Kind of, hedging your bets

You try desperately to think of a way to raise the subject with Ms Stevens in the limited time you have before you have to go your separate ways... And realise you will simply not dare ask something like that directly. Even though you have the ultimate power tucked safely into your bag upstairs, you do not want to use it to bail yourself out after getting into trouble with a superior. She did, however, say something earlier that may give you an opening of sorts.

"Can I ask you something, Ms Stevens?", you ask. The woman chuckles. "You can call me Rita after that, I think", she says. "This policy feels quite effective in removing boundaries". You laugh politely. "Thank you... Rita", you say. "That's what I wanted to talk about actually. You said most of the policy makes sense to you, but I was wondering, how would change it if you directed it completely? Or what other policy would you put in place instead?"

She walks in silence for a few steps. "I suspect I know why you are asking...", she finally says, immediately putting you on alert. It turns out, though, that being on alert is a bit useless after all the secrets have already escaped. "... and I have to say it feels very surreal still. I was imagining... not quite this but something similar happening, because on some level at least I knew we deserve it and because I knew that on some level at least I'd enjoy it... And then this unheard-of policy does come into place and on its first day I'm paired up with a young woman who leaves a wet spot on the table from being spanked and asks me how would I manage the spanking of naked women including myself if I could. Don't worry, I wiped it...", she adds, seeing the shock on your face. "... and circling back to what I said earlier about suspecting the reasons behind your question, I am quite sure you are aware you were not the only one who enjoyed that particular situation".

You walk on in stunned silence; you are almost at the lifts now. Before you turn the last corner, Ms Stevens speaks again. "I know this does not really change anything, but I wanted to be open with you. I feel like I can trust you and I'm not usually too wrong about people... And I guess it must be comforting to know you're not the only one secretly happy, at least in part, with our new positions. I know our schedules are different, but I think it's safe to say our bottoms will end up close together again. In the meanwhile... you can drop me a line if you want to talk about anything. I try to stay open for contact". She stops and presses the "up" button.

Although completely overwhelmed by her frankness, you get yourself together and thank her for her words, saying how much you needed to hear them. She is wrong about one thing, however; this can change a lot under the right circumstances, but you have to tell yourself to stay focused on the rest of your working day, not get lost in the daydreams of what you can do with the Rulebook to aid her and yours further joint humiliation. You mostly manage to do that too.