(17) How the Ring Rewrites Manhood - Mallory

 

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Casting in the New World

Ethan Mallory sat in his elegant office, the walls adorned with gold-framed posters of his past masterpieces. The room was filled with a familiar yet faded sense of power. He had always known how to captivate young talents, how to leverage their dreams to bring them to the screen. But today, there was a new air of tension.

“Lucy, you can come in now,” he called as he heard the door swing open. The 23-year-old actress stepped inside, her eyes shimmering with ambition and nervousness. She was breathtaking—the kind of beauty that would have once drawn him in like a magnet. Her long legs, slim hips, and a smile that felt like an invitation. In the past, he would have flooded her with dirty thoughts, pulled her onto the couch, and flirted as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

“Nice to meet you, Ethan,” she said, her voice brimming with confidence.

“The pleasure is all mine,” he replied, forcing himself to avert his gaze from her curves. The ring pressed painfully against his lower abdomen, and the thought of her femininity reminded him that he no longer had the right to wield such power.

In his mind, he saw himself in another time, smiling at her, inviting her to the couch, pampering her with a glass of wine. They would have leaned in, their bodies entwined, and he would have drawn her into the world of his fantasies until she painfully realized it had never been about her. He would have conquered her, not just for the film, but for his own desires.

Yet today, he sat there like a man in chains, as the attraction he felt was immediately punished by a sharp pain. “Would it be alright if we began the casting?” Lucy asked, slightly unsettled by his rigid demeanor.

“Yes, of course,” he managed to say, gesturing to the seat across from him. “Please, have a seat, and let’s get started.”

As she began to perform her scenes, he found it hard to look away. Every smile, every movement was a challenge. He remembered the thrill of past castings, the power he held over women—the whispers of affection in the dark of hotel rooms, the promises of fame that willingly led them into his arms. But now, everything had changed. Every thought of intimacy was met with immediate punishment, the ring on his body a constant reminder.

“Ethan? Are you alright?” Lucy pulled him from his thoughts. Her face now showed concern, but he couldn’t miss the burning interest in her eyes. She was aware of the power she held over him. “I can help you if you want. I have a lot of experience.”

“No, that’s not necessary,” he mumbled hastily, fighting against the wave of desire that overwhelmed him. “We should focus on the role.” But in truth, it was the inability to simply look at her that tormented him.

A glance at her legs, shimmering in the light, made the ring press painfully again. He was a prisoner of his own longing. He had to get up, move, increase the distance between them. “How about we start the scene over?”

“Sure,” Lucy said, smiling, unaware of how much she overwhelmed him in those moments.

The scenes flew by, and as she flourished in her role, Ethan felt his old power wane. In the past, he would have easily manipulated her, leading her into an erotic fantasy only to let her fall. Now, he sat there, bound by the absence of control.

As the casting came to an end, he shook her hand, trying to gather himself. “That was fantastic, Lucy. You have a lot of potential.” But as she looked at him, he felt the weight of reality pressing down. It wasn’t just her talent that captivated him; it was her innocence, her innocence in a world where he no longer held sway.

“Thank you, Ethan. That means a lot to me,” she said with a genuine smile, painfully reminding him of how far he had strayed from the person he once was.

He could only nod, the pain in his abdomen becoming unbearable. He had to get away. “I... I need to go now.”

As he turned to leave, he felt her gaze upon him, the awareness that he was nothing more than a shadow of his former self. And as he exited the office, a painful realization washed over him: Lucy was not just an actress; she was the living embodiment of the new reality—a girl with power over a man who once held control. And now he was the one who was trapped.

The Turn of Power

Ethan Mallory sat in his elegantly appointed office, the walls adorned with gold-framed posters of his past masterpieces. The air was thick with an unsettling mix of nostalgia and despair. Once, this space had been a sanctuary of creativity and dominance; now, it felt like a prison. The ring at his base tightened with each passing day, a relentless reminder of his lost power and the physical agony that accompanied it.

He glanced toward the door, his heart pounding in anticipation. When Greta walked in, her presence was a stark contrast to the vibrant youth he once pursued. At 48, she exuded a quiet strength, the kind he had long taken for granted. He had often overlooked her, dismissing her contributions and viewing her merely as an efficient tool in his grand design. But now, she was his last hope.

“Ethan, what’s on your mind?” she asked, her tone calm yet probing.

He hesitated, his voice barely a whisper. “I need your help. It’s urgent.”

Her eyebrow arched with curiosity. “What do you need?”

“I… I can’t go on like this,” he admitted, the weight of his words pressing down on him. “The ring… I don’t have a registered partner. I can’t be unlocked.”

Greta’s gaze sharpened, and a flicker of realization crossed her face. “And what exactly do you want from me?”

“I need you to be my registered partner. You’d have to get the key from the authorities and allow me some… relief. Please, I know it’s a lot to ask, but I’m desperate.”

The silence that followed was heavy with implications. Greta’s smile was sharp, almost predatory. “Desperate indeed. But have you considered what that means for me?”

“What do you mean?” he asked, his heart racing as he began to understand the gravity of the situation.

“You would be handing me power. Control over your entire life. I could free you from your torment—if the price is right,” she replied, stepping closer, her confidence palpable.

Ethan’s mind raced. “What do you want? I’ll do anything.”

“Anything?” she echoed, a glimmer of mischief in her eyes. “I want you to serve me. For years, you’ve treated me as if I were nothing. Now you will learn what it means to submit. I will give you the relief you crave, but under my conditions.”

His shock morphed into disbelief. “Greta, you can’t be serious…”

“Oh, but I am, Ethan. I will let everyone know that I hold the key to your freedom. The key you willingly surrendered. I will carry it publicly, so everyone sees that I own you now. You will serve me, and I will give you orders. If you disobey, you will be punished.”

Ethan felt a cold shiver run down his spine as he processed her words. This was a man’s worst nightmare—a woman he had once dismissed was now poised to wield complete control over him.

“What kind of punishments?” he ventured, his voice tinged with fear.

“Oh, I have some delightful ideas,” she whispered, her eyes glimmering with anticipation. “You will do things you never dreamed of. I will humiliate you, reminding you of your place. You will learn to respect me.”

His heart raced as the implications of her conditions sank in. He could hardly believe that he had brought this upon himself. The thought of serving Greta—once the invisible assistant to his genius—was both humiliating and strangely intoxicating.

“And if I refuse?” he asked, his voice trembling.

“Then the ring remains locked forever, and you will continue to suffer. I could simply walk away and deny you the help you so desperately need. That would be your punishment.”

Defeated, Ethan lowered his gaze. The thought of enduring relentless pain was unbearable. He had no choice. “I… I’ll do it.”

Greta’s smile transformed into a triumphant grin. “Excellent. We’ll set everything in motion immediately. I’ll contact the authorities, and soon, you’ll find yourself at my mercy.”

The weight of her words pressed heavily on him, transforming his very reality. In a single moment, the power dynamics had shifted irreparably. The memories of his previous control seemed like a distant echo as he faced the stark truth of his new existence.

As she left his office, the implications of this new chapter loomed large. He was no longer the master; he was the servant. The thought both terrified and excited him, awakening a strange blend of fear and anticipation. In this twisted turn of fate, Ethan Mallory was about to discover what it truly meant to surrender, to learn humility from the woman he had once underestimated.

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