Posted today, the sixth chapter of Substitute further explores Violet's psychology, as well as Adam's evolving relationship with his half-sister.
I've known several women for whom submission was deeply related to their ability to get through the day. For them, spankings or other forms of play went hand-in-hand with productivity, whether it was completing housework or working on an academic paper. The D/s play could be a reward for completing tasks, or a punishment for failing to do so. Violet is a little different: the combination of a dominant partner's expectations and a physical reminder provides her with the motivation she needs to get her work done.