The Conference isn't over yet! Tune in next week!

I am sure some readers with an *ahem* eye for historic detail *cough, cough* will correct me on the number of years Pepper and Tony have been together 😛

Also, in IM1, I always felt Stane had a "Sexual predator" vibe, especially when he looked at Pepper, so I just used that here.

She took his hand and pulled him back the way they came.

"This way. I saw a smaller lecture hall somewhere... oh here it is."

They entered a large presentation room with a widescreen and a projector in the middle of the room. There was a small group of Japanese researchers huddled in one corner of the room.

Pepper peered at them in confusion. "What are they doing over there?"

"Charging their tablets. That's where the power outlet is." Replied Tony wryly.

"Oh. I see." She walked towards the screen, away from the researchers and Tony followed her.

Once she had reached the left side of the screen, Pepper turned and said softly, "Alright Tony. We are alone. You made a very interesting comment back there. I would love to hear why you think it is my fault that you had to chase off Demarcos and Lieutenant Ordal."

Tony nearly smacked himself at his own dumbness.

"Err... well... Pep... I spoke too soon..."

"Really? You spoke too soon? Didn't seem that way. In fact, you seem to have had that thought for quite some time, Stark."

Uh oh... Stark in that harsh tone... I am in trouble.

Then Pepper shifted, crossing her arms across her chest and Tony involuntarily followed the movement. Her breasts were now pushed up, thanks to her arms beneath them and the suit's satiny front tightened around them beautifully, giving him a great view of her lush porcelain curves. He bit his tongue, anxious to stop it from lolling out of his mouth. His palms were itching to squeeze something but he closed his fists and felt a cold sweat form at the back of his neck.

Then he realized Pepper was saying something.

"Tony. Tony Stark. Anthony Edward Stark!"

"Huh... yes, Pep, what were you saying... I was paying attention!"

"If by paying attention, you mean staring at my chest and growling under your breath, then yes, Tony, you were paying the upmost attention!"

Then she inhaled deeply and he squirmed in place, unable to take his eyes away from those luscious creamy globes of flesh pushing against the suit, with the way her chest rose and fell.

"Tonyyyy..."

Pepper's tired sigh brought him back to the present.

"Yes, honey?"

"Don't 'honey' me, Stark." She pushed her hair back from her face. "Stop staring at my chest. I've worn skimpy clothing before yet you are looking at me like that cartoon cat looks at the yellow bird in those Saturday morning cartoons you are always watching."

"Hey! I am not a child! I do not watch cartoons!"

She grinned cheekily. "Liar! I have crept down to the basement on many a Saturday morning and found you wide-awake at 9 am, watching Roadrunner and Bugs Bunny and this black-and-white cat..."

Tony flushed because it was true, he still loved watching Looney Toons. He shrugged, saying "I can't help staring, Potts... its your suit..."

"The suit? You cannot focus because of this suit...this Diane Von Furstenberg suit that I am wearing..."

"Well... you have to admit that it is very distracting. And it...erm.. you aren't wearing a shirt... So...". He swallowed, his eyes involuntarily lowering back to her 'distracting' chest.

"So it is revealing and skimpy... that explains why everyone has been staring at me the whole day... because I look cheap." Said Pepper quietly.

This snapped Tony out of his lustful haze and he looked at her with astonishment.

"Hold on, I never said you look cheap!"

She bit her lip and lowered her gaze, whispering softly, "You don't have to say it, Tony... I knew I shouldn't have worn this suit. Yesterday... when I saw how a simple change of clothing made me unrecognizable... I told you I felt insecure about my image. And I know that we spoke about it and I felt better at the time but today morning, I do not know what came over me. I just felt very daring and wanted to pull off something different. I have never met most of the conference attendees before and so I thought I could show them that I am not a typical uptight ice-cold CEO. I wanted to seem stylish and elegant. But instead..." she lifted her head and he felt his heart clench at her flushed cheeks and shame in her eyes.

"Pepper..."

"Instead, this suit is too damn revealing and I attracted a lot of attention for the wrong reasons." she ended sorrowfully.

"What! No!"

Tony caught her hands and looked into her eyes.

"Pepper Potts, listen to me! You do not look cheap! And the suit is not revealing! I mean... it is gorgeous and bold! And you do look elegant and stylish! You always do! You attract attention because you are you!"

"Tony... everyone was staring at me and looking at me... Matteo and Dave... and even your new lab assistant friends..."

"Pepper, sweetheart... Melvin and the Nerds were staring at you with awe... they have this big crush on you."

He was pleased to see the look of shame vanish from her eyes. She straightened and looked at him skeptically.

"Crush. Your nerd friends have a crush. On me."

"Yes! And why the hell shouldn't they? You are an amazingly talented, smart and deadly CEO of a Fortune 500 energy conglomerate."

The beginnings of a shy smile appeared on her face. "Tony, what you are saying... is really hard to believe. Are you sure these nerds, I mean, new friends of yours don't actually have a crush on you?"

"No way! In fact, they feel that I am a show-off and desperately need to be taken care off... which is apparently why you keep me around... because I need to be taken care off. They are besotted with your business acumen and your financial management skills and your legs! They also feel and I agree, that you are the thinking man's sex symbol, coz you are a boss in the boardroom yet look like you belong on a runway."

Tony grinned because true to form, Pepper blushed deeply.

"Belong on a runway! Come on, Stark! I know I am decently attractive but when compared to what you've gone out with-"

"Hey, do not compare yourself with what I used to go out with!"

"That's true, I forgot your former type was flashy and busty."

He cupped her cheeks gently. "Pepper Potts, you are easily the most attractive woman in any room. You have no idea how desirable you are, how one look from your blue eyes can drive someone crazy... Wait! Have you ever heard of Helen of Troy?"

She blinked and whispered, "Yes, I have, Tony but what does that have to do with..."

"Helen of Troy was so beautiful that her husband launched a thousand ships, just to get her back from the Trojans, who abducted her."

Pepper bit her lip, trying to control her smile.

"What? Its true. I read that somewhere..."

"Tony, are you actually comparing me to Helen of Troy? Wait, don't answer that. Also, I should mention that historians are divided on whether Helen of Troy was really abducted or instead, she chose to run away with Paris, the Trojan Prince. Her husband was supposedly much older than her and married her for political reasons. He may have wanted to use her elopement as an excuse to start a war with the Trojans. So your romantic reasoning is lovely but... may not be true."

He crossed his arms and said mulishly, "It happened a long time ago, Potts. Whose to say what really happened."

This made her laugh loudly, the sound reaching the Japanese scientists in their corner, who turned and looked at the two of them curiously.

"Tony! Is that what happened here?! You felt Matteo and Dave took me away from you! So, like Agamemnon, you came to get me back by chasing them off with your plots of subterfuge! All because I am your Helen and worth launching a 1000 ships!"

He opened his mouth and then shut it, suddenly feeling very dumb.

Pepper stopped laughing and took his hand. "Tony, honey, let's sit down and talk."

She led him towards the second row of seats in the room and then sat down in the aisle seat, patting the seat next to her. Tony sat down beside her. She held on to his hand, idly running her fingers through his and then looked at him through her lashes, murmuring, "Mr. Stark, how long have we known each other?"

"Eighteen years, Potts... We have been together for nearly 8 years and you were my assistant for 10 years..."

"And ever since I've known you, you have always been so damn possessive of me... why is that, Stark?"

Tony didn't want to admit anything, so he just kept his mouth shut.

She smiled and said thoughtfully, "Sometimes I feel that because I was your assistant for so long, you got too used to my constant attention. I mean, we spent so much time together! I was always by your side except maybe a weekend or two, here and there, when I didn't come in to work... and one Thanksgiving when you let me go home... or whenever you went on one of your drinking binges and wanted to be alone."

"Yeah..." he looked at his feet, feeling guilty. "I guess I was very selfish that way, I made a lot of demands on your time, insisted on your presence for the smallest things, never willing to adjust my schedule for yours. I never really let you take time off, I would text you or call you even when you were on holiday, rare as that was and get you to work or help me and I am sure you never had time to hang out with other coworkers after office hours or..."

He stopped when her soft fingers pressed against his lips.

"Mr. Stark, you were a very demanding boss and there were times when I wanted to strangle you for troubling me! But..."

Pepper leaned against his shoulder and sighed softly, her fingers drawing circles on his palm.

"Buuuuut?" He asked curiously and she giggled.

"But I loved working with you! It was fascinating to watch you invent and tinker... and I was such a goody-two shoes and being around you, gave me such a rush, because you were so bold and colorful! Especially when you harassed Board members during meetings! It was so exciting! You were so different from the other managers, you were a very rich man, you owned the company! But you never treated me like a lowly subordinate... you were good to all the people that worked directly with you and...", she nibbled on her lip, "I could see that even though you were a playboy, you respected me... you would flirt a lot with me..."

He grinned and she punched his arm lightly.

"Shut it, Tony, you flirted with me but never stepped over the line and I slowly grew to cherish that you wanted my opinion so much, that you wanted my time and that you... you trusted me. With your art collection, with access to your lab, with confidential files and information, with going to Board meetings representing you..."

She snuggled against his side and kissed his temple lightly.

"I especially appreciated your possessiveness, when it came to Stane."

Tony clenched his jaw at the memory of Obadiah Stane.

"Yeah. Obadiah had this very sexist old-fashioned attitude towards women in the workplace... he felt women were around for serving drinks and taking calls and being pleasant to look at and cop a feel... I had seen the way he acted around his secretary... I didn't want him to mistreat you. I was fond of him but I didn't like that side of him and didn't want him to hurt you or treat you cheaply."

"I know, Tony..." Pepper murmured against his shoulder. "Stane was always polite and professional to me but... he gave me the creeps. He was very subtle about the way he would check me out when he thought I wasn't looking."

This irritated him off so much that he sat up straight in his seat and looked at her. "Obadiah checked you out?! When! What did he do? Did he ever touch you?"

"He used to stare at my legs... and my hips..." She murmured. "And try his best to look down my shirt. Then he would just smile in that creepy dead-eyed way of his... but he never touched me. I think he was too scared that I'd slap him and file a harassment lawsuit."

He was still angry and said tightly, "Which you would have been perfectly justified in doing."

"He wasn't a good man to you either, Tony. He betrayed your trust."

Tony shook his head, trying to forget his anger and looked away. Then he felt Pepper's hand softly stroke his hair and turned back to look at her.

"I am sorry, Tony, I shouldn't have mentioned Stane... I know the thought of him brings up unpleasant memories."

"Surely not just for me, Pepper! He tried to kill you in that damn Ironmonger suit!"

She shivered and snuggled even closer to him.

"I know. I still get the jitters every time I pass by the plot of the destroyed lab. But that's all in the past, Tony. Now tell me, after we started going out... I am curious... why did you pull that prank on Xavier? Was it just to get my attention?"

Tony felt himself growing warm as Pepper lifted her head from his shoulder, to look at him.

"Well... erm... that was a long time ago and I'm sorry, Pep, I was an idiot but he was monopolizing a lot of your time and I was scared that..."

He paused, unwilling to admit his insecurity but she said softly, "You were scared that I would compare you to Xavier and prefer him over you. And why would I do that, Tony?"

"Well, because he seemed like a simple man, not an arrogant billionaire playboy with father issues, who also had a death wish and had recently nearly died from Palladium poisoning."

"Former playboy."

Tony found himself smiling and she smiled back tenderly, her fingers stroking his hair.

"Pep, why didn't you confront me at that time?"

She nibbled frantically on her lip.

"It's embarrassing."

He caught her chin lightly and lifted it, so she met his gaze.

"Spill the beans, Potts..."

She blinked and then said softly, "This is going to seem so childish but at the time... I was so happy that you pulled that prank to get me away from Javier."

Tony was astonished and it must have shown because Pepper continued with a shy smile, "I knew your reputation, Tony, I had seen you first hand with numerous women... the cheerleaders, the strippers, the models, the socialites. You were always the center of attention, you were the most eligible bachelor ever, women chased you for your attention. But when I realized that you wanted my attention and wanted it enough to go to such trouble, just to get it... I was dizzy with happiness! It gave me such a rush, to know that you cherished me that much... the feeling was so heady... and humbling..."

"You weren't like all those other women." He said earnestly. "It took me 10 years to see that but I knew I couldn't let some handsome architect take you away from me... not when I had realized what I was dreaming of, was in front of me all along."

She cupped his cheek. "I wouldn't have left you, Tony... anyhow I found your gesture irresistibly cute. So I kept quiet... and also because Happy begged and pleaded with me. But..."

Then Pepper said coolly, "But that was 8 years ago, Stark. What happened today?"

Tony grimaced and looked around wildly for any distraction.

"I had hoped you would have forgotten about that."

"No such luck, Stark." She said with a smirk. "I really want to know why you felt such a burning need to get rid of Demarcos..."

"Hey, it wasn't completely my idea! Melvin and Park and Dev were the ones who originally came up with the idea of getting rid of him by calling the EPA!"

"But Tony, I know from the looks you were giving Matteo and the way you were spying on me, that... alright, you were part of a team, but I know you had your own reasons for helping them. And Dave being called away, was all you. Admit it."

"Yeah..." he sighed and ruffled his hair. "Yeah, that was... completely me... I saw the way Mr. Officer was looking at you during the lecture and at the canteen. He was so taken by you and I am sure he told you that you are a woman worth her weight in gold and that he wished he had someone like you in his life. I saw him hold your hand before leaving."

Pepper blushed and Tony murmured, "I knew it... I just knew it. Mr. Officer just had to be all romantic."

"Tony, he was a very sweet guy, who just had a little crush on me, that's all. It was perfectly harmless. But why... Tony, why are you so possessive of me? I know its not because you are envious of me getting attention instead of you."

"Potts! How can you even say that?"

"I know, Tony, I know. I know that contrary to how the media depicts you, you aren't attention hungry at all. You always give credit where it is due. And of course, I know that you are very proud of me and my achievements... I've seen you standing on the sidelines, beaming with pride. And you always make sure that I receive recognition, even when I don't deserve it."

"Pshaw, Potts. You work very hard in whatever you do, honey.. you don't give yourself enough credit, so I gotta do it for you."

She smiled and whispered, "You are my most ardent supporter, Tony Stark. I am glad I have you in my corner..."

He touched his head to hers. "And I will always be in your corner, Potts..."

Then Pepper looked at him with worry. "But if if it isn't that you are envious... what is it, then? Don't you trust me? Do you think I am going to cheat on you with these other admirers?"

"What! Pepper!" He exclaimed loudly, once again startling the Japanese scientists who started to titter.

She just looked at him quietly and Tony caught her hand.

"Hey Potts, come on! I trust you beyond reproach, honey! Don't you see... you don't, do you? It is not you, its me..."

He swore and ran his fingers through his hair irritably.

"Pepper..." he looked into her eyes as he spoke, "let me put it plainly. They broke the mold when they made you, sweetheart. Women chased after me for money and status. You... your admirers, men like Ordal, Matteo... they don't want money or status... they want you because they are smart enough to see how special you are. You aren't just smart or rich or beautiful. You are everything, Pepper. Simply everything."

"Tony...," she said softly, her eyes shimmering, the blueness in them darkening and he felt her hand tenderly cup his jaw.

"Any man worth his salt, would be lucky to have you... and I am the luckiest son of a bitch of them all... because you decided to stay with me... even after I've put you at risk so many times and been a reckless idiot and... even when I pushed you away... you came back to me, Potts. When I was broken and bruised... you were the only one who came back for me... even now... I was wallowing in self-pity after the fight with Thanos but you... you didn't give up on me..."

He leaned forward and nuzzled her face with his own, whispering passionately,

"Look, Pepper... I am sorry, truly I am. I shouldn't have chased Matteo or Lieutenant Dave. And I shouldn't have childishly spied on you and stayed away... it is just... I think that you are the most beautiful, smart, talented woman in the world and it is no wonder that everyone else is nuts about you. I can't blame them and I shouldn't get jealous. And you are driving them crazy with this suit of yours and they have every right to compliment you and want to be around you and I am lucky to have you and just want more and more of you. But I shouldn't be selfish and try to claim you for myself. I just... I just think you are mine and all mine and I know that's wrong... but I can't help it, honey. I am an insecure possessive idiot when it comes to you..."

They stayed together quietly for a moment and then Pepper leaned back and just looked at him thoughtfully.

"Potts, say something."

"I am just trying to take in what you are saying, Tony. Because I have always noticed you were possessive but never thought of it in the way... the way you've explained it right now..."

"Are you still mad at me?"

Her face softened and she smiled. "No, Tony. I am not mad at you."

"Ok. That's good."

His phone buzzed and he pulled it out to look at its screen.

"Erm... okay, the Dellon boys are giving a lecture in Room 28 B. Its nearby... somewhere. I promised then I would attend. You don't have to, if you don't want to, Potts. You can go back to the hotel or if you have other friends here, you can go with them."

Pepper looked at him with a hint of skepticism and he said sheepishly, "I'll behave. I promise. No spying, no snarky comments..."

"No setting the Feds or the EPA or any other government agency on them?"

She giggled and he flushed.

"I won't. I am sorry for being such a doubtful ninny. I will let you do as you please. Scout's Honor."

"Were you ever a scout, Tony?" Pepper murmured, her fingers casually stroking his tie, her eyes soft and blue on his.

"I was... once..." He said evasively and she giggled.

"There's a story there and I want to hear it but now," She stood up and patted his head. "You run along to your lecture. I need to go to the ladies room and then I'll just... roam around... I won't go back to the hotel. I will wait for you to finish. Alright?"

Tony nodded and then watched her go.