29 : ANNUAL FUNDRAISER
8:14 AM.
Steve knew this must be a really long day for him. Steve's father, General Joseph Rogers, summoned his only son to their penthouse suite on the Upper East Side. Steve wasn't eager to meet with his father at all because he knew that, the only thing that his father would like to talk to him was that he found him a very nice girl who has lots of connections in Washington.
Yeah, Steve hates it when he did that. But he always turned all of his date into a one night stand which also make his dad furious every time.
"Son! This is a list of eligible women for you." The General said and handed Steve a long list of names.
"List of what, Dad?" He asked annoyingly, not even paid a slight attention to the list.
"Pick one of them as your tonight date to me and your mother's annual fundraiser in Washington"
"Dad, I don't need any of this stupid girls"
"Watch your mouth, Steven. Some of them already had two or three degrees from Ivy League university at the same age as you"
"I don't care, Dad. I don't know them. I won't take them with me and I won't go to your stupid party too"
"It's a fundraiser for the veteran so show some respect, son!"
"I'm sorry, dad" He said sarcastically "But I will bring my own date or not bring anyone with me if you want me to be there"
"You're the most stubborn son a father could have"
"Sorry again for the disappointment"
Steve walked into the elevator, didn't even say goodbye to his father. He needed to find a date real quick before his father arranged him with some stupid senator's daughter. Think, Rogers, Think!. Who is the most suitable choice to be your date tonight?
He didn't want to take any of his long list of one night stands with him. His female friends weren't an option. But the only name that came out on top of everyone else, she seemed to be the most logical and perfect choice of them all.
9: 21 AM
Steve banged on the door really hard to show some sense of urgency. He went straight to this room when he got back to the university.
The door swung opened and Natasha frowned at him.
"Better be good, Rogers" She warned.
"I need a favor" He said "Big time favor"
"What kind of favor?"
"Pretend to be my date for tonight and perhaps be my girlfriend if it's gone too far"
"Do you realize you ask a gigantic favor from me?"
"I know" He replied "You gonna help me or not?"
"No"
"Nat, please. My dad tries to find me a girlfriend and stuff"
"Hundred times more no" She made a gross face and about to close the door in his face but he blocked it.
"Natasha, I'm being super serious right now" He said "Don't make me drop on my knee and beg you"
"You are really desperate"
"I am"
"Fine"
He hugged her "Great! Thanks so much, my dear little red. Go dress up, we will go shopping"
10: 45 AM.
They were in his car. Steve was making a call to someone called Stefano and spoke fluently in Italian. He drove to his penthouse suite in the Upper East Side. When they arrived at his penthouse, there are at least three racks of evening gown and two racks of tuxedo.
"Mr. Rogers! Long time no see" A well-dressed gay walked up to Steve and hugged him. Steve returned the hug too.
"Stefano, I need you to find a perfect dress for my date, Natasha Romanoff" Steve told.
Stefano looked at Natasha and smiled because he knew Steve never ever brought any date to his family event since Peggy Carter.
"Natasha, this is Stefano Mucci, my mother's close friend and personal stylist. He will help you find the perfect dress for tonight event" Steve told her.
"Do you have any color in mind, Ms. Romanoff?"
"Umm—"
"Anything in red, Stefano. She looks absolutely beautiful in anything red" Steve told "I want her to be absolutely gorgeous that would turn every head in that party. Do you understand me, Stefano? Every single head in the party even male or female, old or young"
"You got it"
Nat could sense how big tonight's event was that make Steve went all out in this. Stefano took her to another room along with his assistants. Steve was picking up his tuxedo from the rack until her found the one that satisfied him.
In another room where Natasha was standing on the pedestal while Stefano picked out the red evening gown. It's all beautiful and Natasha cannot should which one she like most. Stefano picked a full length strapless red gown. Natasha quickly put it on with some help from the assistants.
"So, Natasha. I assume that you are his girlfriend"
"No! No, we're not dating. We're just friend"
"Oh, sweetheart. I think you are" Stefano said "Because he never ever let anyone go on his family event unless she's very important to him. The last one was—"
"Peggy Carter"
'Yes, Peggy Carter. Do you know her too?"
"We just talked once"
"You must really important to him, Natasha"
"I hope so"
"Sweetheart, you're absolutely beautiful" Stefano complimented when he saw Natasha after she put on the gown "You gonna turn every head in that party"
"Thank you" She replied timidly
"Looks like you found your dress for tonight" The stylist said "But we still have a long way to go. Steve told me to pick up shoes from Manolo Blahnik. We can wait until Pablo done with your hair and makeup"
Pablo, the hair stylist, and his team came in and began to design Nat's hair style for tonight. They sent her into the bathroom and gave her a full spa packages and prepared her for tonight even before they began to put a makeup on her. Pablo began to compliment Natasha's beautiful and perfect features and made the redhead slightly blushed.
4 : 56 PM.
Steve was dressed up in his tuxedo. He was ready for the gala and now he was picking up the jewelry and shoes from his little red. He heard to door open and a cough came from behind him.
"Steve?" Nat called him, unsure.
Steve quickly turned and he was the one who stunned by Natasha. She was absolutely beautiful and he felt his heart beat faster and the same time he forgot how to breathe. His blue eyes kept starring at her and he felt his jaw slacked at the sight he saw.
"Wow" That's all the word he can manage to get out of his mouth. "You're really beautiful, Nat"
"So I passed the test" She asked
"Yeah"
At the back of Natasha, everyone sighed in relief that everything they've done got an approval from Steve or else they might got fired. Steve picked the shoes he selected for Natasha and knelt down in from of her. He slowly lifted her foot up and put the high heels on for her before he presented her with something really valuable.
"This will go along with you dress just fine, red" He put the diamond necklace on her "It's my mother's Harry Winston. Custom made just for my mom."
"Steve, it's too much. I cannot wear this"
"But you have too. It look absolutely gorgeous on your neck than any other woman"
"But…"
"No but, Nat. You have to do this."
"Do we really need to do this?"
"If you don't help me tonight, I have to end up with some brainless girl"
"Fine"
Steve helped her put on all the jewelry. Pablo and Stefano did a final checkup on them both before they get to the helipad and traveled to Washington DC together.
7: 17 PM
They arrived at Washington DC within 90 minutes. Steve told the guy who pick them up to put their suitcase at his penthouse after he took them to the gala. Finally, they arrived at the building hosted the event and the reporters were more than eager to snap pictures of them.
Steve could felt that Nat was really uncomfortable on the red carpet so he quickly takes her inside.
"Steve, son!" General Joseph Rogers called his son over the crowd
Steve helped Natasha with her coat before walked to his dad.
"Hey, dad" Steve replied coldly but his dad didn't seem to notice it
"I have arrange a meeting with eligible girls, brilliant profile and background, family has connection everywhere in Washington..."
"Sorry, dad. I'm not gonna talk to any of them"
"What?"
"I brought a date with me" Steve told with a devilish smile on his face
Joseph frowned upon hearing his son. Steve turned and pulled Natasha into his arms before introduced her to his father.
"Dad, this is Natasha"
"I don't care" Joseph said as he looked at the girl from head to toe "I already talk to Senator Stern about this arrangement with his daughter"
"Then you have to go and explain to him that I'm not available for any girl tonight" Steve shrugged "Natasha is my girlfriend"
"And then why I find it really hard to believe that?"
"Okay" That's all Steve said before he pulled Natasha closer and kissed her in front of his dad.
She was stunned for a second, even though he warned her that it might go this far, she never thought it will be this early to put on this cover.
His hand tilted her head up to deepen the kiss. She couldn't help but play along and let him do whatever he want. Steve kissed until everyone was really uncomfortable and his dad had to cough.
"What more evidence do you need?" Steve asked with a smirk, grabbing Natasha hand and let her into the room.
Joseph can only watch his son walk away but in his mind he already came up with a plan to separate his son from this nobody girl. The couple was walking in the crowd and could hear they were gossiping about them. Steve's reputation was all well-known by everyone and the fact that he never takes any girl to such an important event.
Steve leaned in near her ear, his lips blush with the shell "Sorry about that"
"Don't worry" She replied "Hope we didn't have to act all night"
"I think we have to. I cannot let my dad win this game and I can only do that if you're with me"
"Fine, stick to our story, how we met, how we become friend"
"Let me do the talking when it comes to how we fell in love, okay?" Steve said "This gonna be a very long night"
Natasha afraid he might make up a very hard to believe story but she trusted him.
Steve led Natasha to his mom and introduced her to his mother's friends. They welcomed her better than his father. Natasha was swamped by old ladies who demand to know every detail of how they met. Nat told them the truth that they met at the university and lived in the same dormitory.
Sarah pulled her son away to question him privately "So, my son really has a girlfriend. Not mention that she's the same person you say she isn't your girlfriend."
"No, mom, we're just friend. We pretend to be lover for tonight to get back on dad"
"That's a shame" She said "I really like her"
"I know. She's the best"
"And why is my Harry Winston is with her?"
"Well…"
"It's okay, Steve. It looks beautiful on her more than me. If she actually is your girlfriend, I might consider give it to her"
"Don't tell dad about this, okay? I bring her with me tonight to fend off whoever dad send to me"
"Alright, I will help you with your little plan but I have to warn you, son, when you play with fire…"
"Don't catch yourself on fire. Got it, mom"
But Sarah knew her son didn't really listen to her warning or he might listen but don't really understand what she means.
If he keep being around her like this, he will eventually fall for her.
8:45 PM
Steve and Natasha turned into the center of all attention in no time. Everyone wanted to talk to them and demanded to know how they met. Everyone said the same thing that they are a perfect couple and Natasha is really beautiful. They shared at least ten kisses in the past one hour. If someone not buying that they are actually a couple, they didn't know what to do anymore.
Nat also noticed that even girls, daughters of influential people, was looking at her with a tint of envious in their eyes. Well, she had the golden boy all to herself all night and even didn't flirt with anyone.
Steve and Nat were talking to Colonel Henson and his wife when General Joseph showed up and pulled Steve away with him. Steve didn't want to leave Natasha alone in the tank full of shark like this. She mouthed that she can handle it.
Steve followed his dad to a seclude area and Joseph
"Steve, I'm okay if she's just your fuck buddy or your one night stand but she cannot be your future wife"
"What are you talking about, dad?" Steve frowned when he heard those words "Natasha is my girlfriend. I truly madly deeply in love with her and I'm not gonna break up with her to be with someone you find for me."
"I don't approve this"
"I never ask for your approval" Steve replied, his gesture and facial expression were pure defiance "I love Natasha and I will not break up with her for some girls I don't even know them. Those girls are just seeking for our family's money or wanna buy their way to the elite society. They're like a leech we need to get rid off"
"Shows some respect, Steven Rogers. Those are daughters of senators, congressmen and high rank military officers"
"And you should show some respect to my girlfriend too, dad" Steve retorted "She's important to me, the most important thing for me right now. Do you even give a chance to know her before you judge her?"
"I give you a week and broke things off with her." The General said
"Then you should know me better than that, General. I never listen to you so why should I start now" Steve replied before turning away "Oh, you should talk to mom too. She really likes Natasha"
"Marks my word, son. I will do anything to get rid of that girl."
"I love to see you try, dad"
9:26 PM
Natasha rushed away from the corner that she's accidentally eavesdropping the conversation between Steve and his father. Steve was giving a very convincing speech and he was so deliberately lied to his father. Even she couldn't tell whether he told the truth or not.
But she couldn't help but like the feeling that he was protecting her honor and willing to fight his father to protect her.
Steve's mom called her and saved her just in time before she ran into someone she didn't know. Steve came to her a minute later.
"I was worried that you might get kill" He said and took her hand
"You left me alone in that shark tank, Steve"
"I know and I'm sorry" He replied and kissed her cheek. "I will get us some drink. You want anything?"
"Just a glass of water, please"
"Of course"
He bended down and kissed those full lips of her. Steve couldn't resist himself to give her a deep kiss and pulled her closer in his embrace. Even Sarah had to look away because she felt like she was invading their privacy before it was too much that she actually left the couple alone.
Nat gently shoved him "The drinks, sweetie." She reminded "I will meet you at the bar"
"Yeah, right"
Steve turned and started to walk away but Nat grabbed his hand "Steve…"
Natasha pulled him back and kissed him again before letting him go for real.
"Wow, he let you out of his sight, really? He should know better than anyone to leave your side."
The voice startled Natasha because she remembered that voice even she didn't hear it for a long time. She turned and found Peggy Carter herself standing behind her. Of course, she gotta be here. The Rogers and the Carters were very close. At least her archenemy wasn't here.
"He never been like this before" Peggy noted. "So, you are his girlfriend?"
"No… we just— we" Natasha actually stuttered
"You don't have to lie, Natasha. You two look absolutely stunning together" Peggy said
"I didn't know that you will be here"
"I'm trying to avoid him. My dad and his dad work together in the same department. Our families always keep in touch with each other"
This was so awkward that Natasha actually didn't have anything to say to the girl in front of her. Well, she was his ex-girlfriend and Natasha was posing as Steve's current girlfriend.
"Don't worry, I'm not coming here to cause you and Steve any problem. I'm just glad that he's moving on with his life too"
Natasha just noticed that they wore a red dress but different style. Peggy was more of a vintage dress. And she knew that Peggy thought of the same thing.
"He really does have a thing with woman in red dress" Peggy noted and Natasha wondered what that mean.
Peggy looked at Natasha and felt a little envy by how perfect she was. No wonder why Steve was falling for her.
This woman saw Steve at his worst, when he was completely shattered, she was there to pick up every pieces and put him back together. Turning him back into the real Steve Rogers.
Maybe she just not belongs to him like she always thought, Peggy thought bitterly to herself.
"Here he is! I will go now. I really don't want to ruin your night with Steve"
"But—" Before Natasha could say anything, Peggy disappeared.
Steve appeared next to her. "Hey! Where have you been? I was worried my dad would do anything with you. I thought you want to meet me at the bar." He looked obviously panicked
"Steve, I'm okay." She said to calm him down. "Let's just get ourselves some drink, sweetie."
"Okay" He replied gently and wrapped his arm around her shoulders.
AN:
- I'm really sick and need a lot of rest to recover so I will not regularly update. I'm sorry guys.
- Special thanks to my dearest friends, sleeplessinbudapest & internetangie!
- Sorry for any grammatical mistake. I'm terribly sorry. If anyone has a free time and want to proofread my story. Please contact me via PM.
- Please kindly leave a review :)