Chemical Poison

Regrets was a concept Anneliese knew all too fondly, so close to her heart that she deemed it a friend. When she was laughing endlessly in her mother's front garden, regret was there. When she cried herself to sleep endlessly in her bed - empty from her Jenna, regret stayed. For a young girl, regret was all she knew and her only constant. Therefore, to be without regret was to say goodbye to a friend.

And she wasn't sure if she was ready to let go just yet.

Smiles filled the backstage as the curtains raised and a crowd grew in excitement, staring at the red shiny car in the very middle. Champagne glasses in any free hands and Anneliese knew today was a day she would remember for a long time. It may've been Howard's dream and Alexander's biggest 'fuck you' to his father, but this was so much more important to her than she let on.

She made it to the top. The very top. She was standing with America's elitist.

Without blood.

Without violence.

Without family.

Taking a deep breath, Howard squeezing her hand before letting go as Anneliese walked from behind the cream pillars and onto the stage. Thousands of eyes staring back at her, all more curious about the car standing behind her and not who she really was. Of course, this didn't deter her excitement in the slightest.

She made it to the top. The very top. Staring down at America.

The smile forced its way onto her lips, her dimples on full display as she stared down at everyone below. Equally excited. A roar from the crowd ensued as the music begun and the showgirls made their presence, even in the smallest pieces of fabric, Anneliese knew she would've done the same. Worn the dress Howard tricked her with, all to feel this moment again. The adrenaline.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, Mister Howard Stark!"

Anneliese stood just far away from the car that she wasn't mistaken as a show girl, but close enough to see the way the girls were smiling just the same as her. This was beyond anything they had experienced before, and she couldn't help but let that energy radiate through her.

Evidently, Howard felt the same. She watched the way his step had an extra bounce to it, his smile brighter then ever before and she could see his left eye become slightly glassy from the number of staring eyes at him. There was something majestic in his happiness, nothing vile seemed to plague him in the slightest. She wanted to memorise him in this very moment, relish in the way his eyes landed on her with a knowing look. An avalanche of emotions spinning through his golden eyes, such emotions Anneliese barely was able to handle.

Emotions have always been too heavy for her, too much of one often left her weak for days and wishing for nothing but an endless sleep. She grew up on the believe that being weak was bad, and if emotions led to her weakness - that they were equally just as bad. She knew she was a mess with her own emotions; perfected the statue but nothing else. A shell with no pearl.

Then there was Howard, master of emotions and about nothing else. A twinkle in his eye and the entire room knew what he was thinking; he was the moment and everyone knew it. This was the beginning of his world, she just knew it. So, when his golden speckle eyes met her's, no longer the curious happiness but pure divine bliss. She knew what was to happen, and she welcomed it.

He would carry the emotions she couldn't, and when she decided to carry them - he held her. Tightly. Making sure she never fell, never crumbled or never falter. He was always there, nearby. He seemed willing to carry anything, all to make her happier.

Howard had stopped directly in front of her, what seemed to be a mere millisecond was hours for her. She could feel his warm breath on her cheek as his eyes said everything they couldn't say on stage. A series of This-Could-Work and You-Made-It. And when all the time evaporated from them, where standing so close was far too personal, the two solved their problems the only way they knew.

A kiss.

And so he did exactly that.

The kiss was soft yet bruising. It was quick and it was slow, and Anneliese knew Alexander was definitely sniggering from behind the pillars. Even with the kiss being just a kiss, and Howard still continuing his presentation - Anneliese took her leave. She was no longer needed on stage and retreated back behind the pillar next to Alexander, who, much to her suspicious was sniggering profoundly.

None of it mattered as she watched Howard with her full attention, leisurely taking in every word he said and processing none of it. Her eyes were glue to him and she couldn't help but recall a time where she watched him this religiously but out of a sense of ensuring he didn't create any scandals.

And here she was.

Creating scandals and watching him with the most improper reasons.

Not that she would ever say it, and thus since she would never say it allowed... she could admit to herself that he looked more than fine. Potentially tasty - at least that was the terminology Maria would use - but Anneliese couldn't stop herself from glancing further down. From his perfectly messed up hair to his neck and past his back to just below.

The pants were obviously tight, and Anneliese couldn't stop herself. 

Well- until Alexander nudged her.

"You're staring", he said in a sing-song voice, "Leave the perving to me, Miss Lorenz."

Covering her mouth quickly to cover a cough and a series of excuses, she was instantly pulled by Howard beginning the machine and it actually begun to fly. Anneliese's eyes widen as she watched Howard's prototype begin the initial stages before it was considered flying. He had actually done it.

"Fuck me."

Alexander wasn't wrong. She quickly linked arms with Alexander as the two watched with curiosity, whispering under the breath just before Howard allowed the prototype to begin.

"Do you remember the bet?", he said. Eyes never leaving the red car.

Nodding, she didn't need to verbally reply. She was beyond amazed as she watched the car be lifted into the air - free from the ground. Covering her mouth once more, attempting to over her gasp. Alexander mumbled that they will begin the count once it was stable in the air.

"One-", Alexander begun.

"-Two", Anneliese replied.

It was wobbling, and her eyes instantly was drawn to a fuse breaking - sparks flying from just behind the car. And well and truly before Alexander could say three, the car came crashing down. The crowd was silent and so was behind the stage.

But none of that mattered. It may have crashed, but it flew once. And that mattered.

"He actually did it," Alexander whispered, "And- OH FUCK ME!"

Realisation hit harder than a brick and Anneliese's eyes grew wider by the second as she slowly turned around to face Alexander. She didn't need to glance across the room to see most of its occupants curious about why he was in such a frenzy state - hands in his hair and tie loose.

A grin appeared on her lips, "I believe you need to make an announcement for the panel that begins shortly, might want to begin informing the public of your fetish for expecting moth-."

"As if I would," He replied, "You said at least ten seconds - my bet was technically closer!"

The two were standing in front of one another, a full blown argument occurring as they tried convincing the other that they had won. 

Huffing deeply, she retaliated, "You said not even a second and I said ten. At least I said it would fly for a second, and for that reason.. I won the bet!"

Neither had seen Howard enter behind the stage, nor the cheering coming from all in attendance behind the scene. They both ignored it all as they continued bickering, neither wanting to do the bet they agreed to do. In fact, Anneliese didn't even react when Howard slid his arm around her waist as she threw her hands in the air.

"As if! Zero is not closer to two. Zero isn't even a number!"

Alexander threw his finger in her face, "And ten is no where near two!"

"Do I want to know why you're both arguing over numbers and not congratulating me?"

His voice surprised Anneliese, nearly causing her to jump from his touch. Turning her head to face him, she gave him a sweet smile before turning to face Alexander. Eyes narrowing.

"You lost the bet, get over it."

He scoffed, "And so did you-"

A cough came from Howard and the two turned to face him, and Anneliese's heart nearly dropped. She watched as his brain slowly put together all the information and realised exactly what they had bet on, and the look he gave them both was shattering. He instantly unlinked his arms around Anneliese and sent a terrifying glare at both of them.

In a low and uncertain voice, Howard asked, "You made a bet over my prototype?"

She didn't want to reply and Alexander quickly removed himself from the problem he started, using the excuse that he needed to inform the crowd of the panel occurring in a few minutes. It meant Anneliese was alone with Howard.

His eyes weren't golden, but hazel.

It was in this moment, this very moment that Anneliese only understood the mystery of love. It hurt so much more when they they seemed disappointed, that they had been let down. She watched his eyebrows furrow as he dropped his gaze with her and stared down at his shoes, and Anneliese knew she failed him. This was an event he was overtly excited over, and had he not been forced and also willing to offer so much support for the war - Howard would've controlled every aspect of it. This expo, much like his company, was the only family he had.

And she made a bet over it.

"Howar-"

"-Just drop it, Anneliese."

Shattering. This was a heart wrenching moment. Had someone informed her that her lungs had shattered into many different fragments, she would believe them.

Taking a step closer, Anneliese slowly raised her hand to his cheek and he still didn't meet his eyes.

"I am sorry Howard," she begun, "It was a selfish bet."

His eyes met hers, still no gold. Her fingers softly tracing circles on his cheeks as he nuzzled into her hand. "Did you even win?", he asked, his voice without any bliss from before.

"None of that matters," She replied. Taking another step closer to him, her face only a few inches away from his. "I am proud of you," she said slowly, "I am so proud of you."

Repeating herself, Howard seemed to get his glow back - his glimmer. Watching his eyes spark back to life; the window to his soul alit like the fireworks from outside, her heart melted. He wore his emotions on his sleeve, and for the first time.

Anneliese wasn't opposed of doing the same.

Lifting herself onto her tippy toes, she whispered in his ear, "I am so proud of you", before she kissed under his ear. The same adrenaline from the stage returning, starting a fire in her stomach she was so scared of starting - let alone stopping.

His smile returned, "I believe we have a panel to attend."

And he offered his arm.

Regret was a close friend, and Anneliese knew she would come to regret her actions - all of it. 

As she walked onto the stage again, the crowd grew in excitement and cheered. Of course, they didn't so much cheer for her or the other individuals on the panel but for Howard Stark. He took the seat in the middle of a long rectangular table, and Anneliese slowly walked with Alexander to the table, both agreeing to not pursue the bet.

Knowing that Howard may never forgive them for making a bet out of his greatest achievement.  

Taking the left seat next to Howard, Alexander took his right. The panel consisted of the remainder of Stark Industrials leaders: Harold Lockes, the financial manger... Rupert Green, the stocks manager... Martin Lang, the customer service manager.... Theodore Edwards, the automobile manager... and John Mckinnons, the manager of all subdivisions. With Alexander as Stark's assistant CEO's and Anneliese filling in as her former role as Press Secretary for the event - as Miss Young was terrified to attend.

A man she never met ran the panel, introducing each member seated and explained how the questions will be asked. Whilst this was happening, Anneliese spoke to Harold who was seated on her left.

"How did the expo get messed up so badly?", she whispered.

Harold shifted uncomfortably in his seat before answering, "Let's say Mr Todd ignored every command given, and I'm not a very loud man."

Nodding, she gave him a smile, "I did hear you trying to remind Howard to remove the green panels, that alone is worthy a raise in pay. I'll discuss it with him."

A grin appeared on Harold's lips, "The green was atrocious."

"It really was."

Her conversation ended as Howard nudged her with his knee and Anneliese instantly stopped talking. Getting herself comfortable, she ensured her knees were crossed at her ankles to make sure no camera could find its way up her dress. Even with the dress tight to her body, she wouldn't risk such a scandal.

The questions begun, most about what technologies Howard has planned in the future - most answered by either Howard himself or Theodore Edwards. It was thrilling to watch him answer each question happily and willingly, genuinely excited to ask such questions. She couldn't stop herself from staring and nodding as he spoke, each word not elegantly spoken like Theodore's but irrationally said. She could only compare him to an ocean, his sentences not making much sense in the same way a wave crashes spastically, but it all made when as a wider picture. It was picturesque, he was beyond beautiful when she spoke on topics he loved.

 "A question for Miss Lorenz."

This caught her attention.

An elderly man dressed in a suit similar to Howard's held the microphone and just from a glance, she knew what type of question he was going to ask.

"Do you plan to settle down soon? The scandals-"

Without a chance to reply, Howard spoke.

"Sir, I don't think I like the idea of Anneliese stopping these scandals so quickly, as they benefit me greatly", he begun, flashing a smile and erupting laughter from the crowd, "And I believe there is much more interesting questions you could ask of Anneliese, after all, she is my second."

Elbowing Howard, she easily noticed the way Alexander was grinning. Bringing the microphone to his lips. She was a dead man. "I second that", he begun, "After all, she stole my best friend from me."

The questions changed direction and the audience were more interested in what Theodore had to say on the new automobiles Stark Industrials are planning to begin selling in the new year. She wasn't a massive fan of Theodore, and he made it plenty clear that he wasn't that keen on her either. He wanted her job and she wanted him gone.

He was seated next to Harold, only one seat away from Anneliese, he flashed her a toothy smile before continue his monologue on how great Howard's inventions are. Nearly unbearable to watch, Anneliese turned her attention to Howard, noticing a young man in all black was holding a piece of parchment with messy words scribed down. 

She watched him as he unfolded it, his knees crossed, and begun to read it. His eyes quirked up and this intrigued her enormously. No longer was she caring about how Theodore was advocating for the importance of woman in the household - saying Stark Industrials was only so successful for the wives staying at home. She wanted to read the parchment-

-And he passed it over to her.

Taking the parchment quickly, Anneliese scanned over the words numerous times. Unable to comprehend the two sentence that was written down in a messy cursive handwriting.

Theodore Edwards has been caught embezzling the company. More information will be provided back stage.

Now, that was a scandal. 

Folding the piece of paper up again, Anneliese tried her best to remain seated and not to just dash out of the seat and find out more. She wanted Theodore gone. More so by her personal hatred than his treacherous act, but she would happily use that against him regardless.

"Mister Stark, what are you plans for the upcoming year?"

The questions from the public were always more intriguing than the press. With them, they usually only had pretty naive or poorly put together ploys. It was easy to decipher what the wanted and how to end a question quickly; to know what was necessary and what could be a lie. It was a game that anyone in her position required, if anything, needed to survival.

Because Anneliese was ruthless not only with the press, but with her co-workers. She didn't start at the top, she wasn't given spontaneous promotions or credit for her work. Climbing the ladder meant using what Anneliese did best.

Knitting the truth for them.

Howard readjusted himself in the chair, his elbow leaning against the wooden arm handles as he spoke into the microphone, "Well, hopefully to make a lot of money-"

The crowd hooted in laughter.

"Ensuring this money is being used correct," He paused as he winked at Anneliese, both as a small inside joke about Theodore and a warning, "And not completely overwork my press secretary for the scandals I've planned in future."

Rolling her eyes, Anneliese picked up her own microphone to continue the conversation - the best type of press for the company was anything that made the rich seem relatable. And unfortunately, everyone on the panel was wealthy - only one growing without the riches of life. And that was Howard. It was significant that Howard spoke the most, it was who the public adored the most, even if it came at the consequence of Anneliese pulling more hours helping Miss Young to reduce the damage Howard has caused with his words.

"Well I hope not", Anneliese joked and the public responded accordingly: laughter and subconsciously remembering the small snippet of what Howard had mentioned on money. She had a plan forming in her mind, and she knew she only needed a few minutes before she would figure it all out. "I believe Alexander has plenty to discuss on..."

Her voice trailed, hoping he would get the hint that she was trying to ensure the conversation remained on the three of them. She wanted Theodore gone and before he could make any influence on the public.

Watching him dangerously close, Alexander got the message. He raised the microphone to his lips as he licked them, "I reckon we start talking about work place gossip, ay?" he said.

The crowd went crazy. Gossip was always the best way to distract an audience.

Good enough distraction for the two of them to leave the stage, meeting not only the man in all black but also Guinevere behind the pillar - away from prying eyes. It only took a glance from Anneliese to Howard for him to quickly link arms with Guinevere to start providing the interview she desperately wanted, whilst she figured out exactly what Theodore has been caught doing.

The man in all black was significantly taller than Anneliese, but she still managed to stare down at him until he begin speaking.

"I was instructed by Mr Lockes to investigate the funds from the all the departments as his spreadsheets weren't matching up. Myself and a team of four others have been working on this for over a month with only Mr Lockes and Alexander are aware of this. It was only this evening that we've caught a massive issue in the files Theodore has produced, we found that not only was he cashing sone of the paycheques from customer purchases, but been actively cutting the pay of employees and firing them when his numbers entered the red - to ensure he receives his bonus'. My team believes he has also been taking away the funding Mister Stark provides to the automobile department for special interest projects and used them for holidays with a mystery woman."

Nodding her head, Anneliese's lips were slowly grinning.

"Do we know anything on the woman?"

He shook the head, "Nothing, do you want us to continue our investigation?"

Again, Anneliese nods her head and the man walked away and left. By this time, Howard and Guinevere returned and she knew the second she witnessed the smile both of them had that he had said something profoundly untrue.

Howard let go of Guinevere's arm and walked back next to Anneliese, his arm sliding around her waist and resting against her hip. She would've frozen on sight, terrified by the physical touch. But the information she had just been privy too had alit a part of her that she hadn't utilised since the beginning days of her time at Stark Industrials. It was a dangerous feeling, something dirty and dark; it was what Anneliese was good at, sewing together the pieces and making it her own.

"What did you tell her?", Anneliese asked, her smile genuine as she greeted her friend again.

Instead of Howard replying, Guinevere did with her voice cracking as she giggled, "Howard originally tried informing me of this elaborate lie, that you were so profoundly in love with him that you declare it at any moment-"

Turning to face Howard, she tried to push away from his mockingly, only resulting in Howard holding onto her waist tighter as he grinned down at her. This was playful and this was fun. Anneliese liked fun.

"Of course, he quickly back tracked and informed me that he is absolutely besotted with you. A lost cause if you ask me, would probably ruin his entire career if I publish what he informed me."

Shifting her face slightly to the left, Anneliese quirked an eyebrow. A tell tale when she wanted Howard to elaborate on what he had specifically said. Instead, Howard decided that making kissy-faces at Anneliese was the best decision to make to a woman with a camera, the wife of the New York Press. The deathly flash caught exactly what the press wanted, catching the perfect angle where it looked like Anneliese was besotted by Howard and he was identically the same. 

And not that the entire picture was just Howard trying to avoid answering what Anneliese had asked, without saying a single word.

Shirting her gaze back to Guinevere, she felt Howard push her closer to him, the side of their bodies now snug against the other. She smiled before she spoke, "To ensure that you don't completely cripple Howard's fragile masculinity-"

"-There is absolutely nothing wrong with the fragility of my mascu-"

"Oh, be quiet," Anneliese snapped, before lowering her voice to try to speak to Guienever again, "Could I offer a scandal of a different sort? An affair?"

This caught both of them off guard, both blinking at the words she had said. And this was when Anneliese realised the context they must've realised she meant, and it was their concerned faces that made it all the better.

Giggling, Anneliese couldn't stop to breathe, "Not me and Howard," she begun, and she felt Howard's mind begin to work together exactly what she said. Choosing not to say a word until the light bulb went off in his mind, she shifted her head, again, and stared at Howard. His eyeborws furrowed as he stared at absolutely nothing, when his eyes flickered a dangerous combination of gold and hazel.

"Is Theodore having an affair?", he question.

Guinevere caught up quickly, "Is that Mr Edwards, the Automobile Manager?"

Nodding, Anneliese offered more information, "Theodore has been caught embezzling, however I'm sure we can both come to an understanding that an affair is more interesting?"

Both Anneliese and Guinevere gave a knowing grin, the same they always had when they did such business together. It was what made her so successful as a press secretary, she befriended the press and formed alliances. She offered information that could possibly be taken out of context and turned into the gossip of the month, and Guinevere offered good press on employee's of Anneliese's choice.

The two were dangerous, but effective. Together, they've ended more careers than scandals.

"Perhaps, Theodore may've had a scandal with Rupert Green's wife?", Anneliese poached,

And it worked, Howard was nodding in agreement, "Can you have that published by tomorrow morning?", he asked.

Guinevere laughed, "I could have it aired over the radio before the newspapers are even released", she responded. She met her eyes, and nodded, "Nice doing business with you, Ana."

"And with you too, Ginny. Next Saturday? Franko's with Maria?"

Howard did not left go of Anneliese as the two friends hugged one another goodbye as they agreed to catch up for lunch again, and this time - no partners aloud. Guinevere, or Ginny when she wasn't working, may just be a friend of a friend, but she was Anneliese's first friend in America.

There was never time in her childhood to make friends, when she had to mother so many children who's parents had to work crazy hours. And maybe, there was regret for loosing her childhood, but had she not lost it all - she wouldn't be standing behind the stage. Watching Ginny leave with a sheepish smile, knowing that Theodore Edwards would no longer be the Automobile Manager come morning.