10: BRYNLEE

Nerves bundle in my belly as I look around the crowded auditorium. Our front-line staff, mid-level staff, managers, directors, and the entire executive team are gathered here except for one person. Ambrose should have been back in town by now. I’ve missed seeing him.

It’s been two and a half weeks since we had sex and two weeks since I last saw Ambrose in his office when he “left something” on my mind.

Gabriel is discussing a new rollout that the IT department will embark on in the new year. It will change how we do business in our accounting, marketing, and HR departments.

I glance at the screen to see the waves he references about who will be impacted, when, and the preparatory steps needed to prepare for the transition.

I’ll be going up to speak once Gabriel finishes his presentation, but it’s difficult to stay focused when all I can think about is Ambrose.

A tingle runs up my spine, and chill bumps break out on my arms. Slowly lifting my head, I look around again, and my eyes connect with those beautiful hazel ones. His gaze burns a hole in me, heating me up like a fireplace on a midwinter evening. A wicked, delicious smirk changes his handsome features to devilishly handsome.

I bite back the smile that wants to dance across my lips at the sight of him, looking forward to a spanking or orgasm denial.

“...St. Clair.”

Hearing my last name and the subsequent applause interrupts my thoughts, alerting me that it’s my turn to take the stage.

I leave my seat and head to the stage, clutching my iPad tightly.

Once the applause dies down, I launch right into my speech.

“Rumors have circulated about layoffs. I will start by saying there are no layoffs...this year.”

Applause and cheers swell in the auditorium.

“We’ll be hiring more staff next year. I’m sure everyone knows we’re about to embark on a thirty-two-million-dollar project. It will require more hours, overtime, and commitment to the same excellence this company’s reputation has been built on for decades.”

I continue my speech, providing them with the information they want to hear before stepping down and allowing Noble to take over and give them third-quarter numbers and the fourth-quarter forecast.

“May I see you in my office?” Ambrose’s deep voice rolls over me like thunder.

I turn in my seat to see that he looks displeased.

“I’m scheduled to close out the meeting,” I whisper.

“Now,” he rumbles.

Oh shit!

Ambrose doesn’t wait to see if I’ll obey. He arrogantly steps out of the auditorium, knowing I’ll follow him.

“What was that about?” I ask as I step into his office and close the door.

“I should be asking you that.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Have you always been this hard-headed, or is this some new thing you’re on, Ms. St. Clair ?”

“Are we back to that again? If you have a problem with me, just say it, Mr. Charles, because I’m tired of the games.”

“I gave you a direct order not to make the announcement until I was in town,” he snarls, leaning against his desk with his arms folded.

“You’re in town.”

“I arrived late this morning and didn’t authorize you to move forward.”

“No, Tina authorized me to move ahead. She said you were held up for another day out of town and that it was safe to share the news. I wasn’t sure why I hadn’t heard from my CEO, when I am his right-hand person, and the board chair had.”

I watch as he walks past me and locks his door.

“What are you doing?”

“How often have I warned you not to fucking challenge my authority?” he asks, removing his necktie.

“Ambrose, I—”

“ I told you not to hold the meeting until you heard from me again,” he says, walking back to his desk and unlocking a drawer. “Seems you have a hard time following rules.”

“What the hell?” I ask, looking at the paddle in his hand.

“Insubordination.”

My pussy clenches, and my heart pounds, but my eyes narrow, and my jaw clenches. “You’re not fucking hitting me with that, Ambrose.”

He stalks closer to me and says, “Watch me.”

“I dare you—”

Before I can finish the sentence, he lifts me off the floor, tosses me over his shoulder, and carries me to his sitting area. In one quick move, he has my hands behind my back and ties them at the wrist with his necktie. I struggle as he sits on the couch and grabs the skirt hem of my cream-colored dress.

Ambrose is right. I now dress for him. The top of my cream and burgundy two-tone, form-fitting, sleeveless dress cuts close at the top with a keyhole collar and sleeks down to a shapely cream skirt.

All my resistance stops when the air caresses my ass cheeks, and his hand smooths across them.

“God, no fucking panties?” he hisses.

My pussy clenches at how his voice garbles and breaks off until he whacks my bare ass with that paddle.

“Ro!” I cry.

He brings the paddle down again, and I shudder. Two more whacks, and I’m getting used to the sting on my ass that has me ready to cum as juices pearl on my lips.

Preparing for the fifth, he stuns me by saying, “Get up.”

I stand, glaring at him.

“What was that?”

“You will stop disrespecting my authority. You may leave now.”

“What?”

“I have another meeting,” he says as a knock sounds at the door.

I stand trembling in anger, want, and fear, watching him slide the paddle under the couch cushion. God, I hope no one heard my shriek. What will they think?

“Come in,” he calls out before I can say another word.

“Oh, I didn’t realize that you hadn’t finished your first meeting,” Austin says with a smirk, waltzing in.

I can barely escape before I hear Ambrose’s condescending chuckle. Fuck me to hell, and back this man will drive me insane. I’m so turned on and need him in the worst way, but I’ll be damned if I beg.

Sighing, I drop down at my computer and bury my face in my hands. The shame burns me. Not because I’ve been humiliated, tortured, or harassed. No, it’s because I liked everything he did to me and wanted more. What’s worse is that I loved being subjected to that in his office with the risk of exposure.

I think I was turned on more by the knowledge that anyone could have walked in on us at any moment. I open my computer and tap a few keys to open the site Boss Be Damned.

I click into the “How to Resist Your Boss” chat.

@Perfect_Storm: Is it harassment when you want to be harassed?

I move from my desk to the cream club chairs in front of the electric fireplace. Massaging my temples, I flip through the invoices for a project two weeks from completion. After five minutes, I toss the invoices onto the glass table beside me and groan. I can’t focus.

I walk to the large panoramic window and look down on the boulevard below. Palm trees sway in the breeze, welcoming passersby to the downtown area. It’s such a breathtaking and relaxing view, but I can’t find peace today.

Moving away, I grab a watering can off the bookshelf and water my orchids and two ferns before my gaze drifts up to the large scenic painting of downtown Ocean Falls. The painting is of this building and the surrounding ones. The Atlantic Ocean is opposite the buildings on the other side of the street.

The painting was made in nineteen-seventy-three, and much hasn’t changed in this historic town other than updating the existing buildings. A chime on my computer has me rushing back to my oval-shaped glass desk.

@Undercover_Math_Scholar: What do you mean?

@Perfect_Storm: I find myself purposely creating tension between #MasterPunisher and myself so that he can do things to me that, if not illegal, are definitely unethical.

@Undercover_Math_Scholar: What sort of things?

I pause, wondering how much it’s okay to disclose without telling everything. Sighing loudly, I forge ahead.

@Perfect_Storm: Spankings. Orgasm denial.

@Undercover_Math_Scholar: WTH?

@Tortured_Admin: Maybe you should change your name to Mind_Games.

@Perfect_Storm: That’s harsh.

@Undercover_Math_Scholar: I don’t see what the problem is if you’re both into each other like that. You say you have a past; let it go and start a future.

@Perfect_Storm: I wish it were that simple, but it’s complicated. So many ???????? would be impacted by a decision like this.

@Undercover_Math_Scholar: Does your ?? have a no-fraternization policy?

@Perfect_Storm: No. I’ve already checked into that. I’m new, and although he isn’t, he holds a position that causes him to carefully consider every decision he makes because it can impact the company.

@Tortured_Admin: The games you’re playing will have an impact. If anyone finds out, you’re risking your career.

@Undercover_Math_Scholar: You sound like you have a lot to think about.

@Tortured_Admin: No. Sounds like she’s doing what she wants to do.

@Undercover_Math_Scholar: @Tortured_Admin, who pissed in your ??this morning?

@Perfect_Storm: @Tortured_Admin, I thought you were the one who advised me to overlook my ?? for good ???

@Tortured_Admin: Just thinking maybe you’re in the wrong chat. This is about resisting your ?????, and you’re not trying to.

@Perfect_Storm: Maybe you have a point...

I log out of the chat, thinking about Tortured_Admin’s words. What the hell am I doing?