The sun forced itself through the curtains and revealed a naked Mira alone in her bed with a note on the bedside table. Mira woke because of the sun. She knew that it had to have been late in the morning.
She rolled over to the opposite side of the soft mattress and grabbed the note addressed to her. Her eyes skimmed it over quickly. Mira, We had such a great time last night. We need to do this again sometime. Call me. - Edward This wasn't the first time Mira had had a one night stand. She was never a fan of this sort of behavior because it made her look and feel like Tony. As much as she loved her uncle, she did not want to copy his Playboy image. Last night, though, she didn't mind her exception. Edward wasn't someone she planned on going on formal dates with, but he was certainly a good time. She also wasn't surprised that he left before she woke up. At least he left a note, she thought.
Mira wrapped herself in the silk bedsheets and walked over to the mirror on the bathroom door. She looked like a completely different person since the last time she gazed at herself in this exact mirror. Her hair was all over the place in a big puff of bedhead. Her makeup seemed to still be mostly intact, but her eyeliner started to run. And instead of being on her body, her beautiful fire gown was on the ground. She still wore her high heeled shoes, though. That was the only thing that remained perfect from last night.
Her phone illuminated and buzzed on the floor beside her gown. She picked it up and saw it was on 9%. It was near death. A bit panicked, she dropped the sheets and tossed the rest of the bed searching for her charger. Without luck, she moved to her suitcase and threw all of her clothes on the floor. Finally, the black cord appeared from under her jeans.
She rushed over to the wall and plugged in the cord and the phone. Her screen lit up with new life and a message of (20) New Voicemails.
Mira was always getting phone calls, but never that many in a night. If it was related to business, Mark would get the calls. It was his job after all. Mira received her own personal calls, however.
She turned the phone on speaker and let the messages play as she prepared for the day. She grabbed clothes and started to dress herself. Instead of showering at the hotel, she was just going to wait until she got back home. Her flight was in a few hours anyway.
The first message was from her Tony. "Hey, Mira. I just landed and got your message. I'm so sorry. I didn't know that she was going to ask those questions. I'll get her fired if that's what you want. Anyway, I have to go. I know you're at your fundraiser. I'll call you later and see how it went. I would understand though if you don't answer. Okay. I'll talk to you later, kiddo. Love you."
Mira sighed as she stopped and thought about her uncle. He called when he landed. He probably didn't expect her to answer, but still called anyway. She wondered what he was doing at that exact moment. Was he still presenting his new weapons or was he with another woman? It was most likely neither. He was probably annoying Rhodey to no end. Most of these messages are probably from Rhodey begging me to take him off his hands. Mira giggled at herself.
The next message started to play. Mark's voice spoke quickly. "Hey, Mira. Just so you know, the paparazzi caught a glimpse of you going upstairs with Edward. I'm trying to tell them it was nothing, but I'm sure a statement from you would help a lot. Call me back when you get this." The message ended.
Mira rolled her eyes. She couldn't have a single private moment with anyone. Ever since she was born, the paparazzi wanted to know when she started talking, was potty trained, and walking. Her name has always been plastered all over newspapers. Why should this be any different? She was glad though that Tony wasn't in town. Even though he never really cared about what she did in her private time, he would always tease her about it. She was under enough stress as it was. She didn't need to hear his never-ending taunting.
As the next message began to play, Mira started to pick up her clothes off the floor. She still didn't have her shirt on, but it didn't matter. The curtains were still closed. No one could see inside.
The voice on this message was the same she heard last night. "Mira, baby. It's Edward. I know it's tacky to call right away after a hookup, but I seem to have a little problem. I left my watch somewhere in your room. I'm not sure exactly where it is in there because we took things off pretty fast and just threw them, but if you could take a quick look for me that would be great. Give me a call back if you find it. Even if you don't find it, I would like to see you again. Give me a call, Babe."
Mira shook her head. She could see the watch from where she stood. He had placed it on the dresser with care before taking anything else off. She knew that it was important to him. She wasn't planning on giving him a call so soon, but she had no choice. After she called Mark, she planned on calling Edward.
Mark's voice sounded again. "Hey, Mira. I'm at the airport. I know we're not supposed to leave until later with you, but Jenny's having a wedding crisis. Something with her mother not wanting to sit with her father. I don't know. She sounded pretty panicked. I'm just gonna go ahead of you and meet you back at your place later. I'll call you when I land."
Mira couldn't help but smile. Jenny was such a calm woman, but this wedding was driving her crazy. Mark, too. "Good luck, my friend," Mira said to the phone.
She started to repack her suitcase when the next message forced her to stop. It was Rhodey. "Mira, sweety. Please pick up the phone. I really need to talk to you. Please. Pick up. Pick up. I'll try Pepper." Then he hung up.
Pepper's voice was on the next message. Her voice was exhausted and scared. "Mira? Mira, please pick up. It's an emergency. I flew into New York this morning. I'm coming right over. I'll be there as soon as I can."
Rhodey started the next message. "Mira, where the hell are you? I need to talk to you." Yelling and screaming started to drown his voice out. "I know, sir. I'm trying to get ahold of her now. Mira, call me back." He hung up.
The next message was Rhodey again. "Mira, dammit! Do you ever answer your phone?"
Rhodey again. "This is about the fourth or fifth time I tried to reach you. Mira, it's about Tony. Please call me back."
Then another message from Pepper. "I guess you're still sleeping or something. Rhodey called me a couple times saying he can't get ahold of you. Well, I'm stuck in traffic. Call me when you wake up if I'm not there! Mira, I really need to talk to you."
The next message was from Rhodey again. "Mira. This is the last time I'm gonna call. Pepper will have to tell you what happened. I can't do it over voicemail. I promise you. I'm going to do everything in my power to make this right." What in the hell is he talking about?
Obadiah was the next voice in line. "Mira, no one can get ahold of you. I know you're life is busy and whatever, but this is important. It's about Tony. You don't have to call me, but call someone!" Obadiah never called Mira unless Tony was in some real trouble. This was even more serious than she thought.
He called again. His deep voice tried to make his message quick. "Call someone! Answer your damn phone!"
Pepper called again. "Mira, this is important. Call me!"
Next message was Mark. "Mira, where the hell are you? I was just about to board when Pepper called me. Why are you not answering your phone? I'm headed back to your hotel."
Mark again. "I can't get a stupid taxi at this airport! Wait for me there! Don't leave the hotel!"
Obadiah's voice came on again. "Mira, I swear to God. If you are passed out somewhere, I'm going to kill you. You're just like Tony sometimes, you know that?"
Mark called once again. "Did you die? Please tell me you're not dead. Mira, come on. Come on. Come on. Answer someone. Anyone. Anyone at all."
Obadiah sounded more calm this time. "Mira, I'm begging you. Wake up. Look at your phone. Do something. Anything. It is important!"
The final message began to play. It was from Pepper. "I'm about a block away from your hotel. I'll be up soon."
The messages finally stopped, but Mira didn't move. These were all within the past hour. Something had gone horribly wrong, but she didn't know what to do. Tony was always in some sort of trouble, but they never spammed her phone. This had to have been serious.
Three knocks on the door caused Mira to jump out of her skin. She grabbed her shirt, put it on inside out, and ran to the door. She pulled it open as fast as she could, revealing Pepper Potts with three bodyguards.
Mira's eyes had begun to fill with tears. "Pepper, what the hell is going on."
"Maybe you should sit-" Pepper tried to move Mira to the bed, but she wasn't having it.
"Just tell me! What's wrong with Tony?!"
Pepper took a second to pull herself together. "On his way off the base, the truck he was in was attacked. The soldiers were all killed, but they couldn't find Tony. They're still looking for him. Rhodey thinks he was targeted."
"So what you're saying is Tony is missing and they have no idea where the hell he is?!" Her heart started to pick up speed.
"They're looking everywhere for him, Mira. They're going to find him. We just need to have hope."
Pepper's words weren't enough. Mira started to sway and her breathing completely stopped. She tried to catch her breath, but nothing would come. She fell to the ground, gasping for air. As the darkness surrounded her, she heard Pepper scream "SOMEONE CALL AN AMBULANCE!"