Ch 93 - A Spy's Frustration
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Code: 03B5E
Ending: 30/06/25
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Meanwhile, across the city, Natalia Romanoff sat in her apartment, staring at her phone with the kind of expression that made grown men rethink their life choices.
Her jaw clenched, and her eye twitched.
On her screen?
Yet another image of Seph.
This time, shirtless, with a towel slung low on his hips, steam curling around his sculpted frame like it had personally sworn loyalty to his ego. His gaze was lazy, confident, and worst of all-knowing.
The caption beneath?
"Hope you're enjoying the view, Agent Romanoff. I know you're watching."
Natalia inhaled sharply, a dangerous glint flashing in her eyes. The audacity. The sheer, unmitigated gall.
She should've known Seph wasn't an easy target. The second she had tried to spy on him, he had turned it into a game. And, of course, he was playing to win.
Her fingers hovered over the phone, torn between throwing it across the room and setting it on fire.
That smug bastard!
Her irritation deepened as she scrolled through her messages, each one from an anonymous sender, each one undoubtedly him.
- "Peek-a-boo."
- "Really, Natalia? That hiding spot? Amateur hour."
- "Are you flustered yet? No? Well, give it a minute."
She sucked in a breath through her nose, her grip on the phone tightening. This wasn't just a taunt—this was war.
Fury simmered in her veins, but beneath it, a begrudging thrill sparked to life. Fine, Seph. Since you wanted to play… then let's play.
She quickly tapped out a reply.
"Enjoy your fun while it lasts, sweetheart. Because when I strike back? You won't see it coming."
She hit send, leaned back in her chair, and smirked.
After all, she had never lost a game of cat and mouse.
And Seph?
Well, he was about to learn that firsthand.
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Back to the apartment
Seph received the message with a smirk, his amusement only growing as he turned his phone around to show it to the group.
Pepper squinted at the screen, reading Natalia's response before letting out an exasperated sigh. "You are so lucky Tony doesn't know about this. If he did, he'd be taking notes—and begging for your strategy."
Seph smirked. "Tony's a lost cause."
Just then, his phone buzzed again. Another message from Natalia.
"You're laughing now. Let's see how funny it is when you wake up handcuffed to a chair."
Seph's grin widened.
"Oh, now that's interesting."
Pepper sighed, finally calming down. She glanced at Seph, her expression shifting to something more serious.
"…You know, since I became CEO, security has been tighter, but I still don't feel entirely safe," she admitted.
Seph's smirk faded as he regarded her thoughtfully. "That's actually something I wanted to talk about."
Pepper blinked. "Oh?"
Without missing a beat, Seph turned to Hela, his lips curling up. "How about you be Pepper's bodyguard?"
Hela's expression froze.
Then, ever so slowly, one eyebrow arched. "…You want me, the Goddess of Death, to play bodyguard?"
Seph shrugged. "What's the big deal? I'm the successor of the first Primordial Gods, and I'm technically Tony's bodyguard."
Hela opened her mouth. Closed it. Then exhaled sharply. "…You make an annoyingly good point."
Pepper looked between them, clearly surprised. "Wait—you're actually considering it?"
Hela rolled her eyes. "We already live together. And I suppose watching over you wouldn't be too annoying."
Seph smirked. "So that's a yes?"
Hela sighed dramatically, as if the weight of the entire universe rested on her decision. "Fine."
Pepper blinked, then beamed. "Well… I do feel safer now."
Seph chuckled. "Of course. Who'd be stupid enough to go after you with Hela standing guard?"
Hela crossed her arms. "Idiots with a death wish."
Then, after a pause, she smirked. "Which, come to think of it, could be fun."
Pepper swallowed. "…I'll pretend I didn't hear that."
Seph leaned back, arms draped casually over the couch, the mischievous glint in his eyes growing sharper. His mind wandered—not to strategy, not to battle—but to a certain redheaded assassin and the rather… revealing images she had oh-so-generously sent his way.
He barely suppressed a chuckle. Natalia thought she could rattle him? Cute.
But then his hands—oh, those treacherous, dishonest hands—decided to wander of their own accord. One trailed along Pepper's waist, fingertips skimming the fabric of her blouse, while the other drifted down, barely brushing against Hela's thigh.
Both women stilled. Then, in perfect sync, they turned their heads toward him, arching identical, unimpressed brows.
"Oh?" Hela mused, her voice as smooth as silk and twice as dangerous. "Feeling bold today, are we?"
Pepper smirked, eyes gleaming with amusement. "Let me guess… Natalia?"
Seph grinned shamelessly, not even bothering to deny it. "Hey, I was inspired."
Pepper chuckled, shaking her head. "Inspired. Right. That's one way to put it."
Hela hummed, tilting her head. "You do realize you're playing with fire, don't you?"
Seph's smirk widened. "What can I say? I like the heat."
Pepper rolled her eyes. "And here I thought Tony was the biggest flirt I knew."
Hela snorted. "Tony is a child compared to him."
Seph feigned offense. "Hey now, I'd like to think I have a certain… finesse."
Hela's fingers suddenly wrapped around his wrist—not roughly, but with just enough pressure to remind him exactly who she was. "Oh, you definitely have something…" she murmured, her smirk sharp. "But do you really think you can tease us without consequences?"
Pepper leaned in, her voice playful but laced with challenge. "Because we will get even."
Seph's pulse quickened—not out of fear, but excitement. "Now, that's what I like to hear."
They giggled, playfully smacking his hands away—but not before letting his fingers linger just a little longer.
Because, let's be honest… a little resistance only made the game more fun.
And all three of them knew it.
Pepper and Hela may have swatted his hands away, but it was a futile effort.
Seph was nothing if not persistent, and no matter how much they resisted, he always found his way back—slipping past their defenses with that damnable charm of his.
It started small.
His fingers skimmed along Pepper's hip as if by accident, while his other hand found its way back to Hela's thigh, this time pressing just enough to make her eyes darken.
"You two keep pushing me away," Seph murmured, his voice a rich, velvety purr, "but I know you don't mean it."
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Spoilers for the next three chapters!
Chapter 94: Hela and Pepper
Chapter 95: Hela and Pepper (2)
Chapter 96: Hela and Pepper (3)
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