Mira stretched and sat up. 

“Rick?”

Rick came into the bedroom, 2 mugs of coffee in his hands. “Best boyfriend ever.” Mira smiled as he handed her one mug.

“Not going to think so, babe. I got to go to work.”

“Quit,” Mira said, dead serious.

Rick kissed her. “Unless you’ve got a new job or are going back to the old one, one of us needs a paycheck.”

“Well, got time to fool around?”

“I thought you said you never had sex a lot.” Rick mused.

“Never had a boyfriend who was into me.”

Mira noticed Rick getting hard. “Looks like the vote is two to one, lover.”

Mira reached out, stroking his hardened cock. She pulled, and Rick lay flat on the bed. Mira climbed over him, sucking his cock all the way down her throat. They were sixty-nine, Mira bobbing her head on his cock and Rick licking deep into her pussy, drinking from her well. She stiffened and came. The alarm on Rick’s watch beeped. 

“Fuck, sweetheart, I really need to go. I have to get my uniform from my place.” She stopped sucking long enough to say,

“There is one in the closet. I put it there when I got your cleaning.”

She shifted off him, staying on all fours. 

“Now practice knocking me up.”

Rick got behind her and slid all the way inside his woman. Best fuck ever, he thought. Mira was moaning and bucking back on him. 

“Harder, lover,” she moaned. 

She never fakes it. Rick thought as he gave her what she wanted. 

He reached out and wrapped her long white ponytail in his fist and pulled. 

“FUCK, RICK!” 

He eased back on the pull.

“No… I like that!” Mira started to cum again, her pussy gripping his cock. Rick let go of the ponytail and gave her a swat on the firm white globes of her ass.

“God, Rick!” The pain was directly connected to her clit, Mira thought, as she came yet again.

Rick slammed deep and began to cum himself. They showered, Rick apologizing for making it a quickie.

She helped him dress and brushed at imaginary lint. He could see that she was sad.

“Two days, love. I’ll be back before you know it.”

“Better get me autographs if it’s anyone famous.”

A quick kiss, and he was gone. 

The phone rang, and she picked up. It was Liricelle, telling her that a car would pick her up. She told them not to bother; she would take a taxi.

An hour later, she spoke with the receptionist on the first floor. A well-dressed woman about her own age collected her. 

“One stop, and then we will join the Boss.” She took Mira to an office, where they took her photo and had her press her hand to a scanner. A badge printer spat out an ID badge with her face, name, and a barcode. Then the woman took her to an express elevator.

It was the second time she had been in the CEO’s office, and this time she enjoyed the view. She had changed over the past two weeks; she still called him Walter, but they were more cordial.

“Mira!” She turned at her name.

Her father, Walter Basehart, the owner of Liricelle, greeted her from the door that he closed behind him. Mira met him halfway, took his hand in both of hers, and gave him a chaste kiss on the cheek. It was the first time she had shown him the slightest affection, and he blushed.

“I’m glad you came, Mira. As you know, the company had some issues. I would like you to join the company and help me clean it up.”

Mira’s eyes narrowed. “How?”

“I need a troubleshooter. You will have complete autonomy. Your voice is mine. Straighten up the way we do things. Analyze our processes.”

He sighed. “I’m asking my daughter to fix my company.”

“I have a job.”

“Mira, fix the company. I know you can do it. Your salary will be 250 thousand plus bonuses and stock options.”

“Complete autonomy.”

“Up to the VP level. Below, your authority is mine. Above, bring it to me.”

Mira didn’t think. She extended her hand. “Deal.”

Walter pushed a button. “Sheryl.”

The same woman who escorted Mira up gestured for Mira to follow. She told Mira she was Walter’s personal assistant as she took Mira to the 38th floor. Suite 3801 was hers, with a view of the Chrysler Building. 

 The room had bookcases, a large, ornate desk, and a leather swivel chair. The desktop was bare. Sheryl’s tablet beeped, and every computer within earshot dinged, announcing an email.

“This is Evelyn Long, your assistant, Ms. Lyric. The other 5 ladies are here for only a couple of days to handle the phone calls.”

Mira looked at Sheryl. “What ph–” The room exploded with ringing phones. Sheryl handed her tablet to Mira.

The email was succinct.

From: Walter Basehart, Chief Executive Officer

To: all personnel

Subj: Special Projects Directorate

Team, I am announcing the creation of the Special Projects Directorate. The Director is Ms. Mira Lyric. 

 Her department will operate outside the normal corporate structure. Her authority is mine. If she addresses you, I am addressing you. I expect your full cooperation. The new department will operate out of the thirty-eighth floor. 

Walter Basehart

“Welcome to Liricelle, Mira,” Sheryl said as she left the office.

Mira went to Evelyn’s desk and pressed the Do Not Disturb button on her phone. Evelyn cleared the line and sat up straight.

“Yes, Ma’am?”

“Mira, Evelyn. You have complete access to me unless the CEO or Mr. Rick Kelly is in my office. You are my right hand; I don’t need a drone.” She gestured to the phone. “Dial IT, please.”

Evelyn punched in five digits and handed the line to Mira.

“IT.”

“This is Mira Lyric. To whom am I speaking?” 

“Dave Smith.” 

“Dave, I need a desk phone, company cell, laptop docking station, and two 32-inch monitors and stands up in 3801.”

“I will need an authorization form and an equipment requisition. Once processed, it will take 2 weeks.”

Mira’s voice dripped honey.

“Dave, is your manager there? Please put him on.”

“Ravi Patel.”

“Ravi. Mira Lyric. Have you read the email from the CEO?”

“Yes, Ms. Lyric, I have.”

“Good. I require a laptop, two 32-inch monitors, a desk phone, and two company cell phones delivered to 3801. I also want Dave Smith terminated.”

“Ms. Lyric, I don’t think you understand. Forms need to be completed, and…”

“Ravi? Do I need your supervisor?” She heard Ravi audibly swallow.

“No, Ma’am.”

“Good. I want a team up here installing my system and complete network access in one hour. Oh, and get someone from facilities up here. I would like him up here in 10 minutes. Make that happen, Ravi.”

She hung up the phone. “Hate to do it to you, Evelyn, but the second cell is for you.”

“Of course, Mira. This is going to be fun, isn’t it?” 

 Mira went into her office and sat in the chair. She rocked back and forth, then went out to Evelyn. “May I try your chair?”

Evelyn vacated her seat, and Mira sat and rocked back and forth. “Yes. Just like this.” She stood and said thanks just as a harried-looking young woman appeared. She checked a note in her hand. She approached one girl on the phone, who pointed at Mira.

The girl came over and shyly asked how she could help. Mira pointed to one bookcase. I want this replaced with a set of drawers that can be locked. Get rid of the desk; I want one of the glass ones that go up and down. And the chair, I want one like Evelyn’s. The girl looked frightened. 

“The chair is no problem, Ms. Lyric. I’m not sure we have the drawers. If you want one of the nice wooden ones, I think it will need to be ordered. I know the desk will. Mr. Davis has one, and it took a few days to get.”

“That’s fine.” Mira looked at the badge. “Anita. And relax, I only bite my boyfriend. Get Evelyn’s extension since mine isn’t here yet. Keep her updated on shipping and such. If you need something pushed, call me.”

Anita got the extension and hurried off. 

“Boss, can I get one of those desks too? Or maybe one of those treadmill ones?”

Mira smiled. “Why not? We are the SPECIAL projects  directorate after all.”

Evelyn beams. “Yep. Fun.”

Mira watched the women on the phones. Glancing at the clock, she walked by each desk and pressed the do-not-disturb button on each phone.

Once she had everyone’s attention, she said, “Ladies, I want to thank you for being pulled away from your regular work. Lunch is on me; please give your orders to Evelyn.”

She handed Evelyn her personal card. “Whatever you all want. Try not to put me in the poorhouse, but don’t do cheap. Oh, and HR?”

“14th, Mira.”

oOo

The 14th floor was an open-plan, subdued place, split into several sections. She stood at the first desk for a moment, taking things in. A young man, around 20, finished the form he was working on and looked up.  

“Yes?”

“I’m Mira Lyric.” She leaned on the desk, moving closer to him. He stared back. She pursed her lips. And read the nameplate on his desk. “Blake, you clearly don’t know me, or you don’t realize you hold a pretty special role here. How you treat people sets the tone for every person walking through that door. If Walter Basehart were here, would you simply say ‘yes’?”

He straightened.

“No, Ma’am.” 

Mira smiled. “Better. If you don’t have a relationship with whoever comes through this door, treat them like the CEO, not the janitor, right? It makes everyone know that you care about why they are here. Now, 2 things. Take me to your senior supervisor and get me the personnel file for Evelyn Long.” 

Blake sat for a moment, staring at Mira. 

“Now, Blake.” 

Blake scrambled to his feet and showed her to a corner office. He knocked on the open door.

“Mr. Ren, Ms. Lyric.” She stepped into the office, eyes looking over the furnishings. Nothing ostentatious; the only thing not strictly corporate was a crude painting of a clipper ship.

“Miss Lyric.” The man’s baritone rumbled. “Please have a seat. How may I help you?”

“Son?” she said, waving a hand at the painting. 

“Daughter, actually. She was 9.” 

“Thank you for letting me drop in. I’m sure my being here has turned the entire department upside down.”

Ren sat, staring, waiting for Mira to continue.

“Right,” Mira said, unfazed. “Has Special Projects been given a budget?” 

“Standard operational budget for office supplies and such. No one knows the workforce requirement, so you are budgeted for 10 people.”

Blake appeared. “Ms. Lyric? The file?”

“Just tell me her salary, Blake.”

“Um, 61.”

Mira looked at Ren. Starting today. 80 thousand. In 90 days, if she is still working for me, 115. 

Ren nodded. Mira stood. “Oh, purchase cards.” Mira dug the card she got in Hawaii out of her bag. “Not sure where this one is from, accounting-wise. Please cancel it and issue 3 to my department. An office card, and one for Ms. Long and me.” 

Ren stood. “By the end of tomorrow’s workday. Ms. Lyric,” as she left, he asked. “You are going to make it busy around here, aren’t you?”

  Back on the 38th floor, the bedlam was still raging on the phones. 

Evelyn stood by the door to Mira’s office, where 2 men were rigging the computer, and a very nervous man, Ravi Patel, stood with two newest-model phones. 

“Miss Lyric, your phones. They already have Outlook, messaging, and email preloaded. The numbers for every department head, vice president, and board member are pre-programmed. The company’s VPN is also installed. If you reboot, it takes a minute for that to load and connect." Mira scrolled the list: name and title, and then the numbers. Exactly how Mira would have loaded them; she smiled at Ravi. “Send any forms that need to be completed to Evelyn. You do nice work, sir.”

She sat on the corner of Evelyn’s desk, handing her a phone. “Call your accountant and tax guy. You are now making 80. And in 90 days, 115.”

Evelyn was shocked. “Thank you!”

“Oh, and complete whatever paperwork you need to change your title to Executive Assistant to the Special Projects Director. If you know anyone who can THINK, we have room for a few people. I want people who want to make changes. People you can lead. Oh, and Reina Azawa. Get her assigned here. When I walk out of here, she’s at my side. I’d have you do it, but you will have your hands full managing the zoo here.” Mira stepped to the door. “I’m going on a walkabout.” She held up her phone. “39 and up.”

oOo

Mira returned to the 38th floor. All six women were still fielding call after call. The clock said 4:15. Mira walked around, pushing the Do Not Disturb button.

“Thank you all for the hard work. Anyone got anything I need to know?” Evelyn held up several notes. “I have them.”

“Ok. Next order of business. For those who will be here all week, and if anyone is beyond that, when do you want to start? Seven? Eight? Nine? I know commutes can be a bitch.” Mira nodded at the consensus of seven AM. “Have a pleasant night, ladies. See you tomorrow.”

Mira moved into her office and sat down behind the computer. A sticky note gave her the login, and Evelyn had the password.

“Standard IT password: Password, Capital P, lower a, five, five,  w,o,r,d.”

Mira changed the password and opened email. The box had 200 messages.

“I’m popular.”

Evelyn leaned on the doorframe. 

“Six messages from various VPs, and your father wants to see you.”

“My father?” Mira’s eyes locked with Evelyn’s.

“Are you kidding? Only the blind lady in the cafeteria can’t tell you are his daughter.”

“Would you tell Walter I need 15 minutes?”

Mira skimmed through the emails, discarding most and giving one-line answers to the others. Six she flagged.

She dialed IT.

“IT Ravi.”

“Ravi, I have several emails that seem to be from blocked senders. I want names.”

“Sure. Mark them as phishing and send them; I’ll grab them and decode the headers.”

“Great. Send the list to Evelyn. No, on second thought, send them emails to be in the 38th conference room at nine AM. CC Evelyn on each email.”

Mira stretched. She really disliked the chair.

oOo

 Mira appeared on the 40th floor, and Sheryl brought her into the executive office.

“Busy day?” Walter asked without turning from the window.

“Only fired one person.” Mira sighed. “Six more tomorrow.” 

Walter turned. 

“Disgruntled employees who want to know who the fuck I think I am.”

Walter turned to her. “Dinner?”

Mira paused. “Sorry. I have some work to do.”

oOo

Mira relaxed in the bath. Her phone rang. She smiled.

“Hey, honey. Where are you?”

She could almost hear Rick’s smile through the phone. “Dallas.”

“A shame. You could be here celebrating with me.”

“Oh?” 

Mira described how they would pick up from the morning, how she would slide up and down on his cock, filling her wet tightness. Her kisses and gentle sucking on his nipples. Mira described how she felt when that warmth inside became a fire, and the pleasure/pain as her muscles contracted tight in orgasm. Her descriptions turned into moans as she touched herself in the bath.

“Rick, that shampoo bottle. It’s in me, just like I want your cock, baby,” she groaned as she slid it deeper, her breath ragged. “Fuck me, lover, make me cum, Rick. she moaned into the phone as she masturbated. The plastic stretched her open, nipples breaking the surface of the bath. Rick heard her cry out. 

Mira recovered. “Come to my work when you get back, Rick. I’ll be at Liricelle.”