A/N: This is mostly a fluff chapter. I am sorry for that, but I promise that better times will be coming. This does set up things that are to come. I hope you enjoy the interactions anyway.
Chapter 11
She awoke early, refreshed and ready. She went to her bathroom to prepare for her journey into the City. Today she was retrieving her Pet and bringing her to the Hamptons to spoil…them both. It had been too long and she knew that Olivia needed her. Last night's phone call only proved to her that she need Olivia as well. It fed the addiction that she had been trying to run from but was now heading straight for it.
Today was the day that she fixed both of their lives. Today was the day that their worlds came together again. Today was the day that she had been looking forward to for so long. Today was a day that she had been dreaming about since she left New York. She was coming full circle.
She could only hope that Liv was ready for this. She could only hope that she could be what Liv needed. She could only hope that she would live up to Liv's expectations and that Liv could live up to hers. She could only hope that this time they would stay together or find a way to stay together. She could only hope that this time they would make it work.
She took her time in the shower. Her skin was a glow. She couldn't wait to touch Liv's skin. Her fingers itched for her. She knew that she would have to punish her for the slip from the night before but she knew that she would be lenient this time. She couldn't punish her too bad because they weren't actually together and had been in a relationship at the time. She would make sure that Liv knew better than to do it again.
She made her way to her extensive closet. She didn't know what she wanted to wear, but she knew that it wouldn't be any scene clothes. She wondered if she wouldn't make a little scene for Olivia when they went to pick her up. She wasn't sure that she would be able to wait to touch Liv. She knew that she would have to so some restraint, so she decided that she would show it in her clothing. She finally settled on something she might have once been in court wearing. It was a perfectly tailored skirt suit of dark grey with a pale blue blouse. She dug around in the back of the closet until she found the one thing that got her through Wit Sec, Liv's leather jacket. It would be a nice added touch to her ensemble.
After she finished dressing, she walked down the hall and knocked on the door to room that Stephen was supposed to be in. She stood there for a moment before she realized that he was probably in the same room with Sapphire. She walked to that door and knocked. She waited for a moment and then finally heard footsteps coming to the door.
Sapphire opened the door and smiled, "Good morning, Alex."
"Morning, Sapphire. Is he ready to go? I have a schedule to keep."
"He'll be out in a second and promise that you will keep your schedule."
"Good, I'll be downstairs waiting. And, Sapphire, thank you for yesterday. It meant a lot for me. I am glad that I have friends like you to call on when I need them," Alex told her.
"No worries, Alex. Do you mind if I stay for a while? I seem to have forgotten how talented Stephen's tongue can be and I would like to employ it a bit longer."
"You can, as long as you promise to keep him in line. I will have my hands full with Olivia and I don't want to have to deal with his issues. It would be nice to have someone to keep him occupied for the time being. I am not sure that he will work out for further employment if he can't keep himself in check. I run a tight schedule and I don't like to be disappointed."
"I know that, Alex. It is one of the reasons I sent him to you. I'll make sure that he knows his place. I am afraid that he might have thought you would employ him in more ways than just a butler and chauffeur. I think he might have overlooked that part of the contract. Don't worry about him, Alex. I took care of it. He knows now that you are going to play with him."
"Good, because we both know how hard it is to get good help these days," Alex replied.
"I don't know that we are worried about getting good help, dear. I think it is more of the point that we have to find help that will deal with our lifestyle. Not everyone has the ability to handle what we do and turn a blind eye to it because they don't agree with it," Sapphire stated.
"I know that. Besides, Stephen came highly recommended by Po and his connections. I would hate to have to give him a bad review. I know that he is one of yours and I know what that would do to both of your reputations. I wouldn't want to do that to you, Sapphire. Him, I don't care about, but you are a good friend and a high member of our society. I wouldn't want to damage your reputation beyond repair."
"I doubt that would happen, but thank you for thinking of me. I know that we haven't exactly seen eye to eye when it comes to pets, but I assure you that I will in no way get in the middle of your reclaiming. She would have made a sensation, but she is yours even still."
"I think it is time that I reclaimed her. Good day, Sapphire. Tell Stephen, I expect him ready in no less than thirty minutes. Daylight is wasting. But, Sapphire, one more thing."
"Yes, Alex, what is it?"
"Don't wait up for him tonight. I might take a while before deciding to return here. I have some other unfinished business to attend to while in the City. I hope you understand."
"I do, dear. Take your time. You need it. I'm sure that Stephen will be more than ready to do whatever it is that you need of him today. He'll be ready for me tonight, as well," Sapphire told her, shutting the door.
She went downstairs and into the kitchen. She found Marcus and Lydia eating breakfast. She made her way to the buffet and made herself a plate before sitting down to join them at the table in the kitchen. Marcus didn't say anything to her. Lydia just looked at her with a question eyes.
"Going to the City today, ma'am?" Marcus finally asked.
"Yes, Marcus, I am. I have some business to take care of there that cannot wait any longer. I don't know what time I'll be back, so don't plan on having us home for dinner. Sapphire will be here for a few more days. Her rooms are to be left alone until she leaves."
"Very good, ma'am," he replied.
"Lydia, I would like to have something special for dinner tomorrow night. Something very intimate and only for two. I'll let you decide on whatever you think would be appropriate. Also, Olivia Benson will be joining us here for a while."
"Yes, ma'am, I am sure that I can find something that will work for you," Lydia answered.
"I'll make sure that she is welcome, ma'am. Is there anything in particular that you don't want to get into? Or, will Miss Olivia have free reign of the grounds?"
"I'm sure that I will let her have the run of the manor, Marcus. She will be allowed to do as she pleases while she is here. But, I will be giving her ground rules to follow as well."
"Very well, ma'am, as you wish," Marcus replied.
Alex continued to eat her breakfast. She didn't notice the looks that Lydia was giving Marcus, nor did she care. She had iron tight contracts with them both to work at this house. She hadn't been stupid in hiring her help. She knew exactly what she wanted and she knew how to ask the right questions to get what she needed without revealing too much about her alternative lifestyle. She knew that they could keep quiet, but this would be the first time that she would have a pet in the house for an extended time.
She remembered the failed attempts before Olivia. She remembered the few that she had brought to the manor for special weekends. She remembered hiding there after she started to run from Olivia. She remembered the tangle mess that she had made with the one slave that she had drunkenly brought home that weekend before starting her cross country trek to rid her mind of Olivia. She knew now what Lydia's trepidation was about and she understood.
"There is nothing to fear. I have taken all the necessary precautions with Olivia. She will behave while she is here. I want you to treat her as you do me. She is very special to me."
"Yes, ma'am, that will not be a problem for us," Marcus told her as he gathered his and Lydia's plates. He took them to the sink and began to wash them. Lydia just watched him.
Alex watched them both. There were good people and had known her parents before she presented them with the contracts. She knew that they knew about her habits, but to their credit they never told her parents or anyone else for that matter. That is why she chose to keep them on to work for her. She was happy when they agreed. They didn't mind her choices or her proclivities. She paid them handsomely for their continued diligence and employment.
Alex didn't say anything when Marcus came and took her plate. She smiled at him. She stood up seconds later and made her way out of the kitchen. She figured that she had given Stephen enough time to get himself together. She was met by him as she made her way to the large foreboding foyer of the house.
"Ready, Mistress?" he asked her.
"Yes, Stephen, I am."
"Well, then we should be going, Mistress. I would hate for us to run into traffic on the way. I am sure that we can make good time if we leave now. Where did you want to go first?"
"I think that I need to go see Captain Cragen first. I am sure that Olivia will be at home and be ready for us. I have a few stores that I would like to visit as well. How long do you think that it will take for us to get to the City?" Alex asked him.
"It shouldn't take more than two hours, Mistress."
"Then, I guess we should go. Today is going to be a long day. I hope that you are going to be able to keep up with me. I don't plan on staying in the City all day. We will be coming home tonight; however it may not be in time for dinner. I'll expect you to be ready to do anything that I need. It is what I am paying you for after all," Alex told him.
"Yes, Mistress, it is," he replied. "Shall we go? I have the car outside, waiting, for you."
He held out his hand in a gentlemanly manner. She took it and noticed the look in his eyes. He smiled as she delicately placed her hand in his. He had the front door open and the back door of the car waiting open for her as well. He walked her to the car and helped her into the seat. He closed the door and turned to see Marcus closing the front door to the manor. Stephen waved at the butler and made his way into the driver's seat.
He didn't notice when Alex closed the glass between them. He didn't notice when she pulled out her cell phone and started dialing number. He didn't notice because he was paid no to notice what his employer was doing. He didn't notice because he was reminded his place by Sapphire the night before. He was happy to serving such fine ladies that he didn't notice the smile that crossed his own face. He did notice the clock and started to make his way to the City.