CEO??

Chapter 28

I sighed. "Friday, keep Harley away from Clint at all times until I can talk to them."

She agreed.

"Mr. Parker, Michelle would like to speak with you," Ren announced. He had stopped calling her Ms. Jones after she glared at him for it.

"Is she at the tower?"

"Yes, Sir," he confirmed, checking the cameras. "She is currently arguing with a security guard."

I sighed. "Let's go." I turned to those in the lab. "Ellie, when the visiting time is over, please show them out."

Ren and I walked to the elevator and descended quickly to the lobby.

"If you don't let me see Peter, I will—"

I cut MJ off. "MJ, hi! Sorry that took so long, I was in the labs. How can I help you?" I asked, noticing her stressed state.

"Decathlon needs a place to hold practices from now on or else we'll have to disband!" she exclaimed. "The school decided we weren't important enough and gave the new science club our room. I've checked with every member, but no one's parents will let their place be a meeting spot! I need you to talk me off a ledge!"

My eyes widened. "Come with me," I said, gesturing for her to follow. We went to my office and sat down. "Tell me everything. From the very beginning."

"Once you withdrew, we started to lose more often, and the school decided that we weren't worth the funding or anything! Mr. Harrington couldn't do anything about it! They told me at lunch that they were basically disbanding the team unless we can find a new meeting point and transportation! I haven't told the team yet, I came straight here, skipping the rest of school. What am I supposed to do, Peter?"

"Alright, here's what's going to happen," I said. "Your team will meet here at the tower. I will provide transportation and funding. Will you need a coach since it is no longer a school team?"

"No longer a school team?" she asked, obviously shocked that I was going to sponsor them. She had come for advice, not money. Not that she wasn't grateful.

I smirked. "If they aren't funding you, they don't get the credit for your victories. So, will you need a coach?"

"Well, Mr. Harrington is already really busy. So, yes, we'll need to find another coach."

I nodded. "Darren, please clear my schedule every day at 4:30. I will have no meetings or work after that point."

He nodded and quickly made the schedule change. "Can I compete?" he asked quietly.

I grinned. "Of course, Kid. You'll be great."

We finalized the details, MJ looking much less stressed with each passing moment. "Thank you, Peter," she said, hugging me tightly. "You're a life saver."

I smiled. "Tell your team to come here tonight. We'll meet on my living floor. Snacks will be provided."

She nodded and whipped out her phone to text the group chat. "They're confused, but said they'll be here."

I grinned. "Ren, what time is it?"

"1:20."

"Come on, let's get the sitting room ready. MJ, don't bother going back to school today. You can hang out with us."

She smiled. "I like this Peter. You're not so much of a loser like this."

I laughed. "This is me, MJ. I'm still that loser that loves to do Legos with Ned and geek out over science."

She rolled her eyes. "Yeah, but you're not as shy. Come on; let's get lunch first. I'm hungry."

I went down to the cafeteria with them. While Pep and Tony only ever ordered food, I made sure to interact with the employees, whether that's visiting them in the labs or eating in the same place. Eleanor intercepted us on the way.

"So, I read those books," she said mischievously, making me groan.

"That's what you've been reading?"

She nodded. "They're good, Peter. You should be proud."

I snorted. "You're trying to get the manuscript for the fifth one, aren't you?"

She nodded excitedly. "Please, Peter!"

I shook my head. "You'll have to wait with the rest of my readers for it to come out, Ellie."

She pouted but brightened when she saw MJ. "You must be MJ. I'm Eleanor, but my friends call me Ellie. Have you read Peter's books?"

"Yup," she said, surprising me. "They're not bad."

"No way," I said. "Just how long have you known?"

"Eh, I saw them in the library after meeting you for the first time."

I frowned. "Of course you did. Whatever. Let's just eat."

They laughed at me and we got our food. After eating and talking for a while, we went up to rearrange the sitting room for the meeting.

A half hour later, the first decathlon member arrived in the lobby. I went with MJ and Ren to greet them. It was someone I hadn't met before. He must've been new.

"Whoa, Michelle," he said. "Do you know someone at Stark Tower?"

"I do," she said with a sly smile. "I know the CEO actually."

"So cool," he whispered. "Who're they?"

"This is Darren and Peter. Darren is joining the team and Peter is here to make sure we aren't thrown out." She smirked.

Abe came next, cheering when he saw me. "Peter! I'm so glad you're here! Are you joining the team again? Is that why we're here? So you can announce that dramatically?"

I laughed. "I'm not competing anymore, Abe."

He huffed. Everyone else had similar reactions, being either surprised to see me or excited. Some whispered among themselves, wondering why they weren't at the school.

Once everyone had arrived, I waved to security and led the group to the elevators. "Everyone in," I said, ushering them in.

They shuffled in, some looking even more confused when Flash didn't argue at all.

"Hey, Peter," he said, making his way over to me. "What are we doing here?"

I just smirked at him. "You will all see soon enough. Just chill."

He huffed but didn't say anything.

The doors opened to reveal my living space. A large TV was mounted on the wall above an electric fireplace. On the mantel were pictures of me with Harley, Mom and Dad, Loki, and Shuri. Beanbag chairs were placed in a half circle, facing the TV.

"Whoa," Abe mumbled.

"Welcome to your new meeting area," I said, gesturing around.

"You're serious, Peter?" Cindy asked, not using my given name in front of the others. "This is nicer than the guest room from the field trip."

I chuckled. "Completely. Dinner will be brought up later. We can vote on what kind of food we want then."

"Where are we?" the new kid asked.

"My living space. I didn't want to inconvenience the others in the tower, so I chose this place."

"What about when Shuri comes?" MJ asked.

"She'll either be in the lab or she'll join us."

"Us?" Abe asked as everyone began to sit. "I thought you said you weren't competing anymore."

"I'm not," I said. "I'm the coach. MJ can explain."

So, MJ explained what the school did and what I offered.

"Wow, thanks Peter!" Flash said.

"No problem. I think Stark Industries could use a bit of high school energy. Harls hasn't found many high school interns."

The night went splendidly and people were really enthusiastic about the whole thing.

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Thoughts?