"No, Anya." Justin says quietly. "I'm here for the announcement about setting up the ZPE grid in District X. I don't think you're going to be in any condition to talk about it in the morning." he says.
He steps into the room a bit further and looks at her sadly.
"One glass," she said giving him a strange look. She hadn't had time to have more. Some nights she finished off a bottle before going home. "I'll be fine in the morning."
Justin isn't sure if he believes her but decides to let it lie for a moment. No use in getting into an argument.
"I think you should sit this one out, Anya. I know things have been rough for you lately. You're not sleeping and you're in the office more than you're out of it.
She sat up in the chair and leaned forward. "What do you mean sit out of this? Dammit. I am not sitting out of anything when it comes to Ren Tech. I've put just as much blood and sweat into this company as you have. I'm /not/ going to sit out."
"You need to sit this out, Anya. There's some concern about your performance lately." Justin says.
"I've heard about the drinking, Anya. I want to help you but you can't be involved with the company if you're head isn't in the game. Your dad would say the same thing." Justin says.
"From whom?" she challenged. "My performance is fine. My head isn't anywhere but in this damn company. I have no social life, I barely see Toni and I can't remember the last time I got laid."
"Steve and I have been having scheduling problems lately," she admitted. "He either has Avenger stuff or I'm working or have TBolts stuff. Toni...I haven't seen her in a month."
"Anya, people in the office are noticing. That's bad enough." Justin says. "Do you really want to put us in the position to have to explain a misstep?" he asks.
"Look, let me handle tomorrow and you go see Toni or Steve. Take a week off. Two, even. I can handle the work." he says.
"No, but it's not a problem. Sure I have a drink or two," or more, "before I go home, but it's not a problem. I can't take a week off. I'd go nuts. Stark raving mad."
"I didn't say you were going to rehab, per se. I said you're taking a twenty-eight day vacation and this isn't negotiable." Justin says.
"You're going to get your head back on straight. We'll gamble, hit the beach and do a bunch of other things that crazy young people do when they have more money than they need."
"Bring nice stuff to wear and a swimsuit or something."
Justin knew she'd try to bargain her way out of a month, which is why he set it so high. He figured that getting her down to two weeks would be pushing it.
"Two weeks, nice clothes and swimsuits. You know what, screw packing. We'll buy stuff when we get there." he says.
Anya shut down her laptop and grabbed whatever other files she'd need in the next two weeks. There was no way she could go the whole two weeks without doing some work.
She met him at his car in four minutes and thirty nine seconds.
Anya realized where they were going. "I told you, I am not going anywhere tonight. Tomorrow morning is perfectly fine. I am going to spend tonight with Steve."
Anya laughed. "My life's been messed up since the day I was born. I'm a Stark. That means my life is fucked up. But you know what? I am happy. I have Ren Tech, a great guy and a great team. I can't ask for more. Except maybe a few more extra hours in a day."
"Justin, I love you like a brother, but being a Stark does mean your life is fucked up. I promise I will limit my alcohol intake to no more than one drink. Will that suffice?"
"There are two ways one could take that and even though you're incredibly hot, but I'm going to go with delivering a baby. I will do my best to get the hospital on time for you and Toni's sake."