Total pages in book: 65
Estimated words: 58185 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 291(@200wpm)___ 233(@250wpm)___ 194(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58185 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 291(@200wpm)___ 233(@250wpm)___ 194(@300wpm)
It made the way my face colored at my master’s shameful degradations seem positively girlish. All his commands, his inspections, his casual, possessive touches under my skirt in the presence of his other subordinates… I had thought they represented real shame.
No, the rational voice that never quite went away said, its tone almost sympathetic. No, Ingrid Vogel, this is shame.
As John’s voice filled the room once more, the tension remained, a palpable force that crackled in the air. My mind raced, torn between the dread of impending punishment and the dark thrill that coursed through me at the thought of Joseph’s wrath. The lines between fear and desire blurred, leaving me again adrift in a sea of conflicting emotions. The crucial difference lay in how high a wave, looming over my tiny raft, I could see.
I closed the notepad and I put my hands atop it. I looked at them, and nothing else. The meeting dragged on, each minute an eternity, until finally, mercifully, we were filing out of the conference room. I felt Joseph’s gaze on me, a silent command that sent a shiver down my spine.
“Ingrid,” he said softly, his voice nevertheless carrying the terrible weight of his authority. “My office.”
“Yes, sir,” I replied, my voice trembling. I kept my eyes downcast. I didn’t need to look at Kevin, Louis, and Martin in the elevator to know how amused, how smug their expressions must appear.
I couldn’t help it: I imagined them, Joseph’s team wondering wordlessly among themselves just how prettily bruised the boss’ secretary’s backside would be the next time they saw it—and with how much difficulty I would walk when I emerged from Joseph’s office. Even more immediately, how long and how loudly I would scream as I received the consequences of my insanely stupid failure to keep my opinion to myself.
Each step toward Joseph’s office felt like a march toward the executioner’s scaffold, a journey that would break me completely. Could I quit right now? Yes, but I would still get whatever punishment Joseph wanted to mete out. I had looked that up soon after he had told me Selecta would find me a new job if I resigned.
In the human resources FAQ I had found the answer, taking some comfort in the fact that clearly I wasn’t the only one with the need to know this particular detail.
If I resign after I’ve committed an infraction but before I’ve received the discipline determined by my superior, will I still be required to undergo that punishment?
Yes. Selecta’s bylaws, with reference to the relevant clauses in the corporate laws, clearly state that employees who resign with punishments outstanding must receive those punishments, under restraint if necessary, before their resignations take effect and separation from Selecta occurs.
We reached his office, the door closing behind us with a soft, ominous click. Joseph walked over to his desk, his movements fluid and controlled, exuding power and authority. He didn’t need to say anything; the silence itself was a force that pressed down on me, making it hard to breathe.
“Joseph… sir, I’m so sorry for what I said in the meeting,” I blurted out, unable to contain myself any longer. “I know I deserve to be punished, but please, not the paddle? I’m really scared.”
His expression softened ever so slightly, a flicker of something almost tender in those icy blue eyes. “Ingrid, I understand that you’re struggling. Last night, I denied you release, and perhaps that frustration has carried over into today. But you should have known better than to lose control in a professional setting.”
“Yes, sir,” I whispered, my voice trembling. The air between us crackled with tension, thick and suffocating.
“Ordinarily, I wouldn’t hesitate. I would punish you very severely,” he continued, his tone unwavering. “But because of last night, this time, I think it’s important to give you a choice. If you feel like you do in fact deserve to be punished, even in light of the state I left you in, the consequence of your outburst will be very severe. It will definitely involve the paddle—not in spite of the fact that it scares you, but because of it. Do you understand?”
“Yes, sir.” My breath hitched, terror and longing warring within me. The reality of his words settled over me like a heavy cloak, and I could feel the weight of the decision pressing down on my shoulders.
“Good. I’ll let you know later today what your punishment will be, if you decide to accept it.” His gaze locked onto mine, an unspoken promise of what was to come.
“Thank you, sir,” I managed to say, my voice barely above a whisper. I turned and left his office, my legs shaking with each step. The anticipation gnawed at me, a relentless beast that refused to be tamed. What would Joseph decide? And more important, how would I endure it—not just the punishment, but the terrible decision he meant to give me?