As Mistress Susan approached, Meredith immediately noticed the exquisite leather ensemble that transformed her from a merely striking presence to an utterly commanding one. 

Her tall frame was encased in a perfectly tailored leather coat that fell just above her knees, its deep midnight black gleaming with a subtle sheen. Underneath, a fitted leather vest hugged her athletic silhouette, revealing hints of a crisp white shirt at the collar. Her leather pants, impeccably tailored, traced her long, athletic legs with architectural precision, with two-inch heel long boots completing the ensemble.

Mistress Susan’s emerald eyes - sharp and penetrating - almost froze Meredith in her spot. A cascade of red hair fell in controlled waves around her shoulders, and a handful of heads turned as she walked by, admiring her confidence, sense of style, and generous curves.

The hypnodomme walked towards Meredith, smiling. Even though this was the first time they were face to face, it was almost as if they were the best of friends already.

“Hello, Meredith. I didn’t expect you to be the one to greet me here. It’s a pleasure to finally meet said,” she said.

“The pleasure is all mine, Mistress Susan. I admit that wasn’t the initial plan, but your flight delay opened up an opportunity I couldn’t let go to waste. I take it you had a pleasant journey despite what happened.”

“Just Susan is fine, dear. It was agreeable for the most part. I could have done without the last-minute mechanical issue on departure, but it wasn’t too bad.”

Meredith nodded, falling into step beside her as they navigated toward baggage claim. The leather of Susan's coat whispered against her blazer with each synchronized stride.

“What was the problem?” Meredith inquired, her curiosity piqued.

“Just a faulty hydraulic sensor,” Mistress Susan dismissed with a casual wave. “More administrative hassle than actual risk. The airline was overly cautious, which I suppose is preferable to the alternative. We also ran into a bit of turbulence as we were approaching the shore.”

“Turbulence is the worst. It’s bad enough to be in a giant flying tin can, sometimes. The last thing I need is Nature reminding me I don’t have wings in case something goes awry.”

“Not a fan of flying, I see,” Mistress Susan chuckled.

“It’s not my favorite means of transportation, that's for sure!” Meredith replied.

“Bad experiences in the past?”

“A couple, yes, but I’ll spare you the boring details. It’s an honor to have you be a part of the first edition of KNOT.”

“I’m looking forward to it. I’ve loved your pitch since the first time it was presented to me. I would be a fool to miss this opportunity, so thank you once again for the invitation.”

“And thank you for accepting it. I know you have a busy schedule nowadays. The fact that you still found the time for our little event just makes it all better.”

“I’ve seen the program, Meredith. There’s nothing little about what you and your team have pulled off. It’s a great day for the kink community.”

Meredith blushed, the hypnodomme’s kind words making her all fuzzy and tingly.

At the baggage carousel, a sleek black hard-shell suitcase rolled towards them, its polished surface reflecting the airport's fluorescent lights. Meredith stepped forward, effortlessly lifting the compact trolley. “Traveling light, I see,” she remarked, noting the single piece of luggage.

“Efficiency is an art form,” Mistress Susan replied, her emerald eyes gleaming. “I prefer to keep things streamlined in everything I do.”

“Does that include your hypnotic sessions?”

“Most of the time, yes. Keeping things simple makes it easier to plan and adjust if something isn’t working as it should, especially if the subjects are already deep under. I seem to recall you’ve been on the scene for a while, is that correct?”

“Yes, but as a sub. It’s all been very gratifying and I’ll never forget the wonderful moments I had with my Masters and Mistresses.”

“And you shouldn’t. Submission is a beautiful thing, Meredith. It’s why I love what I do so much.”

“What about the power? The feeling of being in charge?”

“Don’t get me wrong, that’s exciting, but it’s also a great responsibility. A good Domme thrives on the connections she establishes with those who worship and serve her. Submission makes it possible but only when it’s genuine and not forced. I love submissives, especially those who love themselves.”

“That’s funny… Mistress Antoinette used to say something similar.”

“Antoinette Bouchard from Quebec?”

“Yes. Do you know her?”

“Kind of. We talked briefly at an event a couple of months ago. Fantastic woman. I was in awe at her demeanor and profound knowledge of the submissive soul.”

“Yes, she’s very special to me. She helped me grow a lot as a person and not just within the BDSM world.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

Their conversation flowed easily as they moved through the bustling airport, the trolley rolling smoothly between them. As they approached the exit, the morning sunlight streaming through the terminal's glass walls caught the rich auburn highlights in Mistress Susan’s hair.

“My car is not that far from here,” Meredith said. 

“Perfect. I trust everything is prepared for the main event?” Mistress Susan.

“Yes. Your flight delay was the only setback so far, but we should still make it in time for the opening.”

“Good. Before we head out, I have a gift for you.”

“Oh?” Meredith murmured.

Mistress Susan opened her luggage. From within the carefully organized interior, she extracted a leather-bound volume, its cover embossed with subtle silver lettering.

“A token of appreciation,” she said, handing the book to Meredith. “It’s an early copy of my book of advanced hypnotic techniques in power exchange dynamics.”

Meredith's hands trembled slightly as she accepted the volume. She recognized the title immediately - “Submissive Resonance: Psychological Pathways of Consensual Control” - a text that had been whispered about in the community for months now.

“I can’t believe you’re giving me this. Thank you!” 

Meredith breathed, her fingers tracing the embossed silver letters.

“I’ll be referencing parts of it during my seminar, so I hope you enjoy the reading.”

“I’m sure I will. Thank you, Mist…, I mean, Susan.”

“Don’t mention it. Tell me, in all your years as a sub, were you ever hypnotized as part of your dynamic?”

“Not that I recall. Why do you ask?”

Mistress Susan’s smoldering gaze fell on Meredith again, awakening her subservient side. “Because some techniques described in the book can only be understood through direct demonstration.”

The implicit promise hung between them, an electric realization full of potential. Meredith’s heart skipped a beat as she envisioned what could lie ahead. More than a gift, it was a challenge, a map, and perhaps the beginning of something far more intricate than she had anticipated. 

But first, there was KNOT, and her dream scenario coming to life. They left the airport and drove straight to the main venue, ready for some good old kinky fun.