Vow of Roses

Eight Years Ago....     There was something unnerving about the look in his eyes as he circled me, looking for any flaw to present itself. He had been assured time and time again that I didn't have a single physical flaw but that I wasn't one to hold my tongue. I was a force to be reckoned with according to my Keepers and they were hard pressed to find any man to find me worthy of his time.      "Do you know who I am and why I need someone of your talents?" His voice was hard and stern. He was exactly what I was expecting someone in his line of work to be like.      "Yes, I know who you are Sir but I don't exactly know why you would pick me out of all of the perfectly submissive women here." I braced myself for a lecture later at my attitude laced response.      He chuckled and folded his arms in front of his chest, "That is the exact reason I chose you, my dear. You are the kind of girl they won't expect to find in the places you'll be." He stopped circling me and planted his feet directly in front me. "You seem to bring out the strangest things in men, so I've been told. They feel a need to try to tame the attitude right out of you. They think they can change you but each of them fail more miserably than the next. You are exactly what I require." He turns to my Keepers and nods to the bag on the floor next to his chair. "The payment we agreed on is all there as we discussed. I'll allow her to pack her things and be ready in two hours." My Keepers nodded their heads and bowed to him as he left the room.      I threw all of my things onto my bed as a small knock sounded from my door, "come in." One of my long time Keepers walked in with a bouquet of red roses.      "These were left for you by Master Jameson. He said was pleased with you and wanted to congratulate you on moving out. He hopes that you remember all that he has taught you and that he will be disappointed if you return for anything other than a visit." Red roses were an unspoken token of his love and respect. I was the only girl here to ever receive them. He told me I wasn't one of the mindless submissive's that gives her submission to any man to seek his approval. I was different and they all hated me for it.      "Is Master Jameson available for me to give my gratitude in person before I leave? I'd hate to disappoint him by not telling him goodbye after all of the things he's done for me." I knew that he'd be cross if I didn't show up in his office before I was swept away into whatever new Hell awaited me.     "He will send for you if he is available. You will be missed, Elise." She smiled as she bowed and then exited my room.      I was going to miss the house and a few of my Keepers. The four years that I'd spent here were a huge learning curve. I was still shocked that my parents weren't flipping over backwards to push me into marrying the boy they'd planned for me to marry my whole life. I think they stopped trying after my grandma told them to let me be my own person for a while. I was using my college degree just fine in my current situation. I had majored in Criminal Justice with a minor in communications and planned on becoming a lawyer but my parents shut that down quicker than girls flash men to get beads during Mardi Gras.      My parents thought I was off traveling and barred the paparazzi from knowing where I was just in case my wild side was just a bit too wild. I'd changed a lot since Jameson brought me into his world and invited me to stay here. I finished packing my clothes, shoes, jewelry and a few of the personal things I kept here. Zipping up the suitcase and taking one last look around my room, I took a deep breath and I was ready to close this chapter of my life.      "I'm glad I caught you before you left. I'm very proud of you, Ellie. You've become an even more beautiful woman than the day you stepped foot into this house." Chills went down my spine as Jameson's hand traced the back of my neck. "I wish you were staying. You're my favorite, baby." I turned in his arms and looked up at the man who knew me better than anyone. "I was told that you got the top selling price and pleased your new Master so much that he even is giving you your own house, car, and even a very generous stipend." He kissed me deeply and wrapped his arms around me, pulling me as close to him as he could. I draped my arms around his neck and deepened the kiss. He groaned as if he was in pain and broke the kiss that left me breathless.     "Thank you for everything that you've done for me over the past four years. I appreciate it all, Sir." He slowly ran his thumb over my bottom lip.      "I don't want you to leave but I know that you have to. Be a good girl, Ellie. Remember everything that you've been taught and you'll be even more successful than you ever dreamed possible. Stefan will provide for you if you do as he instructs with clients. I might still call on you occasionally if these girls don't keep up like you always did." He kissed my forehead and hugged me tightly. I felt my heart aching as I watched him walk out of the room for the last time.      I put my suitcase on the floor, grabbed my purse, and made my way to the front door. Stefan was standing there waiting on me. "Elise, I made Jameson a promise and I intend to keep it in every way possible. I will protect you and give you everything you could possibly need but in return you have to follow my rules and doing the jobs that are requested of you. Do you understand?" He dangled car keys in front of me. I didn't recognize the insignia on them.      "I submit my mind, body and soul to your will Master. I freely give my life to you and know that you will love me, protect me, teach me and discipline me as you wish. I will do my upmost to serve you and please you to the best of my abilities. My desire in life is to belong to you. With these vows, I, Elise, freely give you my submission."     "Jameson was right; you are absolutely perfect. I made sure your new car was freshly detailed when I picked it up earlier. Don't drive recklessly or I'll take away the keys. You have free reign, Elise, but don't make me regret giving it. Jameson said you tend to have a wild side but please don't show it unless you are in the safety of your condo or in my home." He winked at me and it made me giggle. The man standing to his side took my suitcase as we left Jameson's house.      My eyes widened as I saw the car Stefan bought for me. It was a Maserati GranTurismo convertible in the most beautiful shade of blue. "This is too much! There is no way that I'm worth that much..." He put an arm around my waist and kissed the side of my head.      "You are worth every penny, baby girl. Plus, I know that you're used to expensive things being that you're parents own half of the country put together."      "I may have grown up in that life but I don't have anything to do with them or the insanity that seems to plague their lives."     "I was only teasing you, Elise. I know that you don't run in the same circles with your parents but part of taking on the jobs I have for you will mean you have to reacclimate to  that lifestyle. The men who use my service expect you to be able to function in any situation and know your ass from your elbow. You fit perfectly into any situation from what I've seen and from what Jameson has shared. He was very reluctant to give you up at all. I had to agree to letting him see you twice a week to even get him to consider letting you go." He opened the door to the car and motioned for me to sit in the driver's seat. I smiled and pressed the ignition button. The engine revved to life as Stefan closed his door, making himself comfortable in the passenger seat.