It was an early fall morning when the phone calls started to come in.
The alarm clock on the nightstand began to beep. A hand reached out from under the covers to smash down the snooze button.
The phone rang, echoing throughout the studio apartment. It went on for a minute before falling silent.
"Miss. Ashburn?" A thick Russian accent called out of nowhere.
"You haves a call waiting for yous."
There was no response from the pile of blankets on the bed. A soft snore drifted through the fabrics.
"Miss. Ashburn, I insists you get ups this second." Again there was no response.
In a split second all the blinds were retracted with a snap, light pouring in through the floor to ceiling windows. The TV now spouting out nonsense of a hurricane coming up through the tropics. As if for a last touch, the alarm started going off again.
"Okay! I'm up! You win!" Willow shouted as she sprang out of bed, hands lifted up in surrender.
"Just don't turn on that damn fire sprinkler again!"
She often wondered to herself why she'd ever allowed Tony to install his new AI beta into her house. The tests had to be done, sure, but why couldn't he just use Steve? He always liked to use him as a lab rat.
IGOR was nothing like JARVIS who was all gentleman. Instead she got stuck with the Russian with the bad attitude. If something wasn't the way it should be IGOR would let her know. And it wasn't always the most kind of reminders.
"Your breakfast ins the kitchen." IGOR stated in an almost annoyance. Had Tony been messing with the personality settings again? Ugh, that's why betas where no fun. At least not in the computer sense.
Within a half hour, Willow had showered, dressed and prepared herself mentally for the day ahead of her. On her way out the door she grabbed a slice of burnt toast that was waiting for her on the table. She sighed in defeat. IGOR never could get the cooking part down. It was always burnt toast and sour milk at breakfast.
Just as she slammed the door shut behind her, the red phone in the kitchen rang.
Stepping out into the early morning city air was never as refreshing as she wanted. Sometimes she missed the old days living out in the country outside the city limits. After some time Willow managed to hail a cab and as she got in her eyes noticed the glint of the Stark building off in the distance. The shiny panels of the building and sleek architecture made it stand out like a golden tower in a city of smokestacks.
Her window offered one last look just as the taxi turned a corner, and the tower was out of sight. The golden Stark building was a beacon for all those in the city. And unlike most of the population Willow knew that the war was still upon them. There was something still sitting up in the air.
Arrange, staple, stack and repeat. The daily mantra of her working song played over and over in her head like a bad recording. Every day was the same thing. Collect the files, edit them, group into departments, staple, stack and repeat.
Here she was with a masters in ancient mythology, stuck as a secretary at a law firm in the heart of Manhattan. Not exactly her dream job, but it paid the bills. Like most people she didn't enjoy her work one bit.
"Did you know..." A voice spoke from behind her as she stacked another set of files to her right. She knew the rest of the line to finish for him.
"...that I look SO damn hot in this get-up? Why thank you, it was just..." She was rudely interrupted as a man sat on the edge of her desk, crossing one leg over the other.
"Well someone is looking fine today, but I wasn't referring to you."
"At least I know when enough is enough John. How much...cough...cologne did you put on this morning?"
John stiffened in mock offense. "Not a lot! Just some under the arms, on my neck, wrists...Oh! and even some down..."
Willow stopped him by stuffing a piece of a muffin in his mouth. "Let me stop you while your ahead."
John rolled his eyes at her as he munched on the muffin and wiped his mouth on the end of his flamingo pink tie. It had just the right touch with his light gray pressed shirt. Now the flipped up collar on the other hand...
Staple, stack and repeat. The pile had dwindled and just as she thought she would finally be rid of the nuisance, her boss came by with another folder of papers that were sticking out at all ends. "I need you to make two hundred copies of each page and create the pamphlet for the charity event."
"Yes, sir."
Willow leafed through the stray pages and sighed. It was only the beginning of what would be a long day. She turned to John who was busy picking at his nails.
"I've got to run these copies and get some more coffee. Do you want anything?" She grabbed the stack of already organized files and carried them against her chest, balancing an empty mug on top and the new files under one arm.
"Na, I'm good. I'll wait for you here."
Walking down the hall she avoided the hustle and bustle of those around her all the while juggling the large stack of files. She took a left down the next hall not hearing John calling after her.
"Hey Willow, your phone's ringing!"
And done! She slammed the last pamphlet down onto the desk and sat back in a slouch against the chair. 200 copies of 50 different pages was a lot of work. Along with delivering mail to the whole floor, setting appointments up for the following weeks, and balancing the books, Willow was worn ragged. There had been no stop for lunch, and a second cup of coffee had been but a dream.
The law firm was holding an annual ball at the end of the month and the packets for the V.V.I.P. were to be sent in advanced. Along with checking the guest list and confirming attendees, Willow had never been more sick to work on the committee.
Not once in the five year working at the firm had she been able to score tickets to the lux black tie event. It was one of the most happening charity events held in Manhattan for that financial quarter.
After tidying up her desk, she noticed she was the only one left in the office. Turning off the monitor and grabbing her hand bag from under the desk, Willow flicked the switch of the lights and left the office.
The elevator hall was bare except for the lone security guard at his station who nodded his head at her. Pressing the down button she boarded and waited for the 72 floor descent.
From the dark recesses of her purse came a bubblegum k-pop song. Digging, she pulled out her cell phone.
"Hello?"
"NO! What did I say Steve? I said NOT to put the chip in until AFTER I've re-calibrated the systems!"
There was a loud whirring noise in the background and she had to hold the phone away from her ear.
"Hello?" She tried again. This time getting a response.
"About time you picked up. Do you realize I've been trying to get a hold of you all day? I was just about to send out the dream team for a rescue mission."
Willow rolled her eyes and switched the phone to her other ear. A smile of both annoyance and amusement graced her lips.
"Even better that I didn't answer. I just don't want to talk to you right now Tony."
"Ah, well, that's not my problem now is it? I need to talk to you about something important. Can we meet up somewhere? I know a little strip club around the corner..."
"Tony! I'm not going with you to a strip club!"
"You're right...the press would get wind of that." He paused as if to think.
"I can always order some girls to come..."
"TONY! Please, back on topic. Look, can't this wait till another day? I literally just walked out of the office and all I want to do right now is eat some food and drink an ice cold beer."
"Aw, but you can do that at home. Come meet me...What did I say Steve!? that UV particle blaster isn't ready yet! Are you trying to blow your head off!?...Willow, just meet me at the cafe."
"No. I'm going home and there's nothing you can say that will change my mind."
A brief pause as both sides stopped to collect their thoughts.
"What if...god, I'm going to regret this tomorrow...what if I let you come up to the tower?"
Willow froze.
"The tower? Would you order take out?"
"Yes, I'll order takeout."
"From that fancy bistro by the Logos building?" She asked as if this was the deal breaker.
"YES! For the love of all that's good I'll get your damn food! Now get you're ass over here pronto!" With that Tony hung up the phone and Willow left the office building to hail a cab.
That's the way Tony had always been. The big brother that wouldn't stop giving her orders.