p class="MsoNormal"em"Good morning ma'am. It is 8am pacific standard time and currently 81 degrees Fahrenheit. You have three appointments today starting at 9:30 am."/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"JARVIS what the fuck."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanem"Mr. Potts asked me to wake you up to make sure you were on time for today's appointments."/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I thought you listened to me, not Mr. Potts."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanem"I'm sorry ma'am, Mr. Potts used the manual override in order to make sure you were on time for today's appointments."/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Yeah I'm sure he did."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanA bleary-eyed Toni Stark rolled over with an arm thrown across her eyes after being rudely awaked by her AI. Leave it to Pepper to find the one way around JARVIS's protocol in order to wake her up in what was actually quite a good dream. Surrounded by hot men and silk only to hiss in pain with the bright light that was not streaming across her bedroom./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"JARVIS did Pepper happen to leave—"/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanem"Aspirin is on the bedside table along with a glass of water that Mr. Potts asked me to tell you to drink all of it before heading downstairs."/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Well at least he had the decency to do that." Toni sighed loudly and laid in bed before getting the energy to sit up or at least scooch over to the end of the bed. She was about to finally move with the door swung open with a bang that made her wince and look over before wincing again. "I'm moving, I'm moving don't get your boxers in a twist." She grumbled and sat up way too fast and groaned./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I said nothing." Pepper Potts said at the doorway, face set in a neutral expression./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I know that look, that look says that I should have been in bed instead of galivanting around LA last night." Toni said before knocking back the aspirin and taking several big gulps of water that quenched her parched throat that she didn't even know she had./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Again, I said nothing." Pepper said mildly, looking down at his phone./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Okay mom, I'm getting in the shower now, are you happy?" Toni rose from the bed that she really didn't want to say goodbye to and made her way towards the bathroom./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"So happy I could jump up and down." Pepper responded in a monotone voice, still looking at his phone./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"You know, your attitude is really astounding. Perhaps we should discuss that." Toni said with a slightly amused look./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanThis caused Pepper to look up from his phone and he raised an eyebrow. "Perhaps we should discuss the fact that I had to type in a very long and extremely unnecessary string of numbers and letters into a tiny computer today in order to unlock your door and force JARVIS to wake you up so you didn't cancel on your very important appointments yet again."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Ooo feisty I love it." Toni grinned./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"A string and numbers and letters that you happened to post to your fridge that anyone that was in your house last night could have seen and hacked your server therefore rendering your AI obsolete and stranding you in your bedroom until I would have graciously called the fire department to unlock you from your own bedroom." Pepper's tone continuing to get sharper as he continued to talk./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I've got a mini fridge, I'd be fine." Toni shrugged./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanPepper sighed and looked up to the ceiling as if silently praying to the gods not to strangle Toni where she stood before turning his sights back on the woman who was wearing no pants and only a tank top that said MIT on it. "Just get in the shower and if you aren't out in 10 minutes I emwill/em tell JARVIS to cut the hot water."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"You know you're hot when you get all official." Toni winked./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Toni!" Pepper barked and Toni held up her hands in defeat before moving towards the bathroom./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanThe water felt glorious against her skin and her thoughts wandered in a million different directions as she washed her hair. She must have lost track of time before she yelped in surprise when the water turned ice cold and she quickly jumped away from the stream and turned the water off and narrowed her eyes. Looks like Pepper wasn't messing around today. Duly noted./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanShe stepped out of the shower and pulled on a robe before drying her hair in a towel turban on the top of her head. Pepper was waiting for her outside her room and she rolled her eyes. She may not have much modesty but Pepper was extremely careful when it came to giving her her privacy./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"So who am I supposed to be meeting with today huh?" She called through the door. Clothes were already set out for her on the bed and she curled her lip in annoyance. Why did she have to wear a boring blazer with a skirt that looked like something a boring business woman would wear? She sighed as she pulled it on, knowing that she wouldn't be able to leave the house otherwise and she had a plan of getting out of whatever meetings were scheduled anyways./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"You have a meeting with the shareholders at 9:30 which we cannot reschedule since this is the third time rescheduling and they are getting very antsy to move on the new weapons development plant."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Ugh those old gasbags? Pass."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"At 11 you have a lunch scheduled with a reporter from Time magazine. They want to do an article on female innovators for their International Woman's Day issue."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I can manage that one. Especially if we are eating sushi. Are we eating sushi?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I can change the location to sushi if you wish." Pepper sighed and she could picture him making notes in his phone. "You also have a meeting at 1 with Rhodey to talk with the Air Force guys that he's training and do a weapon's demonstration."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Well obviously I can't cancel that one. I need to show those boys how we women work." Toni grinned. She loved rubbing it in the Air Force guy's face that she was eons smarter than Rhodey despite the fact that they were roommates in college and she basically owned him. She finished drying her hair and quickly put some makeup on her face and grabbed her heels by the door, swinging them from her fingers./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanPepper straightened as she walked out the door and frowned at her bun. "Hair up, Ms. Stark. We need to look professional at the shareholder's meeting."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Pepper I swear to God if I have to put my hair in a bun I will literally gag and you do not want to see that when I'm this hungover. You're lucky you didn't have to carry me into the shower."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanPepper opened his mouth before pausing and put his phone in his pocket before reaching out to pull her hair back. He twisted around her and produced a clip from God knows where and then moved back. He looked at her for a moment before nodding. "Suitable."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Let's get this torture session over with." She grumbled./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"- - -/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I think I would make sweet sweet love to this burger." Toni groaned audibly as she laid across the seat of the town car and took another giant bite./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Glad you're enjoying yourself." Pepper commented while writing something on the legal pad in front of him./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"You sure you don't want a bite?" Toni asked, shaking her burger at him./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanPepper looked up and gave a good effort of not showing the disgust on his face but not quite good enough. Toni snorted that turned into real laughter as she took another bite./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"You're making me look bad Potts with your salads and your protein shakes." She mused and Pepper shrugged while still focusing on his legal pad. "Aaaand you're ignoring me." Her face morphed into a pout and Pepper put down his pen for a second./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I'm trying to get your schedule figured out for the next month so unless you want to lose out on millions of dollars you should probably let me focus." Pepper raised an eyebrow./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Only millions you say? Yeah, I could take a month off." Toni nodded and stared at the trees passing past the window above her. "I mean did you hear those old gasbags today? Do they not realize that my inventions and patents over the past six months alone have raised the stock in this company to where it's never been before and they have the audacity to mention my social life and how I need to project a better image? I literally paid for their vacation homes and I know for a fact that my father was never able to accomplish what this company has done since I took over, yet all they can see is that I'm a woman. They were talking down to me like I was a child and not someone who graduated from MIT at the age of 18." She seethed and took another vicious bite of her burger./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanPepper was silent but there was no longer the sound of the pen scratching across the pad. "I can cancel your appointments for the rest of the week if you would like ma'am." He said softly./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanToni sighed and turned her head towards her assistant. "I'm just kidding Pepper." She gave a little half smile and crumpled up the burger wrapper and shoved it in the bag. "Besides, I kinda enjoy getting heated in front of those old farts and showing who's the smartest. Speaking of appointments what do we have on the agenda tomorrow?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanPepper gave her a soft smile before opening up his calendar on his phone. "Just a speech at a local high school. Pretty easy day."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Perfect." Toni went back to looking up at the trees although if she was being honest she was staring right through them because she was not the best at speaking to kids. She could be brash and unrefined and she was a little afraid of making the wrong impression on their impressionable minds./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"We're here ma'am." Pepper said as the car slowed and Toni sat up. A dozen airplane hangers met her gaze and she gave a wry smile. Time to make Rhodey look bad./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanShe walked in her annoying heels towards her best friend who was waiting for her with those annoying aviators that she was pretty sure that she had gotten for him for some occasion./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Stark, long time no see." Rhodey called out and she grinned at him./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I would see you more often if you didn't insist on working for the government James." She arched an eyebrow at him and he laughed./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Gotta pay the bills somehow."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I keep telling you to put your MIT brain to good use at Stark Industries." She pursed her lips but she knew that Rhodey loved his job and she would never want to take that away from him./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I don't want to show you up, you know that. You got some gadgets to show me?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Of course you know that." She laughed and gave him a hug. He hugged her back and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. "I love showing off the fact that you're buying weapons from a tiny woman who's smarter than you."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanHe snorted and nodded back to Pepper who had followed behind. "Good to see you Pepper. Let's go this way, gotta introduce you to the guys before we start."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanThe two chatted, catching up as they walked into one of the hangers where a group of guys and a handful of women were waiting for them. The second they saw Toni with Rhodey they instantly paid attention and a few looked a little too excited, something Toni was used to./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Guys, Toni Stark." Rhodey introduced her rather informally and Toni rolled her eyes./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Pleasure gentleman and ladies." She gave smirk to the group./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"She's here to give us a little weapon's demonstration and answer questions. Be cool." Rhodey gave a serious face and Toni laughed before clapping her hands together./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"So who wants to have fun with guns and blow things up?" She asked and the entire group became way too excited./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanShe brought probably too many weapons out and grenades along with a few small rockets. She and the group including Rhodey started shooting up targets and blowing old machinery all while wearing a pencil skirt and heels. What a picture. Pepper on the other hand sat back with protective headphones and looked surly. Toni knew he was not the biggest fan of guns or other weapons but she was having the time of her life./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanAfter the weapon demonstration was over she got to hang out with the group and answered probably way too many questions but she loved these guys. She knew that the armed forces were never going to be for her, but that didn't mean she didn't respect the hell out of what these guys and girls were able to style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanOf course she got quite a few selfies with them along with signing a few questionable objects and areas of the body before saying her goodbyes./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Thanks for stopping by Toni." Rhodey said again, giving her a hug goodbye./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I love coming out here, you know that. If anything thank you for letting me come shoot some targets. We need to get together for dinner sometime soon." She said as she slipped her sunglasses back on and turned to Pepper who nodded and shook Rhodey's hand and they walked back to the car together./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"So I'm free the rest of the day right?" Toni asked Pepper as she slipped off her ridiculous heels./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Yes ma'am. Back to the house?" Pepper asked./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"God yes." Toni groaned and laid back down on the seat of the car./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanShe closed her eyes as the car began to move and let herself fall into a light sleep. She was exhausted both from dealing with annoying people and the fact that she didn't get much sleep last night./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Ma'am?" Pepper cleared his throat and Toni startled from the sudden sound./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Yeah?" She asked, opening one eye./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"You might want to look at this." Pepper said gently and handed a tablet to Toni. She reached out and grabbed it from him and found herself looking at video from CNN. She frowned and clicked play. It was a news report from what looked like Afghanistan or some other middle eastern country that was war torn./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanem"Reports are coming in from Afghanistan that a town was bombed not far from an American base."/em The newswoman stated to the camera and shaky footage from what looked like a hand held camera showed the town being bombed and exploding. Toni's eyes narrowed as she saw something that looked familiar. She went back and paused the video and her eyes widened and she looked up at Pepper who gave her a nod./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanThere on the screen was a missile that clearly said Stark Industries on the side before demolishing an entire building./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanem"It's unclear that Stark Industries is not behind the attacks due to their weapons are being used as destructive forces in the war in the middle east. CEO Toni Stark has been known for selling her weapons to the US military but could the company be selling to other countries on the side? At this time we do not have a comment from Toni Stark or the company./em" The newswoman continued and Toni turned it off in anger./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"There's no way that those weapons were sold to them by us right?" She asked Pepper though she knew that he probably had no idea. She sighed and closed her eyes once more. "Guess I'm gonna have more to do today huh?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Uh yeah probably." Pepper muttered./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Brilliant."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"JARVIS what the fuck."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanem"Mr. Potts asked me to wake you up to make sure you were on time for today's appointments."/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I thought you listened to me, not Mr. Potts."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanem"I'm sorry ma'am, Mr. Potts used the manual override in order to make sure you were on time for today's appointments."/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Yeah I'm sure he did."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanA bleary-eyed Toni Stark rolled over with an arm thrown across her eyes after being rudely awaked by her AI. Leave it to Pepper to find the one way around JARVIS's protocol in order to wake her up in what was actually quite a good dream. Surrounded by hot men and silk only to hiss in pain with the bright light that was not streaming across her bedroom./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"JARVIS did Pepper happen to leave—"/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanem"Aspirin is on the bedside table along with a glass of water that Mr. Potts asked me to tell you to drink all of it before heading downstairs."/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Well at least he had the decency to do that." Toni sighed loudly and laid in bed before getting the energy to sit up or at least scooch over to the end of the bed. She was about to finally move with the door swung open with a bang that made her wince and look over before wincing again. "I'm moving, I'm moving don't get your boxers in a twist." She grumbled and sat up way too fast and groaned./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I said nothing." Pepper Potts said at the doorway, face set in a neutral expression./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I know that look, that look says that I should have been in bed instead of galivanting around LA last night." Toni said before knocking back the aspirin and taking several big gulps of water that quenched her parched throat that she didn't even know she had./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Again, I said nothing." Pepper said mildly, looking down at his phone./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Okay mom, I'm getting in the shower now, are you happy?" Toni rose from the bed that she really didn't want to say goodbye to and made her way towards the bathroom./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"So happy I could jump up and down." Pepper responded in a monotone voice, still looking at his phone./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"You know, your attitude is really astounding. Perhaps we should discuss that." Toni said with a slightly amused look./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanThis caused Pepper to look up from his phone and he raised an eyebrow. "Perhaps we should discuss the fact that I had to type in a very long and extremely unnecessary string of numbers and letters into a tiny computer today in order to unlock your door and force JARVIS to wake you up so you didn't cancel on your very important appointments yet again."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Ooo feisty I love it." Toni grinned./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"A string and numbers and letters that you happened to post to your fridge that anyone that was in your house last night could have seen and hacked your server therefore rendering your AI obsolete and stranding you in your bedroom until I would have graciously called the fire department to unlock you from your own bedroom." Pepper's tone continuing to get sharper as he continued to talk./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I've got a mini fridge, I'd be fine." Toni shrugged./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanPepper sighed and looked up to the ceiling as if silently praying to the gods not to strangle Toni where she stood before turning his sights back on the woman who was wearing no pants and only a tank top that said MIT on it. "Just get in the shower and if you aren't out in 10 minutes I emwill/em tell JARVIS to cut the hot water."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"You know you're hot when you get all official." Toni winked./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Toni!" Pepper barked and Toni held up her hands in defeat before moving towards the bathroom./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanThe water felt glorious against her skin and her thoughts wandered in a million different directions as she washed her hair. She must have lost track of time before she yelped in surprise when the water turned ice cold and she quickly jumped away from the stream and turned the water off and narrowed her eyes. Looks like Pepper wasn't messing around today. Duly noted./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanShe stepped out of the shower and pulled on a robe before drying her hair in a towel turban on the top of her head. Pepper was waiting for her outside her room and she rolled her eyes. She may not have much modesty but Pepper was extremely careful when it came to giving her her privacy./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"So who am I supposed to be meeting with today huh?" She called through the door. Clothes were already set out for her on the bed and she curled her lip in annoyance. Why did she have to wear a boring blazer with a skirt that looked like something a boring business woman would wear? She sighed as she pulled it on, knowing that she wouldn't be able to leave the house otherwise and she had a plan of getting out of whatever meetings were scheduled anyways./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"You have a meeting with the shareholders at 9:30 which we cannot reschedule since this is the third time rescheduling and they are getting very antsy to move on the new weapons development plant."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Ugh those old gasbags? Pass."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"At 11 you have a lunch scheduled with a reporter from Time magazine. They want to do an article on female innovators for their International Woman's Day issue."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I can manage that one. Especially if we are eating sushi. Are we eating sushi?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I can change the location to sushi if you wish." Pepper sighed and she could picture him making notes in his phone. "You also have a meeting at 1 with Rhodey to talk with the Air Force guys that he's training and do a weapon's demonstration."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Well obviously I can't cancel that one. I need to show those boys how we women work." Toni grinned. She loved rubbing it in the Air Force guy's face that she was eons smarter than Rhodey despite the fact that they were roommates in college and she basically owned him. She finished drying her hair and quickly put some makeup on her face and grabbed her heels by the door, swinging them from her fingers./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanPepper straightened as she walked out the door and frowned at her bun. "Hair up, Ms. Stark. We need to look professional at the shareholder's meeting."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Pepper I swear to God if I have to put my hair in a bun I will literally gag and you do not want to see that when I'm this hungover. You're lucky you didn't have to carry me into the shower."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanPepper opened his mouth before pausing and put his phone in his pocket before reaching out to pull her hair back. He twisted around her and produced a clip from God knows where and then moved back. He looked at her for a moment before nodding. "Suitable."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Let's get this torture session over with." She grumbled./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"- - -/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I think I would make sweet sweet love to this burger." Toni groaned audibly as she laid across the seat of the town car and took another giant bite./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Glad you're enjoying yourself." Pepper commented while writing something on the legal pad in front of him./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"You sure you don't want a bite?" Toni asked, shaking her burger at him./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanPepper looked up and gave a good effort of not showing the disgust on his face but not quite good enough. Toni snorted that turned into real laughter as she took another bite./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"You're making me look bad Potts with your salads and your protein shakes." She mused and Pepper shrugged while still focusing on his legal pad. "Aaaand you're ignoring me." Her face morphed into a pout and Pepper put down his pen for a second./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I'm trying to get your schedule figured out for the next month so unless you want to lose out on millions of dollars you should probably let me focus." Pepper raised an eyebrow./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Only millions you say? Yeah, I could take a month off." Toni nodded and stared at the trees passing past the window above her. "I mean did you hear those old gasbags today? Do they not realize that my inventions and patents over the past six months alone have raised the stock in this company to where it's never been before and they have the audacity to mention my social life and how I need to project a better image? I literally paid for their vacation homes and I know for a fact that my father was never able to accomplish what this company has done since I took over, yet all they can see is that I'm a woman. They were talking down to me like I was a child and not someone who graduated from MIT at the age of 18." She seethed and took another vicious bite of her burger./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanPepper was silent but there was no longer the sound of the pen scratching across the pad. "I can cancel your appointments for the rest of the week if you would like ma'am." He said softly./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanToni sighed and turned her head towards her assistant. "I'm just kidding Pepper." She gave a little half smile and crumpled up the burger wrapper and shoved it in the bag. "Besides, I kinda enjoy getting heated in front of those old farts and showing who's the smartest. Speaking of appointments what do we have on the agenda tomorrow?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanPepper gave her a soft smile before opening up his calendar on his phone. "Just a speech at a local high school. Pretty easy day."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Perfect." Toni went back to looking up at the trees although if she was being honest she was staring right through them because she was not the best at speaking to kids. She could be brash and unrefined and she was a little afraid of making the wrong impression on their impressionable minds./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"We're here ma'am." Pepper said as the car slowed and Toni sat up. A dozen airplane hangers met her gaze and she gave a wry smile. Time to make Rhodey look bad./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanShe walked in her annoying heels towards her best friend who was waiting for her with those annoying aviators that she was pretty sure that she had gotten for him for some occasion./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Stark, long time no see." Rhodey called out and she grinned at him./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I would see you more often if you didn't insist on working for the government James." She arched an eyebrow at him and he laughed./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Gotta pay the bills somehow."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I keep telling you to put your MIT brain to good use at Stark Industries." She pursed her lips but she knew that Rhodey loved his job and she would never want to take that away from him./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I don't want to show you up, you know that. You got some gadgets to show me?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Of course you know that." She laughed and gave him a hug. He hugged her back and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. "I love showing off the fact that you're buying weapons from a tiny woman who's smarter than you."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanHe snorted and nodded back to Pepper who had followed behind. "Good to see you Pepper. Let's go this way, gotta introduce you to the guys before we start."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanThe two chatted, catching up as they walked into one of the hangers where a group of guys and a handful of women were waiting for them. The second they saw Toni with Rhodey they instantly paid attention and a few looked a little too excited, something Toni was used to./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Guys, Toni Stark." Rhodey introduced her rather informally and Toni rolled her eyes./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Pleasure gentleman and ladies." She gave smirk to the group./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"She's here to give us a little weapon's demonstration and answer questions. Be cool." Rhodey gave a serious face and Toni laughed before clapping her hands together./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"So who wants to have fun with guns and blow things up?" She asked and the entire group became way too excited./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanShe brought probably too many weapons out and grenades along with a few small rockets. She and the group including Rhodey started shooting up targets and blowing old machinery all while wearing a pencil skirt and heels. What a picture. Pepper on the other hand sat back with protective headphones and looked surly. Toni knew he was not the biggest fan of guns or other weapons but she was having the time of her life./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanAfter the weapon demonstration was over she got to hang out with the group and answered probably way too many questions but she loved these guys. She knew that the armed forces were never going to be for her, but that didn't mean she didn't respect the hell out of what these guys and girls were able to style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanOf course she got quite a few selfies with them along with signing a few questionable objects and areas of the body before saying her goodbyes./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Thanks for stopping by Toni." Rhodey said again, giving her a hug goodbye./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I love coming out here, you know that. If anything thank you for letting me come shoot some targets. We need to get together for dinner sometime soon." She said as she slipped her sunglasses back on and turned to Pepper who nodded and shook Rhodey's hand and they walked back to the car together./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"So I'm free the rest of the day right?" Toni asked Pepper as she slipped off her ridiculous heels./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Yes ma'am. Back to the house?" Pepper asked./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"God yes." Toni groaned and laid back down on the seat of the car./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanShe closed her eyes as the car began to move and let herself fall into a light sleep. She was exhausted both from dealing with annoying people and the fact that she didn't get much sleep last night./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Ma'am?" Pepper cleared his throat and Toni startled from the sudden sound./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Yeah?" She asked, opening one eye./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"You might want to look at this." Pepper said gently and handed a tablet to Toni. She reached out and grabbed it from him and found herself looking at video from CNN. She frowned and clicked play. It was a news report from what looked like Afghanistan or some other middle eastern country that was war torn./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanem"Reports are coming in from Afghanistan that a town was bombed not far from an American base."/em The newswoman stated to the camera and shaky footage from what looked like a hand held camera showed the town being bombed and exploding. Toni's eyes narrowed as she saw something that looked familiar. She went back and paused the video and her eyes widened and she looked up at Pepper who gave her a nod./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanThere on the screen was a missile that clearly said Stark Industries on the side before demolishing an entire building./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanem"It's unclear that Stark Industries is not behind the attacks due to their weapons are being used as destructive forces in the war in the middle east. CEO Toni Stark has been known for selling her weapons to the US military but could the company be selling to other countries on the side? At this time we do not have a comment from Toni Stark or the company./em" The newswoman continued and Toni turned it off in anger./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"There's no way that those weapons were sold to them by us right?" She asked Pepper though she knew that he probably had no idea. She sighed and closed her eyes once more. "Guess I'm gonna have more to do today huh?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Uh yeah probably." Pepper muttered./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Brilliant."/p