isabeau roul

“Honestly, I never thought I would hear those words from you.” He answered, hearing that she was semi retirement was as much unlikely as his mother doing that. “Just got back from work, I feel like everytime I leave this city change so much so i’m gonna tr y to stay here for a bit longer.” Of course that could change if something big happened and they needed him

Since she was off work that day, after picking up her daughter from preschool Olivia decided to go out for some lunch since it was such a beautiful day out. She bit her lip though as she looked around, noting all the tables outside were full. One only had one person though so she let out a breath, hesitating before walking over with a polite smile on her lips. “Hi! I’m so sorry if I’m bothering, but I was wondering if you wouldn’t mind sharing your table? Everywhere else is full, and I promise she’ll be on her best behavior, right Josie?” She asked, giving her daughter’s shoulders a little squeeze.

Lost in thought, Isabeau had barely noticed the tables filling up at lunch time. It seemed like half of the city was out and enjoying the lovely weather. When asked to share her table, she nodded without hesitation. “I don’t mind in the slightest. Please, sit.” She smiled at the little girl. “I’d be delighted to have some company today.”

Felicity had never considered it that way–the fact that people were relying on them. It always felt kind of selfish to her because her mother seemed so intent on keeping the family name strong and passing on a good linage. Sure, she benefitted very much from it, but she could never get herself to feel what they felt. She leaned more towards having fun for herself–which she supposed was also selfish in its own way. Sometimes she wondered if she was actually that much different than the woman who raised her. 

“Do you feel less stressed now that you’re cutting back? Or is it worse because you have less control? I’m only twenty-three and I can’t wait for the day where I can stop worrying about everything and just… have fun?” Perhaps that was why she was a sub. She yearned for the freedom that came with not having control. Responsibility was too much for her.

“Something of both. I trust those who I’ve promoted to lead in my absence, but I miss some of the day to day duties.” Keeping herself busy had always helped Isabeau ignore the lack of anyone serious in her life, and now that she had turned her attention to trying to find someone, she missed the distraction.

She let out a laugh. “What do you have to worry about, Felicity? Right now is when you should be having fun, without a worry or care in the world.” She didn’t mean it cruelly but was simply curious as to what worries the younger woman could have.

Giselle

Daisy didn’t want to disrupt the Domme so she gave a grateful smile in relief.  “Thank you, miss.  Again, so, so sorry,” she repeated as she carefully balanced the boxes onto the table.  She took a moment and nervously took a seat beside the woman, offering another smile.  “I’ll only be a minute.  I hope I didn’t disrupt you from anything important, miss.”

“It’s fine,” Isabeau said with a soothing tone. “I don’t mind your company, really. I’m merely people watching and enjoying the lovely weather, both which I can do with you sitting there.” She eyed the stack of boxes heaped on the table. “That looks like quite a large ... delivery?”

“Are you really thinking of taking a step back?” Felicity asked, nursing a glass of wine in her hand. It wasn’t like Auntie Beau to not work–it was as unheard of as her own mother taking more than a few days off from running her firm. Her mother’s work was probably the reason why it was just her and Aunt Isabeau on the couch right now. It was late into the evening and her mother still wasn’t home. A far cry from the hour or so Felicity had promised to the older woman.

She looked down at the glass, her lips pressed into a line. “What is it about running a business that makes people so addicted to it?” She didn’t realize it was possible for people like them to change. “It just sounds like a lot of stress.”

@isabeau-roul​

“I’ve been trying,” Isabeau admitted, looking into her own wine glass. She had spent the last hour sitting with Felicity and waiting for Juno to come home from work. It wasn’t a surprise to her at all that Juno appeared to have forgotten about their dinner plans; Isabeau was guilty of doing the same in the past.

“I wouldn’t call it an addiction, Felicity. Your mother and I, we feel responsible for our employees, and our businesses. If things don’t go well, then we’ve let our workers and clients down. It is a lot of stress, but worth it.”

“No, but I will confess to using Google sometimes to help my work as a librarian,” she replied politely, always slightly edgy when people made comments implying that books and technology couldn’t work together. “Oh really? What business is that?”

“Helping people is what matters in the end, no matter how it’s done.” Isabeau ran her thumb along the handle of the tea cup. She believed that fully, had built her business on it. “Maid to Order.”

“In a word, exhausted. Opening night is just about a week away now.” Say the words aloud, Waverley could feel her anxiety growing at the mere thought. But while she was so nervous about it all, she was also beyond excited. “How about you? How have you been?”

“Only a week away? I’ll have to make sure I get tickets before they’re all sold out.” Her eyes wandered over the younger woman’s body, noting a sign or two of how hard she had been working. “I’m sure all of your hard work and preparation will be evident on the stage.”

“I’ve been well, thank you. Trying to enjoy life a bit more. Fortunately the upcoming art season will help with that.”

“Okay … I am not usually so bold but I just have to say that your entire aesthetic is literally the hottest thing I’ve seen all week.” Then she reconsidered her words before continuing,  “Actually … Apologies …I just lied. It is totally me to say that. But I can never resist complimenting someone when their aesthetic is hella on point.” Solenn continued with a light shrug and a laugh, “I hope you have a lovely day Mistress.”

Isabeau laughed softly, trying to hide the sudden squiggle inside at the flood of compliments, and how they’d been delivered. “Why thank you, Solenn. That’s a wonderful comment coming from you, make up artist extraordinaire.” She looked up at the younger woman. “I will now, after that too kind compliment.”

“Hello, Miss.” Waverley turned her attention to the Domme sat outside the café. She’d merely been passing by on her way to one of the other free outside tables; but she’d stopped upon being spoke to. Besides, she’d not actually spoken with Isabeau in ages. “Lovely weather today, isn’t it?” It truly was, especially for the time of year. So the fact that there was actually several tables outside the café that were still free was quite the surprise to the submissive. She figured more people would want to take advantage of the weather before it turned back to crap.

“It is, yes,” Isabeau said with a nod, looking up at the young woman. She hadn’t seen her in a while, which reminded her that she needed to get to the ballet more often. “How have you been, Waverley? It’s good to see you.”

“It’s why we’re such good friends, Isabeau. We have an understanding for each other unlike no other” she chuckled. “Well, being in charge of my own firm. I should be allowed to decide if I wish for the time off..” she said carefully “I think this is why Leonie and I must not work as a pair, I’m clearly too well behaved. I’m treating a simple afternoon off from work as a scandal” she half laughed. “It wouldn’t be the first time she has done it, that’s why. She nearly scared me out of my skin during my birthday once a few years back”

“That’s right, you should be. That’s one of the benefits of being a business owner, Juno.” Taking that advice was less easy than dishing it out, of course, which was a big reason Isabeau had arranged a lunch today with the fellow Domme. “Whereas Leonie is probably shocked when she actually has to work, rather than flit about.”

Isabeau remembered that stunt. “I remember,” she said dryly, shaking her head. “Ignoring might work in the short term, but you’ll have to come up with a real plan for long term. If that’s what you want, of course.”

Adelaide returned the hand shake with a small smile. “While I do appreciate the warm weather, I am on my lunch break. I work at the Public Library around the corner, so this seemed like the perfect place to come. And yourself, Miss?”

“The library?” Isabeau gave an approving nod. “How good it is to hear not everyone lives and dies by Google these days.” She picked up her tea cup for a drink. “I’m an old business owner trying to set aside my workaholic ways, truthfully.”

“Is nice to see you enjoying a day outside your office.” He said. “I’m great actually, it feels good to be back.”

“I know. I’ve chosen semi retirement, can you believe it? Days like this make that decision a little easier.” Isabeau gave him a soft smile. “What have you been up to, Gervais?”