A/N: I own nothing related to MARVEL except my dvd's.
"What the hell, man!" Colonel James Rhodes yelled at his friend.
"Keep it down, people are sleeping." Tony Stark said not sliding out from under the car he was currently sleeping off a hangover under.
"Naked in the press again." Rhodes said making his way through the mess of Tony's workshop to his friend.
"Was I?" came his muffled reply.
He pulled Tony out from under the car.
"It's a good thing you're rich and have military contracts, because you are in a lot of trouble."
"Tell me something I don't know."
"Where is Susan? Don't tell me you fired another assistant. What is this, number thirteen this month?"
"Uh I didn't fire her, she quit. Four days ago."
"You made all this mess in four days?" Rhodes asked, "What am I saying, it's Tony Stark."
"That's me." He finally stood up but still leaned on the car. "Stop talking so loud."
"Maybe you shouldn't drink so much."
"Maybe you shouldn't be so judgmental."
"You need a new assistant. I'm going to find you a new PA, one you can't scare off."
"Good luck with that."
"I'll be back Tony." He said turning to leave the work shop.
"Yeah, yeah."
Rhodes left Tony's home and headed into town to Stark Industries. He headed straight to the Human Resources department.
"Colonel Rhodes." The lady behind the desk stood up to shake his hand. "How good to see you again."
"Lisa, always a pleasure."
"How can I help you today, sir?"
"Tony needs a new personal assistant."
"And you want me to do what exactly?"
"I was hoping there would be someone from SI, who you would recommend for the job."
"You're kidding right? We've tried people from this department before and it's never worked out."
"There must be someone, from a different department maybe. He needs someone to control him, to keep him out of the press as much as possible."
"Yes he does, can't the Air Force send someone?"
"It may come to that, but we would prefer someone not affiliated with the military."
"Uh huh."
"Please, can you help me?" He gave her a huge smile.
"It's a good thing you're cute." She muttered. "I'll look through our records and see if someone jumps out. I'll give you call soon."
"Thanks, I'll owe you."
"You know it."
He stood up to leave her office, "Bye Lisa."
"Yep, talk to you later." She was already pulling up employee files.
Three hours later, Lisa called Rhodes.
"You owe me dinner and a show."
"Gladly, whatcha got for me?"
"I found someone, who seems like a winner."
"Tell me?"
"Miss Virginia Potts, she's actually an assistant in our legal department, she graduated high school at the age of 17; she's now 21 and here fresh from getting her B.A. in Business Administration from NYU. She has excellent evaluations from her teachers at school and from Mark, the head of our legal team. Apparently she organized multiple rallies for different events on campus, she has her own contacts within a few media outlets from these ventures. Mark said she is a little quiet at first, but she can be firm, passionate and will not take no as an answer when it comes to getting her job done. I heard she even managed to cajole Blake Dennen into finishing all his overdue paperwork over the space of a week."
"Well I don't know who Blake Dennen is, but she sounds promising. Can you set up an appointment for me with her tomorrow?"
"Will do." She said already sending Miss. Potts an email. "Say, 10:00AM?"
"Sounds good, I'll be there."
"Okay, conference room 13B."
"Thank you Lisa. I'll swing by to discuss dinner plans afterwards."
"I'll hold you too that." She said before hanging up.
Virginia had just gotten a chance to check her email for the day when she received one from the head of Stark Industries HR department.
"Uh oh, wonder what's happened now." She muttered to herself, assuming it was part of the usual fallout from the company's owner, Mr. Tony Stark, doing something stupid once again. Like starting a police chase, naked once again, as was the case last night.
Miss. Potts,
This email is to inform you that your presence is requested from a meeting in conference room 13B tomorrow morning at 10am. You are not required to bring anything with you.
We look forward to your attendance.
Sincerely,
Lisa Poe
Human Resources
Stark Industries
She sat there in stunned silence staring at the screen, trying to rack her brain for anything she may have done wrong. She sent a reply that she would be there and inquiring as to what it was about.
The email was promptly replied to by Lisa telling her that she would find out at the appointed time.
Shutting down her laptop she went in search of her boss, Mark Patterson, to see if he knew why she was being called for a HR meeting.
"Hello Mr. Patterson, do you have a moment?" she said knocking on his office door frame, since the door was open.
"For you, of course." He said putting his pencil down and giving her his full attention.
That was just one of the many things she liked about him, and one of the things that made him an excellent boss.
"So, Miss. Potts, what can I do for you today?"
"Well sir, I just received an email from Mrs. Lisa Poe informing me that I'm required to attend a HR meeting in the morning."
"For what reason?"
"That's just it, she would not tell me when I inquired as to that very thing."
"I see. Hold on one moment and I'll give her a call, ask her myself."
He picked up the phone and hit a speed dial button.
"Hey Lisa, its Mark. I'm good, and yourself? Good, good. Now Miss. Potts came to see me, something about a HR meeting she has to attend. Uh huh, this is really short notice, we are currently working on cleaning up Mr. Starks current debacle. I see. Okay. Really? Yeah, I understand. She will be there. Thanks Lisa." He hung up the phone.
"I'm sorry, but this is an important matter and you will have to attend. I cannot give you any details right now, they will take care of it all in the morning."
"I don't understand, but I'll do as instructed." She stood up to leave.
"Virginia." He called her by name, which made her stop in her tracks. "Whatever they tell you, you have a choice, you can tell them no."
"Thank you?" she questioned, "I think." She continued walking back to her closet office.