Words: 1761
Theme: Relinquishing Control
POV: Female Protagonist, First Person, Past Tense

[SPOILERS: Workplace, co-worker, control, male dominance, female submission, non-con, spanking]

Before you dive into this short story, I’d like to take a moment to explain myself. I’m not at all used to telling short stories, but I hope to become a better writer by doing so. I think any writer would agree that it is difficult to capture the essence of a character in so few words. I wanted to create an unlikeable character, but one that could later become more than just what they project. That was my major goal going into this story. To me, this story is the start of something bigger. For now, I am happy to have created a character that I hope you hate to love.

---

Everyone wanted me. Strolling along the pavement, I could feel strange eyes gawking as I hailed a cab. Wives scolded their husbands, and every so often a distant whistle reminded me of the flawless beauty I held. Smirking at my own privilege, I realized the effect I had on people, and I owned it. Blessed with a silk blanket of blonde hair, long strong legs, and the face of a Hollywood knockout, I devoured every business opportunity that presented itself.

Some say beauty is only skin deep. For me, it was deep enough to get whatever I wanted, that is, until I met Jonah.

The taxi driver was getting on my nerves that morning. I didn’t mind his obvious interest in my appearance, his eyes constantly darting to the rearview mirror. I never minded the attention, but this man asked way too many questions than I cared to answer. Ignoring him, I gazed out the window at the concrete and glass flowing behind the winding crowd of blurred pedestrians. 

On the way to my building, I stopped by the coffee cart a block away. Meeting with the neutral-brown-skinned man regularly, I had never asked his name. He knew mine. Everyone did.

“Good morning, Lynette.” His smile was genuine. While every so often I’d catch his eye peering down the curtains of the top of my blouse, he never made a distasteful comment. I considered his familiarity enjoyable; a friend in the absence of friends. I tipped him, dropping a handful of change into his scuffed hand, careful not to touch his skin. The dirt under his fingernails reminded me to refill my sanitizer on the way to my building.

Breezing past security, I stopped by the administration. The new hire glanced up as I cleared my throat. Distress swept over as she recognized a face she’d never seen before. She shuffled the papers on her desk into a neat stack and quickly cleaned up the rest of her scattered belongings as she spoke.

“Good morning, Ms. Cheney.” Her smile tried to break through the tension on her face.

“Lynette,” I insisted.

“Good morning, Lynette.”

“Has my partner arrived?”

“I believe so.”

“Well, you should know so.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Lynette.”

“Sorry. Yes, Lynette. He is in his office, I’m sure of it.”

“Ok. Good.” 

“Have a wonderful morning!” She called out as I made a line to the elevator. It wasn’t worth a response. I had a feeling she wouldn’t make it past lunch. I considered stopping by HR but reconsidered. They would handle it, just fine. I was more interested in meeting the man who preoccupied my thoughts for weeks. 

I was finally going to put a face to the name, and I hoped it wasn’t disappointing. We’d exchanged messages frequently, nearly every day, but never met in person or via video. Sure, I could have met with him first and I had every opportunity to. I knew his impressive credentials and was all too aware of the impact of his lineage. With no interest in staunching the thrill of mystery, I would enjoy the surprise of meeting him on our first day of business. 

I breezed past my office, through a crowd of interested expressions that quickly went from disorganized laze to working with diligent purpose the moment I stepped out of the elevator.

I kept my enthusiasm tightly guarded as I approached the door.

As I entered my new partner’s office, I missed the effect of a lingering gaze. Only when I turned around to face him, did his piercing green eyes turn up from his tablet screen. He stood up, unabashed. 

“Hello. What is your name?” He asked without a hint of anything more than decent interest.

“My name?” I questioned, bearing insult.

“Yes, miss. You do work here, correct? Clerical I presume.”

He had to have been playing a cruel prank. Anyone I’d ever come to meet had known my name well before they caught even the slightest glimpse of me. I stared in disbelief.

“Well?”

“Of course, I work here. I founded this company,” I scoffed, folding my arms as I prepared myself for the unamusing reveal of his joke. He smiled politely and shook my hand instead.

“Oh yes, Miss Cheney. It’s nice to finally meet you. Shall we go over the finances first?” Frozen with incredulity, I watched as he returned to his desk without a hint of curiosity. It was as if we’d never had a conversation before, though we had been in touch for months.

I followed, planting my palms on the oak, waiting for a peeking glint of his eye. Nothing.

His ignorance of my obvious charm stirred something in me. My joyous attitude soured as I wondered what game he was truly playing.

“Finances,” he hummed with peculiar enjoyment. “Where can I find the breakdown of last year’s revenue?”

I took the opportunity to move in close. Leaning over his shoulder, I pointed to the software allowing my fragrant hair to sweep across his cheek. “This folder right here,” I said with calculated seduction.

“Ah, perfect. Thank you,” he enthused. His gratitude came without a hint of admiration. I supposed he must enjoy the company of someone more masculine.

As I reviewed this fantasy, while ignoring his dull mumbling, my secretary came in unannounced, her shy hesitance admitting she knew better than to enter without knocking. She asked some silly question about which callback to prioritize as she nervously shifted her notepad from one hand to the other. When I scolded her for interrupting, I caught Jonah’s eyes narrow, before turning to gawk at the petite woman’s full hips as she walked out. Gay men don’t stare like that.

“You don’t think that was a bit harsh?” He quizzed, in a subtly sharp tone.

“She should know better by now.”

“Know better than what? Doing her job?” He leaned back testing my argument without an inkling of humor.

“Her job is to make my life easier, not the other way around.”

“Has anyone ever adjusted your attitude before?”

I was abruptly taken aback. “Excuse me?”

“You’re coming across as a spoiled brat. It’s not an ideal start to this partnership,” he insulted, leaning back further in his chair.

For the first time in my life, I had found myself at a loss for words. Irritation mingled with curiosity, as I studied the striking man who dared to challenge me. It was becoming clear that this business venture wouldn’t work out as I had hoped.

“Well?”

“Well, what?” I snarked.

He stood from the black leather chair and ambled to the door. Click. I followed his steps, stopping just in front of the desk. 

“What are you doing?” I rolled my eyes and glared at him as he came toward me. Locking the door may have signaled something enticing, but his expression was far too serious.

“Nipping it in the bud,” he decided, approaching me in a steady stride of confidence. 

Maybe this venture could still work.

His hand came around the small of my back as he began to nudge me closer to the desk. I didn’t mind the forwardness of his touch as I was pleased to finally get the attention I was accustomed to. My knees hit the wood as he gently forced my torso over the front of the desk. I stretched my palms over the cool hard surface. A heat began to build between my legs as he moved his hand to the back of my knee. Tracing his hand up my thigh, he lifted my skirt to expose the red lace I wore with this exact fantasy in mind. My vision had been slightly different, starting with a kiss of passion, but there was no reason to complain. I always get what I want. 

“Stay,” he ordered. I closed my eyes, leaning into the desk to await the fulfillment of an intimate daydream that regularly played through my mind. I heard him step around the desk before I heard the roll of a drawer sliding open. Smart man to bring protection. This partnership will work out after all. 

The anticipation teetered somewhere between irritating and exhilarating as I imagined how deep his cock was about to fill me. A slickness drooled out of me, spreading over my panties absorbing into the lace. Of course, he couldn’t resist me. No one could.

His firm hand stroked my bare cheeks now, and I stretched my fingers wider, ready to take what he was about to give. 

“I want you to remember this the next time you feel the need to act like a pretentious bitch.” He stroked the skin just under the lace. My body responded with a trail of goosebumps rushing down my thighs. “You should know better.”

“Mmmm. Make me remember.”

A loud thwack rang out, and suddenly I was on fire. 

Thwack! Thwack! Thwack! 

My breath hitched and I was torn between trying to catch it and tensing in preparation for the next blow.

Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!

They came in unbearably quick succession, which thankfully, left little time to process each sting. I was too stunned to cry out. Panic ensued, in a way I’d never experienced. I realized the entire floor had to be questioning the source of this sound. If I caved at the temptation to scream, they’d know what was happening. I couldn’t stand the thought of losing my power; my sense of control.

I rushed to move out of the way and his arm came down, pinning me in place. 

Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!

It was too much! I dropped my face to the desk and scrambled to cover my flaming ass with my hands. “Stop. Stop. Please,” I tried desperately to keep my voice low.

He was quiet as he repeated his steps behind the desk, but this time the drawer slammed shut. I remained still, absorbing the aftershock. I felt him join me again. This time, his hands glided over my hot skin, gently caressing the sorest hills. I exhaled, relaxing under his gentle touch. The pleasure lasted much longer than the pain before he carefully tugged my skirt down and smoothed it over. 

Without a word, he guided me to his chair and pulled me into his lap. I sat with my knees on either side of him collapsing into the crook of his neck. I wondered how it felt so right as he slowly traced circles with his palm along my back. 

“Wow. February’s revenue was impressive. I bet we can increase it even more this year.”