Disclaimer: I do not own Leverage, just writing for fun. Only own my OC.

A/N: Hey guys. Thank you all for the recent follows, favorites, and reviews. It means a lot to me! So the italics mean that they are on the job and are at different parts of the city, but Hardison, Nate and Noelle can still hear them and see them on what's going on on Hardison's computers. Okay? Enjoy!

Chapter 4: The Nigerian Job Part 4

We were back inside Hardison's loft. Hardison and I scrounged up more info on the latest Victor Dubenich. He had the pictures of him on his TV.

"Victor Dubenich, executive vice-president in charge of the new technology development over at Bering Aerospace."

Eliot came inside with popcorn and he sat down next to me. He offered me some and I took a couple from the tub.

"Rich daddy, trust fund. Yale MBA, blah, blah, blah," Hardison continued.

"Victor?" Nate asked. "Now, when was the last time you met a Victor?"

"Vietnam. Town called Banho Zay," Eliot said.

"Chinese border," Sophie said.

I quirked an eyebrow at those two. That was interesting.

"That's an odd thing for you to know," Eliot said to her.

Sophie shifted in her spot. "That's an odd place for you to be."

"Now Bering is in charge of a lot of big fat government contracts. Some Department of Defense research, very classified stuff." Hardison said.

"Can we use that?" Parker asked.

Hardison shook his head. "No, I don't think so. Dubenich is in charge of their commercial airline business."

"I know when you sent Dubenich his designs you weren't supposed to make any copies," Nate said to Hardison.

"No, I promise," Hardison said. "That would be very wrong."

"Show me your copies," Nate ordered.

Hardison smiled and he brought up the copies on his computer.

"It's an airplane," Eliot stated.

"It's a short all domestic airliner, yeah, usually one hour flights. It's the fastest growing segment of the industry, very fuel efficient. High tech, very nice carbon nose, it's got the titanium wrap, 3 to 1," Nate explained.

We looked at him in surprise.

"You know, you pick up things here and there," he said. I grinned at my brother.

"You pick up a lot of stuff," Hardison said.

"Ha!" Parker said randomly. I blinked at her. What the heck?

"Check this out," Hardison continued. "Now Dubenich and Pierson they were head to head for five years, trying to grab the lead in an industry that's worth like eleventy-billion dollars."

"So, Pierson got there first. Dubenich took a short cut," Parker said.

"So, he's got a rival. He's got a rival that pisses him off so much he hired us to steal his designs. This is good," Nate said with a nod of his head.

"What are you thinking, Nate?" Sophie asked.

"I'm thinking Nigerians," he said. "Yeah, Nigerians will do nicely."

He walked away leaving us in confusion.

"Well," Sophie said. "He hasn't changed a bit." We just looked at her also in confusion.

~*Leverage*~

I sat down beside Hardison and my brother stood beside him, looking over his shoulder at his computer. It was all wired up and ready to go as we watched Sophie work her supposed magic that my brother said she had.

"Here comes the mountain of suck," Hardison said.

I bat his shoulder away. "She might not be so bad in the field, we don't know yet."

"You government?"

"No, No. Private business consortium. We are looking to encourage infrastructure development and economic renewal."

"I have no idea what that means in English. What does it mean?"

"We create jobs and trade in Africa. Keep the graft and the stealing manageable."

"She's not awful," Hardison said impressed by her.

"See, told ya," I smirked at him.

"This is her stage. Sophie Deveraux is the finest actress you've ever seen…when she's breaking the law," Nate said.

"Keep the graft and stealing manageable in Africa, good luck, but I don't think I can help," Dubenich said. "I don't think any human being on Earth can help you with that. Sorry."

"Come on. Let's go talk a little somewhere less formal, eh?"

"Uh, no, no, no. Look, I, Miss, ah… "

Sophie walked out and Dubenich followed her.

"Okay and now," Nate ordered Hardison. Hardison hit a few keys and then the secretary's computer crashed.

The secretary freaked out as she saw the blue screen of death. She started hitting buttons.

"No, no, no, no, please."

She called the IT.

"Hello IT," it was Parker who answered.

"Yeah, this is Victor Dubenich's office, my computer just completely crashed."

"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. Did you try turning it on and off again?" Parker asked her.

"Yes, nothing seems to be working," the secretary replied frantically.

"That's a computer thing. I told her to say that," Hardison said to us. I smirked at him.

"Well done," Nate congratulated him.

Interior Duct

"We've got someone on your floor already," Parker told her.

Dubenich's Office

"Thank you," The secretary hung up.

"Somebody call IT?" Eliot entered the scene.

Exterior Building

"I represent a group of investors who are looking to start an airline for short tour flights in Africa." Sophie continued.

"Of Johannesburg?"

Hardison's Loft

"Okay, he's testing you," Nate told Sophie in her earpiece. "You want Bloemfontein."

"Keep away from the hubs." Sophie said.

Exterior Building

"Revitalize the regional airports. In South Africa, Bloemfontein for example. But really, it's Nigeria we're focused on."

Hardison's Loft

"Yeah, perfect," Nate said.

"Most of their airport runways are a mess," Dubenich said.

"I believe in new airplanes will make people more comfortable while we renew old runways," Sophie explained.

Exterior Building

"Uh huh. I don't recall saying anything about new airplanes," Dubenich said.

"Victor. Bot you and your chief engineer are scheduled to speak at your shareholder's meeting," she reminded him.

Hardison's Loft

"I think you know more about my business than I do," Dubenich said.

"I've done my homework," Sophie said.

Exterior Building

"I find you fascinating," Sophie continued. Dubenich looked at her curiously.

Dubenich's Office

Parker opened the vent into Dubenich's office. She dropped down. Eliot flirted with the secretary to distract her away from Parker.

"It's good," the secretary said. "It's good to have a passion, you know."

"Let me show you how to uh, reconnect with the network," Eliot said.

Hardison's Loft

"Now, shouldn't I be playing the computer guy?" Hardison asked.

I looked to my brother, thinking this as well.

"I agree," I said.

Nate gave me a look. "No, I want you to actually be the computer guy," he said.

Dubenich's Office

Parker moved to the computer and turned it on. She plugged in a flash drive, and hit some keys before planting a bug under the desk.

"All right," Eliot said.

The secretary put her hand on the mouse, while Eliot put his on hers so he could guide it.

"Voila," he said.

The secretary felt his arm. "You are strong for a computer guy."

Hardison's Loft

"Oh good grief," I muttered, ignoring Nate and Hardison's look towards me.

Dubenich's Office

"Why thank you. I like to work out and try to stay big 'cause I love dressing up like a Klingon and going to all the conventions, you know," Eliot said. "Bacla! Sorry."

"It's okay," she laughed. "Bacla!

"Oh! Don't you tease me," he chuckled.

Hardison's Loft

"Unbelievable," I murmured, laying back. "I think I'm gonna be sick."

"Oh, hold up man, that is not…that is not cool. That is not cool. We gonna have a strong talk when you get back," Hardison said.

Dubenich's office

Parker removed the flash drives and climbed back into the ductwork.

"You've got unbelievably blue eyes," Eliot continued to flirt with her.

"Thank you."

"They're stunning. Just breathtakingly blue."

Exterior Building

Dubenich and Sophie strolled over to a wharf.

"Uh, sorry is it Gunshot?" Dubenich asked.

"No," she said.

"I'm sorry."

"Gunschtot," Sophie corrected him.

"I'm sorry. Really sorry," he pleaded with her.

"Anna," she smiled at him.

"Anna, thank you. How's this? If we announce a new product then you can order as many as your little heart desires," Dubenich offered.

Hardison's Loft

"Okay, you know what to do. Hit him," Nate said.

"We'd also like to build planes," Sophie said.

Exterior Building

"More jobs. Build them in Africa, fly them in Africa, sell the rest around the world," she continued.

"Well, that's very ambitious," Dubenich said. "You have the manufacturing facilities to do all that?"

Sophie waved it off. "Ah. We can easily raise the money to build the facilities if we know for certain we're going to get the contracts."

Hardison's Loft

"Atta girl," Nate said.

Exterior Building

"Anna," Dubenich said. "I'm really sorry, but I can't help you."

Hardison's Loft

"It was a nice try man," Hardison said.

"Wait for it," Nate said. I looked at him curiously.

Exterior Building

"I understand," Sophie said.

"And I really do have…" he said, checking his watch.

"I'll take it to Pierson," she said.

"Pierson? Uh, sure, go ahead, Pierson's a great company, I don't think they can help you, but…."

"Oh, they have a reputation for long-term investment, you don't," she said. "They're innovators. Yeah, it's probably a better fit."

"I know-I'm aware that you're manipulating me, Anna," Dubenich warned her.

"Well, I should hope so! Hundreds of millions of dollars in new contracts, a lot of good press, all at your door," she offered.

"Okay, I give up. I'll take the meeting," he went to shake her hand but she walked away.

"I'll have my office call you," she said.

"What? Yeah."

"Day after tomorrow?" she asked.

"Uh, yeah sure. Look forward to doing business with you."

Hardison's Loft

Nate slapped Hardison's hand on his shoulder and they shook hands. Nate and I hugged each other. We were in.

~*LEVERAGE*~