Chapter One

Devon sat in the Dining Room and again reviewed the proposal he had before him. It was the result of a years worth or research and consideration. Dominique and two of the shrinks were about to arrive and receive the briefing on the proposal, something he had kept secret from everyone until recently.

Dominique entered the room and sat across the table from Devon and the two Doctors sat with her. Devon was alone on his side, and that was fine. He was proposing a huge change in the way that the group did business. One small voice in the wilderness as it were. "OK Devon, we're here, as promised. Now would you like to tell us what you've been looking at and are now ready to brief us on?"

Devon smiled and slid three folders across the table. "Certainly Dominique, and thank you all for coming. In short, I believe it is possible, and potentially profitable to set up a more overt and strictly above board training facility."

"Above board, you mean legally speaking?" Doctor Jenkins asked.

"Yes. Strictly legal." Devon said.

"Are you out of your mind Devon?" Dominique asked predictably.

"They'll know in a few minutes." Devon said waving at the shrinks, and then he began. First on the agenda, how he researched the information. Then how he determined the numbers of people who dabbled in the lifestyle, then the benefits of the program he outlined.

Dominique looked at his charts with interest obvious on her face. She knew what Devon did not. The worldwide anti-terrorism changes were making it progressively harder to remain underground. The group which had been in business for more than three hundred years was now seeing an environment where capturing the people was easy, training them easier than it had ever been, but moving the money was hard. The average auction resulted in something like ten million dollars of earnings for the group. Some of the clients were from the Middle East, and their banking transactions were inevitably watched by half a dozen intelligence agencies around the world. The Money was the Achilles heel of the Vassal group, and would continue to be a problem. Potentially becoming such a problem that it would begin to restrict the group's activities.

Devon's proposal was interesting. First, it would be legitimate, and pay taxes. In his proposal, he pointed out the relative benefits of locating this facility in various countries, and in various locations in the United States. His argument of somewhere around New York for the flagship made sense mainly because of the proximity to the moneyed clients they were seeking.

"Devon, to make sure I'm up to speed with you. You're telling me that there are roughly thirty million people who dabble in this master slave thing?" Dominique asked to clarify that point. "In the US alone?" There was a shadow of doubt on Dominique's face as she stared at him intently through dark eyes.

Dominique looked as though she descended from Spanish Aristocracy. Her dark hair framed a face with high cheekbones, and an elegant nose. Her eyes were flashing black, looking playful at time, dangerous at other times. The General feeling one got from Dominique was passion. Her reputation showed she was passionate as a lover, and as an enemy. She would pour her heart into whatever she did, holding nothing back.

"That is the results of the survey I reference. All references are listed in the back. I wanted to show that while revolutionary, my idea isn't based upon fantasy or personal opinion except where noted." Devon answered.

Devon looked more Mediterranean in appearance. At close to six feet tall, he was broad shouldered, obviously strong, and just as obviously intelligent. You would estimate his age at about forty, although he had no wrinkles or gray hairs yet, he had an air of competent maturity about him. His every motion seemed entirely too practiced, yet somehow perfect for him.

"Devon, I'm not sure I understand, the facility you propose could be created, small at first, create the reputation of excellence in submissive training, and then train additional people given to the facility by clients for high fees?" Doctor Jenkins asked.

"Yes, that is exactly the nature of the proposal."

Doctor Adams waved a hand. "No market for it Devon."

"Doctor, in the major cities of this nation, there are fifty two clubs, night clubs mainly, which have a large and profitable membership catering to this BDSM lifestyle." Devon answered clearly. "Fifty two would indicate there is certainly a market in slavery, at least the fantasy of slavery."

"That may well be, however the idea of being sent to such a facility to be trained? That's beyond not only the financial abilities of most people, but the mental abilities of most people." Adams argued.

"True, but there are those, with both money, and the desire, who will partake in it. I don't propose to make all thirty million in this nation clients, I only propose to address the needs of the top ten percent of moneymakers of that group. Some three million people." Devon explained. "People for whom fifty thousand dollars is nothing. There are people in the world who spend that much on landscaping every year."

"What is your definition of the perfect mate, you explain that the desire of some of these people to have the perfect mate will bring them to you." Doctor Jacobs said.

"There is a song, and the artist says quote we want a lady on the street, and a freak in the bed, end quotation. I believe it's possible to teach part of the first, grace and poise, ballet to us, and the second part would be easy for the motivated candidate."

"So we teach them to revel in the submission, grace, humility, and what was it you said?" Dominique flipped through the proposal. "Oh yes, here it is. The absolute loving worship of their dominant."

Devon simply nodded. "Yes, train them to become what Jeanette is."