Through Thick & Thin

The Interview

Mini, informal prologue to dispel confusion:

Assistant. Wear professional dresses and a constant in Robert's life. He's been divorced for 4 years and not looking to settle down, which you've noticed all too much.

He's on the promotional lag of the first Avengers film. You just arrived in London two days ago. He's shooting an interview with equally hot Tom Hiddleston.

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"All I can remember, is Robert here telling me to 'squeeze harder,'" Tom says in his hot accent before smiling over at Robert, who has his arm over Tom's chair.

Robert gives a contemplative look, which I can tell will only lead to-
"And then we were filming the next day." He smiled affectionately at Tom, who burst into chuckles. But not before he sent me a hot wink.

I, being his assistant, was used to his sarcasm and particularly adult sense of humor. In many ways he truly is Tony Stark. Unfortunately, I'm not Pepper. WOAH, where was that going of course not! That's never going to happen, not that I even want it to...

I shake my head, returning from my daydream to realize my eyes were trained on Robert while I spaced out. He sent me his infamous smirk, the one that beds most women, but that I have been training myself to ignore. Nevertheless, I flush, which is unusual since I've been his assistant almost five years now.

It's ridiculous! I know how he is with women. His wife however, takes full blame for the divorce as she should. To be fair, he's not a total player, but he doesn't have particularly long relationships either. He's been under the radar lately... I wonder what's gotten into him.

Guess I never noticed since he still flirts lightly with any woman who swoons at first sight.

I roll my eyes at the thought, and also because now Robert is shooting me off glances and weird smoldering looks - as if he's mocking the idea of flirting altogether. I want to burst into laughter but that would be highly unprofessional and I don't want to be sucked into the limelight for interrupting.

It's quite a serious concern of mine actually. Most of these interviews are quite informal, known for spontaneity. It's happened once or twice where they almost got me in the screen but I managed to escape with a bathroom excuse or fake phone call.

I'm meant to be backstage with producers and technicians. I know I'm not pretty enough for the big screen (or any screen for that matter) and I've grown used to that.

However, Robert's responses and weird silent jokes are really getting to me today. I press my right hand against my upturned lips after I gasped, nearly letting a giggle escape. I spin my back away from him, away from the screening room.

I'm concentrating so hard on keeping my composure that I didn't notice the interviewer calling my name until what was probably the fifth time.

I spin around, cheeks blazing when I see Robert, Tom, and their interviewer Zoe (the youtuber?! What?!) staring at ME. I grin sheepishly.

"Come on over, we want you to join us." Zoe says with a friendly, amused look. Tom just smiles politely, never looking away. Oddly comforting, but I still shook my head.

"Jen..." Robert starts, with a playfully condescending voice. "Come here now, that's an order."

I sigh, groaning as I make my way over to the set. I can feel the camera lens burning a hole in my face as I wait a couple of seconds while a worker assembles a chair for me to sit on.

Robert takes that pause to say, "You don't need that, I have a perfectly fine seat right here." He said, gesturing to his lap. I send him a glare as he smirked at me.