Chapter 20

"Meeting with Vladimir"

After a long flight across the Atlantic, Pepper and I checked into the Ramada Moscow Domodedovo and checked into our rooms. Of course, I had to catch up on some sleep, but I had a meeting with Vladimir regarding the hiring of one Joseph Lenin, who was really Hydros in disguise.

Later that afternoon, I did just that, changing out of my casual clothes and into my usual blue business suit with the gold pearl necklace around my neck, my legs decked in tan pantyhose and a white full slip underneath my suit. Yes, I was prepared to face the cold Russian weather, but I was all business as I made my way into the Stark Russian offices.

"Miss Carpenter," said a Russian woman rising to her feet. "Vladimir is in a meeting and…"

"Tell him I need to see him now," I interrupted, knowing that he was hiding something from me. "And tell him he knows what I am talking about."

The glare I made to the secretary made it clear that I wasn't screwing around and she did as she was told to do.

"Vlad," she asked into her phone. "I know you are meeting with Sergei, but Miss Carpenter is right outside and she needs to speak with you."

"Tell her," I heard him say on the other line in a surprisingly calm voice. "That she can come into the meeting and say what she wants to say in front of my associates."

"Yes, sir."

Hanging up the phone, the secretary nodded for me to go into the meeting room. Opening the door, I saw a table lined with Russian men sitting down and looking at me. Many of whom were amazed at me being here, however I wasn't here to play games. I was here to find out the truth about Joseph Lenin.

"Miss Carpenter."

"Vladimir. I assume you know why I am here?"

"It's about Mr. Lenin, isn't it? I can assure you that…"

"You said that I can say anything I want to say in front of your colleagues, so you can tell me now what you know about Joseph Lenin."

A hushed silence fell upon the room as everyone focused their attention on Vladimir and me.

"Did he or did he not get four year degrees from Harvard and Yale in a short period of time? All I want is an honest answer."

"Well," answered Vladimir as the rest of his colleagues watched with interest. "He said that he had lived in the United States during his college years and…"

But, a hard glare from me stopped him from speaking any further. I could smell liars and he was one of them.

"Tell…me…the…truth...Vladimir," I whispered, icily glaring him further in the face. "Because if you don't start telling me now, I'm going to fire your sorry behind in front of all your fellow countrymen."

To be honest, I didn't like to intimidate anyone. However, I was someone who did not have a lot of patience built into a person.

"Well," gulped Vladimir, who felt his knees shaking. "Since you asked so politely, he…didn't…spend time at Harvard or Yale."

"Go on."

"He threatened to kill me," continued Vladimir. "If…I didn't…hire him. He said…he had friends…that would take care of me."

…

Little did I realize that as I was trying to get Vladimir to get me the truth, Pepper was standing right outside the room when she saw Joseph walking towards her.

"Are you Miss Potts?" he asked and immediately, Pepper took a combat stance knowing that there was going to be a battle ahead.

"That's as far as you go, Hydros."

Almost as if he knew it was going to be happening, Hydros dropped his disguise and charged at Pepper. Before she could activate her armor, the water creature grabbed Pepper by the throat and pulled her up into the air.

"You were very clever to find out my hiding place," chuckled Hydros, his icy hand gripping Pepper's throat tightly. "But, in the end, you will never succeed in stopping Thanos."

With those words, he threw Pepper down against the wall and proceeded to advance towards the conference room.

…

"Is that what he said?" I asked Vladimir, nodding before turning to see Hydros coming towards the room.

"Yes," he answered. "In fact, why don't you ask him now?"

I turned around and before I could do anything, Hydros fired a blast of ice and broke down the door, causing the rest of our Russian colleagues to try and flee the room. However, Hydros was going to show no mercy and fired blasts of ice at the colleagues freezing them in their tracks. Vladimir also tried to run, but to no avail as Hydros froze him too.

Struggling to get to my feet, I looked up and saw Hydros staring down at me.

"So, you found me out?" he laughed as he advanced towards me. "Very clever for someone who is Iron Man's lover."

Here I was, staring down at a dangerous creature where I should be wearing my Spider Woman suit when I was really wearing my best blue business suit.

"I know Thanos ordered me to beware of you, Spider Woman," he said, positioning himself into a combat stance. "And I know you are going to do everything in your power to stop me from obtaining the Water Infinity stone."

"That's right," I hissed, doing a combat stance. "If you want that stone, you're going to have to get through me first."

"Empty threats…from a powerless Avenger!"

Wasting no time, Thanos' Ice demon launched a blast of ice at me which I ducked out of the way from. Jumping into the air, I landed on top of the conference table and fired a blast of webbing at Hydros, trying to throw him off balance. However, he was quick to react and instead threw me against a wall. The impact caused me to feel a sharp pain in my chest as my ribs had not still fully healed. He then proceeded to pick me up from the ground and throw me back down to the floor hard, much to his amusement.

"I can give you a chance to spare your life, Spider Woman," said Hydros, pulling me up by my gold pearl necklace. "Surrender now and pledge your allegiance to Thanos!"

"Over…my dead body," I groaned, coughing up some blood, much to my distress.

"Then, so be it."

Roughly throwing me back down, Hydros reverted back into human form and proceeded to kick me several times in the chest. I realized at that moment, he had something far more devious in mind.

"But first," he laughed. "I've always wondered what the human female hides from the human male. Thanos never told me about it, so I'll find out for myself."

At that moment, a cold feeling came over my body as I knew before he would obtain the Water Infinity Stone for Thanos and with Pepper out of commission, he was going to attempt to try and rob me of whatever dignity I had inside of me…