Courtesy or submissivity?

Me in the nice town of Oxford

A few days ago, I was in London for a meeting, but since I had said to the CEO of the supplier that I was a fanatic rider, he had arranged a visit to the old town of Oxford including a ride together with one of his female directors (HR). Although meant as a surprise I knew he had arranged something like that since he had asked Me to bring My riding outfit.

Although their CEO did not ride himself, he came along and helped Me like a good stableboy. He told Me that he had been working on a farm when a teenager and that although he did not ride, he knew how to handle horses.

Anyway, he helped Me mounting the horse (a nice chestnut gelding) and I could not resist to test him and dropped “accidentally” My crop. And indeed, as expected he immediately went down to grab it and give it back to Me. Normally it is a first tiny test to check whether someone is a bit of a sub and will be prepared to go further, but in this case it was more tricky since he was very eager to do business with Me. I knew that they desperately needed new contracts!

After a good ride of more that three hours along the beautiful countryside around Oxford, we came back to the riding club where they were waiting for us with champagne and very tasty snacks.

After the ride I was invited for a tour around Oxford and its university and We had diner in a restaurant together with his HR-manager and QC-manager. Their I decided to test him a bit further and during the meal, I kicked him a few times “accidentally” with My riding boots under the table. The first time he did not say a thing, but when I did it a second time and much harder, I excused Myself. To My delight he said that it was no problem and that he did not mind. Again I was unsure of what it was. Courtesy or submissivity?

He told us that he used to be a football player and that he got kicked on the shins before, “ but never with a riding boot” he added. So, I asked him teasingly what hurt most. As a reaction everyone started laughing at the question, but half a minute or so later, he said that My boots hurt more but that he preferred to get kicked by a “beautiful” woman instead of an ugly guy… General laughter again, but I got the message!

 A bit later, I brought up the foxhunting and asked them how they felt about that. This clearly was a dangerous subject because nobody seemed to dare answering My question. So I asked Mike directly and he could not else than admitting that he was against it but immediately added that he had no objections to the people doing so. Clearly trying to accommodate Me without jeopardizing his own ideas.

However, his QC-manager brought up the woman who whipped protesters with her crop. On the other hand, the HR-manager who was clearly more likeminded saw in Me a rare ally and said that the protester should not have attacted the woman. He objected and said that she should not have whipped him with her crop. I gave her however the upper hand by stating that he got what he deserved and that one should never mess with a horsewoman!

Being their customer, the men did not dare to go straight forward against My opinion and Mike tried to change the subject. But, I liked the subject and I kept on pushing him and finally he agreed that one should never “disturb” a woman on horseback and that she has the right to defend herself even with the use of a whip.

Courtesy or submissivity?  Maybe next meetings will tell…

I wonder what you think…

Lady Contessa Pat

FYI: I am not really into killing animals, but I would not mind hunting humans like that!