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?

CHAPTER 21

Joseph

After Ingrid left the office, I leaned back in my leather chair, the polished mahogany desk in front of me reflecting the late afternoon sun streaming through the panoramic windows. My fingers traced the edge of a file folder absentmindedly, but my thoughts went elsewhere, following Ingrid to her cubicle.

I had dismissed her with a measured tone that had reflected only my determination to provide her with the discipline and the care she needed. I had kept the complexity of my thinking hidden as much as I could. Reflecting on the choice I had given her, to accept a severe punishment or decline discipline entirely, I tried to make certain I had done her—and myself—justice.

I was the guy, after all, who might well receive a reprimand from my own boss for Ingrid’s silly outburst. And I was the guy who had to discipline the adorable, independent yet needy young woman I loved. I couldn’t help but replay the events of the previous night.

As I had driven into her tight bottom, her pleading voice had echoed in my ears. “Please, sir, may I touch myself?” she had asked, her voice muffled in the comforter. The sensation of her little anus clenching around me had almost overcome my resolve, but I had held firm. “No,” I had growled, feeling a dark thrill as her neediness grew. And I had added the note about how I wanted her ‘sharp’ for the big meeting.

Ingrid had whimpered, frustrated yet obedient, her hands gripping the sheets instead of reaching for herself. Here in my office I couldn’t help wondering if denying her had been the right call. Was it purely my animal impulse toward the pleasure of possessing her that way, or did it serve a deeper purpose in helping her explore her submissive sexuality?

Had I made a mistake? I supposed if I felt like I couldn’t stand to get reprimanded by John Grappler, I had. But I definitely didn’t feel that way. I could take a browbeating from John. More important, my dominant instincts also told me that Ingrid stood on the verge of a new step in her self-knowledge; the kind of achievement that only came from fucking up and then embracing the resulting growth.

The lingering memory sent a thrill of my own need, making my cock stir against my thigh as it stirred something primal within me. In my mind’s eye I saw Ingrid in the moment after she had called the CEO an idiot. Her cheeks had flushed crimson, and she had fixed her eyes downward as if her life depended on not looking me in the eye.

Despite the breach of protocol, though, I had seen something admirable in the way Ingrid had responded to it. She hadn’t crumbled; instead, she had showed resilience, a glimmer of growth that was hard to ignore—especially in her admission that she knew I had to punish her.

I tapped my pen against the desk, lost in thought. Ingrid was evolving, maturing not just as my executive secretary but potentially as a junior executive in her own right. I could see the potential within her, the delicate balance between vulnerability and emerging strength. Offering her the choice of accepting or declining the severe punishment would be another step in her development. It would test her resolve, her willingness to submit fully, and her understanding of the consequences of her actions.

A slow smile crept across my lips as I considered the implications. This decision wouldn’t just impact Ingrid—it could also ripple through the office. Kevin, Louis, and Martin had performed exceptionally well over the past few months. Their dedication and results warranted recognition, and what better way to reward them than by involving them in Ingrid’s punishment?

The thought alone filled me with anticipatory lust, knowing it would serve both as a reward for their hard work and a powerful lesson for Ingrid. It also held the promise to settle another matter for me. I had shared my secretaries with my team several times before, and all the participants had found the experience very pleasurable.

Thinking about doing the same with Ingrid, though, brought different, more intense feelings—both in favor of the idea and… well, not really against it, as much as in favor of not taking it lightly. Of paying very careful attention to how Ingrid felt about it, and how I felt about it—and what it could mean to us.

My hand tightened around the pen, the weight of my authority settling comfortably on my shoulders. The decision was made. Now, all that remained was to see how Ingrid would respond to the choice laid before her. Would she embrace her submission, or would she shy away from the severity of the punishment?

“Let’s see how much you can grow today, Ingrid,” I murmured to myself, anticipation thrumming through my veins. This evening the real test would take place, and perhaps many more questions would receive their answers.

Ingrid

“Ingrid,” the intercom crackled, Joseph’s voice cool and apparently emotionless, “come in here, please.”

My heart pounded as I stood from my desk, the weight of Joseph’s summons pressing down on me. In the two hours that had passed since he had told me he intended to give me the choice of whether to accept the punishment he decided on, I had gotten nothing done. I couldn’t even remember if I’d eaten lunch, though I supposed I must have.

My feet walked as if of their own accord, though each step toward Joseph’s office felt like treading through thick sludge. When I stepped inside and saw him framed by the city view behind him like a portrait of unyielding authority, I almost turned and fled. His piercing blue eyes locked onto mine as he leaned back in his leather chair, fingers steepled in contemplation.

“You know why you’re here, sweetheart,” he said, his tone icy and detached.