Chapter 4
You have your arms wrapped around yourself as Happy straps you into a helicopter, the blood on your clothes now dried, everything passing in a blur, then you’re in a plane and you know you’ll never be able to go back, it it’s a long trip and you sleep. By the time the plane lands you are much more alert, sad but not shut down, Tony just looks like any other businessman you’ve seen, like it was nothing, like his glimpse at the war zone that was your life didn’t even happen, while you sit there, clothes still splattered in dried blood. You take his hands as he leads you to a black SUV waiting outside the plane, keeping your head down as things just pass you by, Tony’s arm wrapped around you leading you when you walk, then some doors to a metal box open and you stay quiet as you walk. Down a hallway and into a royalty sized bedroom, “So this is your room, I’ll be down the hall, I’ll give you a few days to settle but Nat will come up to assess any injuries” Tony explains and then you are alone, your family is dead, you have nothing, in another country so you couldn’t run away even if you wanted to. You are lucky you got out even if you don’t feel lucky, you need to earn your keep here, maybe if you behave Tony will treat you like before, affectionate but with respect, he seemed sad to, like he didn’t want this to happen, but he got his way in the end, to take you home.
After a few minutes of silence a knock on the door startles you, looking up bleary eyed, the red haired woman looks at you with eyes full of pity, “Hi Maria my name is Natasha, I’m here to help you get settled in, I know it’s a lot to take in at once” she says kindly. You take a deep breath, women have fought and died to come to America, “I am to be his new wife” you state a touch of questioning in your tone. The woman, Natasha, picks up on it immediately, “No Maria, he does not want a wife and you are free to do whatever you want here, if you wish to leave no one will stop you” she explains. You think over Natasha’s words carefully, you are not stupid, you have no papers, no visa, if you leave you will be deported back and then killed, “I stay with Señor Tony” you state and Natasha smiles softly, “everything in this room is yours by the way” she nods.
You look around in awe, was this the life he was going to offer you, “do you want have a shower and get changed and I’ll get you some food, you traveled for a while” Natasha suggests and you nod “Señor Tony was teaching me about American food” you nod. American men like to own women, perhaps you are to be a mistress, a toy, you must keep him happy and earn your keep, you should dress nice, he is sure to like that, he liked when you embraced his gifts, you will let him use you as he pleases. Left alone you explore the room, the wardrobe is massive and filled with beautiful clothes that look very expensive, drawers full of jewels, everything your eyes lay on look worth more than your entire life, you choose a dress and some underwear and head to the bathroom. It’s probably bigger than your house was back in San Juan, designed for a king the shower alone could easily fit multiple people and a bathtub right in the middle of the bathroom, only the truely rich would have something like that right.
You shower using products you have never heard of soaps and creams that make you smell like exotic ingredients and sweet fruits, you could never afford the smallest bit of vanilla yet here you are rubbing it on your skin till you smell so good you may faint. You sob softly as you scrub Michael’s blood from your skin, even if you could go home there is nothing left for you, it is better to try and adapt to life here, show Tony you appreciate him taking you home, that it is an honour he finds you beautiful enough to want to keep. You wrap your hair up when you are done and change, Natasha smiles when you come out, “I was the same when I first came to America, how they could make soaps that made you smell like fruits or spices amazed me” she states unwrapping your hair and grabbing a brush and some hair products. She brushes your hair so gently, “we all have lost people here, most like you and me have no family, we are each other’s family but we understand the pain of loss” she explains, “they killed my father and my ser esposo” you say quietly. “Michael was a good man, he didn’t deserve this, in his dying breath he begged Tony to take me”, tears start to stream down your cheeks, “he must have loved you very much” Natasha hugs and you nod silently.
“I am ready to see him now, to serve him how he pleases” you state and Natasha looks confused “Maria you have time to yourself, you lost your family, mourn, you are not expected to be out and about straight away and you are not expected to work or serve him”. She finally convinces you to take some time and you spend it quietly mourning and praying for the souls of your family, Natasha delivers your meals but after a few days you decide it’s time, to explore your new home, maybe thank Tony for saving your life. You know it is not right to hide away in your room and request a tour of his house so you can better get to know how he lives, he did say he’d give you a few days and you don’t want to push the limits of his generosity. The insanely large and luxurious building is empty when Natasha tours you around, there is a few communal floors, kitchen, dinning and lounge, personal appartments, gym, meeting rooms, offices, labs which you look around in awe, perhaps you can convince Tony to let you invent and fiddle around.
Natasha shows you back to the penthouse, she says she doesn’t know how close you are, you say nothing and let her lead you to his office where he looks busy and tired, you think maybe you should leave him be but his face lights up when he sees you and you can’t help but smile back. “Kitten, how you going, I know it’s a big change, how do you like the place” he asks as you walk closer, he gently tugs you into his lap and you relax, “it is a palace, built for royalty, very beautiful” you state as listens, his fingers play with the fabric of your dress. “You like your things, you want me to get you anything, anything at all and it’s yours” he says his eyes locked on yours and he shoos Natasha off, the woman sighs and shuts the door as she leaves, “you spoil me señor” you answer purring the last word. “The plan was to bring you here to spoil you love” he grins, “I want to show you off, take you to parties dripping in diamonds, buy you whatever you heart desires, pamper you” he explains and your eyes grow wide, he really does like spending money.
But what is expected in return, you straddle his lap, “and what of my duties sinor” you question in the same sensual tone, “the same as before, well not cooking or cleaning”, “touch?”, “yes, I don’t expect you to do anything you don’t want to, you don’t have to sleep with me, there will be no rewards or extras” Tony explains. Then his grin grows wide “you won’t get punished for it, you’re insanely gorgeous if you want sex I’m more than happy to satisfy you” he states smugly and you can’t help but giggle, “just gotta be clear love that I’m providing for you but I’m not paying for sex or anything like that”. You nod letting his arms wrap around you in a relaxed fashion, “you want me to sleep in your bed” you ask and he smiles “only if you are comfortable” he mumbles into you shoulder and you laugh softly. ”Tony, when I was young I told myself if I ever met a man who was rich, handsome, generous and kind I would give myself to him” you state honesty and he smiles amused, “well there are a few of us like that here love” he chuckles teasingly. “Tony I give you everything, I do not know them, I know you, we start slow but I will give you everything” you explain cupping your hands on his face, slowly you lean down and kiss him, short and sweet before you pull away and stand, Tony has a drunk expression on his stupidly handsome face.
“I will see you for lunch yes, un hombre con todos esos cerebros necesita ser nutrido” you tease knowing he likes it when you speak Spanish, he nods when you get up to leave and you press another kiss to his cheek before heading out of his office and navigating your way back to the kitchen. You had JARVIS order you some special ingredients so you can make food with the flavours you are familiar with, you prep and wash you ingredients and start by making a Sofrito to keep in the fridge and making an empanadilla dough. When you are ready you start on the Carne Molinda for the empanadas you plan to make, slowly the kitchen filling with the delicious smell of seasoned meat, you make an extra large batch and are beginning to fold as Natasha walks in. “Oh you are cooking” she says in surprise, “he works hard, so I cook for him, men need to eat” you state like it’s obvious, she mustn’t have a husband, “there will be a few more men here soon do you want me to tell them to give you space” Natasha asks. You pause for a moment before shaking your head “you have a husband” you ask and she looks taken back, “ahh no I don’t”, “come, I teach you” you call her over, “oh no it’s ok you don’t have to...” she starts but you pull her over, “come, it is not difficult”.
Natasha’s contribution is reluctant at first but eventually she gets used to it, folding with you as you fry, you fold much much faster and hers are not as neat but it takes practice, you have a large pile cooked and the two of you are gossiping in Spanish by the time the lift doors open. You jaw drops “en el nombre del señor, estos hombres son enormes, no me dijiste” you exclaim and Natasha cackles in amusement, “gringos son no está destinado a ser tan grande!” you squawk, one looks particularly amused by your outburst. “somos gringos especiales hermana” he says his voice a sexy low rumble making you narrow your eyes, “termino aqui les traes una cerveza” you direct Natasha who frowns, “they can get their own bloody beer” she spits walking off. You fall quiet, do women not serve their men in America, are you doing the wrong thing, you dismiss the thought and dish up a platter, retrieving two beers, the men tower over your petit form, watching you with hungry eyes and whispering to each other.
“You sit, I find opener for the bottles” you state but they just grin taking the beers, “we got it doll” the dark haired, Spanish speaking man says flicking the lids off with his thumb and the other man catching them, “looks great darlin” the taller blonde compliments. Happy walks in with Tony and grabs a few, giving you a wave before he exits again, “what did you make me Kitten” Tony smiles, you offer him a plate and he takes one groaning as he chews, “si, te gusta, hice muchos” you say and he nods making you giggle. “usted asiente por todo lo que digo señor” you state and he nods again he has no idea what you are saying, “me compras muchos diamantes” another nod, and the dark haired man stifles his laughter, “te doy de comer solo comida sana, verduras” you giggle. Tony’s grin drops “oh Kitten you wouldn’t” he states and your eyes go big, “oh maestro, lo siento, lo siento” you say and he turns his head pointing at his earpiece, the dark haired man snickers and drinks from his beer as Tony points to the ceiling. “Dice que si te portas mal te va a dar nalgadas” the AI in the ceiling states and you turn bright red as the dark haired man spits out his beer, Tony winks at you and sits down with the two men, “so how was the mission” he asks like he didn’t just use the AI to say something explicit.
You tentatively sit and the dark haired man looks over for a second and grins before going back to his food and the conversation, unfortunately lunch doesn’t last long and Tony needs to go back to his office for work, he requests JARVIS, the AI, to put a show on for you. “Telenovela?” you ask and a choice comes up on the ridiculously large screen, “oh Silvana Sin Lana” you say excitedly having heard of that one, it was supposingly very popular and not about a drug cartel, you are quickly into the show yelling things in Spanish at the screen. “You like this one” someone says startling you momentarily, it’s that dark haired man again, “yes do you know” you query but he shakes his head, “if it helps I don’t know any shows, English or uhh Spanish”, “I am from Puerto Rico” you state. He nods thoughtfully, “Maria right, I’m Bucky other guy is Steve” he says all nonchalant as he slumps on the couch next to you, arm on the back of the couch above your shoulders, such a masculine position, even like this you feel like he dwarfs you.
The show draws you in and the only thing that draws you back is Bucky’s quiet chuckles as you yell out at characters on the screen when they make stupid decisions, you don’t even notice when Steve sits on your other side and you ignore the conversation including a third man in the kitchen. Only the smell of food really interrupts you and you are soon getting up to check on what’s going on, you can’t help but taste the food and go to adjust the seasoning but the black man catches you before you do. “Hey hey hey, sweetheart I don’t know where you are from but here you don’t mess with a man’s food” he scolds and you roll your eyes “de donde soy, los hombres no pueden cocinar, América parece no ser muy diferente” you sass and Bucky laughs.
“Hey no what did she say, Barnes don’t laugh what did she say”, “she said you can’t cook” Bucky cackles, that’s not exact what you meant, “poco diferente no diferente” you say rolling your eyes, “no, no le digas, es divertido si cree que dijiste que no sabe cocinar” Bucky chuckles. What does he mean it’s funny, you doesn’t want to be rude to this man “no quiero ofenderlo, tengo que vivir aqui” you state loudly walking over to Bucky, “Oh, es una broma, siempre bromeamos, somos amigos, él es negativo y me burlo de él para demostrarle que lo amo” he argues back. “esa es una manera terrible de tratar a la persona que amas” you state and the two of you bicker back and forth in Spanish in front of Steve who just leans back, hands behind his head, watching his own personal show, Tony joins him after a few minutes looking equally smug. “Just need them to take their shirts off” Tony chuckles quietly, “what are they arguing about” Steve questions and you’re about to give Tony a piece of your mind when he answers “don’t know, I took the headset out”, ohhhh payback time.