Her hands shook. "I'm sorry. Really I am."

I was losing my submissive. Her refusal to wear my collar was the beginning of the end.

No, this wasn't happening.

"When did you last have it on?" I kept my tone calm.

"This morning, I think."

"You wouldn't be so careless..."

Her dilated pupils revealed a lie.

"I'm sorry, Cameron." Tears stung her eyes.

"Have you searched the bedroom?"

"Yes."

"Perhaps the staff-"

"No. It wasn't them."

"I meant they could've put it somewhere safe. All my staff are trustworthy."

"I lost it this morning before they came back."

I balled my hands into fists. "This is most inconvenient."

Mia trembled, and it was hard to tell if she sensed I was onto her. I shoved her plate up the table, along with her glass, and it flew off, splintering into a thousand pieces, shattering on the floor.

I grabbed her by the shoulders, lifted her up, and bent her forward over the table, bringing her wrists together behind her lower back and holding her down. Reaching over, I tugged her skirt up and her panties down.

A knock at the door.

"Not now," I shouted.

And waited for Lincoln to leave.

"Ms. Lauren, do you deserve this?" I seethed.

"Sir," she said breathlessly. "Perhaps we can talk about it-"

I slapped her ass hard. "We are."

My palm met her cheeks at a rapid pace. Mia whimpered and flinched forward. After repositioning her, I began again.

The doorbell rang.

The front door unlocked and opened.

With his booming voice, Lincoln greeted Shay, and it echoed through the foyer as he entered. Shay's cheeriness mismatched with the doom in here.

I continued to spank Mia's ass and settled into a fast rhythm, leaving bright red welts covering her cheeks.

"I'm sorry, sir."

Another knock at the door.

"Not now," I snapped.

"It's me, Cameron." It was Shay.

"You can come in," I said, and slammed Mia back down when she tried to rise.

"Please, sir," she begged.

Shay closed the door behind him and came closer.

I hitched Mia's skirt higher to reveal more of her. "Perfect timing, Mr. Gardner. We were just discussing Mia's disobedience."

He leaned back against the wall and folded his arms across his chest, ready to enjoy his vantage point.

Delivering more spanks, I felt Mia quiver beneath each strike. She'd squeezed her eyes shut, her body rigid and resisting her punishment. My palm stung, and the sound grew so loud there was no doubt the staff would hear. I grabbed a butt cheek and squeezed it, considering fucking her in front of Shay.

"Sir," she sobbed.

I lifted her up and off the table and had her stand before me. "I'm sure that will provide motivation for you to find your collar, Ms. Lauren, don't you?"

She swiped away a tear. "I'll try."

"You will find it. There will be consequences if you don't."

Her cheeks flushed brightly as she glanced over at Shay.

He offered her a sympathetic smile.

Self-hatred welled in my gut and I pulled Mia into a hug. "Do you no longer want to wear my collar, Mia?"

No longer want to be mine?

Her body crumbled against mine. "I do, sir, more than anything."

A sense of relief was still out of reach.

"Where's the contract you signed?" I said.

She peered up. "On your desk, sir. In your office."

I'd just handed Mia and her new lover twenty-million dollars to go have a new life together. Caressing my chest, this ache grew so intense I couldn't catch my breath.

Mia blinked up at me. "You still love her?"

"McKenzie? No, Mia, I don't."

She glanced coyly at Shay again.

"It's time for your lesson, Mia," I said.

She looked uncertain.

"Fencing," I said. "Despite your insolence, I'm feeling merciful."

Her face brightened slightly and she wrapped her arms around me in a hug. "I'll try to please you. I will."

I let Shay take her by the hand and lead the way out of the dining room, across the foyer, and all the way toward the gym.

I followed from a distance.

The chill of the air-conditioning hit us when we entered the large hall. The wooden floorboards were recently polished. This room was solely used for fencing.

I held back, preferring to stand by and study Mia's interaction with Shay and watch for any signs of flirting, any indication I'd been so far gone I'd not seen who she really was.

It didn't take him long to change Mia out of her dress and into the brand new fencing suit I'd had tailored for her. Shay handed Mia her new mask.

She threw me a nervous smile.

I wasn't in the mood to offer one back. I merely glared at her, wanting to see that usual effect I had on her when my control was in full force. She bit her lip, her eyes darting to Shay and back to me in nervousness.

I was a monster when I was in this mood. My cock hardened when I thought of what I would do to her later.

Shay went over the basics.

"Mia, tie your hair back," I told her.

She obediently twisted her hair into a ponytail and tied it in on itself.

I stepped forward and, with a fingertip, traced the line of a fine abrasion on the nape of her neck. "What happened here?"

She broke my gaze. "My collar caught when it came off."

"We'll replace the catch." I caressed my thumb over it. "Be more careful."

"Yes, sir," she whispered it.

My fake enthusiasm faded as I made my way out toward the office.

There on my desk lay the sealed envelope Mia had slid the contract in. Despite being tempted to shred it, I needed to know Mia was going to be taken care of.

Even if we ended in the worst kind of way.

Had ended...

I folded it over and stuck it in my jacket pocket.

Caressing my brow, I ran over Zie's scathing words about Mia, and I let out a slow protracted moan. Could I ever let Mia go? Would I become a haunting presence in her life, unable to admit I'd lost her to a younger man? He'd never feel the same way about her. I knew that with every cell of my being. He couldn't give her the kind of love she deserved. Wouldn't appreciate what he had.

Away from me, I couldn't protect her, couldn't prevent the world from getting to her.

I took a seat at my desk and swiveled in the chair, unable to remain still.

I made the call to Charlie's.

"Rebecca please," I said, and waited for the caller on the other end to go find her.

The on hold music made my blood boil. We were going to have to change that.

A click on the line.

"What's up, Dr. Cole?" answered Rebecca cheerfully.

"All good here. How's the kitchen?"

"Great. Mia's settling in. She seems to be enjoying herself."

I stopped mid-swivel and stared at my screen. "I need you to email me a list of all staff and volunteers. Addresses. Phone numbers. HR profiles."

"Sure. Is everything okay?"

"Yes."

"How does tomorrow sound?"

"Now, please."

"Yes, right away, Dr. Cole. You sure everything's okay?"

"Without delay. Understand?"

I killed the call and waited for her email.

CHAPTER 21.