m a n y    d a y s     l a t e r

After spending many days looking at blueprints and the prototypes and finding perfect places of displaying them and what times to do what, I spent the other, listening to my friends to what they are going to wear to the 'New York World's Expedition'. Many asked me if I would be free during the Expedition and the answer they already knew – it was a no. I was busy enough during the expedition, I was in charge of pretty much everything, Jarvis likes to say Howard is the hands and I was everything else to Stark Industrials. Un top of everything I need to get done, I had to also take calls from the America Military. My needles and wool would feel neglected if they were real.

I was at the Expedition; the day before is just as stressful as the day altogether. It may not be a just Howard's, but he has enough shows and displays to make a grown man cry from stress. I was in a white blouse and a black pencil skirt, I had red heels and a bold red gloss over my lips, I tend to try to stand out bold when I work outdoors. No reasons, just fashion. I have been yelling all after noon, Jarvis was afraid I would lose my voice and started barking the orders for me.

"No not there! Do you boys have an intention to not listen to a woman?" I hissed at a group of working men.

None of them listens to me.

"you get paid to listen to me, not to get me cranky" I hissed, I started tapping my heels on the podium. They start working now, I walk over to another part of the Expedition to find they were handling what Howard calls 'the future engine' wrong. I yell at them and start doing it myself, I find Jarvis looking at me.

"Howard is on the telephone asking for you, Miss Lorenz" I smiled and walked over to the telephone booth.

"what do you want?"

"just saying hi"

"HOWARD!" I screeched getting many stares, I put the telephone down and walked away.

I walked away from the telephone booth and went back sitting down hearing complaints and where to put things, I really shouldn't have put heels on today. I continue barking orders until I call it a day, I watch the men leaving. They are all quite rude men; I watch Mr Jarvis walk over to me.

"Your friends do want you to join them to dine for the evening, I can drive you" I noded.

The car came to a jolt, the wind breezing past the window. I see the occasionally posters for Soldiers, I hear shouts of plan. Someone says we can win with peace while the other yells war is the only way. Someone has an idea of just killing all Germans and someone German starts using unworthy words. This was what the centre of New York City looked like, nothing strange for the current state. Jarvis pulled to a stop as I get out and walked to the closest restaurants, I walk in to see a crowd of girls, my friends.

It seemed strange for me to have friends in Howards view, as he thinks I never have any free time. I work from Monday to Sunday from 8am to 5pm – usually earlier and later. I get a hug and a kiss on my cheeks from all my friends until I see Genevieve, she was my childhood friend. I hug her and smile as we walk to a table filled with men in suits or military uniform, they all stand as many of there lovers sit down.

The conversations were either all war or all fashion, I found myself talking to the husbands and boyfriends of my friends better then them, they asked what I did and I explained the gun materials I created which excited them. The menu's arrived, I choose a simple pasta, as I didn't want to pay for anything to expensive. I watched a waitress walk around the table collecting the money and giving the change, the money earnt working at this certain restaurant wasn't to much. Genevieve and her boyfriend tried paying for my food but I refused, she was ordering chicken and that was going to cost a fortune. I ordered and told her to keep the change. The chatter started again, this time on the 'New York World's Expedition' I was the centre of attention.

"Ana, do you know what Stark is going to produce as his 'master piece'" questioned one of the men in a suits, I shook my head and they left it with that. I was asked many questions on my love interest and I denied all, not wanting my friends to know about it why? Well I already said, one of the men sitting in a suit is a wealthy news reporter.

Our food came and we all started to eat, there was silence at the table finally, the wind was howling when I heard a cough, I remembered it – it was Howard. I turned around and smiled, having the full attention of the entire restaurants. I hugged his and whispered "What are you doing here? They don't know anything about my personal life" he smirked.

I could see Guinevere smirking, when did she learn to smirk? Howard smiled and pulled a chair from a different table to join the already crowded table, many of the men was excited to talk weapons with him but he flipped them of kindly – it was strange. I gave him quite a few questionable stares but he ignored them all.

"Lets dance"

One by one, everyone left leaving Genevieve. She looked at Howard then myself.

"How long have you two been together?" she questioned – or even interrogated

I nearly dropped my glass of wine, I looked wide eyed at her. How did she know? When did she know? Who told her? I never did anything suspicious to get caught, or did i? I looked at her questionably as to ask 'how do you know' she answered with an eye roll

"my informer"