Chapter 7
"How on earth did you get out of there?" Tony asked, incredulous. He felt like he was walking through a dream, and that at any moment, he would wake up, and none of it had ever happened.
They were now sitting at the desk, in the middle of a conversation. Howard looked down at his hands, thinking.
"Well, the Mandarin kept me in his hide-out, some kind of ancient ruin. At first he kept me in a regular cell, but then when he had gained more power from obtaining the other rings, he set up a perimeter in which I was able to walk around, feed myself, it was like I was just living there. But I couldn't leave. The perimeter he set was magical. I couldn't get out, and believe me, I tried many different things when no one was there." He paused for a moment.
"So many times when I was there, just sitting and reading books he had shoved in my face, he would talk to himself. He actually mentioned you a few times. That you were helping him." Howard gave Tony a stern look.
"Uh....okay, I didn't know he was the Mandarin. He didn't show up in that armor when he wanted to talk to me. We were...friends." Tony explained, looking down at the floor.
Howard nodded suspiciously, but didn't ask anything else. He took a deep breath, "Then...something happened, I'm still not sure what, but the magical perimeter disappeared. Just yesterday. I left, and no one was around to put me back where I had been."
Tony frowned, "Yesterday? How did you get here?"
Howard smiled, "Oh, I padded around in the forest for awhile. I had no idea where I was. But finally I made my way out of the forest where I found a dirt road. I hitch-hiked from there and got to a run-down airport. When I finally reached New York, well...they were definitely shocked to see me after all this time."
"Where were you?" Tony asked, "Where was Gene's hideout?"
Howard thought for a moment, "His hideout was somewhere in the jungle. I didn't ask the people that found me to tell me where I was. I didn't think I should know, just in case I ever feel like trying to going back there again for additional clues to the rings." He paused for a minute, "Did you say, Gene?"
Tony blinked, not understanding the question. "Wait, you didn't know that the Mandarin was Gene?" He asked, "He never showed you his true identity?"
Howard shook his head, "No, he never did. His name was Gene? And what did he look like? How old was he?"
Tony explained to his dad what he looked like, and that he was only Tony's age, along with the fact that they had seen him die out in the middle-eastern desert.
"How sad...so propelled with the desire for power, it ended up killing him." Howard said. "So I guess there aren't any more rings to look for then, I suppose."
Tony nodded, "This is all really still just a dream to me. Some parts feel like nightmares, and others feel like paradise. I mean, you're back! And my friends are okay...well, except for Gene, I guess, who wasn't really a friend after all."
Howard smiled, "Sometimes you never really know the true identity of your closest friends."
Tony nodded again, "Ya, you're right. Well, I'm glad you're here, dad. And I'm glad I don't have to run the company alone anymore."
Howard laughed, "Yes, very true. I'll still be here to help you. That's for sure." His face crinkled with wrinkles when he laughed, and Tony couldn't help but be surprised by how much his dad had aged. Six, almost seven years had passed...of course he was older. He was now fifty years old. So many years were lost, hopefully he'd have some time with his dad to make up for them.
Years had gone by, Tony was about 24 now, both his dad and himself had befriended Obadiah Stane, rethinking his abilities within the company and slowly regaining that trust link between them. He had softened a little, and Tony couldn't help but see the father qualities finally showing through, after all these years.
Whitney had gone on to Paris to become a fashion designer and critic, one of the best in the world. She called Tony every now and then, but he didn't seem to keep interest in her, so she found a pretty handsome (and ridiculously rich) Frenchman to keep her company.
Rhodey was now a top ranking official within the National Air Guard, focusing on Weapons Development. Tony was definitely his link to that accomplishment. If you had Tony Stark complimenting you on a resumé, all you needed were the test scores and you were in.
Pepper still worked for S.H.I.E.L.D. and had not gotten anywhere with them. She had long lost her wish to become an actual field agent, and had worked up enough money to attend school. She realized her potential in the financial department and started there, working her way through schooling. Math was her cup of tea, that was for sure.
Tony's father had passed away in a tragic car accident, which left him in a shocked grief. Pepper and Rhodey had accompanied him at the funeral, and spent more time with him than usual. But that didn't stop Tony from becoming a little more of a risk-taker, flying out in the Iron Man armor at the smallest chance of terrorist activity, or even if a cat were stuck in a tree, he would be there to help. His obsession with getting out of his own life and living the life of a hero started to consume him. He left Stark Industries to none other than Obadiah Stane, telling him that he just couldn't handle the stress of holding up a company. Taking some time off would do him some good.
Tony still checked in with Stark Industries, making sure Obadiah wasn't doing anything tricky, and seeing that all was well made him happy. He spent countless hours in the armory, perfecting his Iron Man suit, revamping security around the place and installing new equipment. Rhodey visited every now and then, more often than Pepper, who was still ridiculously busy with school and S.H.I.E.L.D.
Two years later when Tony finally felt confident in his abilities, he took back Stark Industries, but kept Obadiah there for moral support. Tony honestly believed that the man had changed. Tony had decided that it was in the company's best interest to expand to other parts of the country, setting up a new and improved Stark Industries in California. Which was also where he found an extremely large, and an extremely expensive new house (more like mansion). It sat at the top of a cliff, looking down at the beautiful ocean below it, his own beach front property further down at the bottom of the cliffs. It was huge, it was perfect, and it was...unnecessary.
"What on earth are you going to do with this place?" Rhodey asked, his mouth hanging open at the site of it.
"I'm going to make it my own...you'll see." Tony winked, "Oh, and I'll throw parties. And you'll be invited."
Rhodey nodded, "Oh right, okay. That makes perfect sense. Just buy the house for the parties." He said sarcastically. "Oh hey, Tony?" Rhodey asked.
"Uh, ya?" Tony called from an adjacent room in the gigantic mansion.
"I forgot to tell you, but I'm getting transferred here, to California. Sweet huh? So we can still hang out." Rhodey said.
"Oh awesome! Ya, that'll be great!" Tony called. He was definitely pre-occupied with surveying his new house, ideas rambling through his brain.
More years went by, Tony was now 28, and installing a new system into his house called JARVIS. He was pretty excited with the project. This would make things easier. And less lonely. But he wouldn't tell anyone that.
Rhodey came by every now and then, life was good, and the business with the company kept him on his toes, but...he was still slipping, ever so slowly. He had gotten himself caught in a dangerous web of the press, the fame, letting his ego get the best of him. He was not only a rich businessman, he was an absolute celebrity, and Obadiah was the crutch that kept everything going behind the scenes.
Pepper, now 27 years old, sat in a conference room at S.H.I.E.L.D. the door opened and in walked Nick Fury. "Hello Pepper." He said, his voice bored.
"Hello Mr. Fury." She said, just as bored-ly.
"You were late today." He stated, in front of a whole room full of associates.
"Was I? I recall that I was here precisely at 7:00 a.m., as usual." She said firmly, "You'll see it on my time card."
"Mmmm....right. Well, you forgot to pick up my coffee and my dry cleaning." He said.
"Since when did you ask me to do that for you?" Pepper asked.
"I left you a message last night on your home phone." He said, not even looking at her. The entire room, filled with people sitting at the conference table, sat uncomfortably in the rising tension.
"I don't have a home phone, Mr. Fury." Pepper said, getting beyond frustrated. This was at least the tenth weird thing he had requested of her for the past couple of months. No, not months. Years.
"The point is, Ms. Potts, is that you are becoming incompetent. You should get your act together before I find someone new." He stated.
Pepper gaped at him. "Are you serious? You've got to be kidding."
She stood up from her chair abruptly, "I have done everything you have asked me to do for the past SEVEN years, no more than that! And this is what you're telling me right now?! I have HAD IT with you and your stupid little problems, you're a lazy man that doesn't know how to do his own laundry, that WON'T listen to what others have to say, and you don't respect them. Now how would you expect them to treat you?!"
She slammed her planner and folder filled with notes down on the table. "If this is what I'm going to be putting up with, then I quit." She stated firmly, throwing the folder of notes at Nick Fury. Paper flew everywhere.
"Good luck with your financial problems. I doubt you'll find an accountant as good as me." She threw open the door and proudly walked out, leaving a slightly surprised Nick Fury and an even more surprised board of directors behind.
Only a few days later, Pepper sat in her apartment, looking around. She had nothing to do. No work to do, no job to be to, and no more school. She had saved enough money to last her a couple of years. But she didn't want to just do nothing for that time.
What on earth was there to do? She sat at her computer for awhile. She was on a News website where she saw a short report on the new weapons development of Stark Industries all the way out in California. Pepper's eyes widened and a smile lit up her face. She bought a plane ticket online and packed some things for her trip to California.
Tony Stark sat in his office, awaiting the arrival of the next woman to interview. He had gone through names and pictures of women that were "capable" of the job. The job being, Tony's P.A. He was going insane with everything he needed to do. He needed help. And he wasn't ashamed to admit it, especially when there was a good looking woman involved. No, rephrase that. He would only admit that he needed help when there was a woman involved.
He sat patiently in his office, a woman that looked to be about his age entered the room. Her hair was a bit frazzled, she looked tired, and she didn't smell all that great either.
"Hi...what's your name?" Tony said, hoping to get this interview over with.
"Beatrice." She stated, her voice a bit nasally.
"Ah, yes...here you are." He picked up her file from the many on his desk and looked it over. She looked much better in her picture. Plus, you can't smell through a picture. How would he know she smelled weird?
They went through the interview, already coming to the conclusion that she was not the person to hire, and told her sorry. Even though he really wasn't...
The next girl that came in was indeed beautiful, but had absolutely no brain.
"So...do you have any kind of degree?" Tony asked hopefully.
"Degree in what? What are you looking for? I'll be whoever you want me to be." She said, licking her lips, "I can take pictures pretty good. I went to a photography school for awhile, but got kicked out." She said, smiling and laughing a little.
"And why was that?" Tony asked, frowning.
"Well...wouldn't you like to know?" She said, trying to act sexy.
"Okay...thank you for your time, I'll contact you later about whether or not you get a second interview." He said, getting up and opening the door for her.
He sat back down at his desk, his head in his hands. "I am getting nowhere with this."
A quiet knock at the door sounded. He didn't think he had anymore interviews, so it must be Obadiah. "Come in..." He said, his eyes closed, ready to receive whatever was coming for him.
"Hello Tony." A familiar voice said, he couldn't quite place it.
He looked up to see a beautiful tall red-head dressed in a black dress and black stiletto shoes. Her face was specked with freckles and her eyes were a perfect green. She smiled for a moment, showing perfectly straight white teeth. Tony couldn't believe his eyes.
"Pepper?" He asked, surprised.
He hastily got up from his chair and stood in front of her, his eyes wide. "I haven't seen you in so long." He said quietly.
Tony hugged her, startling Pepper, who laughed, "Oh! Hi, Tony...how are you?"
Tony let go of her and stood back to examine her, "You are so different!" He smiled, "What brought you here?" He asked, derailing the last train of thought and moving on to a different one.
"Oh, well...there's something I thought you could help me with." She said sheepishly.
Tony motioned for her to sit down while he sat back down in his chair. "Well, ask away. I'll see what I can do."
Pepper took a deep breath, "I quit my job with S.H.I.E.L.D. because I couldn't stand it anymore. Almost ten years with that man was driving me up the wall. I have a degree in finance and work numbers to no end. Is there any job that you could offer me?" Pepper asked, hoping he had something.
Tony smiled and starting laughing, "Oh man! This is absolutely perfect!" He said, standing back up, "Pepper, would you be my P.A.?" Tony asked, almost like he was proposing to her.
"Your...P.A.?" She repeated, "As in, Personal Assistant? Like, handle all of your day to day stuff and financial whatnots and meetings and everything?" She clarified.
"Yup! That's pretty much it." Tony said. "Oh, and...you'll make a ton of money. A TON." He emphasized. "Probably three times as much as what you made with Mr. Fury." He made a funny face at the mention of Pepper's old boss.
Pepper couldn't help but smile. This was the Tony she knew, and who else would she want to work for, really? "I'm in." She said.
Little did she know, she would almost literally be doing everything for him, but it was different with Tony. A good different.
