p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"XXxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxXxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Chapter 31 – The Promotion/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Pepper looked down at her style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanIt was style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanShe seemed to remember there was something she had to do, but couldn't remember what./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Meanwhile, two men sat in front of her on the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanAn Admiral with the US Navy and the Head of the Department of style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThey all sipped coffee as they spoke./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Pepper's corner office was very bright with the floor to ceiling windows and white style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThe black furniture inside and black rug, accented everything style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThe windows showed a beautiful view of the Empire State Building just blocks style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"The Admiral sat down his style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"Miss style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI'm so grateful that you have an open door policy."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"She sat across from them on the other sofa, and sipped a cup of style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"The work we do here can only progress if we get feedback from the ones that use it."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"The DOD head nodded, " style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThat's why I've always been so pleased with everything from Stark style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanTell me, these healing devices that Doctor Johnathon Smith has developed."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"Yes?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;""We would like them, but that's not through your company is it?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"She shook her style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span" style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanBut, I can put you in touch with who you need to speak to about style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanIt would be Peter style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanAre you familiar with him?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"The Admiral smiled, "Yes, we've done business style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI have his style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe's a friend of the President Shepherd's, isn't he?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Pepper nodded, "I believe they style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanYes." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"The DOD head smiled, "Well, we've taken enough of your time, ma'am."span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"They all stood up, "I would like to thank you for going over all of those numbers with style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanYes, I could just look it over, but the way you explain it, just makes sense and now I can go back and explain what we are purchasing and everything. span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanBesides, it gets me out of the office for the day."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Pepper smiled, "I'm always happy to style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanYou know, it's a beautiful day, sometimes these numbers need to be considered."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"The DOD head pointed at her and nodded, "On a golf style="mso-spacerun: yes;" style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThat's not a bad style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanDo you play?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"She shook her style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"I don't."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"The Admiral laughed and asked the DOD head, "What do you say?span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanTake the rest of the day to go over this?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"The DOD head nodded, "I think it's just what we need to do. Thank you, Miss Potts."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"She shook both of their style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThey walked out of the door just as Natasha walked style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"Mr. Stark asked if you could-"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;""Oh, damn style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI completely forgot about that."span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanPepper exclaimed./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Natasha looked confused, "Yes, ma' style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanShall I-"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;""Walk with me to his style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe wanted me to be in a meeting with him at 10:30."span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanNatasha took notes on Pepper's instructions as they walked to Tony's style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanTony's secretary looked up when they came into the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"Oh, Miss style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe's expecting style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanYou may go right in."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Pepper dismissed Natasha, and opened the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanTony sat on one of the two black, leather sofas in his office facing two men that she recognized immediately as Mac and style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThey owned the largest law firm in New York style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThey seemed to all be having a drink and going over instructions that Tony was giving style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThey all stood up as she closed the elegant, tall style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Tony smiled, "There she is!span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanGet caught in a meeting?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"She smiled, " style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThe Department of Defense Director needed to go over some numbers."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Tony smiled and looked back at the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"I hope they were big numbers."span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe held his hand out to invite her to sit next to him on the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanAfter she sat down, the rest of the men did, style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanTony poured himself another glass of style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"Pepper?span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanDrink?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"She shook her style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"No, I better style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThank you."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"He poured her a glass of water and handed it to style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanShe smiled and thanked him./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"He sat back and sipped his style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"I'll catch you up on everything in a style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThey have another meeting to get to, so we just need to wrap this up so they can go."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"She nodded, "Alright."span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Tony pointed at Pepper, "You can say anything in front of her, that you would say to style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI'll end up telling her about it later anyway."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Harvey smiled, "It's nice to see you again, Miss Potts."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"She smiled, "And both of you, too."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Mac looked back at his style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"So, you now own 98% of the controlling stock of Stark Industries and everything associated with that."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Tony style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span" style="mso-spacerun: yes;" style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanAnyway to get that other 2%?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Mac smiled, "I'll get to work on style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanDon't worry about it."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;""Oh, I'm not losing any sleep over it."span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanTony smiled back at style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe cleared his throat and sat his drink on the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"But, walk me through style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI have complete control…."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Mac nodded, "Yes."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;""No way that I can lose it." Tony sat back and propped his arm on the back of the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Mac shook his head as Harvey held up his style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"Well there is one way."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Tony rubbed his finger across his lips, "How?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;""If you were to style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanYour wife, or husband, would legally own half."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;""Husband!?"span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanTony asked./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Pepper had to cover her mouth to keep from spraying water across the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"Oh my style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI'm so glad I made it in time of that."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Tony groaned./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;""We are discussing all possibilities, sir."span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHarvey insisted./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Tony nodded, " style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanGo ahead."span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe looked back at Pepper and rolled his eyes./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Pepper laughed under her style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;""So, I would insist if that's something you're considering-"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Tony shook his style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"It's not on my radar at the moment."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Pepper relaxed and tried to stop undressing him in her mind as he sat next to style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe wore the cologne that she always associated with him, and a dark style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe wasn't wearing his sunglasses and she felt like he didn't have his optics style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe did have rather dark circles under his style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanShe wondered if he was still tired from the medicine he had taken./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;""Well, Mr. style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanIf it is something you think you might want to ever do, a prenuptial agreement would be the simple solution to preserving your estate and the business."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Tony nodded, "Alright."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Mac looked back at Harvey, "Well, there's one problem with that."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Pepper looked surprised, "What's the problem?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Mac took a deep breath and pointed at Pepper, "Are you sure we can talk about everything, Mr. Stark-"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"Anything you can say to me, you can say to her."span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe insisted./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Mac nodded his style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"Okay, speaking completely from a hypothetical situation only…."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Tony nodded, "Yes."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;""A prenuptial agreement would not work for Miss Potts."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Tony looked back at Pepper and didn't seem to look surprised at style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe watched her style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"Explain why, Mac."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Mac laughed under his breath as if it was so style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"Well, because you made her your sole beneficiary and heiress in your will."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Pepper looked at Tony in style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"I'm sorry?span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanWhat?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Tony rubbed his face and tried not to style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Mac nodded, "I'm sorry, I thought you knew."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Pepper looked back at style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"I didn't know style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanWhen did this happen?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Mac and Harvey flipped through paperwork they style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanAfter a few moments, Harvey held up his hand, "I've got it style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanJune 2….ummmm…..eight years ago."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Pepper looked at Tony in complete style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"Tony, you have never told me about this."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"He shrugged his style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"Slipped my mind."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Tony looked back at Mac and Harvey to keep from laughing at Pepper's stunned face./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Harvey read the paperwork and laughed, "Well, unless you kill style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThat's what he had put style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThen it goes to the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanWhich is now….."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Mac finished, "Doctor Johnathon Alexander Storm Smith."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Tony nodded, " style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanBut, we might need to put that clause in there for Stormy, too."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Mac and Harvey both laughed as they started to put their paperwork style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"They all stood up and shook style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;""Mr. Stark, we'll be in touch."span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanMac said./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Tony smiled, "Thank you for coming down here and getting that sorted so style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI swear, I don't wait to the last minute on most things."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Harvey laughed, "It's style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanWe'll be in touch by the end of the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThis all looks fine, there shouldn't be any problems."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Tony nodded, "I'll be around the phone all day if I'm needed."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Harvey nodded, "Indeed, sir."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Mac smiled back at style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"It was lovely to see style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI'm sorry we can't stay, but Tony will catch you up on everything you missed."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"She nodded, "Thank style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanSounds like I need a proper catch up."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"She looked back at Tony in style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe grinned at style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Mac and Harvey left the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanTony walked over to the fridge and opened a bottle of style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"And we need to celebrate!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Pepper walked over to him and watched him pour two style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"We need to style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanYou made me your heiress?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Tony handed her style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span" style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanDoes that surprise you?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;""Well, yes!span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanAnd eight years ago?span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThat was before-"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Tony carried the bottle back to the sofa and sat style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"Before the Cyber invasion, before Obie lost his damn mind, before I went to the desert, before Rhodey died….before a lot of things."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"She sat down next to him in stunned style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"Tony, I just ….why?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"Well, after looking through those safe deposit boxes, I really started to think about some style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanStark Industries was started by Howard, Senior."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;""Your grandfather."span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanPepper added./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;""Yes, and then Dad and him worked together on style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanDad split style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanSo, I only inherited half when he died. span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHalf went to me and half to style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanObie was sure that was too big of an idiot to have thought it through, but I have had a will since Mom and Dad style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThey were coming home that style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI'm planning on being home tonight, too."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Pepper shook her style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"Alright."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;""It's something I've always kept updated over the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanWhen I had to name someone to be my….successor….I immediately thought of style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanYou always have stood up for the little style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanAnytime I would find a way to do something different, if it didn't work for the majority of everyone here, you told me style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI saw you are style="mso-spacerun: yes;" style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanAnd had no problem telling me when I was wrong about style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThat's what I wanted at the head of the company if I couldn't be there."span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;""When I was back in that damn cave, I had the thought that Obie might have been the one that put me style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanIt wasn't a style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI heard his name spoken around that gobbliy goo language they speak style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI can remember going to sleep and smiling at the look on his face if I em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"never/em got back, and he had to share this company with style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanWith you, telling him no."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Pepper shook her style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"But he left it to you-"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Tony shook his style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span" style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe left it to the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanDamn style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI've spoken to Pete about it and he's recommended a complete restructuring of the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThe guys on the board were old, near retirement, so I've bought them style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThey didn't argue about style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanMac and Harvey worked them all out a nice style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanSo, the company is completely mine style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanFor the first time since it was barely off of the fruit stand, it is owned by one Stark."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Pepper couldn't believe what she was style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"I never realized that part of it."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;""I've never really thought a lot about style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThat's just how it always has style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanPete asked me several questions…you know….when we started….dating…that made me really start to rethink a lot about style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe doesn't know about our engagement, but he recommended this happen so you wouldn't have any problems with anything if something was to happen to style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThe board would have fought you taking that much in the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanBut, now there's no board."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;""But, hang style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanYou have to have that in California for companies of a certain style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanIt's the law."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;""Which is why everything is being reregistered today in New style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThey don't require it style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThat's what Mac and Harvey are running off to style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanPete says every business he has is registered to a small office on style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanBut, we actually have offices here."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;""But, there are also offices in California-"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;""Those are factories and style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanSee?span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanPete Tyler is style="mso-spacerun: yes;" style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI need to put him on payroll."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Pepper smiled, "This is a great style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThe taxes out here alone…."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"We'll make 5.9 billion dollars in the first year, style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI did the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanAnd that's just for Stark style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanNothing else that is umbrella'ed to it."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;""Jesus."span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanPepper style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Tony laughed at her reaction and refilled her champagne style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe watched her sip the champagne and sit quietly in style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe rubbed his style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"I suppose I should also tell you about some other papers I signed."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"She looked at him and seeing his serious face, she held her up style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"Give me a style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanYou have that look."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"He chuckled, "I have a look?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"She finished her style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"Okay, refill it. span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanWhat have you done?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"He refilled it for her and then took her style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"She groaned, "Oh, this is bad."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"He laughed at her style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"It's not style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanOkay, first…Pete doesn't know anything about our engagement."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;""Right."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;""Nothing."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;""Okay."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"He stopped talking and took her champagne glass from her and sat them both on the table in front of style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"She closed her eyes and groaned, "Oh, this is really bad."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"He laughed and shook his style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"I don't think it style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanIt's something I should have done a long time ago."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"She looked confused./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"He took both of her hands in his and looked at style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"Don't hit me, until you hear style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanAlright?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"She narrowed her eyes at him./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;""Pete advised me to…..fire you."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;""WHAT?!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;""But, to put you in a new position!"span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe told her quickly./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"She looked style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"What did you do?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;""I made you, Pepper, the Executive Officer style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanYou already do the work, might as well have the title."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;""What?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;""Now, there is style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThe style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanAnd then you, the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanSecond in style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanIf for some reason, something happens to me, no one would fight you about style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanIt would all be style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanUnless you are the one that kills style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanKeep that in style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanAnd I don't have to sign that much paperwork style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI think it's brilliant."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Pepper covered her mouth and gasp in style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span" style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanAre you doing this because-"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"" style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThat has nothing to do with style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanCompletely style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanWhatever happens between us, this is style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanWell, I hope the other is, style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanPete asked me who I trusted more than anyone else, and I didn't even have to think about style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI've wanted to do it for a long time, but with all of the restructuring, I decided I would just roll that paperwork in with it."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"She laughed in style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"Tony, I'm style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanBut, what if-"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"He handed her back her style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"Don't style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanJust style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanCheers."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"She smiled and clanged her glass to style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span" style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanReally?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;""I'm going to need you to find me a new style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanDo you mind?"span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe laughed./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"She giggled, "Someone else to find your shoes?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"He thought, "I might be alright on my own then."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;""I doubt that."span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanShe teased and sat down her style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"Would it be inappropriate for me to kiss you?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"He looked her up and down and shook his head, "I hope style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanBecause, that's just the start of what is on my mind for celebrating with you."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"She giggled, leaned over and kissed style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe sat down his champagne and held her tightly in his style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe could feel her fingertips on his style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe tried to be gentle, but was so excited for style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanExcited to be there with style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHis self control was being put to the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanAll he could think about was how he could take off her skirt suit right there, and have style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe was sure she would let him do it, style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"He leaned back and took a deep style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"Let's go style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThis style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanWhat do you think?span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanJust….someplace."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"She smiled at him, "To celebrate?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;""Anywhere you want."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;""Soli?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"He thought, " style="mso-spacerun: yes;" style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanUmmm…John can take him for style="mso-spacerun: yes;" style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI'll talk to him about it today."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"She nodded, " style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThis style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanWait, that's tomorrow."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"He smiled, " style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanLet's leave tonight, then."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"She stood up and laughed, "Oh style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI need a moment."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"He sat back and watched her walk over to the windows and look out at New style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanShe crossed her arms and took a deep style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe sipped his champagne and watched for a few style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHis eyes followed her legs up under her style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe undressed her in his mind and sipped his style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe imagined himself walking over to her and laying her down on the top of his style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe had imagined that so style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"He cleared his throat, "You style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThere is this vineyard out in Northern California."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"She grinned and continued to look out of the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"Yeah?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;""The owner is absolutely beautiful. The wine isn't bad, either."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Pepper smiled, "That's the reason it's so expensive."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"He looked surprised, "How much is it-"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;""Depends on what it is."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;""The bottle we had last night?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;""That was a dry year, not many were style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanSo, around $2,200."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;""Worth every style="mso-spacerun: yes;" style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI'm thinking about asking her if she wants to move that registry to New style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanDo you think you could set me up a meeting with her?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Pepper smiled at him and walked back to the sofa where he style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanShe took his hand and sat down next to style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanspan style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;""She could give all of those little grape pickers a style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThey could afford music style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanMaybe build a saloon."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"She style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"Tony."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"He smiled back at her./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"She held his face and looked in his style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"Tony, I love you."span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"He grabbed her head and kissed style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanAs she tasted the champagne in his mouth, she felt his hands gently slide down her blouse and cup her style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanShe held him tightly and felt his warm breath against her style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHer lungs filled with the smell of his cologne and it drove her style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;""Do you want to go home for lunch?"span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe asked her quietly./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"She continued to kiss him, "Just lock the door and we'll have lunch here."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"He groaned, "That damn door doesn't lock."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"You are kidding me."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"He laughed, "I'm really not style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI have no idea why."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"She pointed at him, "I'm going to fix that."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"He began to kiss her again, "Fix it in your office, too."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"She giggled as he nibbled her neck and style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanShe closed her eyes and began to moan./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"He leaned up and smiled at her, "Shhh…you are so loud."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;""You know what you are doing!"span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanShe playfully smacked him./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"He looked in her eyes and smiled, " style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanOkay, home for lunch."span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe took a deep style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"We just have to walk out of that door, to the elevator, and go style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanWe can do this."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"She laughed at style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"Giving yourself a pep talk?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"He groaned and rubbed his style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"Who am I kidding?span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI can't do style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanAnd the door won't lock."span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe snapped his style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"Got style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanPlan B."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"She watched him tap his bracelet and type something on the display of his style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe looked up at her and smiled, "Ready?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"She wrapped her arms around his neck and felt his arms wrap around style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe leaned in and began to kiss her again. He pressed the bracelet and popped them upstairs to their style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"She glanced around and whispered, "Great idea."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"He smiled, "Yeah?span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI won't style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanIt's rather hard to walk at the moment."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"She giggled, "Did you get your message I left you?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"He held her tighter, "Pepper, why did I wait so long for this?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"She smiled and pointed at the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"Can you make it there?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"He looked back at the bed and shook his style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"I don't think so."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"She giggled and unfastened his style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"Then just lay in the floor here."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"His pants fell to the floor as he crashed his lips into hers style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe slipped off her skirt and jacket, style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThe black lacey bra shaped her breasts into the perfect style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe gently took them in his palms and rubbed them as they continued their style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"He was so caught up in kissing her, that he hadn't even noticed that she had taken off his jacket, tie and style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe lay on the floor and she kissed down to his style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanShe took him into her mouth and began to suck and roll him around in her style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"He panted style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"Oh, I need….." He animatedly style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"She licked him style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"What do you need?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"" style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanTurn around."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"She smiled and knelt with her black lacey panties in his style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe slipped them off and put his head between her style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanShe went back down on him as he muffled his shouts into style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanWithin seconds, she had become extremely wet and weak in the knees./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"She kissed back up this style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe looked in her eyes, "Why did I wait so long for this?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"She smiled at style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"You don't have to wait any style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI'm all yours."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;""And I want every style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanEverything that is you."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"She kissed him again and he rolled over on top of style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"He whispered, "Best lunch date, ever."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"She giggled and continued to kiss him./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"XxxxxxxxXxxxxxxxx/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Chapter 31 – The Promotion/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Pepper looked down at her style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanIt was style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanShe seemed to remember there was something she had to do, but couldn't remember what./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Meanwhile, two men sat in front of her on the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanAn Admiral with the US Navy and the Head of the Department of style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThey all sipped coffee as they spoke./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Pepper's corner office was very bright with the floor to ceiling windows and white style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThe black furniture inside and black rug, accented everything style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThe windows showed a beautiful view of the Empire State Building just blocks style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"The Admiral sat down his style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"Miss style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI'm so grateful that you have an open door policy."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"She sat across from them on the other sofa, and sipped a cup of style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"The work we do here can only progress if we get feedback from the ones that use it."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"The DOD head nodded, " style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThat's why I've always been so pleased with everything from Stark style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanTell me, these healing devices that Doctor Johnathon Smith has developed."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"Yes?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;""We would like them, but that's not through your company is it?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"She shook her style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span" style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanBut, I can put you in touch with who you need to speak to about style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanIt would be Peter style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanAre you familiar with him?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"The Admiral smiled, "Yes, we've done business style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI have his style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe's a friend of the President Shepherd's, isn't he?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Pepper nodded, "I believe they style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanYes." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"The DOD head smiled, "Well, we've taken enough of your time, ma'am."span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"They all stood up, "I would like to thank you for going over all of those numbers with style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanYes, I could just look it over, but the way you explain it, just makes sense and now I can go back and explain what we are purchasing and everything. span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanBesides, it gets me out of the office for the day."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Pepper smiled, "I'm always happy to style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanYou know, it's a beautiful day, sometimes these numbers need to be considered."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"The DOD head pointed at her and nodded, "On a golf style="mso-spacerun: yes;" style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThat's not a bad style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanDo you play?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"She shook her style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"I don't."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"The Admiral laughed and asked the DOD head, "What do you say?span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanTake the rest of the day to go over this?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"The DOD head nodded, "I think it's just what we need to do. Thank you, Miss Potts."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"She shook both of their style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThey walked out of the door just as Natasha walked style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"Mr. Stark asked if you could-"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;""Oh, damn style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI completely forgot about that."span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanPepper exclaimed./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Natasha looked confused, "Yes, ma' style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanShall I-"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;""Walk with me to his style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe wanted me to be in a meeting with him at 10:30."span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanNatasha took notes on Pepper's instructions as they walked to Tony's style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanTony's secretary looked up when they came into the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"Oh, Miss style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe's expecting style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanYou may go right in."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Pepper dismissed Natasha, and opened the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanTony sat on one of the two black, leather sofas in his office facing two men that she recognized immediately as Mac and style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThey owned the largest law firm in New York style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThey seemed to all be having a drink and going over instructions that Tony was giving style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThey all stood up as she closed the elegant, tall style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Tony smiled, "There she is!span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanGet caught in a meeting?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"She smiled, " style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThe Department of Defense Director needed to go over some numbers."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Tony smiled and looked back at the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"I hope they were big numbers."span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe held his hand out to invite her to sit next to him on the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanAfter she sat down, the rest of the men did, style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanTony poured himself another glass of style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"Pepper?span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanDrink?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"She shook her style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"No, I better style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThank you."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"He poured her a glass of water and handed it to style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanShe smiled and thanked him./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"He sat back and sipped his style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"I'll catch you up on everything in a style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThey have another meeting to get to, so we just need to wrap this up so they can go."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"She nodded, "Alright."span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Tony pointed at Pepper, "You can say anything in front of her, that you would say to style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI'll end up telling her about it later anyway."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Harvey smiled, "It's nice to see you again, Miss Potts."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"She smiled, "And both of you, too."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Mac looked back at his style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"So, you now own 98% of the controlling stock of Stark Industries and everything associated with that."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Tony style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span" style="mso-spacerun: yes;" style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanAnyway to get that other 2%?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Mac smiled, "I'll get to work on style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanDon't worry about it."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;""Oh, I'm not losing any sleep over it."span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanTony smiled back at style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe cleared his throat and sat his drink on the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"But, walk me through style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI have complete control…."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Mac nodded, "Yes."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;""No way that I can lose it." Tony sat back and propped his arm on the back of the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Mac shook his head as Harvey held up his style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"Well there is one way."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Tony rubbed his finger across his lips, "How?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;""If you were to style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanYour wife, or husband, would legally own half."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;""Husband!?"span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanTony asked./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Pepper had to cover her mouth to keep from spraying water across the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"Oh my style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI'm so glad I made it in time of that."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Tony groaned./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;""We are discussing all possibilities, sir."span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHarvey insisted./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Tony nodded, " style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanGo ahead."span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe looked back at Pepper and rolled his eyes./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Pepper laughed under her style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;""So, I would insist if that's something you're considering-"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Tony shook his style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"It's not on my radar at the moment."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Pepper relaxed and tried to stop undressing him in her mind as he sat next to style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe wore the cologne that she always associated with him, and a dark style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe wasn't wearing his sunglasses and she felt like he didn't have his optics style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe did have rather dark circles under his style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanShe wondered if he was still tired from the medicine he had taken./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;""Well, Mr. style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanIf it is something you think you might want to ever do, a prenuptial agreement would be the simple solution to preserving your estate and the business."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Tony nodded, "Alright."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Mac looked back at Harvey, "Well, there's one problem with that."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Pepper looked surprised, "What's the problem?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Mac took a deep breath and pointed at Pepper, "Are you sure we can talk about everything, Mr. Stark-"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"Anything you can say to me, you can say to her."span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe insisted./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Mac nodded his style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"Okay, speaking completely from a hypothetical situation only…."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Tony nodded, "Yes."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;""A prenuptial agreement would not work for Miss Potts."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Tony looked back at Pepper and didn't seem to look surprised at style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe watched her style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"Explain why, Mac."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Mac laughed under his breath as if it was so style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"Well, because you made her your sole beneficiary and heiress in your will."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Pepper looked at Tony in style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"I'm sorry?span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanWhat?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Tony rubbed his face and tried not to style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Mac nodded, "I'm sorry, I thought you knew."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Pepper looked back at style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"I didn't know style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanWhen did this happen?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Mac and Harvey flipped through paperwork they style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanAfter a few moments, Harvey held up his hand, "I've got it style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanJune 2….ummmm…..eight years ago."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Pepper looked at Tony in complete style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"Tony, you have never told me about this."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"He shrugged his style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"Slipped my mind."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Tony looked back at Mac and Harvey to keep from laughing at Pepper's stunned face./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Harvey read the paperwork and laughed, "Well, unless you kill style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThat's what he had put style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThen it goes to the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanWhich is now….."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Mac finished, "Doctor Johnathon Alexander Storm Smith."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Tony nodded, " style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanBut, we might need to put that clause in there for Stormy, too."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Mac and Harvey both laughed as they started to put their paperwork style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"They all stood up and shook style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;""Mr. Stark, we'll be in touch."span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanMac said./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Tony smiled, "Thank you for coming down here and getting that sorted so style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI swear, I don't wait to the last minute on most things."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Harvey laughed, "It's style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanWe'll be in touch by the end of the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThis all looks fine, there shouldn't be any problems."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Tony nodded, "I'll be around the phone all day if I'm needed."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Harvey nodded, "Indeed, sir."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Mac smiled back at style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"It was lovely to see style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI'm sorry we can't stay, but Tony will catch you up on everything you missed."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"She nodded, "Thank style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanSounds like I need a proper catch up."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"She looked back at Tony in style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe grinned at style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Mac and Harvey left the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanTony walked over to the fridge and opened a bottle of style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"And we need to celebrate!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Pepper walked over to him and watched him pour two style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"We need to style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanYou made me your heiress?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Tony handed her style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span" style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanDoes that surprise you?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;""Well, yes!span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanAnd eight years ago?span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThat was before-"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Tony carried the bottle back to the sofa and sat style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"Before the Cyber invasion, before Obie lost his damn mind, before I went to the desert, before Rhodey died….before a lot of things."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"She sat down next to him in stunned style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"Tony, I just ….why?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"Well, after looking through those safe deposit boxes, I really started to think about some style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanStark Industries was started by Howard, Senior."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;""Your grandfather."span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanPepper added./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;""Yes, and then Dad and him worked together on style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanDad split style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanSo, I only inherited half when he died. span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHalf went to me and half to style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanObie was sure that was too big of an idiot to have thought it through, but I have had a will since Mom and Dad style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThey were coming home that style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI'm planning on being home tonight, too."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Pepper shook her style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"Alright."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;""It's something I've always kept updated over the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanWhen I had to name someone to be my….successor….I immediately thought of style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanYou always have stood up for the little style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanAnytime I would find a way to do something different, if it didn't work for the majority of everyone here, you told me style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI saw you are style="mso-spacerun: yes;" style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanAnd had no problem telling me when I was wrong about style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThat's what I wanted at the head of the company if I couldn't be there."span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;""When I was back in that damn cave, I had the thought that Obie might have been the one that put me style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanIt wasn't a style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI heard his name spoken around that gobbliy goo language they speak style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI can remember going to sleep and smiling at the look on his face if I em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"never/em got back, and he had to share this company with style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanWith you, telling him no."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Pepper shook her style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"But he left it to you-"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Tony shook his style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span" style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe left it to the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanDamn style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI've spoken to Pete about it and he's recommended a complete restructuring of the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThe guys on the board were old, near retirement, so I've bought them style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThey didn't argue about style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanMac and Harvey worked them all out a nice style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanSo, the company is completely mine style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanFor the first time since it was barely off of the fruit stand, it is owned by one Stark."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Pepper couldn't believe what she was style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"I never realized that part of it."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;""I've never really thought a lot about style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThat's just how it always has style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanPete asked me several questions…you know….when we started….dating…that made me really start to rethink a lot about style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe doesn't know about our engagement, but he recommended this happen so you wouldn't have any problems with anything if something was to happen to style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThe board would have fought you taking that much in the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanBut, now there's no board."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;""But, hang style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanYou have to have that in California for companies of a certain style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanIt's the law."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;""Which is why everything is being reregistered today in New style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThey don't require it style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThat's what Mac and Harvey are running off to style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanPete says every business he has is registered to a small office on style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanBut, we actually have offices here."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;""But, there are also offices in California-"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;""Those are factories and style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanSee?span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanPete Tyler is style="mso-spacerun: yes;" style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI need to put him on payroll."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Pepper smiled, "This is a great style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThe taxes out here alone…."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"We'll make 5.9 billion dollars in the first year, style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI did the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanAnd that's just for Stark style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanNothing else that is umbrella'ed to it."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;""Jesus."span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanPepper style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Tony laughed at her reaction and refilled her champagne style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe watched her sip the champagne and sit quietly in style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe rubbed his style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"I suppose I should also tell you about some other papers I signed."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"She looked at him and seeing his serious face, she held her up style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"Give me a style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanYou have that look."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"He chuckled, "I have a look?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"She finished her style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"Okay, refill it. span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanWhat have you done?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"He refilled it for her and then took her style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"She groaned, "Oh, this is bad."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"He laughed at her style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"It's not style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanOkay, first…Pete doesn't know anything about our engagement."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;""Right."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;""Nothing."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;""Okay."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"He stopped talking and took her champagne glass from her and sat them both on the table in front of style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"She closed her eyes and groaned, "Oh, this is really bad."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"He laughed and shook his style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"I don't think it style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanIt's something I should have done a long time ago."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"She looked confused./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"He took both of her hands in his and looked at style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"Don't hit me, until you hear style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanAlright?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"She narrowed her eyes at him./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;""Pete advised me to…..fire you."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;""WHAT?!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;""But, to put you in a new position!"span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe told her quickly./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"She looked style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"What did you do?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;""I made you, Pepper, the Executive Officer style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanYou already do the work, might as well have the title."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;""What?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;""Now, there is style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThe style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanAnd then you, the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanSecond in style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanIf for some reason, something happens to me, no one would fight you about style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanIt would all be style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanUnless you are the one that kills style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanKeep that in style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanAnd I don't have to sign that much paperwork style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI think it's brilliant."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Pepper covered her mouth and gasp in style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span" style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanAre you doing this because-"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"" style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThat has nothing to do with style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanCompletely style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanWhatever happens between us, this is style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanWell, I hope the other is, style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanPete asked me who I trusted more than anyone else, and I didn't even have to think about style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI've wanted to do it for a long time, but with all of the restructuring, I decided I would just roll that paperwork in with it."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"She laughed in style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"Tony, I'm style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanBut, what if-"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"He handed her back her style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"Don't style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanJust style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanCheers."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"She smiled and clanged her glass to style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span" style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanReally?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;""I'm going to need you to find me a new style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanDo you mind?"span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe laughed./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"She giggled, "Someone else to find your shoes?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"He thought, "I might be alright on my own then."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;""I doubt that."span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanShe teased and sat down her style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"Would it be inappropriate for me to kiss you?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"He looked her up and down and shook his head, "I hope style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanBecause, that's just the start of what is on my mind for celebrating with you."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"She giggled, leaned over and kissed style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe sat down his champagne and held her tightly in his style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe could feel her fingertips on his style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe tried to be gentle, but was so excited for style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanExcited to be there with style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHis self control was being put to the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanAll he could think about was how he could take off her skirt suit right there, and have style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe was sure she would let him do it, style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"He leaned back and took a deep style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"Let's go style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThis style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanWhat do you think?span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanJust….someplace."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"She smiled at him, "To celebrate?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;""Anywhere you want."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;""Soli?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"He thought, " style="mso-spacerun: yes;" style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanUmmm…John can take him for style="mso-spacerun: yes;" style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI'll talk to him about it today."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"She nodded, " style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThis style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanWait, that's tomorrow."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"He smiled, " style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanLet's leave tonight, then."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"She stood up and laughed, "Oh style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI need a moment."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"He sat back and watched her walk over to the windows and look out at New style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanShe crossed her arms and took a deep style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe sipped his champagne and watched for a few style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHis eyes followed her legs up under her style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe undressed her in his mind and sipped his style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe imagined himself walking over to her and laying her down on the top of his style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe had imagined that so style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"He cleared his throat, "You style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThere is this vineyard out in Northern California."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"She grinned and continued to look out of the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"Yeah?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;""The owner is absolutely beautiful. The wine isn't bad, either."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Pepper smiled, "That's the reason it's so expensive."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"He looked surprised, "How much is it-"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;""Depends on what it is."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;""The bottle we had last night?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;""That was a dry year, not many were style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanSo, around $2,200."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;""Worth every style="mso-spacerun: yes;" style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI'm thinking about asking her if she wants to move that registry to New style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanDo you think you could set me up a meeting with her?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"Pepper smiled at him and walked back to the sofa where he style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanShe took his hand and sat down next to style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanspan style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;""She could give all of those little grape pickers a style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThey could afford music style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanMaybe build a saloon."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"She style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"Tony."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"He smiled back at her./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"She held his face and looked in his style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"Tony, I love you."span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"He grabbed her head and kissed style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanAs she tasted the champagne in his mouth, she felt his hands gently slide down her blouse and cup her style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanShe held him tightly and felt his warm breath against her style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHer lungs filled with the smell of his cologne and it drove her style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;""Do you want to go home for lunch?"span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe asked her quietly./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"She continued to kiss him, "Just lock the door and we'll have lunch here."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"He groaned, "That damn door doesn't lock."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"You are kidding me."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"He laughed, "I'm really not style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI have no idea why."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"She pointed at him, "I'm going to fix that."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"He began to kiss her again, "Fix it in your office, too."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"She giggled as he nibbled her neck and style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanShe closed her eyes and began to moan./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"He leaned up and smiled at her, "Shhh…you are so loud."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;""You know what you are doing!"span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanShe playfully smacked him./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"He looked in her eyes and smiled, " style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanOkay, home for lunch."span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe took a deep style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"We just have to walk out of that door, to the elevator, and go style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanWe can do this."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"She laughed at style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"Giving yourself a pep talk?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"He groaned and rubbed his style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"Who am I kidding?span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI can't do style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanAnd the door won't lock."span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe snapped his style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"Got style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanPlan B."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"She watched him tap his bracelet and type something on the display of his style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe looked up at her and smiled, "Ready?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"She wrapped her arms around his neck and felt his arms wrap around style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe leaned in and began to kiss her again. He pressed the bracelet and popped them upstairs to their style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"She glanced around and whispered, "Great idea."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"He smiled, "Yeah?span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI won't style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanIt's rather hard to walk at the moment."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"She giggled, "Did you get your message I left you?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"He held her tighter, "Pepper, why did I wait so long for this?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"She smiled and pointed at the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"Can you make it there?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"He looked back at the bed and shook his style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"I don't think so."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"She giggled and unfastened his style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"Then just lay in the floor here."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"His pants fell to the floor as he crashed his lips into hers style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe slipped off her skirt and jacket, style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThe black lacey bra shaped her breasts into the perfect style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe gently took them in his palms and rubbed them as they continued their style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"He was so caught up in kissing her, that he hadn't even noticed that she had taken off his jacket, tie and style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe lay on the floor and she kissed down to his style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanShe took him into her mouth and began to suck and roll him around in her style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"He panted style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"Oh, I need….." He animatedly style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"She licked him style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"What do you need?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"" style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanTurn around."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"She smiled and knelt with her black lacey panties in his style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe slipped them off and put his head between her style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanShe went back down on him as he muffled his shouts into style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanWithin seconds, she had become extremely wet and weak in the knees./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"She kissed back up this style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe looked in her eyes, "Why did I wait so long for this?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"She smiled at style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"You don't have to wait any style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI'm all yours."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;""And I want every style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanEverything that is you."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"She kissed him again and he rolled over on top of style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"He whispered, "Best lunch date, ever."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"She giggled and continued to kiss him./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"XxxxxxxxXxxxxxxxx/span/p