Shuri was good on her word and the ship from Egypt was excavated. It was done quietly and under cover of a Wakandan stealth field. It was one of the Kree's scout ships and was now being dismantled to fix some of the city's older systems. With Jhalia, she had access to most of the defensive systems, and a few of the offensive ones. It was a security protocol that stopped her from accessing some of the base's more deadly weapons. It was designed for a Kree with a Symbiote and recognised that Shuri was not Kree. After almost killing her and Jhalia, the Queen accepted she was not to mess with the city more than she had. She did not admit that it would not be her that would be accessing and disabling the security system. She would ask Peter to do it.

Doom had been dealt with as well. His contract was with a cover tribe and did not entitle him to more Vibranium. In fact, Shuri made sure he was penalised for cheating the system and Latveria was now on the Barred list. So far, only two nations had been added. Russia, under the control of the Red Room, and Latveria.

As well as finalising contracts for Parker Inc, Peter had one more task. He set up a meeting with Ross. They agreed he would deal with Sterns as an independent contractor, pro bono. Once it was done, they would be square for aiding with Hydra. If the military wanted Peter for anything, it would go through Parker Inc.

That was next week's task. It was his final loose end, and now he owed no more favours, illegal or otherwise. Liv had been happy taking the reins of Parker Inc but he needed to step up as its owner.

Which was why Felicia, Gwen, Natasha, Pepper, Emma, and Liv were in a meeting room in the Parker building.

“So, with AIM gone, we need a new strategy, and I came up with this.” Peter handed out folders to each of the women, each with a general outline but specifics for them all.

“First, Pepper. You will be the CEO of AIM. Killian left us the name, and even then with Hammer dead, Parker Inc is the only company left. While I’m not going to head AIM, I do want to keep the original idea alive.” As Liv leant forwards to interrupt Peter shook his head. “Liv, you will be head of Octech, or whatever you want to call it while I will be head of Parker Industries. Gwen, I thought Stacy Solutions, 'cause you know it's a pun but still works.“ Gwen smiled and nodded. “Nat. Black Cat Securities, and Felicia, you’ll get legit papers for everything through that. Emma, you need to speak to Gwen, but I don’t see why we can’t have White Cat Cosmetics.” As the group slowly worked their way through their files a few frowns and a few smiles appeared.

It was Pepper who spoke first, “So, I do everything?”

Peter shook his head. “Not really, you run everything delegating resources and manpower. " He paused as she smirked and raised an eyebrow. "Yeah okay, you run everything. We're all our own bosses, but other than Liv, nobody here has the business know-how you do. We want you to run AIM, which includes us. I’ll stick to R and D, Liv does manufacturing, Gwen has her cream and cosmetics, and Nat runs our security. Emma needs a business strategy but I guess you know that already. Anyone working for us is employed by whatever company they work for.”

Pepper nodded and flicked to another page, “So, salary?”

Peter sighed. “You can look at our cash flow, our patents and decide that. Look Pepper, or uh I know that's a nickname, Virginia?” but she shook her head. “Pepper. You have all the experience. I mean, you’ll make us more money in a week than we could in a year. You’re the brains, I'm sure Emma will be able to help but really, this is on you.”

“Really?” Liv added. “I did work at Oscorp dear, and I did manage most of Norman's projects,”

Peter nodded but pointed at the file. “Yup, projects. Pepper is above that. Managing teams is one thing, managing teams of teams is another. You never dealt with lawyers, HR, or recruitment. Liv, everyone sitting here is an expert in their field, which is why I want everyone to stick to that field, and Liv. Pepper ran Stark’s life as well as his company.” He shrugged, “I think she’ll do a better job.”

Liv leaned back with a sour look on her face, “and I agree, but it does feel a little off. I mean, I was doing a good job until.”

Peter stretched over and took her hand. “You were, buuuut,” and he smiled, “what about lab work?”

She frowned and huffed. “Fine, so I wasn't getting any lab time, and you are right,”

"Yeah, "Gwen added. "Plus, imagine having to stop something just to deal with whatever dumb thing Pete's done."

Peter laughed, “See? I was right.”

Liv lifted his hand with hers and kissed it. "It has to happen sometimes," Peter gently squeezed her hand and raised an eyebrow. An unsaid promise of revenge later passed between them.

“So, any questions?” He asked as he smirked at Liv. "And I mean real questions." She chuckled and patted his hand.

Gwen was still reading but Felicia slid her folder onto the meeting table. “You want to hire me and everyone who works for me as a consultant for your Black Cat security?”

Peter nodded. “We don't have to call it that though, I mean, I picked names I thought everyone would like.”

Felicia looked over at Natasha. “I don't mind, Black Cat, Black Widow. Still black. No costume change required,” Natasha said, and Felicia snorted.

“So how would that work, I mean, we can't exactly add Venom and Huntress to the books.”

Peter flicked through the folder and pulled out the forms.

“We can. Officially, neither Venom nor Huntress have criminal records. So, go back to Black Cat, and I’ll get a new name too. We keep Huntress and Venom as off-the-books underworld and have legit identities. Black Cat and I dunno, I’ll think of something.”

Gwen coughed, “Night Monkey.” Everyone looked at Peter and laughed.

“Yeah yeah,  but it still stands, legit and above board, two teams. One as security for the Vibranium and one for fieldwork. Cindy and Eddie are for home, and I’ll lead the other.”

Natasha leaned forward and frowned. “You? You don't want me on your team?”

Peter shook his head. “If I could trust anyone else to lead the team I would, but I need someone trained and proficient at what she does. Cindy and Eddie are both rookies, I’ve at least been on one mission plus everything else. We can't leave the warehouse’s security to amateurs, and we need someone here twenty-four-seven.”

Natasha nodded, “Seems you do listen. If you’d come up with any other plan then I’d have smacked you.”

Peter laughed and winked at her. “Right, so do we now get the lawyers in and make it official?” he asked and they nodded. “Pepper?”

She stared at the file, spinning it with a finger. “It’ll work. But cash flow will be your biggest issue. Forty per cent and I'm in, and that's forty of it all.”

“Forty of all of it? A bit greedy aren't we? No. You can negotiate individual percentages with everyone. But no. Forty gives you the ability to freeze us all out. I can read your mind, and I know that's what you're after. I am going to cheat, You can get ten per cent of Parker Inc, no more, and I know you’ll take it.”

Pepper tutted, “fifteen for cheating.”

Peter grinned and nodded. He knew she would go as high as twenty, but only if there were some major restrictions on what she was allowed to do. He had given her free reign over AIM. She would set hiring and firing policies and who and what companies were allowed to join. She would even have the ability to censure the starting companies. Peter's included. Ten per cent was gold. If she wanted more, it was up to her to make AIM successful.

“You have a deal, Miss Potts. You are now the controlling Chief Executive Officer of Advanced Idea Mechanics.” As he looked at the others, “Oh, and I'm not the only telepath, so might as well just spill it now.”

Pepper rolled her eyes. “Fifteen per cent controlling share of all business, final offer. And I want free samples from White Cat Cosmetics." She sternly looked at Peter. "and that is the only thing on the table, Mr Parker,” Pepper said. She emphasized the last part, and while he grinned he nodded. They both knew where the line was and were happy.

“Bathhouse too?” He did ask.

Pepper, having never been to the warehouse since its renovation took a quick look, and nodded.

“I accept. I’ll get contracts written up and Mr Murdock can oversee the final signage. There will be no repeat of Tony. You will come through me before you even think of putting pen to paper.” Pepper leaned back and gave a moment's thought, “In fact, no signing anything without me present. Leave business to the business expert, and that goes for all of you.” They all nodded.

“Any others?” Peter asked the group before they wrapped up and Pepper got to work. Gwen looked over at Emma, who raised an eyebrow. “I have no problem with a business to market my stuff, but I do want to sell outside of New York, can you?” Emma looked over at Pepper, who nodded, 

“Is that all?” Gwen asked. She wanted to go over the contracts of her own and find out just where she would be spending most of her time. Manufacturing was great, but research was better. Like Peter, she didn't want to be stuck making one thing for the rest of her career.

Peter sighed and shook his head. “Poison,”

Gwen slumped.

Since the incident, Poison had been kept on a rat in Gwen's lab. She had been forcefully unbonded from Cindy, who was suffering from withdrawals. After a series of tests it seemed that to control her, Hank had used a stimulant combined with a suppressant. The combination kept Cindy happily stoned and Silk sedated. It wasn't a choice anyone wanted to make, but Cindy was in just as much pain as Silk was. Hank Pym had made sure neither were a threat, and didn't care about the side effects of his drug.

After being separated Poison refused to rebond with Gwen. Instead, she hid in the rat Gwen kept as a lab mascot. It was Norwegian black, normally used for testing, but Gwen took a shine to it. It lived on her desk and kept her company while she worked.

Now it ate cookies by the dozen and hissed every time it saw Gwen. Unless Peter came by once a day, Poison was belligerent and unruly. She liked to kick sawdust around her cage and gnaw the wheel they had given her until it collapsed.

“If Cindy is okay, then we rebond them. She was happy enough as her host, and with Logan taking Rage.” He shook his head, ” Then really if they want to bond we let them.”

“Do you think that's a good idea though?” Gwen asked and he shrugged.

“I keep saying, not pets or toys. We can't just say, ‘Oh you don't get to bond because you're a pain in the ass’. I mean, she just ate cookies and ignored you. Sounds like Fel after a bad day,” and while Gwen snorted Felicia made a small ball of webbing and pinged it at Peter. Grinning as he remembered the first few months in the warehouse, he shook his head, “I’ll make it up to you later, but sure. Why not? Cindy's fine now right?” Looking over at Liv she nodded.

“It's just withdrawal from a stimulant, no different than coming off caffeine. My next question though is do we Enhance her? Eddie was given Purple Heart Flower Formula and Natasha has one as well. Do we leave her the only normal person?”

Peter shrugged. “I have no problem giving anyone any Formula they want, but tie her to a huge contract, and I mean, owe us her soul kinda deal. We don't Enhance or host anyone who looks like a flight risk, “ He paused, “In fact, no one unless I say so.”

Pepper looked over. “Why? Other than security, shouldn't that be a group decision?”

Peter sighed. “I have an ability that I can use, one I don't advertise as it's kinda invasive.”

Liv sighed, “You might as well tell her. Pepper is CEO, she needs full disclosure.”

Peter explained about the Mind Stone, and the others, while Pepper stared.

“You have that right now?” He nodded, “And you can control someone's thoughts?” He shrugged and nodded, but Pepper laughed, “prove it.”

“Really? No strings?” She nodded, “fine. What do you think of me?”

“Nice ass, amazing body, young and you’ll kick Tony’s ass into the next century with my help. But you don't need a stone to find that out, I mean,”

Peter used the Stone, connecting to its power, “Tell me really,” he commanded.

“I would screw you on this table right now if you didn't have eight others you bed-hopping asshole. I have also thought of fleecing you for all your money and retiring to the Bahamas. Tony put me off all this, this super-powered bullshit.” Pepper was shocked at the words coming out of her mouth but was unable to stop herself.

Peter shrugged, “Yeah, please don't do that.”

Pepper laughed. “Fine fine, so you've got magic rocks. And we leave recruitment up to you. Can you use that on anyone?”

Peter shook his head. “Natural telepaths will feel me using it, and Doom was immune, but I felt he lied about why. The other me saw him use magic and I think that was what he used to block it. It's not infallible, but anyone coming in looking to steal will be found out. And anyone who’s immune but didn't tell us already raises a red flag. Either way, we know they're telepathic or know about telepathy.”

“Good.” Pepper was not happy about someone being able to read her mind, or control what she could say. She was not kidding when she said Tony put her off, but it was worse. Someone with that power and very loose morals could do a lot of damage.

Peter nodded, “so, clear the table or book a ticket?” Liv laughed, but Pepper looked unamused.

Peter raised his hands in mock surrender, “I know I know, Tony.” She crossed her arms and nodded, “Business only then.”

“Good, I've got a few contacts I can bring over. If Nat is head of security, she can fill them in on what you’ll be doing. If you have any other employees send me a list and I can set up your systems. Get your departments set up properly,” Peter shrugged. “It's fine, nobody expects you to have a degree in business”

“That's what I hired you for.”

Pepper nodded. “Damn right.”

Gwen sat back, “uh Pete. If Poison gets to move, can I ask for something?”

He nodded. “Sure, another?”

But she shook her head. “No, I kinda agree with Logan on that one. We need to start keeping better track of hosts. I mean, Silk just up and walked off on Logan, and while Octave and Huntress seemed to be happy. What if Muse or Ravage just up and leave too?” 

Peter nodded. There had also been an issue with Emma. Octave had touched her, and recoiled, refusing to even move to the woman. Unsure of what that meant, Emma was left without a Symbiote. Octave had just said ‘Bad’ and after refusing to elaborate, Peter was hesitant. It might have been a situation similar to Selene's. Emma might have a power that could kill a Symbiote. She was unhappy about it, but at least she understood.

“We can leave that option open for the future. I mean, it's not like we can’t create a new Symbiote for you if you change your mind. Nobody thinks you’ll just up and leave right?” Gwen nodded,

“But uh, I want more. I want Extremis Enhancement, and uh” and rested her arms on the table, “I want you to use the Mind Stone as well. I want to be like you.”