Dictation
I don't own Creed. That pleasure/pain belongs to Marvel Entertainment, Inc. and Fox Entertainment, (and now perhaps to Seed Productions from the latest rumors about the new Wolverine Movie).
A/N Ok at one point I realized that Victor Creed has to have some way of laundering all that money he makes on illegal assassination and terrorism, and since the comics have him shown in a more traditional business environment on several occasions, I wondered how he would deal with a Temp. As far as I know Creed Industries doesn't exist in the Marvel Universe but I think it should.
Chapter 5
"…and then he tells me to bring whatever I need to wear with the dress I can change there. I swear I am going to skin that man – if I could – ohhhhh I just want to strangle him."
"Bron – hello – Chica – Earth to Bronwyn – this is SABRETOOTH you are ranting about." Jubilee said as Bron slammed the microwave door. Bron just glared at her from the kitchen.
"I KNOW that. Just because he is one of the most dangerous men on the fucking planet doesn't mean he can't fucking piss me the hell off."
"Ok I think SOMEONE is getting just a little too familiar with him."
"I have to go to "keep the husband hunting sharks at bay." She even did the little quotes in the air with her fingers.
"HE said that….SABRETOOTH said that."
"Yes. Why I don't know – only an IDIOT would want to be married to that bastard."
"Well – THAT sounds much better." Logan said as he walked in the door. "I take it Creed showed his true colors today."
"Oh – yeah – he sure did – he's taking her to the big party at the Museum of Natural History tomorrow night – even bought her a gown and INSISTED she pick it out."
"NO – he made me pick out six and HE picked the dress."
"YOU ARE DATING CREED!"
"NO! It's for WORK! SHIT!"
"Wait a minute – he's taking you to a party, bought you a dress – and it's for work? I don't think so." Logan growled. "I am drawing the line at this. You AIN'T GOIN!"
"It's OVERTIME on my check – and I am going to keep the sharks at bay – he seems to think all the single gold diggers in the country will be there or something."
"Who the FUCK would want to be married to that asshole?"
"Sugar – people say the same thing about you." Marie said as she came out of the bedroom. She had been laying down, her head pounding after the beating she took on the mission yesterday.
"Sorry – baby, are you feeling any better?" Logan walked over to her, Bronwyn forgotten, at least she hoped.
"Anyway I won't be home till late tomorrow, so don't wait up." Bron said as she grabbed her plate from the microwave and headed for her room. She didn't want to be trapped in the mutual – my owies are bigger than your owies – and let me kiss it and make it better shit that usually happened when Logan and Marie were on the same mission. They would be making out half the night, and then his snores would keep the rest of them awake the rest of the night. Maybe – if this job panned out she'd give Kitty her room and get her own place. Peace and quiet sounded nice about now.
She was curled up on the bed, TV blaring to drown out the noise from the room next door when Jubilee opened her door.
"Can I hide out in here, the NEIGHBORS are complaining."
"We could send them to a motel."
"I wish – I HATE bad missions.
"It could have been worse – Creed could have been chasing you in his underwear."
"WHAT!"
"I had his uniform here last night – he has it dry cleaned."
"OH MY GOD! OH GOD – DOES HE WEAR UNDERWEAR!" They both burst out laughing.
"I have no idea – but for your sake I hope so – wouldn't want him chasing you commando…" Bronwyn wiped the tears from her eyes, she had been laughing so hard. Nope she wasn't giving this up for anything. Good friends were too hard to come by. They sat and tried to watch TV until Logan finally started snoring and Jubilee slipped out to her room. Bron grabbed her earplugs and tried to go to sleep.
She had packed a bag before bed, with her essentials for the event that evening, and carried it into the office with her, tucking it under her desk. She smiled at Varden and checked the clock. He would be there in half an hour. She pulled up the list of appointments and the schedule for the luncheon. The agendas were typed and ready, as were the proposals and packages for each person attending.
The caterers would be there by ten thirty, the lunch was scheduled for eleven thirty, and she hoped he would be pleased with what she had arranged. The conference room was laid out, cold water, coffee and iced tea for refreshments. The morning was light appointment wise, so she would have time for any last minute adjustments.
The elevator opened and he just glared at both of them.
"Varden – pick up my tuxedo from the condo, I forgot it this morning – after we go over the day's schedule. You…" He pointed at Bron "in my office."
She picked up a note pad and pen and followed him in. Varden was right behind her. They both stood in front of his desk.
"Grab chairs – you'll be here a while. Personnel is handling the phones." Varden pulled a chair over and indicated that she sit down. He pulled another chair over and sat himself.
"Is everything ready for the proposal luncheon?"
"Caterers will be here at ten thirty, refreshments are set up, the table for lunch is set and ready. They will provide all dishes and clean up. Packets are prepared and ready and in place in the conference room."
"Good. I want this added to the packets." He handed her a stack of paper. She had a feeling this wasn't going to be an easy morning.
"Varden – when you go to get my tux there is a small box I need you to bring with it. They should be together if not, it will still be in the safe. Green velvet, has my cuff links and button covers in it, and make sure you grab the silk tie – not that damned acetate shit Michelle bought. You can tie a bow tie?" He looked directly at her.
"I think I can manage."
"Good – this is a plate event – so order dinner for about five, I usually hate what they serve at these things." He was back to instructing Varden. "Find out what – what the fuck is your name again?"
"Bronwyn Tillman."
"Right – what Bronwyn wants for dinner before you order."
"Bronwyn – finish the prep for lunch, and I want you in the conference room during the meeting in case we need anything – and take minutes." Great there went her lunch plans. "Clear my schedule until the luncheon, I have something to take care of this morning."
They both stood and started shuffling the chairs back to the conversation corner of his office. She took the stack of papers and went into the conference room to gather the packets. The morning was spent in the copy room redoing all the packets. She kept glaring at the gown hanging on the coat rack behind her desk; this was going to be a long day.
The packets were ready and redistributed at the table by the time the clients started arriving. She took a seat in the back of the room as unobtrusive and out of sight as possible. Mr. Creed came in and just nodded to her before taking his seat at the head of the table. The head of project development came in and the lights dimmed for his presentation.
At lunch Mr. Creed sent her to make copies of the presentation notes – and by the time she got back lunch was over. She was going to be miserable by dinner time. The presentation and discussion lasted until almost three o'clock, and she was finally able to make her escape.
Varden smiled at her as she sat down at her desk. There was another pile of typing to finish up – when the hell had he had time to dictate that? She groaned.
"Hey it could be worse." He said.
"Really – how?"
"You could be doing both of our jobs."
"Oh God, you are right – it could be worse." He just laughed.
Mr. Creed walked by, and just glared at both of them, which only made them giggle worse.
Her email icon was flashing when she was able to concentrate on her computer. She opened it. It was a stylized drawing of Mr. Creed with two cowering enchained slaves in front of him. One was captioned Bronwyn, the other Daniel. She glanced over at Varden who was chuckling. Who knew he could draw. They both shared a grin, and the camaraderie helped the rest of the afternoon go much faster. At least she now knew his first name.
Dinner came early and she started to slip into the break room to eat. Varden just pointed to the doors to his office. Great – she had to eat dinner with him.
"Sorry about lunch." He said as she walked in. She had been trying to avoid him all afternoon.
He was sitting on the couch, his dinner on the table in front of him. She just sat in one of the chairs, and put her containers on the table next to her. She would swear she heard him growl.
She ate in silence, waiting for instructions.
"So how long were you at Xaviers?"
"What?"
"How long were you at Xaviers?" He glared at her.
"My parents sent me when I was thirteen – my abilities are so minor it took that long for anyone to notice."
"You graduated there?"
"Yes."
"You know – this goes both ways."
'What?"
"Conversation."
"Oh." She went back to her dinner.
"Okay – you are pissed about something?"
"No, just not exactly sure what is going on?"
"Dinner."
"Oh."
"Is there a problem?"
"No."
"Something is bugging you."
"No, as I said, I am a little confused."
"About what?"
"I was expecting instructions for the evening, not a third degree about my time at Xaviers."
"Third degree? Darlin' if you want a third degree I can give ya one."
"I just don't see what my past has to do with anything – certainly not with the job I can do."
"DEFENSIVE!"
"Mr. Creed, I am here because you told me to be here, I am going to this event this evening because you told me it was part of my job. I don't see where my personal life has anything to do with it."
"Maybe so we can actually appear to know each other – not that that was my intention – but if you want it in work terms – there you go." He growled again.
"Fine – I graduated from Xaviers, earned a scholarship to NYU and graduated suma cum laude with a Bachelors Degree is Business Administration. I have been struggling, unsuccessfully; to maintain a full time job in a city that hates mutants, and yes it has me a bit on the defensive side. Any more personal questions?" She snapped.
"You seeing anyone?"
"THAT'S none of your business. And if it were – well I am sure it's in the background check you ran on me for the job."
"Ouch. Okay – forget it." He wiped his hand across his face and went back to his dinner. She ate quietly, anger simmering. It was none of his damned business; he was her boss – not her friend – hell he spent MOST of his time trying to kill her friends.
"I guess you think you know everything there is to know about me from your Geek friends?" He finally said.
"I know enough."
"Is it a problem?"
"No, they understand I am trying to actually make a living, and that means working in what – for them – is a dangerous situation."
"Dangerous? You are a fucking secretary."
"Working for you."
"I see your point."
"Is it a problem for you? Forget the X-Men a minute."
"No – other than the fact that you are an overbearing ass at times – you are one of the best bosses I have worked for."
"Well – you don't pull any punches."
"Are you arguing?"
"No. I KNOW I can be an overbearing ass – I do it deliberately – so don't take it personally – it ain't you."
"Well – THAT'S a relief." She said sarcastically. He actually laughed.
"So what makes this better than other jobs?"
"It's a JOB – not a meat market." He laughed at that too.
"Must have had some really bad jobs in the past."
"They haven't been great, no. Either they find out you are a mutant and don't hire you, or they hire you and then find out and you get fired. If they don't care – it's usually because the boss is a jerk who thinks a secretary means free sex."
"I see your point."
"As I said – I can deal with an overbearing ass.'
"I will try to remember that." He grinned at her; she knew he saw her flinch at the sight of his fangs, because he immediately dropped the smile. "Sorry."
"It's just – well when you are in the office it's easier to forget – the other, you know, except when you do something that reminds me."
"I see."
"I don't – well what ever happens between you and the X-Men doesn't effect me much – unless it's one of my roommates that gets hurt."
"I can't promise to remember that."
"I know – it's just – well I have heard all their stories a hundred times. Trust me – it's harder on them than it is on me. It's driving Logan nuts."
He grinned again – this time not dropping it. "Really?"
"Yeah – he keeps trying to get me to quit."
"Hrm – maybe I should offer some of the others jobs – just ta drive the Runt nuts." She laughed. "Naa – then I'd be up to my ass in X-Men – not a good idea. Guess that means I'll have ta keep ya happy at work – just to torment Logan."
She looked over at the take out boxes – somehow she had finished her dinner while they were talking.
"I guess I should go change."
"Yeah – me too. Try to relax tonight – I promise to be on my best behavior. Oh and call me Victor."
"Why am I worried?" His laughter followed her out of the office.