No Man's Land
It all started on a Friday at 1 PM when your boss dropped a stack of papers on your desk. Usually he picked on the scrawny slender boy named Peter but today since he wasn't here, it looked like you were his new victim.
"Mr. Jameson, with all do respect, this paperwork isn't even in my field area." You read the top transcripts.
He looked down to you and you suddenly felt your chest tighten and slumped back in your seat.
"Do you think I give a rat's ass?"
"Probably not sir."
"Either you finish this by Monday or you're fired." You looked down to the mountain of papers and sighed. You began to read what the papers said but you noticed your boss hadn't moved. You looked back up to him when he growled in annoyance.
"Fine then. I had a cover story for Patrick but he didn't turn up," You didn't dare tell him he said the wrong name to the boy he yelled about Spider-Man everyday. "Tony Stark is having a huge birthday bash here in his new tower. You'll find him and interview him about anything Iron Man related. Make sure you get his opinion on that nuisance Spider-Man. But if he doesn't have the same opinion as me just wipe that section clean, ya got it?" You nodded quickly and he gave you a half nod. He walked away and continued to yell at anyone who came in his way. You thanked Peter for his mysterious disappearance on this faithful day.
✫ *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✫ *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✫✫ *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✫ *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✫✫*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✫ *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✫✫ *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✫ *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✫✫ *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✫ *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✫✫*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✫ *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✫
You mentally yelled at yourself as you now only realized how cold it was. You wore a classic black dress and heels. You were thankful it was warm inside when you walked in to Stark Tower. Although you were nervously while clutching your notes and invitation, you felt a slight sense something magical might happen. Passing security at the first floor seemed like the hardest part but in reality you knew it was looking for the man of the hour himself. You grabbed a wine glass from a passing waiter and took a big sip before looking in your new mission. Many drunken people laughed and made a scene as you passed each hallway. You were beginning to lose hope but a woman in a cheetah print dress distracted you. She had red curls that bounced behind her back as she walked. Your throat dried up when you both made eye contact with each other. Her eyes lingered for an extra second and she walked away. Your brain reminded you what you were here for but your shitty instincts told you to follow. You took a step towards the direction she went but a pale curly haired man walked in front of you. You smiled politely and muttered a sorry before moving a side. But so did the man and once again you walked in the same direction. You awkwardly laughed, feeling extremely uncomfortable. The taller man in a business suit smiled at you.
"Hi, I'm sorry we just danced. My bad. My name is Edgar." He stuck his hand out and you took it unwillingly.
"(Y/n)." You pressed your lips together.
"Why so tense (Y/n)?" He laughed; you faked a laugh and shrugged.
"I uh have to look for the birthday boy and interview him." You admitted.
Edgar nodded and gave a suggestion. "Maybe we can look for him together. Maybe we can even walk home together too."
"I actually have to look soon because I could get fired." You gave him am apologetic look and rushed towards the gorgeous woman who stole your spotlight. You searched a few more floors above until you took another drink break. You stood next to two men dressed expensively and accidentally listened to their conversation.
"Natalie Rushman? You gotta be kidding! That's no man's land."
You looked towards whomever they were talking about and spotted her. You stared at the woman who wore the tight animal themed dress who's name was now revealed. Rushman. Natalie Rushman. She sounded like a Bond girl. Hell she probably was James Bond already. A sudden hard hand grabbed your shoulder causing you to turn around quickly.
"Hi I'm Tony Stark but you already knew that obviously. What's your name? Actually I have a better question: how did you get in here? I have no idea who you are but that doesn't matter because you look just gorgeous in that dress of yours. The more the merrier!" He grabbed a drink straight out of a guest's hand and chugged it down. He began yelling about how he was Iron Man and walked away with two girls. You sighed in frustration as you realized that was probably the only time you'd ever talk to Tony Stark. Jameson was gonna kill you. You felt tap on your bare shoulder and turned to another problem.
"How about now? I'll take you home and we can have some fun," Edgar tried again. You smiled weakly at him. Your eyes looked around for the next best excuse until your eyes locked on a certain red haired beauty.
"Actually, I uh have a friend that will take me home." You looked at Natalie who chatted with Pepper Potts. You walked over to her when Pepper ran after Tony.
"Natalie? Natalie is that you? Oh my God it's been so long since high school!" You opened your arms to hug her. You mentally screamed when she returned the hug. "It's me (Y/n)!" Her facial expression remained neutral from when you walked over. You stepped aside to show her the man who had been pestering you all night long. Natalia's lips curled into a smile.
"It has been too long. How are you?" She asked, playing the starring role in your little play. You continued your conversation with talks about yourself, but whenever you tried to get something out of Natalie, shed turn the tables back to you or order another drink for the two of you. She questioned how you knew her name and you explained about what the men said. She looked over to them while sipping her wine and glared at them. Men would come over to flirt with her but she pushed each away. It did not go unnoticed when she mentioned she was not in a relationship and not attracted to men. After a few minutes of laughter and maybe a hint of flirtation, you realized Edgar had left and right at the moment, so did the mood. A man in a shinning silver Iron Man suit replica, stood a few feet away staring at Stark.
"I'm only gonna say this once: get out." His mask dropped and everyone rushed out. Natalie's face returned to its natural expression.
"You need to leave too."
"What about you? Come with me." You pleaded for her safety. She shook her head and said 'later' before she put a hand behind your back and softly shoved you with the crowd.
You ran out along with everyone else but waited for Natalie at the front door. There was a hole in ceiling which lead to a view spot of other people waiting in the balcony for the other man who started a fight with Tony. Pepper Potts yelled inaudibly to whomever was in the phone while a security looking man tried to calm her down. Natalie jogged towards her while Pepper yelled at her too. A sudden crash from the upper floor to the one they were at made Pepper scream while Natalie had ninja reflexes and raised her arms in defense. Tony and the silver Iron Man continued to fight. Pepper was pulled away by a man in a tuxedo. You saw Natalie rush towards the exit. She continued to look around before pulling her wrist with bracelets to her mouth and spoke into it. Your brain began to question if this was a terrible spy film. Once the fiery redhead reached a few feet away she noticed you. She seemed a bit startled but smoothed down her dress and slowly made her way to you.
"(Y/n)..." She spoke out to the wind that softly flowed in your hair.
"I don't know what is going on in that madhouse...but I know, you did promise me you'd walk me home." Your lips twitched into a soft smile. And so did hers. She walked to you and the two of you walked to your apartment. Most of the time had spent quietly, half of the reason being neither of you didn't know what to say, or nothing needed to be said. Once you were at your footsteps your apartment, you felt a pang in your chest knowing you might never see Natalie.
"Well, it's been a great time spending the rest of my night with you. Even if I didn't do a wink of my work," You laughed and sighed mentally. Natalie smiled back in response. She waved goodnight to you and slowly turned around. You could feel your head and heart pounding. Just begging you would open your mouth and say something. "Natalie wait!" You practically yelled. When she turned to look at you, you felt your cheeks burn scarlet. "I uh, just wanted to thank you for walking me home...and I know you were only meant to walk me home...but I was wondering if you wanted to go out some time."
She stared back at you as if she were trying to figure out how to politely decline.
"Give me your number and I'll call you as soon as I get a free chance."
You would have never guessed she would actually agree. You rapidly nodded as she pulled out her phone and gave it to you. You tapped in the digits and handed it back. She looked at the contact then put her phone away.
"Until then." She smiled.
Your smile shun brightly as you nodded while stepping inside. Putting your hand in air and waving as a final goodbye for the night. Once she had disappeared into the darkness, you closed the hallway door and jumped in the air, silently cheering to yourself for asking her out and not letting her get away.
Now you just had to wait until then.