Authoress Note: Welcome to Chapter 4 of Iron Maiden. I want to thank those who have left reviews for this story. It truly does mean a lot to me that you guys are enjoying this story. I've been trying my best to make sure that the stories turn out well regardless if they're rewritten or not. I hope that you guys enjoy this next chapter. Without further ado Chapter 4. ENJOY!

Chapter 4

Pepper entered Tony's office with Abigail right behind her. Pepper stopped when she saw Obadiah sitting behind Tony's desk with his head in his hands.

Obadiah looked up seeing the two women. "Sorry, did I startle you?" He questioned seeing the two of them looking rather shocked to see him in Tony's office.

"A little…" Pepper said softly as she swapped out yesterday's unread LA Times and Wall Street Journal with today's.

Obadiah got up to his feet and gazed out the windows at the vast Stark compound. He crossed his arms as he pursed his lips together

Pepper and Abigail came up to him.

"This was a bad idea, I should never have let him go over there…" He started to break down.

Pepper touched his shoulder lightly. "Hey, hey...we've got to be strong, he's going to be okay."

He composed himself and nodded his head. He turned his attention to Abigail. "Abigail… I thought that you would be in class?" He was surprised that the young woman was not in her classes, but here in the office.

"I withdrew for this semester." Abigail admitted softly. She couldn't finish the semester with Tony missing.

Obadiah blinked a few times, slightly confused at what she had said. "You withdrew?" He was surprised that she was willing to withdraw from class. He was worried about her schooling and how she was going to finish in time.

"I have time to go back to classes once Tony returns." She said softly before looking down. "But…"

Obadiah's brow raised as the but came from her lips. "But?"

"I am to be acting as Stark Industries Interim CEO until Tony's return." She said looking up at him knowing that Obadiah would be shocked to even know that.

Obadiah's eyes went wide as he heard what she had said. "But your views…"

Abigail shook her head lightly. "My views Obi don't matter at the moment. Stark Industries needs someone behind the scenes to run the company like Tony did… granted I won't be doing what he did to make his name as his… I'm not about to tarnish the family name or my own." She said, looking at him. "I'm doing this just until Tony comes home alive and well." She needed to do this. She wanted to make Tony proud until he returned home. She just hoped that she wouldn't be doing it for too long.

Obadiah took a breath and then slowly nodded his head. He knew what she was trying to do. He could only hope that this 21 year old could handle everything that Tony and him handled over the years. He didn't like the idea that she was so willingly doing this sort of thing. He knew that she didn't have it in her and he wanted to run the company until Tony returned, but he knew that it wasn't going to be possible.

Pepper looked at Abigail. "Abby… you need to rest for tomorrow's meeting." She told the younger girl softly.

Abigail took a soft breath and nodded her head. "Of course." She said softly offering the strawberry-blonde haired woman a small smile.

"I will contact Happy to take you to the main house."

Abigail swallowed the lump in her throat. That would be right she would stay at Tony's mansion while he was gone and she wouldn't be staying in her apartment. Her heart clenched in her chest and nodded her head weakly. "Alright."

Pepper wrapped her arm around the younger woman and walked her out of Tony's office.

Abigail let out a soft breath. "He's not happy." She said softly as she walked with Pepper.

"He would've wanted you to stick to your studies."

"It's another degree." Abigail said, rolling her eyes. "I already have two degrees… finishing my third won't be a problem."

"I keep forgetting that you are just like your brother that way."

Abigail sniffled a little, wiping a few tears that slipped from her eyes.

"Oh, Abby I didn't mean that." She said hugging the younger woman.

"I know you didn't." She said softly sniffling as she looked up at Pepper. "I just miss him and want him home as soon as they find him."

"Rhodey said he was going to be looking until there is no more reason to not to look anymore."

"I just want him to be found safe and sound." Abigail said softly as Pepper rubbed her back softly.

"Let's get you home."

Abigail nodded her head weakly following Pepper out of the hallway and towards the exit. She knew that she needed to get out of the company for a little bit so she could not have a mental breakdown.

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This is the end of Chapter 4. I hope that you enjoyed this chapter. I'm trying my best to get these chapters out as quickly as I can. This is one of my shorter chapters, which I didn't want to have a short chapter, but sometimes it happens. Please leave a review and let me know what you think. Currently I am trying to figure out a pairing for my OC and haven't fully decided on who she should be with. Who do you guys think she should be with? I hope to have the next chapter out soon. Until next time.