Authors: Bridget Midway
Then she talked. If given some time, and if he had the inclination again, he could make her into a great submissive. He didn’t have any interest in getting back into that old life. He snapped out of his thoughts about his mysterious stranger to give Ananda his full attention again.
“So you’re producing now like Eagan?” Jace stood and moved to the other side of the desk. He sat down in the chair. “Why are you here to see me? You have all the Hollywood connections.”
“I need a location. I was hoping to use your huge house in Virginia Beach.” She smiled as though she had mentioned something wonderful.
Jace thought he had misheard Ananda. The same woman who didn’t have time to go to his awards dinner now wanted something from him. He had to hear this. “You want to use my house for filming? Filming what?”
“A new reality TV show.”
Jace snickered. “I hope it’s not another Dom looking for a sub.” He sat back and rocked in the swivel chair. The coils underneath squeaked in rhythm as he moved back and forth.
“No. Not this time.” Her smile softened. “Although for me, it was a great experience. I want to shock viewers like we did the first time.”
“Oh, yeah? How are you going to do that?” Jace stopped rocking for a moment to hear her sales pitch.
“This time, I have a submissive searching for her Dom…or Domme.”
The flames that he felt surrounded him before now died down and had been replaced with thick sheets of ice. “You can’t do that.”
“Yes, I can.” She pointed to him. “And you’re going to help me.”
Jace bolted to his feet, not accustomed to being spoken to like that from anyone. Before he could spout his demands of how he should be addressed, like he stood in a dungeon instead of in the middle of his trailer office, she continued.
“I need a place to shoot and people from the lifestyle.” Ananda clasped her hands together.
“And why would you think I need to help you? Because of who you’re married to?” He started to pace to relieve some anxiety that began to build.
“We are family.”
Her statement halted him in his tracks. “I know what family means. Too bad not everyone does.”
Ananda dropped her gaze. “Eagan understands the importance of family. Believe me. I wish you two would talk. You would see that—”
Not interested in hearing her arguments about why Jace should reconnect with Eagan, he interrupted her speech. “Why not use your home? It was fine to use when Eagan did his show.” Although Jace hadn’t seen it, he heard about it from Eagan when he’d called him and their mother to apologize for being distant after their father passed away.
“I don’t want Master, um, Eagan to know.” She averted her stare for a moment.
Jace didn’t know if Ananda had any acting classes, but she deserved an Oscar for her performance today. The slip, intentional or not, of calling his brother “Master” sparked a reaction in him.
“So you’re not going to be a hands-on producer?” Jace held his hands up.
“I can’t. Not this time. When Eagan comes home, he wants us to go to Greece to scout out locations for his next movie. I had already promised to go with him. If I back out, he’ll know I’m up to something.”
“So wait. You plan on not telling him about this project at all?” Although he liked the idea of keeping Eagan in the dark, it didn’t fit Ananda’s character. She seemed pretty open.
“Not yet. When it’s finished, I want to surprise him.”
“That’s a heck of a surprise. A whole show.”
“I know. I want to show him I can do this. I want him to be proud of me.” She crossed her legs under her long dress. “But in order to pull this off, I need the right players. I have a director.”
“Okay, what about a star? Who’s the sub?” Jace wanted to know if she picked someone he would know from the lifestyle or someone new.
“Her real name is Dorothy Lopez, but on
Love My Way
, she was known as Meadow.” After making the statement, Ananda stared at Jace as though waiting for him to acknowledge the name. “You don’t know who she is, do you?”
Jace shrugged. “I didn’t watch the show at all. I know people on it because you’ve mentioned them in the past.”
“She was a fan favorite. After the show, fans wanted her to find her Dom. I’ve been after her for weeks, trying to get her to agree. I think I got her last night. She said she’ll meet me for lunch today. Before I meet her, I wanted to be able to say that we have a location to shoot.” She put her hands in prayer form. “Please. I really don’t ask you for much.”
“Neither do I. I asked for support, and didn’t get it.” Jace shook his head. “This is a big one. Using my home to film a reality TV show is huge, especially since I won’t be there.” He went over to the window unit and billowed his shirt to get some cool air against his overheated flesh. “And the reason I said you can’t do it is because, logistically, it won’t work.”
Ananda stood. In her wedge heels, she almost reached Jace’s six-foot-four-inch height. She still had to look up to peer him in his eyes.
“Why do you say that?” She crossed her arms over her chest as though ready for a fight.
“Slaves don’t pick their Masters or Mistresses.”
“I know.” She smiled harder. “That’s why Meadow will go in as a submissive. Submissives have more power. They regulate play during a session. They sit down with prospective Doms and Dommes to see if their style of play is appropriate for them. It would work.”
Ananda had learned a lot in her five years with Eagan. That impressed Jace. He still didn’t like the idea of filming the show at all, and especially, doing it at his house. “So how many people will she have to choose from?”
Before she answered, Ananda reached into her purse and pulled out her tablet. She swiped her finger over the screen and turned it to Jace. “I’m thinking sixteen.”
“Sixteen? You are going to have her ass worn out after the first week.” He laughed, but when he noticed Ananda didn’t share in his joy, he clarified himself. “I’m assuming you’re going to have these Doms—”
“And Dommes.”
“Yes, and Dommes, play with her during the show, right?”
Ananda shook her head. “I have a plan for that. I’ll have house slaves so that Meadow can watch the play.”
“So she’ll never be played with at all?” Not that Jace cared about the show. The more questions he asked, the more intrigued he became.
“No, she will for the final four or so. Until then, she’ll watch. She can see how each Dom plays with different slaves to know which style suits her.” She flicked her finger across the tablet screen. “See. I have each episode planned out. I need a few crucial items.” She stared at him and held her tablet against her chest. “Please.”
“I still don’t see why this can’t be filmed at your house. He’s not going to be there so he won’t know anyway.” He tried staring into her eyes to get the truth, but Ananda kept looking away. “What is it?”
She took a deep breath before she blurted the truth. “We are having work done on the house. I’m sorry. Eagan went with another company.”
Jace didn’t know why hearing that his brother chose a stranger over him still bothered him. At this point, it shouldn’t have. He should have gotten used to the idea of being dismissed and ignored.
Then it hit him. Ananda had planned on using him, using his home, then discarding him just like Eagan had in the past. Not anymore. If they didn’t want to connect with him when they didn’t need anything, then he wouldn’t let them do it now.
“No.” Jace shook his head. “You can’t use my place either.” He walked by her and picked up his suit jacket. “For one, I won’t be home. I’m going out of town tomorrow. I don’t want strangers running around in my house.”
“Jace, please.” Ananda’s voice became low and plaintive. “It’s hard for me to ask for help. I don’t have any family to turn to.”
Jace stopped moving for a moment to give his full attention to Ananda. He hadn’t watched the show, and after she and Eagan married, he didn’t get to spend time with her simply because of Eagan, so he had no idea about her past or prior home life.
“When I made the decision to be with your brother, my family cut me off. I haven’t talked to my mother in years. It’s painful not to have family to rely on.” She sniffed and turned away.
This time Jace didn’t think she put in a performance. He felt her pain. A twinge of guilt twisted his insides, but he ignored it. He thought back to the pain Eagan put him and their mother through when Dad died. He remembered the missed calls, missed opportunities during the holidays, lack of contact over the years. Now today, Eagan’s wife wanted something from Jace.
Jace would play this game. He would make his intentions clear to both Eagan and Ananda by taking down this show. After that, he knew they would steer clear of him like he wanted.
“Promise me this is not a ploy to get me and your husband talking.” Jace went back to his chair and sat down again.
“I promise I am not doing that, although it would be great if you and your brother got along. He misses you. He talks about you all the time.” Ananda sat down across from him.
“I’m sure he does.” Jace imagined that Eagan probably called him everything but a child of God. “So if I allow you to use my house, how long would you be there?”
“It would be gonzo filming. I would try to have it all done within a month or two. But, I need to get in your home first to stage it.” She chewed on her lower lip as she stared at him.
“What do you mean?” Jace sat up taller.
“I need to move all of your items out of the house, get them in storage, and set the house up with our furnishings. You have seven bedrooms, right?”
“Eight.” Not that he needed that many.
“Perfect. I would house the slaves in a couple of rooms and the Doms and Dommes in the other bedrooms. Then we would need a room for the production equipment.”
Jace blinked. “You’re going to make Doms bunk together in one room?” He snickered. “Good luck with that.”
“Come on. These are grown men and women. They, of all people, should have better self-control.” She cocked her head.
Jace answered her head tilt with one of his own.
“Okay, so I’ll have security on staff. Having one Dom during the last show was a lot. I can only imagine what a whole group of them in close quarters will be like.” She tucked her short hair behind her ears.
“You won’t have to imagine it since you’ll be there during filming.”
She shook her head. “No, remember, I’ll have to go to Greece with Eagan.”
Jace placed his hands on his desk and glared at Ananda. “You hadn’t planned on being in my home at all while you filmed this show? You think I would be cool with that? I’m trusting
you
with my property.”
She held up her hand as though preparing for this argument. “I know. Ordinarily I would be there, especially with this being my first project. But I have a trusted crew. I’ll introduce you. Actually, I insist on it. I want you to see who I’ll have on staff.”
He regarded her for a moment. “I haven’t said yes yet.” He relaxed back against his chair. “Will I be able to stay in my own house during filming?” When she didn’t immediately answer, he brought his attention back to her. “Ananda?”
“You still have your guesthouse, right?” She straightened her back as though to show authority.
Not this time. The hell Jace would be kicked out of his own house. “Yes, but I’m not going to stay in there.”
“I was hoping Meadow would be able to have your room. If I remember it from your tour, it’s separate from the other bedrooms.”
“Then put her in the guesthouse. That’s my home and my bed.” He made his hand into a fist, not to scare Ananda. He had to contain his anger.
“I understand. I wouldn’t use your bed. I would have that in storage, or put it in the guesthouse for you. I assumed you wouldn’t want to be anywhere near filming.” She looked like she held her breath until Jace replied.
He thought about her statement. She had been correct. He didn’t want to be anywhere near this shoot. He held up his finger. “One month. That’s all you have starting tomorrow. You can’t get it done in that time, then I’m sorry. You’ll still have to go. I’ll be out of town for the duration.”
“Perfect!” Ananda clapped her hands. “I mean with you gone, you’ll have less interaction with the crew and contestants, which I know is what you wanted.”
Jace had to hand it his sister-in-law. She learned from the best. She would be fine in Hollywood with Eagan.
“Thanks for considering my needs.” He stood. “So is that it?”
“Yes.” She looked at her watch. “I have to go meet with Meadow to give her the good news. What time are you leaving tomorrow?”
“I was going to head out at one to catch my flight that afternoon.”
Ananda stood. “If you don’t mind, I can meet you in the morning to introduce you to the director and my associate producer. They’ll be my eyes and ears while I’m gone.”
He really wanted to relax before his trip and take his time packing. He would have to get his act together tonight so that he could see who would be watching his home. “Sure. Ten would work for me.”
“Great. I’ll even give you a ride to the airport.”
Jace came from behind his desk to stand next to Ananda. “No need. I’d rather have my vehicle there available to me if I decide to cut my trip short.” He walked her to the door.
“Thanks so much for helping me.” She started to go in for another hug.
Jace stopped her with an extended hand for handshake. “This is business. Let’s end it off in a businesslike way.”
Ananda had a small smile as she shook his hand.
He could ruin it from the outset before he left town. If he didn’t like this crew, he would not let them film in his home. No amount of begging would change that.
“Oh, and Jace. I need you to do one other thing for me.” She opened the door and took one step down. She looked back at him and said, “If you were to come home early, I would appreciate you not interacting with the crew or talent. I don’t want any of this to go wrong.”
Hell, had she read his mind?
“My mind is on my business. I could care less who you have on the show. I need to trust who you have behind the scenes.” He still had an opportunity to say no. He probably would do that tomorrow after the dog-and-pony show at his home.