Memories of Winter

Roxxon

"What do you make of him? Ezekiel?" James asked sat in the chair sketching as Natalia prepared for the evening the last two months had been building towards- Roxxon.

The Roxxon deal was important to Ezekiel and his father. Obidiah wanted his son to promote his work rather than stay in the lab. To ingratiate himself with such affiliates and make alliances. Roxxon had once been a fuel company, but each executive had transformed it into something far greater, working with the likes of Sebastian Shaw and Darren Cross. There was little the company wouldn't do to secure profit.

She considered James's question as she twisted her hair up onto her head.

"Futurist. Genius intellect.  Billionaire. Not too much of a playboy at present, too focused on his work to look at women, but that's likely to change after tonight."

"Narcissist?"

"Absolutely. His type always is. When you've already got all that in your pocket, wealth, intelligence and influence, why wouldn't you be the most significant person you know? Won't play well with others. No loyalty. Only mildly to his father, but even that is flexible. His work is all that really matters to him. If Alianova Romanoff were real he'd choose a partnership with her for what it can gain him.."

"You think he's up there with Stark?" James asked. From his observation of Obidiah, Obidiah was a good businessman, but he was no Howard Stark. He wasn't innovative the way Stark had been, he was brilliant but as a master of manipulation.

"Howard Stark is dead and his son a drunk. I think he's smarter than Tony Stark. Ezekiel hates him. It's like a weird sibling hate. He wants to make Stark enterprise obsolete rather than take it over."

Hair complete she moved on to her makeup: simple eye makeup and bright red lipstick.

"For now. Stark might snap out of it. Being an orphan will do weird things to your head."

Natalia was surprised at the sentiment and turned to look at James. "Are you? An orphan I mean?"

James pulled a face, "I dunno. Given we think I was in World War II, it's most likely what parents I had are long dead if they weren't already."

Natalia considered and watched James turn back to his sketch. Many elements of his persona prior to the Winter Soldier had reared since their stay in America - dancing, chess, sketching. She wondered who he might have become had he not been taken. She turned back to the mirror and finished her makeup. Then removed the robe she'd been wearing and got her dress for the evening. Red, the front seemingly businesses-like but the low cut back and thigh-high slipt screamed sophisticated social event.

"Help me with the buttons?" The dress was easy enough to get into, however, the buttons at the neck were fiddly.

In the mirror, she saw James smirk as he stepped up, and she felt his warm fingers and his metallic ones as he buttoned up the neck for her. She closed her eyes at his touch. He brushed the back of his hand down her exposed skin, then slid his metal arm about her waist and kissed her shoulder. A rap on the door halted what could've ruined her hard work.

"Later," she said turning in his arms and pressing her fingers to his lips.

She grabbed her purse and exited their room closing the door so no one saw or heard James. Double-checking that the apartment was clear of anything suggesting a man was here she opened the door knowing Ezekiel was standing on the other side. Like James, she knew his smell, his steps.

"Mr Stane."

Ezekiel's smile fell at the sight of her; mission accomplished.
"Wow. Alianovna you look incredible."