A/N – Hey guys it was wonderful to see your supportive reviews! They made me really happy. I honestly cannot thank you guys enough! My exams are still on, and I'll be finished with them on the 22nd, but since I had a gap of few days before the next one (and was in no mood to study really) I decided to write something. It's not much but I hope you'll like it. Please leave a review, they help me improve my story and know what you want to see!
The rest of the day was spent without any further argument occurring between Peggy and Jack, both trying not to give the office staff another reason to gossip. As it was, most of them were still talking about the heated argument between the Chief and Agent Carter, though none of them, other than Daniel had really caught any word of it. However, that hadn't stopped them from coming up with their own versions of it. The whole office was abuzz.
Peggy and Jack, on the other hand had been avoiding each other. While it was impossible to not see each other at all since they were working on the same case, that did not stop them from glaring at each other wordlessly, every time they came across each other. While there had been no new progress with either Smith or the other man, who had still not said a word, both Peggy and Jack had immersed themselves into paperwork, both trying to forget what had transpired between them this morning.
As Jack sat in his cabin, trying to concentrate on the work in front of him, his mind wandered as he saw through the glass doors, the woman who infuriated him and yet someone he could not stop thinking about. Well, if she wants to go out with Stark, that's fine. I thought she'd have better taste in men. I never thought she'd be one of those girls who were easily swayed by rich and good looking men. I thought she was different. Guess I was wrong, he thought.
Peggy on the other hand, was filing out some surveillance reports, trying to shake off the image of Jack being out with that floozy. Honestly, he's going to go out with her? I thought he had more class than going out with every woman who showed the slightest interest in him. Typical. I hope he gets bored to death on that awful date.
Suddenly, the telephone on Peggy's desk rang. She picked it up, wondering who on earth was calling her at the SSR office, since barely anyone knew she worked there.
"Hello" she spoke into the phone.
"Hey Pegs, how's your day going?" said the voice of Howard Stark on the other end of the line.
"Howard, how did you get this number? It's not even available in any phone book."said Peggy.
"You keep forgetting that your dear friend is a genius" replied Howard, his cockiness evident even through the telephone line.
"Anyway, that's not the point. I was wondering if you were free this evening? I wanted you to meet Maria" he added.
"Oh yes I would love to. It's not as if there's anything interesting going on here today. People are being rather uncouth and nosy here" she replied, glancing at Jack, who had just stepped out of his cabin at that moment and had heard what she had said and glared at her.
"Great. I'll send a car to pick you up. See you in a few hours" he said.
A few hours later, Jack had finally finished his work for the day and was just about to put on his coat, when he glanced at Peggy, who was still at her desk, though she too looked like she was about to leave. Trying to avoid another argument with her, he quickly put on his coat and was just about to press the button for the elevator, when the elevator doors opened suddenly, and he was greeted by the sight of Howard Stark.
"Who the hell allowed you to come up here? " asked Jack angrily.
"I keep telling you guys to design a better security system. I could help you with that" replied Howard, unperturbed by Jack's rudeness.
"Pleasure to see you again, Agent Thompson" he added cheerfully.
"I wish I could say the same Stark." said Jack scathingly.
"Howard, I thought you were sending a car. And you can't just barge in here" came the voice of Peggy who was still at her desk and who had the combined look of someone who was amused, exasperated and indignant at the same time.
"What is it with you SSR folks not greeting your guests properly?" replied Howard, indignantly.
"Well guests usually mean people we want to see and that certainly doesn't involve you Stark" retorted Jack acidly.
"Let's leave Howard. I am sure Chief Thompson has places to be. Let's not waste his precious time… he's got things to do, floozies to flirt with." Said Peggy, as she approached them, her bag and her coat in her hands, and pressed the button on the elevator.
Stark shot a quizzical look at Jack as he stepped into the elevator, said in a low voice, which was nonetheless audible to Jack, "I thought you said you guys were getting along now. I thought you said he'd changed."
The elevator door was just about to close, with Jack having no wish to go down with the pair of them, when he heard her say "I was mistaken" as the doors shut close.
2 hours later, Peggy was having dinner with Howard and Maria in a posh New York restaurant. Peggy had been delighted to meet Maria, the woman who had somehow managed to stir up Howard's interest for more than a few days, unlike his past conquests. The woman was very pretty, with long dark hair and eyes that sparkled. However, Peggy suspected that it was not only the woman's looks that had pulled Howard towards her, it was the woman herself. She was funny and witty and someone who you could hold an interesting conversation. Peggy had been surprised when she learnt that Maria had an interest in science and had been one of the top students in her school. Howard seemed utterly besotted with the woman. Though it was too early to make an assumptions, Peggy silently hoped that these two would last. It was difficult to believe that they'd only been together for a month or so.
Just as they had heard the story of how Howard had chased after Maria after she had refused to go out with him, Maria asked Peggy, "So Peggy, how about you? you seeing anyone special?"
"Oh no, I am single" replied Peggy.
"Beautiful, smart woman like you, I find it hard to imagine you haven't found someone yet" said Maria.
"The trick is finding the right partner" smiled Peggy.
"Oh come on Pegs, I thought you liked that Thompson fella. Whatever happened between the two of you" enquired Howard.
"I never said I liked him" said Peggy, blushing, before continuing, "I merely said that we'd been getting along well, and that he had changed. However, I was sadly mistaken, as you may have gathered from what you saw of him today."
"Ha. I actually liked the thought of you two together. He seemed to push your buttons…the right ones, I thought, based on what you told me. "smirked Howard, taking far too much pleasure in making the otherwise composed and calm Peggy uncomfortable.
"Oh please, Jack Thompson and I would never work." sighed Peggy, "we are far too different…polar opposites as a matter of fact. I won't deny that he is one of the best agents of the SSR and his promotion is well deserved, but we would literally kill each other if we stayed in a room together for too long" she finished.
Well that's not entirely true, she thought. We do work well as a team, and we had a good time at the diner that night. And he smells wonderful too, when he had held me in his arms in that alley…and when he was patching up my wound, she thought, a blush staining her cheeks as though afraid that someone would find out what she was thinking.
Deciding to change the topic, Peggy said, "Excuse me, I must go to the ladies room. I'll meet you at the entrance" since they'd finished their meal.
"I'll come too" said Maria, "You go ahead darling, we'll be there in 5 minutes" she smiled at Howard.
Inside the ladies room, Peggy smiled at Maria and said, "I had a great time tonight Maria. It was wonderful to meet you finally. I can see why Howard's so besotted with you."
"Thank you so much for saying that Peggy, I had a great time too. I'll admit I was a bit nervous before coming here. I know how much Howard loves you and respects you and I was really worried of what you'd think of me" admitted Maria.
"Oh he'll hear only wonderful reviews from my side dear. Honestly" replied Peggy.
Maria smiled and said, "I hope you don't think I am being too forward but … from what I gathered, something's up between you and that Thompson fellow. I am not saying it's romantic" she added hastily, before continuing, "But if it were to be something like that, I would tell you to go for it. Because we always think we know the kind of man we'd want to be with, but life doesn't always pan out the way we imagine it will. I mean, look at us, Howard and I are so different from each other, and I am not exaggerating when I say I've never felt like this for any man, what I feel for him. I know it's only been a month but… oh god please don't tell him that…I am afraid I'll scare him" she pleaded, suddenly anxious.
Peggy smiled widely and said, "I think he feels the same way dear. But your secret's safe with me. Come on, let's go out before Howard decides to send a search party for us"
Half an hour later, they'd reached where Peggy lived, and as she stepped out of the car, she said, "You've got a wonderful woman here Howard, don't be a twat to her."
"Hey! This is the reward I get for taking my two best ladies for dinner?" replied Howard indignantly, while Maria laughed.
"Peggy, keep in mind what I said earlier" said Maria.
"What was it?" asked Howard.
"Oh just girl talk, nothing of your interest, dear" smiled Maria, "Goodnight Peggy" she added.
"Good night" said Peggy.
As she laid on her bed that night, Peggy thought of what Maria had said, about opposites attracting... to go for it…well, there is nothing to go for, is there? It's not like I am in love with him or something, and he is going on a date with that blonde…and there is a limit to this whole opposites attract thing, I mean there's only so many differences that can be ignored. I am not even attracted to him, she thought. I guess that's not entirely true, I certainly didn't mind when he's held me in his arms, only briefly, but nonetheless. He's good looking, of course he knows that, he's smart, charming when he wants to be, no wonder every woman's attracted to him, she thought.
Maybe, its nothing but a temporary infatuation, because we've been working together and talking so much lately, it'll go away, thought Peggy, trying to get him out of her mind, but failing to do so, as she dreamt of musky scents and blue eyes and a lopsided smile.
A/N II- I wasn't going to add this chapter originally but the idea came to me literally in the middle of my exam. I thought it'd be rather hasty and frankly wrong to suddenly bring these characters together( who are so different from each other), despite their chemistry. So I thought I'd write this chapter to depict Peggy's point of view. As always, I am open to suggestions!