everyone else however you see fit? Do you think you can subjugate me by buying me with your dresses and your jewels? I’m very sorry if I gave you that impression. I let my curiosity and naïve enthusiasm get the better of me. I shouldn’t have. And why did you take me to that reception? Did you “need me”? I would find it amusing, if I didn’t feel so humiliated. You left me alone in a corner for the whole evening! You must have been ashamed of introducing me to anyone. In fact, I'm curious to know how would you have introduced me?
I had let all that out in a whisper. I was about to faint, but I felt relieved. Daniel looked at me, his face a picture of irritation but mixed with surprise and a certain sadness.
"Have you finished, Miss Belmont? I don’t like the unexpected, I don’t like being resisted, I like to be in control of my time, my actions and my movements, I like to be in charge of the situation. That’s how I am, that’s how I operate and I have always been like that. You’re right, giving you clothes and jewels is a way for me to control the situation. I do it for my own satisfaction, so that things look how I want them to, fitting and appropriate."
"But how do you expect anyone else to express themselves if you impose your own way of seeing and being on them? I'm not a puppet that you can manipulate, a doll you can dress up, a girl you can exhibit because it makes you feel good!"
"Perhaps you could also consider my actions as a rather old-fashioned interpretation of my masculinity, but I accept that. I pay, I provide for the women who accompany me and I find that completely normal, it’s not a problem for me, on the contrary I consider it my role, it’s what I have to do. I also did it to make you happy and because it suits you, because you deserve it. Think of it only as a natural, benevolent impulse. You are far too pure and far too strong to let yourself be bought, and that was never my intention."
"But who are you to judge what suits me, and what I like? You don’t know anything about me! You don’t want to buy me, but you take and you give as you please, without worrying about my feelings."
I shouted to compose myself, and restore a little confidence, but faced with Daniel Wietermann’s calm demeanor and impenetrable face, I suddenly felt ridiculous.
"Be honest, Julia, it’s not my gifts but your desire which has put you in this submissive position. In actual fact, it is your desire you are obeying."
This comment instantly shocked and stunned me. When I came to my senses, I realised that the egotistical, dominating, indifferent Daniel Wietermann had seen right through me, before I had seen it myself. I was impressed and I had to admit that he was right.
"And I didn’t introduce you," he said, after a long, heavy silence, "because I was afraid all those people would bother you. And I wanted you to accompany me so I would have at least one thing to look forward to during all that tedious small-talk. I’m sorry that the evening was such an ordeal for you. I would like to sleep now, Julia."
I must not lose my nerve, I cannot give in, I must stand firm.
I took a deep breath and in a calm, determined voice, I said:
"I will only leave because I have decided to and not because you've ordered me to."
Suddenly, Daniel’s features relaxed. He had a cunning look on his face and a small smile appeared on his sexy mouth. He put his arms around me and, holding me very tightly, muttered in my ear:
"So really, you would like me to keep you here, wouldn’t you?"
I resisted and tried to free myself from his arms, but however much I wriggled, I could not escape his grip.
Because he was squeezing me too tight? Because I didn’t really want to?
"Your impertinence deserves to be punished, Julia, I’m going to take away your urge to stand up to me…"
I abandoned my struggle. The heat of his body and his scent enveloped and captivated me and I felt him harden against me. Physical resistance was