Their Rebellious Submissive (Office Intrigue Book 3)

by Nicole Edwards

  Langston got to his feet. “If you need anything, just holler.”

  I shook my head. The man was a country bumpkin.

  “I’ll let Luci know you want her to find you when she’s finished.”

  “Thanks.”

  With that, he left my office and I turned my attention back to my computer.

  The man was right about one thing, I did need to tread lightly with Addison. The girl was rebellious and perhaps a little jaded. I didn’t know the first thing about her, other than she was homeless and unemployed and seemed to be lacking family and friends. Not knowing how she came to be those things left me at a disadvantage, as well.

  Looked as though we would be having some more discussions in the very near future to ensure that one thing didn’t interfere with the other.

  That was, after Luci gave her sign-off.

  If.

  I meant if Luci gave her sign-off.

  Shit.

  *

  BEN

  “NO,” ADDISON STATED ADAMANTLY. “THAT one’s…too expensive.”

  I sighed.

  “You really don’t have to do this,” she added for probably the twentieth time since we stepped into the small boutique just around the corner from our building.

  “I’m doing it,” I countered.

  “Mr. Snowden,” Judy said with a smile. “I’ll be happy to take it from here.”

  The little boutique wasn’t usually open on Sundays; however, thanks to our reputation, we did have some pull and Judy had graciously offered to allow us to come in today. Although we didn’t flex that particular muscle often, there were times when it was necessary.

  “Mr. Snowden…” Addison pleaded.

  Like now, when Addison needed something to wear for a job interview. Getting the girl to buy other necessary items was likely going to be a battle I was fully prepared to fight, but the most important was for the interview, so that was what I was attempting to focus on.

  She wasn’t making it easy.

  “Seriously, Mr. Snowden. You’ve already done more than enough for me. I don’t deserve—”

  Abruptly pivoting to face her, I caused Addison to stumble right into me. I helped her get her footing, then glanced over her shoulder. “Can you give us a minute, Judy?”

  “Of course.”

  I waited until the shop owner walked away before I tilted Addison’s chin up so she was forced to look at me. Baby-blue eyes locked on mine and I could see a hint of fear there. Not of me, I didn’t think. No, this fear was of the situation. This girl had obviously had a rough life and it was evident things continued to go downhill for her. Yet she didn’t play the pity card, which I found admirable.

  “First of all, don’t let me ever hear you say you don’t deserve something,” I rumbled darkly. “If I offer, you deserve it. Understand?”

  She nodded, her eyes wary.

  Taking a deep breath, I calmed myself. “Right now, I’m asking nicely. That won’t be the case if you keep it up. Find something you’ll feel comfortable wearing to a professional interview. Don’t worry about the cost. I want to take care of this.”

  “But it’s not fair to you.”

  I frowned. She clearly wasn’t getting it. “It’s not for you to decide what’s fair to me. If this is what I choose to do—which it is—then I expect you to oblige me with a smile.”

  She seemed to want to argue, but surprisingly, Addison kept her mouth closed. I could tell that wasn’t easy for her, so I was proud of her for trying.

  Physically turning her toward the woman who had so kindly offered to help, I put a smile on my face. “She’s all ready for you now, Judy.”

  The boutique owner offered a pleasant nod and turned her attention to Addison. “Come on, sweetie. We’ll find something that’ll knock them off their feet. If you’ll give me your sizes, I’ll be able to help more quickly.”

  I nodded toward a chair near the door. “Pretend I’m not even here,” I told them, then moved over and dropped into the chair with a heavy sigh.

  “What do you think of this?” Judy asked Addison as she held up a short-sleeve, black blazer-like top with a slim red belt.

  “It’s…” Addison’s gaze shot over to me, as though seeking my input.

  I briefly imagined her in that. Paired with a short skirt and some red heels…I nodded.

  She turned back to Judy. “It’s…uh…nice.”

  I wondered if she realized she didn’t have much time before the interview.

  “Well, you can try it on to see how it fits.”

  I couldn’t help but watch Addison as she moved around the store with the woman. The way she frowned at a lot of things was telling. I seriously doubted it had anything to do with the style of the clothing, more so with the price. This wasn’t a cheap place and I was sure Addison would’ve preferred I took her to a discount store, but that wasn’t going to happen. Although this was Mr. Parker’s idea, I was the one who would foot the bill. Not because I was obligated but because I wanted to.

  Hence the reason Judy was going to get Addison’s sizes so we could completely outfit her for a couple of weeks. Not that I was going to tell her that. It would only be another battle I would have to face, and quite frankly, I was tired. It had been a long damn night.

  “What about this one?” Judy asked Addison, holding up a black skirt.

  “It’s…a little long.”

  Good girl.

  I genuinely liked Addison. She was sassy and witty and a lot of fun. The only concern I had was her lack of trust in others. Not that it was wrong of her. After what I’d witnessed last night, seeing her with a man who wasn’t treating her the way she deserved, I doubted she had much reason to trust anyone. The fact that no one else in the club stood up to protect her… It didn’t appear she had a lot of people—if any—in her corner.

  If we could get her to trust us even a little, I think the girl would be everything that Mr. Parker and I were looking for. Not only in the office but…outside of it, as well. I figured it was going to take quite a bit to convince her, but I was willing to put forth the effort because I knew the reward would be worth it.

  I wasn’t at all surprised that Addison had decided to apply for the job. Sure, she’d put up a bit of a fight, but I knew at some point her self-preservation would kick in. And it did.

  However, the fact that she’d agreed to be our submissive still shocked me. It had been a pleasant surprise. I figured it had a lot to do with the fact the girl was eager to please and she simply wanted to be cared for. As her Doms, Mr. Parker and I would do that. Whether or not it led to something lasting was yet to be seen.

  My gaze followed her and I noticed the way she looked at me over Judy’s shoulder.

  Yeah. That girl needed people in her life who could lift her up and show her exactly how important she was, how much she was wanted. She would flourish with our guidance.

  Plus, it was obvious she was interested. I got that simply by the way she’d watched us this morning, the way she’d so casually mentioned listening to us through the walls last night. Whether she knew it or not, her lust was broadcast clearly on her face. Like now. She was blatantly ogling me and it took a tremendous amount of willpower not to drag her into that dressing room and strip her myself.

  For her sake, I would refrain until we put a contract in place. Not because I needed one, but she clearly did. The instant she had mentioned it, I realized it was a good idea. There were some important rules that had to be agreed upon and limits that needed to be established in order for this to be successful. When it came to a D/s relationship, trust was key. As was the power exchange. But what most people didn’t truly understand was that the submissive had all the power. A Dom would not be in control unless a submissive allowed him to be.

  Genuinely, Mr. Parker and I didn’t form attachments to subs. And we certainly didn’t invite them back to either of our places for the night. I’d been shocked when Mr. Parker offered last night. Not disappointed, though. There was so
mething about Addison that I connected with. Perhaps it was her wit or that deep need to submit that I had sensed within her from the get-go. Whatever it was, I definitely wanted to see where this went.

  I simply wondered how long it would take to gain her trust. Addison Hayes guarded herself rather well and I figured that was due to whatever she’d been through in her life. I had yet to question her, not wanting to put her on the defensive, but I hoped that I’d get the opportunity to get to know her a little better in the coming days.

  “I really think that’s way too much money,” Addison said, her voice carrying through the store. “Do you possibly have something…cheaper?”

  “No, she doesn’t, Addison,” I called out. “Quit looking at the price tags.”

  Yeah. Perhaps I’d get the chance to get to know her eventually.

  And just like this experience, I was sure that was going to be an uphill battle, too.

  Good thing I was a very patient man.

  Ten

  ADDISON

  TUGGING ON THE AWKWARD TOP as I stared into the mirrored walls of the elevator, I couldn’t help but frown at the woman glaring back at me. I looked like…

  Well, fine. I didn’t look horrible, but I felt weird. This shirt was too…ostentatious for my taste. The collar was too formal and belt was too constricting. So much so that I was uncomfortable with it on.

  Not physically, because it was made of some ridiculously expensive silk, but it felt boxy and awkward on me. I preferred my band T-shirts to this stuff. But Mr. Snowden had very clearly told me that I was not allowed to wear a T-shirt and shorts to a job interview. I’d asked if I could wear my Converse with the fancy get-up, but he’d nixed that idea, as well.

  So here I was, wearing these lavish clothes and these absurdly tall heels, riding down in the pretentious elevator, listening to godawful instrumentals playing through some hidden speakers above me.

  Damn, I was way out of my league here.

  I couldn’t even remember the last job interview I’d been on. Maybe Dillard’s? I didn’t get that job. Or was it the dollar store in the mall? I only worked there for about three weeks. After dealing with some inappropriate advances from the store manager’s son, I’d walked.

  Then again, I knew for a fact that I’d never been on an interview that required me to dress up quite like this. The black skirt wasn’t all that bad. Maybe a little longer than I preferred, but not hideous. Unfortunately, Mr. Snowden had stepped in when it became apparent that I wasn’t going to get anywhere with Judy. I’d reluctantly agreed to the top because Mr. Snowden had approved, but I’d fought tooth and nail on everything else. In the end, I didn’t get a say in the cost of the outfit he chose for me, which still rankled.

  On the rare occasions I’d been able to afford clothes, I definitely didn’t go to a high-end boutique to outfit myself. No, I tended to frequent the bargain department stores. I was rather good at making a dollar go a long way. Them, not so much.

  When I tried to argue with Mr. Snowden after at least an hour of protesting, he’d gone all Dom on me, putting his finger over my lips and insisting that I not talk back. It was a move that I, being innately submissive, couldn’t fight, so I had backed down. Quite frankly, it had been intensely sexy, and for whatever reason, that side of him tripped my trigger. I’d seen the caring side of him last night at the club, but the sexy, dominant side was what had me eager to get this meeting over with so I could see what might come of the rest of the day.

  Ding.

  Son of a bitch.

  I tugged on the hem of the shirt once more as I waited for the doors to open on the thirty-third floor so I could meet the woman and man who would be interviewing me. The upside was, I was no longer thinking about the cost of the outfit or the delicious gleam in Mr. Snowden’s golden eyes when he’d seen the final product.

  No, now I was trying hard to keep from sweating instead.

  When the elevator doors started their slow glide open, I took a deep breath and stood up straight. The damn five-inch heels Mr. Snowden had selected were murdering my poor toes. As it was, I could hardly keep myself upright, being that I wasn’t used to them at all. Granted, I had to admit, they were quite sexy, if, you know, heels were my thing. Again, Mr. Snowden hadn’t given me a choice with those, either.

  The doors opened to a beautifully designed lobby area where two equally beautiful people were standing near a desk, chatting quietly.

  The woman turned toward me and I suddenly felt completely lacking in the fashion department. Her cute heeled booties matched the black sleeveless silk shirt she wore and the flirty skirt was perfect for summer. She looked her age, unlike me. I felt like someone’s grandmother in this get-up.

  As for the guy, he appeared quite comfortable in a pair of khaki slacks and a royal blue polo that brought out the color of his eyes.

  Yeah, I seriously doubted I was going to fit in here at all.

  But the good news was, I recognized them.

  Or maybe that wasn’t a good thing considering they were members of the same club I was. For some reason, that seemed as though it would make things uncomfortable. What if I saw them playing at the club? Would I still be able to look them in the eye? Take them seriously when it came to business?

  Or what if I saw them playing in the office? After all, Mr. Parker had informed me that discretion wasn’t a prerequisite.

  Hmm.

  Questions to ponder.

  Thank goodness Luci’s smile seemed genuinely warm when she walked toward me, holding out her hand. “You must be Addison.” Her grin widened and I was blinded by pretty white teeth. “I’m Luci and this is Jordan.”

  I nodded, unable to find my voice.

  Luci studied me for a moment, her smile never faltering. “I know you, don’t I? From Dichotomy?”

  I managed another nod.

  “Ah, yes,” Master J said, reaching for my hand. “You’re the pretty little submissive who works the bar a couple of nights a week.”

  “Yes, Sir,” I said, dropping my gaze. Master J was a very popular Dom at the club. He was quite adept with the violet wand and I’d always found myself fascinated by his scenes.

  “Oh, no,” he said more firmly. “Here in the office, I’m not Sir or Master J or Knight. I’m merely Jordan and we’re friends. High protocol is off-limits where I’m concerned.”

  A small smile tilted my lips. “I’ll try to abide by that, Sir, but it probably won’t be easy.”

  “Sure it will,” he insisted.

  I felt my face heat, but I had no idea why I was embarrassed.

  “We’ve got a shy one,” Jordan said with a chuckle, his hand circling mine. “Don’t worry, honey. I promise, we don’t bite.” He cut his gaze over to Luci. “Well, I don’t bite. The jury’s still out on Luci. But I’m here to protect you, so it’s all good.”

  I found myself smiling despite my nerves.

  “Seriously, we’ll take good care of you. Come on, let’s go have a seat. We’re going casual for this meeting, so you don’t have to sweat.”

  I instantly liked the laid-back, non-dominant side of Jordan, even if I didn’t outwardly show it. I was still on the fence about Luci, but I figured that had more to do with the fact that I knew she had been intimate with Mr. Parker and Mr. Snowden at some point. That still bothered me for some unknown reason. I wasn’t usually the jealous type. Hell, I’d watched Josh feel up a couple of submissives at the club back when I’d first brought him there. Aside from being annoying, it hadn’t bothered me in the least.

  There was something about Mr. Parker and Mr. Snowden that brought out my claws.

  Jordan and Luci led me into a break room equipped with stainless steel everything to go along with drinks and snacks galore. I couldn’t help it, my eyes zeroed in on the candy stash. Sugar was one of my vices.

  “Uh-oh, Luce. I think she’s eyeing the candy. You two are going to get along great. Luci sneaks in here every couple of days and raids the M&Ms. What’s your pleasure, Addison
?”

  “Twizzlers,” I said before I could check myself.

  “Well, that’s going to be interesting. Mr. Snowden’s usually the one stealing the Twizzlers, so it looks as though he now has competition.” Jordan sauntered over to the counter and grabbed a package of Twizzlers, then brought it to me. “For later.”

  “Oh, no. I can’t. But thank—”

  Jordan took my hand and placed the candy in my palm, then proceeded to fold my fingers over it. “No arguing.”

  I felt my cheeks heat. “Thank you. Really.” I smiled, palming the candy as I stared back and forth between the two of them.

  “All right, now that we know you have a voice, I think we’re good to ask some questions,” Jordan said as he motioned toward a small seating area with four chairs.

  “Don’t pressure her,” Luci warned. “You promised we wouldn’t overwhelm her.”

  “Oh, you won’t,” I assured them, although it wasn’t exactly the truth. “I’m just a little…nervous.”

  “Trust me, I know the feeling. About nine months ago, I was walking into this very same situation.” Luci peered over at Jordan. “Only he wasn’t here to greet me. When I showed up for my interview, no one was here. Seriously.” Her eyes widened for effect. “Not a soul. And then suddenly I was overwhelmed by the four men who would become my bosses when they stepped off the elevator to find me waiting for them. I remember sweating buckets.”

  Yes, I could see how that would be worse than this. I couldn’t imagine having to face Mr. Parker and Mr. Snowden without knowing them first.

  “But my Masters like to say that I’m the type to take over a room, so I’m trying to hold back to keep you from running screaming from the building,” Luci admitted with a sheepish grin.

  “Masters?” I asked. “You call them that? Here in the office?”

  A pretty blush stole over her cheeks. “I call them that always. Well, technically, I call one Master, the other Sir. But…” Her hand instantly went to the delicate silver collar around her neck.