Authoress Note: Welcome to Chapter 8 of As the World Falls Down. Thank you to all of those who have left reviews and have kept up with this story. It really does mean a lot to me that you guys are enjoying it. Hopefully you guys enjoy this next chapter. Without further ado chapter 8. Enjoy!
Chapter 8
Alexia took a deep breath as she got out of her limo taking a breath of fresh air. She was dressed to the nines in a wonderful gown that was burgundy in color and matching heels. She wore a pearl necklace that Tony had gotten her with a matching pair of pearl earrings. She took a breath as she looked up at the Walt Disney Concert Hall where Tony's third annual benefit for the firefighter family fund gala. She pushed some of the curls back as she walked up the red carpet towards the building.
Alexia hated events like this because all it was, was a way to connect with others and raise money for the firefighters. But Alexia didn't mind the raising of the money, it was the rich people that thought they were entitled to go. She looked over and saw Obadiah and walked over to him.
"Ah Alexia." Obadiah said, opening his arms to give her a hug.
Alexia slowly gave him a hug.
"You look beautiful tonight."
Alexia cleared her throat. "I made sure to find the best dress to wear to this event." She admitted softly looking up at Obadiah. Alexia turned her head to hear the reporter talking behind her. She bit her lip softly.
"Tonight's Red-Hot Red Carpet is here at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, where Tony Stark's third annual benefit for the Firefighter Family Fund has become the go-to charity gala on L.A.'s high-society calendar. But this great cause is only part of the story the man whose name graces the gold-lettered invitations hasn't been seen in public since his highly controversial press conference, and rumors abound. Some say Stark is suffering from post traumatic stress and hasn't left his bed in weeks."
Alexia pursed her lips together turning to head inside of the building unsure if her brother would be wise to join in on the event. She kind of wished that he would just so she had someone to talk to other than Obadiah who now gave her the chills and she knew Pepper would be busy. She slowly walked in and saw Phil standing there inside waiting for her. Alexia marched right up to him. "What in the hell are you doing here Agent Coulson?" She said as her eyes narrowed looking at the man.
Phil held up his hands as he looked at her. "Didn't think that you'd be joining in such an event."
"It's one of my brother's events, of course I would be there." She said huffing some crossing her arms.
"And will your brother be coming by today?"
"I have no idea what Tony is doing. He's laying low, Agent Coulson. I don't know what you expect me to tell you."
"Perhaps your brother will show."
Alexia turned her head and looked surprised that Tony was finally coming inside.
Phil began to walk over to where her brother was.
Alexia quickly followed Phil hoping that he wouldn't bring her brother's mood down any.
"Mr. Stark."
Tony turned and saw Phil with his sister.
"Agent Coulson."
"Oh...was I supposed to meet you here?"
"No, but you haven't been returning my calls. This is serious, we need to get something on the books or I'll have to go official on you." Tony said looking up to the stairs seeing Pepper come down them. SHe looked absolutely stunning in a classic gown. "Yes, you're right. I'm going to
handle this right now. Let me check with my assistant." Tony said, making a rush towards Pepper.
Alexia let out a breath and shook her head. "You know that there is no way that he'll make a meeting with you."
Phil let out a breath and shook his head lightly. "Your brother is certainly a hard man to get a hold of."
"And then you wonder why I don't try to make appointments for him. I leave that all up to Miss Potts. And she's fairly good at keeping him in line." Alexia shrugged as she went to the bar and got a drink. She took a soft breath as Phil walked away.
Tony came over to get two drinks. He looked over at his sister. "You seem to be enjoying tonight." He said with a smile as he put money down onto the counter.
Alexia let out a breath. "Well, I thought at least one of us should make an appearance, don't you think? After all, it would look bad if a Stark didn't show up for this event."
Tony let out a soft chuckle as he took the two drinks from the bartender and turned to go and take the drink he had gotten for Pepper out to her. But he came face to face with Christine.
Alexia let out a breath knowing exactly who the woman was that was now in front of Tony.
"Mr. Stark! I was hoping I could get a reaction from you." Christine said smiling.
"How's panic?" Tony questioned looking at her.
"I was referring to your company's involvement in this latest atrocity."
"Hey, they just put my name on the invitations -" She thrusted a dossier of photos out to him. "Is this what you call accountability?"
Tony looked at the photos, going stone faced. "When were these taken?"
Alexia gasped softly.
"Yesterday. Good P.R. move, you tell the world you're a changed man, even I believed you."
"I didn't approve this shipment."
"He would never approve of this shipment. He is 100% true to his word Miss Everheart." Alexia said defending her brother to the reporter. She wasn't about to have Christine soil her brother's new path in life.
"Well your company did."
"Come with me." He quickly turned and made a beeline for Obadiah who was outside.
Alexia and Christine quickly followed Tony out to the red carpet.
"I made some promises I'm not going to be able to keep. I suggest you pull all your money out of Stark Industries immediately -" Tony stated as he stood out in front of the paparazzi.
Obadiah quickly moved up the stairs steering Tony towards the entrance.
Alexia quickly followed in agitation.
"Is this like a tick for you? Whenever you have a feeling, you start going to all the people who
don't trust you, who don't protect you. They're going to put a spin on everything you say." Obadiah told Tony.
"Wait a minute. I got to ask you something. I'm dead serious about this. I'm not kidding. Am I
losing my mind or is Pepper really cute? Do you think she's attractive and interesting, or is
it just that her hair is down? I've been out of the game for a while."
"Are you out of your mind. You're messing with the "guys in the rooms", we're talking about billion dollar interests, the world order -"
"I'm not worried about that right now -"
"You should be. You'll disappear. I can't protect you against people like that -?"
Alexia looked at Obadiah with a nasty look.
The paparazzi had snuck up on them snapping photos of them.
"DO YOU MIND?" Obadiah moved them up the stairs even more. "Tony don't be so naive -"
"Naive? I was naive before, when I was growing up and they told me don't ever cross this line, this is how we do business. In the meantime we're double-dealing under the table. We don't even deserve to represent the United States -"
Alexia took a shaky breath concerned about what Obadiah was going to reveal to them. Were they going to have to protect themselves even more?
"Tony, you're a child -!"
"You don't believe I can turn this company around, do you -?"
"You've got about as much control over things as a child riding in the backseat of your father's car with a red plastic steering wheel in your hand."
"Maybe I'll just get out of the car."
"You're not even allowed in the car. I'm the one who's filing the injunction against you."
Tony looked at Obadiah shell shocked. He quickly went after Obadiah and they jostled a little and Obadiah backed off and Tony went ballistic.
The paparazzi snapped some photos of them.
"It's the only way I could protect you."
"Protect him? Protect me? That's bull." Alexia said as Tony grabbed her arm.
Obadiah walked down towards his waiting car.
Alexia and Tony quickly followed as several of Obadiah's men smiled and their steely-eyed gaze stepped in front of them stopping them from following Obadiah any further.
"This is going to stop." Tony yelled as he watched Obadiah get into the car.
Alexia looked at her brother with a worried gaze. "Now what do we do?"
Tony looked towards his sister, taking a breath. "We do what is right."
Alexia nodded her head in agreement. "Protect ourselves and protect our company name. The Stark family name."
Tony nodded his head in agreement.
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This is the end of Chapter 8. I know there was a lot going on in this chapter. A lot of Stark sibling bonding in a way. I hope that you guys enjoyed this chapter with how they are acting. I can't wait to write more of this story. There are only a few more chapters left of the Iron Man part of the story. And there will be a flashback to Alexia's past with Shield. I hope that you guys will enjoy that part. Hopefully it will be in the next chapter or the chapter afterwards. I haven't quite decided on it yet. Please leave a review, as reviews keep me going. Hopefully I'll have the next chapter out soon. Until next time.