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As Tony got up, the door swung open, and Pepper walked in with a stack of papers. Behind her was a young woman with red hair, styled in loose curls that framed her face. She had a striking presence with a fair complexion, complementing her sharp, symmetrical facial features. She had an athletic and toned figure.
Seph's eyes were instantly glued to her as he recognized her.
Natalia Romanoff, disguised as Natalie Rushman.
Pepper sighed. "Tony, stop trying to get yourself killed for five minutes and sign these."
Tony barely glanced at the documents. His eyes were on Natalia, a smirk forming on his lips.
"Well, well, well. Who do we have here?"
Pepper glanced at the redhead. "This is Natalie Rushman, our new legal attorney."
Tony stepped out of the ring, circling Natalia like a cat that just found its new favorite toy. "And what a fine attorney she is. Tell me, Ms. Rushman, ever been in a boxing ring before?"
Natalia gave him a neutral smile. "A little."
Tony turned to Seph. "Teach her something, will you?"
Pepper groaned. "TonyâŚ"
Natalia shrugged. "Why not?"
Seph just sighed and glared at Tony, blaming him for his stupid ideas.
As they stepped into the ring, Seph barely had time to talk something as before he could blink, Natalia lunged at him, attempting to lock his arm.
Natalia had been fastâno doubt about itâbut he was faster. He twisted, flipping over her maneuver, and before she could adjust, she found herself entangled in his limbs, her body pressed awkwardly against his.From the outside, it looked like an intense sparring move. But from Tony's position? Oh noâthis was something else entirely.
From the corner of his eye, he saw Tony grinning and giving a silent thumbs-up.
Seph had her trapped in a hold, his arms keeping her in place, their faces just inches apart.
Natalia's breath was steady, and controlled, but Seph could feel the tension in her muscles. She wasn't just testing his skill. She was assessing him.
He smirked, his voice dropping into a husky whisperâjust for her ears.
"Your moves aren't just self-defense," he murmured, his breath grazing her skin. "You're not an attorney."
From where Tony and Pepper stood, it looked like Seph had just whispered sweet nothings into Natalia's earâlike he was on the verge of pressing a kiss to her cheek.
Pepper's eyes twitched.
Natalia's expression didn't change, but her fingers curled slightly against his arm. Seph couldn't tell if she was tempted to break free or if she was caught off guard. Either way, he had her attention.
Deciding not to push his luck too much, he smirked and let her go, stepping back smoothly as if nothing had happened.
Natalia's gaze lingered on him, her lips pressed together. A silent message passed between themâone of curiosity, challenge, and something else entirely.
Seph simply shrugged.
"Not bad," He said, his tone light and teasing. "You've got great technique. Most guys wouldn't stand a chance."
Natalia adjusted her clothes with a graceful roll of her shoulders, her sharp eyes never leaving Seph's. Then, with a small smirk of her own, she said, "And you don't seem like a bodyguard."
Pepper, clearly still annoyed by what just happened, crossed her arms. "Seph was a mercenary before. He has a lot of experience."
"Is that so?" Natalia merely hummed in response before stepping out of the ring.
But Seph didn't miss the way she briefly glared at himânot in anger, but in something far more intriguing. Maybe it was irritation that he had caught onto her identity so quickly.
Maybe it was something else.
Either way, she wasn't happy about it.
He just smirked.
Natalia walked toward Tony, her hips swaying in that effortless, sultry way that only a woman with deadly confidence could pull off.
Tony, being Tony, didn't even try to hide the way his eyes followed the curve of her body. His gaze trailed from her long legs to the dip of her waist, lingering just a second too long before he blinked and cleared his throat.
"Right, uhâpaperwork," Tony said, snapping out of his daze as Natalia handed him the documents. He grabbed a pen, signed where necessary, and handed them back.
As she turned and walked away, Tony's eyes were glued to her, drinking in the sight like a man lost in a desert who had just found an oasis.
Seph chuckled, shaking his head as he noticed Tony's slack-jawed expression.
The billionaire playboy let out a breath, running a hand through his hair. Then, with all the seriousness in the world, he turned to Pepper and said.
"I want one."
Pepper, still glaring at Seph, didn't even hesitate. "Not happening."
"Fine," Tony groaned, dramatically throwing his arms up. "I never get anything fun."
Seph chuckled, shaking his head. "You never change, Stark."
Tony smirked. "And you love me for it."
Seph simply rolled his eyes. Things are about to get very interesting.
----
Natalia walked out of the Stark mansion, her stiletto heels clicking softly against the stone driveway. She kept her expression calm, her stride composed, but beneath the surface, her mind raced.
The mission had taken an unexpected turn.
Sliding into the sleek black car, she shut the door behind her and pulled out her phone. A secure line.
One ring. Two ring.
Then, a heavy, gravelly voice answered on the other end.
"Report."
Natalia exhaled slowly, glancing in the rearview mirror as she pulled out of the estate.
"My cover's blown."
There was a pause. "Stark?"
"No." She tightened her grip on the wheel. "A bodyguard. Name's Seph. He saw through me."
The voice on the other end remained silent for a moment before responding, curiosity laced in his tone. "A bodyguard?"
"He's⌠different. His skills are far beyond what you'd expect from simple protection detail. And Tony Stark trusts him completely. A bit too much... I did some diggingâhe's the same man who pulled Stark out of Afghanistan."
That got their attention.
"Him?" The voice grew sharper. "We sent agents to survey that battlefield. You know what they found?"
Natalia stayed silent, waiting.
"Carnage." The word was spoken with a mix of intrigue and unease. "One man killed nearly a hundred hostiles. Alone."
Her brows lifted slightly. That level of combat efficiency? That wasn't just military trainingâit was something else.
Something terrifying.
The man on the other end sighed. "If this Seph is the same person⌠he's not just some ex-soldier. He's a damn problem."
Natalia's fingers tapped lightly against the leather steering wheel. "Orders?"
A brief pause.
Then, "Keep an eye on him. Find out who he really is. If possible, capture him and bring him in for questioning."
Her lips pressed into a thin line. "That won't be easy."
"I can send Barton if needed."
Natalia smirked slightly at the suggestion. Clint was good, one of the best, but something told her that even he wouldn't have an easy time with this Seph.
"Give me time," She said. "I'll figure out what we're dealing with first."
"Understood. Keep me posted."
The line went dead.
Natalia put the phone down, her expression unreadable as she merged onto the highway. The game had changed.
And she needed to know exactly what kind of monster was walking in Tony Stark's shadow.
--- ⌠⌠⌠---
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