I walk into the gym to see dad and Happy boxing. I take a seat on one of the benches.
"Pepper said she would be here soon. She's bringing the notary." I announced to the boys.
Pepper walks in a few minutes later. I wave at her glancing behind her to see if the notary was coming.
"The notary’s here! Can you please come sign the transfer paperwork?" Pepper calls out to the boys.
"I’m on happy time." Dad calls out as he hit Happy in the face with his elbow. "Sorry."
"What the hell was that?" Happy calls out.
"It’s called mixed martial arts. It’s been around for three-weeks."dad says trying to cover up the fact that he just cheated.
"It’s called dirty boxing, there’s nothing new about it" Happy says before puting his hands up again.
"All right, put them up. Come on."dad says to Happy. I hear the sound of heels clicking and I look up, knowing it's not Pepper's. I must admit she was hot. The red haired woman was dressed in a white shirt and black suit pants.
She nods at me in greeting and I acknowledge it.
I look back at the boys just in time to see Happy nudge dad. Dad stare at her and I feel the tension. I hate her already. She's going to make me loose yet another bet. Dad and pepper needed to get together soon and she was going to be a distraction. Things were already going so well.
I don't know if she knows but I just killed her in my brain. Five times.
"I promise this is the only time I will ask you to sign over your company." Pepper asks oblivious to what's going on. As the notary says something to Pepper, I look back at dad to see Happy tap his head with a light punch.
"Lesson one. Never take your eye off…" he was cut off by dad kicking him and he crashes into the corner of the ring.
"That’s it. I’m done. What’s your name, lady?" Dad asks picking up his bottle with the weird green liquid in it.
"Rushman. Natalie Rushman" the notary - Natalie replies.
"Front and centre. Come into the church." Dad says taking a swig from the bottle and I rolled my eyes.
"No. You’re seriously not gonna ask…" Pepper starts but she was cut off
"If it pleases the court, which it does." Dad says as she and Pepper exchanges a few words before she walked towards the ring.
Happy smirks at me and I roll my eyes. I'm not loosing my bet over some stupidly hot green eyed notary.
Natalie enters the ring. Dad swigs down more green liquid out of a bottle, his eyes never leaving hers and I scoff. Really?
"Can you give her a lesson?" Dad suddenly asks Happy after staring at the not - Natalie for about ten seconds straight without blinking. Talk about creepy.
"No problem." Happy says entering the ring.
Dad went to take a seat beside Pepper and I felt a smile on my lips. Couldn't they see how cute they were together?
"How do I spell your name, Natalie?" Dad suddenly calls out and I almost bang my head on the wall beside me. The woman of your dreams is literally beside you and you're after the one across you? Sometimes I don't understand men.
"R-U-S-H-M-A-N." Natalie spells out and I see dad and Pepper bicker a little, dad points at the screen on the table a few times.
I'm snapped out of my creepy watching when I hear Happy being slammed down on the floor.
"Oh, my God! Happy." Pepper exclaims standing up to check on him and I do the same.
"I think you broke him." I said when Happy was still for a few seconds.
"That’s what I’m talking about." Dad says ringing the bell.
"I just slipped." Happy excuses as he stands up.
I would have found it cool if I didn't hate little miss redhead over there.
"Just… I need your impression." Natalie says and I almost strangle her from frustration.
"You have a quiet reserve. I don’t know, you have an old soul." Dad replies
"I meant your fingerprint." She says and a tiny smile made its way to my lips.
"Right." Dad replies puting his finger prints where necessary.
"So, how are we doing?" Pepper interupts.
"Great. Just wrapping up here. Hey. You’re the boss." Dad says turning to Pepper.
"Will that be all, Mr Stark?" Natalie asks
"No." Dad replies the same time Pepper said
"Yes, that will be all, Ms Rushman. Thank you very much."
She leaves and I breathe out a sigh of relief
"I want one." Dad says
"No." Pepper and I say at the same time.
🥊🥊🥊
Remember that family vacation? Apparently, Monaco is the spontaneous place. We arrived here yesterday and I don't know who's idea it was to make us do this- whatever this was.
All four of us entered the place, Happy carrying the new Iron Man suitcase. God knows why. It's a vacation for crying out loud.
"You know, it’s Europe. Whatever happens the next 20 minutes, just go with it." Dad suddenly says and I raised an eyebrow at him.
"Go with it? Go with what?" Pepper asks confused.
"Mr Stark?" I hear that voice again. Is she stalking us or something? This had to be the most annoying vacation of all times.
"Hey." Dad greeted and I force out a 'hi' and a thight lipped smile.
"Hello. How was your flight?" Natalie asks
"It was excellent. Boy, it’s nice to see you." Dad says taking a drink from one of the waiters.
"We have one photographer from the ACM, if you don’t mind. Okay?" Natalie asks as he takes a picture.
"When did this happen?" Pepper asks right before I could.
"What? You made me do it." Dad replies.
"What do you need an assistant for, you literally have no job." I whisper exclaimed at him.
"Pepper quit. Smile. Look, right there. Stop acting constipated. Don’t flare your nostrils. Stop scowling Smalls." Dad says as we face the camera.
"You are so predictable." Pepper said with gritted teeth.
"That’s the amazing thing". Dad says.
"Right this way." Natalie says leading dad and I to a table.
"You look fantastic." Dad says and I send him a look
"Why, thank you very much." She said.
"But that’s unprofessional. What’s on the docket?" Dad asks
"You have a 9:30 dinner." Natalie says leading us further.
"Perfect. I’ll be there at 11:00." Dad says heading towards a table. "Is this us?"
"It can be." She adds.
"Great. Make it us." Dad says before walking in another direction. I just sigh and try to find the bar.
"Okay." I hear Natalie say.
I finally find the bar and I know that Pepper and dad are right behind me.
"Hi, can I get a sprite?" I ask the bartender.
"Green is not your best colour." I heard dad say.
"Anthony. Is that you?"
This day can't get any worse.
"My least favourite person on Earth" I heard dad mumble.
Yeah, tell me about it.
"Hey, pal." The guy greets.
"Justin Hammer." Dad replies, clearly wanting to leave already.
"How you doing? You’re not the only rich guy here with a fancy car. You know Christine Everhart from Vanity Fair. You guys know each other?" Justin asks.
"Hi. Yes." The bitch replied, the same time as Pepper and dad.
"Yes."
"Yes, roughly."
"We do."
"BTW, big story. The new CEO of Stark Industries." Justin says.
"I know, I know." Christine said her gaze fixed on Pepper.
"She’s actually doing a big spread on me for Vanity Fair. I thought I’d throw her a bone, you know. Right?" He said. It's almost as if he was trying to impress dad at the same time trying to outshine him and in reality, all he was doing was making a fool of himself.
"Right. Well, she did quite a spread on Tony last year." Pepper said and I get that that's my cue. I turn back towards the bar, just as the tender hands me the glass of sprite.
"Put it on his tab." I said pointing at dad. I turn around just in time to hear Pepper say she was going to the bathroom.
"Don’t leave me." Dad whispers at her but she just sends him a smile and leaves.
"I'm going to find our table." I said turning to leave only to be pulled back by my waist.
"We're in this together, young lady." He whispered as he pulled me to his side as a photographer brings his camera to us and Christine brings out her recorder. I jab my elbow into his side as subtly as I can.
Justin wraps his arm around dad's neck like they're lost friends. Heck, I haven't seen Rhodey like this around him.
"…that you guys have seen each other?" I see Christine try to get their attention but I guess dad is too hung up on the fact that his arch nemesis is holding onto him like a freaking koala.
"God, that’s so awful." Dad muttered.
"Listen, is it the first time you’ve seen each other since the Senate?" Christine says finally getting their attention.
"Since he got his contract revoked…" dad says pulling me away.
"Actually, it’s on hold." Justin bums in but it doesn't matter.
"…when you were attempting to…That’s not what I heard. What’s the difference between 'hold' and 'cancelled'? The truth?" Dad says before sitting at a random table.
"No. The truth is…Why don’t we put that away? The truth is, I’m actually hoping to present something at your Expo." Justin says.
"Well, if you invent something that works, I’ll make sure I get you a slot." Dad says as Natalie stands beside him
"Mr Stark?" I've never wanted to hear that voice anymore than I do now. I almost want to hug her in appreciation.
"Yes?" Dad says standing up.
"Your corner table is ready." She informs.
"I actually have a slot this year. Yes, I do." Justin says, almost like he's convincing himself.
"Hammer needs a slot, Christine." Dad calls back as we head towards our table.
A/N: Don't we all just love 'Natalie'.
Next update: Monday.