i.

It's an easy job, I reassure myself. The AI is off, Stark is gone, and there are a crap load of cars waiting for me. It'll be fine.

Am I insane for trying to break into Tony Stark's Malibu home? Yeah, probably. Do I care? Nope. Do you know how much money one of Stark's cars will give me? Hint: a lot. Enough to bring my mother home, pay her rent, and pay her medical bills. All my problems will be solved.

Well, except if I end up arrested. That might be a problem.

I double check the panel, relieved when I see it completely off, and I slip inside the dark garage. There are tons to choose from- antiques, new models, hybrids, even cars Stark has modified. Decisions, decisions…

"So which one are you gonna take?"

I jerk around, my eyes wide, to see Tony Stark standing there with his arms crossed, still in his suit as he watches me calculatingly. "Uh," I manage smartly.

His eyes flick behind me for a split second before looking at me with a fake pout. "Please don't tell me you were going to take the Ferrari,"

I straighten even though my intimidation level is at a solid zero. "Why do you think I was going to steal something?"

He raises an eyebrow. "Most people don't turn off my AI and wear dark clothes, while I'm at a party, to pay the house a visit."

Touché. "So go ahead," I say, crossing my arms. "Call the cops."

He tilts his head, eyes still calculating, and a weird feeling settles in my stomach- dread. "Actually, I have a better idea."

"You want to offer her a job?" Pepper exclaims incredulously. "After she broke in and tried to steal a car?"

"I had a good reason," I mutter to myself, focusing on my hands in my lap.

Pepper continues on as if I hadn't spoken. "When I said I needed a replacement, I didn't mean pick the next girl you see."

I bristle. "I'm not a girl."

"Everyone calm down," Tony says, sounding bored. "Pep, I need someone to step in as my personal assistant, and she needs the job."

Pepper gives him a bland look.

"Trust me," He says, offering a small smile. "Besides, I'd have thought you would want someone else to take the job so you don't have to be near me."

"Tony," She sighs. "Just because we broke up doesn't mean I want to watch you ruin yourself by investing in a thief."

"Hey," I say coldly. "Don't call me a thief when my first attempt failed."

"First attempt?" Tony asks, raising an eyebrow.

I lower my head. "It was kind of a last-ditch option." I say quietly.

"Fine," Pepper says, snatching her purse from the counter in front of me and nearly hitting me in the head. "Do what you want, Tony. You always do." With that she stomps into the elevator, letting the AI thingy-ma-doo-floppy do its thing.

There's an awkward silence. "Sorry about your friend- ex- whatever." Nice one, way to sound smart in front of a genius.

He doesn't say anything for a while, and I look up to see myself in the mirror. Dark red hair, blue eyes, pale skin- I look like a homeless person, and while I'm not doing much better, I have some pride. Frowning, I try to untangle my long waves, and Tony finally speaks up. "Stop. You look fine."

I jump a little, lowering my hands. "What do you want from me?"

He smirks, rising and setting his tool on the counter- not a good sign. "Like I said," He says, stepping way too close in my personal space, forcing me to lean away. "I need an assistant." He picks up a stand of hair and starts twirling it around his finger.

I slap his hand away. "If that's what you want, pick someone else."

To my irritation, he smiles, moving away. "Congrats. You passed the test."

I glare at him. "Excuse me?"

He smirks, leaning against the counter. "I had to make sure you weren't in it for sex. Welcome aboard, newbie," He says, grinning and offering me his hand.

I take it. "Alisa," I say, grinning. "Alisa Matthews."

"Hi, Momma," I whisper, setting the flowers on her bedside table. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine," She says firmly, though I doubt she can with those IVs in her arm. "How was your day?"

I sit in the old chair. I should have chosen a better hospital, but I don't have the money for that, not yet. "Great. I got a job."

"I'm so proud of you," She says, grabbing my hand weakly. "Хорошая девочка," Good girl.

I smile, glad she uses my birth language even though I don't remember much of my childhood before her. I know I was adopted from Russia and that my birth parents- and my sister- died in a fire, but she wanted me to learn anyway.

My mom's awesome like that.

"Miss Matthews, can I have a word with you?" The doctor asks, gesturing for me to come with him. "I hate to interrupt, but we found something in your mother."

My blood runs cold. "What is it?"

"There's no easy way to say it, but she…she has lung cancer,"

I feel like I've been punched in the gut. "How long?" I croak.

"A couple months at most."

No, no, not Mom. Not now. I finally had a shot.

I force a deep breath and nod, willing myself to become steel. No emotion. "Thank you," I say quietly. "Does she know?"

"Yes," He says quietly.

I nod and go back in the room with her, taking her hand and smiling, because if I don't she'll worry and I'll be all alone again.

"So this new job," Mom starts. "Is it good? Will it let you take care of yourself?"

I nod once. "Yes. And you."

She waves her hand. "I'm not worried about that. You need to take care of yourself, ok?"

I sigh. "Ok."

How can I take care of myself when I can't take care of my own mother?