Natasha sighed as she could not even work anymore, her visit from Romanoff destabilized her, she wasn't expecting him at all, she had believed that she would never ever, see him again, and yet, here he was in her office just a few moments ago.
Natasha realized that basically she wasn't safe, not with Romanoff tailing her and following her everywhere, she needed to be more careful.
In the midst of Natasha's thoughts she did not notice that Mandy had knocked on her office door and had entered as she started her display.
"Oh Madam, I am so sorry that I am late, my cat was sick, and I couldn't leave her, I had to go to the vet and…" said Mandy as she was cut off by Natasha who looked like she was not in the mood to hear the nonsense that Mandy was spewing out of her mouth.
"Save it" said Natasha as Mandy kept quiet and she nodded her head.
"Firstly, you don't have a cat, or at least not anymore, Chloe told me that you told her your cat died last year April" said Natasha as Mandy kept shut.
"And secondly, stop with all the lies, I know that you haven't been coming to work for the past few days, because if you were, I wouldn't have received this rubbish of a report from the department that you are in charge of" said Natasha.
"And don't go blaming Chloe, because I know that she surely doesn't tell me what goes on in this office every day, I feel like in a way, she covers for you, because she's nice" said Natasha.
"But let's get one thing straight I'm not as nice as Chloe, I'm your boss, and incompetence like this is uncalled for" said Natasha in a cold, calm tone.
"The next time, I hear word of you doing such nonsense like not coming to work, or not doing your job, I don't care how long you've worked in this company, because I will fire you, and don't test me Mandy, because I am not in the mood to be tested" said Natasha.
"Are we clear?" asked Natasha.
"Very" said Mandy as she nodded her head.
"Good, now take this stupid report, and get me the accurate numbers before lunchtime and if you don't you are not going out for your lunch break do you hear me?" asked Natasha as she handed the report to Mandy.
"Yes" said Mandy as she nodded her head.
"Yes what?" asked Natasha.
"Yes Madam" said Mandy.
"Good, now get out of my office and don't return until you have what I need" said Natasha as Mandy nodded and got out of Natasha's office.
Natasha sighed, Mandy had such bad luck to meet her in a bad mood because of Romanoff.
Natasha's mind was racing, she didn't know what to do, Romanoff had made it clear that if she refused to take the mission she would be questioned on her true intents for wanting to join the union anyway, and that would raise many suspicions.
But now that she thought about it, Romanoff did say that he wasn't the one who deliberately put drugs in her suitcase, it was the union, so in a way it wasn't his fault, but he still should have informed her about it.
Natasha picked up her phone as she contemplated whether or not to call Pete, she needed his help, and she did promise him to stay out of trouble, but in a way, Natasha didn't want to call him, she knew how he could get, and besides, he was busy, she knew that he was.
In all honesty, she didn't want to tell him that Romanoff came to her with a mission, because she knew that he would blow things out of proportion, and now that Natasha thought about it, she joined the union to get revenge, and she still wanted to get revenge, that idiot Igor was the one who singlehandedly killed her father, even though Romanoff killed her mother, but she didn't know what to think about him.
She wanted to see Igor in jail, at least, and she wanted to be the one to put him in there, if only she had evidence on all the crimes that he had committed, then she would be able to put him in jail, and the only way she could do that was be in the union, watching from the side-lines.
Natasha picked up the file that Romanoff left on her desk and she looked through it once more.
Call her crazy, but this mission didn't seem that hard, and she knew the city that the university was located in, it was just a five to six hour drive from here, according to this, all she was to do was find this Mark Anthony guy, she didn't even have to beat him up or shoot him, just find him and hand him over to Romanoff.
"Natasha are you crazy?? This is still dangerous though" said Natasha to herself but she knew that if she could get this mission accomplished, she could at least get some information from Romanoff about Igor.
"Well yes, you are crazy" said Natasha as she sighed, she knew that Pete had warned her, but she saw no danger with this mission, she didn't have to travel out of the country, it was just close to home, right here.
So Natasha made a decision, yes, she was going to take the mission, she just hoped that she knew what she was doing.
…
"Baby finish your lunch while I make a call okay?" asked Natasha as she looked at Joy and Joy smiled.
"Yes Mommy" said Joy with a smile as Natasha smiled at her and she stepped out of the dining room up the stairs to her office when she received a text from an unknown number.
"Have you made a choice yet devochka (girl)?" read the text as Natasha scoffed, of course she knew who it was, only one person called her devochka (girl).
"Speak of the devil" said Natasha to herself as she was just about to start looking for his number for her to call, because she realized that still to this day, she could never contact Romanoff, Romanoff could only contact her, which she noticed was dangerous.
Natasha walked into her office as she dialled the unknown number and she waited for her call to be picked.
"Privet (Hello)" came Romanoff's voice from the other side of the line.
"How did you get my number?" asked Natasha as she didn't even greet him.
"You can't greet your elders?" asked Romanoff as Natasha scoffed.
"You and I both know that greeting is the least of my problems, so where did you get my number?" asked Natasha.
"I have my ways devochka (girl)" said Romanoff with a smile.
"Well your ways better have explanations, or else I am ending this call" said Natasha.
"Go on, because we know why you called" said Romanoff as Natasha scoffed, this man was unbearable.
"So what is your decision?" asked Romanoff.
"I will take the mission" said Natasha.
"Good devochka (girl), I knew that you wouldn't disappoint" said Romanoff.
"First inform me of the danger involved in this mission" said Natasha.
"Close to none, just find him, bring him to me, and I handle the rest" said Romanoff.
"No fighting, no shooting?" asked Natasha.
"It's all up to you and how you want to bring him in devochka (girl), I won't mind a few bruises here and there" said Romanoff.
"I see, how long do you think the mission will take?" asked Natasha.
"Again totally up to you, if you catch him quickly, that would be good, and if not, we are in no hurry" said Romanoff.
"The city that the university is in is about 6 hours from here, I can't just get up and leave again, I just got back, so what's the plan?" asked Natasha.
"Well we will meet tomorrow devochka (girl), to discuss the details, and pack your bags already" said Romanoff.
"Meet where?" asked Natasha.
"I will send you location" said Romanoff.
"No, if I am going to accept this mission, you have to meet me where I choose, because I don't trust you" said Natasha as Romanoff laughed.
"Alright then devochka (girl), you learn well, choose where you want us to meet by 10am tomorrow, send me the address and I will be there" said Romanoff.
"Alright then" said Natasha as Romanoff ended the call, and so far, everything was going on smoothly.
"Mommy, I need help, I spilt grape juice all over me" said Joy as she called for Natasha from upstairs.
"Coming my baby" said Natasha as she walked down the stairs.
"What happened?" asked Natasha as she saw Joy covered in purple grape juice.
"I saw a pretty bird outside the window and I spilt my juice" said Joy as Natasha laughed.
"It's so sticky mommy" said Joy as Natasha laughed and she carried her.
"Well let's get you cleaned up my baby" said Natasha as she laughed.
"Mommy who were you talking to on the phone??" asked Joy in curiosity, she had heard voices coming from upstairs.
"Oh just a random stranger my baby" said Natasha as she laughed and she pinched Joy's cute nose as Joy giggled.