The corperate underworld, A beauty to be tamed (open)

[DeathsKnight]

Allen Brown

He did not say anything, just kept looking at the city outside. After a long silence he turned to her,

"Indeed you have, but I will forgive you once. Next time I will not be so forgiving."

Allen looked back outside, he did not understand why he actually gave her another chance, normally he would punish. He frowned as hhe studied his reflection in the window. Curious.

 

[WhatsBroknAlice]

She continued to watch him unsure of how to react or respond. She ran her hands over her arms to knock away the chill that was likely more from her mind than the temperature. "What will happen now?...."Where are you taking me?"

 

[DeathsKnight]

Allen Brown

"I am taking you to my estate, a place where I can keep an eye on you until it's no longer necessary to watch you. I will request just one thing of you while you are there, mind your manners when guests arrive, or I will be forced to lock you away."

It sounded like he discussed the weather as he said this, there was no direct threat, just a statement.

 

[WhatsBroknAlice]

Ivy nodded and let her gaze fall to her hands wringing themselves in her lap. "Of course" She said abruptly, she shuddered slightly at the mention of being locked away. There was no greater fear within her than the sensation of being trapped. Her tribes chosen punishment for her insolence and rash behavior had been selected because of the fact that it brought to pass her greatest fear and when presented with what was to happen to her, she had begged for death instead. Her mind wondered as she sat huddled against the door and ran her fingers over the newest bruises that had appeared from her poor attempt at escape. An almost amused expression upon her face as she noted to herself that they covered the bracelet of scarred flesh from the binds during her transport.

She shook her head quite suddenly, seeming to return from a place inside her mind and looked to Allen again. "Tell me about yourself?" she asked in one breath. "I don't care what you tell me, and I have no way of knowing whats true...just, I am afraid and if I knew something....maybe I wouldn't be as much" she allowed her voice to trail off as she stumbled over the words.

 

[DeathsKnight]

Allen Brown

They were nearing their destination when her words came tumbling out, he kept looking at the estate that passed them.

"I am the son of a janitor, my mother a teacher. I grew up learning how to work hard for what you want. That is how I got where I am today. I prefer the simpler life, but when the sharks call, you answer or go under. I deal with some illegalities, that much I will admit, but I do not dabble in the darkest dealings."

The car came to a stop, but there was no attempt to open the doors from the outside,

"My work is my pride and I will do anything to protect it."

He turned to face her, his eyes stoney and hard,

"Co-operate with me and you might just see your family much sooner than you think. Fail and you will rue the day you were born. Come, if there is more I will answer you in my study after you have dressed. I am sure you do not wish to wear that...."

He motioned at the clothing,

"Slave clothing any longer."

The door opened and he got out, waiting for her to make her move.

 

[WhatsBroknAlice]

Ivy took in Allen's expression as he spoke, the way his eyes hardened and the unforgiving nature that she could see within them. She thought that maybe she had been luckier than she realized when worse had not befallen her during her attempt at escape. "A little late, I already do" she whispered but stepped out of the car carefully clutching the throw around herself and scanned the property they had arrived at. The sheer size of it alone was overwhelming and something within her felt terror at the thought of entering the space. She could see the way the people around them reacted to the man's apparent wishes. She knew that no one here would defy him, that no ally among his employees would be found . She felt small and unsure in her steps the exhaustion of things beginning to wear into her expression. Her bare feet were not used to the feel of concrete and the cold ground since leaving with him had made her aware of the fact that she actually was cold. Trembling at his side, she simply waited for Allen's cue that she should do anything but stand near him and follow his lead.

 

[DeathsKnight]

Allen Brown

He pulled off his jacket and much to the amazement of everybody folded it around Ivy's shoulders.

"'Nique,"

he did not have to shout, just the word and a raven haired lady with deep blue eyes came closer, his voice was calm, but his wishes was clear.

"Take her to the master suite, see that she is dressed in her clothing, anything she wish you can give to her, unless you deem it unsafe."

He faced Ivy,

"Go with her and be sure that if you try to escape or harm her, my guards are much less gentle than I am. If perhaps you wish for something to have as your own you can find me in my study."

He nodded and the woman named 'Nique led Ivy into the house as Allen turned to the people hovering at the foot of the steps. They came forward and Allen listened to the reports they gave about the businesses.

 

[WhatsBroknAlice]

Ivy gnawed at the bottom of her lip and sighed quietly when she felt Allen's jacket around her shoulder. The tangible shock at his action evident in the air. She could smell him on the jacket and struggled internally with confusion. "Why was the jackets scent so comforting? And why did his action stir such interest?" She nodded without looking up when instructions were given. She casted a sideways glance counting the ones she perceived to be guards, a tiny smirk lifting at the corners of her lips. She wondered how much worse they could be than who she had been taken from by Allen.

When the dark haired woman with blue eyes approached, Ivy kept her eyes facing downward and nodded waiting to follow. "I'm very tired" she whispered to the woman when they were out of earshot of the large group.

 

[DeathsKnight]

Dominique

She looked at the other woman,

"First let us get you dressed, show you to Allen and then you can rest. From what I've heard you have left an awful place, you must have made quite an impact on Allen, this is the first time he took any personal interest in anybody."

She ran her fingers over the jacket,

"The very first time."

 

[WhatsBroknAlice]

Ivy shrugged out of the jacket when the other woman reached to touch it. "Do you think that is a good thing or a bad thing?" she asked taking in the lavish decorations and feel of the hallways and rooms. She frowned and ran her hands over her arms. "What do you do here?" she asked as they approached what she assumed was the master suite. She overlapped her question with another. "Do people get hurt here?" She stopped following and looked closely at Dominique for any sign that she was hurt or unhappy.

 

[DeathsKnight]

Dominique

"I think it may be a good thing, to the rest of us he is not distant, but very businesslike."

She looked at Ivy,

"I am a Personal Assistant and I run the mansion's finances..."

She frowned at the over lapping question,

"They do get hurt, but only when they do not obey the rules and they are really simple. Obey Allen."

She pushed open the door and followed Ivy inside, after them a guard came and placed the bag with clothing down on the bed before moving out again. Dominique motioned for Ivy to get dressed.

"I'll be here to lead you back to Allen, but please don't try to leave, the guards are every where."

 

[WhatsBroknAlice]

Ivy nodded distractedly and looked around the room. She felt a shudder go through her and slowly approached the bag of clothing and sat beside it. A sigh escaped her and she bit her lower lip as if to catch it. Every move she made felt like such effort, she was unsure if her exhaustion was more from the events or the effort to keep herself composed throughout. Finally, she straightened herself and began to sift through the bag and found the skirt that had so mystified her earlier at the store. The blues and greens and the feel of the soft fabric threatened her a smile in spite of herself. She dressed carefully and quickly in the skirt and a white button up long sleeved shirt that Tina had picked for her.

She ran her fingers through her hair and stood straightening the new clothes in front of the mirror. "Okay...." she whispered.

 

[DeathsKnight]

Allen Brown

He was seated in his plush chair, looking out over the green lanscape outside his window, many thoughts ran through his mind, yet not one of them did not lead to Ivy. He realized that he actually felt sorry for the girl, she had a rough life and he needed her to finish his plans. He sighed, so far it would take force to bring her to her senses and he knew just what came from using force. There was a soft knock on the door,

"Enter."

The Jasmine smell told him that it was Dominique and Ivy returning,

"Thank you Nique, you are free to go."

Dominique left and Allen did not look at her for now,

"Eu quero recibe-lo para a súa casa, hai algo que lle gustaría ter? Se eu puidera dar, eu vou e vai ser o seu "
(I want to welcome you to your home, is there anything that you would wish to have? If I can give it, I will and it will be yours)

 

[WhatsBroknAlice]

Ivy stood in front of Allen's chair with her face tilted downward, eyes on the floor in front of her. "I...I am just tired I think." she whispered in a quiet dejected tone. "I would like rest and water....." A tremble shook her lower lip as she continued in a rushed stumbling tone "but please just more alcohol I can't bear it," The dark circles under her eyes gave clear indication of the dehydration adding to her fatigue. " I'd rather not drink anything at all if it must be more liquor" She shook her head from side to side and peered upwards emphasizing her plea.

Ivy straightened the new clothes and slowly lowered herself to the floor until she was sitting, the entire time watching for an indication that Allen would punish the action.

 

[DeathsKnight]

Allen Brown

"That is reasonable,"

He rose, stopped and looked at her.

"Please sit on a chair, you are not an animal."

He walked over to his mini bar, placed two cubes of ice in a tall glass and poured pure mineral water. Without another word he brought the glass to her and placed it on the desk.

"Now Ivy, I know that you need to rest, but first I need to know. Can I trust you not to try and escape? I was serious when I said that I would wish to return you to your people, but first I have a work for you."

 

[WhatsBroknAlice]

Ivy moved herself onto a chair and reached for the water. Her eyes remained on Allen as he spoke, she waited for him to elaborate and took care to drink slowly from the water glass, though the urge was to gulp down every drop. After a long drink she lowered the glass from her lips, a tiny sigh of relief sounding as she placed it back on the table.

"It has become apparent to me, there is nowhere to go but to be ensnared by other evils if I did manage to escape your particular cage. What is it you want me to do? You have clearly enough resources at your disposal. I see little I can be of use to you for"

Never mind the fact that her people very likely would kill her were she to return, the idea of returning home seemed empty to her now anyway. People did not free human trophies and none who she had seen taken from the village she was born in, had ever returned.

 

[DeathsKnight]

He grinned suddenly, the action making him look a lot like a wolf, ready to strike and tear out any throat nearby.

"I have my agenda, you will play a part if you play along, you get freedom. If not..."

He shrugged, walked around the desk and sat down in his chair,

"I have my ways to get what I want. Even kill your flame if I have to."

 

[WhatsBroknAlice]

Ivy lifted her chin in a subconscious act of defiance at Allen's remark about putting out her flame, "My lack of choice in the matter is quite clear at this point" She searched the man's face and nodded, her eyes fixed on his for a long moment before she asked.

"Did your parents teach you to how to enslave another human being? To threaten and intimidate those who are weaker than yourself? Or is that a new quality you gained in the shark tank?" She unfixed her eyes from his and reached for the water again.

"You see it as a strength no doubt, an asset even. a thrughain" (Poor man/creature!)

 

[DeathsKnight]

Allen Brown

A dark cloud moved over his face and when he spoke his voice had a cold characteristic to it.

"Finish your water and go rest."

He turned his chair to look outside, his fingers steepled in front of him,

"Eu non teno pais." (I have no parents)

The voice that spoke those words were soft and not meant for her ears to hear.

 

[WhatsBroknAlice]

Ivy sipped her water and watched Allen, she studied his shape as his back was to her it was rather the movement of his shadow that she observed. Long moments passed before she looked at the empty glass in her hand and sat it down. She could feel the coldness radiating from him and knew better than to approach, she did not rise to leave however.

"Have you ever the tales of dréag?..Draugr?" She asked in a voice that was quiet but she was confident he could hear. "I was intended for the healing and well, other arts before my course was altered and the old tales never really die, ...." She bit her lip before she continued.

"wicked nature, walking after death...never pictured it in form of a human being before until now. A man who died a death of heart or soul?...disconnected from himself I would guess and becomes something else. A wraith"

She curled her legs under herself in her chair, "You can't feel anything so you begin to not care if you hurt others. Maybe even learn to appreciate making someone else feel what you cannot?"

 

[DeathsKnight]

He did not reply at first, her words had come to him over a distance, his mind busy with memories that her words had brought into sharp rememberance. When he spoke the cold was still there, mingled with anger and hatred. But it was not directed at her, more at the people in the memories.

"You are quick to judge. What would have happened if I refused you as gift? Oh yes I coul've done that. Then you tried to harm me, if I wished to I could have broken you arms, your legs, yes even more bones and it would have seen as my right."

He lapsed into a short silence,

"And then when offered with something to have for your own, you spat in my face and tried to escape. Again the things I coul've done to you yet didn't."

He slowly turned the chair to look back at her, his eyes still distant,

"You want out of the gilded cage? Then there is the door. Leave. But where will you go and what will you do with nothing but the clothes you have on your back?"

Again that short silence,

"How long before a man takes hold of you, enslave you to drugs and make you sell your body just for a little fix? You think I'm bad? Then go face those people haunting the streets outside this estate. Go ahead, leave. But don't expect me to have pity on you once you step out of the protection I give, which you so blatantly refuse and call manipulation and corrupted power."

 

[WhatsBroknAlice]

Ivy lowered her eyes and inhaled slowly before continuing. "I do not understand you." She said finally, "I would be less afraid of you, had you broken my bones or harmed me in some other way to make clear your position. why have you not done these things? You seem to be many things at once..."
she paused, unsure what she was supposed to call him.
Standing, Ivy took a step backwards from the desk. "Where am I to go to rest?" she asked, turning away from him and towards the door.

 

[DeathsKnight]

"The room you have changed in, it is now yours. Feel free to decorate."

He watched her, a slight smile on his lips. The little doe has returned, yet under that exterior there was that fierce cat. He turned his attention to the outside, looking at the garden lights as they started to come to life.

 

[WhatsBroknAlice]

Ivy remained standing in the doorway for a long moment before finding Dominique and following her back to the room. She was silent as she kept up with the woman's pace, at the doorway she stopped.

"Could you please help me find out what I am to call him?.."

She loosened her hair from its braid and continued, "I don't know what is expected and I do not want to seem disrespectful because of something I simply didn't know"

She continued readying herself to go to sleep, her eyes wondering over the beautiful bed. She wondered somewhere in the back of her mind when the last time she had truly slept was and sighed.

 

[DeathsKnight]

"When in doubt call him Mr Brown, most of us do. He will correct you if he wants you to call him something else."

She frowned,

"From what I understand he might want you to call him Allen, seeing that you are to pose as the hostess."

A smile crossed her lips,

"Don't worry about that now, I'm sure that you will be suitably trained by me or somebody else before you are thrusted into the lime light. I must go, sleep well Ivy."

She left and pulled the door closed behind her.