BE MY SUBMISSIVE

****

"The rain ruined my dress, now I'm soaking wet,"

Rebecca said, as her frustration echoed softly in the rain-soaked air causing her glancing down at her ruined dress, that is now drenched and clinging uncomfortably to her skin. Her usual serene expression was replaced with a frown on her face and her steps became hesitant as she made her way through the unforgiving downpour.

As fate would have it, she crossed paths with Kimberly McCullough, whose disdain for Rebecca was no secret. With a heart full of animosity, Kimberly shot her a venomous look, clearly reveling in the opportunity to unleash her pent-up bitterness.

"Are you blind?" she bellowed at Rebecca, her words a sharp blade of malice.

Rebecca, her patience waning, quickly responded, "You were the one who bumped into me, Kimberly. Don't start with your morning tantrums, please."

"And as it is, My mood does not permit me to condole your rubbish,"she continued, as she tried to ignore Kimberly's obvious attempt to provoke her.

But a spiteful laughter from Kimberly that followed pierced through the air. "Coming from someone who doesn't even have dry clothes on," Kimberly mocked, relishing the chance to ridicule her drenched rival.

Rebecca straightened her back, with her tone resolute, "Listen carefully, Kimberly. I hold a far superior position in this prestigious company than you could ever dream of having. So, my dear, quit your envy and jealousy because in every way, I am better than you."

As the rain persisted, Rebecca's eyes became locked with Kimberly's, as her resolve unyielded despite the discomfort and the animosity that surrounded them.

And so, Kimberly's lips curled into a sneer, her eyes narrowing with disdain. "Oh, spare me the grandiose speeches, Rebecca. You may have your precious position now, but everyone knows how you clawed your way up. You think you're better than us, but you're just a conniving opportunist."

Rebecca took a deep breath, trying to maintain her composure. As she was used to the jealousy and bitterness that accompanied her success, and Kimberly's relentless antagonism always struck a nerve in her.

"I worked hard for what I achieved," Rebecca replied calmly, her voice unwavering. "Unlike some, I don't rely on petty schemes and backstabbing to get ahead. Maybe if you focused on your skills instead of undermining others, you'd find success too."

Kimberly's eyes flashed with fury, but she couldn't deny the truth in Rebecca's words. Deep down, she knew her envy had consumed her, blinding her to her own potential. However, pride wouldn't allow her to back down so easily.

"You're nothing but a manipulative snake," Kimberly spat. "But go ahead, and keep pretending you're superior. But know this, I won't let your facade fool me."

Rebecca's patience was wearing thin, and the rain seemed to mirror her growing impatience. And so she uttered out. "I don't need to pretend about anything, Kimberly. My work speaks for itself. Unlike you, I have earned the respect of my colleagues through dedication and competence."

The intensity of their confrontation drew the attention of the office gossip with the latest altercation between the two rivals.

Kimberly's eyes flickered with a mixture of anger and grudging admiration, as she said. "You won't win this war, Rebecca. I'll make sure of that."

And with a determined glint in her eye, Rebecca leaned closer, her voice lowered but carrying an undeniable authority. "This isn't a war, Kimberly. It's a competition, and may the best person succeed. So, if you truly want to defeat me, focus on your work, not on dragging others down by stabbing them at the back,"

Amidst the confrontation between both of them, A loud voice yelled out her name from a distance.

"Rebecca!!!" Edward shouted with so much anger. And all she felt was so much rage inside of her.

But no one dared to raise a protest because everyone was used to his mean and selfish attitude. With a lot of haste Rebecca rushed into his office trembling.

As Rebecca stood before her grumpy boss, Edward Robinson, she felt an inner storm brewing inside her, matching the intensity of the rain-soaked turmoil outside. His aggressive tone and unwarranted accusations made her blood boil, but she knew better than to show her true emotions.

"Ye-yes sir you called for me", she said to her grumpy boss.

"Why the hell did it take so long for you to respond?" He asked her, as his eyes fell on her appearance.

"Why are you looking so rough? Did you not have a good night's rest or perhaps you were out sleeping around?" Edward sneered in disgust.

"I apologize, sir," Rebecca replied, keeping her voice steady despite the seething anger within her.

And this got him irritated in a way that felt good to Rebecca as annoying him was like a soothing massage.

"Where is the summary of the Carvalle's books I assigned to you?" he questioned.

"S-S-sir, about the summary I did as you asked, but the rain caught me off guard on my way to the office, and unfortunately, it ruined the documents you assigned me."

Edward's eyes narrowed further, his irritation evident as he scrutinized her wet attire. And that told her how big of a trouble she was in.

"You should be more responsible, Rebecca. This is a professional setting, and your lack of preparedness is unacceptable."

"What do I do with you Rebecca, if only you were not the best of all my employees I would write a resignation letter on your behalf, now I want the summary before 11 am and if there is even a single error on it, you can kiss your job goodbye, Rebecca"

Suppressing her frustration, Rebecca forced a calm smile, knowing that getting defensive would only fuel Edward's antagonism.

"I understand, sir, and I take full responsibility for the mishap. I'll redo the summary immediately and have it on your desk by the end of the day."

Edward's scowl softened slightly, but his skepticism remained apparent.

"See that you do," he warned, dismissing her with a dismissive wave of his hand.

As she left his office, Rebecca couldn't help but feel a strange mix of satisfaction and exasperation.

Edward's mean-spiritedness and constant belittlement were no secret to anyone in the company. Still, she had managed to maintain her composure, and that, in a way, felt like a small victory.

Returning to her desk, her clothes were still dripping with rainwater,and so she focused on redoing the summary.

The rain seemed to have a calming effect on her, washing away the tension from her confrontation with Kimberly and the toxicity of her interaction with Edward.

Few minutes later, Kimberly barged into Rebecca's office,with her eyes blazing with satisfaction.

As the noise Edward had made piqued her curiosity, and she couldn't resist the opportunity to revel in her former friend's misfortune.

"Well, well, well, look who's in trouble now," Kimberly taunted, her voice dripping with malice."Seems like you've finally pushed Edward's buttons one too many times."

Rebecca's jaw tightened as she felt the familiar surge of anger rise within her. Despite their once-close friendship, Kimberly had become Rebecca's most formidable adversary. And their shared memory, now seemed like a distant echo, drowned out by the bitterness that had consumed Kimberly's heart.

"You should watch your back, Rebecca," Kimberly continued, circling Rebecca like a predator closing in on its prey. "It's only a matter of time before Edward realizes he can do better without you."

Rebecca's heart sank as she confronted the stark reality of how far their relationship had deteriorated.

Before their stormy rivalry, Rebecca had once trusted Kimberly implicitly as they were best of friends, they did everything together, she even allowed Kimberly to get close to her ex boyfriend, who eventually dumped her as she refused intimacy with him.

But the trust between both of them got shattered when Kimberly betrayed Rebecca by getting intimate with her ex-boyfriend after their break up.

And then pain of that betrayal had fueled their rivalry, transforming a once inseparable friendship into a bitter competition for success.

Also the hatred took a step higher when Rebecca got promoted as the personal assistant and writer to the company they both worked for, and with that Kimberly's jealousy reached new heights as she hated Rebecca twice as much and she now wants everything Rebecca has.

"I don't need your warnings, Kimberly," Rebecca shot back, her voice firm despite the turmoil inside."I've worked hard for this position, and I won't let anyone bring me down."

Kimberly's laughter cut through the tense air like a sharp blade. "Worked hard? Please, you've always been the teacher's pet, the golden girl who gets everything handed to her on a silver platter."

Rebecca's eyes flashed with a mixture of hurt and defiance."We could have been close friends before but you know nothing about my journey, Kimberly. I earned this promotion through dedication and countless late nights, something you seem incapable of understanding."

And so, the room seemed to crackle up with animosity, as Kimberly walked away with a frown of defeat laced on her face as she realized none of her words were weighing Rebecca down.

As the clock neared 11 am, Rebecca completed the summary and rushed to Edward's office once again, with the ink still slightly wet on the pages.

Upon her reaching his office, she saw Kimberly wore a sinister smile on her face, which left her in suspicion of Kimberly's bad deeds.

She held her breath as she handed the report out to Edward the instant she reached his office, his steely gaze analyzing every word causing silence upon the office, as tension hung thick in the air as she awaited Edward's verdict.

After what felt like an eternity, Edward finally looked up, and a hint of surprise flickered in his eyes. Rebecca's heart skipped a beat, unsure of what his reaction meant. For a moment, she dared not to speak as the air seemingly froze in time.

And finally he spoke out, as his voice held a mixture of astonishment and begrudging admiration."This is... impeccable, Rebecca despite the setback, you managed to deliver an outstanding report in such a short time. I must say, I'm impressed."

Relief washed over Rebecca, but she maintained her composure, acknowledging his praise with a nod of gratitude. She knew this was not the end of her battles with Edward, but at least, for now, she had proven her worth.

And for the first time ever, Edward offered her a chair to sit on. "Please have your seat,"

This left Rebecca speechless, as he had never been this nice to her before but still on a mission of composure, she had her seat, "Thank you sir,"

After some minutes later, Edward began engaging in conversation with her and he asked a question.

"Is it true Kimberly has been the one writing all your work and you have been copywriting?"

This revelation in the form of a question about Kimberly left Rebecca in a state of shock and disbelief. She had always known there was a rivalry between them, but the idea that Kimberly would stoop so low to undermine her work and take credit for her accomplishments felt like a betrayal of the highest order.

As Edward interrogated her, she struggled to find the right words to defend herself. Her mind was reeling with a mix of anger and hurt, yet she knew that defensive words alone wouldn't be enough to convince him. Instead, she mustered the courage to propose a fair solution.

Her smile, despite the turmoil inside, surprised even herself as she spoke calmly,

"I know words may not be enough to prove my innocence, sir, but I suggest we both undergo a test. Give us both an assignment to complete independently, and let the quality of our work speak for itself. May the best person win."

Edward's smile in response caught her off guard, and for a moment, the tension in the room seemed to ease. "Very well," he agreed, his voice carrying a touch of intrigue. "A fair test it shall be. I look forward to seeing what both of you can produce."

"You can go Rebecca, and good job on the summary also we have a dinner meeting to attend by 7pm I will tell Teslim to pick you up and do a makeover for you". He instructed.

"See you at 7pm sir" she replied and regained her focus in a flash, left his office and returned to her office with an ease evident visible on her face.

And then, he instructed Teslim to arrange for a dinner meeting, Rebecca's thoughts were still swirling with conflicting emotions, as the dinner invitation and the mention of a makeover made her wonder if there was more to their meeting.

But she quickly regained her focus, despite the lingering tension, she felt a newfound determination to prove herself, not just to Edward but also to herself.

The evening came quickly as Rebecca prepared to head home to get ready to meet up with Teslim at the given time. She knew that this dinner meeting could be a turning point for her life and she was ready for it.

And so, with the crowd at the subway she finally got home and was extremely stressed and took a lavender bath before Teslim would come for her.

Exactly as planned, Teslim arrived at her home at 6pm precisely. As she wore whatever her hands could find and left for the mall with him to change into something of Edward's taste.

As they got to the mall with a lot of struggle, a dress was picked, which was the most expensive following the order Edward gave Teslim.

Finally, they arrived at the restaurant where Edward was waiting already, he helped her get down from the car like a gentleman which left Rebecca wondering why he was been so nice to her all of a sudden, when all he ever does is shout at her unnecessarily but she decided to enjoy the moment of his niceness to her.

Then they walked to the reserved table where the meeting was to take place and a few minutes later the foreign investors came in.

The meeting started and it went smoothly with her responding to their questions and instances quite well which left Edward looking at her with so much pride in his eyes.

Finally, the meeting came to an end after a long list of discussions which made everyone never want to leave.

"Rebecca, can you please give us a minute?" Edward requested, in a calm time. "Sure, I will be right at the corner if you need me," She responded, as she gave a smile and left. But for reasons unknown to her, she and Edward kept gazing at one another and which made one of the investors curious.

"Is there anything going on with you two "she teased. "what! No! no way, he is just my boss" Rebecca responded and smiled.

"Oh well! I am Wendy, nice meeting you" she extended a hand.

"I am Rebecca, the pleasure is mine" she smiled at her with so much surprise and could feel the awkwardness with Edward's reaction and niceness.

But she still played along and whatever it was she did got him the contract of his dreams with the investors and the investors left happy. Then she was about to take her leave when he called her.

"Rebecca! Can you stay with me for a dance?" he demanded, as he gave her a flirty look.

The question came as a shock to her, she busted out with laughter "sir! It is Rebecca, your annoying employee," she reaffirmed with a scoff.

"I know Rebecca! I am your boss, so you have to do what I ask of you "He uttered in a commanding voice.

"You are my boss sir but being your personal assistance does not mean you have control over my body or influence over my personal right to decide if I want to dance with you or not and as it is I have a terrible headache, please sir! Let me go" she explained truthfully to him.

"Okay Rebecca I will let you go but you have to drop your resignation letter on my desk tomorrow morning," Edward gave a threat with a frown on his face.

His words got her exasperated but she had to protect herself, And so she agreed and said something she has always being wanting to say to him for a long time for being an asshole "FUCK YOU EDWARD ROBINSON" She exclaimed. And so she left the venue for the meeting and headed home.

Immediately Rebecca got home, she began questioning herself as she laid on the bed, leaving her mind racing with conflicting thoughts and emotions. On one hand, she felt a sense of liberation and relief for standing up to her boss, Edward, who had been overstepping his boundaries. And on the other hand, she was plagued with worries about the consequences of her actions.

"Rebecca Simpsons, did you know what you just did? You just fired yourself from your only job, your only paying job, oh my goodness!" She murmured silently to herself.

"I really need to apologize to Edward tomorrow, what have I done? He is an asshole, but how do I pay my bills, Rebecca you have really outdone yourself with yet another wrong decision Arrrghhh" She reprimanded, while filled with anger.

Throughout the night, she tossed and turned, unable to shake off the anxiety and regret over her outburst.

She knew that she might have jeopardized her job, her source of income, by resigning on the spot like that. Bills, responsibilities, and the fear of the unknown weighed heavily on her mind.

Then the next morning arrived, carrying the weight of the previous day which heavily bore on her heart as she woke.

With a resolve to confront the situation head-on, she acknowledged her anger towards Edward's behavior but also took responsibility for her own actions that contributed to the outcome. And apologizing and reclaiming her job became her goal.

Her day started off with struggles at the subway as she attempted to arrive at work early, but fate seemed determined to thwart her plans. Failing to make it on time, she made an impromptu decision to walk to the office.

However, her misfortunes continued to escalate as her dress got splattered with mud, further souring her mood.

"Are you blind not to see where you are going?" Rebecca couldn't contain her frustration, shouting at the careless driver.

As if summoned by fate, the screech of tires echoed through the busy street as the luxury car came to an abrupt halt, drawing the attention of curious onlookers.

From within the sleek vehicle emerged a man of striking presence, an embodiment of strength and sophistication.

His well-built physique seemed to exude confidence, and the sharp angles of his chiseled neck only added to his captivating aura.

As he stepped out, time seemed to momentarily slow, the world around him fading into a blur as all eyes were drawn to his enigmatic figure.

With an air of poise, he turned to face the source of the commotion, his eyes meeting hers with an intensity that sent shivers down her spine. In that fleeting moment, a hint of apology danced in his gaze, softening the edges of his otherwise stern expression.

The contrasting emotions swirling within her as anger still smoldered in her heart, fueled by the string of misfortunes that had befallen her that day.

Yet, as her gaze lingered on the mysterious man, a spark of curiosity emerged, questioning the enigma that stood before her.

"I am sorry, ma'am," his voice resonated with a deep timbre, betraying a hint of vulnerability beneath his confident facade, "it was a mistake, my driver wasn't watching."

"Yeah, right," she managed to retort, her voice a mixture of defiance and fascination. "He wasn't watching, why would he, when all you rich men consider the less privileged as mere tools to be used however you please?"

The words spilled out with a passion she didn't know she possessed, revealing the depth of her convictions. But in the midst of her righteous anger, a flicker of surprise danced across the man's face, almost as if he were taken aback by her fiery spirit.

"Can I buy you a new dress, only if you don't mind," he insisted, sincerity glinting in his eyes.

But she was not one to be swayed easily. Refusing to yield, she stood her ground, an independent force unwilling to be placated by material offerings alone.

"Listen, mister," her voice trembled with a mix of emotions, "you cannot buy my forgiveness, I am not someone you can buy off whenever you want. I am an independent woman, okay?"

His smile widened, intrigued by her fierce spirit, as he had never encountered a lady like her before.

"I am not buying your forgiveness, miss. You can choose to forgive me or not; it's totally up to you. But can I please buy you a dress to ease my guilt?" he insisted.

But all of a sudden she stormed away, leaving him standing there with a perplexed smile on his face,as her thoughts remained preoccupied with the challenges of getting her job back.

As he watched her go, he couldn't help but feel that there was something different, something inexplicable about her that left him yearning for more.

Later on, as the sleek car began its glide through the city streets, the man, Evans Carvalle couldn't shake off the intensity he felt around her.

Evans' thoughts danced between fascination and bewilderment. "Did you see what I just saw?" He questioned Raphael, his loyal driver, seeking some semblance of clarity in the aftermath of their encounter.

"Certainly, Mr. Carvalle. She is a handful," Raphael responded with a knowing smile, well-aware of the impact the woman had made on his employer. He had witnessed firsthand the electric chemistry that sparked between the two, leaving an indelible impression on both of them.

"She is... different," Raphael could sense the struggle in his employer's voice as he searched for the right words to describe her. "It's a kind of feeling I can't explain."

"I hope we meet again when she's in a calmer state," Evans said while Raphael caught a glimpse of Evans' vulnerability which had left him yearning for another opportunity, perhaps under different circumstances.

But as the drive pressed on, the real world called them back from the realm of curiosity and uncertainty.

"Let's make haste, Raphael. We shouldn't keep Ruth waiting, you know how she can be," Evans finally conceded, returning to the present, though his mind still carried the weight of her presence.

"Of course, Mr. Carvalle," Raphael replied with utmost respect and professionalism, as he continued guiding the car forward into the sea of city lights.

And not too long after that, Rebecca arrived at Peking's publishing to reclaim her job back and when she got to her cabinet in the office, she was shocked to see Kimberly on her seat taking her position.

"What the hell Kimberly," Rebecca yelled, in a furious tone.

"Oh my, if it is not the former assistant of this company Rebecca Simpsons, what are you doing here," responded Kimberly in a condescending manner.

"How did you know about last night," she questioned.

Kimberly gave a sinister laugh and said, "Kimberly knows whatever Kimberly wants to know and besides Edward offered me your position and I took it," she sneered while looking around.

"You son of a ......" Rebecca paused off her words.

Shortly, Edward walked into the office and saw Rebecca standing and so he said to her in a harsh tone.

"Miss Simpsons, How awful do you look this morning? Can you tell me what honor I hold with you coming into my company? I thought you gave your resignation letter last night,"

Taking a deep breath, she began, " Can we talk in your office sir,"

"Oh sure, as you please, queen Rebecca," Edward uttered out in a sarcastic voice.

And so they both went into his office, the moment they got in Rebecca continued. "Actually, I spoke rudely because you have been an asshole but I take back everything I said last night and presently, I was not thinking straight, presently I need my job back and I came to ask of you to withdraw my submitted resignation letter,"

"Hmmm, do have your seat Rebecca," Edward offered to her in a surprisingly calm expression.

"Thank you," she said, while she sat.

"Firstly, someone else has your position now and we all know that person is your rival, you left me no choice but to give her the position because the company cannot be on hold because we do not want you to go," he explained.

"But there is one thing you can do," he smiled seductively. "How about considering my offer to you," Edward said while placing his two hands over his face.

Rebecca was shocked at how much more he could stoop.

"Edward, are you seriously hitting on me? I asked for my job back that all I am asking of you is do not be such a douchebag that you already are," she said while raising her voice to him,

Edward smiled and refused to say nothing but had his eye laid on her and gave a smirk. She got up from her seat and left without a word more to him but with a slam on his door which made attention drawn to both of them. She could not take the subway but rather she trekked only for her to clear her head and began crying.

Eventually she got home and went directly to console herself with A bowl of ice cream. His offer continued to haunt her thoughts. She couldn't shake off the embarrassment and anger that swelled within her.

Meanwhile, later in the evening, as Evans stepped out of his workplace and headed home, eclipsed by the encounter with Rebecca Simpsons.

Her fiery spirit, her words of defiance, and the spark of curiosity in her eyes lingered in his mind like a haunting melody, refusing to be silenced by the noise of the city as he made his way through the dimly lit streets,With his heart heavy with questions wondering who the captivating woman truly was.