65 Chapter 65: 2 Week Together

Two weeks ago, even before Monaco, Kai went to LA for a medical conference. He is invited as a keynote speaker at the conference.

Skye is staying with Lana for a while. He gave both his assistants for the clinic some paid vacation for the time he isn't there. 

Nina said at the time "You know my friend works at a big hospital. Even she is jealous of my treatment here." 

Both Lana and Nina feel blessed when they accept a job at the clinic. Kai is really generous and he even helps them to refinance, 401K, insurance, and more.

It is hard to expect that a single mother like Lana, could own an apartment in New York. It's all because of Kai's help. 

"I could come with you, it's a conference right. It still counts as study." Skye petitioned. If she can come, that means she doesn't have to go to school. 

"I thought we had already passed the day when I drag your ass to school," Kai said while smiling. 

Skye knows that there isn't the slightest chance she could come. So she pouted all day before Kai left for the airport. 

In LA. He got a hotel room provided by the conference management, but the room is uncomfortable for him. 

"Hmm, I guess it's because I've gotten used to a certain standard of living."

The conference is boring, most of them are old people. Kai walks around until he sees a familiar face.

"Dr. Palmer. How are you?"

"Dr. Vera, Never have I thought someone who was admitted for overworking could be so talented." She shook his hand.

"This is Dr. Stephan Strange. A neurosurgeon" She introduces her partner.

Strange shook hands with Kai. He said, "I've read your papers before. It's very impressive. I don't understand why you are still working in a small clinic. "

It's very rare for the neurosurgeon to acknowledge someone's skill. But he had watched Kai's surgery video over and over. He can say with absolute confidence that Kai has a scary precision in surgery. 

Strange tries to convince Kai to work at his hospital. Christine Palmer is very shocked at the time as she knows how egoistical Strange could be. 

"I'm looking forward to your slot in the conference," Strange said before he and Christine walked away. 

While he is still in LA, Kai took the time to sightsee the city of angels. He checks a food blog, and there are hidden gem restaurants in the city. It's a place for desserts.

When he arrived at the restaurant, he saw that the seat was full. He is disappointed until he sees another familiar face.

"Excuse me, newbie, all the seats are full," he said while pulling out the chair and sitting at the table. 

Natasha, who is using the restaurant as a cover to report back at Shield, is really surprised.

The female waiter who sees Kai's action rushes to them. "Sir, you can't do that here," he thought Kai was bothering the pretty lady.

"It's okay. He's a friend." Natasha asserted to the waiter.

Kai is unbothered. "Can you get me the dessert special? The crepe." He didn't even look at the menu. The waiter noted his order and went to the kitchen.

"It's been a long time. Newbie. " Kai said with a smile.

"Long time no see, by the way, you should have called me by the name when we first met." She whispered. 

"Okay, undercover is it. I understand." He also whispered back. 

"Why are you here? Did you already move your clinic?" She asks in a normal voice.

Kai answered, "No, I have a conference here. How have you been? It's been a while. Almost a year right?"

She looks at the face that has been on her mind for a long time. She had always wanted to come back. She even moved to LA to get away, but fate played a trick on her.

Natasha felt a little guilty when Kai asked the question. She didn't want to meet him because she felt unworthy to lead a normal life. She's also afraid that Kai will one day see her like she is. A monster. 

"I have been busy with work. " She tries to give excuses. 

"Nat, we both know that isn't true". Kai said with a sad smile. Natasha is stunned when she hears that. 

"Here is your deluxe crepe with berries and chocolate syrup. Enjoy. " The waiter comes in at a perfect time.

"Can I get another spoon please?" He tells the waiter. 

"It's too big, share it with me." 

Natasha looks at Kai for a minute, then she smiles. "You didn't change a bit." 

"I don't, You did. Curly-fried hair suits you." 

"It's not curly fries," Natasha speaks in a low tone. Not even 5 minutes and he teased her again. 

The spoon comes and Kai forces Natasha to eat. They talk for a while. 

"I have been staying in a hotel for the conference. It's very uncomfortable " Kai said. The vibe is like she'd never left, and they picked up exactly where it stopped. 

"Do you bring any liquor with you?" She was just curious. 

"Why are you and Phil all the same? Don't you know how much he drank when he tried to meet V?" Kai is exasperated. 

"I meant for the conference. I have never said I wanted one," she said with a sly smile. 

"But you want one, don't you?" Kai smirks. 

Natasha realizes something else. "Wait, he stayed with you while he was on a mission?" 

 "Yes, whenever he has time." 

"You know, you can stay with me for the rest of your conference at my apartment. I have a big one for the mission. Consider this a payback for Coulson's behavior" 

She did this after thinking for a while. Kai said he didn't intervene in a mission, and she could argue with Nick Fury that Coulson did it if she was caught. 

"Don't you get in trouble for that?" Kai is a bit worried. Natasha smiled and said "Not if I didn't say anything" 

It decided then, that Kai will stay with her for the rest of his time there. 

… 

Day 1. 

Natasha returned after a long day of work. Today, she finally got in contact with Tony Stark. 

Usually, the house is very lonely. But this time, someone said to her. "Welcome home. I have made dinner" 

She smiles and said "What is it? I'm starving." 

Kai made a spread for her. From salad to meat dishes, all of it is there. 

"I'll get fat if you do this every day." She sits at the dining table. 

"Don't worry, I'm an excellent dietician. You can eat what you like here, and you won't gain weight at all." Kai sits on the opposite chair. 

He even prepared a bath for her. 

"You know, we are like husband and wife. But the position has changed." Natasha jokes. 

"Don't you watch The way of a house husband? If a woman makes 7 figures, then I don't mind being in the kitchen." 

" Said the rich man " Natasha rolled her eyes.

When she is exhausted, she will get to relax whenever she returns. The cold apartment for the mission becomes a source of warmth for her.

Especially for the day, she has to put on a tough facade. 

Living with him makes her forget. And she's very afraid to fall into it. 'But just for 2 weeks. I wanted this life for just 2 weeks. Don't I deserve this?' 

Day 2. 

Kai is in the living room drinking beer. Natasha joins him after her bath. She is wearing pajamas and relaxing. She sits a meter away from him on the sofa. 

He is watching a sitcom at the time. *Prrap* He pops open another beer. 

"Here" He hands it over to her. 

"I have never seen this brand before." She takes a sip. 

"Of course, you don't. This is very rare stuff." He elaborated. 

They are watching Friends together. He asks a question. 

"Do you think Ross and Rachel are on a break? Or not?" 

" I like Monica and Chandler more."

Day 4.

Natasha isn't home today. She followed Pepper Potts to New York. She will get in late at night.

At midnight, in front of the Stark Industry.

"I will see you the next day Miss Potts." 

She saw off Pepper who is driven by Happy. When they leave, suddenly she hears a superbike engine sound coming towards her. 

The man in the leather jacket stopped in front of her. 

"You're late," Natasha said to the guy. 

"I just finished my conference. Give me a break." Kai is helpless. He got a last-minute text from her.

Natasha wears a helmet that Kai bought for her and sits at the back. She was wearing pants at the time so riding a bike didn't bother her. 

She didn't have to, but she hugged him from the back while he was driving. 

At home, Kai is video calling with Skye. After the call is done, he sighs.

"Is she still urging you to go to the beach?" Nat asks. 

"Yes…how about it. Want to go with me?" He offered.

" I don't have time..." She says sadly.

Day 7

"Hey, there is a restaurant that I got us into tonight," Kai said while Natasha was having breakfast.

"Sure. Tomorrow I will be in Monaco, so I won't be here." 

That night in La Palapa restaurant... 

"I got out of work early, this better is worth it." Natasha is wearing a one-piece, satin red dress that highlights her figure and her chest. 

Most of the men that come in are drooling when they see her.

"That's not really in my control, isn't it. It's the restaurant's job to make it worth it." 

Kai is wearing a white t-shirt with blue jeans. He folded his t-shirt arm and didn't button his clothes all the way, revealing his muscular chest.

Many of the female eyes are glued to him.

Soon, there are some whispers from the crowd." Are they a celebrity couple? Or models? "

Kai and Natasha ignored all of that. 

When they were seated at the table, the waiter recommended a bottle of wine for their evening. 

"We have a special 1989 Château for the evening." The waiter said. It is 2000 dollars a bottle. 

"Sure," Kai said perfunctorily. His wine has better qualities than the most expensive wine on this earth. 

"As expected of a shareholder in Stark Industry. You don't even bat an eye with expensive wine." Natasha teases. 

"My collection tasted better. Also, you want me to do something to the pervert who has been staring at your chest?" 

There is an old man at a table next to them drooling. 

"I'm used to it. But you don't even have a glance. And that bothers me." She teases. 

"Who said I didn't? But it was so subtle you didn't even know it." Kai said with a grin.

No one knows how, but that night suddenly the old man choked on his food and had to be brought to the hospital.

When Natasha and Kai sit on the sofa in front of the Tv that night, their distance is only 30 centimeters apart from each other.

Day 9

Natasha is fixing Stark face up from a beating. Suddenly, Tony asks, "What will you do if tomorrow is your last day on earth?" 

She answers. "I will do whatever I want, with whomever I want to do it with." 

It's a seduction technique. But when she returned home, she thought about her answer.

"If this is my last day… then…" She opened up the door to her apartment. 

She then sees Kai is shirtless and is working out. His muscular body is imprinted in her eyes. 'Last day...' No one knows what she thought at the time.

"You're back early. It's only afternoon. "Kai is sick from the conference so he took the day off and stayed at home. 

"Something happened in Monaco," Natasha said after prying her eyes away from Kai's body. 

Kai saw what was happening. He walks toward Natasha while having a naughty smile on his face. 

"What?" Natasha's heart beats quickly. 

Kai didn't say anything and just inches closely towards her. There are only a few inches of distance between them. Kai bent over slightly and met Natasha's eyes. 

She can feel his hot breath on her face. He locked eyes with her for a while.

She is stunned by the development. Suddenly Kai reaches his arm to her. She readies herself…

But then, Kai takes the towel behind Natasha. He smirks and says to her playfully, "Your face is red, what are you thinking about?" 

He goes to take a bath, leaving Natasha there still contemplating whether or not Shield will back her up for murder. 

Day 11

Natasha just got out of the Donut store where she and Nick Fury talk with Tony. 

Nick said to her before he left." Coulson will monitor Stark from now on. You will continue undercover as Pepper Pott's secretary. Also… don't lose your focus, Romanov" 

He didn't reprimand her about her failed injection. rather, he is thankful that she failed. Otherwise, Tony will go into a seizure right there.

He climbs into a black SUV. Coulson is inside the vehicle. Natasha is riding in another car. 

"Are you not planning to tell her about Kai?" Coulson said. They already know what is going on.

Nick Fury said, "No, his feats are still confidential."

Other than the people who saw Kai fighting the vampire before, only one person who is not involved knows, that is Barton. 

Hawkeye participated in the demon-hunting mission before, so he had his eyes opened to the dark world.

Coulson didn't realize this, but there is a small smile on Fury's face when he talks about Kai and Natasha. 

Day 12

"I've only had a few hours," Natasha said while dressing in a skimpy black swimsuit. 

Kai, who was wearing sunglasses and short pants, said "Better make this count." 

They are now at the beach! 

Natasha lies face-first at the tanning chair and says to Kai. "Rub this sunblock on me" she unties the knot on her bikini. 

Even while laying down, her figure catches the eyes of the passersby.

Kai is still unbothered and that irks her… a lot. Today she is going to make him restless. She puts some extra effort into her outfit today.

He takes the sunblock and rubs it all over her body. From her back to her buttock, thighs, and feet. His hand is all over her body.

"Do you want me to do the front too?" He teases. 

Natasha furrows her brows. 'How can I make him bashful?' She thought while returning the favor and rubbing the lotion on his muscular back.

They play around the beach until the afternoon. When Kai is getting some ice cream, he sees some young man hitting on Natasha. 

They are teasing her, which irks him. That right is only reserved for him.

He goes behind them. His shadow makes the young man wonder whether the sun is down. 

"You've got some nerve hitting on my girl." Kai is roleplaying. His scary face scared the shit of the young man. They ran away. 

"Your girl?" Natasha won't let this chance go. 

"I just said that so they will leave," Kai explained. 

'He's bashful! I did it…but…why is my face getting hot?' Natasha turns her back on him. 

After a moment, Kai breaks the silence. "Let's go home now. You're working this evening right?" 

At night, while they are sitting in front of the tv, there is no more distance between them.

Day 14

"Tomorrow Justin Hammer will make a presentation. You are going right?" Natasha said. Tomorrow is Kai's last day in LA. 

"Yes, my conference is over. I thought I would take a picture or something before I left." Kai said while packing his stuff. 

Natasha feels like her heart has been pricked when he says that he will leave. 

He noticed her mood and said, "Come by my house anytime you want. I will always open my door to you." He stroked her hair while he said that. 

They are enjoying the current state of their friendship. Natasha didn't say anything to him, even though she desperately wants to. Their life is too different. 

After this assignment, who knows when she will meet him again. 

"Hey, I've talked to Pepper. And you can ride with us to go to New York in her private jet. She says it's okay since you're a shareholder." 

On the plane, Kai is meeting Pepper for the first time. 

"You're a hard man to meet Mr. Vera." Kai had never come to any shareholder meeting. All of his work was done by a blind lawyer he entrusted it to. 

"Sorry. I've been busy with work." He makes some excuses to the female CEO. In the plane, Natasha seems to avoid him. 

Pepper asks her curiously. "Isn't he your friend?" 

"He is," Natasha answers curtly. She glances at him. "He is my favorite person in the world," she mutters underneath her breath, making Pepper more confused. 

…

The next day comes, Kai is watching Hammer's presentation when Iron Man flies onto the stage. He didn't manage to go back home yet. 

Pepper already sent his luggage home. He is placed right behind Pepper and Natasha.

"Ryan is also here right?" Pepper asks Natasha. 

The Black widow who is avoiding Ryan nods politely. Kai, who knows about the situation, lets out a stifled laugh, in which he is glared at by the assassin. 

Hammer is unveiling his new weapons at the center stage. "Presenting, the Hammer Drones" 

"Army! Navy! Air Force! Marines!" Battalions of robot drones show up on the stage. 

Hammer is satisfied with the applause. "Even with revolutionary new technology, a man has to be there in the theater of war." 

"Presenting the prototype of Variant Threat Response Battle Suit. Piloted by air force Lieutenant Colonel James Rhodes." 

Lastly, The Iron Patriot shows up on the stage

Then, a red streak comes in from the sky. Natasha realizes that something is wrong. 

" We need to move. " She said. Pepper agrees with her. 

" Kai, I don't know what will happen. So get out of here. " Natasha ordered.

"Nope." He smiles at her. 

"We don't have time Natalie" Pepper took the lead, which Natasha followed after urging Kai one more time. He is still stubborn and still sitting there. 

It's not Natasha's fault that she didn't know about Kai's combat ability. It's deeply hidden within Shield and Kai never shows it in front of her. 

The robot drones suddenly locked in on Tony. 

Kai and Ryan at the conference said, "It started."