Chapter 54 - 54

"Have you talked to Lizzie about this?" he demanded.

I saw fear and worry in his eyes and realized he hadn't said anything to her, yet that had me wondering what was stopping him. I shook my head watching as relief flooded his face and he let out a pent-up breath.

"Please don't mention it to her. I will tell her, just when the times right and right now it's not," Jordan begged me.

I agreed reluctantly, with one small warning about waiting too long and the moment passed.

"I won't, I promise, and thank you," he said.

"It eases my mind, that Lizzie had found one of the good ones," I told him.

"Reed has too, little one."

I smiled ducking my chin a little. I knew it would not matter how much time I spent with these new Doms in my life, they would always have a way of making me feel so shy. He chuckled and tipped me under my chin.

"Go home, then I can go check on my sick sub," he said grabbing his case and proceeded to walk me out.

"Let me go grab my purse and I'll come with you. I promised Lizzie if she was good, I'd stop by bringing her ice cream," I said leading the way to the elevator.

"If she was good?" he said sounding a bit perplexed.

I laughed. "Yes, she's a very hard patient and your care is something she's not used to. She was in a whiny mood when I called her."

He was silent as he walked with me to my office. I found myself growing nervous wondering what he was thinking and if I had said anything wrong. I bit my lip and hurried to my desk drawer to grab my purse.

"Is everything okay?" I asked.

I turned to look at Jordan and found him on the phone with Lizzie from the sounds of it.

"That's fine, I'm glad you are feeling much better. Yes, I know what's going on Mrs. Lichten has kept me informed. Yes, Mia is coming home with me and I'll let her stay for a little while. Next time ask me first. I don't want you jeopardizing your health or anyone else because you're bored," he chastised her.

I felt shame roll around in me. I hadn't meant to get Lizzie in trouble. I just wanted to see her.

"Okay, we'll discuss this later when you're feeling better. I'm going to warn you now Mia isn't staying very long. You need rest and I don't want any more complaints."Jordan said, his tone warned he was not going to take any arguments.

He hung up and nodded me into the elevator before pushing the button to take us to the lobby.

"I'm sorry, Jordan," I replied quietly.

He smiled at my informal way of addressing him.

"This is not your fault. Lizzie has more experience in this, she knows better than to say yes before asking me," he said exasperated.

"I'm sure she didn't mean anything, she was just frustrated and not feeling very well. She's definitely not used to someone telling her what to do all the time. She didn't mean any insult to you. I know if she really thought about it she'd agree with you," I explained.

I was hoping that my words would pull her out of the trouble she was in. I must have been too transparent because he looked at me and shook his head a half-smile on his face.

"You're worried I'm going to be too hard on her, aren't you?"He asked.

"Honestly, yes. I'm scared that she won't be able to talk to me openly and honestly when she has every right to," I said as we got into his car. He was quiet for a while as he stared out the windshield and I could tell by the frown marks on his forehead that he was thinking about what I had said.

"You do realize that I will be telling Reed how you undermined my authority with Lizzie and attempted to interrupt my punishment of her. It was like the other night when Lizzie took it upon herself and called Reed to chew him out for the way he was allegedly treating you," he said searching my face when we stopped at a stoplight.

I gave him a weak smile. "She's like a sister to me. I want her happy and I think as long as she's doing what you asked. She should be allowed to complain to her sister.”

"Yes, she is allowed to talk to you anytime she wants to. But if she's truly uncomfortable or hurt by something, I need to know so I can help her through it," he explained.

I thought for a second and nodded. "Yes, I see how that would be important and if I thought it was something like that, then I would encourage her to talk to you about it. After that, it would be up to her to come clean. But I will always be there for her to talk to no matter what she has to say. On the same note, I encourage you to explain that to her."

His smile widened. "You really are a good friend. Willing to risk your Dom's anger to make sure Lizzie is well cared for. I'm very proud of you, so proud I might put in a good word for you when it comes to the punishment you will be receiving."

I felt a bit of anger rise in me along with frustration. Who the hell did he think he was? I thought to myself. I was just trying to help him, and I was being as freaking polite as I could. At least I didn't call him a backward-thinking asshole.

I sat quietly fuming determined not to say another word to him, the stupid overbearing Dom anyway.

The car pulled to a stop outside a familiar-looking building, and I gazed confused at the sign depicting the name of my cellular company. I looked at him for an answer, but he just patted my shoulder then he walked quickly into the building. I watched as the man behind the counter handed Jordan a box and he jogged back out to the car, in a lot less time it's ever taken me in that store.

"Here, here is your new phone. Take care of it," he informed me as he tossed the box gently into my lap.

I opened the box and saw a very nice, very up-to-date phone sitting inside. My mouth flopped open.

"I… who… what," I stuttered out looking from him to the phone.

He just smiled and began navigating through traffic again as the phone rang. I read the name that popped up and it simply said 'Sir'. Reed that sneaky little son of a-. This had been what he and Jordan had been talking about earlier when Jordan had popped off with the 'I'll take care of it.'

"Hello," I answered swallowing back a few choice words of my own.

"I see you've gotten your new phone. Try not to break this one," Reed said with a teasing note in his voice.

"Reed, Sir, I can't take this. It's only a few more weeks until I can get another one," I explained.

"Mia, one of my rules was for you to be available when I want you to be, how is that supposed to happen if you don't have a phone? Not to mention, people at work may need to get a hold of you," he explained his tone brokering no debate on this.

I sighed knowing he was right and realizing it doesn't mean I have to be happy about it.

"I'm surprised you didn't put Master in there instead of Sir," I said slightly sarcastically.

I flinched when I saw the way Jordan's face snapped to mine, I could tell that it was my mouth running away with me again and I apologized softly.

"Just say the word and I have the equipment to punish her at Lizzie's apartment," Jordan said loudly through the phone.

My hand closed tightly around the phone, and I waited for Reed to give the word. But Reed just chuckled.

"And here I thought I was being nice by not doing that,"

"Yes, you were, Sir. I'll keep it on me until I can buy a new one, I promise. Now I have got to go get some ice cream I promised for Lizzie. Thank you, Sir." I said trying to appease him as we pulled up next to a small mom-and-pop grocery store.

Jordan jumped out and hurried inside before I could say anything to him causing me to miss my chance of getting out of this conversation that was rapidly spiraling out of control towards punishment.

"You'll keep this phone no matter what. Isn't Lizzie sick?" he said changing the subject abruptly.

"Yes, that's why I'm going to see her. I want to make sure she's doing okay," I said, thankful for the subject change.

I heard him sigh in frustration and imagined him running his hands through his hair. I had a feeling both were caused by me. However, I wasn't really sure exactly what I had done this time.

"Okay, don't stay too long and call me when you get home," he said and hung up.

Wow, that was abrupt.. I thought to myself as Jordan came back and we continued on our way to Lizzie's.