AN: Hello guys. Managed to find some time to upload this chapter. As always many thanks to my Beta MegaDiary123 for editing this and every chapter. I also wanted to thank you all for reading this story. I won't keep you any longer, please enjoy!
All rights go to Marvel
Skye's POV
I was really enjoying the new access that I just received from the new CEO. Stark had signed the papers and along with his signature came my promotion. I was going through several of the cameras both in New York and in the mansion. J.A.R.V.I.S. was talking to me through the earpiece that I was currently wearing, helping me get familiar and guiding me through the systems more quickly.
That was until I heard a knock on the door. "Am I interrupting something?" I heard Pepper ask, popping her head inside the room.
"Just finishing some stuff up" I replied, turned off the computer and spun my chair around to see her. "What can I help you with?" Followed immediately since I detected the business tone in her voice.
"I know it's been like half a day since you arrived here, but I need you to prepare a bag for a daily trip. There is the Grand Prix de Monaco Historique happening tomorrow and Stark Industries have a car in the race. It will only be beneficial and it's necessary for an appearance to be made and we are leaving in an hour" she said while at the same time typing something on her phone.
"And why are my skills needed for this trip? Don't get me wrong, I am just the cyber security manager, not general security" I responded matter-of-factly.
At this Pepper lifted her gaze and switched off her phone. "You are and this will be my first formal appearance as a CEO. I want you there, with your computer and skills, so that if anything were to happen company-related we will be able to get the situation under control fast. As I said this morning Skye, I trust you and you not being 13 hours away and in another continent would be a great reassurance". I couldn't argue with that and ended up nodding my consent, though I had a feeling that I would end up participating in the trip whether I liked it or not. "Great!" Pepper said clearly satisfied by my answer, as if a weight was off her shoulder. "Now, do you have anything formal to wear or should I order something for you to find once we arrive?"
Oh, no. I had agreed to go with them, but I was not going to go in there with them. "What do you mean?" I questioned and got up, blocking Pepper's way from my closet.
"Well, since this is a formal appearance, there is a dress code. Unspoken really, but it is there. You can't just come in with your jeans and t-shirt" she pointed at my current clothing. It was, more or less, the general clothing of my choice and I definitely didn't have anything formal. I wouldn't be able to stand it if I were to wear a dress.
"I am wearing my t-shirt and jeans because I am not going to be by your side during the race" I stated.
"Come again?" There was some challenge in her voice as if she wanted to add "Yes you are going to be there".
"In the contract that I signed once Stark employed me, among other terms was one that stated that I was not to make any public appearances unless I wish to. I read the second one that you gave me this morning and it did not include any cancelation of the terms stated in the initial contract" I spoke as if I was reading from a manual. Then my voice went softer as I added, "You know I would like to keep in the shadows for as long as possible. And now you know why. I can work just as fine from the stadium watching the race. My phone has a hard enough software to allow me to work just as I would work from a computer"
I waited a few moments as she contemplated my words. She didn't speak for a long time so I said one more thing, just to be clear. "I will not hesitate to walk out of here if you decide to go against my decision. I survived alone for years and I can do it again if need be"
This seemed to shake her off the trance the she was in. "No, no, no. There is no way I'm forcing you to attend the meetings. I really forgot about it. Gosh, I am so sorry Skye, I was just thinking which seats to book you to enjoy the race". It all sounded like a big sentence from the speed that she was talking . "But yeah, jeans should suit you just fine" she smiled. "I'll see you in an hour then"
And this was how I found myself in the Stark Industries jet once more. Of course Stark and Pepper were in a different section of the plane, enjoying some quiet time and probably some rest considering the time difference to Monaco and that we would lose most of the night. Happy and I on the other hand were in a second, smaller section, each one keeping to themselves. Happy was resting, or at least trying to given that he was running all day long with or for Stark… again.
I was not sleeping lots of hours in general, and the time difference didn't help at all, as my system still thought it was late afternoon. So I stayed up on my computer being very thankful for the internet that the jet provided.
I had yet to go through all the new-accessed files and so I kept on working on that. I wanted to learn and memorise as much as possible before we went back to Malibu, or wherever else Pepper decided to go to. Being informed and knowing what was happening in the Industries would provide some reassurance in case anything were to happen. So, there I was, going through the files when I noticed that a payment was made in the company's name that wasn't there the last time that I checked. Curious, I opened the attached file to read the full thing.
What it basically was, was a receipt for an airplane ticket that Stark purchased.
That was strange. Having a private jet and all I thought that he wouldn't have to go anywhere with a common airplane. Focusing back on the document, I searched for the name that the reservation was made for only to find a woman's name.
Natalie Rushman.
That ring of it sounded familiar, only I couldn't place quite where I had heard it from. I scanned the rest of the receipt and found only Stark signature on the digital paper and not Pepper's. He may not have been CEO anymore but he still had a lot of authority in there and since this was not a too great expense, he probably could fill it on his own. However it felt only right to ask Pepper if she knew about this transaction.
I quietly walked over the snoring Happy and to the section where the former and new heads of the company were. Stark was fast asleep, not that I expected anything else. Pepper on the other hand was reading quietly a book, but her phone was always in her hand in case she needed to use it.
I walked up to her and placed a hand on her shoulder only for her to tense up. "Sorry" I apologised. "I didn't mean to startle you"
"It's okay really. I should lay down for a bit either way. Just lost track of time" she rubbed her eyes emphasising her words. "What can I do for you?"
"It's nothing really, it can wait until you have some rest"
I made a move to leave only for Pepper to gently grab my hand and stop me from taking another step. "Skye" was all that needed to come out of her mouth for me to make a one-eighty.
"I just… does the name 'Natalie Rushman' mean anything to you?"
With that her whole face lid up and any sign of sleep disappeared. "Yeah, she is the notary that came this morning. The one that I told you about?" I nodded at that. "Why, what happened?"
"The name appeared on a new payment that occurred with the company's money. It was for a plane ticket, business class, from Malibu to the closest airport to Monaco and back. It was also accompanied by transportation payments to the Grand Prix" I announced and opened said file on my phone screen to show to Pepper. "Is there something wrong?" I asked alarmed when I noticed the furrowed eyebrows that suddenly appeared on the woman's face after my story.
"I want you to find everything you can about her" her tone all so serious. I could fill in her thoughts though she didn't voice them. "If Stark's gonna play it this way, I'm going to be ready" because, apart from his signature, this whole situation screamed Stark.
"Will do" I confirmed and retreated to my part of the jet to start my research.
As soon as I typed the name on my searches program I began reading about her life. I finished and had made some mental notes about the main events in life. I finally pressed the 'photos' option to put a face to the name and realised that all I was reading was a cover. Well, this made things more complicated now, didn't it?
As Pepper, Stark and Happy reached the Hôtel de Paris, the place where all the rich people went to watch the race, I was already inside the stadium with two seats of my own. Pepper insisted on booking me a couple of seats instead of one, so that if anything were to happen I wouldn't be limited from a spacial point of view.
I watched from the cameras of the Hotel as the duo walked in, as I had hacked into their systems. After hacking major organisations and having Stark's software combine with mine on my phone, getting into this place was a piece of cake.
It wasn't too long before my sister, pretending to be Ms. Rushman came into the picture and I could see that Pepper was very calm about the whole play, surprising Stark. She looked into one of the cameras and nodded as she must have had a feeling that I would be watching over her in this trip. A small laugh escaped my lips and I shook my head at the same time. If I stayed close to Pepper for too long she would be able to see my every move. What happened to my spy training? I thought jokingly.
After that I sat back, enjoying the peace and scenery. More of the scenery that was, since most of the stands were full and people were talking really loud from all directions.
It was quite some time since the last time that I checked on everyone back on the Hotel and so I opened my security feed once more. I found Pepper, on a window table, Natasha speaking on the phone, probably with someone from S.H.I.E.L.D., but there was no sign of Stark. I checked every single camera in the building that he was supposed to be in, but he was nowhere to be seen. That was when the announcement echoed from the speakers. It may have been in another language, and I had to brush upon my French, but from what I gathered, Tony decided to enter the race with the car that Stark Industries sponsored.
Seriously?! I mentally cursed while calling Pepper. Did that guy have a dead wish or what? He couldn't possibly be hoping to drive a race car in Monaco for crying out loud. The racetrack was full of turns and if someone weren't an experienced driver it could end really badly.
"Did you know about this?", was what I heard as soon as Pepper picked up the phone.
"I had no idea, honestly. This is the first that I have heard of it" I replied as the cars got ready in the string line.
"What is this idiot thinking?" This was the first time that I had actually heard Pepper so upset vocally and not just mentally. I could almost see her with her head in her hands and eyes tightly closed.
The race had now officially started and the crowd was going crazy.
"This– This cannot happen" Pepper murmured from the other side of the line.
"Look, I can see him, he just passed by this part of the racetrack. If he keeps like that and doesn't do anything reckless he will be fine and get an earful from you when the race is over…" I finished dragging the word a little bit as I spotted something that didn't look quite right.
"Skye? What's going on?" Pepper asked as she picked up on my dragging.
I watched closely as someone in an orange uniform entered the track and stood right in the middle of it. "Tell me that you see that" I whispered and had already started making my way towards this person.
"I do" Pepper sounded breathless. A gasp escaped her lips, as well as most of the audience's, when the uniforms top got burned from what appeared to be something like a modified harness with electric whips.
"Shit, he is here for Stark" I exclaimed as if this was the discovery of the century. "Pepper, do you have Mark V with you?" I asked, now running towards the racetrack when the guy cut in half the front part of a racing car.
"Happy has it"
"Get him and get the suit here as soon as possible" I faintly heard Pepper calling Natasha's cover name and her talking back to the CEO asking for instructions. "I'm gonna buy you as much time as I can"
"Skye, stay put. You hear me?" But when I didn't answer she screamed one last time my name before I hang up and made my way to the track, as this guy had just cut Starks car and he flipped a handful of times before stopping by crashing into the wall.