A/N: I own nothing except for my OC.
*Late August, 2012*
"QUINNIE!"
Leave it to my boss to screech halfway across the penthouse to get my attention. Of course he couldn't use the intercom system that was conveniently placed at both of our desks to tell me he needed me.
"QUINNIE, DARLING!"
Scream at me one more time, you pompous ass, I dare you.
"QUINNIE! I AM IN NEED OF YOUR ASSISTANCE! NOW, DAMMIT WOMAN, ANSWER ME!"
My eye was twitching madly as I stood calmly, walking toward one of my boss' many offices at my own leisurely pace.
I am not going to stab this pig-headed asshole. I am not going to maim him. And I most definitely am not going to hide his suit again. J.A.R.V.I.S. already told me he wouldn't help me again.
I stopped short of his office, gathering my wits about me before I stepped inside.Tony was simply exhausting to deal with when he was like this, and, unfortunately for me, he acted like a spoiled brat more often than not.
"QUI-, oh. There you are. What took you so long?"
"Did it ever occur to you that I might have been busy with one of your many projects for me?"
Of course it didn't. I thought to myself.
"So? You're supposed to be at my beck and call while Pepper is on vacation."
"This is what Pepper deals with every day? As in all day?"
"Pretty much, yeah."
I had never, in my wildest dreams, thought I would become Tony Stark's personal assistant when I accepted an internship at Stark Industries.
3 Months Earlier
"Teeghan Elaine Quinn Jackson. Quite a big name for such a small person. Would you mind if I called you Quinnie? Or how about Quinnie the Pooh? No? Alright then, it's settled. Quinnie it is."
My right leg bounced in agitation as I stared Tony Stark down.
"What? You don't like Quinnie either? Why not? It's a perfectly acceptable nickname. It could be something like Spangles. I think you got off lucky."
"I would prefer it if you would call me by my first name, Mr. Stark." His eyebrows rose marginally at the twang in my voice. I had long since gotten use to the stares it received since arriving in the city a few weeks ago.
"Teeghan seems awfully Plain Jane in comparison to Quinnie, don't you think? And please, call me Tony; Mr. Stark makes me feel like an old man."
"I would feel much more comfortable calling you Mr. Stark, seeing as you are my potential boss." I brushed a few strands of my long ash blonde hair behind my shoulder, and then leveled Tony with another even stare. He didn't even glance in my direction, preoccupied with something on his computer screen.
"Looks like you're originally from Louisville, Kentucky. Born and raised a southern belle. Daddy owns a large, successful horse farm on the outskirts of Louisville. Background in competitive barrel racing, gymnastics, dance, and music. Mother and brother deceased since 2006, father remarried in 2007. Oh look, you have a kitten, how cute. What's her name?"
I'm sure it looked like my eyebrows flew into my hairline as I stammered out," G-G-Gracie, how did you-?"
"You'd be surprised what I can find on the Internet. Plus the fact that you have pictures of her all over your Facebook© wall helps out. Now, now, don't pout at me like that. I take all potential employees very seriously and a background check just comes with the territory."
"I didn't realize hacking into my Facebook© profile was part of a background check." My mouth twisted into what I was certain could only be an unattractive frown.
"Oh, it normally isn't. Only the interesting ones get checked out so thoroughly. And by the looks of it, I don't have to worry about you coming into work with a massive hangover, or with boyfriend issues for that matter. Damn woman, do you have any friends at all?"
I couldn't stop the embarrassed flush that swept over my face like a wildfire. While it was true that I didn't have many friends, I didn't exactly want it to be common knowledge for anyone that was within hearing range.
"I lead a very private life, Mr. Stark."
"Private isn't exactly the word I was thinking of, maybe homebody? Or perhaps hermit?"
Any traces of my embarrassment disappeared as anger replaced it.
"I happen to enjoy my peace and quiet, thank you." I stated primly, folding my hands demurely in my lap.
"Is that so?"
Nodding, I forced myself to meet his eyes. Hazel met pale blue.
"Let's get down to business Quinnie. I don't actually need another personal assistant but Pepper, the smokin' hott strawberry blonde that lead you in here, insists we could use another set of hands around the office. If you were to be offered a position at Stark Industries, you would be Pepper's personal assistant. Her right hand man…err woman, so to speak. I would need you to help her with all her files, business deals and paperwork. Do you think you could handle that?"
He waited for my nod before he continued.
"I'll be honest with you Quinnie, you weren't exactly my first choice for the job just from glancing at your credentials, but Pep had me take a second look. I still wasn't impressed. You're only twenty-two, and you really don't have a lot of job experience. You've only been in New York City for a couple of weeks, and that run down motel you're staying in doesn't exactly make sense to me. Daddy should be more than able to front the bill for an apartment for his sweet baby girl. Yeah, I know where you've been staying."
With each demeaning comment, I folded in on myself a little more. Way to ruin a girl's confidence, Stark.
"But then I took a look at your academic history. Valedictorian in high school, top of your class in college. Graduating four years early is actually impressive for normal people, but you only have the Master's degree in Music Theory, I wonder why…"
The way he'd said normal hadn't escaped my attention. I pointedly ignored his cue to elaborate on my collegiate choices.
"Plus, you took on a double major and a double minor all throughout your college career .Why'd ya pick Music Theory and Business Management? Hardly seems like two majors that would go well together. Then again World Culture and Advanced Techniques of Pianism aren't very well meshed minors either."
"It seemed like a good idea at the time." I mumbled quietly, head tucking into my shoulders even farther. Tony just didn't understand. Doing the double majors and minors were the only way Daddy would allow me to study music in college.
"It wouldn't appear that way. Listen Quinnie, normally a Stark Industries internship would be 2 years, but I'm still not too sure about you. So I'm going to be generous, and give you a six month trial period, just to see how you do." He gave me a pointed look, as if he were mentally summing me up.
I looked at him skeptically.
"What? There's something about you that I just can't put my finger on. You have something you're hiding, and I intend to have you all figured out by the time your trial period is over. Welcome to Stark Industries, Quinnie."
With that, he gracefully stood from his chair and left the room. I must have stared at the spot where he had been for at least five minutes before Pepper came back into the room.
"Congratulations Ms. Jackson. Welcome to Stark Industries." She had smiled so warmly at me. Standing next to her had made me feel horribly self conscious. While Ms. Potts was tall, probably 5'9", and thin with a willowy frame, I stood at 5'4" with a curvier frame and wider hips. By no means am I overweight, but standing next to Ms. Potts really was a blow to my self esteem. While Ms. Potts had her strawberry blonde locks pulled into an elegant French twist, my ash blonde hair hung down to the small of my back in loose ringlets.
"Please Ms. Potts. Call me Teeghan."
"Only if you'll call me Pepper.'
"Alright…Pepper. When do I start?"
"Tomorrow morning, eight o' clock, sharp. Meet me in the lobby of Stark Tower."
Pepper easily read the confusion on my face.
"That's where I conduct most of my business, so I can keep a close eye on Tony."
"Oh, alright then." I had already mentally started to rearrange my morning schedule to accommodate the new, longer train ride.
"I'll see you tomorrow, Teeghan."
"Have a nice day, Pepper."
I had the decency to wait to do my victory dance until I was several blocks away from Stark Industries.
*Present*
"Alright Tony, what's so important that you screamed halfway across the penthouse for five minutes straight?"
"My dear Quinnie, I need you to show my guests to their rooms."
It was then that I noticed the other two people in the room.
"Oh, hello there," I flashed a brief smile to the newcomers." Tony, what floor would you prefer they be on?"
"Where do all my special guests go, Quinnie?"
I took a moment to really assess Tony's 'guests'. My gaze immediately fell to the blonde man first. He was just too large of a man to not notice him. He stood, if I'm guessing correctly, around 6'9'', with arms that looked to be the circumference of my hips and a behemoth chest to match. His hair was the shade of melted gold and flowed to his shoulders in tumbling waves. He wore what seemed to be some form of armor, silver in color, with a pair of black trousers, black boots and long red cape to complete the entire look. He possessed a friendly face, with a well trimmed beard taking up the lower portion of his face. Kind dark blue eyes peered at me and he sent me a reassuring smile, from a truly beautiful mouth, as he stepped up to me. I had to tilt my head back to keep looking him in the eyes.
"Hello, fair maiden, I am Thor Odinson, God of Thunder. May I ask your name, sweet maiden?"
Speech momentarily left me. The man was a walking romance novel cover. He was just too pretty to be possible.
"Umm….uh…I'm Teeghan. Teeghan Jackson. A pleasure to meet you Mr.….Odinson?"
I held out my right hand for Thor to shake. He took my hand in a firm, but gentle grip and placed his mouth lightly onto my knuckles. My hand looked so tiny in his massive hand, the golden shade of his skin making my ivory complexion look pasty and almost white.
"Please Lady Teeghan, Thor will be fine, and the pleasure is all mine." My left eyebrow quirked up at his use of the title 'Lady'.
He stepped back and turned to his companion before introducing him.
"Lady Teeghan, this is my brother, Loki, God of….Mischief. He is also pleased to make your acquaintance." Loki made no move to shake my hand, or really acknowledge me, in any way, shape or form.
He certainly didn't share Thor's enthusiasm to meet me. Loki was also abnormally tall, around 6'11" if I had to guess. Unlike Thor's skin, which glowed with a perfect tan, Loki was pale, unearthly pale, but in a way that was strikingly beautiful. While Thor was all muscle and brute strength, Loki was slim with long limbs and sinewy muscles. Inky black hair was slicked back across his head to gather into half curls under his ears. Emerald eyes stared at me coolly, as if challenging me to say anything to him. He didn't have a beard like Thor, and his lips were pressed into a thin line. Like Thor he was also oddly dressed, wearing black trousers, paired with black boots. From what I could tell, he was wearing a black shirt with a dark green jacket on top of that. Golden armor was covering the expanse of his chest and torso. A long leather trench coat was placed over all of that.
"You will have to forgive my brother Lady Teeghan; his gift for speech is…currently beyond his grasp."
"Alright," My brows furrowed, and I turned back to Tony."I'll be right back, ok?"
Tony sent a half assed nod in my direction.
"Play nice Reindeer Games. See ya later Point Break." My brow furrowed even further in confusion as I turned back to Thor and Loki.
"If you'll follow me, gentleman."
Why do I get the feeling this isn't going to end well for me? I started off towards the elevator feeling a headache coming on. Please don't be a migraine.
Today was going to be a lovely day. I could just tell.