Illegitimate Prodigy

Stark or Carter?

The dripping of the a coffee pot was the only sound to pierce the silence of the home that was once not just Annabelle's, but also her mothers. Her grandfather had sent movers to come collect the majority of Elizabeth's things, most of it to be sold in a garage sale. Prior to her mother's sudden death, Belle had already planned to move into the city to be closer to school. So in a way Elizabeth's death was a terrible blessing.

    Extending her right hand out, she gripped the handle of the glass carafe and letting the spout meet the only mug left in the kitchen. Lifting her elbow, she watched as the hot liquid pooled inside the ceramic walls.  buzz. buzz. Her brown eyes shifted to her iPhone, eyes fluttering at the unfamiliar number that flashed on the screen. Quickly putting the coffee pot on it's hot plate, she then reached to press the lock button on the device to ignore the call. "If you're important, you'll leave a message." Turning on a heel, she leaned against the counter, her arm making a swift movement to bring the drink up to her lips. It was an immediate regret, however, having burnt her tongue immediately. buzz.buzz.

    Eyes widening at the sound of her phone again, Annabelle shook her head, grabbing the phone and pressing the green answer icon. "Hello?"

"Yes, hello? Is this Annabelle Stark?" It was a woman's voice on the other end, but what she asked left a bitter taste in the young adult's mouth. She thought about saying that the unfamiliar woman had the wrong number, but she humored the situation. "This is she," she said, her voice very monotone.

"Annabelle this is Pepper Potts, I work for your father." Awe, yes. That name sounded familiar. Ms.Potts seemed to make at least a few news stations regularly, and from what Annabelle understood, she was now the CEO of Stark Industries. "I'm aware that this is sudden, and probably a little bit displeasing. None the less I am calling to organize a lunch for you and your father in the city." There was a long pause, and the noise coming from the background made it seem like she was distracted. Fiddling with paperwork at a desk or even walking down a busy hallway. "I was wondering if you'd be happy to oblige?"

    Annabelle adjusted the neck of her sweatshirt and began pulling at the strings that tightened the hood. First, he makes an appearance at the funeral, and then he wants to have lunch? She was surprised that Ms.Potts didn't call her Abby. A heavy sigh crept past her lips, her fingertips gingerly rubbing her forehead. "When?"

"Today, actually. If you have time. If not we can schedule for another day." Schedule. It sounded more like a dentist appointment. More like torture than a pleasure.

    Belle's dark irises adjusted, panning across the empty countertops across from her, then meeting the dark swinging wooden door to the kitchen. Although it was true that she only had plans to pack that day, she was unsure she wanted to kindly accommodate poor Ms.Potts. The CEO was clearly doing her father a favor, and probably didn't know the details between the two Starks'.  Even hearing herself being called a Stark and not a Carter sent an odd shiver up her spine.

"Annabelle?" Pepper repeated, her voice sounding concerned. Snapping out of her daze, Belle cleared her throat. "Uhm. Sure. Where am I going?"

"Stark Tower, actually. We'll organize a car to come get you around eleven. That way you'll be in the city by noon." She felt her grip tighten around her phone and her lips pressed into a thin line. "Lovely," she inhaled softly. " just lovely."