Dominion: A Tale of Wealth & Power



Artists are such sensitive types. I don’t want to shock her with our wanton ways... at least not at breakfast.”



Karen ignored Chauncey's protest. Instead, she observed the commotion around her, and Josephine's smooth manor in handling it. She took a mental note: study her civil and property rights as a citizen of the USA (her expensive Canadian boarding school had not taught about this). She took another: she would have to learn to delegate. With seeming absentminded nonchalance, she picked a strip of bacon up from her plate and, as she might with a begging puppy, dangled it in front of Chauncey's face.



Chauncey, in his current predicament certainly looked the part of an obedient dog that Karen was treating him as. His head moved back and forth as he attempted to assimilate all the comings and goings of the room, and when Josephine stated her orders to Michelle to get dressed, he sincerely thought the young heiress would take a clue and discontinue her little game. He felt completely ridiculous as the ill fitting sport coat bound and pulled with him currently in a crouch next to Karen, but with no shirt underneath, he really couldn't unbutton it.

Just as he was about to stand and once again take a seat at the table properly, he saw her dangle a piece of bacon in front of him in an absent manner. It was then that he realized the young lady intended to make further sport of him, and lest Josephine pay too much attention or a scene ensue, Chauncey unbuttoned the jacket so that it hung more comfortably on him. He started to lift his hand to take the bacon, then, thinking wiser of it, began to nibble it from her hand.
 
'What the bloody hell is the Prince doing here! Tis isn't good' l look over at him with the strangest look upon my face. I wonder if London knows he is here? This brings many questions to my mind but then my attention is taken by the lady of the manor. Her words strike a strange feeling in me but the one that takes president is the one dealing with the local constabulary officer, for if they push this legally I'm in hot water! I can handle being called a foot loop in fact I thank it's kind of close to my personally for I do not let life control me so I'm Living fancy free! So yeah I like the nicky name.

I was about to answer the Lady when William spoke up. I dropped my head a little as he told them who I was. William, thanks a lot yank! I mutter under my breath. Then it hit me to why I'm here. I will tell the lady that the prince here dodged his detail and I was assigned to be his security detail. Yeah! That will work.

"Yes, my name is Alysa Winters and I am an MI-6 operative, who has been assigned to the Prince's security since he ditched them. I feared for the Prince's life so I came in to get him out! But it appears he is quite well and safe! So all can go back to normal functions here." I nodded my head to the Prince before looking back at the lady of the house. "I stand corrected ma'am, my name is fruit loops." I smile at her, that small pull getting stronger as I look at her.

The ringing of the doorbell pulled her attention away from me which I was thankful for… I stood waiting for them to decided my fate…

Carl looked more carefully at the woman. Had he seen her before or was she looking to use him as some means of gaining access to Josephine's estate. If it was the latter she was in for a very rude shock. Carl may play the buffoon rather well, but he had a rather sharp mind and was military trained and the major thing he was, was completely loyal to his friends.

However after a close but surreptitious inspection, he realized that he had indeed seen the women on more than one occasion when visiting London, and when English dignitaries had visited the royal palace for those dreary gatherings. Obviously she was who she claimed to be and more than likely had been sent here for one reason or another. Carl was enough of a military man to recognize an operative thinking fast on their feet and decided to give the young lady the benefit of the doubt...for now. However she was going to owe him for this and he was already thinking of ways she could pay him back.

"Why Fruit loops," he began smiling at her, using Josephine's new nickname for her. "I knew you took your job seriously, but to follow me all the way here? I told the foreign secretary that I was taking some time off for a holiday and would be going somewhere that I would not need security as my safety would be guaranteed. I thought that was understood," he sighed in exacerbation.

Turning to Josephine he smiled apologetically. "I am sorry Empress. It seems that this is my fault. Obviously certain parties do not think I can take care of myself no matter how many times I assure them that I can. The trials of being who we are I guess. You know what I am talking about of course," he smiled. "I will talk with her and keep her out of sight if you wish or as she has invaded your domain she is yours to command," he smiled.

He had done all he could for the woman. Now it was up to her to survive whatever came next.
 
"May I come in?" The new visitor asked, offering his hand, "Or is the party dress casual?"

"Simply breakfast, Mr. Turner," Michele replied, using the name she had heard, and squeezing his hand for a brief heartbeat. Then, letting go, she said to him, "Please walk this way."

Michele turned on her heel and sashayed toward the open area on the immediate right side of the huge foyer. Entering, she announced: “Mr. Maurice Turner... I presume.”

Michele then stepped aside to let Maurice enter the dining room.
 
Most Important Meal of the Day



“Mr. Maurice Turner... I presume.,” Michele introduced the newcomer, then stepped aside.

Josephine smiled at the well dressed man, but did not rise. “Welcome Mr. Turner. Please join us for breakfast.”


 
Chauncey saw Karen dangle a piece of bacon in front of him.... He started to lift his hand to take the bacon, then, thinking wiser of it, began to nibble it from her hand.


Apparently unperturbed by the activity around her, Karen secretly concentrated on Chauncey's reaction to the bacon she dangled before his face. When she felt him take it in his teeth, she let go.
 

Apparently unperturbed by the activity around her, Karen secretly concentrated on Chauncey's reaction to the bacon she dangled before his face. When she felt him take it in his teeth, she let go.

The bacon fell to the floor when Karen let it go, landing just inches from her bare feet. This was just about more than Chauncey could stand. The aristocrat in him told him 'this was quite enough', however, he was finding it more and more difficult to contain his excitement at the situation as he wondered how far the young lady would go in front of all the guests. 'Oh well' he thought, 'she wants a dog, he would give her a dog.' He sat back on his hands and knees, the blazer now pulled open since he had undone the button, baring his still somewhat firm (for a 40something year old man) torso. His gaze could be mistaken to be hungrily eyeing the bacon as it laid on the floor, but in truth, he was looking at the heiress' dainty feet and just the hint of her ankle where his own slacks had pulled up on her leg when she sat.
 


“Mr. Maurice Turner... I presume.,” Michele introduced the newcomer, then stepped aside.

Josephine smiled at the well dressed man, but did not rise. “Welcome Mr. Turner. Please join us for breakfast.”



Maurice followed the insouciant young woman throughout the manor , she seemed more comic book type than live-action. He was introduced to the group of individuals inhabiting that space, and of course lady Josephine herself. Whom he met only once before. She'd inquired if he'd be joining their group for Breakfast. He'd only rumors of her amorous lifestyle. It seemed those rumors were if anything confirmed.

"Yes. I'd enjoy that very much Miss Czartoryski."

Maurice would find a seat for himself somewhere near the lady. He'd remove his suit coat, arranging it on the chair support. His glancing drifting down to her end. "...You're probably wondering what brings me all the way out here to your charming residence. I don't want to seem unappreciative of your hospitality, but I'd prefer to discuss this matter more with you in private sometime. As far as my other business... I'm following a case of a man accused of killing a police officer. Deon Clarke. I'm not sure if you've heard of him. It will be a in all the outlets for weeks to come. I may not even be chosen to represent the defendant, but I just want to follow the proceedings. That's half of why I'm here.
 
"Tell me, what do your artist's eyes think they perceive when they look at me?"

Piper shifted a little in her seat to study the driver. "Honestly? My first impression is you'd make a good model if you wanted. You're young, conventionally attractive, have an adventurous spirit and exude a certain confidence. If you were my subject, I'd want to see you with your hair down and get a better look at your eyes, but you have a lot going for you."
 
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"Tell me," Dawn demanded as they meandered south down Highway 120. "What do your artist's eyes think they perceive when they look at me?"

Piper shifted a little in her seat to study the driver. "Honestly? My first impression is you'd make a good model if you wanted. You're young, conventionally attractive, have an adventurous spirit and exude a certain confidence. If you were my subject, I'd want to see you with your hair down and get a better look at your eyes, but you have a lot going for you."

"That's all superficial exterior," Dawn objected. "Shouldn't an artist see deeper than that? What do you think I am on the inside?"




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Malcolm listened to the lawyer talk as he also took a seat. He didn't recognize the name, course up until lat night he had been in Europe. Not every piece of news was of note or came across his screen. But he did have to wonder why the lawyer might be here. Josephine was certainly a popular women, that was three different people who had come to see her just this morning.

He was already considering security and what safeguards she might need. But such talk would be coming later, he was sure. Instead he served himself up some of the food, putting it onto his plate and began eating.

He would need to survey more of the grounds though and wondered who here might be able to show him around.
 
Attention Seeking



Josephine waited for Maurice to finish, looked at him, Malcolm, and William in turn, and then laughed playfully. “So many handsome men seek my attention this morning! What’s a girl to do?”

Then she turned back to Alysa, her expression becoming only slightly more serious.

“First, I suppose, we must decide what to do with Fruit Loops, here.” Josephine sighed and addressed Prince Carl. “Gussie, this purported MI-6 agent claims she’s part of your ‘security detail.’ Do you know of any reason that Her Majesty’s government would take such interest in you? Or must we assume this is another of her transparent lies?”


 

Then she turned back to Alysa, her expression becoming only slightly more serious.

“First, I suppose, we must decide what to do with Fruit Loops, here.” Josephine sighed and addressed Prince Carl. “Gussie, this purported MI-6 agent claims she’s part of your ‘security detail.’ Do you know of any reason that Her Majesty’s government would take such interest in you? Or must we assume this is another of her transparent lies?”

Carl grew serious. He knew it was not just Fruit Loop's stay on the line here buy his continued good graces as well. Was it really worth sticking his neck neck out for this woman?

He glanced back at her to make sure she was the person he remembered. He looked her up and down and he saw an extremely attractive woman that was doing her best impression of being totally in control. However Carl could see the slight amount of panic in her eyes when they met his. She wasn't the calm and collected woman she was portraying and that actually decided it for him.

She was an MI6 agent, of that he was certain. He had definitely seen her in his travels so he had no qualms about identifying her as such and backing up William. He just hoped she would do no harm while here and ruin his reputation with the Empress.

Sighing he looked at Josephine. "I really do not know why they are so fussed my dear. I was visiting Harry in London, you remember him the only fun one of the bunch. Any way he wanted to go skiing in the bloody alps for two weeks. I get enough of the cold at home, let alone skiing, so I begged off and decided to come here. I talked to my head of security and their foreign secretary about keeping it quiet, so my detail was supposed to go with the prince with my double."

He looked at Fruit Loops and shook his head. "She was part of my British detail, but why she is here I don't know." Looking at her he smiled. He hoped he had given her enough information to work up a cover story. He had tried and she should be good enough. Besides he had heard that Harry was going on a trip to the Alps at a party only last week. Thank god for gossips.

"So just what are you doing here dear Fruit Loops? Shouldn't you be off in the snow and cold guarding the Prince and my double from errant snowballs and rampant ski bunnies?"
 
Chrissy pulled her Chili Red Mini Cooper S Convertible into the right side garage, giving her direct access to the kitchen through the laundry room and back hall. She immediately registered the aroma of fried onion and bell pepper. It drove her crazy to think of others using her kitchen, but she owed it to her parents to leave the manor and visit them from time to time.

She quickly surveyed the counters, stove top, and griddle. Whoever had cooked breakfast had left behind no disasters. Sufficiently satisfied, she walked out into the dining room. She stopped just past the doorway, surprised by all the new faces.
 
Malcolm heard and then saw the new and beautiful stunning woman as she entered the room. He nodded towards her, not wanting to seem like a psycho. But waited for the proper time for introductions.
 
The bacon fell to the floor when Karen let it go, landing just inches from her bare feet. Chauncey sat back on his hands and knees, the blazer now pulled open since he had undone the button, baring his still somewhat firm (for a 40something year old man) torso. His gaze could be mistaken to be hungrily eyeing the bacon as it laid on the floor....


When Karen realized Chauncey had lost his grip on the bacon with his teeth, allowing it to fall on the floor, she smiled wickedly. Now came the true test. She extended her left hand straight down, snapped her fingers and, with a flick of her wrist, pointed sharply at the strip of bacon.

Meanwhile, Mr. Turner had finished explaining his arrival. Josephine responded. "So many handsome men seek my attention this morning! What's a girl to do? First, I suppose, we must decide what to do with Fruit Loops, here.”

Josephine sighed and turned to Prince Carl Gustav. "Gussie, this purported MI-6 agent claims she's part of your ‘security detail.’ Do you know of any reason that Her Majesty's government would take such interest in you? Or must we assume this is another of her transparent lies?"

As Carl responded, Karen suddenly recognized an opportunity to assert her position as Josephine's heir and, she hoped, thereby impress her benefactrix.

"With all due respect, Josephine," Karen began when Carl had finally finished dropping names. "I think you're missing the point. Whatever her reason, Fruit Loops is a trespasser. You said it yourself, she's here without a warrant. In the end, does it matter who she's working for? She is still a trespasser. She should be treated as one."

 
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Taking Care of Business



Josephine’s countenance remained neutral while Karen made her observations about Alysa. When Karen finished, Josephine blinked twice and then smiled.

“You’re exactly right, Dear,” Josephine agreed, then turned to again address Alysa. “Which gives ride to a dilemma, Miss Loops. I could turn you over to Deputy Green down there, which might give rise to an international incident. Or I could call my friend Stephen at the British Consulate in Chicago, or any one of a number of friends I have at Foggy Bottom, but I’d find it a bit embarrassing to admit I’d let you harass my guests this way. There is, of course, one other alternative. You could come to work for me, become a double agent, of sorts.”

Having said that, Josephine seemed to lose interest. Instead, she moved her gaze to her newest guest. “I’m sorry, Mr. Turner. I was distracted. I should have invited you to join us for breakfast.”


 
"I could turn you over to Deputy Green down there..." Josephine included among the list of possible consequences the intruder faced. Mary really did not want to get involved, and had chosen so far to exercise her prosecutorial discretion in this matter, but if any citizen complained of a crime to her, she would do her duty.

"If you'll excuse me," Mary said to the table at large as she stood. "It sounds like I'd best go get my handcuffs."
 
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When Karen realized Chauncey had lost his grip on the bacon with his teeth, allowing it to fall on the floor, she smiled wickedly. Now came the true test. She extended her left hand straight down, snapped her fingers and, with a flick of her wrist, pointed sharply at the strip of bacon.




Chauncey followed Karen's pointing finger to the bacon, but when she snapped, the combination of humiliation and excitement was nearly too much for him. He thought for a moment that she couldn't possibly be serious, given all of the people suddenly arriving. Surely this was just a ruse.

When he looked up at her, and saw that she was completely disinterested in him and had instead chosen to discuss the fate of a newly arrived woman, he realized that his only release would be to fully submit to her game. Despite his upbringing in an aristocratic home, Chauncey leaned down and gobbled the bacon off the cold hard floor. Then, taking the opportunity, greedily licked at the bare manicured toes of the heiress for just a moment, before once again sitting back up on his knees next to her.

Truth be told, sitting as he was, one about the only way he could conceal his current state of arousal, and he had little care of what consequences his actions would have for him.
 
Maurice tried to ignore some of the eccentric happenings going on around him, he merely glanced at the captive dubbed "Fruit Loops" and then to Josephine, his glance unwavering. It was for the best for him not to speak out for or against anything around him, being that it might compromise him further down the road in some way. To some degree he was checking her out, but he was mostly trying to get a read on her, and some of the others as well. It seemed as if he just walked into a big top ring without properly assessing the venue. Where exactly did he belong in all of this?

"I believe you already did extend the invitation Miss Josephine, but maybe your thoughts are somewhere else? I don't mind helping myself if that's the case.."
 
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Despite all the unknown faces, to Chrissy, it seemed like just another day in her Mistress's interesting household. Without a word, she went to the buffet and assembled a plate of fruit and a small roll. She took the seat just vacated by Deputy Green.
 
Carl saw Chrissy walk in from the kitchen and smiled. He was glad that he had taken the time to clean up his mess carefully or he would have been on the receiving end of a harsh lecture from the woman. Normally no one was allowed into her domain for anything besides beverages, so he had been taking his life into his own hands this morning.

"Good morning Chrissy," he greeted her brightly. "I hope you find everything satisfactory. I know I am nowhere near the cook that you are but I am afraid with you gone someone had to take over."

"So how was your trip? Another visit to your parents I am assuming. It seems that is the only time you leave the estate. You really must let me take you skiing one time. I keep asking you but you keep turning me down. I am beginning to think you don't like me," he chuckled.

He knew Chrissy was absolutely devoted to Josephine just like most of her staff and would not consider holidaying without her. It had become somewhat of a running joke between him and several members of her staff about his constant attempts to woo them away on holidays.
 
My brown orbs slowly moved from the Prince over to the Lady of the house whom just disregarded the Princes appreciated words without even wink. I was somewhat taken back by that but it was obvious she was the one that was running the show and the Prince was just a guest. I lowered my eyes as one of the guests pointed out a fact that I knew was trouble for me, then when the lady of the house spoke up about me having a choice of either going to jail or working for her I was weighting out my options when the constable spoke up about getting her handcuffs. This hastened my response; I just fear what the unspoken word is when I choose to work for her. A double agent would not be an interest to me for I will always be loyal to England, but if it doesn’t involve with England than I will do it.

I keep my head down and wait until she finishes her speaking. “I shall work for you. No need to get any cuffs or being in the local authorities” I lick my lips as I feel the invisible chains clamping upon my wrists. I shift my weight a few times betraying the worry that now settles deep within me. I now wish that I had refused this mission for I feel I will be here under her rule for some time to come. I wait silently until she addresses my words of servitude to her.
 
"If you'll excuse me," Mary said as she stood. "It sounds like I'd best go get my handcuffs."

She had just touched her bare feet to the cool tile of the foyer when she heard the intruder's voice, apparently addressing Josephine. "I shall work for you. No need to get any cuffs or bring in the local authorities."

Mary stopped and turned. She wanted to see what would happen next.
 
An Offer She Can’t Refuse?



“I shall work for you,” Alysa responded after a long silence, but with a surprising lack of trepidation in her voice. “No need to get any cuffs or bring in the local authorities.”

“Alright...” Josephine replied, with a suspicious edge to hers. “So we are clear, to ‘work for’ me is employment you accept because it appeals to you, not a condition of any extortion. You must understand its requirements and agree to them. Listen carefully, because I will expect an immediate answer to what I propose.

“You will, effective today, become an employee of a company, of which I am the sole shareholder, and from which I rent this estate: The Dominion, LLC.

“As you are a foreign national, I’ll have my lawyers secure for you the appropriate work visa, if you do not already have one for the United States. This will be the first indication to Her Majesty’s government of your change in status. I’ll let your colleagues at MI-6 draw whatever conclusions from that they want. Perhaps they will assume you have accepted my job to better perform whatever is your true purpose in being here. So be it. You will be unable to confirm or deny this, or to communicate with them in any manner, but we’ll get to that in a moment. First let me go over the basics of your new job.

“As I said, this is employment. You will be paid a salary based on current minimum wage times forty hours per week. That is the amount of money you’ll receive. It has no bearing on how many hours you will work, which may be far less, or far more, than forty hours a week.

“Regardless, at any time you are drawing a salary, you will be on-call for duty, twenty-four hours per day, seven days per week.

“You may think minimum wage does not seem like much for such a requirement, but you will also be given room, board, and clothing. Indeed, it is required that you live here, and that you wear such clothing as I furnish whenever on the premises. In other words, since you will be living and eating here, and be given clothes to wear, you should still have significant money remaining after taxes. If you are like my other servants, then you will find that you have little need for spending money, and can save almost all you earn.

“Because of the circumstances that brought you here, any vacation is problematical. Indeed, until I know I can trust you, the conditions of your employment include that you may not leave this estate unescorted by another employee, or such other agent as I designate, and only with my full knowledge and permission. In lieu of the one week paid vacation I normally give, you will receive as a bonus each month the equivalent of an extra eight hours of pay; that is more than double the monetary value of a week’s vacation. Also, you might get to join me sometimes on my travels to various exotic and luxurious locations, with all your expenses paid.

“While we are on the subject, I must add one other condition of employment unique to you. For the time being, and until I specifically agree otherwise, you will have no communication with anyone outside this estate. You will have no phone, and I will instruct all of my other employees and guests to refuse you access to theirs. The same will go for tablets and laptops. You will have no internet access.”

Josephine paused for a moment and looked down the table. “Mr. Erickson, you’re hired as of now as a security consultant. I assume you’d rather work as an independent contractor, not an employee. We can negotiate your fee later. I need you to upgrade all household computers to require either fingerprint or retinal scan access. We’ll give that access to all employees except
Fruit Loops, here. If you don’t have the requisite technical expertise for that, you can subcontract with whomever you see fit.”

Josephine turned back to Alysa. “Now, where were we? Let’s see, I explained your salary but... Oh, yes....

“You will also have retirement benefits in the form of a 401(k) plan. There is an automatic employer contribution of 5% of your salary, with employer matching of employee contributions up to an additional 10% of your salary. I suggest you invest at least the full 10%. Being limited to the estate, you’ll really have no need for spending money.

“You’ll have full benefits for all necessary medical and dental expenses. There are no deductibles, co-payments, or employee contributions. The Dominion, LLC, is effectively self-insured in this regard.

“Now, in exchange for this generous salary and benefits package, your job description is quite simple: You will cheerfully, and without hesitation or complaint, do anything I, or such others as I designate, shall request, command, or require of you.

“And, given what you undoubtedly already know and have observed about my household, remember that by ‘anything,’” she paused as she stood to look into Alysa’s eyes, their noses almost touching, as if to peer directly into her soul. Then, Josephine reached around Alysa’s waist and pulled the young woman toward her so that their hips and breasts pressed together. Gently brushing Alysa’s lips with her own, Josephine concluded in a seductive whisper, “I do mean anything.”



 
Chauncey greedily licked at the bare manicured toes of the heiress for just a moment, before once again sitting back up on his knees next to her.

Karen resisted he urge to purr approvingly as Chauncey licked her feet. Instead, she concentrated on the terms and conditions Josephine offered the intruder. Still, Chauncey deserved a reward. Karen picked a half-eaten sweet-roll up from her plate, and dangled it before his mouth.

 
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