Mechanical Love ~ A Hawkeye Fan Fiction

~Chapter 3~

Dressed in a red dress with a black corset belt with my black stiletto heels on, I walked into work with my head held high and feeling confident. I had a death grip on my bag but that wasn't unusual. I adjusted the royal blue trimmed glasses on my face as I headed towards the elevator. I hit the button and waited patiently for the elevator. When the doors open, Rumlow came walking off. He glared at me before walking off.

Stepping onto the elevator, I pushed the button for the 30th floor. Thank God no one else got on with me. I didn't want that this morning. When I got up to the floor I worked on, I walked to my office to put my stuff down before going to the break room to make myself a cup of coffee. Italian Sweet Cream with my coffee, that's the only way I will take it if I don't buy it from a coffee shop. After making my cup, I go back to my office to find Mr. Pierce standing at the window looking out.

"Ah, Dr. Lacey, good morning."

"Mr. Pierce."

"I wanted to let you know that Mr. Rumlow will be taking some time off."

"Oh?"

"Yes. I'm sure that pleases you. I do apologize for taking longer than I should've when handling that situation."

"It's only been a few days, Mr. Pierce. You are a busy man."

"Yes, but I take sexual harassment very serious, Dr. Lacey," he said, turned and faced me.

"Thank you."

"I had the video footage pulled from the elevator and yes, he was out of line."

"Thank you for having my back on this."

"You're welcome. Also, I will be in and out of the office for the majority of the day today, so you are in charge."

"Certainly, Mr. Pierce. Have a good day."

"Likewise, Dr. Lacey."

I watched him as he exited my office. Going around my desk, I sat my coffee cup down before sliding down into my chair. I let out a huge sigh as if I had almost been holding my breath. This whole situation was so strange, but maybe I could do a little more snooping with both Rumlow and Pierce out of the building today. I just had to be inconspicuous about it. I decided to go through my emails first, to stay on my regular routine so I wouldn't alarm Rosa, my secretary.

An hour and a half had gone by. I had gotten myself to a stopping point in what I was working on so I decided to take a walk. I was known for taking walks periodically, so this wouldn't alarm Rosa too much. Picking up my phone, I shoved it into the pocket of my dress and left my office.

"Rosa, I'm going for a walk."

"Yes ma'am," she said from her desk.

I slowly made my way around the corner and to the door that led to the staircase. Opening the door, I headed down the stairs to 28. This floor contained many filing rooms. Surely, I could find something I haven't found before on this floor. It wouldn't be unusual for me to be on this floor either, because I was known to go looking for files. Opening the door, I stepped into the hall of 28 and looked around.

I saw no one. Pick a door, any door, I said to myself. C3, that will work. Grabbing the doorknob, I turned it and went in. I turned on just the flood lights in the file room and looked around. These filing cabinets were bigger. Now this made me curious. I began walking down the aisles reading the labels. They were just letters and numbers. I finally just decided to open one to see what was in it.

"08131982," I whispered as I opened the file up. "Six-foot, male, Romanian.... Well, he sounds good looking. He's my age too."

I thought I heard something, so I closed the file and quietly put it back in the cabinet to quietly close it back. Reaching down, I slide my shoes off my feet and hold one of them by the toe. This is something Natasha taught me. I got to the end and peeped around. Didn't see anything. Slowly I creeped around the end cap and looked down the next aisle. I didn't see anyone.