A/N - Not part of the 30 Day Challenge but I felt the need to write this.
Second Meeting
Tony Stark strode into the accounting department, grinning as dozens of eyes followed him to the main reception desk. The place was swarming with slender accountants who flashed him infatuated smiles as he passed and he marked a few in his head for future 'reference'.
"Hey, I'm looking for someone." He leant languidly on the desk. "She's got super red hair and a pretty nice ass."
"Ever say anything like that about me, Mr Stark," Came a steely voice behind him, deadly quiet. "and I will not just sue your own ass into legal hell but I will blind you with pepper spray."
"Aw, come on, we know you-" Tony turned around and bit back a yelp, eyes staring directly at the white top of a bottle of mace.
"Don't mean that?" She tucked the bottle into her purse, a catlike grin spreading over her features. "I assure you I do. However, I have also managed to correct your accounting mistake and you are now rolling in more money than ever before."
"Why thank you." His own voice had taken on a frosty tone and he glowered at her, ignoring the fact that even her nose was sprinkled with light freckles. "What's your name anyway?"
"Virginia Potts." Nose wrinkling with disgust, Tony followed Virginia to her cubicle before kicking himself for appearing so obedient to this hot-headed woman.
"I don't like that name." He announced, feeling that mortifying flush tickle his ears. "How about Pepper? You know, because of the whole pepper spray incident."
"You aren't entitled to legally change my name." She replied absently, slipping into her seat and switching on her computer with a whir. "I don't really care about nicknames either, so knock yourself out."
"Look, I'm here to talk to you about your job here." Tony sighed, desperately trying to regain her attention. To his pleasure, Pepper abandoned her paperwork and tilted her head at him in a far too innocent manner. Her eyes were a brighter blue than he remembered, although he had only managed to catch a glimpse before she had hidden them. "You want to work for me?"
His question startled them both and Tony cursed himself. Why would he want her to work for him just so she could humiliate him every day with those snarky comments? There was no doubt in his mind that she would certainly attack him if he tried to flirt with her, so sex was off the table.
"I already work for you, Mr Stark." Her voice was gentle, losing the sarcastic tone. He almost smiled at her sudden change when he caught the patronising glint in her eye. Pepper was now assuming that he was mentally unstable, which only served to irritate him even further.
"I'm aware of that, Pepper." He snarled, hurriedly forming a smart response. "I want you to work for me directly as my PA, since I don't really count this as working for me."
Pepper blinked at him, a tiny crease appearing between her eyes as she tried to figure him out. Then the accountant began to pack up her possessions into her purse, sliding a box from under her desk and neatly placing a small plant pot and several folders inside. Utterly bewildered, Tony didn't move as she leant closer to him with a teasing grin.
"I accept that challenge."