Annahlea sped along the highways towards the airfield, smiling to herself as she noticed Happy pulling up beside her as she parked the Audi. Hopping out of the car, she smiled at him, "Very nice Happy, thought I lost you a few times back there."
'You did Miss," Happy admitted getting her and Tony's bags from the back of his car. Annahlea watched as Tony got out of the car, smiling at him which he returned. Rounding the car he through his arm around her shoulders as they walked up stairs to an awaiting Rhodey.
"Anna, I don't know how you do it but bless you. You make miracles happen," Rhode praised. The dynamic duo had actually been right on time for takeoff, Annahlea smiled at her friend, raising her glasses she responded, "Years and years of practice my friend," before they all entered the private jet.
As the boys chat on the plane, Annahlea engrossed herself in her laptop. Currently working on a brand new private project. Head phones in and eyes glued to the screen she was totally isolated from her male company, until the dance lights came on and the stripper pole lowered. Watching as the flight attendants turned into D-class dancers, she picked up her laptop, grabbed a prepaid sandwich from the fridge and a bottle of white wine, before enclosing herself in the private bedroom in the back.
As Annahlea stepped into the desert heat, no longer in her jeans, black tank, leather jacket, and healed ankle booties, but rather an off white cocktail dress with a wide "V-neck", that showed lace covering the tops of her breasts, cap sleeves and a pulled natural waist line with a pair of Jimmy Choo black t-backs with black Dior shades, her ebony hair falling in ironed layers around her shoulders, she looked professional and very beautiful. Following Tony she greeted the General.
"General," said Tony greeted Tony shaking hands. Annahlea too shook hands saying:
مرحبا، العام
She spoke to him. The General smiled, responding:
السيدة ماركو، من دواعي سروري أن ألتقي بكم. اسمحوا لي أن أقول، الخاص اللغة العربية هي جيدة جدا. حيث لم تتعلم؟
Annahlea smiled and in return, noting Tony's confusion, responded, "Thank you. I learned it in college."
Now understanding what was going on Tony jumped in, "She has a master's in language study, and she speaks seventeen different languages," he bragged.
"Amazing Ms. DeMarco, truly. Thank you for coming today and welcome, Mr. Stark. We look forward to the weapons presentation."
"Thank you," replied Tony. Before following the General to where he would be demonstrating the new missile.
~.~.~.~.~.~.~
After the presentation was through Annahlea handed Tony his drink, fixed his tie, and walked with him to a Humvee, letting him finish his phone call with Obadiah. Noting there was only one seat she turned to Tony about to tell him she'd go find a different Humvee, he cut her off, knowing what she was going to say.
'You can just sit on my lap," Tony offered smirking, getting in, Annahlea glared at him, "Oh I'm sorry would you prefer G.I Joe's lap?"
Annahlea rolled her eyes before climbing in, taking his drink and sitting on his lap. She took a sip before he closed the door and she handed it back. Cuddled up against his chest, Annahlea smiled as they started the procession.
Annahlea looked down at Tony, though even with six-inch heels on, she was still smaller than him when standing, she now was over him on his lap, "Nice presentation."
"Really you liked?" Tony asked smirking.
"Yeah good speech."
"Well, thanks I have somebody write them for me so…"
'Really?"
"Yeah. Some chick who has a communications degree, she's pretty good."
"Only pretty good?"
"Well, she has her moments though sometimes –sheesh they're not so good. I mean –ow! Alright I'm kidding. She's amazing," Tony smiled down at her rubbing the spot where she poked his chest hard.
Noticing the other members were silent and looking at them, Tony spoke up, "I feel like you guys are driving us to court Marshall. This is crazy. What'd we do? I feel like you're gonna pull over and snuff us. What are you not allowed to talk? Hey Forest," he called to the man sitting beside them.
"We can talk, sir," he responded.
'Oh so it's personal," Tony replied. Annahlea smiled at him as he antagonized. He had been good today, she'd let him have his fun.
'No you intimidate them," the voice of the driver called out. The woman driver, Tony was shocked but Annahlea already knew, she could tell by her bone structure.
"Good god, you're a woman. I honestly...I couldn't have called that. I mean, I'd apologize, but isn't that what we're going for here? I thought of you as a soldier first."
"I'm an airman, sir," the female soldier replied.
"You actually have excellent bone structure there. I'm kind of having a hard time not looking at you now. Is that weird?"
"She's not going to sleep with you, Tony," said Annahlea. Any remaining tension in the vehicle dissolved as the soldiers began to laugh.
"Sir, I have a question to ask," said the soldier in the passenger seat.
"Yes please," said Tony.
"Is it true you went 12 for 12 with last year's Maxim cover models?"
"Uh, yes I think so. I remember twelve but I remember there was some sort of mix up," Tony replied.
Annahlea sighed, "March and he had a scheduling conflict but December was twins," she explained. The soldier looked to her.
'Is it true you were February's playboy girl? And had a-" The soldier stopped short as he once again became embarrassed.
'Yes I was and no I was not completely nude in the centerfold, I have heart lingerie on," Annahlea clarified. The soldier beside them raised his hand.
"You're kidding me with the hand up, right?" said Tony. The boy put his hand down.
"Are you two really not a couple?" he asked and the two looked at each other and without warning, an explosion rocked the jeep. Automatically Tony grasped Annahlea, covering her the best he could.
"What's going on?!" yelled Tony.
"Contact left!" the female driver shouted. She kicked open the door and grabbed a gun, but she barely made it out the door before crying out and collapsing to the ground.
"Jimmy, stay with the Starks!" The passenger soldier yelled, before also kicking open his door. He made it around to the front of the car before a second explosion shuddered the surroundings, sending a blood splatter across the windshield. Annahlea gasped slightly.
"Son of a bitch!" Jimmy cursed. He loaded a gun and kicked open the door. "Stay here!" he yelled forcefully before exiting the car, only to scream as a hail of bullet holes punctured the door. Annahlea's ears rung as she pressed into Tony.
Tony threw open his door, leading her out by her hand. Leading her outside, gunfire still heavy he lead them behind a rock, wiping out his cell phone he searched for his contacts but before he could do anything a missile landed beside them. Trying to back away, pulling his best friend behind him he scrambled before the explosion went off, putting a ton of shrapnel in his chest and throwing him backwards into Nahlee, knocking her down and into unconsciousness as she hit her head on the rock and he soon followed.