36.

Kai's smile widened slightly at her response. "I appreciate your candor, Miss Rushman, but let's skip the formalities. We both know there's more to this than a standard job application."

Natalie's expression remained calm, but there was a flicker of amusement in her eyes. "You're right, Mr. Kai. I'm here because I believe in the potential of this organization. I want to be part of something greater."

Kai's eyes narrowed as he leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk. "Potential, you say? And what exactly do you think this organization is capable of?"

"Last I checked, every single person who ran this organization was a part of the underworld, Fisk... the one that came before." Kai continued as Nathan slightly coughed,

"Sir-"

"Since she has qualifications up to her gills she should already be aware of that, am I wrong?" Kai interrupted Nathan as he continued, "Miss Rushman, So the real question here stands as to why you want to work for... well to put it simply why do you want to join a criminal organization?"

"Oh and don't think I'll be any different too." Kai intently stared at the beautiful woman in front of him.

Natalie didn't miss a beat, her composed demeanor unshaken. "Because, Mr. Kai, it's precisely in such organizations that true power resides. Governments and corporations may have influence, but it's the underworld that truly shapes the world. You control the unseen, the shadows. And from the shadows, you can change everything."

Kai's eyes gleamed with interest as he listened to her. "A bold statement. But I suppose you've had enough experience to know that firsthand."

"Indeed," Natalie replied smoothly. "I've worked with many organizations, both legitimate and otherwise. The real change-makers are those who aren't afraid to operate outside the law."

Kai leaned back, as he replied without a care in the world, "I see. And you believe you can bring value to our operations here? Navigate the complexities and challenges of this... job?"

Natalie's lips curved into a confident smile. "Absolutely. I understand the stakes, and I'm prepared to face whatever challenges come my way. My skills and experience are at your disposal, Mr. Kai. I'm here to contribute and to ensure the organization's success."

Kai watched her closely, noting the unwavering determination in her eyes. He glanced at Nathan, who gave a subtle nod of approval. Turning his attention back to Natalie, he made his decision.

"Very well, Miss Rushman. You'll start immediately. Your first task will be to gather intelligence on the recent developments involving Tony Stark. I want to know where he's being held."

"Tony Stark, sir?" Natalie slowly asked presenting a confused expression, "Does he have to do anything with our operations?"

"Of course, not." Kai shrugged, "Oh, and by the way, you've exactly 5 hours to figure it out... use any resources you need. Nathan..."

"Yes, sir." Nathan nodded, although he couldn't help but feel that finding the man the whole world was currently looking for was an extensive task, he knew better than to argue.

"I'll be sure not to disappoint you, Mr. Kai." Natalie nodded as Kai waved them off nonchalantly.

Kai's gaze followed Natalie as she left the room with Nathan, her every step exuding confidence and purpose. There was something about her—her beauty, her poise, her unwavering composure—that intrigued him. She was a dangerous asset, but an asset nonetheless, and he intended to use her to his advantage.

Natalie quickly settled into her new role, her mind already racing with strategies to locate Tony Stark. She was aware of the stakes and the impossibility of the task within the given timeframe. Yet, she was equally determined to prove herself.

"Mr. Kai is certainly demanding," she remarked to Nathan as they walked down the hallway.

Nathan glanced at her, his expression neutral. "He believes in pushing people to their limits. It's how he separates the valuable from the expendable."

Natalie smiled faintly. "And which category do you fall into, Nathan?"

He returned her smile with a guarded one of his own. "I like to think I'm valuable, Miss Rushman. And you?"

"I'm here to prove my worth," she replied smoothly. "Let's get started."

Back in his office, Kai watched the security feed, tracking Natalie and Nathan's movements. He admired her calm under pressure and her willingness to dive headfirst into an almost impossible task.

"If I could give out an Oscar, I certainly would give it to you...widow." Kai chuckled to himself, "With SHIELD's resources, it shouldn't be too difficult of a task for you but will you be able to do so without their help?"

A figure emerged from his shadow glancing at him, "Kai..."

"What? You find her interesting too brother?" Kai grinned, "I guess it's time to weave a new storyline."

"She's dangerous," the spirit murmured, its voice a haunting echo of Leo's.

"Oh did you sense the dreadful amount of cursed energy leaking from her?" Kai replied, "Don't worry about it... after all, at the end of the day... she's just human."

--------------------

Meanwhile, Natalie and Nathan reached the operations center, a high-tech room filled with screens and advanced surveillance equipment. Natalie quickly assessed the resources at her disposal, formulating a plan.

For the first hour, Natalie sifted through various intelligence reports and surveillance feeds, her fingers flying over the keyboard as she cross-referenced data. Despite her thorough approach, she found little that pointed directly to Tony Stark's whereabouts. The frustration began to mount, and she considered her options.

"If I use SHIELD's resources discreetly, I might be able to get a lead," she thought. Natalie composed a brief, encrypted message detailing her situation and sent it to one of her contacts within SHIELD, requesting any relevant information they could provide without compromising her cover.

As she awaited a response, an idea struck her. "If anyone knows about Tony's movements and schedule, it's his own people," she muttered to herself. She immediately accessed files on Tony's closest associates: Pepper Potts, Happy Hogan, and Obadiah Stane.

Given her limited time, Natalie focused on Obadiah Stane. "He has the most to gain from Tony's disappearance or death," she reasoned. She began hacking into Stark Industries' system, targeting files linked to Obadiah. The security measures were formidable, and despite her expertise, she found herself struggling to break through the defenses.

A few more hours passed, and her frustration grew as she repeatedly hit dead ends. "I can't believe Stark Industries' system is this impenetrable," she muttered. With time running out, she prepared to make one last attempt when her phone buzzed.

A message from Nick Fury appeared on the screen, containing coordinates and a brief note: "Intel on Stark's location. Use it wisely."

Natalie exhaled a sigh of relief, a determined glint in her eyes. She quickly relayed the coordinates to Nathan. "I've got a lead. Let's move."