Chapter 8
Anne got out of her car and walked up to the front doors of the Stark Tower.
"Call Tony Stark."
Her command is heard by her earpiece and it instantly responds,
"Calling Tony Stark."
After just one ring, her call is answered by J.A.R.V.I.S.
"Hello, who is speaking?"
The polite, British voice never failed to put a smile on her face.
"This is Agent Fisher of S.H.I.E.L.D."
Anne responds as she walks into the fancy building,
"May I speak to Tony Stark?"
"One moment please."
Anne spots the elevator and goes to press the up button but a passcode is required.
Since when did he install passcodes?
J.A.R.V.I.S. returns to their conversation.
"I am afraid Mr. Stark does not wish to speak with you at the moment."
Anne, getting frustrated, replies,
"Tell him that if he doesn't pick up the phone and talk to me, I'll kick his little ass all the way to China."
"One moment please."
Anne sighs and looks around. The lobby is empty expect for the guard that's asleep at the front desk.
"Mr. Stark does not wish to speak with you,"
J.A.R.V.I.S. says suddenly,
"I'm afraid I'll have to terminate your call. Goodbye."
"What? Wait-!"
But her earpiece was already emitting the droning tone that meant the phone had been hung up.
"Fuck this."
She muttered.
Anne pulls out her phone and opens the specially made decoder app. She scans the panel next to the elevator and it immediately shows the passcode.
She smiles and enters the number. The elevator door opens and she steps inside, then pressing the top button.
The elevator moves up surprisingly fast and almost knocks her down. She regains her composure and within seconds the door opens.
Anne sees Tony and Pepper drinking wine on the floor.
Tony looks over and spots her in the elevator.
"Security breach!"
"Tony."
She responds with a smirk on her face.
Pepper gets up with a smile,
"Annabelle, Come in!"
I knew I always liked her.
Anne walks into the condo but responds,
"I can't stay,"
Tony hesitantly gets up as well
Pepper walks over to Anne,
"Come in, we're celebrating."
"Which is why she can't stay."
Tony states through a fake smile.
"We need you to look this over as soon as possible."
Anne hands him a tablet with the documents she was referring to downloaded on it.
"Uh, I don't like to be handed things."
Anne rolls her eyes.
"That's fine because I love to be handed things, so let's trade."
Pepper takes the tablet and hands Anne her wine glass, then takes Tony's glass and gives him the tablet. Anne smiles at his annoyed face.
"Official consulting hours are between 8 and 5 every other Thursday."
Tony states in a mock professional tone.
"This isn't a consultation."
Anne points out matter-of-factly.
"Is this about the Avengers?"
Pepper asks. Anne cocks her eyebrow.
"Which I know nothing about,"
Tony opens the tablet's case and walks over to his desk.
"The Avengers Initiative was scraped. And I thought I didn't even qualify?"
"I didn't know that either,"
"Yeah. Apparently I'm volatile, self-obsessed, don't play well with others,"
"That I did know."
Anne chuckles at Tony and Pepper's exchange but turns serious again.
"This isn't about personality profiles anymore."
"Miss Potts,"
Tony crooks his finger at Pepper,
"Got a sec?"
Pepper holds up her finger and mouths one minute at Anne and walks over to Tony. They converse with each other silently out of her earshot until Tony swipes the tablet's screen and it's contents appear in hologram form. A roar erupts from the floating information with profiles on The Hulk, Captain America, Hawkeye, Thor, Iron Man, Loki, and herself. Tony and Pepper gaze at the vast quantity of extraordinary people and objects. They converse again until Pepper leans over and whispers something in Tony's ear as his mouth drops open. Anne looks away and sighs begrudgingly.
Phil was right. They have become super touchy.
They kiss and Pepper walks back over to Anne.
"Any chance you're driving by La Guardia?"
Anne smiles.
"I can drop you off."
They get back onto the elevator together and talk happily until Anne drops her off at the airport. She sighs and drives away.
I'm gonna miss girl talks like that. Now time to get back to the men.
She calls Phil to confirm Tony's acceptance of joining the Avengers.
"Good job, Anne."
He responds, then becomes silent for almost 10 seconds.
"Something wrong?"
She asks nervously.
"Well..."
He seemed hesitant to say what was on his mind.
"You can tell me, Phil."
She heard him suck in a breath.
"I'm flying with Steve Rogers to the helicarrier we'll all be staying on and I was just wondering... when would be the best time to ask him to sign my Captain America cards?"