After Alba shook her nerves and started working the crowd, this whole ball thing wasn't too bad. One of the perks of being Steve's date was that with the man's sheer size made people cut a path for them. No one dared to step too close to her. The only thing she had to worry about were more than a few envious stares, but she took that with a twisted sort of pride. All those women were right to envy her. There were some days where she still thought the man beside her was a fairytale.
They stopped and made their rounds to greet NYC's mayor. For another person, it would've been difficult to break through the flock of people surrounding the older man. But most people fell away once they noticed they were standing next to Captain America.
"And what do you do?" Alba's gaze rose to meet that of the Mayor's wife, which glinted with a layer of both smugness and superiority. She clearly didn't think Alba was worthy to be breathing the same air as she. If Alba had to pick a favorite thing about being a lawyer, this moment would be one of them.
Her appearance sometimes have people the wrong impression. Sometimes it was the unruly curls and sun kissed skin. Sometimes it was her curvy frame. She had been underestimated her whole life. But nothing, nothing beat the feeling of triumph she felt when she proved herself.
"I'm actually a Senior Attorney for Burlington Law Group." A hush fell over the little group as she stood a little bit taller. She'd worked hard as hell to practice law, and she'd reap all the rewards it had to offer. It was especially important when her employer was Burlington Law Group. It was where New York's rich and famous went for any legal problems.
"Are you by any chance the Alba Herrera from the Gonzales trial? I heard you helped the D.A.'s office secure the case pro-bono. They can't thank you enough." The mayor looked over the young woman with new eyes.
"Yes, I am that Alba." She said, chuckling quietly. "That case had a lot meaning to me. I found Johanna, the witness, after the attack. They left her in an alley next to dumpster, thinking she was dead." She met Steve's gaze for a fraction of a second. She had never told him this part.
"I brought her to the hospital, and well, the rest is history." The Mayor took a sip of his drink and gave Steve an impressed look.
"She sounds like a keeper, but I don't think I have to tell you that." Steve ran a hand behind his head and gave the man a sheepish smile. Alba tried not to look just as sheepish. Like a truck, the feeling of newness slammed into her. It was stranger to remember that a month ago, her and Steve barely even knew each other.
Her life before Steve looked so…dismal. Of course, she had a powerful in an amazing city. But her personal life? It was a carefully laid out routine that just hadn't been making her happy. When she was with Marcus, the routine felt like it was normal. I mean, all couples get bored eventually. A little boredom wasn't unusual…right?
But from the moment she met Steve, her life had done a complete 180. At the risk of sounding incredibly corny, she recognized that her mundane life had changed for the better. Every day was an adventure. Even when they stayed in his apartment, watching an old movie on his extremely comfortable couch, it felt like the best afternoon she'd ever lived through.
Part of Alba was terrified. None of her relationships had ever been like this. I mean, she never had many to begin with. She was always married to school or work or whatever project had caught her attention that week. But the happiness she felt when she was around him…she didn't know if she would ever find that with anyone else. And it scared her to think…what if he didn't feel the same for her?
The warm hand on her back brought her down to reality. She met Steve's gaze, noting the brow raised in curiosity.
"Everything okay?" She nodded, eyeing the trays of champagne being touted about. The thirst she'd been ignoring made it's presence known suddenly. Alba felt like she was chewing on sandpaper for the past hour.
Steve noticed the way she stared at the trays of champagne longingly and chuckled.
"Can I get you a drink, doll?" The grin erupted on her face before Alba could contain it. Ugh, she hated it when he used that word on her. It sent all her defenses crumbling to hell.
The crowd around the Mayor buzzed around them, with only one or two people noticing their departure. Alba spotted her work crew huddled around a table, her boss being one of them.
"Hey, I'm gonna go say hello to some colleagues. Meet you at the bar?" He ran a hand along her back softly.
"I'll come to you. What do you want to drink?"
Alba sighed, thinking about the open bar and all the delicious alcohol she would most definitely not be able to taste. "Just a diet coke. Thank you, Steve." These little things he did to ensure her comfort always made her more emotional than she normally was. She chalked it up to the hormones.
She made her away across the luxuriously decorated ballroom, trying not to fawn at all the noticeable figures there. The large room set up with crisply decorated tables, a dance floor, and a small stage at the end of the room where people would bid on all types of items before eating a full course meal. She was most excited for the food. After all, she was eating for two.
Alba's boss looked thrilled to see her when he spotted her making her way over.
"Well, if it isn't my star attorney!" The fatherly man laughed jovially as he put one arm around Alba affectionally.
"You've brought us more clients these past two weeks than we've had in the past quarter. They're requesting you by name, Miss Herrera. Good job. I knew I did right to pick you, kid." She really, really loved this old man. She knew she had tons of competition when she applied for this job.
There were always people with connections, with more illustrious education she could have ever been able to afford. She remembered the day he hired her so clearly.
The room was dimmed in the slanted afternoon light of the city. Alba had just come in to sign her employment paperwork. She was sure that she'd been dreaming that day. She had only applied on a whim. Fresh out of law school, trying to build a future with her boyfriend. She was just as shocked when she received a call for an interview as she'd been when she walked through the door. Even Marcus couldn't contain his jealousy.
Alba had seen the faces in the waiting room when she had interviewed. All men, self-assured. They reeked of money, privilege, status. All those things she didn't have. Her future boss sat across from her patiently, raising an inquiring brow when she hesitated.
"Any problems, Miss Herrera?"
Alba couldn't contain her curiosity. "Why did you hire me?"
The man chuckled. "The other partners didn't want me to, but hell, it's my firm. Everyone looks good on paper. It takes more than a law degree to work here. If it were that easy, everyone would be here.
"I hired you because you got heart, kid. You care about this job. Law isn't just a job to you, is it? I need people that will be the best. I know you can be the best. Don't let me down."
She snapped back to reality in an instant.
"I can't take all the credit for that last case. I had a bit of outside help." She grinned, her gaze sliding over to her date. Steve stood with casual ease at the bar, his eyes roaming across the room to periodically check for any threats.
The older man followed her gaze and chuckled quietly.
"Don't think I didn't notice that. It's all my wife's been talking about all evening." He looked at his watch and tensed. "Speaking of which, if I don't go out there and dance with her before dinner starts, she might make me sleep on the couch tonight." The old man waltzed off in search of his wife, leaving a smiling Alba staring after him.
"Well, if it isn't the duckling-turned-swan." She rolled her eyes even before she turned to look at the person speaking to her. Of course, anything work related couldn't be normal unless the idiot that was her ex decided to come along an act like a complete ass.
"Hello, Marcus." She tried to smile cordially, but was sure it came out more as a grimace. She really needed to stay as calm as possible. Stress wasn't good for either her or peanut.
"You really thought the pregnancy stunt was going to work, Alba?" She froze.
"Excuse me?" Marcus tried to laugh dryly, but ended up nearly chocking. She tampered her own laughter. Serves him right. Asshole
"You had someone call my office and tell me I was going to be a dad. That was petty, even for you, Alba." She forced her face to remain blank, meanwhile cursing Tony's nosey ass in her head. This was all because of his blabbering mouth!
"I don't know what you're talking about, Marcus. You might have to check with all of your other…gold diggers? Wait! Girlfriends. Sorry, it's hard to tell the difference with those." His smug little face dropped, and this time, she smiled genuinely.
A warm hand wrapped around the small of her back. Instantly, she relaxed. Steve's clean, woodsy scent invaded her senses as she leaned back into him.
"Hey. Is everything all right?" He murmured the question into her ear softly, sending a shiver down her back as she nodded shakily.
Steve had to be the most good-natured man she had ever known, but in this moment, he had never seen more deadly. Suddenly she understood why his enemies were scared of him. It should have been unsettling, but Alba couldn't help but find it incredibly attractive. Especially when he was set on protecting her.
She couldn't say the same for Marcus, who took a couple of steps back, as if a few inches between him and a super-soldier would do much for saving him.
"Hey, you're that guy from the deposition a while ago, right? Mark?" He knew very well his name was Marcus, Alba thought, containing the urge to slap a hand over her face. She had told him all about her ex, including his name.
Men.
Marcus tried to stand as straight as he could. "Marcus. Nice to see you again." He said amiably, extending a hand and noticeably flinching when Steve clapped his hand over his for a firm handshake. This went on for a couple of moments, one in which she was pretty sure she heard an audible crack. Alba could see the pain written over Marcus' face and nearly pitied him.
Her ex finally got his hand back (although maybe not in one piece) and cradled it in front of him, scurrying away from them without a backwards glance.
She couldn't contain the bubble of laughter that erupted from her at the ridiculous pissing contest she had just witnessed. Alba slapped Steve's chest gently, laughing harder when she noticed the smirk etched into his face.
"You just couldn't help yourself, could you?" Steve pressed her drink into her hand and shook his head.
"Are you kidding? After everything he's done to you? Not a chance. He deserves a lot more than a couple of broken fingers. I took it easy on him. I know I have an unfair advantage." Alba laughed once more.
"Well. He will be staying as far away from me as he can now. Thank you." Steve offered Alba a warm smile.
"Anytime. If he bothers you again, just say the word. I'm gonna make sure he never steps foot in New York again." Alba was about sixty-percent sure he was kidding. But then he has killed aliens with his bare hands.
Finally, the most important portion of the evening had begun. The bidding had begun, with people all over New York City gathered to raise money for the most charitable causes around the boroughs.
Alba had never been one to spend money on these things. Old habits died hard, and coming from a frugal family, she found it difficult to ever spend much of the money she made. Instead she reinvested a lot of her income, and the rest was in savings. But tonight something up for bidding definitely caught her eye.
"Up next we have a Caribbean getaway. A five day, four night vacation on Tony Stark's private island off of St. Barts! Amenities include a private beach, access to Mr. Starks private yacht, a stable full of beautiful horses, and a fully staffed fifteen-thousand square foot home. We would like to thank Mr. Stark to his contribution tonight." Tony soaked up the applause while Alba stared at him, jaw dropping as she pictures circulated on the projection in front of her.
She normally sat in one of the tables near the back, but now she'd been upgraded front and center next to Steve, Tony, and Pepper. Alba couldn't believe her eyes.
"You own a private island on St. Barts?!" Alba hissed, silently steeling herself. Tonight was the night she dropped the big bucks. And let's face it, it probably wouldn't put a dent in her savings. For the first time in a forever, she was happy about the fact she'd been sitting on a small fortune.
Tony grinned and shrugged. "Guess we didn't have time to talk about that in all the times you arrested me." Alba rolled her eyes and moved around in her seat restlessly. She turned to look at Steve, who was observing her curiously.
"Hey, if I win this thing, want to take a vacation with me?" He chuckled, pretended to think very intently, and then nodded.
She got her bidding stick ready.
"Alright everyone, starting bid is fifteen-thousand dollars." Alba's hand immediately shot up.
After that, everything happened faster than she could process it. The numbers shot up, kept climbing until…
"Seventy-five thousand dollars! Would anyone like to make another bid?" Alba sunk into her chair dejectedly. She had fallen out of the race about twenty-thousand dollars ago. It was apparent she could not roll with the New York elite just yet.
"Going once…twice…" A lone hand shot out from beside her.
"One hundred thousand dollars." There were audible gasps in the room, including that of Alba, who was staring at him as if he lost his head. The deafening silence in the room was highlighted by the presenter as he congratulated Steve on his donation to the Children's Cancer Research Hospital. It's not like anyone would bid against Captain America.
"Steve, are you crazy?"
He grinned, throwing an arm around the back of Alba's chair. "No. Do you know, I've never taken a proper vacation? Unless World War II counts. Want to take a vacation together?" Alba laughed disbelievingly. This man wasn't real. He must be some sort of robot Tony Stark came up with in his lab and passed off as Steve Rogers, because men like this did not exist.
She would still take him up on the vacation, though. "I would love to." Their perfect moment was interrupted by a sudden explosion from the entrance. Alba's heart shot into overdrive, instinct forcing her to crouch down towards the table as murky brown dust invaded every nook of the ball room.
Screams erupted as hundreds of people tried to flee through the emergency exits. She was pretty sure she spotted people getting caught in the crush of people as they fell down and could only pray everyone made it out safe. Steve was rushing to his feet, easing her to stand behind him.
"Tony and I need to go out there and see what's happening. You need to stay here with Pepper. Do not move a muscle." He commanded. Alba could only bob her head up and down as she tried to keep all of his instructions straight.
"You two hide under this table and no matter what you hear, don't make a sound." Alba crawled to her feet shakily and hid beside Pepper without protest.
She could do this. She would do this.
She would do whatever she needed to in order to keep her baby safe.
Pepper placed a hand over hers and gave her a shaky smile.
"I think this would be a really bad moment to welcome you to the girlfriend's club." Alba returned the smile while running a hand over her face.
"You think this is cause of them?" She whispered.
"Can't say for sure, but wherever they go, trouble usually follows." They sat in silence after that.
Alba supposed if she wanted Steve Rogers, she would have to put up with this. The bullets, the explosions, the aliens.
She would be there through it all. Alba promised herself to learn some basic self-defense as soon as she made it out of this one.
The room was quiet, sirens in the distance. They were going to be alright. Alba could almost feel it in her bones. Steve and Tony would come get them any second.
A set of hands took hold of Alba's waist and pulled her out from beneath the table. She couldn't hold back the scream as she flew off her feet and was thrown over a shoulder. The room was moving too fast, she could feel bruises forming on her sides from the painful grip of her captor.
Alba took a deep breath and started shouting for help.
"Help! Steve! I'm over here—" The sound was muffled as a hand was painfully slapped over her face.
"If you scream again, I'll give you something to scream about. Shut up!" They were moving through the utility exit now. It was too late.
She was thrown into the back in a van, wincing in pain as the impact of the cold, metal floor met her body. She was thrown so hard she had the wind knocked out of her, it took her a few seconds to regain her breath. There was a sharp prick on her arm, and suddenly, everything went dark.
As promised here is the weekend's chapter! I know Steve probably doesn't have a lot of money sooo i kinda changed it up a little bit for dramatic effect.
QUESTION: Did you guys think this chapter was too cheesy?
I hope ya'll enjoy this. I'm off the have a delicious dinner and then I'm actually re-watching The Winter Soldier tonight. It's probably my favorite MCU film hands down. Hope you guys enjoy this chapter. Let me know how I did!