Chapter Text
About a week after the discussion between Scott and Hope in her office, Hank had called a meeting exclusively for the three of them to discuss the CEO job. That was today.
During the past week Scott had a lot of time to think over everything, the job, his life, family, his crush on Hope, Wait- what? He was in denial about his slight slight crush on miss Hope Van Dyne, especially after what she had pulled the previous week, and the fact that she was still the devil, who hated his guts apparently. But there was just something about her that really got him, of course he would never tell anyone. God forbid she finds out, then she really would have him killed.
Which is the exact reason he was dreading this meeting more than the one with Hope alone. Scott was still just a tad mad about what she had asked of him, that and being in the same room as her when he was desperately trying to battle away the feelings he had would not play well on his part at all.
Hope on the other hand, was rather looking forward to the meeting. She had always been passionate about buisness and was excited to see what her Father had in mind. She also got to sit down with both Hank and Scott, who would most probably be a nervous wreck in the presence of both of them. Although she still had about an hour before the meeting, and had a bit of thinking to do.
“Should i apologise to him?” Hope asked, sitting back in her desk chair and staring up at the ceiling.
“what?” Carol inquired with a baffled expression, not a clue as to what Hope was on about.
Carol Danvers was Hope’s assistant, who also happened to be her best friend. Why Hope needed an assistant was beyond anyone, it’s not like she had a mass of work to do. But she was the daughter of the boss and pretty scary, so no one ever dared to question it.
“To scott. Should i apologise to him?” She asked again, returning her gaze to her friend.
“Who would’ve thought it, Hope Van Dyne actually apologising to Scott Lang? are you sure everything’s alright up there?” Carol smirked, gesturing to Hope’s head, which earned her a stern glare and a pen to the face.
“Knock it off!” Hope lightly laughed “i’m serious!”
“Okay okay” Carol giggled, raising her hands in surrender “But why would you apologise to Scott, you hate him”
“Hey i don’t hate him, i just mildly dislike him” Hope stated with a small smile forming on her lips.
“Oh please, you’re always going on about how much of a pain in your ass he is”
“He is a pain in my ass! But i’ve had a week to think over it and he’s right” Hope visibly cringed speaking such words. “What i did wasn’t fair, wouldn’t you agree?”
“I mean, well... yeah. It was just a biittt selfish” Carol nodded and gave a sympathetic look.
“Great, thanks for that” Hope shot another glare in her direction.
“Hey you’re the one who asked for my opinion! But honestly, i just think you should do whatever you feel is right. You’re Hope, you always know what to do” Giving a wide smile, Carol rose from her seat the other side of Hope’s desk “Anyways, i’ve got work to do and you have a fun meeting to get to so i’ll catch you later my love” She threw a wink at Hope, threw the pen back at her that had previously been chucked at her face and made her way out of Hope’s office.
“Alright, i’ll apologise! I can do that, it’s not hard, just two little words, tiny ones. Then I can win fair and square, and loured it over Scott with his stupid smug face” Hope quietly said to herself.
With her mind made up, and her fingers crossed that Scott would accept her apology and not ridicule her, she gathered her papers, left her office and began making her way to the meeting room.
By the time Scott had arrived at the meeting room, both Hank and Hope were already seated and waiting.
“Sorry i’m at little late, i was on the phone to my daughter, she could talk for days” Scott laughed a little awkwardly and took a seat at the table opposite the both of them.
“Family affairs at work Scott? you should know better than that” Hope quipped with a smug expression.
She was trying to get him in trouble.
“Really? coming from the woman who refused to acknowledge her father and oh what was it?.. Boss’ existence for months” He quickly fired back.
Hope scoffed, and suddenly her expression wasn’t so smug anymore, fighting the urge to launch herself over the table and throttle him.
That little shit, maybe he didn’t deserve an apology after all.
“ Enough you two!” Hank called over them in his usual stern tone “We’re not here for you to sit and bicker, You can save your little lovers tiff for later.” He eyed them both slowly.
“Lovers tiff!? oh my god dad. I would rather kiss Luis” Hope said flatly, offended by her fathers comment.
Scott on the other hand found it highly amusing, trying desperately to hide his sniggering.
“Oh you think this is funny do you? I wonder if you’ll still be laughing when i have security throw you out on your ass” She threatened, hand already on her phone.
“Hope!” Hank shouted again. Although he found is daughters defensiveness quite funny himself, he did have a job to do.
Scott was too busy laughing to himself to be phased by any of Hope’s threats today. He was just flattered that Hank could see him and Hope as a couple.
“Scott, will you focus please?” Hank asked in a more calmer tone.
“Yes sir! i’m all ears” Scott cleared his throat and sat upright in his chair, resting his elbow on the table to cover his smirking mouth from Hope’s soul piercing eyes.
“As you both know, i called this meeting to discuss the job you’ve applied for. It’s been tough for me to decide who to give it to, i can’t just give it to Hope because she’s my daughter, that would be unfair” Hank gave Hope a look, which she simply rolled her eyes in response to. “So i came up with an idea, I want the two of you to each think of a new idea for the company, whether it be to do with manufacturing or buisness and pitch it to me. Whoever’s idea i think will be most effective, will get the job” Hank smiled gently, slightly proud of his bright idea.
Hope however was less happy about it. “Really dad? that’s what you came up with? what is this kindergarten, just pick one of us and be done with it, preferably me!”
“woah woah woah, hold on now. Personally Hank i think that’s a brilliant idea, testing our ability to perform under pressure? very smart” Scott nodded and winked in approval.
“oh jesus, you are such a kiss ass!” Hope near shouted, laughing in disbelief.
Yep, so much for apologising to him.
“If you two carry on arguing, neither of you will get the job! What i have decided is final, and you will do it whether you like it or not” Hanks words were mainly aimed at Hope, she got her stubbornness from him, a trait that worked equally as well as it didn’t.
“Fine.” Hope grumbled, throwing herself back in her chair and crossing her arms over her chest.
Scott observed her with a smile planted firmly on his face “So cranky”
She shot yet another death stare in his direction “You are on thin ice Scott, thin” She warned, pointing an accusing finger at him.
Hank just chuckled to himself, he could tell that no matter how much Hope would deny it, there was a part of her that liked Scott, perhaps more than she thought. And soon it would become apparent to both of them.
“Well now that we have that settled, let’s all get back to our actual jobs, i’ll see you later honey” Hank said as he rose from his chair, kissing Hopes forehead gently “I’ll see you at your pitch Scott” He gave a small nod before exiting the room, leaving Hope and Scott alone.
They immediately made eye contact, and sat like they were having some sort of intense staring contest.
“You do realise staring at me like that isn’t going to make my head explode, right?” Scott piped up, always, always smiling.
“You are insufferable Scott” Hope deadpanned, rolling her eyes. If Scott had a dime for every time she rolled her eyes at him, he’d be rich by now. But she was also fighting back the urge to smile along with him. Instead she opted for getting up from her seat, and strutting out of the room with not a word more.
Scott just sat their after she left, pretty pleased with himself all things considered. The good news was bickering with Hope had successfully distracted him from getting lost in looking at her again, Hank definitely would have picked that one up. But the bad news was that his feelings for her had not gone away, only somehow intensified.
Instead of focusing on that, He decided he would focus on the task that Hank had set him. And for that he thought he would enlist the help of his beloved daughter, Cassie.