thinking it may out her, but Miss Porter would slightly nudge her as if to tell her to join in. There was no way she could afford it, but she obediently pulled out her credit card despite being terrified it would max it out in one transaction. “I’ve got-“

”Too slow.” Miss Porter said, playfully competitive, grabbing the check and placing her own card with it. “Please take this, I can’t let any of them win” she playfully said as their waiter walked up just in time. She then smiled at Veronica, saying “maybe next time.” Veronica wasn’t sure why Miss Porter would protect the charade she had tried to create this evening, but she was thankful. 

As everyone left the restaurant, Veronica found herself in yet another confusing situation, as Miss Porter said to Elias and Sabrina “I’ll give her another ride, don’t worry. I wanted to come by your place anyway.” She then gave her friend Caroline a goodbye hug, before saying something about looking at an investment account in the morning, and saying “by the way I know I’ve already said but I love your new car, and it drives beautifully. Now I’ll have to let you drive that one you’re always looking at in my collection.” Veronica had never heard Miss Porter speak in such a light hearted tone. 

”No more excuses,” Caroline said, “and I know how rare that model is so I promise I won’t hit anything. If you like driving my new car that much I’ll trade it for that classic though.” she laughed as she walked towards a brightly colored exotic car. 

Reality began to set in as the limo pulled up, with the chauffeur giving a bow and opening the door for Miss Porter and Veronica. Miss Porter looked Veronica up and down. “Don’t look so surprised, girl. My brother and Sabrina were the ones who wanted you to come, but it didn’t make sense for either of them to drive all the way back home to pick you up. Caroline and I work on large investments together so we’re in the same office fairly often and I wanted to drive her new car so I wouldn’t be so annoyed about her managing to beat me to the waiting list to purchase one. I really just wanted to say I’d driven one, so it just made sense to send my limo. Plus this way you at least got to arrive in style, and I needed to know the new driver Sabrina sent me was good with guests. Normally I wouldn’t be explaining myself to someone like you, but you’ve had a confusing evening, and there are some things I want to clarify on the ride back.”

As Miss Porter entered the limo Veronica’s heart raced. She wondered what that meant and it was still throwing her off that Miss Porter was being so nice to her. Taking just a moment longer to enter than Miss Porter apparently wanted, Veronica would hear a whistle and “Veronica, here girl.” Veronica’s nerves screamed at her to obey, and within a split second forced her to obey. She would be consumed with dread as she followed the command with a “yes Miss Porter!”