I own nothing.
Drama: Write about a time when you watched two people fighting
Two nights before Elena's parents were set to arrive Tony and she were sitting in the living area on his floor. He was looking over the final four candidates for the CEO position and she was reading about ways to hide a dead body.
"None of those work as well as they advertise they do." He commented as he threw one of the four folders to the floor. "I have it narrowed down to these three based on eligibility, work ethic, their interviews, and their references. I don't know which one to hire. I know Pepper doesn't like these two but I honestly don't think this one can make it surrounded by us. She seems too shy and meek to be able to manage me and my company."
"Let me see." Elena stole the three files and read each one carefully.
"I think this one has the best chance at surviving, this one has the best past to run the company, and the one Pepper likes would pass out within seconds of meeting Steve. If I were you I would hire the first one. You want durability over best to run because if you hire someone that's going to run it well but she won't last than you're back to square one again. If you hire someone who will last, you can teach them how to run it to your standards. I don't recommend having Pepper teach her how to do the job though."
"If Pepper didn't then who will?"
"You can."
"No."
"I can."
"How? You haven't run my company before."
"You give me the guidelines that I would need and I can teach them. I'm a quick study and would've graduated high school two years early if I had been enrolled. Plus it's not like I can do my real job and I will go stir crazy if I can't do anything. I know how to do it after I snooped through your files and read everything plus watching you and Bruce gave me a pretty good idea as well."
"You snooped through my files?"
"Yes, you left them open, now focus."
"Fine, you teach her. Pepper asked for me to get her out of work the soonest I possibly can. That means I could give her the next six days of work then she's done. It should be enough time to tie up loose ends and notify everyone of the change. I'll send her the e-mail now, that way she can have everything ready to go tomorrow." Tony rushed for his tablet and quickly typed up the e-mail that had all the needed information and just the right amount of formality for this kind of thing.
"I love you." Elena told him before yawning.
"Why don't you go get some rest? You look exhausted what with the growing of tiny humans and what not." Elena nodded and headed for their, now shared, room. They had finally moved in with each other and shared Tony's floor. It was fun and they genuinely enjoyed living on the same floor, mainly because Elena didn't need to leave every morning to get dressed. Tony joined her soon enough and held her as she fell asleep.
The morning came for Elena's family to arrive. Elena woke up and ran to the bathroom with a blurry eyed Tony on her heels. This had become routine for them. Elena wakes up and runs to the bathroom, Tony follows, Elena pukes as Tony held up her hair, and then when it was all over Tony went to begin breakfast as Elena showered and got ready for the day, then Tony would shower as Elena finished breakfast, they ate together, and then left for the day. Today was no different.
Elena hopped into the shower the second Tony exited the bathroom. She quickly showered and then went to the closet to get dressed in something appropriate to wear to the airport to pick up her family. She ended up choosing a pair of black skinny jeans, a red plaid flannel shirt of Tony's (he would forever refuse that he liked it), a grey beanie hat, and a brown pair of combat style boots. Hearing Tony already in the shower she went to the kitchen to make the part of breakfast that Tony was incapable of making.
Tony came out in his customary lab attire: a black long sleeve shirt with the sleeves rolled up, a pair of black pants that seemed like jeans and dress pants rolled into one, and very worn out grey converse. His hair was still slightly wet and she smiled at the sight. He sat down as she put two plates on the island and she joined him. They ate in mostly silence and Tony waited until she was done eating to leave.
"Are you sure you don't want company?" Elena smiled and kissed him but nodded.
"Thank you though, it's very sweet. However, I know for a fact that you are supposed to meet with Pepper and your new CEO today while I'm still gone. I will be back before you know it, or at like 12:45."
"Very funny," He pulled out his phone and looked down. "Your car is going to be here in ten minutes and Bruce wants me in the lab in twenty. Want me to walk you down?"
"Sure, but only if you promise to change before the two of them get here."
"I suppose that's doable."
"And I mean change styles. None of this lab attire, I want to see you in one of your overpriced Italian suits and a pair of not as worn out converse."
"I guess, come on we should start to head down now, go grab your sweater and purse." Elena went and did just that. "Is that my shirt by the way? I meant to ask earlier but I got sidetracked by food."
"No it's my shirt." Elena defended as they entered the elevator.
"Yeah, but only because you stole it."
"You always say you hate it and refuse to wear it." The duo stopped their bickering when the doors opened and they saw Steve and Bucky waiting there. "Good morning you two, where are you off to?" Elena smiled brightly and Steve nodded in her direction.
"We were going to go down to the garage and take our bikes out. You headed to the airport?" Elena nodded and Tony smirked "Did Tony convince you to bring him so he can get out of his two meetings?"
"Nope, he's escorting me to the car and then going to the lab to meet Bruce as asked."
"Asked by whom?" Bucky wondered
"Bruce..."
"You told him to ask didn't you?"
"No..."
"Elena! And here I thought you loved me!"
"I don't, it's all been a big lie."
"Traitor," Tony muttered as the doors opened and the two pairs went their separate ways.
"We'll see you when you get back Elena!" Steve called back. Tony escorted her to her car and saw her off before going down to the lab.
When Elena arrived at the airport she really wished she'd taken Tony with her. The plane had already landed and her family was waiting for her, she was late. She walked briskly up to them and winced slightly at the smell her sister was emanating. It was like she'd bathed in perfume.
"Elena, nice to see you're still alive." Leah, her sister, commented.
"Yes, and you're late." Her mother stated harshly.
"Sorry, car got caught in traffic. There was an accident on fifth and I was stuck for longer than anticipated."
"Enough excuses, let's go, you know your father dislikes airports." The trio of family followed Elena as she walked back to the car. It was parked close to the entrance without being too close as to create a danger or get them stuck in the outgoing traffic. When they walked up to the car her parents frowned.
"How do you have enough to afford a private car like this?" Her father asked
"It's not mine, a... friend and roommate of mine lent me the service of this car as a consolation prize."
"Consolation prize?" Leah asked before Elena shoved her toward the open door of the back seat. Once they were all piled in she looked at the driver that was standing outside the car with her.
"Sorry about the smell." She offered
"Sorry for your childhood and past with them." He returned before smiling and closing the trunk. They both entered the car and the driver looked at her. "Back home Mrs. Hartley?"
"Yes please, and can you send word ahead to them when we get about ten minutes away?" She whispered the last part and was certain that none of her relatives heard her. He nodded and rolled up the dividing window with a not so fake but exaggerated gag. Elena smiled and turned back to her family.
"So where is your place anyways?" Leah asked when they were only a few minutes away from the tower. "Did this guy take a wrong turn or is your place still really far away? Where is Brooklyn from here?"
"Brooklyn is about 35 minutes from here."
"So we probably have a long time until we reach your place right?" Leah demanded as the driver pulled into the parking garage of the tower, he stopped the car in front of the elevator.
"Actually we just got here. You can leave your stuff in the car; it will drive you to your apartment later. For now we can head up."
"Where are we?" Elena's mother asked as they got out of the car and she looked around to see the expensive cars and fancy interior.
"Home, for me anyways, we are in Stark Tower. I will show you my place first and then I need to make a few visits to the lower floors of the building."
"You live in Stark Tower?" Leah asked as they entered the elevator.
"JARVIS my floor please, and notify Tony and the others that I'm back."
"Who are you talking to and who is Tony?"
"Of course Mrs. Hartley, will that be all?" The other three occupant of the elevator began to look around frantically for the voice that had come out of nowhere.
"Is Pepper and the new CEO here already?"
"Yes, they are currently on common floor 4. Mrs. Potts is not happy and is yelling at sir, the new CEO is standing to the side silently with the rest of the team, who are there for amusement, she looks close to fainting."
"JARVIS, new plan, Common floor 4 first and I will go to my apartment later."
"Of course."
"Well guys, you get to meet the Avengers and the new and old CEO of Stark Industries."
"Why?"
"They're my friends and teammates, plus I'm going to be training the new CEO while Tony works, because he really doesn't want to and I can't go on missions at the moment anyways due to my suspension that my boss, Director Fury, ordered."
"You are an Avenger and on a first name basis with Tony Stark?"
"More than a first name base, he's my boyfriend and I live with him on his floor. The others have shared floors." The elevator dinged and opened. It was promptly filled with the screams of a pregnant Pepper, leaving the dumbfounded trio unable to reply.
"You can't hire her! She is not a good replacement!"
"Last I checked it was my company and you quit! I can hire whoever I want!"
"Hi, I'm Elena Hartley; I'm going to be the one training you." Elena introduced herself to the new girl.
"I'm Fiona Marks, but everyone calls me Mia."
"Well Mia, it's a pleasure to meet you. Don't worry about them; Tony's really nice to his employees and friends. Pepper won't even be here so you're safe there. Plus Tony's always in the lab anyways." Mia nodded and Elena smiled.
"You're just doing this because you're jealous that I'm with Happy!"
"Why would I be jealous? I don't love you!"
"Yeah, that's believable!"
"It is, I'm in a serious relationship of my own so I have nothing to be jealous of!"
"A serious relationship? With who? You and relationships aren't usually successful!"
"With Elena, I'm with Elena! We are both very happy for you about your pregnancy and very in love with each other!"
"Since when do you fall in love?!"
"Since I started going out with someone who I could trust and trusted me!"
"So you're just upset that I'm leaving then?!"
"Why would I be upset? It's your life and your choice whether or not to work after having a baby!"
"Oh, is that what Elena told you? Is she going to stop working if she ever gets pregnant?!"
"She already has stopped working!" everyone was silent and everyone in the room slowly turned to Elena.
"Surprise?" she said.
"You're pregnant?" Natasha asked
"Yeah, a little over 2 months now."
"How long have you known?" Wanda asked
"Since the last time Pepper and Tony had a shouting match in the common area for all of us to see. The next morning Loki told me I was and then a few days later I had Bruce confirm and set the time of how long I've been pregnant."
"Does nobody spill all their secrets during girls nights anymore!?" Wanda moaned dramatically.
"Oh speaking of that, here's that guys number." Natasha handed the younger and single girl a piece of paper before turning back on Elena. "Congratulations."
"Thank you."
"You're pregnant, unmarried, living with a man, and unmarried?" Elena's mother spoke breaking everyone out of their stupors. Everyone looked at the trio that still stood near the elevator.
"Does Fury know?" Natasha asked unperturbed
"We told him when we told him of our relationship, the same day we told you and the day after I told Tony about this. And yes mother, I'm pregnant and living with a man out of wedlock."
"Not for long..." Loki murmured.
"What?" Everyone asked Loki at the same time, except Tony who just glared.
"Nothing." Loki smirked
"Hey Elena, can I talk to you in the hall for a moment please?" Tony asked, speaking for the first time since his accidental admission. Elena nodded and followed him from the room.