When a reasonable hour came Belle woke to the sound of laughing out in the garden, surprising since her room was on the other side of the house. Curiously Belle slipped out of bed and left her room in favour of going to the massive window beside the back staircase that looked down at the yard. Off to the right of the pool she saw a large open area of grass where the other girls were running around playing volleyball. Belle couldn't help but notice the little outfits and tight jeans, maybe I should go shopping with my first wages when I get them, get some new clothes. Something more Lacey.
First thing first, Belle needed to take a shower, but would she be brave enough to use one of the bathrooms with a camera or would she just stick to the more private bathrooms like the day before? May as well get used to my new job. Don't just be brave, be Lacey. Belle, in her best Lacey persona, turned back from the window and returned to her room where she tugged open her new – and rather large – closet. She pulled off the grey tank and loose aqua colored shorts she'd slept in and grabbed her toiletries bag then, once in her yellow robe, walked out her room once more to the bathroom across from Tink's room; one that certainly had cameras in it. She knocked to check if any of the girls were in there but when no answer came she went inside and shut the door quickly. She stood there a moment just eyeing the camera that hovered above the shower; Belle could do this, she could.
Suddenly her head snapped back and Belle remembered her shower, she set down her green toiletries bag and turned the shower on, it was cold for a second but soon warmed up and Belle stepped under the warmth, soothing water caressed her curves and calmed her mind's worries. Relieved the tension still at the back of her mind.
After a while she forgot the camera was even there, that was, of course, until she turned round. To her surprise Lacey smiled up at the camera, because it was Lacey not Belle, and just carried on with her shower. She had started to grow comfortable with her new surroundings far quicker than she thought possible, being Lacey worked, add in the fact that Gold had granted all the girls the choice of what they did and Belle felt like she could do anything because in The House Of Scarlet she really could.
During her thoughts Belle had no idea that one pair of eyes watching her belonged to SheriffOfNottingham, nor did she know of the photoshopped pictures of her and him together in various places. He longed, wished and hoped he could hold her close in his arms, smell the coconut shampoo in her hair, because he was almost certain it was coconut. He wanted Lacey to scream his name wanted her to beg him for more and cling to him with need. Keith Nottingham wanted her to be his , wanted her entirely because she was the epitome of beauty.
~X~
Belle was just leaving for her English class when Ruby stopped her in the vestibule. The taller girl had dressed in a little tartan mini skirt and a long sleeved, but very low cut, black shirt matched with her ever present killer heels. Belle felt a little better at her clothing choices after seeing her new friend, she was in her brand new yellow shorts and fitted 'Her Handsome Hero' t-shirt with her black, lace-up ankle boots that gave her an extra six inches; Belle needed all the height she could get. She worried that she'd stick out in her new outfit but with Ruby, not a chance.
"What is it Red?" Belle asked in a pleasant tone.
"Wanted to know if you want to ride with me? We are in the same class after all."
Belle stopped dead. "We are?"
Belle was pretty sure she'd never seen Ruby in her English Literature or Library Science classes before, surely she'd have noticed a woman like the one before her. Ruby was the sort of girl that wasn't easily forgotten.
"Yeah, last night when you told us about your subjects I got to thinking and yeah we're in the same literature class. It's just you sit at the front and I'm always at the back."
"Huh, small world." Belle smiled, pleased she wasn't alone.
That small world got even smaller when Ashley came charging down the back staircase right as the two elder girls rounded the hall towards the garage and practically begged Ruby for a ride to stop her being late.
"You're in my class too?" Asked Belle with a raised eyebrow, she couldn't be that oblivious to the world of people, could she?
"What?"
The blond clearly hadn't any idea what was going on or what they were talking about but thankfully Ruby saved them as they turned into the garage.
"No, Ashley studies child care in the building over from us, just started this semester actually." Ruby said as she led them over to her car.
Belle had been about to question Ruby's use of Ashley's real name when it dawned on her that the garage was probably a useless place for cameras, nothing would ever happen in there. Ashley slipped into Ruby's back seat while Belle got in the front passenger side and smiled to herself. IN the back of her mind there had been a little voice that had done nothing but worry and fret that she'd never have anything even remotely in common with the other eight House Girls. However, she'd come to learn that three of them went to the same university and appeared to be in more or less the same boat as herself.
~X~
The day went pretty quickly much to Belle's pleasure. Mary Margaret and Emma gave her odd little looks when Belle decided to sit at the back with Ruby for a change rather than with them but other than that the day ran smoothly and frankly seemed rather uneventful. Just after their class had started Belle found herself wondering just how many people had watcher her in the shower just a few hours earlier, hundreds? Thousands? Or maybe no one had been interested in her at all, Belle; didn't know.
When Professor Hopper cleared his throat before going back to his lesson on Kubla Khan by Samuel Taylor Coleridge Belle found her mind returning and her notebook empty. That was unheard of for Belle French, she was the girl who always had about five extra pages of notes, certainly not the girl with a blank notebook and no idea what her professor had said in the last ten minutes.
"I found my head miles away when I first started too," The red clad woman told her in a hushed tone so as not to disturb anyone else, "then again I was thinking about getting Professor Hopper over for some fun which made things worse. You can copy my notes later if you want."
So the overly confident Ruby had a secret crush on their bespectacled professor, in a way Belle couldn't blame her new friend, Professor Hopper wasn't conventionally handsome but he did have kind eyes and an infectious smile as well as a passion for his work.
"Thanks Ruby, that would be great."
After their classes Ruby picked up Ashley and went back to The House since Belle had decide to hang around the library and study; she did need to copy all of Ruby's notes after all. Since she'd zoned out earlier Belle was pretty sure a revision section was in order. She'd taken the job at The House of Scarlet so she could carry on with school not so she could get distracted and ignore everything.
Belle had put her headphones in almost the second she'd sat down and one of the secluded tables and happily listened to Lana Del Rey's Salvatore in the background, she even started to hum while she copied down Ruby's notes … it ground to a stop though when her cellphone buzzed, she picked it up to find a text from Ariel.
Ariel: Hi. I'm making dinner tonight, are you allergic to anything? Shellfish? Dairy?
Belle: Only bubble bath.
Ariel: So that's a no to bubble bath salad dressing, got ya. See you later.
Belle smiled for a moment before she noticed the time, twenty to three, she was going to be late to talk with SheriffOfNottingham, she'd promised him. Belle packed her things up and raced back to The House Of Scarlet as quick as she could, thankfully she'd worn ankle boots and not stilettos. Her feet ached as she passed Will and Graham on her way into The House and she threw a 'hi' over her shoulder as she passed them. It was three-fifteen when she got back into her room dove down on her bed and opened up the laptop Jefferson had provided her with, quickly she logging in to the website and caught her breath. It took only a moment before she heard a series of ping s .
SHERIFFOFNOTTINGHAM: Hi Lacey! W as beginning to think you stood me up
"I'm really sorry about that, Sheriff, I lost track of time, but I'm here now. Let's take the conversation private, shall we?."
Belle, happy to let her Lacey persona take over, clicked the private mode button and looked back at the screen with a smile.
"Do you want me to get undressed for you?" There wasn't a response. "It's kind of what I'm here for."
SHERIFFOFNOTTINGHAM: Can we just talk?
Just talk? Belle hadn't expected that but she certainly didn't see a problem with it, that was why she nodded fondly.
"Yeah, sure."
Jefferson's words returned to her then, when he'd told her about the viewers getting to know the girls; what better way to do that than talk to them. She waited a moment for him to start a topic but there was no ping, no question and so Belle decided to start a topic of her own. Maybe he's not very social, her mind offered.
"What is it you do for a living?" She smiled at the screen.
SHERIFFOFNOTTINDHAM: I work with computers. Programming, maintenance, repairing. I do all of it
"That must be interesting, do you like it?"
Belle had never been very good with computers to be honest, she could do the basics easily enough and internet shopping had ended up as a rather expensive hobby at one point but if her laptop died she was little more than a caveman; she'd no idea how to fix it.
SHERIFFOFNOTTINGHAM: It lets me keep to myself a lot. It's peaceful.
"Peaceful, that sounds nice. Sounds pretty." Oh it did, sort of like when she sat alone and just read without a care in the world.
SHERIFFOFNOTTINGHAM: So are you.
Belle giggled a little, Ruby had been right, Sheriff was a total sweetheart. "Why thank you. You too."
There was an unnaturally long pause between them and Belle has begun to get a little worried, in fact the pause was so long that the next ping made her jump.
SHERIFFOFNOTTINGHAM: How do you know? You don't even know me. Never met me.
"You've been nothing but sweet to me." She shrugged. "I bet you're a perfect, handsome gentleman."
SHERIFFOFNOTTINGHAM: You think I'm handsome?
Belle's cell buzzed then, the screen lit up and when she grabbed it her eyes widened a little: Mister Gold wanted her in his office now. Must be time for introductions, she thought to herself beofre Belle returned her attention to the screen and her conversation with Sheriff.
"Hey, Sheriff. Do you think we could have a rain check on this?" She asked gently. "I have to do something."
SHERIFFOFNOTTINGHAM : Do you think I'm handsome?
"What?"
It was clear Belle hadn't read the first message he'd sent and had been lost in her phone. Frankly she thought herself a little rude. Suddenly a JPEG image flashed up on her screen, it took up the whole screen. Dark-eyes and messy brown hair, the man wasn't particular handsome to Belle but he certainly wasn't ugly.
"How did you do that? The House Of Scarlet can't be hacked." Her brow furrowed deeply.
SHERIFFOFNOTTINGHAM: DO YOU THINK I'M HANDSOME?
"Yes, Sheriff I think you're beautiful." Maybe he's really insecure. "I'll see you tomorrow, bye Sheriff."
With that Belle shut the lid quickly. She had no idea how happy she'd made Keith Nottingham, he'd always been bullied especially by a young girl when he was ten, Marion was dead now though, he'd seen to that.
A few moments later Belle managed to push herself out of her thoughts and climbed off her bed. She wondered how the hell Sheriff had gotten that image on the webside but soon pushed away the thoughts when she realized she was keeping Mister Gold waiting. Belle hurried out her room and right down the central hall then right again until she reached Mister Gold's office. This was the first time she'd found herself in the camera-less section of the house, the boy's wing. Gold's office sat neatly in the middle of the hall but she couldn't help but wonder what she'd find if she continued to explore. Belle knocked softly on the half-open door before she poked her head around in.
"Come in, Miss French."
Mister Gold had a deep Scottish accent and Belle nearly screamed full house at the top of her lungs, not only did The House Of Scarlet have two English and an Irish guard but they also had a Scottish boss. Belle had always had a thing about accents, to her hearing them was like exploring the world without really going anywhere.
To push her mind off that subject Belle stepped into the room and looked around, the whole house had been modernized but Mister Gold's office appeared Gothic and original; like she'd stepped back in time.
"You have a beautiful office." She said absent-mindedly.
"Thank you, Miss French." He replied from his desk where he sat looking very formal and powerful.
Gold's office had dark hardwood floors and mahogany panels around the room that were inlet to create shelves in little arches on the walls to either side of her as she walked into the room. The unusual architecture compared to the rest of The House didn't get too much attention though, Belle was too focused on the vast selection of books that littered said shelves. At the very centre of the room was Mister Gold himself at his large desk with his fingers laced together in a pyramid under his chin as he watched his new House Girl. Frankly, out of all the amazing things in the office, including the books – Mister Gold was her favorite. An older man clearly – older than she'd expected in truth, Belle had imagined him to be somewhere in his mid forties but clearly he lingered somewhere closer to mid fifties; not that it was a problem. He wore his hair longer than most men his age as well, it suits him Belle had decided rather easily. She had to admit his perfectly tailored suit with the tie and silk pocket square struck quite the image, bold and powerful. Belle audibly swallowed when she noticed the honey chocolate of his intense eyes.
"As you can guess, Miss French, I am Mister Gold. Please, have a seat." He spoke while gesturing to one of the wooden chairs opposite his desk. "I am sorry for not introducing myself when you first arrive but I was extreemly busy and have since been … dealing with another problem."
Belle did as instructed and sat herself down in the chair then flashed him a polite smile.
"That's alright, Ruby and Jefferson showed me around."
"Yes, Ruby is good like that." He responded quickly. "I'm sure Jefferson told you everything about this place on the drive over but I'm going to tell you again, I like knowing it has really sunk in." Belle couldn't help but think there was something else he could sink into, what's wrong with me? I never think like this. "Here at The House Of Scarlet everything is up to you. You're not some sort of sex slave." Belle snorted at that and was happy when he smiled too even if it was a devilish grin. "I have an off site team that monitor the website and keep you and the other girls here safe and Jefferson's husband, Doctor Victor Whale, is here to handle any medical issue you may have."
"Yeah, I met him. Victor seems nice."
"He is, just don't let him get drunk because he will make out with anything that moves, male, female or inanimate object. That was how I ended up punching him."
In that one moment Belle decided she would have paid to see that. Mister Gold had a very dry humor but she suspected it was a humor that fitted rather nicely with the mix of characters at The House of Scarlet.
"I think I can handle a drunk Victor."
"Good. Also you should know that Wick is back." He sighed and looked down, it was clear he didn't want this Wick person around; for a moment Belle even felt bad for him.
"Wick?" She questioned with a furrowed brow.
"Her real name is Zelena Green. Basically you replaced her, her room is now yours and so is her place on my website. She gets jealous easily and probably won't like you. However, Zelena is currently on the thinnest ice imaginable and so will be on best behavior until she thinks she's won herself back into my good graces. If she does something you don't like come find me and I will put her in her place."
"No problem, I can do that."
He seemed to relax a little and then flipped open a small black leather notebook that he flicked through quickly until he found the desired page. Mister Gold struck Belle as a very organized and controlled person.
"On a nicer note, what is your favourite color? And you've chosen the name Lacey correct?"
"Blue and yeah why?" Belle questioned curiously.
"No reason, just a little something that Jamie started." Belle didn't question him further and Gold was pleased about that, he didn't want to ruin the surprise, however, hen he noticed the twenty-one year old's puzzled face he elaborated. "Jamie is Mulan just so you know, though I am the only one who ever uses her real name. Would you like to be permanently referred to as Lacey or only when on camera?"
"Em, just on camera I think."
The elder man nodded as he took in all the information and jotted a few things down. Gold hadn't been happy when Jefferson had come to him to say he'd found a new girl on campus. He didn't like Jefferson going after the university students, yes, most of them needed the money but he still didn't like girls so young working for him, especially when he thought they could be so much more. Belle was beautiful, gorgeous even, the most perfect thing he'd ever seen, and Mister Gold had seen a lot of women come and go at The House of Scarlet. Gold had known there wouldn't be any denying her beauty the second Jefferson showed him a picture of her. He'd never touched any of the girls before, no matter how many times Zelena had tried to convince him to, although with Belle, he really wanted to hold her, kiss her. She's too good for this place. Frankly this unending muttering of want in the back of his brain both angered and horrified him; he'd never touched the girls before.
"If you just sign the contract," he began suddenly as a way to get his mind back on track, "you will have to complete it. There is no way of getting out of your contract, it's watertight, I should know I wrote it." Belle's brow furrowed in puzzlement once more. "Who better to run a porn website like this one than a lawyer?"
Belle pulled the contract he handed over to her and started to read, Gold seemed almost shocked that she actuality read it, maybe the people he came into contact with we not smart enough to read the fine print? That didn't matter, Belle cared about her contract not anyone else's. After a fw minutes where her eyes faked over the contract and he sat quietly before her she nodded to herself, everything seemed acceptable and Belle had nothing to complain about, however she did have a question.
"This is only good for six months." She stated plainly.
"Yes," Gold nodded, "all the girls sign new contracts every six months. If something happens and you suddenly wish to leave you don't want to be hanging around for or a year waiting for the contract to end."
To be honest it was a good idea, it made sure that every six months the girls were still certain they wanted to be at The House, there was also a clause about drug use, stealing, harm to others without consent and a few other little things that allowed Gold to kick them out of the house and off the website but Belle didn't think any of those things would be a problem, unless books counted as a drug addiction.
"Alright." With that Belle took up and signed on the dotted line; she was a House Girl.
"Unfortunately, you shan't be paid for the work you have already done. While I appreciate your want to dive right in you did not officially work for me so no hours were logged." Truthfully Belle and sort of suspected that. "Like any other business you are entitled to sick days and vacation time should you want it, you just have to ask me and I'll schedule it as required. However, if Doctor Whale tells me you need time off for any bed rest – which I don't foresee – I can and will disable your cameras until Doctor Whale gives you the all clear. Equally if you end up in need of medial treatment I will pay for it as part of your medical care … within reason of course. Do not try and talk me into getting you breast implants like Cruella did."
Belle's eyes widened, had Cruella really tried that? Belle wouldn't ever, it just seemed like taking advantage of their employer. Anyway, if she worked at The House of Scarlet for as long as Cruella seemed to have surely she could afford her own implants.
Meanwhile Zelena crept up the back staircase and over to the new arrival's room, it should be my room! Her mind screamed. The room had once been perfect and hers yet not it reeked of the new sluts perfume and her clothes hung in the closet; Zelena's green 'W' had vanished as well. It just wasn't right. I can make him want me again. It didn't appear to register that Gold hadn't wanted her in the first place. If that bitch thinks she can come in her take my room and my job she's got an o ther thing coming, and if she goes near Elias … I'll kill her.
Full of rage Zelena turned her attention to the laptop resting on Belle's bed and decided to help herself. She lifted it into her hands an opened up the lid to reveal Sheriff's JPEG.
"Oh now this I can have fun with." She cheered.