Marvel: As Security Guard

After Shane and Pepper reached an agreement, they were about to head to Tony's office to discuss the details further. However, on their way upstairs, they unexpectedly ran into Stark Industries' senior executive, Obadiah Stane.

"Pepper, I'm so sorry. I was supposed to accompany Tony on this deal. Maybe if I had gone with him, none of this would have happened..." Obadiah approached Pepper with a deeply remorseful expression, pulling her aside to speak in a low voice.

Even from two meters away, Shane couldn't help but admire Obadiah's acting skills after seeing the guilt-ridden look on his face. 'Dyum, what a performance!'

Naïve as she was, Pepper assumed Obadiah had also heard the news from military sources. Seeing his sorrowful expression, she didn't suspect anything at all.

Hearing his words, the emotions Pepper had barely suppressed surged back up. Her body trembled slightly, her eyes reddened, and she even felt the urge to hug Obadiah. Obadiah, seeing her reaction, immediately understood. Yeah, she also received the news.

While the two were whispering to each other, Shane, who had been watching from the side, finally couldn't hold back.

"Miss Potts, can we finish our business first?"

At Shane's words, Obadiah's sorrowful expression stiffened for a brief moment. The hand he had been preparing to use for a comforting hug froze in mid-air.

"What business? And who the hell are you?" Obadiah narrowed his gaze in displeasure, staring at the unfamiliar man who had just interrupted the perfect atmosphere he had carefully crafted.

With Tony Stark missing, Obadiah Stane was now the largest shareholder of Stark Industries. Not only that, but Tony's disappearance was orchestrated by none other than him. His plan was to make sure Tony Stark disappeared forever, turning Stark Industries into his personal empire.

At this moment, within Stark Industries, he saw himself as the absolute authority. Yet now, out of nowhere, appeared this nobody with steel balls to challenge him.

"Uh... yes..."

Standing to the side, Pepper finally snapped back to reality. She was about to tell Obadiah everything—about hiring Shane to rescue Tony when Shane suddenly interrupted her.

"I'm Miss Potts' friend. She borrowed something from me earlier, and now it's time for her to return it."

Pepper turned her head, utterly bewildered, staring at Shane, who looked genuinely anxious as if she might run off at any moment.

"Really, Pepper? Do you need my help?" Obadiah asked, tilting his head slightly, his voice laced with concern.

"Uh, no. Its okay. It's just a small matter. No need to trouble you—I can handle it myself," Pepper replied. Though she had no idea why Shane was saying this, she wasn't stupid.

Rescuing Tony was her top priority. In just a split second, she made a choice—to trust Shane's experience. Worst case, she could apologize to Obadiah after Tony was safe. She was sure he'd understand.

"Alright then, but don't worry too much. I'm sure the military will find Tony soon," Obadiah said with a reassuring tone. Since Pepper had insisted it wasn't anything important, he saw no reason to concern himself with minor, non-corporate matters. His focus was entirely on Tony—more specifically, on the power he would gain once Tony was permanently out of the picture.

Without sparing Shane a glance, Obadiah turned and walked off toward Tony's office. He needed to move forward with his next step: seizing control.

Since there was nowhere in Stark Industries suitable for them to talk, Shane and Pepper had no choice but to leave for now.

They headed to a nearby café, where Pepper, with practiced ease, booked a quiet private room.

On the way there, she had already contacted Colonel Rhodes, asking him to send over all the intel he had. Though Rhodes was confused about why she needed it, he agreed to compile the information and send it as soon as possible.

Now, inside the private room, the two sat in silence, waiting for Rhodes' message.

"Afghanistan… near an air force base, huh…" Shane muttered as he read through the mission briefing.

"What do you think?" Pepper, sitting across from Shane, had been watching him anxiously. The moment he spoke, she leaned forward, her voice filled with urgency—she hadn't even touched her favorite coffee on the table.

"Hmm... I can't be certain yet. I need to get there first and for that, you should contact Colonel Rhodes again—I have to check out the site where the convoy was ambushed."

"Alright! I'll arrange your travel immediately and get in touch with Rhodes so he can meet you." The efficiency of Pepper's executive assistant instincts kicked in instantly.

"No need to arrange my travel as I'll handle it myself. Also, don't tell anyone about this, except for Colonel Rhodes. If you really want to find Tony, keep this strictly between us." Shane warned, his eyes serious as he watched Pepper rush into action.

"Why?" Pepper tensed up, still not understanding. "I wanted to ask you earlier—why did you lie to Obadiah? Wouldn't using the company's resources help us rescue Tony faster?"

Shane exhaled and pushed the mission report toward her. "Look carefully at the details of the ambush. The attackers easily overwhelmed an armed military convoy and retreated without a scratch, taking Tony with them. Based on the report, there's only one possible explanation."

Pepper's heart sank. "...What is it?"

"They knew the convoy's route ahead of time. It was an ambush. That means either there's a mole in the military or there's a mole in your company."

Pepper's eyes widened in shock, her mouth slightly open. She wasn't stupid—just too emotionally involved. But after Shane's words, the truth hit her like a truck.

"Then... what about me? And Tony—?"

"You're fine. Don't panic," Shane reassured her. "The fact that they took Tony alive instead of killing him means they need something from him. At least until they get what they want, his life is safe. The only question is—how much time do we have left before that changes?"

"You have to save Tony. Please, I'm begging you. I-f… if you can bring him back, I'll do anything you ask." Pepper's eyes welled with tears as she pleaded with Shane.

Shane internally sighed, a little embarrassed to hear such a cheeky line.

'Miss, that's a line equivalent to 'I will offer my body in return'.'

"I will. Don't worry," Shane reassured her with a slight smirk. "We already have a deal, remember? You still have to hire me as the company's security guard~. Now, pull yourself together. Once we step outside, act like nothing is happening. Don't let anyone suspect a thing. I'll keep you updated on my progress."

Pepper nodded before cleaning her face with a tissue.

When they left the café, Pepper had already regained her usual composed and professional demeanor—there was no trace of her earlier tears. Back at Stark Industries, she greeted Obadiah with the same worried and sorrowful look in her eyes, reinforcing his belief that she was still overwhelmed with concern for Tony. That only made him more at ease.

As for Shane, the moment they parted ways, he officially began planning his trip to Afghanistan.