Thank you everyone for reading it specially:
JanSaav, the-writer1988, sambayar,Reginasring and Guest; that send me their wonderful reviews! Thank you so much guys!
Sorry it took a while to update. I'm working on a side story about Tony, maybe soon I'll post it
I hope you all enjoy this chapter
warning: Spoilers from Iron Man 2
Note: I don't own anything, I just want to write the story in the perspective of Pepper Potts.
After weeks of sleepless night, finally Stark Expo was ready for its opening night. Pepper prepared everything in record time, still not agreeing with the amount of money they had to use to make it happen, but it was Tony's wishes so... she made it.
Even with the confront between Tony and the Army for the Iron Man suit, Pepper manage to get authorization with the Department of Defense to use a military aircraft to drop Tony on Stark Expo's airspace so he could land with the Iron Man suit and do his opening speech.
Normally he would just fly from his house to get there. But he started to complain that his tux would get there crumpled and it was the best if he could just jump with the Iron Man to make an entrance. Again, Pepper had to work in record time and made use of all her diplomatic abilities to make the DOD agree with it.
When the opening day finally arrived the plane was ready and waiting for Tony at Edwards Air Force Base. Pepper, along with Happy arrived at Tony's house to pick him up. She couldn't wait for this Expo to be open so she could focus on the Senator issue, and then the Militaries, not to mention, her biggest concern: Stark Industries.
God! Is it me or everything is happening at the same time nowadays? She thought as she went downstairs to get her boss. She found him lying on the couch of the workshop, a bottle of whisky on the table next to him. He looked exhausted, like he had a hangover with dark circles under his eyes. I can not believe this!
"You are drunk". She spoke impatiently. It's been months since she saw him like this. To be more accurate it was before his kidnap. I can't believe that he chose the Opening night to start drinking again!
"I'm not drunk", Murmured Tony, not making any movements to get up from the couch. Pepper pointed at the bottle next to him. "It was just a few drinks nothing like that…" but she didn't believe him. In her experience with him, almost ten years, his appearance was giving him away. Tony realize that she didn't believe him and finally give up. "What you want Pep?"
"What I want is for you to follow your schedule, your plane leaves in a couple hours. Come on, you need a bath, dress your tuxedo and get the Iron Man suit so we can go".
When Tony didn't make any movements to get up she pushed him out the couch. "Come on Tony!"
"Relax. It's not like the plane will leave without me". He tease her making an effort to get up from the couch.
"Do you have any idea how hard it was to make the DOD to approve this? I am not having them mad at me because you decided to act like a spoiled kid today-"
"Are you gonna spank me?" he spoke suggestively.
"Now go!"
Once they got in his room, Pepper quickly went to help him take his blazer out so he could get in the shower. But he stop her hands before she could do anything.
"It's okay" he spoke and she frowned.
Tony Stark stopping her from undress him. Is this serious? Or did I woke up in the Twilight Zone?! Even if it was just a few pieces of his top clothes, he was always more than happy to let her do this. Sometimes even insisting that she should help with his shirt and pants too. Especially his pants. "You said we are late right? Get my tux ready. I'll be in the shower". He walk to the bathroom before she could ask anything.
That was weird. Tony is anything but shy. He was always searching for an opportunity to pass a flirt on her or an inappropriate joke about sex or show her his reactor… What's up with him lately? Her eyes accidentally drop on Tony's digital clock next to his bed. He was right, they were very late. She went on his closet and choose his tux leaving it on his bed.
She could still hear the shower running when she decided to go downstairs to help Happy with the Iron Man suit. She would get back just in time to help Tony get dressed.
It didn't took her more than ten minutes to check on Happy with the Iron Man suit, and their things to the car; once she get back to Tony's room, the billionaire was already dressed.
"That's a new record". She spoke.
"What?" Spoke Tony clueless already finishing his tie. Also a job that he usually let her do it. "Come on... we will be late". He spoke walking out of the room making Pepper follow him.
-o-
Once the place took off, Tony put on the Iron Man suit leaving the helmet aside. He was quiet for a moment. When Pepper looks at him, he had a nauseated expression on his face. She frowned. Tony is not a person to get airsick.
"What is going on with you these days?" she questioned.
"I told you… I had a few drinks last night". He murmured with his eyes closed trying to make his sickness go away.
"Of all those years I've known you, you've always drink too much Tony and I never saw you having a reaction like that…." It was true. If anything, Tony was capable to spend a whole trip drinking and even look like nothing have happened by the time they arrive. He has a good resistance to alcohol. It took him a while to answer her.
"Well… it's been awhile since my last drink right?" She couldn't disagree with that. Ever since he was back the only moments that she sees him drinking is on social events or if Rhodey is around. Even so, for what Tony usually consume it's very, very low.
"We are approaching the drop zone". Spoke the soldier through the intercom.
"Come on Tony, you need to get ready". Pepper help him get up. "You are okay?" she asked once he manage to be up by himself.
"Yeah. What would I do without you?" he ask her charmingly as Pepper hold the Iron Man helmet. She smile at him.
"You would have wreck yourself years ago". She spoke teasing him as Tony let out another charming smile.
"Sounds about right". She laugh at his answer and they walk for the back of the plane it's ramp were already open just waiting for Tony to jump.
"That's very high!" Pepper murmured as she look down.
"You right…" spoke Tony seriously. "This is too dangerous". Pepper frowned at him.
Wait… so fly with the suit to a war zone, get shoot with missiles and planes it's okay, but jump out a plane… that's dangerous?
She was about to question him when he spoke again with still with a serious face. "You know what… give me a smooch for good luck, I might not make it back… you say it yourself, it's very high".
She couldn't fight the smile on her face. It was a very Tony way to try to get a kiss out of her. Pepper look at him then at the helmet on her hands and decided to tease him. Why not? It's just the two of them on the back of the plane. She was in the mood to tease him a little. If he could flirt with her so heavily, she also could do some teasing in return right?
The redhair look on Tony eyes as she held the helmet up, close her eyes and gave it a sweet long and very provocative kiss on the helmet's lower lips.
She wanted to tease Tony and apparently it work because when she opened her eyes and look at him again he was watching her intensely with a look full of lust. That look alone was able to make her heart go crazy and her legs fell like jelly. She bit her lip.
"We are over the drop zone" she heard the soldier through the intercom.
Tony need to go! So she throw the helmet outside the plane, knowing that he was capable to catch it and smile at him. His eyes were following the helmet. He was in silence, still probably thinking about her actions.
"Go get them boss".
Tony smile at her knowing he had missed his chance, the moment was gone, he had to go. He jumped out of the plane but not before saying something that made Pepper smile like a fool teenager in love during the rest of the ride.
"You complete me Pep" and he disappeared.
She stay in the plane unable to stop her smile for hours as her mind replay over and over his last sentence. He could drive her crazy like he did those last couple weeks, but those little moments she has with him, totally make it worth it.
From the plane, Pepper watch him make his speech at the Expo opening. He had insisted that he was going to write it alone, and he did everything without her help. She sat there and listen to him speak about legacy. It was a beautiful speech, funny at the beginning serious at the end and very emotional with his father message on it. Tony knows how to play the crowd; he's been doing it for years…
As soon as she arrived at Tony's house in Long Island, she left her things on the room she has the habit of using and was about to take her shoes off when her cellphone ring. She look at the call ID and saw Happy's face on it.
"Hello"
"Pepper. Are you in Long Island already?"
"Yeah, why?"
"Well get your things ready. We are going to Washington".
"Washington… why?" she ask already picking her bags up again and walking out the house.
"Tony was summoned to be before the Senate Armed Services Committee tomorrow at 9am".
"What? Tomorrow? When did this happened?"
"We just receive the notification. Will you meet us there?"
"Yeah I'm leaving". She sighed heavily. They knew this was about to happen, Stern was doing his best to get Tony. But schedule a Committer giving them less the 24 hours notice was low. Stern wanted Tony to miss this meeting that's why he gave them such a short time!
On her way to the airport, she called some of their lawyers and inform them about the Committer.
It was a short flight to Washington but Pepper try her best to get some rest. She had a feeling that tomorrow was going to be a long, long day!
When she met with Tony and Happy at their hotel, Tony's behavior was making her even more nervous. He didn't seem to care at all and was acting like it was just another trip to DC.
They slept early and at 9am the next day, Tony was already sit in front of the Committee while Pepper was a couple chairs behind him. Tony was just as relaxed as he was the night before.
He was constantly turning his back to the Committee and Senator Stern to talk to her. Usually nothing important that couldn't wait until the committee was over. As expected, the room was filled with politicians, businessmen and reporters.
Stern insisted that the Iron Man was a mass-destructive weapon and Tony decided to describe the suit as a high-tech prosthesis. Pepper was already expecting that, he had told her many times that this was going to be the base of his defense. Still she had to take a deep breath while the men in the room laugh at Tony's description of the suit.
Ignoring the laughs Tony turns to her and murmured. "See, I've got this, relax". She let out a small smile for him.
Stern, along with the others men on the room, also didn't buy the description and insisted that the suit should be handle to the people of United States. They argue a little more, until Tony insisted:
"I am Iron Man. The suit and I are one. To turn over the Iron Man suit would be to turn over myself, which is tantamount to indentured servitude or prostitution… you can't have it".
"Look…" continued the Senator "I'm no expert-"
"In prostitution of course not you are a senator!" spoke Tony making the men in room laugh again. She almost couldn't believe what she was hearing. Tony was insulting a Senator.. he could be arrested for this.
Oh god! I should have bought some Xanax! She thought as she saw her boss turn to look at her again. She gave him a scolded look and she murmured to him:
"Too much"
"No? Not good?" he murmured back.
As the Senator was calling for their rival, Justin Hammer, and Tony questioned the man's ability to be on that Committee. Hammer let out a small smile as he get up and look at Tony and start to make his speech in favor to Senator Stern.
Meanwhile, Pepper look around the room searching for Rhodey. He was supposed to be here today but so far she hasn't seen him. As she was looking around the room, she saw, standing on the back, Agent Coulson from SHIELD. Their eyes met and greeted her.
Maybe he can help Tony out of this. She thought as she get up from her seat and when to Tony, trying her best to be discreet. She took Tony's cellphone out of her purse and gave it to him.
"Excellent, Thanks" whispered Tony. "I'm getting bored" he spoke unlocking his phone.
"Agent Coulson is here" whispered Pepper on his hear making Tony look back at the agent. "I'm going to see if he can help us". She was about to leave when Tony hold her hand.
"Wait. Bring me Ben's Chili Bowl, Hot Dogs!" Tony's ability to remain calm at this situation always surprise her.
Really? He is thinking about Hot Dogs!
"Chili on the Dog or aside?" she ask trying to control her nervousness, after all she was still his assistant. If he want hot dogs, it was her job to get him some stupid hot dogs.
"Doesn't matter. I want everything. Okay?"
"Okay" she spoke and leave him as Hammer was still talking about how Iron Man was active in the last six months.
Pepper walk back and met with Coulson.
"Hi there!" he spoke to her.
"Hi!" She smile at him. "We need to stop meeting like this".
"True" he agree with a little smile on his face. They listen Hammer speech for a moment before Pepper turns to him.
"Is there anything you can do to help him?"
"Sorry… not this time". At his answer she took a deep breath.
"Well… I have to go get him some hot dogs…" she rolled her eyes a little and the Agent just smile at her.
"Oh! You should try Ben's Chili Bowl" suggested Coulson. "It's really good".
"I've heard" she look at him. "Thanks anyway… I have to go... Bye".
Pepper left the committee and went in search for Tony's hot dogs. She found one a few blocks away from the senate. Once she got there she place the order and was patiently waiting while looking at her emails when the noise of the Tv on the background caught her attention.
It was broadcasting Tony's hearing and she could see Colonel James Rhodes speaking. How did I miss that? She thought angry with herself that she might have missed something important. She came closer to the TV and watch as Tony hack into the Government computers to show them the videos that they claimed to be from enemy countries and their attempts to build an Iron Man suit. She even saw as he found Hammer on the video.
Once she was with Tony's hot dogs on her hands Happy called her informing that they were back on the Hotel and that she was supposed to meet with them at the airport.
She took a cab and a couple minutes later, she met with Tony and Happy.
"Well…That went well". She said sarcastically as she gave Tony his hot dogs and walk inside the plane.
"What?" Questioned Tony sitting in front of her and opening his bag to eat.
"'What?' Tony you can't say those things to a Senator. Look at the way you behave during half of the hearing!"
"He started it". He spoke with his mouth full of food. She narrowed her eyes at him.
"How old are you? Twelve?" Tony rolled his eyes at her and cleaned his mouth.
"Pepper relax look at this…" he point at one article online. "See everyone said that I went very well. Besides, I reveled the interest that Hammer had behind this hearing. I think it's fair to say that I was great considering the time they gave us to prepare for this… also, look at all this people applauding me…" he spoke with a proud smile on his face.
"Tony-"
"You are worrying too much". He spoke lightly.
"Of course I worry too much… I have thousands of things to worry about and you are not making it any easy". They stare at each other for a while until Tony spoke with a serious voice now.
"Well the worse is over now… from now on things will get better". She look at him and saw that he was smiling trying to reassure her. "I'm gonna rest at the back of the plane mkay? I also need to exchange the battery of the reactor so… I'll be in the back if you need me".
He left her alone and Pepper put her and on her temple and close her eyes. Something was up with Tony, she knew that for a few weeks now but she couldn't figure it out what it was.
"You okay Pep?" ask Happy giving her a glass of water.
"Yeah thanks". She accept the glass as Happy sat in front of her. "You two came to DC by car right?"
"Yeah. His new Audi. It's a beauty!" say Happy smiling. He share the same passion for cars as Tony does.
"And you spend the whole time with Tony?" asked Pepper.
"Basically, yeah… why?"
"I think he is hiding something". Happy made a confused face and Pepper continue speaking. "Something is up with him Happy because he is not acting normal."
"Really? Because rush decisions and being reckless was always Tony's thing". Spoke amused.
"No this is different. He is…." But she couldn't bring herself to describe it. "I don't know… I just have a feeling that something is not right with him".
"Pep, you've been working too much those days… it's just the stress. Tony is the same that he always was. Nothing changed".
Perhaps that's what was bothering her. "Nothing changed". She had witnessed for a brief period of time a different behavior on Tony. She saw a man with focus, responsible, serious, a man with a purpose!
Now, Tony only seem to act like his old days… living according with heat of the moment, being reckless and spoiled. The only difference from before is that she still didn't have any laundry to clean up, yet. She wonder if it was premature to let herself think that he was capable of leave all that behind him. After all he did ask her to be in a relationship with him months ago… did he regret it?
"I don't have anyone… but you"
"You complete me Pep"
She remembered his words… especially the most recent one. "You complete me". Did he meant it in a romantic way? After all, they were having a moment there… or she was being naive by let herself believe that he meant something more? Tony always liked to tease and flirt… was she being stupid for letting herself fall for the billionaire playboy?
She sighed heavily as she watched Happy leave his seat to lay on the other side of the plane. She too decided to close her eyes and get some rest. Soon they will land in LA and she still has some work to be done.
-o-
Once they land in LA, they went straight to Tony's mansion.
Tony went to his workshop and Pepper decided to go to her room there, take a shower and change her clothes before start working. Finally, now that her work with the Expo was over she could focus on Stark Industries and try to make Tony do his work. Things will get back to normal!
When she finally opened her email, there were thousands messages and files waiting for Tony's decision. There were a lot of emails from Legal Department warning her that some contract were in need of Tony's attention and they need to decided what to do.
Before she started to work on that, she opened a report that estimated how much they will expend with keeping the Expo opened all year long. Her eyes went wide with the numbers.
Oh my God! We can not afford this right now. She has to speak with Tony. Okay, the Expo was open, but keep it open all year long was an insane and expensive idea. Just when she was about to leave to talk to him another email arrived.
This one was a report from Tony's financial status. She opened the file and frowned. There was a huge change in the numbers since the last time she saw them. Did Tony do anything that cause this lost? This can't be right.
Pepper took the phone and dial for the Financial Department.
"Hi Dave, it's Pepper"
"Good afternoon Miss Potts. What can I do for you?"
"I'm looking at the numbers that you just send me, about Mr. Stark's finance, and there's a huge difference from last week. What caused this? It's almost a billion".
"Are you talking about the donation that he made?" ask the man. It was unusual that Pepper didn't know Tony's financial movement.
"What donation?" ask Pepper already starting to feel tense.
"Mr. Stark donate his art collection. That's what's causing the difference on his financial status".
"He did what?" she almost yell at the phone.
"He donate his art collection. You didn't know that?"
"No! When did this happened? Donated for who?"
"He gave us the order two days ago. Let me see here… it was for… Boy Scouts Of America"
"What?" I'm going to kill him. "Thank you Dave". She hung up the phone and took a few deep breaths to control her rage.
The art collection. She loved that thing. She spent years helping Tony find it and negotiate it. So much that she consider it her collection as well. How many times she had spent awake searching for a new piece to buy it. How many times she had spent just looking at them, appreciate them, their beauty, their simplicity. The collection was small and timid when she started to work as Tony's assistant… She saw as it grow up, piece by piece. Creating a beautiful, unique, very expensive and epic art collection.
And Tony donate it all without eve talk to her… he knew how much she care for that thing. She had the right to know that he was giving it away… he has so many things that he can donate, why would he donate their art collection?
She drop her things and went to talk to him. This was it! This stop today. Right now. She was done playing nice. He will stop neglecting his company. He will stop hiding things from her. And he will explain, why he donate her art collection without even inform her.
When she got at the glass door of the workshop she saw him in front of his computers. She typed her password and walk inside. Pepper could tell that Tony knew that she was mad because he was already increasing the distance between them.
"How could you do that?" she spoke angrily. "Is this a joke? How could you do that?"
"What?" he ask.
"What are you thinking?" she demanded impatiently.
"That I'm busy and you are mad". He answered trying to run away from her but she chased him.
"Did you just donate our entire modern art collection to the…"
"Boy Scouts Of America" they spoke the name at the same time. She ask still not believing it.
"It's a worthwhile organization" explained Tony. ".. I didn't check the crates but yes…"
He didn't even check the organization! She was about to question when Tony spoke again. "It's not 'our' collection, it's 'my' collection. No offence". He spoke while he play with his holograms created by JARVIS and walk away from her..
"No. I think I'm entitled to say 'our' collection, if you consider the time that I spend on it over the past 10 years!" he didn't wait for her to finish and keep talking trying to explain himself.
"It was a tax writ-off. I needed that". Pepper sighed and look at him for a moment. It was useless, the collection was gone, and she couldn't do anything about it. Being practical as she always was, she has to focus now on the things that she can control.
"Tony, there's about eight thousand things that I need to talk to you about" she spoke while she chase him over the workshop. She waited until he was done bickering with DUM-E to speak again. "The Expo is a waste of time".
Tony frowned at her and put his hands gently on her shoulders. "You are getting sick and I need you to wear a surgical mask until you're feeling better okay".
"That's rude".
"I don't want to get sick, and there's nothing more important than the Expo for me right now. Why are you so…".
"The Expo is your ego going crazy". Tony rolled his eyes at her until he stop at one of his gifts stored at the workshop. It was a picture of Iron Man.
"See this". Pepper was in silence looking at him. "That's modern art. That's going up" he spoke as he look around looking for a place to put the picture.
"You've got to be kidding". She spoke not believing, while Tony walk around the shop she follow him and decided to talk about the company. "Stark is a mess right now-"
"What are you talking about?" questioned Tony at the same time. "Our stocks never been higher!"
"Yes, from a managerial standpoint" spoke Pepper desperately to make him understand.
He saw his Barnett Newman painting and run to take it down so he could replace it with the Iron Man picture. Pepper try to stop him but he run faster than her. "Whatever…" she murmured. If he didn't want that frame she would find a new place to put it.
"Tony all our contracts are late. The wind farm people and the plastic plantation tree, which was your idea, by the way…-"
"Yeah so-"
"They are on payroll-"
"Everything was my idea-"
"And you don't make a decision, we need to know-"
"I don't care about it anymore!" spoke Tony impatiently and raising his voice so she could stop talking. "It's boring. I'm giving you the boring alert. You do it!" She look at him for a few moments trying to understand his point.
"I do what?"
"Excellent idea! You run the company".
She close her eyes to fight the urge to troll something on his head. "I'm trying to run the company"
"Then stop trying and do it-"
"You don't give me the information that I need!" she raised her voice a little. Her patience was running low.
"I need you to do it-" Tony keep taking.
"I am trying to do it Tony-"
"You are not listening to me-"
"No you are the one that is not listening-"
"I'm trying to make you CEO" when she heard that she stop and look at him as if he was crazy. "Why won't you let me?" he questioned.
She came close to him and look at him from top to bottom. "Have you been drinking?" she questioned getting even closer to him trying to feel the characteristic smell from alcohol. There was none!
"Chlorophyll" he answered her automatically. Before Pepper could ask why he was drinking that Tony came closer to her and gently held her arms. Looking straight in her eyes he spoke "I hereby irrevocably appoint you chairman and CEO of Stark Industries, effective immediately".
Pepper was unable to speak. She didn't know what to make of this and all she could do was look at him in silence. Is he serious?
There was a moment of silence between them until Tony broke it. "Done deal. Okay?"
She was still unable to answer him, all she could do was stare at him and think. Wait he is actually serious about this?! He is seriously making me CEO of Stark Industries?!
Ordered by JARVIS, U came close to them with a bottle of champagne and two glasses. Tony walk to his robot and spoke as he opened the bottle.
"Believe it or not, I've actually given this a fair amount of thought". And while he was speaking she realized how serious he was. It wasn't a joke. He wasn't making fun of her. He was trusting her with his Company. He was really making her CEO of what he inherited from his parents, so she could take care of it, the best way she could. He was trusting her with everything!
Her legs felt weak and she didn't trust them to support her. It was too much. She sat down on the couch next to her and couldn't take her eyes away from Tony… her, now, former boss.
"I try to figure it out who a worthy successor would be… And then I realized… it's you" he look at her smiling a little. "It's always been you". His smile grew as he came close to her with the champagne glasses. "I'm legally capable of appointing my successor. My successor being you". He offered her the champagne glass.
She felt her eyes were getting watery and couldn't hold her smile.
"Congratulations?" spoke Tony when he saw her indecision to take the glass. "Take it. Just take it"
"I don't know what to think" she spoke. Her voice failing her as she hold the glass.
"Don't think" he sat close to her. Their bodies almost completely touching. It was the proximity that started to develop those last few months. "See… there you go!" They toasted and drink the champagne.
After a few moments Tony was studying her and Pepper managed to try to speak again… "When… how did… why…"
"I need you as CEO… obviously I'm not doing the job". He spoke getting even closer to her and she laugh. "I can't be the Head of R&D, Engineering Department, CEO and Iron Man at the same time".
He had a point. He had to focus in create new technology and also he wanted to keep with his work as Iron Man. With the Company in the middle he wasn't doing his job as he should be. Neither he was running the company; neither he was creating new technology. He didn't have the time for all of this with Iron Man now.
"I know I can trust you the company" he spoke seriously. "I know you will do what is best for it". He look in her eyes as he spoke that.
"Thank you Tony… I- I don't even know what to say" She was shaking, her voice still failing her and he laugh a little at her reaction.
"I need an assistant though… I can't function alone. You know that." She laugh.
"I will take care of it for you" she spoke with a caring voice, still not believing that he had appointed her as CEO.
"I'm calling the legal department so they can get the papers ready" spoke Tony getting up from the couch.
Pepper watch as he made the call and explain to their lawyers her promotion . It was the end. She was no longer his assistant. She was no longer responsible for making him go with his agenda. Of course she was happy. She was thrilled. She was going to be CEO of one of the biggest companies of the world! That's more than she ever dream of! . But there was also a hind of sadness.
Will they relationship change? Would she be able to see him as often? Of course, she would see him from time to time, he was still the owner of the company, she had to see him about big changing decisions even if it was just to inform them; and he was still at the R&D Department.
But how often would that be? She could help but question that. She couldn't help but wonder about the frequency of their meetings now. She didn't want them to grow apart. Not now. Not ever.
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