A Lesson in Humility

The slow creaking of the door awakes Alex’s newest acquisition as he descends back into the basement, clad in striped shirt and a two hundred dollar pair of designer jeans that he could just as easily buy for half price. He delicately balances the tray of rice and water in his hands, careful not to drop it.

The auburn waif squints for a moment, adjusting to the dim light.

“Eat.” Alex commands her as he places the tray down.

Elena grasps the spoon from his hand and scarfs down a handful. The sensation is warm food in her mouth is inviting. She tries to remember how long it’s been since she had anything to eat, anything in her stomach. She quenches her thirst, feigning helplessness as she gazes into Alex’s eyes.

“Not like that, wench!” He smacks her cheek.

“But I—“

“Don’t talk.” He grabs the utensil from her hands.

Elena lifts a finger in protest, but the writer’s focused eyes dissuade her from pushing the matter further. She waits patiently for further instructions, even as she harbors resentment at his behavior. Alex may be a multi-millionaire, but he is far from a gentleman as far as she is concerned.

He ladles the spoon into the bowl, taunting her with it. Her stomach churns.

“Beg.” Alex stares at her.

Awkward doesn’t even begin to describe Elena’s predicament. She hesitates, hoping he’d change his mind. But he just sits there, refusing to budge, a perfect representation of a Greek statue. The furor in his eyes intensifies with each second.

“I said beg, ****.” He growls.

“Please.” Does she call him master? What’s the protocol with these things? “Master,
I…”

A teaspoon of rice would be good right about now.

“Yes?”

“I’d like to eat, Master.”

He sticks it back into the bowl.

“I don’t think you really mean it.”

The growl in her stomach is louder.

“But Master, please, I’m hungry. I haven’t eaten in a while. Please.”

He scoops up some more rice, dangling it tauntingly near her lips, only to yank it away at the last minute.

“You need to learn to show gratitude before you earn the right, ****.”

The churning is almost unbearable.

“Okay, I’ll do whatever you say.” Elena pleads. “Just let me have a bite. I’m starving!”

“Once more, with feeling.” He mocks her.

“I’ll do whatever you want! Fuck, I’ll scrub your toilets, I’ll do your books, suck your dick. Anything you ask. I belong to you now.”

The declaration stops Alex in his tracks. Does she really mean it? Or is she going through the motions? Who’s to say? This could take a while.

With a resigned sigh, he scoops up the rice and dangles it in front of her again, expecting a more truthful answer than before.

“Do you swear fealty to me?”

Elena nods her head violently.

“I'm not totally convinced.” He feeds her. “But since I fancy myself an humanitarian, I'll let you have a bite. You have a long way to go before you prove your loyalty. Now get some rest. You have a long day ahead of you.”

He takes his leave of her as quickly as he appeared, carrying the tray as carefully as before.

Alex leaves the glass of water tauntingly on the nightstand, within reach, but not enough for her to grasp.