Virginia "Pepper" Potts wasn't just a pretty face or Tony Stark's over-glorified babysitter. She was first to admit her...ah...combat abilities were lacking, Pepper had spent several long years maneuvering between various, businessmen, politicians, and simply suspicious individuals, that had more than little dubious intentions for her company. She had to identify them, diplomatically brush them off or at least give others information that there's an issue. The secretary wasn't perfect( oh God... Stane), but was fairly good.
When Tony was attacked by the madman, coupled with his, even more than usual, erratic behavior, she was suspicious and on alert. When their newest hire was an extremely attractive, very fit redhead beauty, Pepper observed her bit more carefully.
And when very spontaneous inspection confirmed her feeling, in form of cutting-edge spying equipment(secretary or not she was working for Stark Enterprises, Virginia knew how to recognize devices based on their technology), she was terrified.
There was nothing on Natalie Rushman that cast a shadow of a doubt. She was a model employee and her history confirmed it. What's worse, that worked closely, and Natalie's sometimes visible through fabric muscles as well as, sometimes too fluid motions suggested personal confrontation could end poorly.
In short, Miss Potts knew far too little and couldn't remove her employee without casting suspicion or possibly endangering herself. Also in light of this and recent occurrences, she didn't know who to turn to.
She trusted Tony, of course, but something was bothering him. Pepper knew him well enough to know it wasn't simply a return to his old habits. S.I.H.E.L.D. and its people were certainly competent and she was grateful for their help, but it was far, far from the trust.
The secretary had to work with what she had at hand and without arousing suspicions to gather more data.
"Mmmm.. where did you get those muffins?" asked the redhead as she swallowed the last bit of pastry and washed it down with coffee.
"It's a local bakery. I got a discount and they can write that Virginia Potts herself is buying their cakes. But they are good at their job" replied the secretary and also sipped on tea.
For the last few weeks, the two women were eating meals and spending some breaks together. To be precise Natasha started this practice for, now, obvious reasons, but Peper decided to use it to her advantage.
The secretary watched as the other redhead bit into another muffin, the fifth one if she counted correctly.
Miss Rushman had an appetite. Lately, her meals were bigger than Happy's, she unconsciously stopped refusing repast and Pepper had seen her occasionally snack.
Miss Potts had to work with what she had and could do without causing alarm. She could make the spy more prone to mistakes, distracted.
Stark Industries researched more than technology, they gad chemical, even food research. Admittedly, the last one was barely a fraction of the fraction, but they did manage to create a few interesting things, even if they mostly went to storage and were forgotten. Employing former chemical weapons researchers to work with food had its disadvantages.
All Natalie's foods and drinks Pepper could get her hand on safely, were laced with a plethora of substances. Nothing poisonous of psychotropic, too obvious, and wasn't easy to get.
But Miss Rushman was suffering from enhanced appetite, occasional waves of almost irresistible hunger, carving for high-calorie foods, severely slowed metabolism, and the process of eating resulting in the release of endorphins. Not to mention several substances that helped to with and to forget overindulgence.
The secretary already witnessed several situations when the new hire was distracted by food or hunger. Sure, the taller woman still maintained proper decorum, but the effect seemed to increase. But it wasn't the end of it, no. This provided an opportunity to slow down the potential enemy, even a little.
The muffins they were eating had been made by the local bakery, but it had been a special order. They had several times more sugar and butter inside them than normal. Same with all meals they ate together.
It also brought results, if the soft pouch the secretary had noticed earlier that day on Natalie's middle as well as small fold above edges of her bra were any indication.
"By the way, where's Mister Stark? He used to drop in to see you and I have a few documents that need his signature" asked Miss Rushman once she inhaled the chocolate pastry and licked remains from her lips.
Well... Miss Potts was firmly heterosexual, but even she had to admit that anybody attracted to females wouldn't mind getting... acquainted with Natalie.
"He closed himself win workshop, again. Put them on my desk, I have to visit him anyway. We still set for lunch tomorrow?" said Pepper wiping her mouth with a napkin.
"Of course, I'll go get papers ready" the spy mirrored her actions and both stood up and went their ways.
The secretary glanced at the younger redhead, the energetic strut seemed to have a bit more sway than weeks ago.
Pepper bit her lip. It wasn't how she intended... well hoped... dreamed of using those substances. She used various means to minimalize the effect of some fattening meals she had had to partake in.
After all the secretary/girlfriend of Tony Stark couldn't get fat... no matter what she wanted.
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