A/N: So I like Pepper, I really do. And I don't like that I've written her a little oblivious/not understanding. Yes, yes, she's probably OOC. I'm sorry, okay? I'm just terrible at writing female characters. That uh, might explain why I always write slash fiction.

Disclaimer: I'm only borrowing these characters for a brief moment to do terrible, terrible things with them. And then putting them back. Because, not mine. Not mine.

Pepper took a deep breath to compose herself as she reached for the door. She was not looking forward to the meeting at all. She had sent Tony several reminders about the meeting, asked him to please consider just attending electronically. But Tony hadn't sent her a single response. She wasn't even sure he had been reading her messages. After all, he hadn't been speaking to her for the last month. And now the board of directors were going to ask her a bunch of questions about Tony's activities that she couldn't answer.

The elevator opened behind her. She blinked in surprise as Tony stepped out in a nice suit, followed closely by Steve. "Tony? What are you doing here?"

"Pretty sure there's a board of directors meeting today."

"Yes, there is. You remembered?"

Tony adjusted his tie. "Steve reminded me." He pushed past her into the room.

Pepper turned to Steve with gratitude. "I can't believe you got him to come in. Tony likes to pretend he's allergic to work."

Steve smiled thinly. "I can be pretty persuasive," he said.

Pepper nodded. She was sure Steve could have beaten him to a pulp and then carried all the way into the meeting if he had been difficult. But maybe just the threat of violence had made Tony behave.

Tony poked his head out of the door. "Steve, get in here. And bring her with you. Meeting's about to start."

Pepper pursed her lips. So Tony was still mad at her. Tony usually didn't hold a grudge this long. It distracted him from other projects. But this was Tony. Always going to ridiculous extremes. Why was she even surprised?

The board didn't even seem fazed by Steve's presence. A few looked at him strangely, but Tony said "Consultant," as if that explained everything.

The meeting proceeded smoothly with Tony answering all the questions put to him without any of his usual sarcasm. He volunteered information about his latest projects and assured everyone that yes, even with his day job as a superhero, he still had plenty of time to work for the company.

Pepper was impressed. Tony had even read the financial reports prior to the meeting.

As everyone began filing out of the room, Pepper caught Steve's arm. "How did you do it anyway?" she asked. "I've tried everything I can think of to get Tony to sit in on a meeting."

Steve looked away, his face slowly reddening. "I don't think my technique will work for you," he said.

"Blackmail?" She could only imagine the embarrassing things Steve had witnessed Tony doing after living with him for six months in the Avenger's Mansion.

Steve coughed and his eyes darted around the room. Nobody was paying attention to them. Most of the board was already out in the hallway, except for one man who had cornered Tony into a conversation about sustainable energy. Tony was playing along, although his forced smile said he was looking for a way out of the conversation as quickly as possible.

Steve leaned forward and said in a voice barely louder than a whisper, "I told him I wouldn't have sex with him for a week."

Pepper nodded knowingly. Yep, that would definitely motivate Tony. Probably the only thing that would motivate Tony.

"And I told him it was the best way to prove you wrong."

"Excuse me?"

Steve shrugged nonchalantly. "It seemed important to him," he said.

Pepper watched as Steve moved ahead, slipping in between Tony and the board member. "Sorry for the interruption," he said. "But we're due back at Shield HQ in an hour."

Tony looked at him fondly. "Oh, right," he said. "Duty calls." He flashed the man a brief, apologetic smile.

Pepper didn't miss Steve's hand on the small of Tony's back as he ushered him out the door. She just wondered how she had missed everything else.