"Did you have to do that?" asked Andre, as Aaron emerged
from the conference room, Natasha following him.
Aaron seized Andre
by the collar, and dragged him back into the conference room.
Andre retched as he
saw Mario's decapitated body still tied to the chair, blood pooling
around it.
Aaron pulled out a
pocket knife, and carefully cut open Mario's blood-soaked lab coat
and shirt.
Natasha suppressed a
shudder as the ripped shirt revealed a vest with a tangled mess of
wires and chunky blocks of plastic explosives strapped to Mario's
chest.
"There is
enough C4 here to level the entire conference room, Andre. The only
reason it hasn't gone off yet, is because I've got signal jammers and
lead EM shielding in the room," said Aaron.
He turned to
Natasha, "Can you disarm this?" he asked.
Natasha examined the
vest, before shaking her head.
"No sir, this
thing may look like a mess, but it is rigged to blow if you to tamper
with it. The only way this is coming off is with a remote signal,"
she said.
Aaron turned to
Andre, "You want to call the feds? Fine, but don't you dare tell
me that what I did wasn't necessary!" he said, storming out of
the conference room.
"Go take care
of him, Natasha. I'll take care of this mess," said Andre, his
voice weary.
Natasha nodded, and
followed Aaron out of the conference room.
----
"You sure move
fast, sir," commented Natasha, seeing the new desk and terminal
that had been set up for her in Aaron's office.
"You can use
the terminal to access any of the compound's security cameras, and
radio orders to the contracted guards," said Aaron, sitting down
at his desk.
He pressed a button,
and the door locked with a loud click.
He placed his head
in his hands, and his shoulders slumped.
Natasha mentally
kicked herself for letting herself get carried away by Aaron's Stoic
composure and brilliant competence.
She got up from her
chair, and walked over to Aaron, gently pulling him into a warm
embrace.
"Sir, you did
the right thing. Even indebted to you, I would not have killed on
your orders if I didn't agree with them," she said softly,
stroking his hair.
Aaron didn't pull
away, he just let her hold him, as he shed silent tears. After about
a minute, he pulled away, and wiped his eyes.
"Thank you,
Natasha. I knew I could count on you," he said, softly.
"It was my
pleasure, Master Zakhrov," replied Natasha, heat suffusing her
being.
Aaron straightened
up and pulled his chair closer to his desk.
"I'm alright
now, Natasha. You can now familiarize yourself with the security
system, and then you can come up with a training plan and vetting
parameters for the personnel you will be hiring," he said, his
voice back to its usual cold and commanding tone.
"Yes sir,"
replied Natasha, sitting back down at her desk.
She logged into the
terminal, and started going through the security camera feeds,
familiarizing herself with the layout of the compound, and the
locations of the cameras.
She had to admit
that Aaron had done an excellent job of planning the security and
surveillance systems, with overlapping fields of view, along with
video, audio and infrared feeds.
After a few minutes
of watching the security camera feeds, she finally remembered that
she was still technically supposed to report back to Monica.
"Um sir, how do
you want me to handle Monica Goldberg?" she asked Aaron.
"Share whatever
you want with her at your discretion, just make sure you tell me what
you have shared. I want her to think that her pathetic attempt is
working while being unaware that you belong to me now," said
Aaron giving her a smile.
"Yes sir,"
she said fighting down a deep blush at Aaron's statement that she
belonged to him.
With a small shake
of her head to clear her thoughts, she started drafting a training
plan and vetting parameters for the security personnel she would be
hiring.
----
It was with some
reluctance that Natasha pulled off her uniform and changed back into
the skirt-suit she had arrived in.
After spending
almost the entire day in the sleek black leather uniform, she had
grown to appreciate it and removing it now made her feel vulnerable
and exposed.
She exited the
employee dormitory, and walked the short distance to her car in the
parking lot, even more painfully aware of the pinching of her
synthetic leather pumps.
Her car looked a lot
cleaner than when she had parked in the morning. "Don't tell me
he had somebody wash it?" she asked herself, unlocking the car
and getting in.
"No way!"
she exclaimed, smelling fresh car perfume and observing the freshly
cleaned and conditioned dashboard and seats.
She turned the
ignition, and the engine rumbled to life on the first crank, purring
like a contented cat, rather than the sputtering rattle she had
gotten used to.
Cold air blasted
through the A/C vents, making her yelp in surprise.
"New apartment,
new uniform, and he gave my car a tune-up. Aaron sure knows how to
win a girl's heart," she chuckled, pulling out of the parking
lot and driving back to her apartment.
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
----
"I've been
assigned to the morning shift of watching the security camera feeds.
Let me be blunt Senator, Sirius Software's security system is better
than some banks. They've got overlapping fields of view, both regular
video and infrared feeds, and automatic face tracking," reported
Natasha over the phone.
"I want dirt,
Natasha! I don't care about you fangirling over that twerp's security
system!" snapped Monica.
"That twerp you
mentioned, made me sign an NDA and contract that can get me fired and
sued for more money than you've ever paid me if he even gets a whiff
of what I'm telling you, so unless you're willing to hire an army of
expensive lawyers for me, I'm keeping my mouth shut. How's that for
dirt?" asked Natasha coldly.
"OK, that I
might actually be able to use. Pretty sure it violates some labor
laws. What else have you got?" asked Monica, her voice calmer.
"Well, he's
also got me in a skirt-suit and high heels. Not that I'm complaining
since I'm just watching security feeds and drinking coffee."
said Natasha, starting to enjoy the feeling of feeding Monica just
enough information to keep her interested, but not enough to actually
give her anything useful.
"Oh you poor
dear! What a misogynistic beast!" said Monica dramatically
before cackling: "The feminists are going to have a field day
with that! Alright, what else?"
"That's it for
now. I'll let you know if I find anything else," said Natasha
hanging up.
She picked up her
Sirius Software issued phone, and texted Aaron the information she
had shared with Monica, before she resumed packing her things to move
into her new employee apartment.
----
Natasha stood in
front of the mirror in her new employee apartment, admiring her
reflection in the sleek black leather uniform.
The move had gone
smoothly, and she actually felt more at home in the employee
apartment than she had in her old one.
With a final look in
the mirror, she adjusted her hair, and made sure that her makeup was
perfect, before she headed out to the temporary office.
"I've reviewed
and enhanced your training plan and vetting parameters, Ms. Parker,"
said Aaron, as Natasha entered his office.
"Very well
sir," replied Natasha, taking a seat at her desk.
"I'd like to
build up a security detail for the mine and nuclear reactor
operations and facilities. Do you still have any military contacts we
can use?" asked Aaron.
"What kind of
personnel are you looking for sir?" asked Natasha, her curiosity
piqued.
"The kind that
can guard a nuclear reactor and heavy water plant. I'd rather avoid
another Mario incident," said Aaron.
"Understood
sir. Would you be able to produce more uniforms like mine? I think an
all-female security detail would be better suited for that role,"
said Natasha.
"I suppose I
could make more of them. How many candidates are you thinking of?"
asked Aaron.
"I think 12 for
now should suffice. That would give us a full shift of 8 hours, with
4 guards on duty at all times," said Natasha.
"All right,
I'll get the raw materials, and you have 4 days to assemble the team.
I want the mine and heavy water plant secured by the end of the
week," said Aaron, his voice cold and commanding.
"Yes sir. I'll
get started on the recruitment process right away," said
Natasha, her heart racing with excitement at the prospect of building
her own security team.
----
The intercom buzzed,
and Margaret's voice came through: "Master Zakhrov, may I please
come in? I have a business proposal for you."
Aaron buzzed open
the door, and Margaret walked in, carrying a large folder.
"Master
Zakhrov, designing Natasha's uniform gave me an idea for a new line
of clothing that I would like to propose to you." said Margaret,
placing the folder on Aaron's desk.
"Let me guess.
You want me to engineer and manufacture clothing using the same kind
of engineering and materials that I made you use in Natasha's
uniform, which you will then sell to the public. You've already got
the design ideas, and you need the start-up capital to start
promoting and advertising while I set up a production pipeline. Am I
right?" asked Aaron, as Margaret blushed and squirmed standing
before him.
"You are so
smart Master Zakhrov! It is such a turn-on when you talk like that.
Ow-ow-ow!" squealed Margaret, as Natasha came up behind her and
twisted her ear.
"You may be
Harry's wife, and Master Zakhrov's friend, but that does not give you
the right to sweet-talk him into putting his precious time, resources
and intellect into your pet project!" scolded Natasha, spanking
Margaret's bottom hard on each word.
"Master
Zakhrov! Save me!" squealed Margaret, yet clearly enjoying the
punishment.
"The only way
you get to talk to Master Zakhrov is through me first. Now apologize
to your intellectual superior!" snarled Natasha, forcing
Margaret to her knees.
"I'm sorry
Master Zakhrov! I should not have tried to sweet-talk you into
funding my project without your permission!" cried Margaret, her
cheeks flushed with arousal, the tell-tale scent of her excitement
filling the air.
"Cumming from
being spanked and forced to apologize. You're such a masochist,"
said Natasha, shaking her head in disbelief.
"All right,
that's enough you two. Margaret, go clean yourself up, and then come
back here. I will consider your proposal, but be warned that my help
means I get control over the project." said Aaron.
"Yes Master
Zakhrov. Thank you for your consideration," said Margaret, her
voice trembling with a mix of fear and excitement.
She quickly got up
and left the office, her cheeks still flushed.
----
"All right
Margaret, pitch your idea to me, and tell me why I should divert
resources into it." said Aaron, as a much more composed and
freshly cleaned up Margaret sat down in front of him.
"My idea,
Master Zakhrov, is to take the engineering principles that you used
in designing Mistress Natasha's uniform, and apply them to normal
high-heels and skirt-suits," said Margaret.
"A few small
problems with that. Unlike Sirius Software which enforces a strict
dress code, the rest of the world is perfectly at ease with women
showing up in shapeless rags or barely clothed. I'm afraid aesthetic
elegance is a dying commodity, and engineering something like what
you have in mind is going to make those clothes even more expensive
than the designer stuff out there," said Aaron.
"That's the
other reason I came to you, Master Zakhrov. By making my store - The
Feminine Professional - an official Sirius Software partner vendor, I
can sell these on store credit to Sirius Software employees, and for
hard cash to the public," said Margaret.
"So you want me
to engineer and manufacture your inventory and then sell it back to
me? That's like asking me to pay for what I already own. Nope, if
you're going to use Sirius software as your market, you're providing
them at cost," said Aaron, as Margaret began to squirm again.
"Do you already
have a storefront lined up?" he asked.
"Y-yes sir,
Miss Kate is selling her store to me," said Margaret, her voice
trembling.
"Summer's Shoe
Store? Why is Kate selling it?" asked Aaron, his curiosity
piqued.
"Her profits
have been steadily declining, so she wants to sell it to pay for Law
school. She's training as Mr. Esposito's paralegal," said
Margaret.
"All right, but
we'll be doing an end-to-end line of clothing, including fetish wear,
so come up with the designs, and I'll flesh out the engineering
specs.
Have Harry and James
help you with the store revamp, and I'll start a limited production
pipeline, since we need new security uniforms anyway," ordered
Aaron.
"Thank you,
Master Zakhrov! I promise I won't let you down!" said Margaret.
"Don't thank me
yet. You still need to find a way to market your clothing line to
regular women, and see if you can get economies of scale. Don't
expect me to bail you out if you can't turn a profit," said
Aaron.
"Don't worry
Master Zakhrov, I'll make it work! I promise!" said Margaret,
her voice filled with determination.
"Master
Zakhrov, is it wise to spoil her like that?" asked Natasha.
"I'm right here
you know!" whined Margaret, pouting at Natasha.
"I'm not
spoiling her, Natasha. Her clothing line means that I can reduce
resistance towards compliance with the Sirius Software dress code.
Potential employees will be more accepting of the dress code if they
don't have to pay through the nose, and if the clothing is actually
comfortable," said Aaron.
"See Natasha?
I'm helping him," said Margaret, her voice smug.
"All right,
you've got what you wanted. Now beat it. I've got a reactor to
salvage," snapped Aaron, and Margaret quickly got up and left
the office.
