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The Ex-Wife Adventure 9-13 ------------------------------ by Amelie Fortescue copyright c2020 Amelie Fortescue. 9. New Secretary Having Barbara as my secretary had several unexpected bonuses. Ok, she was a rubbish typist, and thought that 'shorthand' was a sort of physical deformity - She delegated all her typing tasks to a pool of willing/unwilling 'volunteers'. But I could relax when Barbara and myself were alone in my office - There was no need for me to be guarded about my masquerade, and I could concentrate on my work. Barbara would 'run interference' for me when visitors sought me out at those times when I was 'away with the fairies' in deep concentration - and anything but ladylike. Barbara carved out a PA type of role for herself, and seemed to really enjoy being a secretary for 'Miss Frances'. I think Barbara had a secret submissive side to her character - To herself, she squared her working hours submission, by knowing our roles would be reversed outside of work. "Miss Frances ... Fifi, tell me what's wrong!" demanded Barbara as she interrupted and confronted me during one morning at the office. I shook my head and pushed her away impatiently, but she grew firm and blocked me from my desk. "Fifi, Tell me what is wrong!" she demanded again imperiously, and more feebly, I pushed at her to regain my desk. "You've found a problem, and you have reached a mental block! Haven't you?" she exclaimed. "Head in turmoil - thoughts going around in circles - getting nowhere fast - getting nowhere slowly!" she accused. "This happened before when you were an installation manager - you were in a right state! I was furious at what immense pressure that company had placed on my husband!" Barbara's eyes filled with tears of sympathy. "You remember what worked before, Fifi? Perhaps, it will work again!" she answered herself. "You need a complete mental reset!" I looked at her stunned, but not fully understanding. "We're leaving for home immediately!" Barbara decided, and hustled me out to her car - shouting our excuses to everyone on the way. We didn't go home - Well not to my/our home - but to Barbara's house. She saw a glimpse of surprise from me. "You know I have a secret dungeon here, Fifi. Sheila hasn't yet arranged suitable facilities at home. She frogmarched me to her dungeon, and I began to struggle weakly. "Don't fuss, Fifi! You know it's for your own good!" she admonished as she began to bind me to the post. By the time that I was secured to the post, I was losing my funk, and starting to think more clearly. Barbara dramatically swept away the curtain from the full length mirror, and revealed a bound vision of 'Sweeter Gwen' staring back at me. Like any red-bloodied male, I was struck by lust at the sight of her - At the sight of myself, and my funk totally disappeared. Barbara was watching me intently. "Now, Miss Frances, I want you to clearly state the problem with the project - to state the problem in full, before I gag you, and abandon you!" I looked at her beseechingly. "Barbara, I must get back to the office, and find a solution - I simply cannot afford to play games just now!" "State the problem!" Barbara commanded unflinchingly, and I sighed in defeat. "IBM are working to develop integrated hardware that is supposed to be 100% complementary to the software packages that I have planned. We jointly agreed a full-functional specification, and the hardware design is well advanced - and quite satisfactory as far as it goes! "The downside is that the hardware design is effectively set in stone. "Early this morning, Paul - the head of crytography asked me how the handshaking was supposed to work through the crypt module, and I was stumped! "The crypt module is heavily dependent on the new custom IBM hardware. "I was completely stumped. I hadn't written anything in the functional spec to cover that aspect of the project. You see - handshaking is normally uncrypted - but uncrypted handshakes are a security vulnerability - but I had moved on from crypt specs to produce the spec for the transaction module without completing the crypt spec. "The entire project could unravel, because I promised secure handshaking to the client!" I sighed - exhausted. "I didn't understand a single word of that - But you've now got it off your chest, miss Frances," Barbara concluded, and I didn't resist the gag that Barbara strapped onto my head. Barbara abandoned me in the dungeon, and switched off the main lights. A small nightlight glowed between me and the mirror, and a shadowy 'Gwen' watched me in my intellectual misery. If Barbara hadn't been so brilliant as an architect, she could have made a fortune as a psychiatrist, psycho-analyst or psycho-therapist, or whatever ... My brain had been reset, and logical thinking ensued. Various scenarios and possible solutions chased themselves through my thoughts, and eventually, I reached the full-blown Eureka moment. "I have it!" I shouted into my gag, and nearly choked myself in a coughing fit afterwards. I then waited impatiently for a maiden in shining armour to rescue her poor knight from the dungeon of the evil Ice Queen. 'Gwen' waited with me, and we lustfully eyed each other in the gloom. Whichever maiden rescued me would be paid willingly in sexual favours by this maiden in distress! - - - - A cool draft from nowhere brushed the hem of my skirt against my stocking tops. I had been dozing - supported at the post by the multitudinous rope ties from neck to ankles. My wrists were too-tightly bound behind the post, and my fingers were getting numb. Suddenly the lights came on and I blinked as I tried to see who was coming to rescue me. Sheila shouted in relief as she saw where I was. She rushed up to me and kissed me over my gag. "Oh, Fifi, that Barbara! She did this to you all by herself. I knew nothing about it until she confessed this evening. She stone-walled me about you all day ..." Sheila rapidly released me and ungagged me, and hugged me tight. Over Sheila's shoulder I saw such a sight ... Barbara had been following Sheila into the secret dungeon, but Barbara was bound and gagged, and a leash dangled from a dog collar around her neck. Sheila became aware of the direction of my gaze, and turned an imperious stare on her friend. "Barbara betrayed both of us, Fifi. I decided to wait for your opinion about how she should be punished. I rushed over to Barbara, and removed her gag to kiss her on the lips. "It worked, Barbara!" I shouted eagerly as I quickly began to unbind her. "I have the solution!" I crowed as I kissed her again and again. Sheila was dumbfounded. "You consider kissing your torturer is a fitting revenge?" I ran back to kiss Sheila to quieten her. "Barbara saved the company!" I told her, and then I awkwardly danced a little jig in my ballet boots on the cobblestone floor of the dungeon. The two women looked at me happily - One with the complacent face at a job-well-done: The other with a tinge of concern for my sanity. "Who wants a night of debauchery - of unreserved sex?" I asked in a gravelly voice. "I do!" they both chorused together, and laughed at each other. "I think you should wear a strap-on tonight, Fifi!" Barbara posited, but was shouted down by Sheila. "No strap-on for me, Barbara - I want the real thing from my lesbian lover maid!" "Me neither!" added Barbara, and we both looked at her and then at each other, and grinned. Barbara was going to be a full member of our threesome. - - - - 10. Bank Tuition At home one evening, my conscience prodded me to break a rule. "Excuse me, mistresses, may I speak freely about a matter that causes concern to Frances?" They looked at one another - it was a terrible breach of established habit. "Very well, Fifi. Tell us what causes concern!" "It's about Susan ... I think we've put her nose out of joint ... She's a damn good secretary, and we've let Barbara slide into her job ... If she left ... I think we need to promote her to keep her ... She's already the de facto office administrator, and personnel officer, so lets make it official ... and Frances would like to get her involved in the new project!" "They looked at me, as they digested my outpouring. "Susan has been my biggest ally - she has helped me enormously!" Barbara observed. "We have taken her for granted - she's so loyal and good-natured!" added Sheila. "What does Frances think Susan could do on the project?" Sheila finished quizzically. "Frances thinks that Susan should be project liason officer with the bank ... "She can channel our requirements and advice to the bank in all matters concerning siting, structural alterations and access to the new computer rooms. Frances can brief her directly and rely on her keeping the bank under control," I replied. I was rewarded by two affirmative nods, and Sheila agreed to make it official. - - - - Sheila was worried, but Barbara calmed her down, "Look, Sheila, If we buy Fifi - I mean - if we buy miss Frances - a full- length, stylish overcoat or raincoat, she ought to be able to travel on the tube without getting herself raped." The bank had suggested that I should give an address to senior bank staff at their London HQ - That meant that I had no choice, but had to go - And of course, they expected to see the same Frances as previously seen by members of their board - not a dowdy schoolmarm. A slutty trollop travelling on public transport might expect to be molested, or much worse. I knew that both Sheila and Barbara wanted me to be molested - but molested by Sheila and Barbara - excluding everybody else. Barbara volunteered to accompany me as my secretary - for note taking - She had a personal tape recorder, and enough tapes for the entire presentation. I smiled and nodded my thanks to her - The rowdies would need to obstruct two of us, and I reckoned Barbara would be equal to any two rowdies. Barbara had bought three identical coats - one for each of us, and she was wearing hers, while she waited for me to get ready - Sheila had been delegated to tighten my corset, and to fit and lock my boots, while Barbara had gone to do something with her hair. Sheila dodged and raced in front of us - there was something odd about her appearance - she was wearing a chauffeur's cap. Sheila opened her car door for us and saluted us with a poker face. We stared at her without getting into the car, and Sheila's face cracked into a huge grin. "If you will please take your seats, ladies we should just make the 8:25 for London?" We took our seats, and immediately took turns criticising the lack-of- smartness, and sloppiness of our driver. Sheila had her revenge and silenced us by giving us a 'white-knuckle' ride to the station. "Just in time for the 8:15, ladies." She grinned mischievously, as she saluted at attention by our open door. We dashed, and did indeed catch the 8:15 train. - - - - We were expected at the bank - Richard was waiting to shepherd us to the meeting, which had started without us. We were early, so the pre-meeting must have been arranged for private, internal discussions about the project. All the petty empire-builders that worked for the bank would be jockeying for position and pushing hard with their own opinions among their fellows. The sooner we stopped all that the better. Richard opened the conference room door, and shouted an announcement of our arrival, which killed all the hubbub, and turned every face towards us. A secretary rushed forward to take our coats, and the entire room gasped, and I gasped as well. I was expecting some reaction to my slutwear, and was fortified for it, but my shock was because Barbara was wearing identical slutwear to me ... Corset, leather mini-skirt, stockings, suspenders and ... and even ballet boots - but no, Barbara's heels were less severe than mine ... she was wearing training ballet boots. As jaws were recovered from the conference table, and eyes were restored to their orbits, Richard led us to a dais which had been prepared for our use. To the regret of most of our audience, a modesty panel protected our legs from public gaze. The presentation was essentially non-technical from my point of view, but the bankers were convinced it was technical and I demurred. I explained the commercial benefits of a faster, more secure banking infrastructure, with easy expandability, and non-specialist personnel required for bank operations. I explained that their current system was the oldest legacy system still in use by a modern bank, and how it was chock full of vulnerabilities - they were lucky to have avoided any attacks on their system. I told them that I, personally could - if I wanted - cause denial of service for at least a week, and simultaneously empty or mix-up all the accounts held on their servers to create mayhem and fraud ... and loss of trust in the bank. Their system was well overdue for upgrade, and dissatisfied customers were beginning to leave in droves. I told them that as well as supplying and installing a brand-new, state-of-the-art, rapid-transaction banking system, that we would be responsible for maintaining it at peak performance - and also - in the meantime - we would create patches to mitigate the worst of the existing vulnerabilities in the archaic system currently in use. I then stood silently waiting for questions ... I waited a bit more, and then prompted, "Surely someone has a question ... I have avoided difficult technicalities. Did nobody understand my presentation?" A bald man stood up. "Thank you, Frances, for a concise and clear presentation ... I think that ... like many of my colleagues, we were shocked into silence by your glib dismissal of the security of our existing banking system! ... I shall recommend an immediate, independent report on your suggested vulnerabilities ... And, if as you say, you can 'patch' them ... Then that would be a cheaper option than this new system that you're so keen on?" He sat down. "Three points, sir ..." I replied, "First the patches by nature will be patchy - that means that examination of the vulnerability will indicate the most obvious methods of attack, and they can be defended ... But hackers will by their nature seize on a vulnerability and worry at it endlessly to be able to exploit it. Patches can only delay the success of an attack on an identified vulnerability! ... Secondly ... My company is not really interested in endlessly providing patches, nor bug-finding on 3rd-party software and hardware ... We would only do so as a courtesy to the bank until the new system is ready. So you would certainly have to get someone else! ... Thirdly ... The new system will be modern and fast, and beneficial to the bank-core-working and to all the bank's customers. The new system will be fast, secure and reliable, and will promote the bank into the present and far into the future!" I sat down, and a bearded gent stood to ask a question ... "Can you guarantee that the new system will be accurate, reliable and secure ... and provide uninterrupted service?" he asked. "No," I answered to a general surprise, "there are all the seven 'F's beyond our control, which will be outside the scope of the contract ...", I paused to let this be digested. "Flood, fire, fracture, phonies, power failure, infestation and infection," I stated solemnly ... "Fracture includes earthquakes, bombs etc ... Phonies includes saboteurs, spies and incompetent staff ... the rest are self-explanatory - except infection is not a technical metaphor in this case - It means genuine medical hazards to personnel - It also includes contamination of any sort in the equipment or equipment rooms or designated spaces ... Otherwise, the terms of the contract will guarantee continuous, fast, reliable and accurate service to both the bank itself and to its customers!" I finished, and sat down. A younger confident man stood up to make a challenge. What about security?" he asked. "That is the most dangerous threat faced by banks today!". "There are several aspects to banking security," I responded. "Most are well known - as are the general solutions. The new system will employ all the tried-and-tested techniques already developed, but will implement enhancements and improvements wherever appropriate. "Number one - security of storage ... No loss or corruption of stored data. This is handled by having an adequate arrangement of archiving and mirroring and redundant storage devices acting in concert to preserve and identify every datum. "Redundant storage devices are spread geographically to prevent local disasters becoming global disasters for the bank. "Number two - security of data transfer ... The assurance that data received is the same as the data that was transmitted is ensured by providing 'checksum' type data with each transfer, and ignoring corrupt data and resending the correct data. "Number three - security of transaction initiation - Every account in the bank will have an associated profile file, which will act as a 'permission-filter', Any proposed transaction on the account, which fails to pass the filter, will be marked 'pending', and passed to the AI in the defensive server ... Of course, all transactions passed as routine will be completed immediately - if not sooner - and will not be queued to the defensive server. "Number four - History ... Every account will have an associated log file to record the historical sequence of transactions. This file will be used to provide rapid rollback on the account in the event of detection of a successful penetration. "Number five part A - Access ... Account to account ... transactions from one account held by the bank to another account within the bank will be authenticated by the transfer server. The transfer server will ensure that both accounts are within the bank, and that each transaction is both simple and unique. "Number five part B - Access from outside the bank - another bank etc. The 'foreign' server will verify the credentials of any body outside the bank that attempts to initiate any transaction. Any suspicious attempt to access an account will be handed to the 'Nonsense' server. "Number six - external data in transit ... Data outside the firewall provided at the bank, is vulnerable to high-tech alteration and corruption. All external data shall be thoroughly encrypted., and the communication protocol shall be customized and secret. "Number seven - The seven 'F's ... Any one of the seven 'F's is capable of causing all local - that means at any given site - all local banking operations to grind to a halt. "Spying is a more global problem - The exposure of secret operational procedures might give the attackers a focus for an invasion by a trojan of some sort, but the 'Health-monitoring-server' will be designed to quickly spot and deal with trojans and viruses, and any unauthorized updates. "The bank has decided to introduce the new system into the Birmingham office in parallel with the development here in London as a geographically safe back-up for everything ... "Well, sir, you did ask me about security ...." I sat down again - exhausted. "You smashed them!" whispered Barbara, as we waited for more questions. There were no further questions and Richard stood up and grinned at us and escorted us out of the building. "I am glad that I'm on your side," he admitted. "That was a very polite, but powerful put-down for old Farnesworth to swallow!" he sniggered as he held the final door for our exit. - - - - 11. Lesbians Riding back on the train, Barbara turned to me in a thoughtful mood. "I believe that I have misjudged you, Frances," she started, and I turned to meet her gaze enquiringly. "Don't take this wrong ... But I always thought that you had the same force of character as a jellyfish. I always bullied you, and you always succumbed to my bullying ... I couldn't see any further than the adorable, weak, intelligent, thoughtful man I loved and married ..." Barbara's attention wandered as she became thoughtful. I reassured her, "Barbara, a man - or a maid ..." I chuckled encouragingly as I interrupted myself, "will make many sacrifices for the woman he - or she - loves ... Whatever was important to you was automatically important to me, and now what is important to Sheila is also important to me!" "Can I still bully you, Fifi?" Barbara asked. "Of course, you can, Barbara! Nothing has changed between us - nothing has changed. I am still going to cook and clean when we get home - that is - unless you or Sheila have other plans." Barbara grabbed my face and tried to suffocate me in a long kiss. Our coats fell undone onto the seat, and an old lady sat opposite was thoroughly scandalized by the uninterrupted view of two slutty, goth girls entwining in a same-sex embrace. - - - - We all three missed out on our evening meal - that saved Fifi a lot of work. As soon as we arrived home, Barbara dragged me and a bemused Sheila up to our bedroom, and Fifi was forced - not unwillingly - to give both women s series of interleaved orgasms. I collapsed exhausted and spent. "Trying to keep two demanding women satisfied will kill me!" I complained softly, "I'm far too weak to do anything ... just let me fade away ..." I hummed happily. Sheila looked at Barbara, who nodded back. "Poor didums, are you even too weak to stand?" Sheila soothed and both she and Barbara helped me to stand up. I wasn't paying attention as they supported me until I felt the post at my back, and the strap went around my neck. "Oh, no, please, no, mistresses!" I pleaded as they secured me to the post in Barbara's favourite Gwendoline pose. I knew it would happen, I suppose ... They had ganged together to insist that Fifi should install the pole-dancing pole in our bedroom, and I had rightly guessed that they themselves had no intention of pole-dancing. Sheila dragged the full length mirror to allow me to lust after Fifi as Gwendoline, and Barbara repaired my make-up before gagging me. Sheila placed the ice-bag in my groin, and Barbara recaged me. They both moved the mirror aside to allow me a full view of the bed. Barbara took Sheila's hand, and led her back to the bed. They made lesbian love for hours. I watched - frustrated- and kept glancing at the side view of Gwendoline. I could almost scream in frustration. Eventually they switched off the light and went to sleep - both exhausted. I harumphed into my gag uselessly. I tried to rattle the pole to wake them - to no avail - It was far too firmly fixed. Eventually, I sagged into my bonds and slept fitfully. - - - - Sheila was the first to wake. She rang the hand bell impatiently ... "Fifi, you're late with my breakfast - you're earning another punishment!" Her shout woke Barbara, who opened her eyes and saw me tied to my pole. She shot out of bed, and raced to ungag me. "Oh, Fifi, we were having such a good time that we forgot all about you!" she explained as she attacked all the straps. "You need to hold me up, Barbara!" I mumbled. "My feet are killing me, and the corset is cutting me in half. I want the boots off and gone - same with the corset!" Sheila had joined in my rescue, and they half-dragged/ half-carried me to the bed. I barely heard all the profuse apologies, as they stripped me down to the skin. The pain of relief was nearly as bad as the pain of confinement. I seemed to be just one huge ache. Barbara rushed off to prepare a warm bath for me, and Sheila massaged and kissed my pulsing feet. - - - - It was a new experience for me, to be pampered by two devoted nurses, but despite having removed all signs of my masquerade, they still called me Fifi - It seemed that Fred was not welcome yet. Eventually - about mid-morning, I managed to pack them off to the office. They had placed the telephone at the bedside, so that Frances could work from home. I noted how more straightforward all my team leaders became, when not confronted by Frances. I would have to work from home more often to stay in touch with any developing problems. - - - - 12. Bank Problems Susan rang me. She had been away inspecting the installation sites. She was slow to divulge her report, but gradually got into her stride. "Frances, we really have a problem at the London site!" I was alarmed, but I waited. "Lack of cooperation from the bank, and certain individuals in particular! All our recommendations being ignored or modified - six out of the seven 'F's representing real threats to the project!" she protested. "But Birmingham is a completely different story - they can't do enough - everything that I say we want - they get on to it immediately!" "Hold on. Susan!" I stopped her. "More details, please. What isn't happening in London?" "Well, the London office of the bank is already full-to-overflowing, and nobody wants to give up any territory. I asked for three floors to be emptied for the project, and everybody laughed at me. They said we could have the underground car park - But that's completely unsuitable for the flood risk - we are talking Thames flooding and all that." she sighed, and continued. "The external star-pattern-power-feeds are dismissed for cost reasons - property prices in the city being so high - they want all the power supplies in the converted underground car park - It's not even big enough to accommodate our tentative floor area requirements!" She sounded flustered. "Don't upset yourself, Susan! Put it all in a written report and pass a copy to me - I'll deal with it. It's not your fault that London is giving you trouble." I ended the call. I arranged to meet the bank's board of directors the next day - I hoped my feet would hold out. The board were not overjoyed to meet on their Friday golf day, but I was insistent, and backed up by Richard at the bank. - - - - Barbara insisted on accompanying me, and I was pleased to have her company. My feet were not happy to embrace my boots again, and I might need Barbara's help walking. We swept into the bank with our open coats sweeping behind us. I glanced at the mirrored wall in reception, and was minded of Batman and Robin arriving to beard an enemy in his den. I stopped trying to work out who was Batman and who was Robin as soon as Richard made his appearance to lead us to the boardroom. The board were pleased to see the eye-candy when we were ushered into the presence, but were frosty otherwise. I didn't care about that - I had come all the way to London to kick ass. "Gentlemen", I began. "I have learned that the bank has become rather less than enthusiastic about the new system we are contracting to provide!" I challenged. "It may just be that you wish to move the focus of installation to Birmingham!" I declared before anyone could interrupt. "The promised facilities proposed at Birmingham are ideally suited for the project, and if London is not ready, or not prepared for the project to start, then I propose that the Birmingham site should be the prime or main site, and that London should have the backup system installed when the London offices of the bank are ready for it to be installed." I waited, and as expected, there were a series of explosive, spitting replies. "London is the prime site - You're talking nonsense," was the general theme. "But London is dragging its heels - reluctant to adopt the new system - reluctant to move ahead!" I interposed. "Nonsense! London is the beating heart of the bank!" was the essence of the replies. "The beating heart is clogged with the detritus of privilege, and departmental empire-building, and poisoned by false economies!" I accused, and they began to listen to me. I opened Susan's report and read it out to them, and they listened intently. They wanted a copy of her report, so I passed one to the chairman of the board before we left. - - - - 13. The Big Upset At work the next day, Susan knocked briefly and rushed breathless into my office without waiting for any invitation. Barbara looked daggers at the intrusion, but Susan was not to be downcast. "Frances, good news, I've spent all morning answering the phone ... London have changed their mind .. there are so many improvements in the ..." "Thank you, Susan," I stopped her. "Well done! Put it in your report! I'm afraid I'm busy on something else ... We'll have drink later to celebrate - Ok?" I dismissed her. - - - - Susan was a busy little bee. Her reports became daily reports, and all the previous problems had apparently evaporated, but then the blow fell ... It was a secret telephone call from Richard that set the scene. "Frances, prepare for bad news! Preparation of your hundred page contract has halted. "There's a plot afoot to cut your company out from under. A small group of directors has been talking to Hitachi - and they've seeded Hitachi with your ideas. They recorded all your lectures and passed them to Hitachi, and Hitachi have promised them to complete your project at half- price. It seems that the Hitachi-supporting group have enough votes on the board to swing the decision their way. The chairman is livid, but he feels powerless. Expect him to call you for a meeting with the board. Of course you'll be paid for all your work up to date, but the cancellation fee will not seem enough for all the effort you have put in - And your competetor is 'stealing' your ideas! ... Don't let on that I've pre- empted and warned you! Give the board a bloody good salvo before they fire you! Bye, see you at the board meeting." He rang off. Almost immediately there was an incoming call from the chairman of the bank. He was a little reticent, and merely said that there was a problem that needed to be discussed. His language was stilted, so I guessed he was in conference with the rest of the board listening in. I was friendly and helpful - I assured him that whatever the problem might be, that we could certainly solve it in our face-to-face discussion. After the phone call, I asked Sheila to join us in my office, and we talked through everything that was known. I walked to-and-fro across my office like a caged lion, until Barbara insisted that I should sit down, and stop distracting her. We talked backwards and forwards - discussing a plethora of options, but none would overturn the inevitable result. "You must simply do as Richard suggested," said Sheila. "Hit them with inflated invoices, squeeze for maximum compensation for cancelling the letter-of-intent, and fire your best-ever broadside at the board of directors to achieve maximum satisfaction." Sheila held back her tears. "- not Richard or the chairman!" she added as an afterthought. "They are on our side." Sheila cried openly and we hugged. Barbara joined our hug and then excused herself. I decided she didn't want to cry so openly. To protect Richard we had to pretend to continue to progress the project, but neither of us could bring ourselves to do any work. We had too many staff to support our 'tickover' clients, so various redundancies would be necessary - unless we could sell the project to another bank. "No, no other bank would even listen to us after being rejected," I decided, "And the Hitachi group would insist on our company being rubbished within the banking sector to stymie any competition," I concluded, so as recommended, I fattened up the latest invoices, and prepared for my speech. Things might be on the turning point for our company - a public rejection of a keystone project could deter any future new business. I tried to drag my thoughts from this downward spiral ... "At least I would be able to kill off Frances for good," I cheered myself up. "Tomorrow evening hails the welcome return of Fred!" I half-smiled, then thought some more. "The girls would insist on keeping Fifi, so Fred could never return completely." I sighed. - - - - Three of us went striding into the entrance of the bank with our long coats unbuttoned and blowing behind us. Not batman and Robin, but Zelda and her cohorts seeking to revenge an evil wrong. I do sometimes despair of my outrageous imagination. All three of us were identically dressed based on my usual slutty style. I think we must have looked magnificent - I know Barbara and Sheila certainly looked magnificent as I caught their reflection in the mirror wall. Richard was waiting for us - We could see he was impressed, but he recovered from his surprise. "Tone it down a bit!" he hissed. "You're not supposed to know what the meeting is really about! Relax and chat to each other. That's an Hitachi ally up there spying from the mezzanine." - - - - At the boardroom, Richard announced us in a loud clear voice just like a major-domo, and we swished into the boardroom in the same way that we had entered the building. Not counting Richard's chair, there was only one seat for three of us - So, it seemed that mind games were to be played. Taking my cue we all three stood together heads tilted staring at the ceiling, and thereby creating an uncomfortable silence. "Were we expected?" I broke the silence to gently ask the ceiling. "Get chairs for the ladies!" shouted the chairman as he secretly winked at me. We sat down and launched into pleasant smalltalk about anything unrelated to the project. Richard and the chairman realised that we were playing hardball in the mind game, and encouraged us disgracefully - feeding us lines, and prompting for details. Eventually the head of the Hitachi clique interrupted, "I vote that the chair should immediately inform our guests why they were invited!" he announced rather smugly, and was immediately seconded. "Very well," agreed the chairman, "the vote is that the guests be immediately informed of the reason for their invitation - Hands for 'aye'?" and he counted more than half the board. "Hands for 'nay'?" and a mere handful of votes were against. "Frances, Sheila and Barbara, you have been formally summoned before the full board of directors in accordance with the requirements of clause 23 of our 'letter of intent' to your company dated the 3rd May this year that permits the bank to rescind that same 'letter of intent', and to notify you that all duties and responsibilities of the bank with regard to that letter are now at an end, and that the cancellation fee set down in that letter of intent shall be paid out in consideration of no legal action to thwart or modify this rescind." The chairman looked exhausted. "Of course, the sum involved must be subject to arbitration!" shouted a noisy board member. I gave the cheapskate a death stare to subdue him, and stood up to begin my hate speech. Suddenly, the door burst open and a secretary and personal assistant burst into the boardroom. "Get out! Get out!" was echoed from board member to board member. "But, sir," the PA protested, "an EGM was scheduled this morning ..." The board broke into uproar, and the chairman went pale with shock. "Not possible!" he shouted over the uproar. "I am the chairman of this bank, and I knew nothing about it!" The PA spoke as the hubbub subsided, "A quorum of shareholders applied for an extraordinary general meeting at nine o'clock this morning, sir. And the vote share was sufficient to trigger an immediate EGM. They have already voted to dismiss the entire board of directors, and to put the board positions up for re-election!" The PA hesitated and then continued. "Gentlemen all, as of ten minutes ago, you were no longer authorized members of this board of directors! all minuted actions or decisions since 9:30 A.M. this morning are legally null and void! ... as the stenographer will now record." I was shocked like everybody else ... everybody else except Barbara, who upon seeing me stare at her grinning face, quickly assumed the shocked visage worn by everybody else. My suspicions cemented, but I said nothing. The chairman remembered his normal charm. "Ladies, we seem to have brought you on a fool's errand. The rescind is nullified - obviously, and the new board will have to decide on the way ahead for the bank. "It's always been a pleasure meeting each of you, and I do hope we shall meet again in happier circumstances. I expect that Richard will show you out, I must attend the rest of the EGM, to discover what forces happen to be in control of the bank."