Gwen rushed to her apartment. She was running late. She hurried through a shower to rinse off and used a YouTube how-to video for her make up. She checked out the window. Her ride hadn't arrived yet, she was thankful she still had some time. She stood in her room and picked up the present from Obadiah. She carefully unwrapped the gift. Inside was another jewelry box. It was larger than the one holding her new crucifix. She opened it and her eyes went wide. She could count on one hand the number of times she'd seen real gemstones in person. Inside were a pair of diamond studs and a diamond necklace that had black and white diamonds on it. Then in the center was a larger gemstone, a ruby. They were gorgeous. A card was stuck in the top of the case. She opened it.

Happy Birthday, Obadiah.

She put it on the dresser beside the crucifix her uncle had bought her. She looked between the two of them. She closed her eyes then closed the crucifix jewelry case. She stood up and put one of the studs in. She heard her father come in. He must have noticed her shoes because he called out for her. Gwen answered while she put the other stud in.

"In here dad."

Her father peeked around the corner. His eyes went a bit wide.

"Gwen, you look… Beautiful."

She held up the diamond and ruby necklace.

"Could you help please dad?"

Her father looked it over and he blinked a few times.

"Where did you get this? You didn't buy it did you? I thought you were going to save that bonus."

Gwen shook her head.

"No dad, it's from Obadiah. Hurry please my ride is going to get here soon."

Her father unclasped the necklace and pulled it around her neck while he was fiddling with the clasp he spoke.

"What about your birthday dinner, Gwen?"

Gwen winced. She had totally forgotten about dinner with Erica and her father.

"I'm sorry dad. It's a work thing, came up suddenly."

"Does this have anything to do with what happened last night?"

Gwen shook her head.

"No, I was scared, and I knew Obadiah was closer than you were, so I called him. He has a security detail. This is just a charity thing for Fire Fighters."

Her father looked at her in the mirror.

"Those tickets are fifteen thousand a seat."

"Obadiah has taken care of it."

"Why does he need you there?"

Gwen touched the ruby and admired herself in the mirror. She looked beautiful. She rarely felt beautiful but today she did. She spoke while distracted by her reflection.

"We're trying to win a contract with the US military. Senator Thomas's son is going to be there. Obadiah is hoping I can help swing things in our favor by playing nice with him."

Her father looked down at her.

"Gwen? What about Flash?"

Gwen shook her head.

"He broke up with me."

Her father turned her around.

"You're not some… piece of meat Obadiah gets to hang out as bait Gwen!"

Gwen blinked at her father.

"No, I'm his protégé. I want to do this. I'm single. The Senator's son is single. We're near the same age. Why is that so bad?"

Her father still seemed a bit confused, perhaps frustrated.

"But, you and Flash, you… was it what I did to him?"

Gwen stood on her toes and kissed her father's cheek.

"No dad. I was in trouble last night and he decided to get upset with me for not thinking of him. So, he broke up with me. He's... he is not right for me anyway. I should have done it myself a while ago. My future is not going to be a housewife married to an abusive drunk who peaked in high school."

Her phone buzzed and she grabbed it. It was Toby.

"My ride is here dad. I may be late. But I will not be out alone. I will go straight to the car from the ball, and then straight into the apartment."

Her father sighed.

"I'll explain to Erica. Have fun."

Gwen nodded and walked out of her room. Her father leaned out her doorway.

"Keep an eye on your drinks!"

"I will dad."

Toby opened the door for her. She slid inside. Toby glanced in the mirror.

"Gwen, you look fabulous."

Gwen smiled at him.

"Thank you, Toby, sorry for dragging you in tonight."

Toby shrugged.

"It is no matter. Pepper always gives us drivers a full spread to eat while we're waiting. Better than my cooking."

"Sounds like a good deal. I just need to check on some stuff."

Toby nodded. Gwen leaned back in her seat and pulled out her phone. She started swiping through her various downloads. Most were at ninety percent. It wouldn't be long now before she would see if she was going to be guilty of a cyberterrorist attack, or if her virus would just limit itself. There was a red carpet, she wanted to avoid it, but she saw Obadiah waving to her as the car approached. She slipped out. Even in her very tasteful black three-inch heels he dwarfed her. He walked down the red carpet with her. She spoke quietly.

"I hope no one thinks I'm your date."

He chuckled and spoke quietly to her.

"If I were fifty years younger, it would be a privilege. More than likely they assume you're my daughter."

They made it inside. Obadiah leaned down and motioned discretely to a very attractive teenage boy. He was wearing a tuxedo and looked comfortable in it. He had dark brown hair and grey eyes.

"That is Adam Thomas. My advice is to let him come to you. Don't make it too easy. The girls in his parent's circle want to get in on the ground floor and plan a future around them being taken care of by him. They tend to be a bit forward. You don't need him. Make that clear."

Gwen nodded. They parted ways. She went to the bar and asked for a cola. She was looking around when she bumped into someone who steadied her when they collided. He didn't trigger her spider sense. She realized it was Tony Stark. He took a small step back and looked her up and down.

"Nice dress. Planning on getting into a gunfight tonight?"

"No, but if I change my mind, I'll let you know, Tony."

He leaned on the bar with one arm and nodded to the bartender who put a whiskey on the rocks in front of him. He glanced around the room.

"Judging from some of the looks I'm seeing on the other girls your age here, might have been a good choice. This lot can be pretty cutthroat let me tell you. Might stab you in the back, both literally and figuratively."

Gwen took a drink of her soda through her straw.

"Personal experience?"

Tony laughed and took a sip of his drink.

"I was the one every single one the girls wanted to date when I was young. Money. It is the greatest aphrodisiac for a lot of people."

He took another sip.

"I probably shouldn't have said that. It's hard to remember you're only fifteen. Your name has been all over patents for the last five months at Stark Industries. Obadiah has also been shoving you front and center. I think he might be trying to replace me."

Gwen looked up at Tony.

"What did you expect? You basically said you weren't going to do… what Stark Industries does."

He leaned against the bar and hooked his elbows on top of it.

"Gwen, when I was young, all I wanted to do was impress my father. When he died, I felt I needed to do better than him. He made weapons, so I made weapons. It has come to my attention recently that I'm not making the world better. I'm tearing it down. I don't want death to be my legacy. Neither should you."

Gwen narrowed her eyes.

"Tony, you're one of my heroes. But wishful thinking doesn't pay my father's bills. Or my aunts. Or my friend's mothers. If making weapons makes sure three families don't have to worry about food being scarce because they can't afford it, aren't worried they'll end up on the streets. It's easy to have morals and ethics when you are born rich. For normal people like me… it's not the same."

Tony's eyes were tinged with sadness as she called him one of her heroes.

"I shouldn't be your hero, Gwen. I'm a terrible person."

Gwen shook her head.

"I want to work with the latest tech. I want to be an innovator. Like you."

Tony took another drink of his whiskey, finishing it off.

"Gwen, Obadiah is a shark. Always has been. Watch yourself."

Tony was addressed from behind. Gwen recognized him as Phil Coulsin. She had to admit the man never gave up. Tony agreed to a meeting, gave a nod to Gwen and went to see Pepper on the dance floor. Phil Coulsin looked at her.

"Ms. Stacy. Have you reconsidered having a conversation with us?"

Gwen shook her head.

"No. I told you what I need. But uh… I know someone who has some information you might be interested in."

Phil leaned in closer.

"I'm listening, Ms. Stacy."

"Her name is Spider-Woman. Have you heard of her?"

Phil did his best to contain his surprise at the mention of the name.

"We have been tracking her appearances. Is she offering to work with us?"

Gwen shook her head.

"I don't think so. She told me to call you and tell you about some weapons shipments she's tracing. Dangerous stuff. TX-01… are you familiar with that compound?"

"Yes, you created that didn't you."

Gwen sighed and nodded.

"So, she has the location of these weapons?"

"In fact, she does. She wants to offer you a deal."

Phil put his hands in his pockets.

"If you'll provide the details, I'll reach out to my organization."

"She will give you all the locations, the video and audio surveillance she has of those responsible. In exchange, she wants Miles Morales released from detention. No restrictions, no ankle monitor, no parole. She also wants his record erased. Not expunged, erased. All references of his existence wiped out from any authority, including yours, court filings, everything."

Phil listened to her intently.

"What exactly does she have?"

"She has the dock they were using, their distribution centers. There were crates of drugs and weapons. I've seen the video. She has enough for you to wipe their presence from the city in one night."

"And the overseas source? Does she have that?"

Gwen shook her head.

"What happens over there doesn't matter to her, she protects New York City."

Phil held up one finger. He pulled his cell phone out of his pocket. Gwen took her cell phone out of her purse. She looked at the app to launch her LizMustDie Crypto attack. There was a green and a red icon. If she hit the red the malware would erase itself. If she pressed the green, she would be doing what Obadiah wanted. She would be getting Miles into her school like she promised. Once she pressed the green icon she would have no control over where it ended. She closed her eyes and when she opened them, she launched the malware attack.

After a few tense minutes passed while Gwen wondered if S.H.I.E.L.D. would go for her deal while Phil spoke on the phone. He hung up and walked back over to her.

"Please let her know that she has a deal. Unless you'd rather give us a way to contact her directly."

Gwen shook her head.

"She uses burners and I do not have her new one yet. They usually make their way to me somehow. I'll let her know when I do get it."

Phil reached into his jacket and pulled out a card. Gwen took it. In truth she'd tossed the last one. She put it into her clutch along with her phone.

"Thank you, Ms. Stacy."

Phil wondered off leaving Gwen to her own devices. She looked at Adam Thomas and pondered her future. She sighed and ordered another cola. She looked back over the gathered crowd. She felt like an outsider, though by appearances you wouldn't know it. Besides the more impressive jewelry and pink highlights she could be mistaken for any one of a dozen teenage girls attending with their parents. She heard her name mentioned. She turned to look. Senator Thomas was moving towards her, wife in tow.

"Gwen Stacy. Hello."

Gwen smiled politely.

"Senator, how is your evening going?"

"As well as can be expected at these things. How about you?"

Gwen put her drink down.

"It has been good so far."

Senator Thomas motioned to his wife.

"This is my wife, Tammy. Tammy, this is Obadiah Stane's protégé, Gwen Stacy. Obadiah says he sees great things in her future, once she finishes school."

Tammy looked Gwen over with an appraising eye.

"That is a beautiful dress. Wherever did you find it?"

Gwen blushed slightly.

"I made this myself. My mother designed it."

"I have never seen material like it. What is it made out of?"

Gwen glanced down at herself.

"It's just fabric that Stark Industries was researching that went nowhere. It was so unique I made it into a dress instead of throwing it out."

Tammy touched her chin.

"It's a shame, if they weren't so interested in weapons, they might have a future in fashion."

Gwen smiled.

"Weapons keep the lights on or so Obadiah tells me."

Tammy gave a soft laugh. She turned and motioned to Adam who dutifully walked over.

"Gwen, have you met my son Adam?"

Gwen smiled at him.

"No, I haven't, Hello Adam."

Senator Thomas was done ordering his drink and returned to the group.

"Adam, Gwen here works in weapons development."

Adam, who had seemed disinterested up to that point perked up and took a closer look at Gwen. He smiled. Gwen's heart fluttered in her chest.

"Really?"

Gwen nodded.

"I'm just an intern."

Adam's smile faded slightly.

"Hmm, developed any weapons lately then?"

Gwen nodded. Senator Thomas piped in.

"Yes, she has. But I believe she can't really talk about it."

Gwen nodded.

"Sorry, what is it they say? I could tell you but then I'd have to kill you? Or in my case, I'd tell you but then I'd have to call Obadiah to have you killed."

The Senator and his wife laughed. Adam seemed more intrigued now. Tammy motioned to her husband then spoke to Gwen.

"Excuse us, we have to make the rounds. It was nice to meet you."

Gwen nodded and turned back to her drink. Doing her best not to visibly drool over Adam, no matter how much she wanted too. She remembered what Obadiah said, he was used to girls throwing themselves at him. Also, she wanted to think she had more dignity then that. He moved around so he was in front of her again. He smiled at her.

"You don't seem like you fit in here. Oh, you look the part, but you haven't talked to a single person besides my parents and Tony Stark."

Gwen looked up at him.

"You've been watching me?"

That elicited a bit of a blush on his cheeks. He recovered quickly.

"It was hard not to. You're the most interesting girl here."

Gwen raised an eyebrow.

"I'm not sure if that is a compliment or a dig at my hair."

Adam smiled.

"Can it be both?"

Gwen felt her cheeks growing flush.

"Well, thank you, and screw you then."

Adam laughed.

"You are definitely not like the other girls here."

"No, I'm not. So don't think your charms are going to work on me. They might be impressed by your parent's bank account, but I'm not. You want my attention you need to earn it."

Adam seemed taken aback by her directness.

"You don't hold back, do you? I just noticed you were out of place and alone, I thought you might want some company."

Gwen shook her head.

"Not anymore, I don't. I'm fine. I don't need company. So, you can go back to your adoring fans. I don't want to get hit by a flying debutant when their mothers throw them at you."

Adam leaned his elbow on the bar.

"Are you jealous?"

Gwen took a sip of her drink through her straw while she pondered his question.

"Yes."

That drew him in, closer to Gwen.

"Well, I'm here talking to you and not them."

Gwen laughed.

"Oh, you thought, because you were giving them attention? You might want to check your ego there, Adam. I meant that they had mothers to throw them at you."

She saw Tony speaking to a blonde woman behind Adam. He didn't look happy at something she showed him. Tony held up some photos and Gwen caught a glimpse of what appeared to be an insurgent standing beside a launcher holding three Jericho missiles. Tony rushed off. It was worse than she thought. She pushed off the bar and put her drink down.

"Excuse me, I need to go. Good luck with that flying debutant problem."

She hurried after Tony leaving a very confused Adam in her wake. By the time she got there she overheard Tony and Obadiah speaking. Tony seemed very upset.

"Have you seen these pictures? Huh? What's going on in Gulmira?"

Obadiah nudged Tony to the side of the stairs.

"Tony, you can't afford to be this naïve."

"Obi you know, I was naïve before when they said here's a line we don't cross it this is how we do business. If we're double dealing under the table… Are we?"

"Let's take a picture."

Gwen tightened her grip on the railing. She could see it on Obadiah's face. He knew about the weapons. That's why he wanted to handle… that's how he knew it was Afghanistan. Obadiah pulled Tony to the stairs. And called out to the photographer's present.

"Picture time."

Gwen knew she wasn't meant to hear any of the conversation at all, especially the next part. She guessed Obadiah would wish she hadn't one day. As the flashes were going off Obadiah spoke quietly to Tony.

"Tony, who do you think locked you out? I was the one that filed the injunction against you. It was the only way I could protect you."

Obadiah hadn't noticed Gwen. Her face darkened. He also didn't notice the spider bot she flicked at him. He hopped down the stairs and towards a waiting SUV with his security team. Tony was left staring after him. Tony made a beeline for his car after he recovered. Gwen glanced back at the ball. She found her heart wasn't in trying to bait Adam Thomas into asking her out on a date.