Disclaimer...insert the standard one here.

Numb.

That's how she had felt the past week, ever since she had given notice at work that she wouldn't be returning. Scarlett had hoped that a small part of her would be happy about leaving the place; it wasn't her dream job. But she had been especially numb that day, almost as if she was outside of herself watching the whole process of herself being 'prepared' for the next three weeks of her life. She didn't know what to think of what would happen to her if he decided that she wasn't what he wanted for his 'art'; she knew she wasn't graceful. Liz told her not to worry; as if that was to calm her down but she was nervous.

She sat nervously in the car as buildings flew by and only came into focus when they were stopped by a light; the driver of the car remained silent and appeared to be on a mission to deliver her on time. She clutched the one item she was allowed to bring, a small bag that contained a few comfort items, a toothbrush, moisturizer and her apartment key. She had a bit of money too, for when she was done so she could go get some food when she returned home. Everything went dark outside suddenly until she realized that they had entered an underground parkade. Breathe. A new level of anxiety hit her hard and she was ready to tell the driver to turn around. Would he listen to her? Probably not, but there wasn't any time now, they had stopped and his door slammed shut. "I can do this, twenty, twenty five days. I can do this." Her door opened and a hand was presented to her to take so she could step out. Breathe; she told herself as she rose up and straightened her dress. It was an odd thing she was given to wear, it looked more like a tunic or potato dress than clothing; there was nothing wrong with her own clothes but the box that it came in said Chenelle and he wanted her to wear it. The dress hid most of her curves with its straight lines and then she imagined it was the intent of her new employer to keep her to himself. The driver pointed her to a door and handed her a plastic card; it was a key she figured so she proceeded to the door that lead to an elevator whose doors only open when the card was used. The key pad inside was missing so she waved it over where it was supposed to be and the doors closed and up she went. The momentary fascination with the technology distracted her enough to make her forget, rather, not comprehend that she had no way out. Her heart raced faster the higher she accented until the doors reopened to a bright vestibule that had only two doors. As she looked between the two, the one had a small table set up beside it with a white rose laying on it to which she gravitated towards. Again, on the door there was no place for a key so after she scooped up the flower she waved the plastic card over the handle and heard a click. She gulped as her heart momentarily stopped and her hand pressed down on the lever. She knew he wouldn't be inside; she wasn't to see him but this was where he was going to keep her she presumed. Liz had briefed her on what to expect but until now it wasn't real in Scarlett's mind. As she stepped through the door she took in the room; it was a lovely soft palette of cream colours accented with a few burgundies. The furnishings, layout and feel of the place put her in a sense of ease. A slender vase with water sat on a small table and she slipped the flower stem into it and then noticed a note and a folded up silken strip of fabric. /Sit and put this on./ was all it read. "So soon." A lump grew in Scarlett's throat and she sat for fear of fainting. Her fingers were now numb as they fumbled at tying the ends of the silk around behind her head. She kept repeating to herself to be brave; it was only three weeks, a mere twenty one days then knock startled her into reality. At that moment she hated her life, the constant struggle, the working hard just to survive it. She wished she was better off so she'd have been anywhere else other than the chair she felt herself glued to.

Nothing escaped his notice; he heard every sound she made once the elevator doors opened right down to her thighs brushing against one another as she walked. He, had been watching her for some time and learned all he could about her before she had even arrived. The agency thought they were being discreet in keeping her privacy intact but he wasn't their average client. Money brought power and with that the power to create anything to his heart's desire. It was him who financed the agency that employed her. Up until now it was a means of income for him, one of many, providing a service to the less fortunate human males in procuring that which came all too easily to him. Scarlett was one of the many skittish females he had come across in the years. Sure she was exceptionally lovely and would be well suited to be in his employ but it was the one action of her stepping out of her role of servitude, her defiance in striking out at that customer that violated her that caught his interest. There was an untapped fire within her that he desired and he meant to have it. His fingers turned the purposefully loud knob of the door to her retreat. He had been looking forward to this moment but his defiant angel was already crumbling under the pressure. In a few strides he was on his knee in front of her, "Welcome. Do you wish to leave?" She gasped and stiffened up and shook her head. "Good." His hand went to her ankle to slip off the slippers from her feet. "As lovely as you wear your shoes, they are a discredit to your even lovelier feet. I also dislike shoes altogether." His fingers took the liberty of brushing up her calf muscle only to feel it grow rigid. She would grow to accept his touch soon enough so he dismissed it. He lifted himself up and took her hands into his. "Stand up my dear." She rose up timidly as he still held on to her hands that were now shaking. A crease had formed in her forehead and he suspected that underneath her blindfold the area around her eyes were puffing up as if she was about to cry. He lifted her hands up and kissed both of them. "I will bid you goodnight now. You will find what I wish you to wear tomorrow in the closet. Your alarm will go off at seven and I expect you to be sitting and ready with your blindfold on by eight thirty. You will have your breakfast with me but if you get hungry there is a small refrigerator around the corner that has food in it for you. Any questions?" She shook her head, a little bit more easily; he suspected she didn't want to lengthen the goodnight. "Should you need anything, call out for me. Goodnight S." He released her hands that had gone rigid and promptly left. Once through the door he stopped to listen; she hadn't moved but her heart was still racing. This wasn't going to be as easy as he'd thought.

It took Scarlett a few moments to settle herself down before she was able to start stringing together cohesive thoughts; V, it could only be him. His voice was what initially alarmed her but it wasn't until he called her S that she was sure. Had he recognized her from her picture out from the group of women he had to choose from? What were the odds? She had to last, be brave, and then call it quits she told herself. Her hands, after a few moments went to her eyes to remove the blindfold. "What use this since I know what you look like." It was tossed to the table unceremoniously only to be stared at. She then picked it up and took out the clumsy knot she made in it and laid it flat. On the table, where the vase had been standing there was a second rose; a red one beside her white one. Was she so clouded that he noticed and didn't have a chance to give it to her properly? She frowned at herself and didn't know why. Turning her head to look around again she noticed the lights were dimmer and more of the details of the room had come into focus. A heavily draped window caught her eye and her curiosity and she was up and opening them in a second. The city beneath her stretched out to the horizon and the water of the ocean was beside it. The lights sparkled and the waters glistened in the sunset; that was just out of her view. Although she could leave at anytime, with one word Liz told her, she still felt trapped. After a long reflection at the window she pulled herself away and explored her entire space. She found the bathroom, bedroom, small fridge and a small cupboard containing some food as well as several bottles of water. The closet opposite her bed that contained her attire for the next day; a fine red silken dress with a black silk blindfold. A knot formed in her stomach; perhaps it was still from before but she imagined it'd be there until she was done her time. She wasn't hungry still, even after not being able to eat all day. The bed looked inviting so she hunted around in the nearby dresser to find several sets of silk pajamas only to shake her head again at them. "I'm going to freeze in these." she grumped as she slid off her dress and put them on. In the other drawers there were bras and panties of every colour imaginable; he had thought of everything. After hunting around for a thermostat, and coming up empty handed, she grumped again and hoped the covers on the bed were warm only to find that they were silk as well. She wasn't sure if it was his arrogance or ego that were showing off at the display of wealth but sleep was calling to her.

He listened, he couldn't help but not to. His palace in the sky was high enough away from the noises below and even the several floors below him were devoid of any activity by his design. She had done all that he expected her to do; humans were all too predictable but he found her displeasure of her night garments odd. He had gotten her the best of the best and his determination of providing every comfort so she'd be inclined to stay was not going to be deterred. Once she had fallen into her slumber he debated going in to watch her sleep; the sight of her unshielded face was tempting but he had promised himself that her space, outside of his; other than setting out a very well planned wardrobe and the maid coming in every second day it was her domain. He picked up the phone and called overseas; it would be morning there now and he had several of his businesses to attend to.

The morning hour came soon enough and a chime woke Scarlett up from a deeply sound slumber to a startled awake; it took her a few seconds to remember where she was. Surprisingly, she wasn't cold and hadn't slipped from the bed despite the layers of silk that threatened to do just that. She was hungry and recalled that he was going to have breakfast with her, she wondered how well she would perform that task sightless. She rose from bed and readied herself for him; showering and putting on the dress he had picked out for her. She was sitting in the same chair as the night before, blindfolded, a few minutes early, when the latch on the door clicked and the handle sounded as it turned. He would see her sitting there and the thought of it made her sit up straight.

"Good morning. I trust you slept well?" She nodded at him a little bit more easily. His hand went for hers, that was resting on her lap and with a little encouragement she stood. "Good. Now I'll lead you to your breakfast and please trust me that I will not let you hurt yourself." Another nod. "There are no steps here so don't worry about tripping." He noticed her feet were bare as he liked and that brought a little grin to his lips. He had included several sets of socks and slippers in one of the drawers; just in case her feet were to get cold but was pleased that she didn't choose to wear them. By the hand, he slowly lead her out of her space into his. He had no trouble bringing women to his home, many, once they discovered his money and power were eager to be invited there. None of them that had made it that far into his refuge ever emerged again. S would make it out alive, and come back he hoped. He brought her to a stop and pulled out a chair. Her head dropped, noting the sound and he guided her down to sit and helped her into place at the table. "I'm going to take the blindfold off. You will keep your head straight, looking only forward, understand?" Another nod. "You can speak S, I'd rather like to hear your voice." She swallowed hard and whispered, 'Okay'. It was progress. He took another chair and placed it directly behind hers and straddled it to sit. With careful attention, he took off her blindfold with ease and then reached for her napkin and placed it on her lap. "You may start. I ordered a good selection for you and please don't feel the need to rush. I do hope you will indulge me with a little conversation too h'm?"

"Alright." Scarlett quickly went for the orange juice first; she felt shaky and then slowed down as she sipped it. Last thing she wanted was to burp or spill it on herself. Once he had pulled her napkin over her lap his hands had disappeared; he wasn't touching her and she was glad, she hated being disturbed while eating. There was a little bit of everything in front of her and despite not being a breakfast person she made an effort to try a bit of everything to draw out the time she was allowed her vision. Her eyes went around the room and at once she noticed that it was significantly larger than her space. "How long have you lived here?" The question begged to be asked out of curiosity and to extend the time out.

"A few years now. I go from place to place as the mood strikes me." He wasn't fond of the chewing sounds humans make while eating but then again, he was sure the sounds of his eating would certainly put her off as well. "Do you like it?"

Scarlett looked within her allowed range of vision. "It's nice, but it's cold." She heard him snort a little. "Did I say something out of place?" Her stomach was starting to knot back up again.

"You will be the warmth that the space has been lacking my dear." His new grin deepened slightly. He focused his attentions on the back of her neck that she was so kind enough to leave exposed for him by putting her hair up. It looked delectably soft, tender and easily penetrable. He could take her at any moment he wished; any human was at his whim of hunger. It really was no question to him that one day she'd be satisfying him. "Is the meal to your liking?"

"Everything is delicious, thank you." Scarlett wasn't sure if she could finish everything before her as she was getting a bit too full. She set her utensils down and took one last sip before reaching for the napkin on her lap to brush away any food particles from her mouth. The thought of being blindfolded again was making her nervous as she waited. "I'm done." She waited for him to make the next move for a few moments; put her blindfold back on but she only heard a chair sliding back and felt hers being pulled back.

"Stand." It took Vladimir a moment to debate whether she would take the chance in looking at him or keep to her contract. He hadn't put in the contacts into his eyes to hide them but then again he reasoned that he could move fast enough to be out of her vision just as quick should she try to look. He lead her from behind to the bank of floor to ceiling windows so she could look out to the view. "You will stand here for me for now, " he placed her hands up on the glass so it appeared as though she was willing herself out. "keep your hands here but feel free to move your feet or even rest your head upon the glass if you feel the need to." She nodded and out came the blindfold to be secured around her head. He backed away to admire his new object; she was lovely and would become more so once she was a bit more relaxed around him. Vladimir headed towards his desk to pick up the phone and continue his calls, his eyes never straying from his art. He watched her shift around initially until she found a more comfortable posture and then she seemingly froze for a few hours. It was near noon when he noticed her forehead resting on the glass and the heel of her back foot raised slightly.

Perfection.

He would have left her there for several more hours to admire the sight if he could but she needed to eat. A quick call was made and her meal was waiting for her in her room within half an hour. He debated doing the same but the hunter in him preferred to pick out its own meals.

My summer is busy so as much as I appreciate the reviews asking me to hurry up and post the next chapter...please understand its not always possible.