Chapter 33
There was nothing stranger than the American accent surrounded by the English, or was it the American accent surrounding the English... after all Alexander was thoroughly enjoying the attention.
Anneliese concluded it was the English surrounding the American's, there was only a few in attendance after all.
Seated in between Alexander and Howard, she tuned out of whatever conversation over cricket Alexander was discussing. To be frank, she had been ignoring Alexander the entire car ride over to the headquarters; she was sitting in a conference room in some telegram building. Instead, she spoke quietly to Howard - more so when more British entered the room.
There was something terrifying about the British before the beginning of the war, even more so since the Nazi's bombed them without mercy. It left Anneliese skittish; knuckle cracking, lip biting and bouncing leg nervous. She was good at an American accent in America when she was surrounded by so many different versions. It was easier to not slip into her native accent when she was coated by their accent.
Here... here was different.
It seemed there was agents from France and Canada; even as far away as Poland and Russia, but certainly America and England. Her eyes caught the Australian flag on one man in a navy blazer and their was plenty of lab coated men standing.
The room was flooded in different accents, different scents and different mannerisms. And suddenly, maybe for the first time ever, Anneliese felt like the fraud.
Howard caught on quickly, at least she assumed he had the second they entered the room. Sitting her in between himself and Alexander, and not next to a foreign french agent. He took her hand in his, resting their interlocked fingers on the table for the room to see. To remind the room who exactly she was and, to some degrading way, who owned her.
It was through these small possessive actions that made her curse her actions of saying this was all professional, and fall into those small moments of vulnerability that begged for her to acknowledge that a true relationship would be best. That she was thrive by it.
But relationships weren't made for women like Anneliese and men like Howard. They were built for woman like Maria and men like Alexander. Established, well respected and offered no controversy to the other. To mend wounds and to open new thoughts. For love to be simple and not just passionate flames.
They were not that, she refused to believe.
And then he acted as he did, making her swoon for him.
He ignored all the agents and business men greedily wanting a few seconds with the millionaire techno-genius Howard Stark. Instead, he held her hand and stared at her. Never blinking.
"Afraid, sweetheart?"
She didn't need to move, nod or speak. It was already spoken by some sort of language they shared but could never teach. A sort of connection that wasn't like the wire that allowed telephones to ring or the string that allowed violins to hum. It was a connection unknown to mankind, and certainly unknown to the two minds of Anneliese and Howard.
He leaned into her ear, his knees already knocking into her's, whispering, "I hope you know I didn't know they would all be here."
No more words needed to be said for Anneliese to understand.
Half the room was already speaking about the crimes they would commit against the German's, especially to the families of Hitler and Schmidt. Rape, murder, burnt at the stake... the ideas rolled off their tongues like sugar. Taking glee from the thought of bruising and bashing the sisters of Hitler and cutting the tongue off any children of Hydra.
It was terrifying, more so when they mentioned that they would extend that treatment to any German. That this hatred extended to children who slept with no food, men who sacrificed his life to fight a war he never wanted to let his wife and children to escape... to the women who didn't know any better as education wasn't for everyone. That this hatred was overwhelmingly terrifying.
That both cricket and anti-german ideologies co-existed in discussion. More unsettling that Alexander didn't seem to hear all the grotesque ways they would bend over the wife of a Nazi soldier. So, she held onto Howard's hand as if she would fall if she let go. She was certain she would.
The meeting didn't begin straight away, and through the small talk Howard offered: What area should I begin Stark Industrials uk? Have you ever seen big ben, we should go there? I'm certain Alexander has chosen a good accomodation, considering he had access to my credit card.
Eventually, she smoothed down. Able to whisper small replies. Focusing on not the fear of being in a country that hated her ethnicity, fairly so, but the sound of his voice. Rough, slightly boyish and somehow the impersonation of what warm soup felt like on a winter's night. It was light a candle lit night reading; scribbling down thoughts and questioning if the night will end before she falls asleep.
And then the Colonel entered the room, followed by other men in suits (with the same number of badges) from other countries. Silence overcame the room, pursed by a shuffle of chairs as the leaders within each spy agency sat down.
"Good Morning," said one of the man. British. He was dressed nearly identical to the Colonel in a deep green suit, layered with badges and a hat next to his hand resting on the table. "I thank all parties for attending this essential meeting. My name is Commander David Jameson and I am the leader of the British division within this new organisation."
Howard still held her hand on the table, but his focus was on the commander. Anneliese dared glance around the room to be surprised that herself and Agent Carter were the only women again. A shock she should have already been expecting.
Commander Jameson coughed into his elbow before he continue, his voice croaky. "Once again, we're all together because the threat of Hydra grows each day... and after the failure in America-"
Anneliese's eyes darted to the Colonel, eyes knitted in confusion. She knew it wasn't a failure, they made a super soldier... Abraham made sure of that.
"-We are back in square one. Some light that comes out of this atrocity is Mr Stark and his technology. With his support, I am certain we can end this war before next Christmas. Wouldn't you all love to spent Christmas '44 with your wives?"
A grumble of agreement flooded the room, just as women dressed in the same deep green of Commander Jameson entered the room. Placing down white envelopes in front of nearly everyone in the room - everyone but Anneliese. Just as they entered, they left.
"In front of each one of you is your instructions, please open them now and ask any questions after."
She was surrounded by men tearing open their envelopes, but Alexander and Howard didn't even open it. Instead, they spoke.
"Mr Stark, why have I been given instructions?" Alexander asked, snark dripping from his tongue, "I am certain in my contract at Stark Industrials... that I only take instructions from you."
The room fell quiet given the exception of a groan from the Colonel.
Howard chuckled. "Don't worry Alexander, I am just as confused. I was under the impression we were still in discussion over the contribution Stark Industrials are offering."
If the room was quiet, it became still. Not even a breath was made.
And then the Colonel spoke.
"I do believe you agreed to help the allied forces after Abr-"
Anneliese kept her eyes glued to the table as she became more aware of the eyes on her interlocked fingers. Her cheeks growing warmer by the second that she wondered why she even added blush to her cheeks. What a waste of products.
In the corner of her eye, she watched Howard roll his eyes. "I agreed to help the allied forces, not Stark Industrials. To get the full potential of my company, you need to book a meeting with Anneliese."
Her eyes shot up at Howard, questioning his every move.
"Alexander, can you tell me... has the Colonel or any of these men booked an appointment with Anneliese?"
"No."
He hummed before he spoke again, "Colonel, I am sure you understand the stance Stark Industrials holds for the war."
Anneliese watched the Colonel narrow his eyes at Howard. "I sure hope so, son."
"Then the men in this room would understand that Stark Industrials is very much against the reign both the Nazi's and Hydra have. That Stark Industrials wishes to be part of the future that rids these men of the thrones they sit on."
The room mumbled in agreement. Anneliese suddenly knew where he was going.
"But, Stark Industrials is not anti-german."
She sighed deeply, closing her eyes.
"And until the men in this room understand that they just insulted the only women that can convince me to lose nearly all of Stark Industrials profits to end a war... A war I know will end with Stark technology. We will not be taking orders from any Commander or Colonel. Nor will we hear the profoundly disturbing declarations from the men in this room."
In the corner of her eye, she watched Alexander's grin grow.
Howard let go of her hand and harshly pushed back his chair, scraping it against the wooden flooring. A loud noise echoing around the room as Alexander followed in pursuit. Anneliese remained seated until Howard offered his hand to her... just as Alexander pulled her chair out slowly. She stood next to the two, nearly behind them.
"If you want Stark Industrials to provide the weaponry and vehicles required to win this war, I believe the men in this meeting need to revisit their own humanity and read a room. Because by saying you'd rape any German women is to say you'd rape my women... and trust me... us American's solve all our problems through violence."
And there it was. Anneliese was suffocated by his possession.
"Trust me when I say this, I rather live under any Hydra regime than work with men with such corrupt thoughts."
With that, they left. No more words exchanged, Anneliese absolutely lost for words. Only a single phrase lingered in her mind.
My woman.