[Steel]

Rakesh's smile was wide and toothy as a shark's. Perfect. This was exactly what he wanted. A firmly drawn line in the sand that he could pressure Kusha to cross. Submission was a state of mind, and some women had never learned that way of thinking. Kusha was a prime example. She had always insulated herself from strong, dominant men, never putting herself in a position where she had to bend to someone else's will. Rakesh would need to patiently teach her how to surrender.

You couldn't rush to sexual submission first. That would flow naturally once Kusha learned to give in to Rakesh's desires in other ways. This was why he had sent Kusha a design request he knew she would refuse. It would be Kusha's first lesson in submitting to him when she finally gave in and accepted the request she had so firmly refused.

"My room is supposed to reflect my style," said Rakesh calmly, "and also be functional for my everyday life. This trophy case is important to me. It represents who I am. I'm not asking you to like it, but if you're designing a bedroom for someone like me, you had to have known sex would be involved."

Kusha stared him dead in the eye across her desk, her gaze blazing with contempt. "Rakesh, read my lips. I am not going to design a special case for you to display the underwear of women you tricked into having sex with you. It's not going to happen."

Rakesh stared back at her, sparks flashing between them in a battle of wills. Rakesh could see that there was no way Kusha would give in today. He hadn't expected her to, and honestly, he would have been a little disappointed if she had. He always had enjoyed a good chase.

"We can table the question for now," said Rakesh decisively. Kusha opened her mouth angrily to say that tabling the discussion wasn't necessary, but Rakesh raised a finger and cut her off... a victory in and of itself. "Ah! We won't get any further with this discussion today, I think. Let's sleep on it. In the meantime, I would like you to keep a space open for the trophy case in your design, even if you don't end up designing it."

Kusha took in a deep breath, then let it out in a frustrated sigh. "Ok. Fine. We can talk about it at our next meeting, where I'll tell you again that I won't do it. Now... as I mentioned, I have some options for design elements that I would like your opinion on. Alright?"

Rakesh enjoyed the fact that Kusha was now asking his permission rather than pushing forward confidently. The cracks were already starting to show.

"That sounds lovely," he said with a little smirk, settling back into his chair once again.