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.
---
Natasha monitored the security camera feeds with a knot of uncertainty in her stomach.
Aaron had instructed her to watch the feeds while he had gone into the mine to work on the reactor.
She shook her head and chuckled to herself: "I can't believe I'm pining to be by his side. Ugh! I need to focus and protect the compound!"
She took a deep breath, and focused on the feeds, her eyes scanning for any signs of trouble.
A small red flash from the feed window of a camera monitoring the main access road caught her attention. It showed a black SUV approaching the security checkpoint.
She quickly switched focus to the security checkpoint camera, picked up her phone, and called Andre.
"Mr. Esposito, you better come quickly. We have the FBI paying us a visit," she said as the SUV pulled up to the security checkpoint, its driver window rolled down and a woman in a black formal pantsuit showed the checkpoint guard an FBI badge.
"Dammit! Stall them! I'll be there in five minutes!" said Andre.
"Got it," said Natasha, hanging up. She clicked open the intercom to the security checkpoint. "Checkpoint Alpha, direct the agents to the temporary office."
"Copy that, Ms. Parker," replied the guard, as he directed the SUV to the temporary office.
---
Natasha came out of the temporary office as the SUV pulled into the parking lot.
Two agents got out of the SUV, a tall blond woman with distinctly Eastern European features, wearing a sleek black pantsuit and low heels that hugged and emphasized her toned form and graceful curves, and a petite brunette with a pixie cut, wearing a loose-fitting men's style suit that made her look even smaller, and a pair of well-worn sneakers.
"Well, well, well. Special Agent Rochelle. What brings you out here?" asked Natasha, recognizing the brunette from her CIA days.
"It's Raven! And what the hell are you wearing Natasha? Are you Zakhrov's new dominatrix or something?" asked Rochelle, her voice dripping with contempt and indignation.
Natasha just smiled coldly, and sauntered closer to Rochelle, the eight centimeters of high heel enhancing the height differential, and forcing Rochelle to look up in order to maintain eye-contact.
"Hey, strong silent girl. Can you tell me why you fine ladies are here?" asked Natasha, ignoring Rochelle.
"How dare you dead-name me and then ignore me! You're under arrest for obstruction!" shouted Rochelle or Raven, pulling out a pair of handcuffs.
Natasha smirked, and clenched her fist, activating the electric shock function in her glove. Rochelle flinched backwards at the crackle of electricity.
The blond agent, who had been silent until now, stepped forward between Rochelle and Natasha, and gave Rochelle a firm chop on the head.
"Knock it off, will you," she admonished Rochelle, before turning to Natasha.
"I'm Special Agent Olga. We got a hit from your company performing a background check search for one Hakim Hussein.
He is on our terror watch list, and would like your cooperation in bringing him in for questioning," replied the tall agent in a slight Slavic accent.
"I see, does he have any known associates?" asked Natasha cautiously.
"Yes. We know he is associated with a Mustafa Al-Sadiq, previously known as Mario Gonzales.
We suspect that they are part of a terror cell called Osirak-Jihad, their agenda is to revive Iraq's nuclear program and build weapons of mass destruction," replied Olga.
"And we have a warrant to tear this place apart for any evidence of their activities! If your boss is involved in nuclear terrorism, then we will find it!" piped up Rochelle angrily.
"Quiet pipsqueak! Adults are speaking," snapped Natasha.
Rochelle went for her side-arm, but Natasha beat her to it, and had both her guns pointed directly at Rochelle's heart, before Rochelle could even pull hers out of the holster.
"Tsk, tsk. The FBI training standards have started to slip," mocked Natasha, as Olga facepalmed.
"Ms. Natasha, stand down. No amount of Mr. Zakhrov's political connections will save you if you shoot my partner," warned Olga firmly.
"Then muzzle this bitch! I'm not going to tolerate her baseless accusations," snarled Natasha, her guns still drawn.
"Raven, wait in the car," said Olga, as she stepped between Natasha and Rochelle.
"Olga, you can't be serious!" protested Rochelle.
With a small smirk, Olga moved with lightning-quick speed and twisted Rochelle's arms into her handcuffs, securing her wrists behind her back.
Then, ignoring her screams and threats, lifted her like a child and carried her to the SUV.
She threw Rochelle's kicking and screaming form into the back seat, slammed the door shut, and locked it with the key-fob.
She then turned back to Natasha who had holstered her guns, and was watching with a bemused expression.
"I've always wanted to do that," chuckled Olga.
"All right, shall we discuss this further in the office? It's rather hot out here," said Natasha.
"Please," said Olga, just as Andre raced into the parking lot in his Corvette.
"All right. What's going on here?" he asked, getting out of the car and looking at Natasha and Olga.
"Special Agent Olga here is looking for a Hakim Hussein, who is on the FBI's terror watch list. She claims that he is associated with a Mario Gonzales, who is also on the watch list," said Natasha.
"Well, I suppose that makes this a little easier. Natasha, show her the security footage first, then we can show her what's in the conference room," said Andre, as he walked over to the temporary office.
"Sure, follow me," said Natasha, leading Olga into the office.
---
"I don't know who is more scary. The Osirak-Jihad or your boss," said Olga, as she inspected the bomb vest on Mario's corpse.
"Well, at least Master Zakhrov is on our side," said Natasha.
"Thank the heavens for that! If those guys had made it past your security, then we'd probably be looking at a proliferation nightmare," said Olga, shaking her head.
"We still have the truck wreckage, and the what's left of the bombers. You guys can take them, and close the case." said Natasha.
"Well, what about this bomb vest? We can't take it off without triggering it," said Olga, looking at the vest with a frown.
"Mr. Zakhrov, has authorized the demolition of the conference room, so we can just blow it up with the vest still on him," said Natasha.
"If only our other investigations were this easy," chuckled Olga, snapping photos of the corpse with a DSLR camera.
She carefully placed Mario's severed head into an evidence bag, and stood up.
"Thank you for your cooperation, Ms. Parker. I will make sure that my superiors know that Sirius Nuclear is not involved in any nuclear proliferation activities, and that you've successfully contained a security breach from a terror cell," she said.
"Of course, we appreciate your understanding," replied Natasha.
Olga smiled, pulled out her radio, and called for a Crime Scene unit to come and collect the truck wreckage and the remains of the bombers.
"Alright, I will be on my way now. And Ms. Parker, I love your employer's taste in uniforms," said Olga, giving Natasha a wink.
"Thank you, Special Agent Olga. I will pass that on to Master Zakhrov," replied Natasha, blushing as Olga walked out of the conference room.