𝐎𝐛𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 (𝐛.𝐛)

Thrilling Expertise

(filler chapter, mention of rape)

I almost didn't sleep. 

Almost. 

I ended up calling my mother when I got home from Steve's and checked up on her till she was asleep. Alfredo wouldn't stop meowing for the life of him. No matter how many times I went to check on whatever he was complaining at, he would keep it up all night 'till I put him in the guest room. 

My penthouse had 3 bedrooms. One of them being mine, another the guest, and the other one has just been storage for about 2 years. 

I ended up going to bed around 1:30 am. 

Currently? Currently its 8 am and 4 days till Christmas Eve. 

And court day is in 6 days. 

"Kara! You look festive!" Tony says while the elevator doors open. He walked in with his assistant, Pepper who happened to be a childhood friend of his. 

"Hi Stark, Hi Pots, how's the holidays treating you two?" I ask and she hums in a positive choir. 

"Phenomenal! How's our little lawyer?" She asks and I stressfully laugh. 

"Eventful to the say the least." I say before the doors open to our floor. I walk out first and wave to the equally stressed quad that sat in front of my office. I step into my office and shut the milky glass door. 

I sit at clear desk, that was placed next to a white shelving unit. As I turn my monitor on, I look to the left of the screen, seeing the photo of my mother and I my father took of us after we moved all my furniture to my dorm at Harvard. I smile before the login screen appeared on the monitor.

"Siri?" 

"Yes?" The autotune, robotic voice asks. 

"Set an alarm for 3pm" 

"Alarm set, 7 hours remaining" 

Great. 

-------

"No Dad, I'm not sure I can make it to the dinner this year" I say to my Dad over the phone. 

"Kara, it's Christmas dinner. I called Stark to give you Christmas Eve off and he said he isn't putting you to work." I roll my eyes, slightly annoyed.

"I know Dad, I just can't fly home in time for dinner, Christmas, and then the case. It's pushing it too close. I already agreed to take the week after off to come visit. I'm really sorry but I have to meet my client now. Talk after?" I ask while parking the BMW next to a black Range Rover. 

"Yeah, good luck Goose." 

And with that haunting nickname, the call was over.

I walk into the office building of Steve Manufacturing and Co. I notice some minor renovations, such as a new chandelier over the greeting table, and the new color scheme with the floral arrangement. For the majority of the time, the color scheme was blue and gray, but the pops of red roses on every solid surface added to the Christmas garland plastered everywhere. 

You would forget he maintains one of the best weaponry factories in the country. 

"Hi Ma'am. Can I help you?" The new front desk lady asks. 

"Hi! Yes I'm here for a meeting with a James Barnes?" I mention with a smile. I notice her face seeming a bit saddened. "You blouse is so flattering on you too! Pink is so your color." I say with a shy smile, hoping the compliment brings a smile to the woman's face. Thankfully it does.