The room which Irene Adler occupied looked more like an elaborate Victorian library than an office. The walls were covered with dark wooden panels, the curtains were made from heavy, red velvet and there were several shelves of books spread across the walls. In the middle of the room was an antique wooden bureau, and behind it was The Woman.

Her dark brown hair shone unnaturally brightly in the pale lamplight and her tight black dress looked almost luminous. It accentuated her curves as if moulded to her beautifully sculpted physique.

Molly didn't know what to do when she entered the room. She stood a couple of paces away from the door and stared awkwardly at Irene. Automatically, she placed her hands behind her back and linked her fingers. The sensitive skin on the back of her neck grew warmer and the feeling began to spread down her body.

"Close the door." Irene instructed without looking at her. Molly duly obliged and stayed facing Irene without averting her eyes.

Just as she was pushing the door, Molly felt her ankle bow in the ridiculously high heels and she helplessly topped sideways. To stop herself, she lunged for the wall. Although she was able to prevent a fall, the door slammed hard, causing the bookshelves to rock slightly.

"Miss Hooper! Why did you slam the door?" Irene barked. Molly still had her hands on the door and wall and she felt her heart jolt as soon as she heard her name being interjected across the room. Her lips quivered more than ever.

"I didn't mean to! I-I-I tr-tripped…"

"Excuse me, Miss Hooper? Did you just shout at me?" Irene asked, standing up and bracing her hands on the bureau.

"No, um, yes, I mean, I…" Molly stuttered.

"Never address me in that manner, do you hear me?"

Molly hesitated on her words. What game was Irene playing?

"Um, I, er, no. No, sorry."

"Sorry, what was that?" Irene asked, tilting her head. Molly swallowed before she answered, humiliation building up in her system. She dropped her eyes before speaking and drummed her heels on the floor nervously.

"Sorry, Miss Adler."

"I can't hear you."

"Sorry, Miss Adler!" Molly said loudly, looking The Woman in the eyes and realising that her tone wasn't quite as apologetic as she intended. Molly closed her mouth tightly and felt a wave of remorse.

Irene sighed and stood up straight. She picked up a gold and black pen from the bureau and appeared to examine it. A small, devilish smile crept across her face. Molly was rooted to the spot. She was petrified, but she couldn't leave. Despite all her senses telling her to flee, she simply couldn't. Something about The Woman had caused her to abandon all reason.

"So," Irene said softly, "you arrived here one minute late, you –"

"I couldn't help it, the taxi –" Molly started.

"I didn't give you permission to speak!" Irene yelled, her smile becoming a hard frown. Molly took a deep breath and tried to calm her heart-rate down. Her attempts were feeble for everything about The Woman was making her body shiver and react in ways that she tried to resist. She couldn't resist. It was useless. Molly could feel The Woman's control taking over her inch by inch.

"As I was saying: you arrived one minute late, you hesitated when coming in here, you slammed the door and you spoke out of turn, twice! You have been a very, very naughty girl, Miss Hooper."

Irene looked as if she was expecting Molly to agree. Molly didn't know what to say or do at this point. She swallowed and gazed around the room, shifting her weight.

An awkward silence existed between them for several moments. She knew what she was expected to say, but the embarrassment was almost becoming too much to bear. Irene became impatient when Molly remained quiet for much too long.

"I think you have something to say, don't you?"

"Yes, um, I'm sorry… Miss Adler. Sorry." Molly stuttered. She poured as much apology into the few words as she could. However, she knew deep down that it would not suffice. Not in the least. Irene smiled.

"Good girl!"

Molly grinned nervously, appreciating the praise she had been given. But her concern that an apology was not enough was confirmed when Irene picked up the chair behind the bureau and walked around the desk, so that there was nothing but empty space and the floor between her and Molly.

Instinctively, Molly stepped back. Irene wasn't close to her but something in her told her to move away. Once her right foot was planted behind her, Irene's focus alighted on it. She moved her eyes up Molly's body slowly and as soon as she looked her in the face, Molly seemed to receive a silent message telling her to stay where she was. She promptly replaced her right foot where it was before.

Irene set the chair down in front of the bureau, facing Molly. She stood in front of it but didn't sit down. She took a slow, deep breath before speaking; donning the same saucy grin she wore moments earlier.

"Thank you for your apology. But, I'm afraid that it isn't going to be enough. Arriving late is disrespectful, Miss Hooper, and so is being rude and adopting a defensive attitude, particularly when someone is speaking and you interrupt them. You also dared to tell me I was wrong about the door! You kept me waiting and tried to blame some other individual for your poor time-keeping! Do you think that a simple apology is going to make up for all these misdemeanours?"

Molly's answer was almost automatic. She was less hesitant to defy The Woman now, for her whole being had taken over everything.

"No, Miss Adler."

"Exactly. As I said before, you've been very, very naughty. Do you know what naughty girls deserve?"

"Um… they… er…"

"They what? Do not keep me waiting, Miss Hooper."

"They, um, deserve to be punished?" It was more of a question than a statement. Molly found it hard to keep eye contact with The Woman, but she had to seek confirmation that she was right. Irene smiled and nodded.

"That's right. That means that you will be punished, which you shall receive right now."

Irene sat square on the chair and pointed to the negative space to her right.

"Come and stand here."

When Molly didn't respond immediately, Irene clicked her fingers to emphasise her request. Molly walked slowly to Irene's right and tentatively looked down to meet her gaze.

"Good girl. Now, lay across my lap."

This time Molly didn't just hesitate, she froze and didn't move at all. Her mind and body protested against the form of reprimanding. She began to shake more and jumped slightly when Irene caught her wrist. She pulled on Molly's arm roughly, feeling the resistance but overpowering it with ease. Just as she had done earlier, Molly felt the high heels give way under her and, with a yelp, she fell heavily across Irene's lap. The Woman groaned at the weight falling on her and adjusted her position so that Molly's arms and legs were just hovering off the floor.

"You must learn to accept your punishment and do just as you are asked. When you are in trouble, Miss Hooper, and you are about to receive chastisement, you do not make your superior angry by resisting. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, Miss Adler!" Molly cried out, almost sobbing as she now knew that all of her control had been taken away. She tried to struggle, but Irene hitched her feet up so that the space between her heel and the ball of her shoes were braced on the beam of the chair. Molly's body rose slightly with this adjustment. Now, she was completely immobile.