Alexa sat in her study after Kat left to go to her room. Head in her hands as she stared out the window, she let her mind go blank. That didn't seem like Kat at all. Kat had been such a sweet girl, always doing as she was told, stuttering nervously. Well, she did that last part for sure. But why had she done any of it in the first place? Was it a lack of gratitude? Acting out?

She shook her head and watched as the rain came down darkly in the twilit evening. Perhaps she was acting out, Alexa thought. Maybe she felt cramped, or nervous, and she just wanted to feel like she was in some sort of control of her life. Alexa had been there before, when she was a teenager.

But Kat wasn't a teenager. Those years should've been behind her. And yet, Alexa found that she could sympathize with the poor girl. That didn't mean she could let it slide, though. A hundred lines seemed like a fitting punishment. Hopefully the words wouldn't leave Kat's mind anytime soon, but Alexa had a feeling that she didn't really need to worry about that.

But what could she do to stop it from happening again? That was the real conundrum here. She would need to talk to Kat, for sure, and figure out what exactly it had been in the first place. And Cobb. She'd need to talk to Cobb. Get his opinion, and apologize for making him do Kat's work for her.

She stood with a sigh and left her study, going to hunt for Cobb. She headed out and took a right through the east wing of her house, and found she didn't have to go far; he was in the foyer, finishing up cleaning.

"Cobb, you mind coming here for a moment?"

Cobb set aside a mop and nodded to her, following her back into her study. There, he took a chair by the fireplace, while she took the chair at her desk. "Cobb, did you see what happened?"

He shook his head. "But I can imagine it wasn't pretty."

"It wasn't. Kat flat out defied me. I could use another cigarette," she muttered, rubbing her eyes. Nicotine sounded excellent right now, but she wasn't keen on smoking inside, and even regretted doing it before. But she'd needed it. "She refused to do her chores. Just... completely refused. Told me no. But I directly ordered her to."

Cobb studied her and then shrugged. "Sometimes slaves get pushy. You remember when Sarah tried to do something similar, yes?"

She stroked her chin for a moment, eyeing the cigarettes on her desk. "Yeah, true," she said, eventually. "But Sarah was sick that day. Pretty badly, too."

Cobb nodded. "A fair point, Madam. But perhaps Kat is feeling under the weather as well."

Alexa sat straight up in her chair and looked, darkly, at Cobb. "Did she go out in the rain?"

"No, no, she's fine. Perhaps a little stomach ache, or something of that nature, was all I was suggesting," he said, putting his hands up in a placating manner.

Alexa gave a sigh of relief and leaned back in her chair. "I don't want her getting sick."

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"I assure you Madam, she will be fine."

"But then," Alexa continued, "Why did she just act out like that?"

"Perhaps she wanted attention?"

Alexa shook her head. "I don't think so. And besides, there are much better ways of getting it. Plus it's not like I ignore her."

"And this is another good point, Madam," Cobb said. "But you could stand to spend more time with her, if I may say. She is doing chores most of the day. Perhaps give her a day off?"

Alexa rubbed her eyes. "Yeah, that's not a bad idea. She mentioned wanting to draw. Maybe I've overstressed her."

"It could be," Cobb said, nodding. "Or perhaps she was testing you. Seeing how you'd react to her acting out."

"Testing me?" Alexa asked. "You mean, to see what kind of punishment I would give her, right? Because she had to have known that there would be consequences."

"Of course," Cobb said, clearing his throat. "I've noticed how skittish she can be, and I've come to believe that there is abuse in her past. Perhaps she wanted to see if you were the same."

Cobb had that glint in his eye that Alexa knew meant that he knew more than he was saying. She stared at him for a moment, but let it go.

"Okay. So supposing that's the truth, then you think I can rely on her to not do it again?"

"Probably, I would say," Cobb said with a nod. "She got her answer. I doubt she'd need to do it again."

Alexa sighed. "Good. I hope this doesn't become a norm. I don't like punishing her."

"Ah, it's good for her, Madam," Cobb said. "Every slave needs punishment every once and a while. A good, firm hand to guide them in the right direction."

She thought for a moment. What Cobb was saying was true, she knew. But she still didn't like it. She wanted to smother Kat, to love her and hold her and squeeze her. Not punish her. But Kat almost demanded punishment with her actions. She just hoped it wasn't too much.

Eventually, she sighed, and chuckled. "Glad to have you Cobb. Dunno where I'd be without you."

He grinned. "Probably jail, Madam."

She laughed. "You're right."

Cobb nodded thoughtfully to himself, and then leaned forward in his chair. "Madam, when will you tell her about Sarah? She seems to be warming up to you. I was wondering, when is the right time for you?"

For a moment, Alexa sat in silence, staring into the dark fireplace. "I'll tell her when I think she'll understand. I don't think she's ready to know."

"I see." Cobb cocked his head to one side. "Though if I may advise?"

"You may."

"Don't hold off for too long. She deserves to know. And you deserve to tell her. That girl is starting to trust you, I can see it in her eyes. The way she carries herself around you. Around me, too. She knows we aren't telling her something," he said. "She deserves to know eventually."

"Eventually," Alexa said, leaning her elbows on her desk and folding her fingers together. She rested her chin on her clasped hands, and thought for a moment. "Eventually, Cobb. I will tell her."

"Very good, Madam. And as for Kat's disobedience, in regards to you... well Madam, you've handled it very well, I believe," he said, nodding in approval. "You've come a long way."

She smiled softly, sadly. "Yes, I have. And I'm proud to say that."

"You should be," he said thoughtfully.

"I am. I won't make the same mistake twice."

"Very good Madam." He stood, and flattened his uniform with his gloved hands. "Very good."

She looked up at him. "You are dismissed, Cobb. And..." She paused. "Thank you."

He bowed. "Of course, Madam," he said, heading for the door and opening it. But, before he left, he turned to her and, with a tone of finality, said, "Don't be afraid of her. Kat is a strong person. She's made it this far. You don't have to worry about breaking her. But do cherish her Madam. I can see it in your eyes, the way you look at her, the sparkle in them. Don't be scared to discipline her, but don't be afraid to cherish her, either."

With that, he left, gently closing the door behind him, and leaving Alexa alone with her thoughts. And she thought. And thought.

And thought.