Praise

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of emotional abuse, sexual content, and cursing.

Charlie muses on the differences between Emerson, who seems very polished, and Beau, who is brash and “unfiltered.” While she previously thought that staying with Beau through his struggles to keep a job would strengthen their relationship, she now understands that Beau saw her as a reminder of those hard times.

Charlie shops for lingerie, wanting to “feel sexy under [her] clothes” while she works for Emerson (39). She likes the way she looks, which makes her reevaluate her stance on Emerson’s proclivities. She considers that “as long as its consensual and everyone has something to gain” (39), even kink that involves submission or degradation is not antifeminist. However, she thinks that Emerson will not be interested in her since she is not wealthy.

After making her purchases, Charlie runs into Beau, who is with another woman. He ridicules Charlie for purchasing lingerie for her new secretary job, and he then demands to know why she didn’t retrieve his half of the money from Emerson. Charlie walks away without responding. Having the freedom to do so pleases her, though Beau’s criticism still stings.