Fractured Mind

Chapter 20

"Hey, can you maybe not touch that?" Peter said irritably as he turned around.

Felicia rolled her eyes and set down the small container that contained several iridescent spiders, "no problem, Mr. Parker," she said all too sweetly.

"Do you really need to be in here right now?" Peter asked as he turned back to his laptop and began typing away.

"I don't need to be. Why, am I distracting you?" Felicia pursed her lips as she seductively lay out on an empty table and began marveling at her long red finger nails.

Peter turned around again and gave her a nauseated look, "Er- sorry Felicia, but I'm only attracted to girls."

"Maybe that's your problem. You always go for girls, and you're missing out on the real women," she winked at him and smiled innocently.

Peter quickly looked her up and down, "let's see: fake smile, fake nails, fake hair. Is there any part of you that's real?"

Felicia huffed and Peter smiled at her indignant expression and went back to work. "So what's taking you so long with this? Don't you already have all the information you need?" she asked, ignoring his previous comment.

Peter talked slowly as if explaining to a child, "yes, Felicia, but this stuff takes time. I've only been working on this for two months now, and with your constant yammering, it's going to take twice as long."

"Or you're just stalling and lied about the whole thing," Felicia muttered under her breath. Peter rolled his eyes at her.

The door opened and Peter turned to see Harry walk into the room. He got up from his chair. Harry grinned when he saw the disgruntled looks on both of their faces.

"Felicia, are you bothering him again?" he asked, amused.

"Of course not, Harry," she winked at him, "I was just curious how much longer this was going to take. It will be great to not have to see him on a weekly basis."

Harry shot her a cautioning look, "I need to speak with Peter briefly. Can you go pick us up some lunch?"

Felicia gave him an incredulous look, but proceeded towards the door. "Oh, and by the way, Max called. He's on his way back from Austria right now. The Doc may have found someone else. Max is coming back to help with the 'find out who Spider-Man is project' because none of us are giving results. See you shortly, Mr. Osborn," she blew him a kiss and headed out the door.

"She really is something else," Harry said as the door closed behind her.

"You can say that, I guess," Peter grimaced and shook his head, "so, was she telling the truth? Is there a new member of the Sinister Six I have to stop?"

"Well... yes. Doc Ock has found someone else, a man that goes by the name of The Vulture. Never heard of him but I'm sure I'll meet him soon. She just mentioned it in front of you to hopefully alarm you," he rolled his eyes.

Peter shrugged, "doesn't sound like anything I can't handle. Is that what you wanted to talk to me about, or is there something else?"

Harry contemplated for a moment, "I'm not rushing you or anything, so don't think that. I was just curious how everything is going?" he gestured around the room.

Peter snorted and shook his head. "I don't mind you asking. Everything is going great, though. I'm following the same steps as our father's tests and getting the same results. I'd say I'm at least halfway done. Give me another two months and it should be ready. That is if she doesn't keep pestering me," he nodded his head towards the door.