Full Summary: Morgan Stark had created a life for herself; a name where it wasn't shadowed by her father in Los Angeles, California. It was the life she had always dreamed of and, quite frankly, she didn't miss the bustle of New York City where her father ruled most of the criminal underworld. However, receiving a call from her mother to return home caused her life to turn upside down when news of an arranged marriage to her father's rival's son, James Buchanan Barnes, was to take place. To ensure her protection, Tony Stark hires a bodyguard to watch over his daughter: Steve Rogers. Will the Stark daughter comply with her father's demands, or will she devise a plan to take back control of her life?
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"You did what?!" The sound of Morgan's voice echoed throughout the large white, marble floored foyer as her father - Tony Stark - pinched the bridge of his nose, waiting for the hurricane of a temper tantrum to pass. The kind of lifestyle he had wanted for his daughter wasn't one she wanted for herself, leading to Morgan's escape out of New York and moving to the West Coast where she made a life more meaningful than what Tony could have ever given her. It was tough to dodge the men he sent out to retrieve her, but she was smarter; she had to be as the daughter of a Mafia Boss.
It was due to the skills learned living with her father which enabled her to open her own business in Los Angeles; it being successful was a big accomplishment. Growing up, Morgan dreaded becoming a snotty rich socialite who would do anything for a high; who went to every party just to get drunk in an attempt to escape reality. She watched many of her friends fall deep within that kind of life and get sucked in so deep, coming out was a difficult uphill battle; she refused to be another gimmick.
When Morgan had originally left the busy city of New York to spread her wings, the only person who had reachable contact was Pepper Potts-Stark. Her mother was the only person Morgan had trusted enough with her location and Pepper made it clear she'd ensure Tony never got too close. It was her verbal promise which led the daughter to believe her father was truly on his deathbed due to cancer upon receiving the call from her mother; Morgan left the comfort of her apartment, got on the first plane out to New York only to find Pepper had lied and her father had sold her life for his own sick, personal gain.
"For the sake of the family, just do this one thing," Stark pleaded, careful hands placed on his daughter's shoulders.
"For the sake of the family?" Morgan repeated, roughly pushing his hands away. "What about me, dad? What about my life? What I wanna do? Don't I have a say in that?"
"Of course you do. You want to go to the Islands, be my guest. You want to become a beach bum and live your life selling seashells, you're more than welcome to do so. You want to go backpacking across Europe to 'find yourself', sure. But not this. You marrying James will balance out the underworld; there will be no more fighting …"
"There will always be fighting!" Morgan battled, interrupting her father. Stepping away from Tony, the girl stomped toward the front door. "Power and money drives people crazy; you'll always have to look over your shoulder no matter what decision you make or what you do with your position. And mark my words, there will be factions against this."
"And those people will be taken care of." It was Tony's turn to interrupt, his gaze hard on his daughter. "Just like you if you don't go through with this." Realizing his words, Stark let out a sigh, wishing his daughter would just comply. But he knew there would be an extended battle, Morgan was his child after all; just as stubborn as he was and defiant.
His words took the brunette back. With brows furrowed, a sudden chuckle vibrated through her throat. "What's that supposed to mean, dad? Did you just threaten me? Your daughter of all people?"
"I'll destroy everything you built in Los Angeles," he threatened through gritted teeth. Dark eyes widened as they quickly averted toward her mother. "Did you really think you could just up and leave and think I wouldn't find you?" Yes. Closing her gaped mouth, Morgan allowed her arms to cross against her chest, holding her defensive stance. It didn't matter if he destroyed everything she built on her own, she could easily rebuild whether it took a few months or a few years; but she would rebuild. It was about the principle of the thing; he was using her life to gain financial stability and a sense of safety for himself.
"Barnes is everything you told me to stay away from." If reason couldn't steer Tony from his plan, the girl figured approaching the situation in a different light might help. A technique learned by Mr. Stark himself, Morgan had picked it up early on in life and had been able to utilize it with her own business practice."Do you remember that? Isn't that why you told me to stay away from him in boarding school? Why when you found us by the Hudson you ripped us away from each other and promised to kill him if you ever saw us together again?"
"Times have changed." Stark shrugged, walking toward Pepper. Lacing his fingers with hers, Tony looked back to Morgan's stern glare. "Maybe you can respark whatever fire the two of you had when you were younger. I hear he's quite the bachelor now."
Rolling her eyes, Morgan turned on her heel to hide the single frustrated tear sliding down her cheek. It was as if he had signed his daughter's death certificate in golden letters; her life was no longer her own but belonged to him and the man who had broken her heart many years ago.
"Now go up to your room and get ready for dinner; we're holding an engagement party for the two of you and both families will be here." Without another word, Morgan began heading up the large staircase to the second floor where her bedroom was located – years of being untouched. "Oh and you will be assigned a bodyguard. You'll meet him tonight as well."
"Why do I need a bodyguard?" she questioned, taken aback. Peering down over the balcony, eyes stained with tears.
"'Cause like you said, my dear. There will always be fighting."
Her reflection stared back with remorse as Morgan stained her lips with red. Rubbing them together, there was nothing much else she could do to her appearance; no matter how much makeup she put on, nothing would mask the sorrow hidden deep within her eyes and the hatred she felt for her father.
Guests had begun to arrive, but Tony had informed his daughter to stay in her room until Bucky showed so the 'happy couple' could enter the party together – hand in hand. Pepper tried to help Morgan prepare but silence was what she was met with; Morgan needed it to piece together a plan. No matter how long it would take, any plan was a good one as long as she could relieve herself from the weight of her family, the weight of her father and the arranged marriage she was forced into.
Hearing a knock from the door, she called out for them to enter, staying in the large attached bathroom. Morgan began to put away her makeup, tossing the brushes in her bag when Tony walked into the room with a familiar taller man behind him. "Princess, I'd like for you to meet your bodyguard: Steve Rogers."
"It's a pleasure to meet you Ms. Stark," Steve greeted, extending his hand out for her take. Tony walked off with a smirk, closing the bedroom door behind him as Morgan shook Steve's hand. The smirk only meant one thing; his event was going according to plan.
Keeping her eyes on her assigned bodyguard, Morgan realized his face was rather familiar. "We've met before," she spoke slowly, causing Steve's brow to arch. The piercing blue eyes reminded her of none other than James Barnes, however they were more compassionate and held a spark of kindness. It was that kindness which reminded Morgan of the smaller boy James would have with him; like a shadow. "Little Stevie. You were Bucky's best friend in boarding school." Morgan smiled at the memory, her hand still grasping the man's large hand. "Everyone used to pick on you 'cause you were so small but he'd always come to your defense."
"Yeah yeah, that was me," Steve confirmed with a nod, taking his hand back. "I'm not so little anymore, obviously," he added with a chuckle.
"Obviously not." Morgan looked him over, liking everything she was seeing. Steve had obviously grown since the last time the two had seen each other, sprouting almost two feet taller. He was built, too; muscles bulging from his black suit. His hair was longer, slicked back and he sported a beard making him look like a genuine bodyguard; someone to not mess with. "How exactly did you get this gig?" the woman questioned, brushing passed him toward her closet to grab a pair of heels.
"Bucky and I are still friends; he helped me get a position and this pays better than what I was doing." Nodding to his explanation, her palm rested against the wall, using itl as leverage to place her white four inch heels on. Standing up straight, even with the heels on Steve was still much taller. Carefully eyeing him, Morgan folded her arms across her chest, leaning against the closet door frame. "I think I remember you," Steve recounted, taking a step closer. "Your hair is different but aren't you the girl who Bucky had a big crush on in boarding school?"
Letting out a breath, she nodded. "Yep, that's me."
"Huh – weird how things play out." Again Morgan nodded, her gaze falling hard on the ground. Steve saw through it though; her hard exterior. He could see the sadness taking over in her body language. With this in mind, Steve closed the gap between the two, engulfing the woman in a small hug. "I know things don't look so great right now, but it'll get better."
"Trying to cop a feel there, huh Rogers?" Steve's head snapped toward the door to find Bucky's smug smirk as he walked into the room without notice. "She is a doll, isn't she? I wouldn't be mad if you tried."
Morgan rolled her eyes at his words, stepping out of Steve's embrace. While the two did share intimate moments while they were stuck in a massive building being called a 'school', rumors of his bachelor ways had spread like wildfire when they became of age; Morgan was disgusted by his new attitude and nasty views. "Let's lay down some ground rules, shall we?" she started. "If you want to enter my room, you must knock; last I knew, you weren't raised in a barn."
Bucky's eyes widened for a moment with amusement, his smirk only growing wider. "Still with that feisty attitude, Stark." Patting Steve's shoulder, Barnes dismissed him from his post. "I gotta have a chat with my lovely fiance."
Steve moved his blue hues down to Morgan for a second, worry written in his expression before he nodded to Bucky. She watched as he closed the door behind him, but was shocked to suddenly feel the wall against her back – Bucky's hands holding tightly onto her exposed shoulders. "Next time you talk to me like that in front of company, you'll beg for mercy." The sudden aggression and his words took her back, figuratively smacking her in the face. However, since she grew up with a mob boss as a father, she was used to the mood swings and the mask worn in front of others but taken off behind closed doors. In a swift movement, her knee met his groin, causing him to fall to the ground with a groan.
"Don't take too long; we have an engagement party to attend," Morgan instructed, grabbing her clutch. Giving one last glance to his coiled body, she couldn't help but smirk at her work and exited the room, offering Steve an innocent smile as she took his arm, instructing him to escort her toward the stairwell.
"Where's Bucky?" he asked, looking toward the door.
"He's gonna need a minute."