Chapter 43
Anneliese knew she would be a wife one day. When she was younger, she assumed it would happen much earlier - an arranged marriage to some noble in high society back in Germany. She was trained for the role since she could walk - like most young girls.
Her father had told her that marriage was a sacred act that bound the souls of two together. Hearts that lived for each other. Lungs that pumped to stay side-by-side. Anneliese knew her father was a lover, he always had been.
But her mother brought perspective to it all. After all, marriage was different depending on gender.
Marriage was a transaction, it wasn't really love. Her mother did not sugarcoat it to her when she asked if she would love the man her uncle would ultimately pick. She had shaken her head and that was all she had to say. Being a wife did not guarantee love, but being a wife did mean power if you married the right man.
Yet, her mother was not a murderer - especially not to Anneliese's desires for romance, especially for the love her parents share. She often said that love takes time, that love comes when you need it most, and that love - real love - often doesn't feel like love at all.
This was the hope that Anneliese held onto, if she wanted to recognise it or not. She was more Lorenz than Schmidt, more of a lover than a murderer.
Perhaps this was the route to healing?
Glancing up to study Howard's face, she noticed how his eyes creased whilst he read the morning paper. He probably needed glasses, she thought. Her eyes drifted to his lips, a small dimple appearing as a grin slowly formed. Clearly whatever he was reading had his interest. the newspaper - scanning the words for anything he could exploit. She found peace from watching him.
He lets out a snort as his eyes raised from the paper to meet hers. They were kind, always so kind.
The corner of his lips curved as he raised an eyebrow at her. Before, Anneliese would turn away in fear of turning red. But now? She will keep staring.
She watches his lips as he licked the inside of his teeth before his eyes flicker back down to the paper. His grin permanently stained his face. It was liquid sunshine she decided.
As the car comes to a slow halt, Anneliese felt butterflies churn in her stomach.
It had been three hours since they were officially wed in the White House, and now they were back at the headquarters of Stark Industrials in New York City.
To the world, they were simply engaged - but to each other? They were wife and husband. Bound to each other until death... or a divorce.
The door to the car opened and Howard places the newspaper on the side as he stepped out of the car. He stands for a while, smiling and waving as photographers took the first photos of Howard Stark in America since June 22nd. Then, he turned around and offered his hand to her.
Anneliese's heart swooned as he leaned back inside the car. His mouth was directly above her right ear as he whispered, "Are you ready, wife?"
A small giggle left her lips as she took his hand and stepped out of the car. More flashes followed, but this time Howard did not stop to take more photos. Anneliese was never one for photos, and Howard was more than happy to take the front cover of tomorrow's paper solo.
She walked towards the front entrance of the cement building with her arms linked with Howard's. As she walked past security, she could still remember the days they stopped her and made her take out her staff ID as they stated her full name. Those days no longer existed, nor had they for a while.
But all of it was different now, especially with a diamond ring on her fourth finger. This was the power her mother often whispered about when she braided her hair. That if she was to marry at all - she had to make sure she gained something.
And she had.
As they approached the elevator, there were many 'congratulations', and whispers from the employees circling the foyer. They moved out of their way as they entered the elevator, and no one said a single word as it moved up the floors. Slowly, more and more employees left as they continued to ride up to the top floor - to Howard's office, living quarters, and her father's safe house.
It seemed life had resumed back to normality as if she moved back in time to June 22nd. It was nice to be back home.
Howard lead her down the corridor as he whispered in her ear, "Should we celebrate tonight?"
Grinning up at him, she nodded - still giddy from the rush of adrenaline that was plagued her since she stepped off the plane from their visit to the White House. It was strange to be excited when the entire marriage only happened because the government wanted to deport her father and Anneliese. Yet, she couldn't help it.
Perhaps this was the honeymoon bliss she often read about in the New York Times gossip columns.
By the time they reached the door to Howard's office, she was essentially hugging his arm and grinning up at him as he stared down at her with a matching grin. In the corner of her eye, she watches Howard push the slightly ajar door open and stepped forward-
"- I am going to be sick."
Alexander.
Snapping her gaze towards the blonde menace that currently sat in Howard's chair with his legs crossed on the desk. A cigarette was between his fingers as he pretended to gag.
Rolling her eyes, she doesn't quite let go of Howard as she walked towards him. She doesn't say a word as she turns her head to raise her eyebrow at Howard.
He was already too busy glaring at Alexander to notice.
"Get out of my chair Gray."
Alexander sniggers. Flickering the cigarette over the desk, he took another breath before blowing it out again. "Nice to see you, Stark"
She watches as Alexander drops his legs off of the desk and picks himself up from the chair. He swiftly moves towards her and instantly grabs her left hand and whistles.
Anneliese grins as Alexander's eyes flicker towards hers before raising an eyebrow at Howard. "Did this ring cost more than my yearly pay?"
Howard didn't need to reply as the size of the diamond was a big enough answer to his answer. Yes. The ring certainly cost more than both Alexander and Anneliese's annual pay put together.
Letting go of Howard's arm, she side-stepped Alexander and approached the desk as she spoke.
"Do you boys want something to eat?"
Lunch was served on Howard's desk and the three of them took their usual spots. Howard sat in his over-the-top chair whereas Anneliese and Alexander took the two seats opposite him. It was business back as usual - especially with three mismatched teacups sporting warm coffees and one large plate containing three blueberry muffins.
Grinning up at Howard, Anneliese quickly grabbed one of the muffins and started pulling it apart and eating it as she listened to Alexander.
For a man that partied more than worked - he was surprisingly efficient when he had no other option. He had promoted three current employees to the head of weaponry, automobiles, and customer service. All three roles were previously vacated by Mr Anderson, Mr Edwards, and Mr Green.
The sales were also up by 3%. Alexander had scored Stark Industries a position within the new rising telephone market and through this all - was unable to cause any big scandals for Miss Cotton to cover up. It all felt surreal until it wasn't.
"I went to an Opera whilst you were gone," he started, "Met up with a close friend of yours."
Anneliese glared at Alexander as he took a bite from his muffin.
"Maria Bernard, what a star," he says with a mouthful of muffin in his mouth.
Her mouth drops open as she turns to face Howard, who was busy dissecting his muffin to remove the blueberries. Turning to face Alexander once more, she hated how his lips were curved into a smirk.
"You better have done nothing to her," she hissed.
Alexander laughs as he takes another bite of his muffin, "Rest up princess, I did nothing to compromise your best friend."
Taking one of the blueberries Howard had placed on the plate, she chewed on it as she glared at Alexander. None of them made a noise for a while until the blonde prat next to her decided that three minutes of silence was too much for him.
She watches as he grabbed a document pushed to the side of the desk and placed it in front of Anneliese with a pen.
Quickly scanning the document, she instantly knew what it was for. It was a press release on Stark Industries' efforts towards the war cause, which required a signature from Howard or Anneliese to be published.
Taking the pen from the table, Anneliese was about to sign her name on the bottom before she stopped mid-letter. Raising her eyes at Howard, he seemed to realise their mistake within the second.
Any document she would need to sign would have to meet her current legal name. A mistake that seemingly was missed by the two. She would not be able to sign any document as Miss Anneliese Lorenz.
And she was legally Mrs Anneliese Stark now.
She placed the pen down and picked up the document and passed it to Howard to sign. She refused to look at Alexander, knowing he was staring at her curiously.
"Why didn't you sign the document, Ana?", Alexander said as he took a loud slurp of his coffee.
Her eyes grew wide as she continued to stare at Howard who had crossed out her name and signed it with his own. Thankfully, Howard was always quicker with lies than she was.
"We thought it's best to avoid any signatures from Ana that are directly linked to the war cause," he paused as he kept staring at her. "Y'know, to limit the public from realising a German is currently controlling our efforts towards the war."
Silence.
"Bullshit."
"Language," Anneliese exclaimed as she snapped her gaze to Alexander.
Alexander ignored her as he took another sip from his coffee. "So when did the fake dating become real?"
Neither one of them replied, frozen by his abrupt question.
A grin grew on his lips again, as he spoke again. "I'm not as stupid as you think I am."
"We never said that," Howard replied quickly.
Laughter fell from Alexander's lips.
"So when did Ana and Howard become we?", he questioned.
They have been caught.
"When was I going to be informed that my fucking best friend got married behind my back!"