From The Desk Of Agent Ainsley Harlow

Name: Agent Ainsley Harlow Age: 39 (four years and running) Occupation: Agent turned Lawyer turned Liaison for Stark industries. Clearance Level: Eight. Languages: English, Spanish, French, Mandarin, Cantonese, Japanese, ASL. Special Skills: Classified. "I will win. I always win."

[agentharlow-backup]

Denis!

I’m blushing … how dare you make me blush.

[shield-cme]

Aw come now, we must celebrate the new year my darling! 

[agentharlow-backup]

[agentsirenphillips]

Happy almost New Years everyone...

[agentharlow-backup]

Dance with me darling! I am with beau!

[agentharlow-backup]

Denis!

I'm blushing ... how dare you make me blush.

[shield-cme]

Someone please tell me we at least get student discounts out of this

[shield-cme]

Oh you have read my mind! 

Still of the age to ride my bike also! I think this all came together well.

[agentharlow-backup]

[agentharlow-backup]

 AGENTHEUGH SAID: [TEXT] SEE YOU THERE [TEXT] AND I DO /NOT/ SMOLDER.

[text] Yes ... Yes you do.

[soorayaqadirs-deactivated201604]

[agentharlow]

Harlow and Hill || Lunch.

[wasthatnotarchived]

Hill actually smiled when her friend hit her in the arm. “I apologize for worrying you,” she responded, shaking her head. “And yes, I’m pretty certain the entire Stark family’s a loose cannon, just like the father. Hence why I had the boy in custody for so long– he had intel from my personal drive and the Council didn’t know what to do with him. Days upon days of bickering. You know what they’re like.”

She rolled her eyes. “Yes, I am a creature of habit. I know what I like. And the gnocchi here is delicious.” 

Oh no. She knew that tone of voice. That was the Ainsley Harlow ‘I know something I shouldn’t’ tone. Still, all Maria did was raise an eyebrow. “You say that about seventy percent of the men you meet, Harlow. Why is this one so significant that he warrants mentioning?”

[agentharlow-backup]

Ainsley gave a bit of a chuckle, still looking over her menu, she lifted her head to look over it at Maria, "Oh not much ... he's strapping though. Muscular, but lean. The kind of man that you don't expect to hoist you up onto your desk and have his way with you, but you know he's capable."

She said all with a matter of fact tone, as if it were speaking of legal contrasts. She closed her menu, and picked up her wine glass, "And the eyes, oh I adored the eyes, perfect to go with those lips. Break a man down into his key components and you can wither them away to nothing, but he was ... a sight to be seen."

Slowly she drew out the pause, sipping her wine thoughtfully, before looking up, "I think the gnocchi isn't the only thing you wanted a second taste of."

Again she paused, smirking to herself as she adjusted the cutlery on her side of the table, "John says hello."

[harvardgraduatesonly]

[skrepo4kacrazy]

[redhotpepperpotts]

Resume

[redhotpepperpotts]

Bold, strong, concise and to the point. She certainly knew SHIELD, 24 years at that place, there was no way she couldn’t and the law practice was a bonus. It wouldn’t take her long to understand some of the basics of Stark. She was smart, that was obvious both on paper and in person. 

There was hardly any point in asking her the usual routine interview questions, they would be an insult to the both of them. 

“What do you see your average day to day being, under this position?” Pepper finally asked. It was the question she herself had been asked years ago when she was interviewed for the PA position. It was a question that could offer great insight.

[agentharlow-backup]

Ainsley let a smile crack only a moment, before she lowered her head. She had the job. It was already obvious. Only now was it to tie up loose ends, make sure they were on the same page. She respected that. This woman ... she was much like Maria. A person she could see herself having a drink with. If the woman wasn't pregnant.

Yes, Ainsley Harlow could read people very well. It came with the law experience.

"Well to be honest, my day could consist of anything. There would be a lot of time spend commuting, where through telecommunications such as video conferencing from my office here, or the one I have at SHIELD. I would be presenting product ideas, as I know you hold a contract with SHIELD for Stark tech such as phones, computers, facial recognition software. Fury doesn't like to admit for help but it's much better than what we have."

She leaned forward again, smiling, "Speaking of. That boy ... your son. The one no one knows about. He's important. Much like the hackers that work in the FBI. I think SHIELD could use him, and I could use my leverage to make them understand how. He broke in. He claims to be from the future, I gleaned that much from a tech that dealt with him if that's true, or even if it isn't and he's crazy I don't care. He's good at what he does. He could build a tighter security. He knows the holes. He used them."

She slid back in her chair, smiling proudly, "So all in all. My day would be speaking with both parties, arranging meetings, conferences, having products and papers signed. I would work in a multifaceted capacity. On a sliding scale from secretary, to PR, to accountant. The go between, with Mister Stark unavailable at most times to his own business. People would be able to come to me and ask questions, have things signed. I would have the ability to sign off on things already in progress, and then approach him with new ideas. He wouldn't be so overwhelmed, and things like ... recents events wouldn't happen, because I would keep tabs on everything."

She crossed her arms proudly, nodding, "Does that sound fair?"

[soorayaqadirs-deactivated201604]

[ilyeah]

[suitscaps]

[redhotpepperpotts]

Resume

[redhotpepperpotts]

Pepper sat back, listening, a grin at the corner of her mouth as Harlow mentioned secret keepers. Mrs. Stark, formerly Miss Potts, was known practically the world over for her detailed knowledge and for knowing things most people shouldn’t. She was glad this woman outright mentioned SHIELD. That was a good start.

She mentioned ‘the incident’ though and the grin quickly turned into a light frown, still only coloring the corners of her face. Trust and communication - Stark and SHIELD never seemed to see eye to eye on those two things. 

“If we’re cutting to the chase, Ms. Harlow, as you said, you’ve been with SHIELD for 24 years. How can Stark know that you would be putting our best interests forward, or for that matter how could SHIELD know that you representing them in the best light to us? It’d be quite easy to get caught up in the trust game.”

[agentharlow-backup]

Ainsley listened when Pepper started to speak. She was blunt, concise and it was appreciated. Her lips pursed a moment in thought, drawing out the silence, though none was needed as she already knew what to say.

"Frankly Mrs. Stark. I don't look out for SHIELD or Stark first. I look out for me. My interests are what's best. Thankfully, that means representing both companies with the utmost integrity and respect. For if I fold over on one side, both sides fall."

She shifted in her seat, before nodding, "It makes no sense to blow up a bridge when you're still standing on it."

[redhotpepperpotts]

Resume

[redhotpepperpotts]

Pepper had taken on her old secretary stature. Perfect posture, a neutral resting face, as she listened to what Harlow had to say. Of course the woman had worked hard, everything in her demeanor said so.

When she began to talk about Stark, Pepper tried to keep face neutral, only a faint hint of concern at her brow, unwilling to admit she had been out of the loop for what felt like ages. The company was rather self contained, much like Apple, or any other company. It was difficult, branching out and building bridges when you had to worry about patent and copyright infringement. A liaison? An interesting idea, but to who?

Her husband and things she wasn’t supposed to know about. She glanced at her tablet again. The receptionist had put down SHIELD in regards to the message if Tony received it. Pepper’s posture relaxed and she gave a tight grin.

“Not knowing about things is a particular field of mine, Ms. Harlow. Would this be in regards to Iron Man, or something else entirely?”

[agentharlow-backup]

Ainsley pursed her lips carefully, both hands resting in her lap. She looked the woman over, before nodding, "Let me place it plainly, as I know we don't have time for cat and mouse. You're a business woman, a smart woman, married to a superhero. We all know that those men are ... difficult. And not the best secret keepers."

She tucked her legs under the chair, before leaning forward slightly, "I have been with SHIELD for 24 years, in both active and inactive capacity. I know the business, I know the people, I know the ... incident."

She spoke of Steven of course, but there was no judgement or concern on her face, still a smile confident smile.

"Lack of communication and trust. Two of the biggest companies in New York, both with Tony Stark in common. It would be foolish don't to put one and one for two."

[redhotpepperpotts]

Resume

[redhotpepperpotts]

As the door opened, Pepper sat the tablet down, and as the other woman came into the room, Pepper stood, taking the hand and giving it a good business handshake. 

“Thank you Ms. Harlow, please, have a seat.” Pepper returned the smile with her own professional business smile as she outstretched a hand, offering the chair to Ainsley. She picked up her tablet once both women were seated and looked over it again.

“You have quite the resume. Law degree, law firm,” she paused and there was a slight raise to her brow, the tiniest raise to the corner of her mouth as if she saw something that interested her, “It’s impressive. You’ll have to forgive the receptionists downstairs, but they didn’t tell me what position you were interested in.” Pepper looked up from her tablet.

[agentharlow-backup]

Ainsley shook her hand back, squeezing firmly. She nodded, before sitting in the offered chair, she crossed her legs demurely at the ankles, nodding, "I have worked very hard for that resume. many years."

Her head tilted at she watched the other woman's expression, before smiling herself, nodding, "Well I suppose that would be because ... I didn't give it."

Chuckling a moment, she nodded, "I believe that Stark Industries is a very ... self contained  company, that doesn't branch out or offer much in the way of, building bridges. I'd like to offer my services in that capacity. A liaison of sorts. As to who I would be connecting with ..."

Her smile grew, "I had hoped to speak to your husband but ... How much do you know about the things you're not supposed to know about?"

[redhotpepperpotts]

Resume

[redhotpepperpotts]

The woman led Ainsley back to the elevator, which was already waiting for her. “Oh no ma’am. Certainly not putting her out.” There was an unreadable smirk on the receptionists face. She leaned in to the elevator and pressed the button for Pepper’s floor. 

At the top, Simone was waiting for Ms. Harlow, ready to escort her to Pepper’s office. It appeared as if suddenly the SHIELD agent was getting a royal treatment of sorts.

“Is there anything I can get you, Ms. Harlow?” Simone asked the woman.

[agentharlow-backup]

Ainsley cocked an eyebrow as she stepped into the elevator, “Is that so. Well, then I’m glad I came.”

She crossed her arms a moment, letting the doors close. If she knew nothing else, today was already shaping up to be a good day. Meeting Simone at the exit of the elevator helped clinch that.

The woman nodded her head, stepping out of the elevator, “A bottle of room temperature water, non carbonated.”

She brushed back her hair, looking around, “So tell me, have there been others who’ve sought position here?”

[redhotpepperpotts]

Simone took note of the request as she led Ainsley down the hallway, towards the back office.

“We only posted the notice a few days ago,” Simone hesitated, “we’re hiring for all department levels. It appears that the word hasn’t quite gotten out yet.”  The subtext was clear: either the reputation of the company was scaring people away or it was something else. Many hadn’t applied, not yet.

They reached the door to Pepper’s office and Simone knocked twice, waited half a second and gently pushed the door open a crack, “Go on in. I’ll bring the water to you.”

[agentharlow-backup]

Ainsley smirked a bit to herself, nodding. Stark Industries was well known, as were both Starks. She could see people being intimidated, thankfully Ainsley had already worked for one of the world's most intimidating companies. So she simply nodded, smiling, "It'll pick up, I'm sure people are just updating their resumes."

She nodded again as the door was pushed open, "Thank you."

Silently she walked into the room, looking over the clean modern look of it. Art on the walls, a simple glass desk, computer, and the woman sitting behind it. She gave a small smile to herself, before stepping forward and nodding to her, holding her hand out, "Mrs. Stark. Such a pleasure it is to finally meet the woman behind the company."