Problem solving with benefits

My life seems like it had become one sudden upset after another lately. It had been almost two weeks since I'd decided to try to bring porn back to the world but things weren't going as well as I'd hoped. The idea we'd come up with was to basically create a license. 'Licensed sex workers' could essentially pick their partners, and with my influence making it so men were compelled not to touch my property without permission, extending that permission to a licensed holder seemed relatively harmless. We even got in touch with a law firm to help write up a concrete list of permissions to use that none of us, not even Cassandra seemed to find a loophole in. The ball stopped rolling there however.

Licenses were usually granted by the government, a massive institution with hundreds of thousands of employees with the infrastructure to track and record millions of people. I was just some guy. My friends were helping with some of the leg work but I'd need employees to do anything big. And while Marcus' **** labour idea and Cassandra's dictator one were great, women employees would follow my orders much better than male ones, so the only corruption would come from me, but I'd still need to get something started to pay them eventually, even if it wasn't a moral thing, people had families to support and the economy would crash if I didn't circulate back most of the cash. Besides, who really needs a billion dollars?

In that interest, we'd start with our own city, Zoe guessed there'd be maybe a few thousand amateur pornstars in a city our size, a few times more than that if we broadened the definition of sex work to include off camera stuff. But then Claudia had brought up how it would be a gold rush if we became the first and currently only city in the world to start producing porn. This wasn't just something to grow slowly and organically like a proper business. The whole world and an entire multi billion dollar industry, maybe even trillion dollars given the amount of seedier stuff that was stopped too, had been completely and totally upended overnight. We had to be prepared to grow rapidly to minimize another upset as much as possible, people rushing to get in on the ground floor, others stewing over long wait times to encompass their cities or even countries. There was even a chance that some porn would piss people off more than no porn because they'd think it a tease for what they could be having. Although it was less likely given women were still my property and if I wanted to play make-believe entrepreneur with my property that shouldn't bother anyone with how I did it. There were still so many edge cases though, we just couldn't predict....

Hardly ideal for my very first capital venture. I was jumping into the deep end and I was drowning before I even got my feet wet. Every day was more stressful than the last now that I was aware of just one nuke I had to disarm. I could practically hear a timer ticking in my head louder and louder.

Claudia had miraculously become my beacon of sanity through it all though. I really wasn't expecting our relationship to go anywhere once I started this idea... honestly I didn't even think about her at all at first. Claudia was the only person that seemed excited by the idea itself, even Marcus wasn't interested enough in reviving the porn industry to actually volunteer, but Claudia had grown so much more interested in me since than it was frankly hard to forget about her. I suspected her interest was more in my controlling large swaths of women like some evil conqueror... but it still felt nice to have someone gushing words of encouragement and doing everything she could to help me relax.

"It's not that big of a deal master! You own her too!" Claudia whisper in my ear, rubbing my shoulders while I nervously bounced my leg.

Today wasn't one of the days where she was helping me relax though.

"She's still your girlfriend though! This is a big deal!" I muttered back. I couldn't even muster half chub at having her call me master.

A few days earlier she had accidentally called me 'babe,' after a brief and flirty discussion about it, I'd decided that if we were getting familiar enough for her to use pet names on me, I may as well make her use one that made me feel powerful rather than loved. Between having to choose **** labour, as well as my passive influence on her mind, 'love' didn't really feel deserved, or even the correct emotion anymore. She jumped me the first time I proposed the idea though so she was having maybe even more fun than me with it.

"It's like meeting your family isn't it? This is a huge step!" I added finally stopping my leg bouncing long enough to give her a side eye.

I couldn't understand why I was more nervous than she was. Shouldn't she want us both to like each other?

"It really isn't." Claudia chuckled, "First of all we're in an open relationship, not a poly-amorous one. Introducing partners isn't usually expected or even that common. But most of all, I already told you she thinks you owning other girls is hot, she's already a big fan of the idea of you, you're already half-way there."

I stopped bouncing my leg at that. I was still nervous to be sure, but her words did take a weight off my chest. The problem still remained that this wasn't just a friendly meeting, I had business to discuss. Yeah taking advantage of my ownership meant I'd get what I wanted in the end, but it still felt wrong, if the world was still normal it would be wrong and it was hard to forget that just a couple weeks ago everything was normal. I still didn't even know every little faucet of what my control meant either. I still wasn't sure if Cassandra had been over committing to her previous personality change or if I'd just phrased my order poorly. There was a chance personality, or personal opinions had influence on how my orders would be followed. Hell I wasn't sure if my intention or the individuals interpretation of an order took precedent. At times it felt like it could be either one depending on the woman, or even just the order it self. It was like this magic didn't follow any actual rules, or maybe it's rules just didn't make sense to a non-wizard....

In the end, there wasn't much I could actually do other than wait. As soon as Claudia had gotten word that Renee's plane had touched down she sent me the message and I'd hurried over, but the airport was a fair bit further from Claudia's place than mine was so we had time to kill. Despite the fact that Claudia seemed perpetually horny ever since I started this whole thing, and despite her words to calm me down, she must've been at least a little nervous too because she didn't suggest once we had sex while we waited, so we just had small talk.

It was a good thing too, ten minutes, that felt like an hour, later and there was a knock on the door.

"You finally made it!" Claudia squealed almost as soon as she swung her door open.

"I couldn't keep my pet waiting, could I?" Renee smugly sauntered in, grabbing Claudia by the back of the head and kissing her deeply.

I'd seen Renee over the phone, including various pictures Claudia had, but seeing her in person was a different feeling. For one she was a lot smaller on the phone, it didn't help that her black, studded combat boots had a thick sole that gave her a few more inches on top. She was pale skinned and had pink hair swooped to one side with the other side of her head shaved down to an also dyed peach fuzz, I noticed a pattern shaved into it as well, though I couldn't quite figure out what. It looked like a stylized bird maybe? She had a whole array of jingling piercings on one ear, the side her hair swooped to, with only a few in the other ear along with simple ring in one nostril. Her pants were shiny black leather that clung to her legs like plastic wrap with a black leather jacket up top to match.

When she broke away from the deep kiss she was giving Claudia, leaving the other girl breathless, while she herself still seemed cool and collected she finally looked my way and fixed me with a hard stare,

"So this is my illustrious owner in the flesh?"

"Uh... ta-da?" I gave her a weak, sympathetic shrug.

As much as I hated to admit it I couldn't help but shrink at her gaze. In person she had a commanding aura, she stood proud of who she was and was clearly unafraid to show it. It certainly didn't help that I wanted to get on her good side before I started asking favors.

As luck would have it my stupid remark cracked a smile on her stern face and she rubbed her forehead with her fingertips,

"So stupid...." Her pearly white smile belied that she was more amused than anything though, "Claudia said you wanted to meet me, so I suppose there's no real point delaying, how did you want to do this?"

I stared at her silently for a good long moment a little confused by her abrupt shift to business. Eventually the right neurons fired however,

"You mean, sex?"

"That's why you wanted to meet Claudia's lesbian girlfriend isn't it?" Renee's eyebrow arched quizzically.

"Nnnn...ooo?" As much as I wanted to say 'no' much more firmly, I couldn't help but hesitate as my cock started to stir at the mere offer.

Renee recoiled in surprise, her eyes going wide and a smirk creasing one corner of her lips,

"Huh? Colour me surprised. And here I thought my owner of all people would be jumping at the chance to try and fuck me and Claudia together, especially after what you've been doing with her."

I felt my cheeks going a little hot as I glanced Claudia's direction, she wouldn't meet my eyes though....,

"Well... I'm not gonna say that wasn't on my bucket list, but I had more important things to start with."

Renee gave an amused scoff and rolled her eyes at the threat of a threesome but she was still smirking,

"Of course... still... more important than sex with two of your toys? I think I'm already getting a picture of what Claudia sees in you." Her eyes roamed up an down my body before her shoulders bounced with a quick, inaudible scoff.

I raised my eyebrow at that.

Catching sight of my expression we both looked at Claudia but she was now far more interested in her apartments ceiling than either of us,

"Well the short of it is she talks about a lot more than just how you play with her mind, so I got the feeling this was more than just having fun serving her purpose but I honestly didn't understand any of it until now. And not just because I've been on a cock free diet for...oof... ten plus years? Since college...." Renee squinted her eyes as she tried to remember just when her last dick must've been, but quickly seemed to give up with a shrug.

"Oh really?"

"Mmmhhh..." Renee sucked in her lips for a moment apparently in thought again before she quickly shook her head, "Your thing first. Unless you feel like ordering me, we can gossip later. I wanna get these boots off and sit down." She flapped her hand at me dismissively before turning her back on me completely.

"Master doesn't like ordering women around for no reason. He prefer's them 'natural.'" Claudia cleared her throat, the topic no longer around her she was happy to join the conversation.

Renee let out a chuckle,

"Is that what he's said, or what you've seen, pet?"

I couldn't help but feel there was an edge to her voice, it didn't feel like that was an honest question anymore. In fact since she first got here she seemed... on guard. She was just as quick to offer sex as any other woman I'd met lately, but there was something behind that, that I couldn't quite place....

Just a couple weeks ago I would've been dancing around the topic, trying to find a way to feel it out as naturally as possible without making things worse, but being her owner, even if Claudia was right, I didn't want to manipulate her if I didn't have too, it made confrontation so much easier when I started viewing woman as uncooperative objects rather than people who's feelings mattered.... still had some self-depreciative-guilt to unpack there, but all things in time,

"Yeah, this doesn't need to be an order, but I would like to know, why do you seem so defensive?"

Renee stopped unlacing her boots to look at me, wide-eyed, for a moment, clearly caught off guard by the question before her brow furrowed,

"I'm not–"

"Look I've been on the receiving end of passive-aggression more than enough times to spot it. You've been scoffing at everything I say, and don't believe Claudia when she says something positive about me. I'd heard you were chill with me, but is there some nerve here I accidentally stepped on?"

Renee now looked full on like a deer in headlights for a good several seconds before she blew out a long sigh,

"Have I really?" She seemed genuinely surprised by the revelation and her stern features softened significantly, like she was finally relaxing, "I promise I didn't mean too."

"Okay, but I'd still like to know why. Do you have a problem with me being with Claudia?"

She laughed. Loudly.

"Being a man?"

She pulled the corner of her mouth back and winced.

"That I own you?"

"Okay, I'm gonna stop you there." Renee held up a head and barked authoritatively, I hated to admit it but I kind of flinched when she did, "That's like bitching about the weather. Waste of fucking time. I'd prefer being the owner myself, and yeah, being owned by some hot chick would be my second choice, but shit happens and we all just have to move on." She then gave a dismissive shrug, "Like I said, I didn't mean to, so let's just drop it."

I wasn't crazy about being the shit that happens, but I completely understood that part, the fact she was still being so cold and avoiding the topic entirely was a different story though,

"No."

My refusal immediately hung in the air as everyone grew tense.

"Um, Master?" Claudia tried to step between us sympathetically, clearly wanting to diffuse the situation, but I didn't need her too, not when I was talking to one of my things.

"I am ordering you now. What is your prob–" I caught myself, not this fucking time. Fool me thrice... you just can't fool me again, "Why are you being so passive aggressive?"

It was like a switch was flipped, Renee's entire body loosened up as the choice to be defensive was stripped away, the only thing that was left was a tired resignation,

"I told you the truth, I really don't know... there's just... something about you after meeting you in person."

Now we were finally getting somewhere... but it wasn't enough,

"Well think about it real hard and figure it out." It honestly hadn't even crossed my mind what that could've possible meant, but giving orders was always a bit of a rush, it made me feel powerful, and embarrassing as it was to admit, I felt threatened by her confidence. I was pretty much just posturing, but as soon as the words left my lips Renee sucked in a deep, loud breath an blinked hard a few times before pursing her lips and staring at the floor silently for an awkward amount of time.

Though to be fair anything more than a few seconds of silence in this situation would've been awkward.

As soon as I started to feel like I should maybe give her a different order however, she looked up at me with a confident stare. There was no aggression or accusation to it, but I flinched once again all the same, there was something piercing about her pale-green eyes, about the confidence that came from someone that seemed to have their life under control...,

"Well... I guess you being a man and my owner technically is a part of it, but the main issue is... I honestly can't think of a better word, submissive."

I blinked a few times as it was now apparently her turn for her words to hang awkwardly in the air. This time however, Claudia wasn't rushing to defend anyone, she was instead holding back a giggle behind her hand. I started to blush in embarrassment but Renee continued, frankly I had no idea what to say anyways,

"I'm really not sure how to act around you since we just met, but after you said we were definitely going to be fucking some time, I guess I just kind of... defaulted to treating you like one of my subs. You seemed so nervous and deferential it just kind of felt the most normal." Renee gave a shrug with an apologetic grimace.

Now Claudia was full on giggling

As soon as Renee was done explaining however she let out a heavy sigh and plopped onto her ass, kicked out her legs – with boots still half-laced – and threw her hands behind her to hold herself up,

"Fucking christ... that was... spooky." Renee shivered before snapping her head forward to look at me again, "Spooky good. It was like I lost control of my brain for a second and I was watching someone else root through it to piece together a thought using my own ideas."

"Okay... um... yeah I'm not one of your subs so we're gonna have to stop that" I couldn't maintain eye contact anymore Claudia's giggling wasn't helping, but I was too embarrassed to continue.

"Well then stop acting like one." Renee sneered. It wasn't condescending like my step-sister was so good at though, now it was more like she was stating the obvious and she was shocked I didn't know that already, "Less of... this, and more of telling me what to do and controlling my brain."

"Wait, you'd want that?"

"Pfft, 'want?' still acting like a sub my guy! You own me, what I want doesn't fucking matter." She then pushed out her bottom lip and flicked her eyes to the side as a thought had struck her, Kinda goes both ways too I guess come to think of it..., I'm not really a switch, and I'm one-hundred-percent gay, but none of that seems to matter when I think about you having your way with me. Still not ideal but... eh." Almost as soon as her thought was done she let out a wince and started to rub her temples, "Oof, I think my mind is still settling down from your last order. I don't normally think that deeply about shit...."

"Fuck, sorry – I mean, good bitch. Your mind is... my bitch too...?"

Renee started laughing loudly again,

"Nice try! It's fucking start at least!"

"Right... um, before we get too much further off track, and before I end up fucking your mind too much, the whole point of meeting you was because Claudia said you'd know something about setting up a website... thing, for a business I want, well, kind of need to start now..."

"Oh yeah, she said something about you wanting a woman catalogue or some shit?"

"Well more specifically just pornstars, pro and amateur."

"She definitely didn't say that part. I'd fucking remember that!" Renee snapped giving Claudia a mock angry glare.

"Kind of... all porn stars. Not at first, but the plan is to have a pretty big catalogue."

"So like, just a wiki kind of deal or..."

"More like a government kind of deal. The main idea is to give out licenses to grant women the autonomy to control what they produce completely, while also earning back operating costs since they're probably going to be pretty huge once we go world-wide."

"You're probably gonna need to look into renting, or buying data centers to keep track of that much info, and if you're accepting payments you're going to need to be PCI DSS compliant which is gonna need some real pro web-developers, I wouldn't trust that to some basement coders...." Renee immediately started rattling of some needs and counting them off on her fingers, "I don't know anyone that could work on anything that serious on the backend, but I know some people that should know some people. I can make some calls."

I stared at her for a good few seconds waiting for her to continue, but she didn't,

"Uh, was there more, guy?"

"Wha– no, I mean, if you're not the person to talk to we, I mean my team can discuss details with someone else, just... that's it? I wasn't expecting you to agree just like that...."

"Why the fuck not? I'm sending my friends, and their friends work, like...." Renee threw up her hands clearly as confused as I was, though for a different reason, "Wait, you don't want to pay them in exposure or anything do you?"

"No, I definitely want to pay people properly, that's half the reason we're going to start small so I actually can."

"Okay then.... this honestly could've just been a phone call then....."

I buried my face in my hands and started rubbing my eyes hard. This was so much work and so much stress... why did I even fucking bother with this entire premise?

"Will you people shut the fuck up!" A screech came from down the hallway, Sophia, Claudia's roommate, dressed in a pink nightie covered in strawberries came stomping down the hallway, her face a storm cloud of frustration, "I just got off a twelve hour shift! It's my first fucking day off this week and I'm still trying to recover! What the fuck did I tell you Claudia about inviting...." The words caught in her throat as she started to pout, looking at both me and Renee on the floor, but her eyes especially lingering on me I noted, she was clearly hesitant to say anything about me. Though I got the feeling it was less out of fear or reverance and more it was hard for her to be upset at her owner since I could apparently do no wrong to women, even if she was annoyed.

"Oh fuck!" Claudia yelped, her eyes wide and her face going pale, "I totally forgot to tell them! I'm so fucking sorry!"

"You're sor...." Sophia grabbed her temples and bit her lip for a moment before just deflating with a defeated sigh, "For fuck sake... what are you even screaming about out here?"