“It's better than SHIELD's,” Natalia said in a low, seductive voice.
Sebastian could barely take his eyes off her. There was something magnetic about the way she moved. But Sebastian was a professional. He had run a small gun shop for years since transmigrating into this world.
“SHIELD?” Sebastian asked. He couldn't let his knowledge slip.
“Nothing.” Natalia smiled. She had been testing him.
Sebastian's gun shop was under SHIELD's scrutiny. Natalia had been sent to obtain some samples and learn a little about its mysterious owner. Sebastian was a young man, but the weapons he sold were… far too good.
“I understand, miss.” Sebastian gave her a friendly smile. He wasn't about to blow his cover just because a woman had a fat ass. “That'll be three hundred dollars.”
“Cheaper than I expected,” Natalia said as she inspected the pistol.
Several agents already owned weapons bought from this shop. SHIELD wanted a steady supply, preferably an exclusive one. For now, though, Natalia's only task was to get close to him.
“I sell the best at the best prices. That's my business,” Sebastian said proudly.
He had designed the weapons himself, with a little trick, of course. There was no way he could make the best guns in a world where Tony Stark existed without some sort of advantage.
“Actually… I wanted to get a job here,” she said with a smile, leaning over the counter and giving Sebastian a clear view of her cleavage.
That was where the poor man failed to resist. He stared openly. Natalia wasn't offended. On the contrary, she let him look. She was an expert at seduction, and this was just another day at work.
“I'm afraid I'm not hiring right now,” Sebastian said, finally raising his eyes to Natalia's.
“Are you sure you don't need someone to lend you a hand? Running this shop alone must be so… exhausting and stressful,” she said.
“Not really. Business is good, and I'm very good at what I do. It's actually pretty pleasant,” Sebastian replied.
“But… it could be more pleasant, couldn't it?” She licked her lips.
Normally, Natasha didn't go this far on her missions. But there was something about the man in front of her that turned her on. She was practically throwing herself at him. Sebastian wanted her, there was no doubt about that. At least he wanted her body, but he could keep his composure. She had rarely seen that kind of self-control.
“Do you want this job that badly?” Sebastian asked.
“I do,” she said.
“Put up the CLOSED sign,” Sebastian ordered. “Your interview starts now. I'm not promising to hire you.”
“And where will this interview take place, Mr. White?” Natasha asked as she closed the shop.
“Somewhere more private… more intimate,” Sebastian replied.
He led her inside. Natasha entered to find an ordinary house. No super-secret laboratory, no enormous weapons warehouse. Just a perfectly ordinary home.
Sebastian didn't take her to the bedroom, as she had expected. He led her to an office. There were leather-covered chairs and an oak desk. It looked fairly ordinary, but pleasant.
Natasha smiled. The guy wasn't desperate. That was even better than she'd expected.
“Have a seat, Ms. Natalia,” he said softly, seemingly not the least bit flustered. “Ah, rats.” The man pressed a button.
‘Did SHIELD come in?’ Natalia wasn't alone. The shop was being watched from outside, but she'd received no indication that anyone would enter. ‘Must be Fury again,’ she thought irritably. Fury had a bad habit of changing missions without warning.
It might be better in the long run, but she would appreciate some advance notice.
Even so… she had to continue this mission, even if there were risks. This man was important. He could represent a major breakthrough for SHIELD.
“That…” she began, trying to draw out some information.
“Just a little rat. Would you like something to drink? Brandy? Whiskey? Tequila?” Sebastian asked.
“Tequila, please.” She undid a few buttons on her blouse. “A rat?”
“Yes. But no one can get into this place. Not unless I allow it,” Sebastian replied confidently. “And that rat won't cause any more trouble. Neither will any others,” he added. “Now, your interview. Do you have customer service experience?”
“Yes. I worked at a café in downtown New York,” Natalia replied. Her résumé was far more extensive than that, but she doubted being a super-spy would help her land the job.
Natalia discreetly touched her ear. She hadn't received a single message from outside since setting foot in the shop. That was strange. Sebastian's words were strange, too. No one could enter without his permission? Just how true was that?
“And do you have any experience with firearms?” Sebastian asked next.
“One of my uncles taught me after my parents died. Just a small pistol.” She feigned a little sadness while drinking her tequila. Sebastian nodded sympathetically.
“I'm sorry to hear that.” She gave him a grateful smile, pushing out her chest. “Customers can be rude and ill-mannered. In a gun shop, that's even worse. Your life could be in danger.”
Natalia looked at the man. He was handsome, ridiculously handsome, but he didn't seem threatening in the slightest. It was almost sweet to hear someone like him warn her to be careful. But Natalia knew better than to judge by appearances. Banner himself was proof of that. Beneath a nerdy scientist lurked a huge green giant capable of destroying a building in seconds.
“I'm aware. But I really, really need this job.” Perhaps pretending to be a little weak would cool the man's libido.
For the moment, it was necessary. Natalia needed to appear weak and fragile to him, to make him want to protect and look after her. Once those feelings were there, he'd hire her, and perhaps they could have some fun afterward.
“Do you know what you need to buy a gun?” Sebastian asked.
“You need an ATF Form 4473, identification, and a background check…”
“Money,” Sebastian corrected her. “That's all you need.” Natalia frowned.
She didn't know how to respond. Was Sebastian some sort of criminal operating outside the law? That didn't match the reports they had on him. He seemed like a good man, and all his paperwork was in order.
Then was he testing her?
“That's… that's not how it should work. Selling guns should be a responsibility, not just a way to make money,” Natalia said firmly. She had to take a chance.
“Yes, you're right.” He smiled. It seemed he'd been testing her. “I wouldn't want to find out some guy in the Middle East was using my missiles to kill the people they're supposed to protect.” Sebastian sighed.
‘Missiles?’ Natalia thought. But she didn't ask. She merely filed the information away to report later.
“So… do I have the job?” Natalia asked sweetly.
“Not yet. I haven't even said there's an opening,” Sebastian teased with a smile. “But you make me want to create one just for you.” He smiled, and she pretended to blush.
What came next was hard on Natalia.
Surprise exams!