AN: Hey guys, thanks for your reviews. I will try to write longer chapters, but I do have a life too, with lots of work. The good part will come soon, but for now, lots of intros. Also, tell your friends, spread the word, PLEASE! Any who, now we get to Stark Industries, and someone is about to make an appearance. So hold on to your reading glasses, and enjoy the story.
Stark Industries
Meanwhile, at the main office of Stark Industries, Howard is looking over the beautiful city of Malibu. In fury, he turns around to address his partner, "Ah, Obadiah, it's good to see you again old friend, there is a matter of great importance that I need to discuss about."
"And what would that be Howard," asked Obadiah, curious.
"It's about my son."
"Tony?! That boy is a walking box of trouble that's ready to blow!" yelled Obadiah, remembering an incident at a conference. It wasn't pretty.
"I know that," stated Howard calmly, resting his head on his hands, "but he is also the sole heir to the company, so eventually, he will have to take over. I can't take the stress anymore."
Feeling sympathetic to his old friend, "We already had this conversation Howard, is there anything different about this time around?"
"As a matter of fact, yes," said Howard as he stood up, and walked around towards Obadiah, "I was thinking that we should hold a party, and big one. It can celebrate Stark Ind's big success with all of our business partners, sponsors, and we can even invite some high level socialites. That way, we can let everyone know that Stark Industries is still going strong, and Tony can also meet some beautiful women."
"But sir, you do realize that your son is notorious for his one night stands, he is a playboy, he can never commit," interrupted Obadiah.
"Yes, but maybe he will find someone, it about time he marries, settles down, and possibly produce a new heir," says Howard wistfully, and walks back to his chair.
"But what if he doesn't," asks Obadiah
"I will have a talk with my son. You on the other hand, will begin preparations for the event, sent out invitations and such," Howard the turns around to face the city again.
Obadiah sighs, knowing that the conversation is over, "Very well sir," but as Obadiah leave the room, he turns around, "but do you really think that Tony will even listen, and go through with this plan?" Hearing no answer from Howard, he left the office to prepare the necessary invitation.
Pepper, had just made it to the staff parking lot with only minutes to spare. After getting all of her stuff together, she rushed out of her car, and entered the building. She signed in, and went through all of the necessary security check points, before getting to her cubicle. If anything, she was lucky to even get a job at Stark Industries, because she only went to night time classes at a nearby university. Her step mom wouldn't even pay for her college funds, making her work to be able to go to college, and to make things worst, all of the college savings went to her step-sisters, who barely studied; all they did was party, and were eventually expelled.
With only a bachelor's degree in accountancy, Pepper was able to get into Stark Ind. because her family was one of the company's stockholder, and donor. Howard Stark and his family often visited her family's art gallery, and see all the beautiful artworks before buying some at very high prices. However, when her father died, the art gallery, lost a lot of money, so Agatha gave up on running it, but Pepper kept it, and even though some of the biggest buyers don't come by anymore, it still gives a good income to the family.
Pepper does all of the work and money making for the family, but Agatha, and her step-sisters got all the glory and praise. In reality, they almost don't do any work at all, aside from signing a couple of documents. They partied, and attended the art gallery auctions to meet some rich guys.
Pepper was snapped out of her thoughts by her boss, who started to yell at her for dazing off, before giving her a mountain of work to organize, file, and deliver. Not wanting to get into anymore trouble, she started right away. After looking at another order form for weapons and military gear, she started to have a migraine, in all honesty, looking at these order forms make her sick to her stomach, but what else could she do.
"Hey, you look like you're about to pass out."
Looking up, Pepper saw her one true friend, Natalie Rushman, a fellow worker who Pepper met on Natalie's first day. Pepper was assigned to helping Natalie learn how things work in this section of the company, and they became fast friends.
"Well, you know how I don't really like fighting and wars, so yeah," said Pepper, and emphasized by holding up the mountain of order forms.
"Well, how about we go get some lunch so you can relax and not have look at wars in the making."
"Sure, my lunch break is beginning now anyway," Pepper then stands up, and leaves her cubicle with Natalie.
In the lunch room, Pepper and Natalie talked while eating there lunch. "So how's life at home with the wicked witch of the west, and her two flying monkeys," asked Natalie as she looked at her friend.
"Nat," Pepper says in warning, "They may be harsh, but they are still my family."
"Yeah, even though they treat you like a slave,"
Not wanting to stay on the topic, Pepper asked, "So how's Steve, have you heard anything from him."
A look of shock, and then sadness came over Natalie's face as she looks at the ring on her fourth finger. The ring wasn't very big, but it means so much to Natalie, as it symbolizes her and Steve's love, and after years of tribulations, Steve managed to propose to Natalie before being deployed to the Middle East.
"No, he's still missing," says Natalie sadly, which made Pepper guilty of pulling up the subject.
After what felt like hours of awkward silence, Pepper broke it, "You know Steve would never leave you, he loves you to much to do that to you," still seeing a look of sadness in her friend's eyes, she added, "You do realize that I'm crazy jealous of you and Steve right? I mean you both found love, something I know would never happen to me."
With a small smile, Natalie looked up, "Don't be silly, you are an amazing person Pepper. Any man would be crazy not to like you. Besides, out there is the right man for you, for all we know, he could be in this very building. Don't give-up hope."
"Thanks Nat, I needed that," realizing that their breaks are almost over, "We have to go back now, you gonna be okay?"
"Yeah. You?"
"Yeah, see ya later," giving each other a hug, they left the break room to continue their day.
The rest of the day was uneventful, with the majority of it full of paper work for Pepper. At five, her shift was over, and she could leave, but that doesn't mean she could relax. She still had a number of chores to do, including tending the garden for Agatha's party, and setting up the party. Carrying her big bag of paperwork in one arm, and her purse on the other, she ran into the elevator as it closes.
In the elevator, she takes out her phone to see a bunch of texts from her step-family, telling her to go by this, and pick-up that. Adding those things to her checklist on her phone, while remembering any other chores she missed, she didn't realize that the elevator didn't go to the parking garage, instead, it went up to another floor.
Tony and his best friend Colonel Rhodes (Rhodey), had just left Tony's office at Stark Ind Headquarters, and are planning to leave.
"I just don't understand what the big deal is, I mean, he is still young and kicking, why do I need to settle down, and find a wife when I am this young," said Tony, waving his hand around erratically.
"Well, you do need to settle down eventually, who knows what might happen to your father," said Rhodey helpfully.
"But I don't want to," whined Tony, "I mean come on, life's to short to settle down, and have a kid, and such."
"You're just worried that you would be like your father, aren't you?" asked Rhodey.
"No, I just don't think that there is a woman out there for me," said Tony, but Rhodey could see through his words.
"Yeah, a woman who can deal with your giant ego, and hopefully bring you down a notch or two," Rhodey said jokingly.
Laughing, Tony lightly punched Rhodey's shoulder, thus starting an exchange of friendly punches. Then Rhodey said, "Hey you never know, there's bound to be the woman of our dreams somewhere."
When they got to the elevator, they waited for the doors to open, and when it did, Tony collided with a person leaving, causing the person to drop his/her bags and falling on top of Tony. When the dust finally cleared, Tony saw, one of the most beautiful woman he has ever seen lying on top of him. When the woman looked up, she and Tony shared a look for some time, but was interrupted by Rhodey, "Hey, we are so sorry ma'am," as he tried to help Pepper up. However Tony beat him to it, and grabbed her hand to help her up, after she got off of him.
Once again, their eyes met, and they stared like that for a couple of seconds, before Pepper realized who she fell on, pulling her hand away from his warm ones, she said embarrassingly, "Oh, no I'm sorry, I didn't know that the elevator isn't going to the garage, and I am so sorry for running into you Mr. Stark..."
But before she could continue her rambling, Tony stopped her, "Hey, first of all, my name is Tony, not Mr. Stark, and it was no problem." This shocked both Pepper and Rhodey.
An awkward silence commenced, and was broken by Rhodey, again, "So you said that you were heading down to the garage right?"
"Yeah, the staff garage," answered Pepper, refusing to look at Tony.
"Well, why don't we all go down, that's where Tony and I were going, right Tony?" asked Rhodey as he broke Tony out of his trance.
"Hm, oh yeah, we were," realizing that Pepper has all of her stuff on the ground, "Oh, but let me help you with that."
Together, the three of them managed to pick up all of Pepper's loose paper, and they all went into the elevator. The ride down was very uncomfortable, especially for Rhodey, who had to stand between Pepper and Tony. The two of them didn't look at each other, but there were times where they would sneak glances at each other.
When the elevator finally reached the staff parking lot floor, Pepper stepped out, but Tony stopped her, "Hey wait, in a couple of weeks, there's gonna be a masquerade party of some sort," looking a little uncomfortable under Pepper's curious gaze, he spits out, "do you want to come?"
Looking surprised for what felt like the millionth time that day, Pepper was about to answer, but remembers about her step-family, "I would love to, but I can't. I, uh, have a lot of work to do," seeing the quick disappointed look in Tony's eyes, almost made her heart break, "I'm so sorry, but thank-you for the invitation." Before she could see his reaction, she left as quickly as she can.
In her car, Pepper sat in the driver's seat, flustered, and embarrassed at herself. Chiding herself for making herself look like a fool in front of the Tony Stark. But what really got her, was how handsome he was up close, how warm his hands were on hers.
Stop it Pepper, she thought. Pepper knew that Tony was a billionaire that is in line for the company ownership and wouldn't even want to look at a meager slave like herself. Besides, he is infamous for his line of heartbreaks, she just couldn't do that to herself right now.
Back on the elevator with Tony, Rhodey was chuckling after the doors closed, "Heh, nice work Romeo."
"What do you mean, I was..." started Tony.
"You seem to be acting like a shy, in love, school-boy," said Rhodey, laughing.
"No I wasn't." Tony said firmly.
"Yeah, whatever man, but here's the thing, you didn't ask for her name."
"Damn it."
