Chapter 2: Declarations
The low hum of the projector buzzed throughout the darkened conference room. Agents sat at tables, listening as Peggy explained the information illuminated on the screen situated near the front of the room.
She had spent the last 40 minutes briefing her agents on the latest threats to American soil and its global territories. Save for the occasional sounds of scratching pens as men jotted down various notes, the room had been surprisingly quiet. Usually, she could expect a few questions here and there, but today, it appeared her men were content to let her speak without interruption. She made a mental note to schedule the subsequent briefing before lunch next time.
Reaching down, she retrieved the next sheet of paper in the stack by her waist and placed it on the viewgraph, not even pausing to look at the screen as she continued speaking.
She'd just begun detailing the alternate power source for the new schematic on the screen when several low guffaws from the back of the room reached her ears. She looked up, brows furrowing in confusion when the sound was joined by a few of her men uncomfortably clearing their throats. When she heard Sousa coughing – trying to cover up what suspiciously sounded like laughter – she felt well and truly lost and a trifle cross.
"Agent Sousa, is there something you'd like to share with me?" she asked somewhat testily. Of all her staff, she and Daniel had been working together the longest, and he was the last person she'd expect to disrupt her during a presentation.
The agent in question bit his lower lip and shook his head, instead pointing his pen at the screen behind her, his sides shaking as he did so.
When Peggy turned to follow his gaze, she felt her heart plummet to her stomach as an embarrassed heat fanned out across her face.
The screen was supposed to contain a schematic of the power cell she'd so diligently worked on at great length the night before, but instead, there – on display in front of all her subordinates – was a rather smashing New York City skyline, a dog wearing a bowler hat and the elegant and familiar handwriting of one Angie Martinelli – which Peggy had come to know from the many checks at the L&L and grocery lists at home – shamelessly declaring her devotion for S.H.I.E.L.D.'s director.
Hand darting out, Peggy quickly snatched the paper from the screen as if it were on fire and threw it back onto the stack beside the machine, cheeks burning with humiliation. She found herself suddenly quite thankful the blinds in the room had been pulled shut and the overhead lights switched off. At least no one could see the crimson flames covering her face.
A nervous titter echoed throughout room. It was followed by a high-pitched anxious laugh that sputtered out quickly when Peggy's gaze landed on the poor soul who'd been unfortunate enough to utter it. The man sitting next to the offending agent scooted his chair a few inches away, apparently hoping to distance himself – physically and figuratively – from the fella who obviously had a death wish.
Peggy scowled and both men shrunk lower into their seats, heads ducking down to stare at the table. She waited until the room was entirely silent again before pointedly clearing her throat and turning her attention back to the screen.
Poise regained, she reached down to retrieve another sheet, carefully scanning it this time before placing it on the glass. A hand-drawn schematic appeared on the screen on the screen behind her, and she glanced at it once before turning back to face her agents.
"As I was saying, the power cell for this particular model contains two hydro-electric casings and a housing module made from a titanium alloy..."
As she continued to speak, Peggy was relieved to feel some modicum of normalcy returning to the room and a little of the awkward tension slowly dissipate.
When all the sheets were finally shown – each having received careful scrutiny before being placed on the glass screen – Peggy nodded to Sousa to turn the lights back on. As illumination flooded the room, she flicked the viewgraph off, took a deep breath and looked up to face the group of men sitting before her.
"Are there any questions, gentlemen?"
Her steely gaze danced across the face of each agent in the room, silently daring them to say something – anything – but each man simply shook his head no in response before lowering their eyes to look at the folder in their hands.
"Excellent," Peggy said crisply. "I expect reports from each department head before we leave today."
The men groaned – a good sign that things were returning to normal – and nodded their agreement as they stood and stretched.
"Oh, and gentlemen?" Peggy called out before they could move any further.
They all looked at her nervously.
"Unless you fancy an extended assignment at our Artic research facility, not one word will be uttered about what happened here today. Is that understood?"
Every head bounced in agreement. "Yes, ma'am!"
"Very good." She nodded curtly. "Dismissed."
She watched as they quickly filed out the door, doing their best to avoid her gaze as they did so. Sousa stayed behind, still sitting in his chair. His eyes lit up with laughter and the corner of his mouth curved up in a small smile when she finally turned to look at him.
"Not one word, Daniel," Peggy warned as she gathered her things.
"I wouldn't dream of it, ma'am," he assured her.
"Excellent."
He stood and started toward the door, but stopped just as he reached the threshold. "Oh! I've been meaning to ask," he told her, a sly grin working its way across his face, "Did Angie get the part in the new play?"
Peggy gritted her teeth and gave him a forced smile. "You know she did, Daniel. You attended the celebration dinner at Sardi's."
Daniel laughed. "Oh that's right! I did!" he winked at her. "Well that's just great. Give her my congratulations again, won't you?"
"I'll be sure to do that, Daniel," Peggy assured him, her words dripping with false sincerity. She watched him exit the room before muttering, "Right after I give her a piece of my mind..."