The Domination Game
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Jen Byars
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962K
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25
Prologue
UNKNOWN
Revere, Massachusetts
A little girl with waves of blonde hair sat in her mother’s room on the top floor of their triple-decker apartment, watching her mom get ready for a night out.
Her mom’s favorite bright red lipstick was applied with precision as she shared some wisdom with her daughter.
“Adire, sweetheart, remember this: men like to think they have control over you. The trick is to make them willingly give up that control.
Once they do, you’ve got them right where you want them.”
Adire watched, captivated, as her mom transformed herself with the array of cosmetics before her.
Her mom’s blue eyes seemed larger with the cat-eye liner and false lashes, and her dark hair was piled high on her head with curls pinned in place.
“Mom, do guys have to use all this stuff to look pretty?” she asked.
Her mom laughed. “No, sweetheart, men don’t have to do much to attract a woman. But remember, first impressions matter to them. And never let them see if they’ve hurt you.
That would give them an advantage over you.”
The little girl nodded, taking in her mom’s advice. “Okay, Mom. I’ll remember what you said.”
Adire watched as her mom rose from her vanity in her lingerie and walked over to where she was sitting on the bed. “After tonight, I think we’ll have a man who can take really good care of us.”
Adire lay on her stomach, watching her mom slip into the expensive dress she’d bought just for tonight.
“Zip me up,” she instructed her daughter. Once she did, Adire stood on the bed, watching her mom check herself in the mirror, making sure she looked perfect for her upcoming date.
“Mom?”
“Yes, sweetheart?”
“Do we girls need boys in our lives? Can’t it just be you and me forever?” she asked.
Her mom frowned, walking over to her young daughter. “Oh, Adire. A woman always wants a man in her life.
What makes us powerful is when they want us just as much. It’s all part of the game,” she explained, kissing Adire’s forehead.
The doorbell rang.
“Okay, sweetheart. Stay here. Aunt Sally will be here in five minutes to look after you for the night,” she told her, kissing Adire goodbye once more.
“I love you, Adire,” she whispered, blowing her a kiss.
“I love you too, Mom,” the little girl whispered back.
She heard her mom’s footsteps hurry to answer the door. A man’s deep, polite voice complimented her mom on her beauty.
Adire peeked around the corner and saw the man grab her mom by the neck and kiss her roughly.
When he finally let her go, his hand moved down, grabbing her mom’s backside. “Baby, I’ve got plans for you tonight,” Adire heard him chuckle.
Something didn’t feel right to Adire. But she knew her mom would be upset if she left the room and didn’t do as she was told, so she stayed hidden.
Maybe when Aunt Sally arrived, she could tell her about the uneasy feeling she had about the man who came tonight. Maybe Aunt Sally would know what to do? Maybe…
