The Price of Obedience Pt. 01

The Price of Obedience

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Author's note: Hi everyone, this is my first time trying out the BDSM genre so this is just a teaser for what's to come. Big thanks to bethany_s for helping me with my questions on BDSM and providing some much needed insight on the female perspective. Be sure to check out her work as well!

To save people some time, if you're looking for a quick wank, this story was not meant for you, sorry :/. This series is meant to be a slow burn which builds over time and gets spicier as it goes along. Part 1 is mostly a setup for the rest of the series.

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Ch 1.

Brianna Keyes lazily scrolled through her Instagram notifications. She relished the attention that she received from her 500,000 followers. It had become an addiction for her. The crave for validation. She was a slave to it. It drove every aspect of her life. Her lifestyle was funded almost completely from her sponsorships with large clothing companies and lifestyle brands. She prided herself on the fact she had never needed an OnlyFans to make it big, though some might argue that Instagram was hardly any better.

Her sex life was boring. She had had many partners, an overwhelming amount, but lately she couldn't stay interested in most men long enough to last longer than a week. She would usually go from one one night stand to another. Of course she only dated the hottest guys and the funny charmers, but they were all so bland with no personality. One pretty face blended into the next. Her DM's had no lack of guys eager to 'conquer' the girl of their dreams yet as soon as she met them, they turned into putty in her hands. Just a bunch of simpering sycophants, willing to say or do whatever she asked so they could have even a sliver of a chance to get in bed with her. Even worse, were the rude classless douchebags who flooded her with unsolicited dick pics as if seeing some guy's crusty genitals would somehow make her swoon at their feet.

Then one message caught her eye. The name on his profile was Adrian West and his pictures showed a guy in his thirties with elegantly tousled brown hair and a chiseled jawline-- sharp enough to cut glass. He seemed to be some sort of big shot hedge fund manager. She clicked on the message. It read.

I heard you like to be edged. You're just begging for a man like me to tame you.

She almost laughed out loud. This guy had some balls. Didn't he realize how corny he sounded? She decided to send a snarky reply.

Uhm wow.. over-confident much?

His response was instant.

I can see it in your stories. Your posture, your attitude. You're just a spoiled little brat who's begging to be dominated. I can do that for you... if you ask nicely.

His confidence was extremely irritating and off putting, yet somehow she couldn't help responding. Her ego simply could not stand his know-it-all tone. Annoyed, she quickly typed a message.

I have hundreds of thousands of followers. Why in the world would I ever need to ask you for anything?

A few seconds later.

You think any of them could give you what you truly want? You want a pretty boy lapdog who does whatever you tell him or you want a man who can handle a spoiled brat like you?

She rolled her eyes. His continued use of the word 'brat' was starting to piss her off. Who did he think he was? Smirking slightly at her response she clicked send.

Yeah? You're hardly the first person to tell me that. All these 'alphas' who claim they can 'handle' me... I have them all wrapped around my finger.

Brianna waited impatiently for his reply. As the seconds slowly turned to minutes she began to get more irritated. Had he decided she wasn't worth the trouble?

Finally, she got a message notification. This time there was a picture attached.

Oh I'm sure you love making them your playthings. But they don't know how to keep you in check. You need some proper discipline.

Underneath was a picture of a table with a flogger and ropes on top.

Brianna's heart started to race at the implication. Why was she acting like this? It was just a picture from some rando. Grateful to be behind a screen, she took a few deep breaths to compose herself before responding.

Yeah.. I'll pass. Not looking to get assaulted.

She waited with bated breath for his reply.

Oh believe me, you'd enjoy every second of it. I'd have you moaning my name in no time.But talk is cheap. Don't believe me? Let's meet up. I'll show you.

Brianna blushed, her cheeks heating up as she read his words. How dare he? She put down her phone. Pfft. As if she'd meet up with a psychopath. Still... his pictures seemed nice enough and although his cocky attitude really annoyed her, there was something about his tone that she found oddly intriguing. Hardly believing that she was even considering it, she sent another message, her fingers shaking slightly as she did so. If they were going to meet up though, it would definitely have to be at a public location with lots of people... potential witnesses. Just in case.

Okay, let's grab a coffee then. Are you in New York?

Her phone dinged again.

I don't do coffee. 8:00 PM. Le Seraphin.

She blinked.

Excuse me?

It was the sheer dismissal of her suggestion, as if her opinion didn't even matter, that threw her off balance. In the past, whenever she suggested a place, if she even deigned to do so, her adoring flings would immediately jump at the chance. No one had ever turned her down, let alone suggested a different place.

I don't do coffee.

Just like that. No discussion. No compromise.

She started to type out a sharp response. Then she paused and deleted it.

She let out a huff of annoyance. He hadn't even asked if she was free. Dinner. 8 PM. Who did he think he was, just deciding for her?

Yeah, no thanks bub.

She typed out the short reply, her finger hovering over the send button.

Then the realization slowly hit. Le Seraphin?

This wasn't just some trendy spot for influencers to take photos at and pretend to be somebodies. This was the real deal. The kind of place where reservations were made months in advance, where celebrities dined behind velvet curtains, and where the wine list alone cost more than most people's rent. She and her friends had been trying for weeks to get a reservation and they had always been met with a dismissive rebuff by the maitre d. How could he just casually invite her there, today? The dude was clearly delusional or trolling.

But... still. Le Seraphin. If this was real, it was too good of a chance to pass up. Even if she had to endure his obnoxious controlling attitude.

She deleted her message and struggled through a few drafts before finally settling on a simple message.

Fine.

Tapping send, she tossed the phone on the bed. While his tone still irked her, there was something about his confidence that had made her wet. She shifted uncomfortably in her chair. Her eyes widened. She reached down between her legs and felt her panties beneath her skirt. They were soaked.

Ch 2.

Brianna spent the next few hours agonizing over what to wear. She had wanted to impress him, perhaps intimidate him with her sense of fashion but if he could easily get reservations at such an exclusive establishment, there wasn't much in her wardrobe that was likely to impress him.

Brianna finally settled on a form fitting black satin dress from Saint Laurent with a daring slit. She matched it with a pair of strappy Louboutin stilettos, a nice set of earrings, and her Hermes clutch bag. She carefully laid everything out on the bed, and began the long process of doing her makeup and hair.

By seven, she had finished dolling herself up and she looked stunning. Brianna admired herself in the full length mirror. Swishing her dress from side to side, she smirked at her reflection. She was going to turn heads. Brianna was determined to make Adrian eat his words. Let's see how confident he was once he saw her in her designer dress and her makeover.

Her phone dinged. Her uber was here. Taking one final look at herself, she blew her reflection a kiss and hurried out to catch her ride.

As her Uber pulled in front of the gleaming entrance of Le Seraphin, a valet in a sharp black suit opened her door and gave her a polite nod as she stepped onto the curb. Adjusting her dress and clutching her Hermes bag close to her, she took a deep breath and pushed through the wrought iron doors and entered into the softly lit lobby. The impeccably dressed maitre d greeted her warmly.

"Bonsoir madame, welcome to Le Seraphin. May I have your name for the reservation?" he said with a slight accent.

"Adrian West." she replied, a little uncertainly.

His eyes lit up. "Ah, Miss Keyes. We have been expecting you. Right this way." He guided her through the restaurant, the sounds of conversation and the quiet clank of cutlery on plates accompanying them as they passed through the elegantly dressed patrons seated in the dining area. As she walked past the other diners, she was gratified to see more than a few admiring gazes and discreet looks pass her way, including some jealous looks by some of the female patrons.

Her eyes widened as they approached the coveted private alcoves separated by velvet curtains towards the back of the restaurant. As they neared the booth she saw Adrian sitting comfortably in one of the high backed, plush chairs, exuding an unmistakable air of confidence. He was even more handsome in person but it wasn't just his looks.

Adrian wore a dark navy suit-- perfectly tailored. The crisp white shirt, collar unbuttoned at the top, hinted at a man who dictated the rules and didn't follow them. He had an aura about him, a presence that drew her in.

"Here you are." said the maitre d, stepping back to allow Brianna to pass him. Adrian got up gracefully from his seat and pulled out a chair for Brianna. As he did so, his eyes traveled up and down her Saint Laurent dress, and he gave her an appreciative nod, giving Brianna a boost of confidence.

"Thank you." she said as she took her seat gracefully, making sure to keep her posture straight. She was determined to show Adrian she was not intimidated by his poise and to leave her own impression on him. Adrian smirked as if he could see right through her display and took his seat as well.

"Your server will be right with you." The maitre d bowed and left.

Brianna fidgeted nervously, still clutching her bag. She looked around at the extravagance, feeling a bit out of place and not quite able to meet Adrian's eyes just yet. After a moment she said, "This is quite a reservation you managed to pull." Finally she looked at him only to find him gazing at her intently.

He chuckled and leaned back, completely at ease, in sharp contrast to her own nervousness. "I may know the owner."

Unsure how to respond to that, Brianna covered her momentary blanking by placing her clutch bag on the table. Without missing a beat, Adrian took her bag and hung it on a purse hook by the side of the table.

"It's better this way." He said, calm and composed. "Keeps things out of the way, don't you think?"

Brianna felt the color rise in her cheeks when she realized her mistake. Trying to hide her embarrassment and draw attention away from her error, she tried to change the subject. "So you don't like coffee?"

"Oh, I like coffee just fine, Miss Keyes. I just don't do coffee dates." He said locking eyes with her.

"Why not?" She asked curiously. She tried to hold his gaze, but his stormy grey eyes were too intense and she looked down at the cutlery.

"In my experience, coffee dates are for those who don't know what they want." He paused a moment before continuing. "Rushed conversations and quick meetings are not conducive to a long term relationship, in business or in pleasure."

Before she could respond their waiter arrived at the table, carrying two iced waters.

"Good evening. I will be taking care of you tonight. Please let me know if there is anything you need." He set the waters down and placed down two menus before politely asking, "Would you like to start with a cocktail or perhaps a glass of wine this evening?"

Brianna took a moment to glance at the menu, but before she could speak, Adrian casually said, "Bring us a bottle of Chateau Margaux."

Her eyes flicked to his in annoyance. "I can order for myself, you know." She said miffed.

Adrian smirked, then inclined his head slightly and gave her a polite gesture to continue. Brianna glanced at the menu, the heat rising in her cheeks as she tried to quickly scan for the wine list. Sensing her discomfort the waiter smoothly flipped to the right page. Her eyes widened when she saw the prices of some of the choices and her throat felt dry. She was at a loss for words. The Chateau Margaux was listed at eighteen hundred dollars.

"Madame?" prompted the waiter.

"Uhm." Brianna felt her ears burning.

Adrian stepped in, saving her from further embarrassment. "We'll go with Chateau Margaux."

"Excellent choice sir, I'll be out with it shortly." nodded the waiter.

"Do you enjoy ordering for other people?" asked Brianna, annoyed, when the waiter had left.

He raised his hands apologetically, still smirking. "My mistake. I shouldn't have assumed."

Brianna took a sip of her water. The silence grew. She expected him to try and break the awkward tension yet he seemed totally content to let it stew. It was a test. She knew it. She stubbornly avoided looking at him not wanting to break first. Feeling the weight of his gaze, she snuck a glance at him, only to see he was still smiling, completely at ease, just staring at her with his intense, unreadable grey eyes.

Unable to stand the uncomfortable silence any longer she caved. "So.. you're supposed to be some sort of big shot hedge fund manager?"

His lips curled, as if acknowledging his victory in their battle of wills. She tried to ignore it.

He chuckled dryly. "I do alright for myself."

She let out a small scoff. Did he really think she was too stupid to realize everything about this date was calculated to impress her?

The waiter returned holding a bottle of wine and a couple wine glasses. He showed Adrian the label, who nodded, barely glancing at it. He set the glasses on the table and uncorked the bottle expertly, pouring a small amount into one of the glasses for Adrian to taste. Adrian swirled the wine lazily before bringing it to his lips. He nodded after a moment. The waiter took his cue and poured a glass for each of them. He swept up the bottle and turned to leave.

Adrian stuck out a hand, stopping him. "You can leave the bottle."

"As you wish." The waiter put the bottle down and left.

Brianna stared at him. "Is this supposed to impress me?"

Adrian gave her an innocent look. "What?"

"This." she repeated, gesturing all around her. "The last minute reservation, the private booth, the overpriced wine."

Adrian grinned and looked her in the eye. "Is it working?"

Brianna ignored the question, deciding to instead take a sip of her own glass. The truth was it had worked, but she had no intention of telling him. In any case, judging from the confident look on his face, Adrian had already come to his own conclusion about the matter. She let the wine swirl in her mouth before swallowing. The flavors were rich, complex, velvety -- definitely much better than anything she had. Not that she was a connoisseur. Her experiences with wine were limited to outings with friends at rooftop bars and the occasional Rose at influencer brunches.

"How is it?"

She pursed her lips. "It's good."

"At the price they're charging, it'd better be good." he said dryly.

She picked up the menu, then noticed he hadn't touched his. "You already know what you're getting?"

He leaned back, a strand of his elegantly tousled hair falling in front of his eyes as he did so. "I don't need a menu." He said casually.

The implication was not subtle and Brianna picked up on it immediately. He ate here often enough to not need to see the suggestions. She looked down at the menu, the options were all so exciting. Her eyes finally settled on the dish of her choice. She closed the menu and looked up only to see Adrian's intense gaze on her again. This time however, there was a spark of mischief in his eyes.

"What?" she asked suspiciously, feeling self-conscious.

He shook his head slightly. "Ready?"

She nodded.

Almost immediately, a waiter appeared at their table, almost as though they had been watching them the whole time. At an establishment as fancy as this, they probably had.

"Ready to order?" asked the waiter, glancing first at Adrian.

Adrian smiled, not taking his eyes off of Brianna. "I'll have the Dover Sole Meuniere." he said. His pronunciation was perfect. "You should try it as well. It's quite exquisite."

The waiter turned to Brianna. "And for you, Madame?"

Brianna's mouth formed an O as she stared at him in disbelief. Had he purposely picked the dish she was looking at to annoy her? Having already agreed to the same wine from earlier, if she picked the same dish again she would look like she was, again, simply copying his order. Not wanting to open the menu and reveal her dilemma, she quickly said the first dish that came to mind. "I'll have the Tournedos Rossini."

Adrian raised an eyebrow at her words but didn't say anything, opting simply to study her carefully. Brianna averted her eyes once more, hoping she hadn't revealed anything.

"Excellent choices. And for starters?"

"We'll skip the starters." said Adrian.

"Excellent." repeated the waiter. He took their menus, gave a small bow, and left.

Brianne sat there simmering, barely concealed irritation coloring her face. She had really wanted the Dover Sole. It was the perfect dish for her Instagram feed and a personal favorite-- one that was light and elegant and would've showcased her fine taste. She had really wanted to see what it would taste like prepared by such an upscale restaurant as Le Seraphin with its impressive retinue of Michelin star chefs.

"You know, I am quite partial to Tournedos Rossini. If you'd like, we could trade dishes." said Adrian, breaking through Brianna's irritation. Brianna looked at him hopefully only to see Adrian sitting there with his lips pressed together, hiding barely suppressed laughter.

"You did that on purpose!" she exclaimed, her suspicions now confirmed.

"Did what?" he said innocently but there was a twinkle in his eyes.

"You waited to see what I'd pick and then you purposely picked it first so I'd pick something else." she accused, glaring at him.

He chortled, unable to hold it in any longer.

"Why?" she asked, half annoyed, half curious.

"I wanted to see how you'd react. I like to understand the people I acquaint myself with, to get inside their head, so to speak. Given your predisposition to rebel, I had a feeling you would deliberately pick something else. So I figured you would go with the Rossini." He explained.

She stared at him trying to find words. "Even if I were to believe you somehow calculated all that, how could you possibly know I would go with the Rossini. There were so many other options to choose from. You're just pretending to know everything."