Shooting my Shot (Bucky One-shots)

Alcohol, Banquets, and Catastrophes

Summary: the only person you hated was James Barnes, the wealthy business owner and your one competitor. He was spoiled rotten, and the complete opposite of you. One banquet and a drunk night together changes everything. One catastrophe and a lot of interviews later, you two are actually on good terms.

Warnings: 40's Bucky (that's a whole warning on it's own cause hot damn), language, an implied *frisky* scene (or two)

Length: 6.6k

You had to roll your eyes when the TV flashed with a picture of James Barnes. He was the biggest stuck up asshole you knew, yet you had to pretend to like him. Since you were both wealthy business owners, you saw him a lot at expensive parties or on the news.

You knew him very well. Too well. In fact, you knew him so well that you hated him. 

You knew his parents handed their business down to him. He could get anything he wanted if he asked. He was spoiled rotten and stuck up - the two things you hated.

He got anything and everything he wanted while you had to give up everything in order to get where you were. 

You lost your parents before they could leave the business to you. You fought for months just to claim the business, then for a few more months to prove yourself worthy. 

He had everything you wanted. 

You hated him and everyone knew it. 

Your hate for him was part of the reason you were sitting in your pajamas on your bed, not yet dressed for your meeting today. You were supposed to meet him in an hour. Considering you needed a half hour to get ready and it was almost a half hour to get to him, you knew you'd be late. Or close to it. 

With a groan, you grabbed the outfit you set out and changed. It was both revealing yet formal. It didn't show too much skin, yet it was barely enough to tease him and put him on edge. 

You knew how he looked at you. That's why anytime you knew he would be around, you made sure to be an ass about how you dressed. You could be classified as a tease, and the thought made you chuckle. 

You did the bare minimum to rile him up, yet it pushed him over the edge. 

You laughed as you walked out the door, wondering what today would bring. 

As usual, you were two minutes early when you walked into the lounge. The meetings were always in his building, never yours. 

"You're late." 

You glanced up, only to see James lounging in one of the chairs. 

"I'm never late." You sat down, crossing your ankles. "I'm a minute early." 

James lounged in one of the chairs with his arm draped across the back. He had his hair brushed back and his jacket draped over his shoulders. As expected, his tie hung loose around his neck.

"You're not very formal. You look lazy." You scoffed.

"Why should I try and be formal? I'll never look as formal as you." 

You rolled your eyes. "What did you want? This isn't something you could've emailed me about? I do not want to be here. I have better things to do than sit here and let you stare at me." 

"There's a banquet next weekend. Just over a week from now."

"The Annual Red Carpet Banquet. I'm aware. I know how it works. Go on." You crossed your arms.