CHLOE SAT AT HER DESK, finishing a case file for a colleague. The day had stretched long, and she was counting down the minutes until she could finally leave. For the past hour, her gaze had drifted between the paperwork and the clock on her computer screen, willing the hands to move faster. When she finally secured the last signature, it was almost five. A sigh of relief escaped her lips as she leaned back in her chair, her eyes closing in anticipation.
Before her eyelids could fully meet, she heard her name called out. A groan escaped her as she swiveled her chair around towards the voice. Chloe was met with the expectant gaze of June, the receptionist, who was motioning her over. Reluctantly, she rose, having completed all her work, and joined June in the chairs beside the reception desk. “What’s up, June?” she asked, leaning back again, craving a moment of peace.
“I just wanted someone to talk to,” June responded, glancing at Chloe. “I noticed you hit that ‘done with work’ state. You know, the one where you lean back and throw your head back. I’ve learned it over the years you’ve been here.”
Chloe raised an eyebrow at June, a woman she’d grown close to over the years. From Chloe’s first day, June had been a friendly face, offering conversation rather than demanding favors. They had become more like sisters than colleagues. “Or, you learned it because you sit here and wait for me to finish something so you can call me over to talk,” Chloe teased. The two blondes exchanged a knowing look before dissolving into laughter.
A chorus of disapproving glances from colleagues prompted them to quiet down. Their boss even emerged, sternly reminding them to return to their tasks. Chloe’s eyes returned to the clock, noting how close she was to freedom. “Want to grab drinks tonight, or should we stay at my place and watch movies?” June asked, dropping her pen and turning to her best friend. They lived in the same apartment building, just across the hallway from each other – the foundation of their bond had been built on a late-night welcome-to-the-team pizza delivery.
“You have a date tonight you aren’t going to cancel or forget about,” Chloe pointed out, raising an eyebrow. “I worked hard to get that guy to ask you out. You’ve been swooning over him since he started here.”
Before June could respond, a phone’s ring cut through the air. Chloe’s office phone was ringing, prompting a whine and a reluctant rise from her chair. She feigned a tantrum for June’s amusement, but her demeanor shifted the moment she reached her desk. She sat back down, took a deep breath, and picked up the phone. “This is Chloe Ellis.”
“Hi, uh, my name’s Steve, and I need your help.” The voice came through, Chloe nodding as if the caller could see her.
“Of course. Would you like to come into the office, have a phone meeting, or would you prefer a house call?” Chloe asked, grabbing a fresh post-it note and scribbling ‘Steve’ while awaiting the client’s answer.
“Do you happen to know where the Avengers Headquarters is?” Chloe looked up, her eyebrows furrowing in confusion.
“Yeah, I do know where that is. Is that where you’d like to meet?” She prepared to write ‘Avengers HQ’ when he confirmed.
“Could you possibly meet me there in an hour?” He questioned. Chloe glanced at the clock, noting it was finally five.
“See you in an hour,” she reassured him, hanging up the phone. She stared at her notes, realizing she was about to drive to Avengers Headquarters for a tracking assignment. An impossible scenario had become reality. Her eyes met June’s, and she knew her best friend instantly understood.
Chloe gathered her belongings and headed toward the elevator, turning back to June with a smile. “Don’t forget about your date with Mr. Hottie tonight. Call me afterwards and let me know how it went.” As the elevator doors opened, she stepped inside and faced her best friend. June saluted her, eliciting another laugh before the doors closed, sealing her departure.
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The rain lashed against the windshield, aggravating Chloe. It had started as she approached headquarters, and she was more than just uneasy – she was terrified. She’d switched off the radio, preferring the silence of her own thoughts. The only sounds were the hum of the car and the drumming of the rain, which somehow offered a small measure of calm.
As she pulled up to the imposing building, her gaze swept up and down its vast facade. She was taking it all in, the weight of the moment settling upon her. She had driven past this tower countless times, always from a distance, admiring its grandeur.
Someone was standing outside the building, seemingly waiting for her. She stopped the car, and instantly he was beside it, prompting her to roll down the window. “Are you Chloe Ellis?” he asked, and she nodded. She unlocked the car, glancing around the perimeter.
“Are we going in, or staying in the car?”
“The car.” In those few moments, he moved to the passenger side, climbed in, and she rolled up the window. She turned off the engine and turned to face him.
“What do you need done?”
“I need you to track someone. Find out what you can, locate him, follow him, and call me with updates.”
She nodded, turning to face the building as she fidgeted with her hands. “I need a name, and I’ll get to work.”
The two looked at each other before he finally answered, “James Buchanan Barnes. He goes by Bucky.” Chloe sighed and grabbed the post-it note she was using earlier and wrote down what he had just told her.
“I’ll do what I can. In the meantime, don’t go looking for this guy. Let me see what I can dig up, and then you can take over all you want.” Chloe nodded towards Steve which made him return one to her and start to get out of her car to go back in.
“Also, don’t let anyone know who you’re going after. This stays between us.” He remarked. She wasn’t able to answer before he closed the door and walked back into the building.
Chloe was left in her car with an assignment no one could know about. It was up to her to finish her job so she wouldn’t have the nerves that came back as soon as he left her car.