"What?" I glower at her. "Just because I prefer for everyone to be happy doesn’t make me weak."
"No, it doesn’t," she agrees, "it makes you very human, very soft, very…"
"Say it." I scowl.
"Submissive," she says reluctantly.
"I am not submissive," I snap.
"It’s not a bad thing," she says in a soft voice. "It’s also what makes the Sovrano’s want to adopt you into their family and take care of you, I think. It’s also why—"
"Axel, can order me around and I can’t turn him down."
"I am sure that it makes him happy when you obey him."
"Probably," I say dully.And here I was, thinking that I had my own business, that I have proven myself to be someone who can take care of herself, stand on her own two feet without having to depend on anyone else, someone who has actually turned her passion into a successful career.
"Being submissive doesn’t take away from your other achievements," she murmurs as if she’s reading my mind. "You actually hold the power, you know?"
"Right," I scoff, "when he glares at me and tells me what to do and I obey, despite not wanting to, trust me, it doesn’t seem to me, then, that I hold the power."
"Oh, but you do. If you don’t obey him, it’ll upset him."
"But I do," I snap back. "That’s the entire problem. I can’t tell him no, know what I mean?"
"And by doing so, you are putting yourself in his hands and that’s a big responsibility. You’re allowing him to take care of you, to do what he thinks is right for you. If you’re not happy with what he does, then he has to change tactics and figure out what does make you happy. You get me?"
"No," I glower, "you are confusing me. And for all that you said, it doesn’t change the fact that, even though I don’t want to do as he says, when he commands me, I find my body seems to want to obey. My logical mind resists, but it’s like a switch inside of me seems to flip, and then I scurry to do what he wants."
"So why don’t you use that to your advantage?"
"What do you mean?"
"Do as he says, give him your assent, then use it to make him do what you want."
"And how do I do that?"
"That’s for you to figure out." She smiles.
"You’re really not helping me, you know that?"
Her smile widens, "I know it can seem confusing, but just trust your instinct."
"Easy for you to say; you haven’t been in this situation."
"Haven’t I?" Her smile is secretive.
I stare at her. "Shut up." I peer into her features, "Are you telling me this entire submission-dominance thingie is something you have experienced before?"
She makes a motion of zipping her lips, "Not saying anything."
"Aw, come on," I protest, "you’re no fun, you know that?"
"This isn’t about me anyway," she murmurs. "You’re a smart person, Theresa. I am sure that you’ll figure out a way to have Axel wrapped around your little finger."
"Don’t want him wrapped about anything." I scowl. "I just wish there were a way I could resist him."
She glances off screen, "Sorry, Theresa, but I’ve gotta go. I need to get dinner ready."