Chapter 56
Tony stuck around for a few days. He worked out of the London office of Stark Industries until finally it was time for the quarterly board of director’s meeting and Pepper threatened his livelihood if he even thought about missing it.
“I can move it?” Tony offered.
“Oh hell no, then Pepper will try to kill me too.” I said.
“No she won’t she adores you.” Tony said.
“Not if you ditch this meeting because of me she won’t. You have to go, we had a deal.” I said.
“Uh how bad will this nanny be?” Tony said.
“Say goodbye to any fun lab explosions, over the top remodels and ACDC.” I said.
“Maybe I should go. I can come right back?” He offered.
“Uh as great as having you here has been you have to get back to reality. London isn’t ready to have you here full time. Pepper forwarded me some of the complaints. Apparently blasting music all day isn’t okay here.” I said.
“I offered to sound proof the lab.” Tony argued.
“You’d have to close down for weeks and the remodel would cost a ton of money.” I said.
“I can afford it.” Tony said.
“Tony.” I said. “Don’t make me parent you.”
“Fine but I expect daily phone calls and don’t get in the car with strangers.” Tony said.
“Technically I didn’t get in the car I was pushed into another van.” I said.
“Hayley…” Tony started.
“I promise.” I said.
“Great, I’m going to suit up before heading out.” Tony said.
“No, you’re going to act like a good billionaire, playboy philanthropist and take your private jet back to New York.” I said.
“Yes mom.” Tony said making me roll my eyes at him. “Are you going to miss me?”
“Maybe.” I said putting my arms around his shoulder and playing with the hair on the nape of his neck. “How will I sleep without my heated body pillow?”
“Try using your actual body pillow.” He said.
“Why didn’t I think of that?” I said in mock realization. “I will miss you.”
“I’ll stop by for a visit in a few weeks.” Tony said.
“Bring Bruce, He could probably use a vacation.” I said.
“Yeah…” He said awkwardly. “Or you know we could go away for a week see Paris and Venice… just the two of us.”
“That’d be nice too.” I said. “I have always wanted one of those cheesy couple photos with the Eiffel Tower in the background.”
“It’s a date then.” He said.
“Looking forward to it.” I said kissing him. “But now you really have to go before you miss your flight.”
“I thought the point of owning your own jet was to be able to go whenever you wanted?” Tony said.
“It is except for when your CEO and her fiancé are also tagging along.” I said.
“Can I take the next one?” Tony asked. “I’ll fly commercial.”
“As hilarious as that would be, you’ll relax better on cushy leather seats and with tons of leg room instead of cramped in a flying sweat lodge.” I said.
“I guess you’re right.” He said resigned to his fate. “Be careful and if anyone tries to kidnap you again or you realize you don’t have it handled call someone.”
“I will.” I said. “Now go be Pepper and Daniel’s tie breaker.”
“Maybe I should just buy another jet?” Tony said.
“Tony!” I said.
“Kidding.” He said.
“You better be.” I said as he walked out.
Two Weeks Later-
I got back to my normal routine and focused on school. Of course all of my classes were online so I worked at my own pace and was ahead of everyone. Maybe this is why I was on track to graduate early?
I went through Hadrian’s phone and saw that he was somewhere in South America, probably for a mission. At least I had that going for me. I was so focused on school and hacking MI6 and Interpol for intel I completely lost track of time and the day snuck up on me.
It started off with the usual nightmare…
“You useless brat! I wish you were never born!” Hadrian shouted before pushing me down the stairs.
“Leave me alone!” I shouted.
“Calliope How could you?!” Mom shouted.
“You didn’t give me another choice!” I shouted.
“Yeah well now I don’t have another choice, take her.” She said before two armed men with Chinese character tattoos on their necks barged in.
“Mom!” I shouted.
“You brought this on yourself.” Hadrian said.
“MOM!” I shouted.
“Shut up.” One of the men said before slapping me.
“You promised.” I cried.
“I know.” Mom said.
“You said you were done, that we got a fresh start away from him!” I cried out.
“I’m sorry!” Mom said.
“I hate you!” Cried out.
“I know.” She said before walking away.
“Mom don’t go Please! Mom!” I shouted as she disappeared into the darkness.
“I wish you had died with her.” Hadrian said before stabbing me in the side.
“AH!!!” I shouted, sitting up in bed.
“Good morning Miss Adams it appears you were having a night terror. Would you like me to call someone?” Jarvis said.
“No uh just… no do the usual morning thing.” I said.
“It is Friday, July 26th 2013. Eight thirty three in the morning. The skies over London are currently clear and there is a slight breeze coming in from the west. Shall I start brewing a pot of coffee?” Jarvis said.
“Wait what did you say the date was?” I asked.
“Friday July 26th ma’am.” Jarvis answered.
“Oh…” I said. How the hell did I forget it?
“Are you alright Miss?” Jarvis asked.
“Uh fine just uh… if there’s anything I was supposed to do today move it and send everyone a ‘I’m alive and working on a big essay’ text so they’ll leave me alone.” I said.
“Yes Miss Adams.” Jarvis said.
I threw the covers over my head and buried my face in my pillow. My birthday is the worst day of the year, always has been and probably always will be but July 26th is a close second.
Of course I did eventually get out of bed because my back started bugging me and Jarvis nagged me. If AI’s could feel worry Jarvis would be concerned.
My appetite was a bit off so I went in search of something to settle my stomach. I found a bottle of fancy vodka Natasha would probably love and a tube of cookie dough.
Well there are worst things to drown your sorrows in.
“Miss Adams I believe you are in distress and protocol dictates I notify Mister Stark.” Jarvis said.
“Override Sunshine protocol.” I said.
“Override accepted.” Jarvis said.
I took a spoonful of cookie dough before taking a swig of vodka.
“Ma’am I believe that cookie dough needs to be thoroughly cooked.” Jarvis said.
“Jarvis don’t make me shut you off.” I said. “If I get salmonella you can tell me how right you are.”
“I am always right ma’am.” Jarvis said.
“You have your inventor’s ego.” I said taking another swig.
Third Person’s POV-
The gala was in full swing. There were waiters walking around holding trays of hors’duerves and flutes of champagne.
Rebekah was scouting the ballroom for a job her brothers were doing the following month. It was also necessary to maintain good relations with potential investors for the legal side of the business. She was bored out of her mind but she did what she had to.
Rebekah was in the middle of making a very catty remark towards the wife of a client for trying to make her feel less than adequate for not having a date to the event when her phone started ringing.
“Excuse me, I must take this. Business takes precedence.” Rebekah said moving towards one of the hallways besides the entrance and picked up.
“Hello?” She said.
“Miss Mikaelson I believe Miss Adams is in need of assistance.” Jarvis said.
“Are you the freaky robot butler Hayley talks about?” Rebekah said.
“Yes I am an AI Miss.” Jarvis answered. “Miss Adams has overrided my protocols to prevent me from alerting Mister Stark.”
“Is she alright?” Rebekah asked getting worried.
“I fear Miss Adams is not acting like herself today.” Jarvis said.
“Well I needed a reason to ditch this sham, I’m on my way make sure Hayley doesn’t do anything stupid.” Rebekah said.
“She is currently ingesting raw cookie dough ma’am.” Jarvis said.
“Oh, it’s that type of night.” Rebekah said. “I’m on my way be sure to let me up when I arrive.”
“Yes Miss.” Jarvis said before the call cut out.
Rebekah already had the floor plan memorized and the set up was very straight forward so she walked out of the venue and hailed a taxi. One short car ride later she arrived at the building. The doorman was out and as soon as she looked up at the camera the elevator took her right up to the penthouse.
The first thing Rebekah heard was Johnny Cash singing ‘You Are My Sunshine’ with Hayley singing along horribly.
“Hayley?” Rebekah called out.
“Don’t take my sunshine away…” She heard Hayley slur.
“Oh boy.” Rebekah sighed. She followed the music and found her sister sitting on the kitchen floor with half a bottle of vodka in one hand and a tube of half eaten cookie dough in the other.
“Hayley, what’s going on?” Rebekah asked.
“I’m a horrible person.” Hayley cried.
“No you’re not.” Rebekah said moving to sit next to her on the floor.
“I said I hated her Bekah, that was the last thing I said to her. What kind of person tells their mom they hate them?” Hayley sobbed.
“Every normal teenager says that at some point.” Rebekah said prying the cookie dough away from Hayley before she could take another bite. “What brought this on?”
“It’s July twenty six.” Hayley cried before taking another swig of the bottle.
“Oh, it’s the anniversary.” Rebekah said realizing what Hayley’s drunken stupor was about.
“Five years today.” Hayley cried.
“Pass the bottle.” Rebekah said. Hayley passed it and Rebekah took a few gulp. “Your mother was a real piece of work.”
“She was still my mom.” Hayley cried.
“I know. My mother was too. She only looked out for herself. My father, he hated Nik. Never understood why, he took out his anger on him and she never stopped him. When he died I was relieved. My mum she didn’t take it well. She manipulated me and tried to mold me in her image and I rebelled. I hated her but no matter what I couldn’t stop loving her. When she was gone I realized that in her own way she did love me but that didn’t mean I forgot every horrible thing she did, I just started feeling guilty for everything I did or didn’t do. It’s called survivor’s guilt.” Rebekah said.
“But I meant it, I truly meant it.” Hayley cried.
“The last thing I ever told my mom was that we’d be better off if she was dead.” Rebekah said.
“I deserve this.” Hayley said. “I deserve all of this. The pain the misery. You want to know why I can’t do it? Why I can’t kill Hadrian? It’s not lack of funds. You saw my birthday gift I can afford it. I have two master assassins on speed dial for fucks sake and I know how to put a hit out on someone. I can’t kill him because he’s my punishment, he’s the universe’s way of punishing me for every horrible thing I’ve ever done.”
“That is the stupidest thing you’ve ever said.” Rebekah said.
“Bekah I helped turn Hadrian into the monster he is today. I used to dig up info-formation on the competition. I used to dig up dirt on the competition and that info became his hit lists.” Hayley sobbed. “I’m a monster.”
“You’re not a monster you daft idiot. What was that thing your mum used to say? Calliope is my pride…” Rebekah started.
“But Hadrian is my joy.” Hayley finished before taking another swig of the bottle.
“She didn’t say it because your brother was most amazing thing to ever grace the Earth with his existence. She said it because all your mum had to say was jump and he’d say how high? Hadrian was a monster long before you started getting dragged into the business. They had the most unhealthy codependent relationship any mother and son could have. He killed because he liked it and to this day he still does. The power of knowing she was the only one that he would listen to was what gave her joy. That guilt and conscience of yours is what makes you better than her and Hadrian. No matter how hard they tried to get it out of you, you still know the difference between right and wrong and you tried to make things right.” Rebekah stated. “You can ask Marcel, Elijah or anyone else and they will say the same thing. You were a kid who was put through hell and did what she had to in order to survive, no one will ever hold that against you.”
“I still did it Beks.” She said giving Rebekah the most guilt-ridden look she had ever seen.
Rebekah didn’t say anything. She pried the bottle of liquor out of her sister’s hand and pulled her into a hug.