*a more typical approach to this world*

*if you're reading the other story just know this has little to do with that story and karma is very different in this one-shot*

*some of this is painfully typical: no fucks given*

Karma is Boss: Alternate Directions

Amy got to work late and hustled to make it upstairs. Lauren said it'd be busy in the office but Amy had no clue what she was getting into. Coming from Ruiz & Ward: Harvey, Ashcroft, & Booker was a whole new world.

"GET OVER HERE!" Lauren tried not to yell. As soon as that elevator opened on the top floor where the corporate office lorded over all of Austin like some terrible cliché, Lauren Cooper grabbed Amy's hand and pulled her into her sick universe.

"Hey!" Amy said, trying to stop her step-sister who was surprisingly strong. She was ushered into a small empty room and the door was slammed behind her.

"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?! ARE YOU TRYING TO PUT A TARGET ON YOUR BACK?!" Lauren was livid but it was not without reason. Amy rubbed her fingers over her wrist. Lauren's way was abusive and unkind.

"WHY ARE YOU YELLING AT ME?!" Amy fought back.

"ASHCROFT IS GOING TO HATE YOU!" Lauren bit. "This is your very first day and you're fucking late! Are you kidding me?! This isn't the minor leagues. You can't just saunter in when you feel like it. These people will have your head!"

This was a very odd conversation to be having after that pool-meeting the day before where everyone was laid back and unprofessional and, dare-Amy-think, broken.

"Come on!" Lauren said, pushing Amy aside and pulling her out of the door again to bring her to Karma, the new boss that Amy was already a bit leery of. As they drew closer Amy could hear that familiar voice.

"We can't go at this like we did with Benson. This has to be handled correctly. No more guessing on facts. You guys are making me look like a fucking idiot out there. I'm really not asking for much," Karma said. Her voice wasn't the loudest in the room but it had an air of prominence to it and a bit of defeat.

Lauren dragged Amy around to the side of the group. There were at least 10 people gathered around Karma who was standing in her office doorway and doling out important news and then this lecture.

"You're kidding me right?" Karma said, seeing Amy there all of a sudden next to Lauren.

"What?" Amy said.

"Can I see you in my office?"

"Now?" Amy asked in front of everyone as unprofessional as she ever could be.

"Yes." Karma said, biting anger back. She turned around and walked inside. Amy jumped when Karma said, "now," about halfway to her chair.

Lauren looked to her sister and hoped for the best but she knew she couldn't' help her. Amy would have to clean up her own messes in this place.

The other lawyers scattered. They were all happy to be let off the leash. For once Karma wasn't angry with them but instead someone else.

"Get in here," Karma said. She sat down in her chair and put her feet up on the windowsill while she waited for this new and disobedient fledgling lawyer to get her shit together and act like a professional with a paying job.

Amy walked in.

"Okay," Amy said feeling strange and out of place.

"Shut the door," Karma said, knowing that it wasn't shut. The hustle and bustle outside was loud when the door wasn't shut.

Amy slowly went over and shut it.

"Lock it," Karma said.

Amy did as she was told but she wasn't sure why this was happening at all. What was the big deal about being late?

"And the shades," Karma said, feeling listless all of a sudden and just pissed at life for more reasons than just this ungrateful girl who just so happened to be hot as hell and dressed to kill which was probably why she was late and Karma knew that much very well.

"Wow… Okay?" Amy was ready. She deserved it. Whatever wrath Karma had she was ready to face it.

Karma took her hair down and shook it out. She scratched her scalp and ignored Amy while Amy stood awkwardly in the center of the office where she had never been.

Karma stood up and began to pace. She took her blazer off and put it over her chair. Then she faced her. At long last she gave Amy her eyes.

"Sit," Karma said. She had a certain smile that Amy couldn't quite read. Was she mad? Was she pleased? What the hell was this?! And why was Amy being "treated" all of a sudden.

"Fine," Amy said, walking around the desk to Karma's chair and sitting inside of it.

"It's a nice view, huh?" Karma asked, watching her. She had officially swapped places with her subordinate.

Amy took the moment to breathe and look out at the town. She'd never been this high over Austin. She loved heights though.

"It's beautiful," Amy said, allowing the view to take her up.

Karma walked behind her, noticing how innocent she seemed and almost kind. She leaned in and let her arms hug under Amy's collarbone as she whispered. "Heights terrify me." It was a confession that Amy certainly didn't expect.

Amy felt her entire body shiver.

"Want me to close the curtain?" Amy asked.

"Not really," Karma said, she was keeping Amy where she was. "Sometimes I think I can't function if I'm not terrified."

It was a strange thing to say and an even stranger thing to hear.

Karma let Amy go and pushed the chair back gently. She walked over to the couch along the sidewall and laid down.

"What are we doing?" Amy asked.

"What are you doing?" Karma said, she had her eyes closed and she was pinching the bridge of her nose.

"What do you mean?"

"Lauren told you about me right? She told you that I'm your boss and I'm a hardass and it's important that I like you?"

"She did," Amy said apologetically.

"So are you just trying to irritate me? Is that it?"

"No," Amy said, standing.

Karma looked up at her and briefly wondered what it would feel like to punish her all day and lead her to beg.

"She told me you were into girls," Karma said. "Particularly your ex-boss. Bet you didn't know that."

"It's not important," Amy said.

"Oh… It is," Karma mused, staring up at her and jonesing for a drink. "Did she tell you about my husband and what a shit he is and how he cheats on me?"

"No," Amy said, feeling badly.

"I didn't tell you, you could get up. Sit." Karma ordered, closing her eyes again and pointing back at the chair. This day was already a disaster. She couldn't take another insubordinate employee. She had to figure out what to do with this one and for some reason, probably Amy Raudenfeld, she was in a very queer mood.

"Oh," Amy said, walking back to the chair and sitting down.

"Bottom right drawer," Karma said. Amy moved to it and opened it. She looked down and saw two clean crystal glasses and a fancy crystal decanter filled with tequila. "Pour us some," Karma said.

"Look, I didn't mean-"

"Just fucking do it. I don't want explanations."

Karma kept her eyes shut. She tried to rest her eyes but they were constantly burning. She needed to sleep but she had become an insomniac lately. It was all wearing on her, all taking a toll, her husband's cheating, the massive amounts of work, the late nights and no sex, and now this attractive woman in her office sent to toy with her, it was all surmounting to something big.

Amy was watching her, noticing how hard it seemed it was for Karma to just exist and breathe.

From the distance, on her couch, Karma could hear it as Amy lifted the decanter and poured.

"Little more, please," Karma asked nicely, her voice soft.

"Are you okay?" Amy asked.

And how funny that she should care. At least, that's what Karma thought. No one else seemed to care in her place. Everyone else was out for money and fame and riding Karma's coattails all the way into their own private mansion.

"Umm, definitely not," Karma laughed.

It felt good to laugh.

Amy liked her laugh. It was contagious and she wanted to taste it. She moved to get up but then stopped herself.

"Can I bring this to you?" She asked. Karma was obviously going through something and Amy was trying to play her game, confusing though it was.

"Yes," Karma said, relenting.

Amy got up slowly and brought the glass over to Karma.

Karma sat up.

When Amy tried to hand Karma the glass, Karma tugged on Amy's wrist and lowered her to squat before her.

It wasn't until they were eye to eye that Karma looked and touched at Amy's neck.

"Drink it," she said.

"It's really early," Amy tried.

"Do you want this job?" Karma asked, her eyes challenging Amy.

Amy shrugged and started to drink. There were worse things in life than a boss who wanted you drunk. This was a new one but she somehow kinda liked it. She'd rather be drunk at 8 than reading her law books and stressing out over some bullshit that could affect someone's entire life if handled incorrectly. This she could take.

Karma watched her. Amy's eyes were closed and Karma took pleasure in seeing her obedient and under her thumb. Plus, the sight of her was something else. Karma had never seen a more beautiful woman, not ever. Her thoughts traveled to places she hadn't considered. She wanted to feel this woman and touch her. She wanted to taste her and tease her. She wanted to see what made her scream.

After she downed the glass, Amy had no time whatsoever to breathe; just as she had no idea what Karma was thinking. Nevertheless, Karma shocked her by pulling her forward and forcing her into an immediately passionate kiss, the likes of which Amy had never encountered before. The hair on her neck stood up as breath was taken from her without her will. She felt her body lose all its control as she fell into Karma and allowed her to do as she pleased.

Karma's hands were at both sides of Amy's face and she was practically stealing from her with the way she immediately dove in without asking and just taking what she wanted. It was a kiss to challenge both the star-crossed and the once chaste.

Amy dropped her control and she felt her head spin. That burst of alcohol on an empty stomach and this situation of feeling a slave to someone immediately right at once, it all worked on her briefly before she realized that it wasn't right to just let someone treat her like she was her thing.

"Mmm!" Amy made a noise of resistance as she tried to fight for air once she realized where she was. But Karma trapped her a while, tasting the alcohol on her tongue and the delicious fear in Amy's breath.

When it was clear that Amy was just about to push Karma off, as she was quite desperate to breathe, Karma did the honors and pushed Amy off first, letting her go.

"What the hell?!" Amy asked, her voice cracking as she gasped for air. She'd fallen backwards onto Karma's floor. She had to fall to her side to keep from seeming scandalous in her skirt. In truth, she felt a bit ravaged.

"What's a matter?" Karma asked, that body laid before her just there. Amy was propped up on her elbow on Karma's expensive foreign rug.

"Nothing, it's just-"

"Nothing?" Karma asked, a smile tickling her lips. God, this woman was insane.

"Karma, this is just fucking weird," Amy said. "We're both adults. I get that I was late."

"Stop talking." Karma said. And Amy did.

The silence in the room hung between them. Amy wasn't sure why she kept obeying this woman. There was something about Karma that sort of fascinated her.

"Stand up," Karma said. She'd decided something and she sat up ready with her choice.

Amy rolled her eyes and stood.

"Why are you doing everything I tell you to do?" Karma asked. "What the hell's amatter with you? People don't act like this."

"I just don't care," Amy shrugged. What was she going to be doing today anyway? She was going to be doing everything someone wanted her to do. Why not Karma? Why not her actual boss? And why not this?

"Untuck your shirt," Karma said.

"What?" Amy laughed and looked to her right. She remembered the blinds and how Karma had her close them after she'd just come inside.

"Untuck. Your fucking. Shirt," Karma enunciated with a bit of a bite.

"Did you plan this?" Amy asked.

"Either do it or get out," Karma said. She was done with the game.

Amy had a choice. She hovered for a moment and then did as she was told.

Karma got up and walked toward her.

"Take your hair down," Karma said, feeling a tingling in her throat and her fingertips. She wanted to play with her and taste her. She wanted more than just that sloppy kiss. She wanted everything that came with having this person as her own.

Somewhat defiantly, with a look of disapproval, Amy took the pins out of her hair one at a time and shook her hair out as Karma approached more justified now that Amy had made her decision without much of a dilemma to be had.

"I like that you're taller than me," Karma said. She was looking up at Amy with sexy hungry eyes as she unbuttoned Amy's shirt slowly, one small button at a time, her fingers needy but slow because slow felt good.

"I think I could use another drink," Amy said. Her body was shaking. Karma had made her so nervous and now she was seriously fucking with her and making her to seem weak when she knew she was strong.

"Go get it," Karma said, lowering her hands and allowing Amy the only thing she asked.

Amy took the second glass up. She turned around and sat back on the desk. Her shirt was open between her breasts and still covering her. She was just looking at her boss and wondering what the fuck this all was. What this woman was thinking and how often she did things like this. Lauren never said…

Amy downed half the glass in one gulp and then breathed.

"What is this? What am I to you?" She needed to ask. Given everything, she couldn't just fling willy-nilly.

"What do you want this to be?" Karma wondered. She took two steps toward her and kicked her heels off, leaning her body into Amy's and sighing into her touch. She wanted to be her pet. She wanted to be taken care of. But saying those things? That wasn't something that Karma wanted to do.

Karma took Amy's wrist and pushed her to put the glass down. Then she led Amy's hands to feel at her body. "Do you like touching me?" Karma asked, greatly affected by her touch and feeling pleasure. She was leading Amy's hands down to her ass and forcing Amy to pull at her so that their bodies would rub. Amy felt hard nipples pressing against her and Karma's hands forcing her to take liberties and just feel.

"Fuck," Amy said, staring down at Karma and watching her. Her breasts looked amazing and Amy felt a twitch at the sight of Karma's bare neck. All of a sudden she wanted to lick her and she knew it..

Karma took Amy's hand and led it up to her neck.

"You like this right?" Karma asked, her voice breathy and low as she watched Amy's eyes and saw what she wanted.

Karma let go of Amy's hand and let her own hand fall between Amy's legs and ride generously up Amy's thigh.

"Uh," Amy let out a small pathetic gasp. Karma heard it and squeezed at Amy's skin just to tease.

Karma leaned in and held at Amy's neck, her hair in her face. "You want me to do things to you, huh?" Karma asked, feeling the need in herself. Amy was so weak for her. It was all too easy.

"Say it," Karma whispered, sliding her hand up further under Amy's skirt and feeling the heat between Amy's legs as she put pressure in that place.

"Uh-" Amy moaned again. "I want it," Amy said, knowing it was true and feeling it with every fiber of her being as her eyes shut into the pleasure and she gave in.

It was all Karma wanted for now. An admission. Pleasure flooded her. This would be great, Amy was perfect just the medicine she needed, just the sexy thing she deserved.

She slowly slid her hand back down Amy's thigh and stepped away from her, adjusting her own clothes and putting her heels back on.

"Wha-ah, what are you doing?" Amy asked, standing up and feeling dazed.

"We have to work. This is an office," Karma said, snapping back to her no-nonsense self.

"Oh, fuck no," Amy said indignantly, putting an emphasis on her 'f.'

"Excuse me?!" Karma nearly yelled, all her authority rushing back to her. All it took was her tone to snap Amy right back to where they started.

"Karma, come on," Amy said. She'd done all of those things. She felt like an idiot now. She was so ready. It was so cruel.

"I need you to get your shit together," Karma said. She walked back toward Amy but swerved to her side and took the rest of her drink and downed it.

Amy watched and felt beyond thirsty. How the hell was she supposed to watch her boss all fucking day after what just went on?! All she could think about was those nipples on her and how badly she wanted to taste them. This wasn't fair. Karma was mean.

Karma opened her eyes just to tease. She wanted her to think she was mean. She wanted to be a pain and a blessing and two things rolled up in one. She felt herself above Austin just dangerously floating and ready to fall.

"Don't get me wrong," Karma said, taking her tongue and licking lightly along the space where Amy's lipstick stained the glass before she rubbed her bottom lip against it. "I do want to fuck you." She looked so sheepish on purpose. She knew it would drive Amy up the wall and make her skin crawl.

Amy swallowed in her throat. She had the right mind to shut her up right then and there.

"It's just better this way. I want to think about you," Karma said. She walked back over to her chair and sat down. "You can give me that can't you? At least for a little while?"

Amy didn't know what to say.

"Go on now, put yourself together."

She wanted to fight it and just take all her clothes off and beg but that would be dumb. She wanted to find handcuffs and chain herself to Karma's chair. She wanted anything involving staying with Karma in Karma's room. And nothing else.

Sluggishly, as she realized that wasn't about to take place, Amy began to button herself up and tuck in her shirt. She was so jet-set she wasn't sure how she'd come down from this high. Her legs were shaky and she was seriously one tongue-lick from orgasm. This was cruelty incarnate. That woman was fucking evil and Amy just knew.

Karma turned from her and looked out at the city. It wasn't a cold glare but more of a concentrated one.

"Do you even really want me?" Amy asked. She was ready now, set to leave. But she hated the thought. She hated knowing how easy it was for someone to just control her like Karma could.

Karma swerved in her chair and rest a hand on Amy's looking up at her at least giving her that. "More than you'll ever know," Karma said. It was the truth but it sounded like a mystery or maybe even a lie given how brief their encounters had been. Yet Karma thought of her now in her room at home with the ropes and the hot wax. She thought about feeding her and teasing her and making her scream in a way that would be delicious to them both mutually on a day that was not today.

She swerved away again and sighed a heavy sigh. Amy felt herself standing there in that office as if she were alone.

"Go," Karma said. Amy felt the order and she obeyed.

Outside of the office she shut the door as controlled as she could be and she wondered what all that was about.

Lauren caught her, she'd been waiting for her to come out and she motioned her to her office.

"What happened?" She asked once she had got her alone.

"You wouldn't believe me," Amy sighed. And she knew that she couldn't even come close to being ready to explain.

"What do you mean?"

"Is she sexual?" Amy asked, surprising Lauren. Lauren's whole expression changed.

"She's married," Lauren shrugged. "Why, what happened?"

"I dunno," Amy lied. "I think she might like me."

"Like you how?"

"It's hard to explain," Amy said, feeling as beads of sweat were beginning to cover her. "I… I need to go home," Amy said. To Lauren she seemed ill.

"But you just got here? What if she fires you?"

"She won't," Amy knew. "She won't fire me. I know she won't."

It was hard to explain and she couldn't.

Amy left that day and wallowed in bed. Her dreams were sweet and hot and when she came back she knew she was more than ready to, play with Karma, play Karma's game.