AVENGERS: My Imaginary Friend

3. TONY STARK POV

2012:
The battle of New York was just a few weeks ago, the city is being cleaned up, Capsicle has gone looking for somewhere to live. Point Break and Reindeer Games are in Asgard, Natasha and Legolas are back at S.H.I.E.L.D. Bruce has moved in with Pep and I in the tower which is being fixed and expanded. Most of my staff quit their jobs when the battle was over, they moved away, terrified of it happening again. Only a few stayed, I'm in desperate need of staff, but no one wants to work here, right at the centre of the battle. Apart from one woman...

I was in the lab with Bruce when Pep walked in "Tony!" "Over here!" She walks around until she finds me "Someone wants a job here." The smile on her face is huge "You're serious? You're not pulling my leg?" "No. She is great with computers, great with people and her specialty is security systems." "Managing them?" "And building them." A huge smile appears on my face "What's her name? Let me look her up."

This is great! Finally something good going on around here.

"Laura Matthers." "Middle name? Need to narrow down the search." "I asked, she doesn't have one. But she was born here in Manhattan." I bring up the only matching profile, I scan through her qualifications and criminal record, not really caring about anything else right now. I look at the driving licence photograph which shows a woman in her late 20's with a blonde pixie cut, her eyes are blue "I want her, hire her."

It's the first day my new employee is working, I've done a bit more research into her, mysteriously some of her information, like her parents and birth certificate, has been blocked by the Government, I decide for once to not look into it.

If she's going to work for me then she needs to trust me, if the Government wants to hide bits about her childhood then it's probably best hidden... right? If I find her sketchy I'll force it out of her, the information was from her childhood not adulthood so I'm sure none of it is her fault.

The elevator dings and out steps Laura in a white blouse, red pencil skirt and black heels, she approaches me and holds out her hand "Laura Matthers." "Tony Stark, but you knew that. Welcome to my tower, I hope you like working here." "I'm sure I will." "Let me show you to your office." I lead her to her office, I give her a computer log on and email, I leave her for half an hour to get set up "Do whatever you like with the office, it's all yours." When I get back to check on her I'm impressed with what she's done.

I can see her fitting in nicely already.

Everything on the desk has been neatly organised, a collection of pencils and different coloured writing pens are standing in a mug that looks like an orangutan's face. The folders and books I gave her are lined up on a shelf in alphabetical order, she looks up from the desk draw she's currently organising "Sir." "Good. Let me show you around." She shuts the draw and follows me out of the room, I give her a tour of the tower, introducing her to Pep, the CEO, Bruce, my science buddy and Happy, my bodyguard and driver. When we arrive back at her office I ask her if she wants a drink, she says yes and pulls a mug out of her draw, this one has a red and black pattern on it. I lead her to the kitchen she can use and take her down to where everyone else works.

I get everyone's attention and introduce them to Laura, everyone else works in one large room, but she gets her own office because she's in charge of JARVIS, making sure he's always up to date with the best security system she can create and I decided to make her the connection between S.H.I.E.L.D and me. I've already called the Pirate and told him someone would be doing that job, he was pleased knowing I don't answer my phone unless I feel like it, he's currently on his way to meet her.