AN: Hello everyone! Please thank my Beta MegaDiary123 for editing this chapter. Also, as promised I'm back this weekend with a new chapter, yeah! I hope you enjoy...

All rights go to Marvel


Natasha's POV

I was looking at the mansion's interior design and detecting every possible exit. The mansion's layout was just as the blueprints that I had memorised were. Though it was getting harder and harder for us to hack into the Industries' systems, this operation was planned months ago, ever since Stark revealed himself to be Iron Man despite the alibi that we provided for him. So, we had our fair share of intel already gathered. But this new person who upgraded their security walls was a mystery to Fury and it would be a great bonus should I get a name or at least a face to look into.

However, my goal here was to keep an eye and assess Stark. And whatever else I might want to find came in second.

"Ms. Rushman" my thoughts were interrupted by Pepper Potts' confident voice.

I spun around and came face to face with the soon-to-be new CEO of Stark Industries. All it would take was a few signatures on the papers that I was currently holding close to my chest. "Ms. Potts, it is a pleasure to meet you" and with that I extended my hand for her to shake, which she did without a second thought. Good.

"The pleasure is mine. And let me thank you for coming in such short notice" she said as she started walking across the room with me right behind her.

"It was no problem" I replied with a smile and sweet tone. I was going to use both of those a lot in this mission and I had a feeling that my cheeks would get sore afterwards from the effort.

We never stopped walking as we crossed the lobby and headed to a room which was the source of punching sounds and muffled discussions. "I will let you get your papers and everything in order as I inform Mr. Stark of your arrival. Give me a few moments and come in" she said kindly, but left no room for discussion. Especially as her form disappeared inside the gym saying loudly "The notary's here!", followed by other words directed to Stark. She would make one hell of a CEO, that was for sure.

The paperwork was already prepared on my hands and so I took this time as an opportunity to inspect this place better. I immediately noticed the security cameras that were hanging high on the walls, having one or two blindspots from what I could gather in this quick glance. They were not in the mansion schematics that we had on our possession, which meant they were new. I had to make sure to let Fury know of that development.

I noticed the lack of Potts' voice coming from the other room and took this as my cue to enter. No sooner had I entered the gym than Tony Stark's and Happy Hogan's discussion on the boxing ring stopped.

I, of course, noticed this, but went on to Potts who was standing in a corner on the room, never sitting and doing something on her phone. "I promise this is the only time I will ask you to sign over your company" she said to Stark, whose eyes were still trained on my form. This was going to be so much easier than I thought. Pepper followed my instruction for the sign over, while Stark beat Hogan up and walked to the edge of the ring.

"What's your name young lady?", he asked with eyes full of curiosity.

I titled the edges of my lips upwards a little bit at the attention that I was getting from him. "Rushman. Natalie Rushman" the name came out naturally as if I truly were her.

He seemed to analyse me before he spoke again. "Front and centre. Come into the church" as he pointed at the ring.

At this Potts and he argued as to whether I should or should not listen to him and actually get into the ring but, after my reassurance, I did get in there. Trying to show some naivety as to why I was there I looked at him, waiting for a reaction. This was the first close-up that I had with the playboy and though my eyes didn't leave his as he drank his dark liquid, I did inspect him. My peripheral vision caught a peculiar and very interesting pattern crawling from his chest and upwards to his neck and I mentally noted it.

"What?" He suddenly asked, finally giving in the silence that had wrapped the room. Without getting any reply from my part, he turned to his bodyguard and asked him to show me the basics of boxing.

"Sure thing" Hogan replied as he motioned for me to move further into the centre of the ring. "Come on, don't worry. It won't bite" he mocked and I had a hard time not responding or show him some of my knowledge on boxing. I was dully paying attention to what Stark and Potts were talking about and soon Start asked me to spell my name.

"R-U-S-H-M-A-N" I replied as he typed it onto his table and looked over the cover that S.H.I.E.L.D. had created from me.

"So, have you ever boxed before?" Hogan's voice brought my attention back on him. When I turned I found a silly, underestimating smile on his face.

Oh, how much I would enjoy making it disappear. But, I didn't let that show in my persona as I replied with a simple "I have, yes". And boxing isn't the only martial art that I have done before, I restricted myself to just think and not speak.

"What, like, the Tae Bo? Booty Boot Camp? Crunch? Something like that?", he asked and all I could do was clear my throat.

Was this guy full of prejudice or what? The file on him didn't justify the character that he was showing at the moment. Maybe he was finally able to let his frustration on Stark's behaviour on someone and that was me. Being in the wrong place at the wrong time and all. But I doubted that this was the case. My bets were that there were a lot of women rising at the ranks all around him as he simply remained Stark's bodyguard no matter the years he had in that position. One such woman would be Potts, but she couldn't have been the only one for him to act this way towards my face. So… who else was it?

While I was making plots in my mind, I never got lost in there. I could hear Hogan from the ring explaining some basic moves and techniques of boxing as if I was the dumbest person on earth. On the other side of the room Stark and Potts had sat and argued, as the man was still looking at my cover.

I turned to look at Stark and Hogan found it as a great opportunity to teach me a lesson. "Rule number one, never take your eye off your opponent" he said and made a sloppy right punch aiming to my face.

I was so glad that Fury had allowed me to use whatever means necessary to impress Stark and for him to make me his new assistant, because I was going to enjoy this next part very much. It was revenge time.

The punch almost made contact with my cheek before I turned quickly and grabbed his wrist with my left hand. Twisting it hard, I was happy to hear a small cracking sound coming from it. I could see the surprise all over Hogan's face but before he could say anything my legs were wrapped around his neck and he was harshly thrown onto the ground. I was still holding his intending arm tightly and had him in a chock hold.

"Happy!" Potts exclaimed as soon as she heard the thumb his body made when it made contact with the floor, while Stark declared me the winner as soon as the bodyguard tapped out.

"Rule number one" I whispered to his ear. "Never underestimate your opponent" the sweet smile always on my face as I got up and exited the ring. "Just… I need your impression" I told Stark getting back into business for him to sign my papers.

"You have a quiet reserve. I don't know… you have an old soul" he started but had no idea what he was talking about and had troubles coming up with ideas. He was clearly struggling as he completely misinterpreted the meaning of my words. "I meant your fingerprints" I interrupted all serious. All fun aside, this was my job and I had to get it over with, no matter how much Stark liked to play and talk all day.

"So, how are we doing?" Potts asked not allowing Stark to reply back to me.

"Great" he said as he pressed his thumb on the box that I had indicated. "Just wrapping up" and with that he pressed harder and made sure his print was in the page before retreating his finger from the paper. "Hey, you're the boss" he smirked at Potts who was watching the whole exchange carefully and with trained eyes.

"Will that be all Mr. Stark?" I asked as I retook the, now filled and signed, paperwork at my chest and held them as if they were a precious lost treasure.

"No" Star began, but Potts interrupted with a "Yes. That will be all Ms. Rushman. Thank you very much"

So I nodded slightly and exited the room. However, I was close enough to hear Stark say "I want one". The happiness that I was radiating was not forced as my plan had worked out perfectly. I left the mansion and walked swiftly to my car. Once locked in and knowing that no-one would hear me, I took my phone out and made a call.

"Romanoff, is this line secure?", came Phil Coulson's voice from the speaker. I simply confirmed before my call was transferred to the director. "How did it go?"

"Give him a few hours and I'll be in". After that I hang up and headed to my safe house in the nearby area. It might have been only half a week since I last spoke with Skye, but it wouldn't harm to check for any new messages.