Two black coffees, three with milk, an elderflower green tea, and two breakfast teas. Alexis carried each mug carefully from the kitchenette to the desks. It wasn’t part of her job description, but it had become an unspoken expectation. No one ever wanted coffee unless she said that she was putting the kettle on, but the office lit up the second she pulled her chair away from her desk. She liked to be helpful, and she liked the chorus of thank yous even more.

“Last but not least.” She smiled as she put the final mug down next to Cynthia. Her boss leaned back slightly in her chair, looking up at the young employee.

“How’s that report coming along for Mondolez?”

Alexis froze slightly, trying to remember where in the whirlwind day the report fell.

“It’s going well, I think,” she said. “That one’s Ben’s account so I don’t really have eyes on it.”

Cynthia’s sigh brought tension bubbling into her shoulders.

“I texted you this morning. Ben hasn’t got time to finish it. I need you to write it up. It’s due on Friday.”

“I didn’t see a text,” Alexis mumbled, scrolling through her clunky work phone. She reached into her bag and saw a string of notifications on her personal device. “Oh, sorry, I think you used the wrong number again,” she said, forwarding the message to herself before tucking her phone back into the side pocket of her backpack.

“Okay,” Cynthia replied, not taking her eyes away from her screen, “it’ll probably take you the rest of today. Finish it and send me a draft to look over for tonight.”

Alexis’ thoughts flickered over her own pressing tasks and tried to develop some magic strategy that would allow her to get everything done by 5:30. “Sounds good to me, thanks.”

The sun had set and the office had quietened by the time Alexis closed her laptop. 8pm. Again. Her clients always marvelled at her ability to be ‘always on’ and she would laugh and say ‘agency life!’ but her colleagues always managed to be home on time. It was a busy period, and she supposed that busy meant good.

She loaded the mugs into the dishwasher and threw the emergency granola bar wrapper from her makeshift dinner into the bin before locking up and heading out. Her phone buzzed faintly in her bag, and she quickly unlocked it, hoping that it wasn’t another meaningless edit that Cynthia wanted her to make. Her stomach sank when she saw a thread of messages from ‘R’.

I can’t wait to see you tonight, babygirl, I’ll have dinner on the table when you get home. Salmon okay?

Thea showed us pictures of her new kitten and it really made me think of you - so cute!

Let me know when you’re on your way home, okay baby?

Tell me she hasn’t kept you back late again

Alexis? Are you on your way?

Lex?

I’ve told you before, you need to let me know if you’ll be back late. I don’t like worrying about you like this.

Dinner’s on the table. You can heat it up later. Meet me in the bedroom.

She felt a chill through her blood. She knew what it meant. The bus pulled in just as she reached the stop and she hoped that the panic in her stomach didn’t show as she smiled at the driver and paid her fare.

After her heart rate had crested its peak, she typed back: I’m so sorry, angel. Cromwell gave me a ton of work that really had to be finished. I’m heading back now, I’ll be about 20 minutes. I love you.

She didn’t need to wait long for the response.

I love you too.

The short journey dragged by before she finally unlocked the door. She walked through the living room, seeing her plate of all of her favourite things - salmon, broccoli, Robbie’s skin-on mashed potatoes - now stone cold. The condensation on the much-needed glass of sauvignon blanc had disappeared. She gingerly twisted the door handle and entered the bedroom.

Robbie’s eyes rose to meet hers. “Nice of you to join me.”

She averted her gaze, trying to think of some excuse before realising that lying wouldn’t help. “I’m so, so sorry, she put so much extra work on me and I had to finish everything for my clients too and apparently Ben didn’t have time to finish-“

“And you did? Lex, the woman walks all over you. And you let her. I keep telling you, you have to tell her no when she piles things on like that. It’s her company, she should pick up the slack. Do you think she’s stayed late every night for the last two weeks? Or is that just you?”

Alexis shifted slightly from foot to foot. “Just me,” she said quietly.

Robbie sighed and took her fidgety hand. “I know that your work is important. I know that the whole place would fall apart without you there to pick up all of the pieces. But they’re really taking advantage, babygirl. Sometimes it’s okay to stay late, but this is getting ridiculous. Especially when I don’t even get a text to say when you’ll be home after we decided on plans for the evening.”

Tears were already starting to well up. “I know, Daddy. I’m sorry.”

“I know you’re sorry, babygirl, but I was so worried and I was so looking forward to spending a nice, relaxing evening with you. What do you think we should do to wipe the slate?”

He always made her say it, and it was always a struggle to get the words out. “I think you should spank me,” she said, her voice barely a whisper.

“Speak up, baby, I didn’t quite catch that.”

“I think you should spank me, please Daddy.”

He looked at her for a moment before standing. “Trousers off. Undies too.”

She unbuttoned her trousers and pulled them down, looping her thumbs in to remove her undies too. She stood with her hands in front of her before he raised an eyebrow, a silent command to not hide from him, and she placed them at her sides.

“You need to learn to say no to them, babygirl. It’s not your job to finish off everything for everyone else. And the more you do it, the more they ask of you. I know it feels good to be the hero, but it doesn’t feel so good when you come home late and tired for a trip over Daddy’s knee, does it?”

She ran her fingers over the sides of her shirt, eyes glued to the ground and said in a small voice, “No, Daddy.”

He nodded slightly. “That’s right. Let’s get this over with, little lady. Over my knee.”

She draped herself awkwardly over his lap, her hands on the ground keeping her balanced. Then the first slap came.

He always said ‘start as you mean to go on’. It had been the same way for over a year, since she first asked him to punish her. They had played a bit in the bedroom, a light spank here, a pinched nipple there. But this was real punishment, and he always ensured that she felt it. He didn’t spank angry and he didn’t spank fast; every slap was strong and the pain was deep. He used one hand to hold down the small of her back, the other to deliver strong, firm slaps from the sit spots to the cheeks to the sensitive tops of her thighs. He painted her bottom red and didn’t stop until she gave up on begging, wriggling, and resisting. The stinging fire built and built until her wails became silent sobs and her body went loose over his lap, one hand on the floor and the other loosely holding his leg.

He rubbed her back and let her cry it out. “You took that really well, babygirl. I’m very proud of you. You can take a break, into the corner.”

She picked herself up slowly and rubbed her eyes, hoarsely asking, “A break, Daddy? Are we not all done yet?”

He wiped a stray tear from her cheek. “Not yet, princess. We usually finish up here but you still haven’t learned your lesson. I don’t like that I have to do this, but if it’s what it takes for me to know that you’re safe and sound then that’s what it takes. Into the corner. I’ll let you know when I’m ready for you.”

Alexis shuffled into the corner, her mind clear for the first time all day as she felt the throbbing sting in her behind and knew that it was time to focus on a real apology. After what felt like a very long time, she heard her Daddy’s footsteps and the soft thud of something landing on the bed.

“Come on out, babygirl. Do you have something to say to me?”

Robbie stroked her hair as she dropped to her knees before him. “I’m sorry I let you down, Daddy. I’m sorry that I overfilled my plate because I like to feel helpful and I like when people say thank you. I’m sorry that I didn’t look at my phone and I’m sorry that I didn’t tell you what I was doing. I’m sorry that I ruined our night when I said that I would be here and you put so much effort into cooking for me and taking care of me. And I’m so, so sorry that I worried you. You always make sure that I’m safe, and it’s my responsibility to let you know that I am.”

He pressed a kiss into her hair, gently holding her jaw as she looked into his rich, brown eyes. “All is forgiven, babygirl. I’m proud of you. Now up on the bed, all fours for me, please.” She assumed the position as he issued a warning. “This is going to hurt. I’m not cross with you, and I do forgive you, but I need you to remember not to do it again.” She nodded, her shoulders, knees, and hips braced. “How many texts did you miss, baby?”

“Eight, Daddy.”

“That’s right. And how many hours late were you this evening?”

“Three, Daddy.”

“Alright. I think we should call it an even twelve.”

Alexis’ shoulders tensed up. “Okay.”

“Okay. Count.”

With no further warning, the first blow of the belt came across the crest of her buttocks, causing her to scream out.

“Number,” he said, his voice commanding.

“One,” she sobbed out.

“Good girl. Don’t make me remind you again.”

He striped her bottom and thighs with angry red lines and raised welts, reducing her into a sobbing mess. He rubbed her back after the last blow fell, sitting beside her on the bed and allowing her to collect herself before asking her to move.

“You did so well for me, babygirl. It wasn’t easy and you were very, very brave taking your punishment,” he said, placing his bed beside hers.

“Thank you, Daddy,” she sniffled. “I’m almost ready to be done.”

“Good girl,” he said, smiling and stroking her hair.

He moved behind her when she gave him the signal and engulfed himself inside of her, and her whimpering turned to moans as the act of submission brought the ordeal to a close.

Alexis sat gingerly the next day.

“I need you to draft the proposal for Janine’s Allwyn pitch,” Cynthia called over her monitor. Alexis checked the time on her phone, sitting beside her on her desk. 4:53.

“I’ll be sure to get on it tomorrow. I’m afraid I have to be out on the dot today.”