Taming the Beast (Snow)

[CADENCE HIGGINS]

Cadence was in attendance because she was required to be. She was the Gargoyle leader's secretary; not the flashiest job in the world, but one that required her to attend functions such as this seeing as she was at Robert Snow's beck and call. She was used to it by now. In the early days of her position she had felt anxious trying to put up a front while still maintaining composure, but now it was second nature. Plus he hadn't been bothering her all evening. Peter had been the one to stand by the mans side, which suited Cadence just fine.

She was wearing a long teal dress, peacock feathers accenting her clutch, shoes and ears. Her mask was checkered black, teal and silver and her hair was in soft curls and swept over her shoulders and cascading down towards her chest. She had been asked to dance several times, each time kindly declining. She wasn't there to dance. She was there because she had been instructed to be.

The woman sat by herself, watching the people move elegantly across the dance floor, a drink constantly in her hand. When she ran out she simply obtained a fresh one and continued her watch over the ball. Her eyes periodically landed on her boss, and she had been interested when he approached a young man who had been dancing with a woman in an elegant, plum dress. What business did Robert have with him? Perhaps he would borrow his date as he had Mr. Witt. She noted neither Witt or his date were around anymore either. Did Robert need to ruin everyone's evening?

Her cellphone buzzing made it clear that whoever Robert had just confronted, he wanted escorted from the masquerade. She looked at her phone, staring at the digits she knew meant backup, and her eyes moved easily to Peter as he made his way across the floor, collecting a few other gentleman to aid in whatever was happening outside. Her green eyes moved to the blond who had been the man's date. She looked lost and confused and Cadence felt a tinge of pity for her. She might not even know what he was.

Moments later Robert made his way back into the hall empty handed and Cadence sighed. Another one bites the dust. Finishing her drink, she got up and casually made her way to him, coming to his side and not bothering to look up at him. "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, sir." She said softly, loud enough for him to hear. It was her off beta way of trying to pull information from him. "Can't you relax and enjoy yourself for one evening?"

[ROBERT SNOW]

Robert was getting more and more irritated as the night wore on. First, there was seeing Witt with his Blurr. At least Maxine proved somewhat amusing and he hadn’t seen them for the rest of the evening. Almost immediately after, there was the Davenport incident. Robert was grateful Peter was there to assist him with that task, though he made sure his assistant Cadence was aware of the situation. If push came to shove, she would need to call in reinforcements for him. Thankfully, there was no need for that. That situation resolved, he had been on his way back to near where his assistant had made herself comfortable when a familiar face caught his eye. Eponine was there with her former client Micah Stokes, a strange pair in his opinion. Eponine didn’t usually mix her professional and personal lives, and he had been convinced they weren’t really an item. Evidently, he was wrong about that as well. He had danced with her, curious to know if there was any way the past seven years had changed her decision to never take their relationship further than a professional one. For the third time that evening, he had been disappointed. She was somehow involved with Stokes, though she wouldn’t say how. Still, he was considering promoting her. She was one of very few people unafraid of the council, and he liked that about her. He liked the ambition she had for the council and restoring it to something like what it once was, perhaps better. Politically, Eponine was quite bold.

After his dance with her, he let her return to Stokes, coming back at last to where he stood with Peter at his side. He hardly noticed Cadence, since she had been sitting and quietly observing most of the night. When she spoke, it surprised him a little, and he brought his eyes to her quickly. “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, sir.” She wasn’t looking at him, but he knew she was speaking to him. Her voice was just soft enough that only the two of them could hear. “Can’t you relax and enjoy yourself for one evening?” A smirk curled the corners of his lips as he watched couples dancing once again. “Who said I wasn’t enjoying myself?” he retorted. Indeed, as frustrating as this was, he was somewhat enjoying himself. He had planted the seed of doubt in a relationship between one of his kind and one of Periwinkle’s kind. He had apprehended a fugitive of Gargoyle law. Lastly, he had danced with a lovely Gargoyle woman. One had to take the good with the bad. His eyes turned back to his assistant beside him. “You know my work is never over, Cadence.”

Now that the evening seemed to be winding down once more, he took a good look at what the lovely lady beside him was wearing. Peacock feathers accented her lovely ensemble, making him think of the bird those feathers came from. Proud, beautiful and hungry for the spotlight. Cadence exhibited all those qualities except the last. Why would a quiet girl like Cadence want to call attention to herself with such an outfit? It wasn’t doing her any good where they were standing. “Have I mentioned how lovely you look tonight?” he said low enough so only they could hear. His voice was so deep, it tended to carry, but he didn’t want others overhearing him compliment his assistant. He liked to keep his affairs quiet. “Would you care to dance?” Having a dance with his assistant would be interpreted by those around them who knew them as nothing more than a nicety. Truth was, he wanted to admire something delectable without the fuss that had come with his previous partners.

[CADENCE HIGGINS]

“Who said I wasn’t enjoying myself?” he retorted, making Cadence look up at him through her mask, her head tilted ever so slightly to the side as she studied him. From day one she had very mixed feelings about the man. There was no denying he was cruel, and she had every right to believe that he'd harmed her brother intentionally, but there was something about him that thrilled her. He was a strong leader and he demanded respect. He demanded everything, really. She didn't hate his presence as much as she wanted to, though, and she hated how much she didn't hate him. Cadence often wondered if there were some sort of afterlife, if her brother was watching her and shaking his head. She'd done things she wasn't entirely proud of and used him as an excuse, but deep down she didn't dislike the things she'd done. Not to the degree she should, anyway.

“You know my work is never over, Cadence.” The smile was a slight one. She didn't often smile bright for anyone, especially Robert. "Which means neither is mine." She shot back coyly, looking away once more as she walked beside him. She felt his eyes on her and she found she welcomed it instead of shying from it as she once had. “Have I mentioned how lovely you look tonight?”

Cadence looked up once more, green eyes smoldering as she stared at the man she loved to despise. "A compliment?" She teased softly and shook her head. "No. You haven't, Robert." There seemed to be an almost mutual respect between them, or so Cadence liked to believe. He didn't bully her often, but he demanded quick action when there was something he needed. She knew he didn't see her as an equal, not even close, but she knew that by his treatment there was at least something resembling respect for her. Maybe it was because she didn't cower the way others did, even when he yelled. She was rarely afraid of him, a trait she had built up from years of hating him. Also, death didn't scare her as it should. What was her life worth? Nothing. There was little she could do other than take Snow down and if she failed at that, she really had nothing else. It was her single mission in life.

“Would you care to dance?” He'd danced with two other women so far that evening, so she wasn't all that surprised when he asked her. Snow certainly liked showing off, and she was no different than any other fine accessory her wore, just as those other women had been. Cadence was under the strict impression that Robert cared for himself alone.

Ever the quiet one, she offered her hand to him and allowed him to sweep her onto the dance floor. She wished the idiot boy behind the counter had made her drinks stiffer, but the museum likely had told the bartenders to be stingy with the alcohol. This was a fundraiser, after all. Cadence plucked at a piece of lint on his lapel and moved her delicate fingers to his tie, straightening it with care before gliding her hand to his shoulder. It was habit to make him look his best. "I couldn't help but notice your need for backup." She mentioned gliding with him gently, her body close enough so their conversation could be intimate, but not so close that others might interpret their dance to be anything other than a formality. "Everything alright, sir?" She asked, calling him sir instead of by his name as she often did when discussing work related topics. She reserved Robert for when she wasn't necessarily acting like a secretary should.

[ROBERT SNOW]

Robert liked that Cadence responded more often with actions rather than words. In Robert’s overly articulated life, moments of silence were to be cherished. Cadence offered her delicate hand and Robert took it, sweeping her out onto the floor. She felt light and almost frail as his large hand came to her waist and her other hand remained in his. He watched her with his cold eyes as she groomed him, getting a silent pleasure out of the fact that she couldn’t stop working either, not when she was with him. He had come to enjoy the feel of those delicate hands, whether she was fixing his tie or taking it off. She was a beautiful woman and his to have when he wished. Their affair was quiet, clandestine, but he preferred it that way. He knew much more than he let on to Cadence about who she was and what she was after and the quieter they kept their more illicit rendezvous, the better. It would be much simpler if he didn’t indulge in her at all, but he was a man with needs.

“I couldn’t help but notice your need for backup.” His eyes remained on the green of her own as they glided across the dance floor. “Everything alright, sir?” He continued to be amused by her preference for calling him sir when they were talking about work or when she wanted him to feel more important. She was bold in her questioning, but Robert liked that she wasn’t afraid of him. So many people were and it made it difficult to work with them or take them seriously. He liked to be feared and knew it was appropriate for a leader to be so, but he despised when that fear showed. Cadence had very little to no fear of him and he respected that. Perhaps it was foolish, but commendable. “It’s taken care of now,” he replied simply at first. He saw that was less information than she wanted and he was in a giving mood this evening. His eyes panned around the room as he continued to speak softly. “Davenport decided to show his face. He’s now in custody and will be punished justly for mocking the council and Gargoyle law. The fucking idiot shouldn’t have come in the first place.” Cadence was probably the only person besides Peter who would ever hear his true feelings on certain topics. They were privy to almost every aspect of his life and were therefore the only ones he trusted with his opinions. Ironic that one of those people was out for his destruction.

He spun her, watching as she did so, admiring the way she moved. When he pulled her back to him, his hand went back to her waist and there was the smallest hint of a smile on his lips. “Perhaps I should have started the night with dancing with you. It might have put me in a better mood,” he commented, off-handedly telling her she was a good dancer. He found it a shame that he couldn’t hold her closer without others becoming suspicious. There would be time enough to have her close later.

[CADENCE HIGGINS]

Robert seemed reluctant to divulge too much information, but she accepted it without question. It would come out sooner or later; if not tonight then certainly in the days to come. Cadence was a patient woman and she could play the waiting game as well as anyone else. Turns out she didn't need to, though.

“Davenport decided to show his face. He’s now in custody and will be punished justly for mocking the council and Gargoyle law. The fucking idiot shouldn’t have come in the first place.” She was used to his swearing, but cocked a brow anyway at his strong tone. "That was foolish of him." She agreed, the gears in her mind already turning. Davenport in custody.. perhaps he could be of some use to her. Surely he would be spiteful. "Showing up to a function with you present? He must be a masochist. Only a masochist would beg to be punished at your hand, which was clearly the case. Sir." There was a glimmer in her eye and a ghost of a smile at the corners of her lips as she looked up at him. Her mind wandered to the times she'd displeased him and he'd lashed out in a less than professional manner. Davenport wouldn't receive the same types of punishment Cadence had at Snow's fierce hand, but she liked subtly bringing up her own punishments to thrill him. She knew he got off on the intense spankings, and she would be lying if she said she didn't also. She both loved and hated it; Cadence wasn't a fan of being humiliated and the way he treated her was often degrading and humiliating, but his powerful presence made it a turn on as well.

She turned into the spin easily, finding herself back in his arms and gliding her arm effortlessly over his shoulder once more. “Perhaps I should have started the night with dancing with you. It might have put me in a better mood,” She gave a gentle roll of her shoulders at his compliment, that tiny hint of a smile still at her lips. "Nonsense. It's always best to save the best for last. A man of your knowledge really should know that." Her tone was serious but it was clear she was teasing him, something she knew better to do. Despite their affair, she tried to keep things semi professional with him. He wasn't her friend. He was her boss, and her lover, and mostly her enemy. "Sorry, my judgement is mildly impaired considering how many drinks I've had. Would you be kind enough to forgive my infraction, sir?" She pleaded lightly, the coy, partial grin never leaving her lips, intending to get a rise out of him.

[ROBERT SNOW]

“Nonsense. It’s always best to save the best for last. A man of your knowledge really should know that.” Robert raised one arched brow at her words, unable to hide the smile that crept to his mouth. She was teasing him and he couldn’t deny he wanted to take the bait. Cadence liked to pretend she didn’t like what he did to her, but he had no trouble getting her off; it seemed to him that she was craving that treatment. He liked the thought of that. “You think you’re the best then, do you?” he asked in a tone bordering seductive. “Sorry, my judgment is mildly impaired considering how many drinks I’ve had. Would you be kind enough to forgive my infraction, sir?” He let a small smirk play at his lips, seeing her game perfectly. She was a Gargoyle—it would take much more than a couple drinks to get her impaired, but he played along. “It seems Davenport wasn’t the only masochist in attendance,” he replied softly, his hand squeezing lightly at her waist. If only he could do more.

He spun her once more, and when he pulled her back he was half tempted to grab a fistful of her hair and force her head back so he could nip at that long neck of hers. The way she sighed when he did that pleased him and he found himself thinking of it as they swept across the dance floor. “You know my forgiveness comes at a price, Cadence.” His voice was serious but with seductive undertones. He stared into her pretty eyes, his own calculating and intrigued. “I could think of a few ways you could make it up to me…” His voice was low so no one but the two of them could hear him talking to his secretary that way. Truthfully, there were more than a few ways she could please him, something he liked about Cadence. She put up a fight, but she didn’t protest too much, and inevitably she gave in.

Her feet moved lightly with his own and her delicate build made her quite enjoyable to watch. His irritation at several happenings in the night was slipping away during the course of the dance, and he had to wonder how his evening would end. “Do you have any plans after you leave here this evening? I may have some work I’ll need your help on.” His tone was professional, but he trusted she could decipher his meaning. After the night he’d had already, he could use Cadence’s help with winding down the night.

[CADENCE HIGGINS]

His smile let her know he was playing along and she lowered her head submissively, her eyes still gazing up into his. “It seems Davenport wasn’t the only masochist in attendance,” Cadence felt the squeeze at her side but she made no move indicating his sudden, rough touch. She saw the look in his eyes, recognizing it and getting that familiar churning sensation as she often did when he looked at her this way. She had invited it. Something about the masquerade had put her in a mood to want to deal with his shit tonight. She didn't feel this way everyday, and often his advances were uninvited, but tonight she had gone out of her way to provoke him. Cadence was apparently feeling generous.

“You know my forgiveness comes at a price, Cadence.” He said after he spun her, his tone clearly serious but she knew what he really meant. There was no emotion on her face as she looked up at him, words not needing to be said. “I could think of a few ways you could make it up to me…” Her hips moved lightly to the beat of the music as she looked deep into her bosses eyes, her smirk from before gone completely. She wasn't upset, but she was trying to play as though she were distraught by having to take whatever punishment he deemed fit, though it was clear in her eyes that this had no negative affect on her. "I'm certain whatever punishment you deem fit will more than make up for my offense." she offered, a gentle hunger in her voice for his stern hand. She hated the idea of him laying his fingers on her, but she thirsted for it.

“Do you have any plans after you leave here this evening? I may have some work I’ll need your help on.” He said it in such a way that if anyone were to overhear it they wouldn't suspect the meaning behind his words, but the girl wasn't a fool. Clearly he intended to dole out this "punishment" tonight.

"I believe we've established that our work is never over, sir. I'll still be on your clock when this soiree is over and I knew better than to make other plans. You own me tonight." She had the feeling that she might end up going home with him, or to his office so she made arrangements for it. Of course it wasn't as if she had many other things to do other than this, but there was no need in telling him all that. "There's a change of clothes in the car. Wouldn't want to work late into the evening wearing all this. I'm looking forward to peeling it all off." She was hardly even trying to be subtle anymore, but her words were innocent sounding enough. At least to whoever might be listening in, but she knew Robert would know better.

"Will you require me at the office or your home office?"

[ROBERT SNOW]

“I believe we’ve established that our work is never over, sir. I’ll still be on your clock when this soiree is over and I knew better than to make other plans. You own me tonight.” Robert let his dangerous smile creep over his lips as he looked Cadence over. He certainly would own her. “There’s a change of clothes in the car. Wouldn’t want to work late into the evening wearing all this. I’m looking forward to peeling it all off.” She wouldn’t have to peel it all off—he would take care of that for her. He was looking forward to it as well. Maybe he would leave the shoes on her, though. He was already considering his options with her.

“Will you require me at the office or your home office?” He could take her to the office, enjoy her on his desk as he often did, but tonight he was in the mood for a little more comfort. “I think we can manage at the home office,” he replied before spinning her again. The question wasn’t whether he would have her or not anymore. The question now was when he would have her. This masquerade was at its peak now, and he let his eyes wander over the crowd once he had pulled Cadence back to him. Being tall had its advantages. The event was packed and there were many council members now in attendance. He supposed he still had to do his rounds, meet with the more important individuals, but he also believed Peter had a strong handle on the situation. Yes, another forty-five minutes and he would be able to slip away, taking Cadence with him.

His eyes came back to hers, piercing though his face remained calm. “Once the song is over, I’ll do my rounds about the room, the usual necessary pleasantries, but I think afterward we’ll be able to leave. I’d like to get started on this project as soon as possible.” Cadence might interpret this as a personal triumph, how well she had pulled Robert Snow under her spell, but it wasn’t an urgency reserved for Cadence. When Robert wanted something, he pursued it and didn’t see the point in drawing out his gratification. He was like that in all aspects of his life. It made him bull-headed and single-minded, but that worked well for him in his position. Cadence’s laid back personality seemed to accommodate his personality well. “Would you care to greet dignitaries with me, or would you rather sit on your own? It’s entirely up to you,” Robert offered. He didn’t give Cadence options very often, but he felt generous this evening. Normally he wouldn’t think to introduce her to high-ranking Gargoyle officials, but she had been his secretary quite long enough that she could meet them if she had an interest. She was familiar with their names, but he didn’t know if she had met them in person before or not. It might do her some good to put names to faces.

[CADENCE HIGGINS]

There was a dark smile on his face and she knew she'd gotten to him. Her own features remained stoic, almost as if she had no idea the things she had insinuated. It was clear she did, though. “I think we can manage at the home office,” The small hairs at the nape of her neck stood on end, the only physical sign of how he was getting to her. She had made it a point to never show him the way he could get to her with his words alone. She was both repulsed and turned on by the simple statement that he would take her to his "home office", and judging by the look in his eyes, he was going to be rough tonight, especially if he intended to have her at home.

“Once the song is over, I’ll do my rounds about the room, the usual necessary pleasantries, but I think afterward we’ll be able to leave. I’d like to get started on this project as soon as possible.” She'd worked him into a frenzy which was apparent in the mild urgency he had to get this show on the road, which meant he might not want to take his time in warming her up. Though since he did want her at home he very will could be planning on drawing this evening out. Cadence never knew what the man held in store for her, but she was accustomed to anything he threw her way, and had her own ways of dealing with it mentally. Gentle was never an option with Snow, and she preferred it that way with him. Slow meant sentimental, and her relationship with Robert was anything but. "Of course, sir." She nodded, ever the ideal little secretary. "The sooner we begin the better. I would hate to make you have to draw it out all week." The corner of her lip twitched ever so slightly as she watched the mans smoldering eyes.

“Would you care to greet dignitaries with me, or would you rather sit on your own? It’s entirely up to you,” The request had actually surprised her, something Robert failed to do often. He was offering to let her accompany him on his rounds? Had she really earned that much trust and respect from him? In a way she felt honored knowing that had been no easy task with this man. She didn't want to show her surprise or excitement, though. It was one thing for him to show she'd riled him up, it was another for she to show the same. "That sounds very dull, sir.." She said smoothly, knowing it might be but also wanting to get to know all the men who Snow consulted with. It would be good for them to know her face, but better for her to know theirs.

"..but I would hate to make you have to find me when you've finished. It would only delay us getting started on that project, and I would hate to make you have to work until dawn on my account." Her words were innocent enough, but her jade eyes, as always, told a different story. "Unless it was your intention to make me work all night." She looked so young and naive in his big arms, but Cadence held a confidence that made her feel his size. "I think it would be in both our best interest for me to accompany you."

[ROBERT SNOW]

Robert was satisfied with the way Cadence’s eyes flickered with surprise for a second at his offer. She wasn’t one to show her emotions, which made him try even harder to make her do so. Cadence was a curious creature in how little emotion she lacked. It was part of why she intrigued him in the first place. “That sounds very dull, sir…but I would hate to have to make you find me when you’ve finished. It would only delay us getting started on that project, and I would hate to make you have to work until dawn on my account. Unless it was your intention to make me work all night.” Robert’s smile tugged at his lips again. “I think it would be in both our best interest for me to accompany you.” Cadence was very good at showing like she didn’t want him the way he wanted her, but Robert knew better. Perhaps she honestly believed that she didn’t desire him; a foolish thought. Her green eyes always told the truth even if her mouth didn’t, and the way her body responded to his touch only confirmed what her eyes said. If she knew the truth about what happened to her brother, she might actually give in to the way she lusted after him. But Robert had no intention of divulging that information to her.

“I agree,” he replied. “It will be dull, but I’m positive you can handle it.” They passed the rest of the dance in silence, swaying across the floor and Robert only looked up occasionally to see who else had appeared. A man in a mysterious elongated gold mask caught his eye for a moment, but as soon as he noticed him, the man was gone. It was strange, but he brushed it off as just a bizarre ensemble. He did notice a few eyes on his partner, but he was far from threatened by them. Cadence was welcome to dance with other men if she chose to, but at the end of the night she would be coming home with Robert; that was a certainty. She was here for business, not pleasure, though she would be getting some of the latter by the end of the evening. Robert was certain of that as well.

The song ended and he released Cadence with a slight bow of his head, observing proper manners. He lightly pressed a hand to her back to escort her off the crowded dance floor and he moved towards where he had seen Penelope[/u], the head of the Gargoyle council. “I figure we should greet Penelope first, lest she get upset,” he told Cadence quietly. They moved through the crowd easily, Robert nodding to a couple familiar faces as he passed. When they approached Penelope, she gasped and clasped her hands delightedly, looking like a grandmother seeing her grandchildren for the first time in ages. Looks were definitely deceiving with the old bat. “Robert! I was just about to go looking for you,” she exclaimed. He gave her a cool smile as he reached her and took her withered hand in a shake. “It’s good to see you Penelope,” he greeted. His other hand gently urged Cadence up beside him, pressed against her back, though he didn’t keep it there. “Have you met my assistant, Cadence?”

[CADENCE HIGGINS]

“I agree, it will be dull, but I’m positive you can handle it.” In a sense she felt like he was talking down to her slightly, but she knew in many ways she asked him to, and she truthfully expected nothing else from a man like Snow. He was ruthless and therefor felt like he was more superior than everyone else, Cadence included. Perhaps Cadence especially. She tried not to think much on it, knowing she was more intelligent than he often gave her credit for. He might see her as an object, but she was so much more and Snow would probably never get to meet the side of her that she kept so deeply reserved for the very few who had earned her devotion.

Robert was a good dancer, among his many other talents. He spun and swayed her with the precision of a professional dancer, acting like it was just another job he had to learn over the years, which it likely was. There was very little, Cadence found, that Robert wasn't good at. He was excellent at leading, he was a master of fortitude, and he was extremely skilled at playing her like a stringed isntrument. More the reason to despise him. Her eyes never left his as they danced but she tried not to tell him with those eyes how mixed she fetl. Cadence didn't like expressing feelings, especially to Robert.

When the song was over he bowed his head gently to her and she did the same, folding her hands obediantly in front of her as he guided her by the small of her back on their journey around the hall to meet those he intended for her to meet this evening. “I figure we should greet Penelope first, lest she get upset,” She looked up at him silently and then looked at the kindly old woman they were approaching. Cadence recognized her but had never met her before.

“Robert! I was just about to go looking for you,” She said and Cadence stood silently at her bosses side. “It’s good to see you Penelope,” Cadence felt Robert nudge her forward as if she were a bashful child. “Have you met my assistant, Cadence?” She extended her hand to the woman and offered the slightest hint of a smile. "Pleasure to meet you, ma'am." She greeted cordially. "I've heard wonderful things about you." She played nice for her own benefit more than Roberts, but she knew it would look good on her boss if she played up him having spoken well of Penelope.

[ROBERT SNOW]

Robert watched as Cadence greeted Penelope politely, even throwing in a little lie about him saying wonderful things about her. Most of what he said about Penelope was anything but wonderful and usually quite offensive, and he wasn’t entirely sure he had ever even talked about Penelope with Cadence. Either way, Cadence was doing a fine job of making her boss look good, as usual. “Oh, well isn’t that sweet! It’s lovely to meet you, Cadence.” Penelope smiled from the girl to Robert, all false sugar and light. “Where’s the rest of your council this evening?” Robert asked playfully, knowing it was actually his council, but he wouldn’t tell their head that. It was also a subtle way of indicating to Cadence who this woman was if she didn’t already know. “I can’t keep track of all them, you know that. But I do know Jacob and Killian are around here somewhere.” The old woman let her eyes wander as if looking for them and Robert engaged her in mindless chitchat for a few minutes before moving on to other members of the council.

As he had predicted, it took about forty-five minutes to get through all of the introductions and greetings, Cadence ever the polite assistant. Robert had to admit, though she was secretly out to get him, she was very good at her job. He could see her putting each name and face to memory, each title filing in her mind. What she would do with all of that information, he couldn’t say, but he knew she would store it safely. She had to send out correspondence for him all the time, so she was probably familiar with many of the names, but this gave her a chance to see them and talk with them. If she failed at bringing him down, which she no doubt would do, she would at least still be skilled at her job to move on to being someone else’s assistant. It didn’t hurt to have a beautiful woman on his arm to introduce, either. Many people they greeted seemed to be more relaxed because Cadence was there, as if the presence of a younger woman would have some gentling effect on Robert. It didn’t, but at least he didn’t have to deal so much with their brownnosing and cowering.

By the end of their rounds, Robert pulled her in closer, but not so close to make anyone suspicious. He bent his head down to bring his mouth close to her ear and said softly, “If there’s anything you left at the table you were sitting at, you had better collect it. We’ll be leaving in two minutes.” Robert was far from a patient man, and he had been patient long enough. He called his driver, telling him to be at the front of the building in two minutes. The leader made his way to his second-in-command, shaking his hand warmly. He actually did like Peter. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Peter. I have some work to get done and I’m taking Cadence to help me with it,” he explained, sounding almost exasperated. Peter smiled stoically. “You never stop working, do you?” Robert gave a smile of his own. “You know that’s impossible for me.” He bid Peter good night and allowed Cadence to do the same before heading out the front steps.

Once outside, he escorted Cadence to the simple black ford waiting for them at the base of the steps and opened her door for her. When he closed it, he happened to see something falling from the roof of the museum. Were those feathers? That was strange…Robert shrugged it off and climbed into the car beside Cadence. “Home, Daniel,” he instructed the driver, who nodded simply. His eyes wandered to the woman beside him as they pulled away. “It’s too bad I’ll have to ruin that fine ensemble. You really do look ravishing tonight,” he commented softly, a small smirk playing at the corners of his mouth.

[CADENCE HIGGINS]

Cadence was mild mannered and professional as she met the people Robert introduced her to. None of them seemed even remotely suspicious of him showing her off which was good. She didn't need people assuming the worst of her, the worst being fucking her boss. The two were calm and collected as always. Their affair was more than secret and she was sure no one was suspicious. Even Peter.

After some time Robert pulled her close, moving to talk quietly in her ear. “If there’s anything you left at the table you were sitting at, you had better collect it. We’ll be leaving in two minutes.” She knew he didn't care much for dawdling any further and she gave a light nod of understanding, her face showing no sign of emotion as normal. She grabbed her sweater from the coat check and her clutch before moving close to her boss once more, standing beside him, but back a step a clear show of submission to her leader. She said her quick farewells to Peter before following Robert outside onto the steps that would lead them down to his car. She had brought her own car but she knew Robert's driver would gladly bring her back this evening, or home. One way or another she would be able to collect her car.

Cadence slid into the seat as Robert held her door for her, crossing her feet at the ankles, her knees leaning towards the center of the car, pointing at Robert as he slid in beside her. He instructed the driver to take them to his home and Cadence, though her body was facing towards him, looked out the window at the city going by, not noticing the down feathers falling to the earth through Robert's window.

“It’s too bad I’ll have to ruin that fine ensemble." His words demanded her attention and she turned her head to look at him, though she didn't smile or blush or gag even. "You really do look ravishing tonight,” he commented softly, smirking slightly. She looked at the man in the front who was probably the single person who was aware of what they were up to. Daniel had been witness to her degradation more times than she cared to count.

"Thank you, Robert." She said back softly, almost ignoring the fact that he mentioned destroying her outfit. It was a shame; she was fond of this dress but in all honesty she would likely never wear it again. "Is it your intention to ruin it while punishing me for my smart mouth?" She inquired as if this was all business, her eyes moving down to his lap as her head tilted slightly to the side, elongating her neck and exposing it to him. "Would you like me to keep my mask on while we work on our special project?" She asked, wanting to take it off, but allowing him to have the power by making the calls on what she did. He liked having control, and she was willing to give it to him because there was a certain amount of control she obtained by giving hers to him. The girl looked down at her own dress, her hand sliding over her stomach. "It is a shame, really.. this dress is lovely. Dare I ask your intentions, or do intend to surprise me as usual, sir?" The way she spoke was as if she had no idea what was in store for her, when in reality she had a pretty good idea.

[ROBERT SNOW]

“Thank you, Robert.” He was satisfied that Cadence was going to switch from calling him “sir” to calling him by his name. “Is it your intention to ruin it while punishing me for my smart mouth?” The way her eyes danced to his lap and she tilted her head to the side…he had to fight the urge to fuck her there in the car. There was a sliding partition between the backseat and the front seats that he could request the man put up…but then he didn’t want to give in to his desires too quickly. He had plans for her back at his house. He lived in a rather large and finely decorated house in the Trail Oaks community, one of the older houses at that. It had been built by his parents long before he was born, though it had been updated several times over. In one of those finely decorated rooms, he was going to hold her down and have his way with her…though his eyes remained on that long, beautiful neck of hers. “Would you like me to keep my mask on while we work on our special project?” The corners of Robert’s mouth slid up in amusement as he shook his head. “No, I want to look in your face as I drill you,” he replied honestly.

Her hand slipped across her stomach as she looked down at her dress. “It is a shame, really…this dress is lovely. Dare I ask your intentions, or do you intend to surprise me as usual, sir?” He looked away towards the front of the car, watching as they made their way to his home. “To be quite honest, I’m not entirely sure of my intentions. But I’ll try to spare that dress as much as possible,” he replied calmly. His eyes panned back to hers, looking her over. “It is lovely.” He smirked again looking into her pretty face, remembering the way it contorted subtly in pleasure and pain. Robert couldn’t keep looking at her if he hoped to control himself. She certainly had a way of getting him riled. The rest of the ride was quiet and he invited questions about the people she had met. As always, she didn’t have many, but he watched the passing scenery as he answered them.

At last, they pulled up to his house and he opened Cadence’s door for her, offering his hand to help her out. He escorted her up to the door, staying close though he didn’t touch her, and he held the door open for her. As soon as the door closed behind him, he grabbed her arm firmly and pulled her to him. One large hand went to her hair and grabbed a fistful near the scalp, pulling her head back and exposing her long neck to him. His mouth came down to it, teeth biting hard at the sensitive skin over her throat before he pressed his lips to the skin and ran his tongue along the impression he’d made. While his hand held her head, his other one crept down her side, stopping to grab at the skirt. “You shouldn’t have teased me so much, Cadence,” he growled against her neck. He kissed and nipped his way to her ear, gathering her skirt up. He wanted to touch her skin and tease her the way she had him. His teeth gripped her earlobe and tugged gently as his hand finally found the skin of her thigh. He dragged his fingers hard against it, bringing them the whole length until he reached her panty line, which he snapped playfully. “It just makes me want to punish you more,” he breathed with his lips against her ear. The things he could do to her…

[CADENCE HIGGINS]

Snow behaved in the car, which wasn't all that surprising. Since they were going to his home she knew he was probably saving her for when he could really get his hands dirty, which meant being patient. Robert Snow was only a patient man when it was convenient for him to be. They chatted lightly about the guests at the Masquerade and she asked some small questions when he probed her to do so. The questions she asked were to get information she might, but likely wouldn't need in the future. The things she wanted to know about those people weren't going to be told to her by him.

When they pulled up her stomach squirmed, admiring the large estate. He kept a beautiful home, which wasn't surprising. She took his offered hand and stepped out of the vehicle, walking by his side as they went up to the door and inside.

No sooner had the door clicked shut that Robert had grabbed her arm and yanked her inelegantly to him, making her grit her teeth with the force he used. It had taken her by surprise though she had expected it, and when he grabbed a fistful of hair so close to her scalp she let out the tiniest squeak of a gasp. Had she been human she would have screamed out in pain, but fortunately she was tough and able to handle his crude treatment.

Cadence felt Robert's teeth against her neck and her own teeth clenched, her eyes shutting as she sucked in a sharp breath through her nose. She didn't move, didn't fight him, didn't do anything that let him know that she either loved or hated his treatment. Cadence made it almost a game; he liked to get a reaction out of her, and she liked making him work for it. She liked making him wonder, and she knew he enjoyed it, too.

His hot tongue was gliding over her neck and not even she could fight the pleasure it felt for him to be pulling so hard on her hair and using his tongue to tease her. She just barely squirmed in his hold, her breath becoming slightly more ragged.

“You shouldn’t have teased me so much, Cadence,” he growled against her neck., then kissing his way to her ear as his hand greedily pulled her skirt up so he could feel her smooth, hard skin. He found her black lace boy short panties and snapped them, her eyes narrowing as he taunted her. She leaned into him as his mouth continued to busy itself with her. “It just makes me want to punish you more,”

"Oh, but isn't it in my job description to do what needs to be done without question?" She inquired slyly. "We both no teasing and punishing need to be done in order to keep you happy, sir. I aim to please and I take my job very seriously." She said coyly, struggling lightly against his strong hold on her hair but stopping when she realized there was no place she could go. "Be gentle, Robert.." She pouted, but it was clearly said sardonically. Neither of them truly expected him to be gentle. "I didn't mean to be so naughty." Her tone wasn't apologetic though her words sounded as though they should be. She sounded borderline bored as if there was nothing he could possibly do to get the reaction he so desperately wanted.