Kat comprises and plays it safe

“Ugh! Whatever. How bad is the stupid chipping gonna hurt?”

“How bad is the stupid chipping gonna hurt, Master,” York corrected.

“No.”

“Bitch, did we not just have this conversation?” he asked.

Kat had only one play. She clenched her fists and made her most pathetic face.

“Please! I promise I’ll do what you say. I’ll…behave. Just let me warm up to this a little first? Please, sir?”

York smirked. “Curse my big heart. Fine, Kitty Kat. We’ll take it slow.”

She gave him a smile. “Thank you, sir.”

The remainder of the drive was uneventful. She sat there quietly and watched the road. Kat relished the silence. It was almost peaceful.

They pulled into the parking lot of the Bureau of Feminine Affairs. Kat almost laughed. She’d bee free of the place for all of four hours.

They entered the lobby. Kat had already forgotten the foul sensation of warm, pungent air. The BFA building smelled like a funeral home. She found that rather fitting. A lot of lives were cremated here.

The same stuffy man from this morning sat behind the front desk. He glanced up from his paperwork and gave her a look of astonishment.

“This might be a record, Ms. Summers. I thought you seemed rather eager this morning, if you don’t mind my saying!” He stood up to shake York’s hand.

“Phil, how are the sons?” York asked.

“York Harrington, I thought that was you!” The two men gripped each other’s hands and chuckled. “My boys are well, sir! The older is finishing law school. The younger just snuck his way onto Columbia’s roster. Bright futures, those boys. Excuse my manners! I don’t mean to ramble.”

How close were these guys? Kat couldn’t shake the feeling some fuckery was afoot. Still, the only way through this was to play their game. York made that abundantly clear.

“Nonsense, Phil, we’re practically family. Though, as you can see, my lady is very anxious to get this done. Ain’t ya, Kitty Kat?” York nudged her.

“Yes, sir. Very anxious,” she replied.

York caught that. She could tell, but he didn’t let his mask slip in front of the guy he was schmoozing.

“Like I said. You wouldn’t happen to know a way we could expedite the process?”

“Of course, Mr. Harrington. Right this way,” Phil said.

They walked down that dreadful hallway of doors into the man’s office. There were still only two chairs. The men took their seats, and then York pointed to the floor next to him. She didn’t move. She wanted to say no, but he shot her a glance. Without uttering a word, he reminded her of why she was playing along. Kat glared at her captor, and slowly descended to her knees.

“Beautiful and obedient? Well done, sir,” Phil chuckled.

“I know how to pick 'em,” York said.

The process was mostly mundane. Lots of signatures and rushing through legal jargon. It twisted Kat up inside to have her life signed over so haphazardly. She knew she wouldn’t have a say in the process, but there was something excruciating about being forced to sit on her knees and watch.

“Okay. We kept the first name the same. We have the last name switched for you. Her address has been updated, and she has an appt with her new general care fem-vet scheduled for tomorrow at 9 a.m. We just need to update her driving permit to have your signature instead of her father’s, and I can handle the rest!”

“Excellent!” York signed one last time.

“Alright, thank you.” Phil reached under the desk and pulled out a box. He opened it to reveal a thin metal collar. “Here is the collar. Very simple to put on, I assure you.”

It took everything for Kat not to cry, as she held her hair and extended her neck out. She shuddered as the cold metal pressed against her soft skin. Kat locked eyes with York as he fastened the tiny prison around her neck. She loathed that smarmy look on his face. His ability to silently gloat was unparalleled. Not even Kat’s shitbird brother could match his gleeful petty spirit.

She felt a tight pinch and yelped. The two men laughed.

“Well, sounds like the chip went in no problem. Now, these buttons adjust the voltage, this button delivers the shock. With that, you should be good to go,” the stuffy man said.

“It’s been a pleasure, Phil,” York said.

“Likewise. Congratulations to the both of you, Mr. and Mrs. Harrington. Give my regards to your father when you see him,” Phil said.

Kat kept her head down as she stood up and made her way back to York’s car. She needed sleep, not that she expected to get any. York put his arm around her as they exited the building, and Kat grimaced. He didn’t seem to mind.

The two climbed back into the black SUV and drove away. At least she was actually rid of that place this time. Kat thought back to how naive she had been just a few hours ago. She never knew her father. Not really. He and other men had a warped view of what made a good man. How did she never see it?

York’s hand squeezing her thigh snapped Kat back to reality. She looked down at her lap and watched him rub and caress her. He slipped his hand under her dress and ran his hand along Kat’s bare skin. Her face felt like it was on fire.

“Maybe you should focus on the road, sir,” Kat said.

“Maybe,” York replied, not stopping.

Kat squirmed in her seat. “Sir. Please.”

“I’ve wanted to touch you since you wandered your dumb ass onto campus, Kitty Kat.” York slid further up her leg. “I think I’ve waited long enough, don’t you?”

She tried not to think about it. She turned to look out the window, but York gripped Kat hard.

“Well? Don’t you think I’ve waited long enough to put my hands on your soft little body?” he asked.

This was part of the deal. Always was. Kat could do this. She had to.

“Yes. Sir.” Her stomach dropped to the floor.

“Good girl. You’re finally learning,” York said.

Thinking of York fucking Harrington touching her was revolting. The touch itself, however, was shamefully pleasant. As much as Kat hated that York was taking advantage of her, she most loathed that part of her liked it. Part of her was enjoying the losing struggle against York’s new authority over her. A small wave of guilt and pleasure rippled through her body as York casually explored her body.