Chapter 19:
Here I was sitting in an office undergoing an interview for a job I did not apply for. Pepper was sitting across from me behind her desk conducting it. I think I was nailing it so far.
[You could not be failing this interview any harder if you tried…]
"Ok Layla, next question. As his secretary, you should know a bit about Tony's family. What was the first name of Mister Stark's mother?" Pepper asked me.
The system was clearly doubting my capabilities as a working girl. I'd have to prove it wrong once again, obviously. As an Ironman fan, I also knew the answer to this question. "It's Martha." I said confidently. I remembered her name because of that one scene where the two heroes were fighting and one of them shouted "Martha" and they stopped. Both of their moms had the same name.
[Host, that was Batman Vs Superman… You're not even in the right universe.]
Fuck…
Pepper just looked at me with mild disappointment. "It's Maria…" She trailed off before continuing. Ok, maybe I was failing this interview… I wasn't expecting to even be in an interview!
Pepper shuffled some papers in front of her. "It says here you studied at Dartmouth and were the top of your class…" Pepper started with an impressed look on her face. What the hell Ancient One!? Top of my class at Dartmouth!? Why couldn't she have picked a less impressive sounding fake background?
[You wouldn't have gotten the interview if she had...]
Pepper continued. "...How would you rate your experience studying under Professor Everstein? The head of that department? He and Tony are good friends." Pepper explained.
"Oh, he was just such a brilliant man! Truly ahead of his time. I know he definitely doesn't compare to Tony though." I spoke my lies with a completely straight face. Thank you, acting skills lvl 2!
Pepper just stared at me for a moment awkwardly.
[Wait for it…]
Pepper sighed. "…Layla, Professor Everstein is a name I just made up. You clearly didn't go to Dartmouth, and your information has clearly been forged. Recently in fact. Don't underestimate Stark Tech's background checks." Pepper said with a glare. "So who are you and why are you here? The only reason I haven't had the police come and arrest you is because your documents were professionally forged. Are you with SHIELD?"
Pepper continued to glare at me. I just stared back awkwardly, making her glare even more! Pepper looked really cute while she glared at me– No! Those are bad thoughts. Begone Sin of Lust!
[It's not going away ever…]
Well shit… Who would have thought the Ancient One couldn't give me a solid background.
[I don't know why you put faith in the Ancient One's falsified ID's ever holding up against modern background checks. The woman literally reads by candlelight…]
'That makes so much sense logically, but she literally dumped me here and everything happened so fast!' I whined in my head.
"Well?" Pepper asked as she folded her arms in front of herself. "Let's hear it, Layla Grigori. If that is your real name. Who are you and who do you work for?"
I sighed before shrugging to myself. Might as well sort of come clean I suppose. I adjusted myself in my seat before sitting tall and smiling confidently at Pepper. "I suppose I should properly introduce myself. My name is Layla, but not Layla Grigori. I guess you could call me Layla of the Grigori. I prefer Layla of the Fallen though. It rolls off the tongue better." I introduced myself to her properly.
Pepper tapped a button on her desk before a real life holographic screen popped up in front of her. "Jarvis, give me any information you have on the organization known as the 'Grigori.'" Pepper spoke to the interface.
"Right away miss." An eloquent English voice projected from the speakers in the office. I held myself back from squeaking in excitement at the fact that Jarvis himself was literally in front of me! I had so many questions for him! I pouted internally that I wouldn't be able to ask them for now…
"Information on the so-called Grigori has been found and compiled. It is… an old organization. If it even exists at all. Historical records put its founding at over 1000 years ago. No information has been heard about them since." Jarvis explained.
"And where did this information come from Jarvis?" Pepper asked as she gave me a curious but cautious look.
"The bible Miss Potts. The Grigori was an organization composed of all the Angels who supposedly fell from Heaven but didn't join Lucifer. Hence, I am hesitant to believe such an organization is real." I sat there as Jarvis finished his explanation to Miss Potts.
"Thank you Jarvis, that will be all." Pepper clicked another button and the holographic screen cut out. She turned back to me with a clearly skeptical look on her face. "Angels that fell from Heaven, huh? Well then, Layla of the Fallen. Where are your wings?" Pepper said with a laugh. She clearly did not believe the Grigori was real. "Also, know that security is on it's way because your little prank has clearly failed so now–"
I released my four black wings from my back. Pepper immediately cut herself off as her eyes turned wide and she just stared at me in shock.
And then she fainted…
XXX
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