Natalie Rushman
“No.”
“Yes.”
“Absolutely not!”
“Absolutely yes!”
“Are you insane?”
Staring at Pepper, Tony shrugged. “It’s been touched upon.” Then he paused. “Why are you fighting me on this?”
“Because…you’re crazy!” She sputtered out. “I can’t just take over Stark Industries!”
“Sure you can, that’s why I’m appointing you.” He said as he walked away from her.
“But what about Kara?” She blanched. “You can’t just give away the company without talking to her!”
As You came over with a tray of champagne, Tony rolled his eyes. “You know, contrary to popular belief, I am not completely absent-minded.” He smiled at her. “I talked to her this morning.”
“But…what?”
Tony laughed as he led her to the couch and handed her a glass of sparkling liquid. “We both agreed, you’re the best suited. Kara doesn’t want to run the whole thing, and as long as Layna’s chances at running it are intact for when she is old enough, she has no problem with you being CEO.”
“Tony…”
“Pepper.
“I…I don’t know what to think.” She said, tears now entering her eyes.
Tony smiled. “Don’t think. Drink.”
“But…Tony.”
“Pepper, drink the champagne, or I will.”
They looked up and watched as Kara walked into the room.
“Oh, look…speak of the devil,” Tony muttered and Kara smirked at him.
Then she hugged Pepper. “You deserve this. Seriously. Do us proud.”
“Oh my gosh! I have to get the paperwork started!” The red-head hurried off.
“Cockblock,” Tony said instantly.
“Damn straight.” Kara grinned, not even bothering to act like she didn’t interrupt him.
…
“He did what?”
Kara sighed as she stuck a fry in her mouth. “He appointed Pepper as CEO.”
“I’m going to kill him.” Kit growled.
Kara was confused. “Why? She deserves it! I mean, she’s basically been doing it for years anyway…”
“You deserve it more!” Kit shouted, and Kara sent an apologetic look to the people sitting around them at the diner.
“First of all, keep your voice down, will you? We haven’t gone to the press yet. Second, you’re an idiot. Do you seriously think Tony didn’t talk to me first?” Rolling her eyes, Kara went back to eating her food.
“Then…why is Pepper CEO?”
Kara sighed. “Kit…I turned it down.”
That stopped her friend’s rant instantly. “Excuse me?”
“I don’t want to be CEO. Tony and I will still have massive parts to play in the company, but…I don’t want to run it all by myself. I have Layna to worry about, and I don’t…”
She trailed off, but Kit understood. “Honey, Howard loved you.”
“And yet, he was barely ever there.” She said. “I’m not doing that to my daughter. Kit, I am beyond happy for Pepper. It’s Tony that I‘m worried about.”
“Why, what happened?”
The blonde woman shrugged. “He’s just…acting weird. Something isn’t right, Kit, I can feel it.”
“He’s probably just looking for more attention or something.”
Shaking her head, Kara grabbed her phone off of the table and took a second to pull up a picture. Then she shoved it in Kit’s face and waited.
“If you’re about to tell me that’s the new Iron Man suit…”
“It’s mine.” As the waitress came over with their check, Kara handed her a credit card without even looking and waited for her to walk away. “He has this crazy idea that he wants me to be a superhero too.”
“Are you serious? Kara, that’s incredible!” Kit looked at her best friend. “You don’t look happy.”
“I don’t want to be a superhero!” Kara hissed as she signed the slip that the waitress brought back over. “I just want to be normal.”
“Honey, normal was gone the second you got adopted by Howard Stark.” Then Kit paused. “Actually, you were never normal, what am I saying. You’re an alien for goodness sakes.”
As her phone rang, Kara lightly smacked her friend. “Shut up. Hey Pepper, what’s up? Yeah, I’ll be there shortly.” Then she hung up. “Pepper has a notary coming to the house to sign off on everything.”
“Hopefully, they don’t notice that your fingerprint is alien DNA!” Kit joked.
“I hate you.”
“No, you don’t.” Kit said with a grin.
…
“The notary’s here!” Pepper’s voice floated over the sound of The Clash. “Can you please come sign the transfer paperwork?”
“I’m on Happy time!” Tony yelled back as he sparred with his security in the ring. “Besides, Kara isn’t here yet.”
“Yes, she is,” Kara replied as she walked into the room, followed by a wavy-haired woman.
“I promise this is the only time I will ask you to sign over your company,” Pepper told him.
As Tony continued to box, Kara walked over and did as the woman said. “I need you to initial each box and sign here. Then a fingerprint, Miss Stark.”
“You. What’s your name?”
The women looked up and saw Tony pointing at the notary. “Rushman. Natalie Rushman.”
“Front and center. Come into the church.”
Rolling her eyes, Kara plopped into a chair and waited. She knew not even to try and stop her brother’s antics…that would only make it worse.
“You’re seriously not going to…” Pepper started but was interrupted.
“If it pleases the court, which it does.”
Natalie smiled. “It’s no problem.”
“I’m sorry. He’s very…eccentric.” Pepper said again as Natalie walked to the ring.
Kara watched as she entered, and Tony eyeballed her. Then he came down and sat next to Pepper. “Who is she?”
“She is from Legal, and she is potentially a very expensive sexual harassment lawsuit if you keep ogling her.”
Kara shook her head. “Like he even heard that.”
“I need a new assistant.” Tony continued.
“See?”
“I’ve got three excellent potential candidates lined up to meet you.”
“I don’t have time. I need someone now. I feel like it’s her.” He ignored Pepper as he watched Happy teach Natalie to box.
“No, it’s not.”
In the ring, Happy faced the woman. “You ever box before?”
She smiled. “I have, yes.”
“Like Tae Bo? Booty Boot Camp?”
“Happy!” They turned and looked at Kara. “Girl, kick his ass, so I don’t have to.”
“How do I spell your name, Natalie?” Tony asked loudly
After spelling it out for him, she turned back to Happy. As he spoke, Natalie listened to Tony and Pepper speak in the background.
“Rule number one.” Happy said quickly. “Never take your eye off of your opponent.”
Suddenly she turned and flipped, pinning his body to the mat. Kara jumped with her brother and Pepper, but unlike the other woman, she was cheering.
“There you go!” Kara laughed and clapped.
Then she stood silently as she watched Tony sign the paperwork and waited until they were out of the room.
“You’re an idiot; you know that?” Kara chuckled.
“What else is new?” He shrugged. “Hey Pepper and I are headed to Monaco for the races. You should join us.”
Kara nodded. “Oh, definitely. I mean…what do I have to do here?” She paused and then pretended a lightbulb went off in her head. “Oh, that’s right! I have a six-year-old to feed and clothe and keep alive.”
Shaking her head with a grin, she turned and left the room, Tony’s grin following her.