The welcoming atmosphere of the brothel melted away with the rising summer temperatures. Trixie could not prove Diamond had turned her hair emerald, but the woman was unconcerned with evidence. She got her revenge the next time Nicholas sent Beryl and Di out in competition. Trixie replaced her perfume with something that made her rival break out in hives.
The feline won the challenge and successfully used Qismah’s potion in a tea. She’d had the tranquilizers ready should it backfire, but the subject became receptive to the suggestions quickly. He stared into her eyes, which seemed to be a natural focus, and drifted to sleep at her suggestive words and caresses. In the morning he woke up believing they did the deed as she hoped.
Beryl won her competition and rose in Nicholas’s estimation, and Diamond knew who was to blame for the outbreak so her attention was still pointed at her rival. The familiar had also hidden her own products in a place Diamond could never reach. Everything appeared to be going well for the feline, which was why she could not understand how the situation soured so rapidly.
Nicholas hired several new body guards earlier that week when his men noticed they were being watched. Noting the temporary need for extra protection he called on a few ruffians and outsiders to join his men. With the usual local riff-raff, there were two Romanchurians who kept watch outside away from the others. There were also four brothers from Bump, and a Shores-man who towered above them all.
The new fellows, especially the Bumpians, groped the girls whenever they pleased. That was a perk of their employment along with a discount on evenings spent in their company. The women were used to this arrangement, but were uncomfortable when the Bump brothers wondered aloud how well the girls might taste in a crockpot. The Shores-man put an end to those taunts, even before Nicholas reminded them their job was to protect his assets.
Mr. Herding was certain the extra protection would be enough to scare whoever was scouting the competition, but only his mood was improved. The girls grew more fearful of their safety, from those meant to defend them and the watchers. Worse, with the increased presence of the guards she would have a much harder time drugging them all at once. Many did not drink tea.
She pondered the problem until one girl celebrated her birthday. It was during the brief festivity she threw for herself that Beryl came up with a solution. Her idea might backfire, but it was her only hope. While she prepared herself for this endeavor she acquired more clothes from Erica, saw customers in the evening, and tried to hold to her cover story.
It was a week after her third successful trial that Nicholas arrived with her payment, much later than he originally promised. His smile was less broad than when he first encountered her, and the funds were less than a quarter of what she brought to him. She almost thanked him anyways before she realized such behavior would hardly fit her cover. ‘What Would Lynn Do’ in this situation? Drawing herself up proudly she stared him in the eyes, “I was told you paid well, Mr. Nicholas. Is this your idea of a joke?”
Nicholas smile faded at her harsh tone. “I pay what someone has earned, and while you have proven yourself capable there are other concerns, such as the extra protection I have hired recently to protect us all. I trust there isn’t a problem?”
“I could make more, have made more, on the streets without your protection.” The darkness she had seen briefly before spurned to life again and this time he didn’t try to hide it behind a smile. Beryl knew if she continued he would strike her like he had all his other girls. However, she had known this would come eventually, and it had always been part of her ultimate plan. “Perhaps I should consider returning to private employment.”
He raised his fist and rushed forward striking her above her right temple with all his upper body strength. Pain exploded through her head as she crumpled to the floor clutching where she’d been wounded years before. He stood over her, speaking with anger in his voice, as she struggled to understand what he was saying.
Though she couldn’t hear him as she rolled on the floor, her heard screeching agony as the inner wound throbbed, there was no mistaking what he was telling her. She couldn’t leave now. He would destroy her reputation, her life, and see she died penniless and alone if she tried.
Finally, the pain subsided and she noted that Nicholas had calmed down. He had drawn the attention of the girls, who turned away, and his men. His regular men did not care, but some of the extra locals and the Shoresman seemed less approving of the behavior they had witnessed. They didn’t have to say anything, and did not rush to protect her, but there was an unspoken question lingering in the air. ‘What sense in us protecting your assets if you’re going to mangle them yourself?’
If they walked out he would hire more men, but it would take time. Instead, Nicholas straightened his collar and cleared his throat. “I think we understand each other now?”
“Yes, Mr. Nicholas.” Beryl replied as she rose, which was difficult as the room spun as she tried to rise. Seeing her fall over a second time, someone offered their hand to help. She ignored the aid and placed a paw against the wall to steady herself. When the vertigo had passed she let the arm slide to her side and stood proudly like she had before he punched her, but with a more subdued tone. “I heard and felt it quite clearly. It won’t happen again, sir.”
He watched her stand and the confidence with which she held herself despite his attack. He smiled genuinely to himself noting the increased deference despite the pride, “Good. There’s still a lot of potential in you and I don’t want to harm one of my rising stars. Let’s forget this little transgression and the past altogether as we look to the future together. I’m sure the other girls will have shown you that, when you don’t try to leave, you can be very happy here.” He walked away, but now he was certain she could take a hit and retain her dignity he was considering letting his more rough customers have their fun as another challenge.
The feline went to her room and laid down on the bed, though someone brought her a cold meat press for her head. While she ate it raw, she considered how well that had gone for her plans. Nicholas would grow to trust her even more if he felt physically superior to her and that she was intimidated by him. From the beginning she had never conceived a working plan that did not have him believe he was in full control from previous strikes against her.
Some of her friends would probably think her daft for inviting that form of abuse, but those would mostly be the ones that forgot about her boxing training. Both Mariah and Bookworm threw punches better than Nicholas. Their training made each hit more refined and solid, but they lacked his upper body strength. Still, Oskir had hit her harder than that a few times when she was smaller than Tepic. He’d even thrown beer bottles a time or two.
As she dwelled on how well her plan had gone, she never considered why anyone else would think it was warped or wrong. She was used to attacks and hatred directed at moreau, black cats, or just herself. To her this was normal.
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