I read and reread Lucy's letter while my mother's words echoed in my head. Was she gay? Is that what she meant? Did she want me to be with Lucy? I was...so confused, and the counselors I talked to didn't help. I just couldn't open up to them and tell them what had happened.Monday arrived, and I was discharged, my wrist bandaged up and a prescription for penicillin and vicodin in my hand. I had nowhere to go. My father had disowned me, and Lucy wanted nothing to do with me. All my friends were. ”I paused, then said, “I promise.”By now, tears were rolling down my cheeks, but I held my gaze steady, looking her in the eye.She looked at me steadily for a long time, then nodded.“I accept your promise. Your training begins tomorrow.” ~~~~~I stood by the door to the DeCoven kitchen at attention, wearing knee-high red stockings, a red thong, and a crop top, plus my slave-in-training collar. Cleanliness is critical when serving food, which was why I wasn’t naked.My hair and nails were done, my. ”“Like I said, blackmail.”Serge’s voice was very quiet, very respectful as his hands turned her body to face him. April gave a startled gasp at what her eyes took in, first, his craggy face, but just below her eye-level, his cotton pants jutted and jerked as though some massive creature struggled to be free.“If you were to unzip me. I think you’d find that ‘blackmail’ is less appropriate than ‘white male’.”Her hand made an involuntary movement towards that surprising bundle. How stupid was she. If you must know you rather interest me and that was a bigger surprise to me than it will be to you.’ ‘Perhaps. Sorry to get you uptight in talking about you best buddy.’ ‘Are you attempting to proposition me?’ ‘No, to apologize for my crassness and to talk about tomorrow.’ ‘Look, I’m rather busy — could we meet for a drink after work today?? Paulo grinned. ‘What will people say?’ making sure the grin inflicted in his voice. ‘Now that is bordering on being crass. I admit being interested in.