"Hello." Virgina Potts turned on her stool and looked the man up and down. "Hello" she replied, lightly sipping her drink. "I haven't seen you around here. Mind telling me who you are?" The man was tall, relatively buff, with wavy black hair. "Virginia Potts. Or just Pepper." "Anthony Stark. Or just Tony" He mirrored her, showing that he wasn't going to play her game. She admired his guts, it was something she looked out for. The men who were intimdated by her didn't last long. "And where are you from Tony?" "Manhattan, and you?" "Arlington if it wasn't obvious."
"Interesting, country girl. Should I be worried that you're a hick?" "Should I be worried that you're arrogant?" their wits matched, paving the way for an interesting conversation. "Can I buy you a drink?" "You can, but I never said I would let you." He snorted quietly and sat next to her. "So, Pepper, what's your story?" Tony asked after ordering a scotch on the rocks. "Whiskey if you please" Pepper called to the bartender. "My story depends on what you want to know." "What's your family like?" She smiled slightly "My mother was a school teacher. She died three years ago. My dad is Andrew Potts, owner of-" "Potts enterprises?" Tony looked shocked "that's a multi-billion dollar company!" "Yes. So much for being a hick huh?" She turned towards her partner.
"And what about you Tony? Who's your family?" he looked slightly pained, but Pepper tried her best to ignore it. "My mom was Maria Stark, a regular city girl from Queens. My dad was Howard Stark, genius and notorious scoundral who died when I was 17." "You sound bitter." Tony looked off into the crowded bar. "I don't miss him or respect him. He never treated my mom right, she always deserved more than him. And when he cheated on her... well it broke her into pieces. She shouldn't have had to deal with him." "Well," Pepper nudged him slightly "now you sound like my father. He's always talking about dignity, honor and respect." "Really?" Tony smirked "I'm all about that you know."
"I think he'd like you" Pepper looked him up and down again, trying to avoid his alluring brown eyes. "Except you're too cocky." "I'm cocky? Have you listened to yourself?" "I have actually and I was quite satisfied with it." He leaned back on his stool. "Did I mention that you're seriously turning me on right now?" "Keep it in your pants." She nudged him."Can I help my urges?" "We're buisness. We can talk however we damn well please. We put our asses on the line enough to get respect. And the benefits that come with are just pluses." "Besides," she grabbed her glass and held it up as if saluting him "we deserve some time off." They clinked glasses and he sighed. "I better enjoy it, it probably won't come again for awhile." "Probably" she agreed and downed the rest of her drink.