SHE OWNS ME

The nightgown barely covers me. I catch sight of myself in the mirror, collared like a pet, wearing barely anything, my eyes red from crying. I've been through alot, I don't recognize the girl staring back.

I walk back into the bedroom. Sienna is lying in bed, scrolling through her phone. She looks up when I enter.

Her eyes rake over me slowly, taking in every detail. A smile curls at her lips.

"Perfect," she says. "Come here."

I walk to the bed. Just standing there while she looks at me.

She reaches out, her fingers hooking under the collar, tugging me closer. I stumble forward, before catching myself on the edge of the bed.

"Do you know what you look like right now?" she whispers. "You look like everything I ever wanted. Everything I dreamed about when I was sixteen and stupid enough to think you might love me back."

Her thumb traces the collar.

"But this is better. This is you knowing exactly who owns you. This is you wearing my mark and hating every second of it."

She releases the collar, and pushes me away gently.

"Go to bed, Cassy. We have a long day tomorrow."

"What happens tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow, I start training you properly." She goes back to her phone, dismissing me. "Now sleep. I don't like repeating myself."

I walk to the dog bed in the corner. It's plush, comfortable enough, but it's still a dog bed. The symbolism isn't lost on me.

I lie down. The lights are still on and Sienna is still reading on her phone, completely at ease.

I'm six feet from her bed. Six feet from the woman who owns me, who hates me.

Sleep seems impossible. But exhaustion wins eventually, and I drift off to the sound of her breathing and the soft glow of the city outside the windows.

I wake to the feeling of something cold around my ankle.

I jolt awake, scrambling up, and see Sienna kneeling next to the dog bed. She's already dressed in gray slacks, white blouse, her hair pulled back. She looks like a CEO, like power incarnate.

And she's locking something around my ankle.

"What are you-"

"An anklet," she says calmly, clicking it shut. "It has a tracker. So I always know where you are. Try to remove it, and it sends an alert to my phone. Try to leave the building without permission, and building security will stop you."

She stands, looking down at me.

"I own you, Cassy. And I want to make absolutely sure you never forget it."

My throat is tight. "This is insane."

"This is your life now." She walks toward the door. "You have fifteen minutes to shower and dress. Your clothes are laid out. Meet me in the kitchen."

"And if I don't?"

She pauses in the doorway before she turns back.

"Then I make a phone call, and Delilah gets transferred to the worst prison in the state. Do you want to test me?"

No. God, no.

"Fifteen minutes," she repeats. Then she's gone.

The clothes laid out are expensive designer clothes. A simple black dress that fits perfectly, modest enough for day wear but clearly high-end. Underwear that are costly. Shoes that are actually comfortable.

She's thought of everything.

I shower quickly, dress, stare at myself in the mirror. The collar is still there. She didn't tell me to take it off, so I leave it.

I walk to the kitchen with two minutes to spare.

Sienna is sitting at the breakfast bar, coffee in hand, reading something on a tablet. She looks up when I enter.

"Better," she says. "Sit."

There's a stool next to her, so I sit.

She slides a plate toward me. Toasted eggs and fruit. Coffee was already poured.

"Eat," she commands.

"I'm not hungry."

"I don't care. Eat."

We stare at each other. I see the hardness in her eyes, the absolute certainty that I will obey.

I pick up the fork, and start eating.

The food is good, everything in Sienna's world is perfect.

"We're going to my office today," she says, going back to her tablet. "I have meetings. You'll accompany me."

"Why?"

She looks at me, and raises an eyebrow.

I correct myself. "Why, Ma'am?"

"Because I want you there. I want people to see you with me. Because I can." She takes a sip of coffee. "And part of your training is learning to be exactly what I need you to be in public."

"Which is what?"

"Beautiful, silent and obedient." She smiles. "My perfect little pet."

The words hit me like a slap.

"I'm not-"

"You are whatever I say you are." Her voice doesn't rise, but the command in it is final. "The sooner you accept that, the easier this will be."

She stands, sets down her coffee.

"Finish eating. We leave in ten minutes. And Cassy?"

I look up at her.

"Try to remember: every moment of defiance, every time you make me repeat myself, every time you forget your place... your sister pays for it. Not you. Her. Do you understand?"

My blood runs cold.

"You wouldn't..."

"I would. I will. Test me and find out." She walks toward the door, then pauses. "Oh, and one more thing. Before we leave..."

She walks back to me, reaches into her pocket and pulls out a small remote.

"Stand up."

I stand and she lifts the hem of my dress. I start to protest, but her eyes stop me.

She slides something between my legs. It is something small and smooth. It nestles against me, held in place by my underwear.

A vibrator.

Oh god...

"This is also controlled by a remote," she says, stepping back, smoothing my dress down. "Which I will have with me at all times. During meetings, lunch and every moment of today."

My face is burning. "You can't-"

"Can't I?" She presses a button.

The vibrator comes on, low and subtle. But there it is, a constant reminder between my legs.

I gasp and she turns it off, then smiles.

"Every time you forget to call me Ma'am, I turn it on. Every time you speak without permission, I turn it on. Every time you displease me in any way..." She holds up the remote. "I turn it on. And you will stand there, or sit there, or walk there, and pretend like nothing is happening. Do you understand?"

I can't speak. I could barely breathe.

"I asked you a question, Cassy."

"Yes," I choke out. "Yes, Ma'am."

"Excellent." She pockets the remote. "Now let's go. I have a nine AM with a very important client, and I don't like to be late."

She walks toward the elevator, and I follow because I have no choice. I am nothing but Sienna Vale's beautiful, collared, broken little pet.

And this is only the beginning.