Sweet Circe ! Okay, just so you know, I have written this chapter in almost one go, I just took a 20 minutes break to eat dinner and came back to finish the chapter. I've tried to edit it as well as I could, but as usual, there is no Beta. So don't hate me for the spelling mistakes. I'm doing my best. I hope you'll like this one. It's... different from the first chapters. Meaning there's no smut (which is a victory for me because I was that close to have a lil' bit of NSFW content it it. But the muse said no. The muse is a cockblocker. Deal with it). Anyway, enjoy !
Love, Callie xx
PS: Thanks to every one of you who reviewed. I'll try to answer to each of you as soon as I'm done with editing the chapter. As I said before, I am so sorry it took me this long to go back to this story. But the writing is back on track and hopefully, we'll catch up with the Iron Man events on a few chapters.
PPS: My model for David Ashford is the very dashing Ioan Gruffudd. But you can choose whomever you like. Just think British and good looking ;)
Chapter 6:
She gives herself one last look in the mirror before nodding and grabbing her purse and keys. It's the first time in several weeks that she has a night out that has nothing to do with VAST, the Foundation or any other business related dinners. Her Prada heels resonate on the pavement in front of her Malibu house before her chauffeur opens the door of her town car, allowing her to get into the vehicule. Tonight, Virginia thinks, is all about David and I.
Last week, Pepper turned 30, and according to Vogue Magazine and Financial Times, she is one of the most powerful women alive. Aurelia and her had joked about it on the phone, both agreeing that it was fortunate that 'powerful women' as they called them, hadn't waited for international press to make them so. Then of course, Aurelia had asked about David. And Pepper, always careful, had answered that patience was a virtue and that she'd meet him in person in due time. She also told him that he was back next week and was going to take her to dinner. Aurelia laughed:
'I hope you didn't make him wait a month to take you to dinner, this time.' Pepper blushed slightly, glad that they were on the phone and not having this conversation face to face. 'Actually, this time, he's the one that made me wait. He was supposed to be back a day before my birthday but couldn't make it because of work. I suppose this is the universe's way of making fun of me.'
Aurelia chuckled. 'Oh, darling, when the universe makes fun of you, there's no supposing about it. You'll just know.'
Pepper had frowned at that but hadn't pushed the matter any further. The call had ended a few minutes later.
Back into the car, Pepper checked her watch: 7:30PM. Perfect. They had a reservation at 8PM in town and David told her he would meet her at the restaurant, as he was coming almost directly from the airport.
She and David had met the only way Pepper seemed able to meet men these days : through work. She would have lamented about that to the few female friends she had, had she not always thought that she'd need a man who would understand her hectic schedule and the love she arboured for her job.
In the past years, VAST had grown slowly but steadily and the profits, according to her CFO and the number sheets she still liked to look over from time to time, seemed to agree with that statement. At first, of course, financial reviewers and other interested third parties had criticized her rather abrupt dismissal of several of her board directors and had also frowned at her careful investments over the years, people saying that maybe, she didn't have the shoulders for the job if she wasn't ready to take some risks. Pepper had tuned them out, then planned for the next twenty years with her newly appointed board of directors. Three years later and the results of her precise planning were starting to show, while some of her detractors were already backing out on their earlier comments. Things were turning out for the best while Pepper still prepared herself and the company for the worst, should it ever come.
Two years into the company's new plan, Pepper met David and David, according to a smirking Aurelia, had met 'Miss Potts'. To say that Pepper had been less than impressed by David Ashford would have been… playing with the truth. At first, he did impress her with his succesful art galeries and his former work at the Modern Tate Gallery as Head curator. Apparently, he had found himself at the annual Foundation Gala because he was planning on donating some of the pieces of his own private collection to a worthwile cause and was scouting several charities and foundations. Pepper enquired:
'And why would you want to give some of your pieces to an American foundation? Surely there are worthwile causes in the UK, or even in Europe?'
Mr. Ashford had smiled: 'I quite agree. However, I found myself particularly partial to foundations run by impressive women. And unfortunaletly, my fellow Brits are very much set in their patriarchal ways, even when it comes to charity.'
Pepper's jaw had set. Another one who had come all the way to wherever he was from to take a look at the 'Ice Queen' in person. Because Pepper wasn't blind. Or deaf. She knew that women in position of power attracted jealousy and some pretty horrid nicknames. In her case, the 'Ice Queen' had stuck.
'In that case, I'll be glad to inform Mrs. Wannamaker that you find her impressive, as she is the one who runs the Foundation.' Pepper answered, before excusing herself. Why did Aurelia had to be sick on one of the only days of the year where she really needed some female solidarity?
Checking her Blackberry for some work emails, she hadn't seen Mr. Ashford approach her. 'I'm sorry if I offended you in any way, Miss Potts. I assure you that my interest in your foundation is quite serious. Actually, I had hoped I could invite you to dinner in order to discuss my involvement in the Wannamaker Foundation.'
Pepper had turned towards him, a polite smile on her lips. 'As I said, Mr. Ashford, the Foundation is run by Aurelia Wannamaker. My presence at this gala is merely a formality that my position as head of VAST requires. I have very little say in Mrs. Wannamaker's decisions, nor do I wish to, as she is quite capable of handling this formidable enterprise herself. I advise you to make an appointment with Mr. Jones, Mrs Wannamaker's personal assitant. You will find him near the buffet, talking to the woman in the yellow dress. Now, if you will excuse me, I have-'
'I apologize, obviously, my comment earlier offended you and that was not my intent, I assure you. I was quite honest when I said that I find the archaic patriarchy in the UK extremely stiffling. I was less honest when I omitted to say that I have followed your career with a vivid interest. I merely wished to meet you, maybe impress you and find some way to ask you to dinner. But it seems that I have only managed to make an arse of myself, if you'll pardon my French.'
Pepper was surprised to see the man blush when less than five minutes ago, he had been so self-assured. Her mind turned to Tony Stark for a few seconds and how he would never blush or apologize so profusely. But she shook the intruding thought away and took a closer look at the man in front of her. His suit, which was Saville Row, screamed public school and Oxbridge. An observation that was supported by his clear accent, his well spoken address and a signet ring that he was discreetly wearing on his right little finger. Having met quite a few men with the same background, Pepper was always weary of men who seemed to believe they were entitled to everything they set their eyes on. However, his choice of employment gave her pause. Men like him usually sought out government positions or jobs at the City. But he had been the Head Curator of the Tate and the expertise needed for such a job required someone passionate about their studies and hard work round the clock. Idlessness and self-entitlement weren't welcome in the world of fine art. And Pepper, with her bachelor degree in Art History, knew that all too well. Therefore, she decided to perform a little test on him. If she was right about him, she would never have to see him again. But if she was wrong, well, a dinner would be the least she could grant him.
'How about dinner, say, next Thursday? My assistant will call you. Here's my card.' David Ashford looked at her like he couldn't quite believe his ears and agreed on the spot. When she had got back to the office the next day, she questioned her assistant: 'Clara, did a Mr. Ashford call about dinner on Thursday ?'
'He did, Ms. Potts. I was just about to confirm the meeting with you.'
Pepper smiled. 'Please send my apologies to Mr. Ashford and tell him that we will have to reconvey our meeting for the Thursday after this one. Something's come up.'
'Yes, Ms. Potts.'
After a month, she had 'reconveyed' their meetings five times before she took the phone herself and called David.
'Are you still in town?'
'You know that I am.'
She bit her lip. Maybe she went a bit hard on him. 'Would you mind having take-away with me, in my office tonight, around 10PM? I'll order it from my favorite trattoria.'
He chuckled. 'Are you sure something won't mysteriously come up between now and 10PM ?'
'I'll make sure of it.'
And he did come. They had dinner on the sofa in her office, eating canellonis and drinking some very good wine from the South of Italy. She kissed him goodbye that night.
'Does that mean we're going to see each other again?'
She kissed him a second time, which he returned quite happily. 'I certainly hope so, Mr. Ashford.'
'I look forward to it, Miss Potts.'
XXXX
After that night, they saw each other when they could, which, Pepper wasn't happy to admit, wasn't as much as she would have wished to. At some point, David did have to go back to England, while she had to travel for the company. Several times, they met in airport hotels, where their encounters were quick and heated before they became slow and langourous in the mornings before one of them had to catch te next flight. It wasn't ideal but they made it work. They were good together and Pepper quickly became quite infatuated with her British suitor, as Aurelia liked to call him.
A year or so later, when work has become less hectic for Pepper as the board members, investors and clients had finally settled into the company's new dynamic, Pepper starts to spend less time abroad and begins to send other people in her stead, now that she has trained several trustworthy men and women to handle VAST's portfolios on five different continents. New international offices have been bought (all set in environmentally-friendly buildings) and Pepper's schedule has begun to look like something a normal human being could endure.
And tonight, Pepper is quite glad to wear her favorite Prada dress to her 'belated' birthday date with David. He arrives shortly after she does, dressed impeccably as always and not at all looking like he's just spent several hours on a plane. He kisses her 'hello' then 'happy birthday' then 'just because I missed you' before ordering. The evening goes flawlessly as they talk about everything that they haven't been able to say over the phone the few times they talked since they last saw each other and Pepper finally manages to ask him of he'd be interested in going to dinner with her to the Wannamakers, in two weeks time.
'John and Annalise are expecting their first child, although it's quite the secret because Annalise wants to tell everyone at dinner.'
David chuckles. 'But of course, you already know.'
'Of course. Aurelia and I have become very close since Andrew's passing, and especially after John got married and her youngest son, Casey, went to college. And as head of Andrew's Foundation, she and I talk quite a lot as well to decide on some financial matters. Also, she wants to meet you.'
He puts her hand on her. 'Pepper, I'd be honoured to be your plus one. You've talked about Aurelia so much, I've been dying to meet her ever since we've started dating.'
Pepper has a small laugh. 'Well, I have to say both of our schedule have been quite busy this past year. But I'm delagating more and more and soon, I'll only handle the U.S. portfolio and just overlook the other international offices from a distance. It'll be easier to see each other.'
David takes a deep breath. 'Actually, I'm glad you brought the subject on the table because I have something to ask you.' He takes a rectabular box out of his breast pocket. Pepper's heart skips a beat.
'Now, don't worry, it's not a ring. But it's a step forward, one that I've long waited to discuss with you and I hope you'll agree that this could be something good.'
She takes the box he just slid towards her and opens it: it's a key. David explains: 'I've decided to open a new gallery, bigger than the others. And I'm going to open it in California. So I bought a house, here in Malibu, and I hope that you'll come and leave with me.' Pepper is speechless. David adds: 'I don't expect an answer tonight. Please take all the time you need.'
Pepper is about to say something when she hears voices coming from the maitre d's station. Three people have just come in, without a reservation and are asking for a table. A man and two women, who looked like they might be twins. However, Pepper's gaze is focused on the man. She recognizes him instantly. Tony Stark just showed up in the same restaurant as her and has apparently succeeded in getting a table. Pepper feels her heart hammering in her chest. 'Fuck!'
'What?'
She looks at David, who is still expecting some kind of answer from her. 'Oh no, I'm sorry. I mean, could you just excuse me for a minute, I forgot to tell my assistant something before leaving work today and I need to call her. I swear I'm not avoiding your question. But I really need to call her.'
Pepper feels guilty for lying to David but she couldn't deal with Tony Stark right now and retreating to the ladies will enable her to think up an exit strategy.
Once in the bathroom, she looks at her reflection and sees that she has considerably paled. What the fuck is Tony Stark doing here? Pepper hasn't heard from him since that disastrous day at the Wannamaker's mansion and that even more disastrous message he left on her answering machine. After that, she had severed all contact with him, save for Rhodey, with whom she still has some semi-regular contact with. However, Rhodey is now a Colonel and is less and less available as he spends more and more time in the Middle-East. Their conversations almost never brush the subject of Tony Stark as per tacit agreement. She hardly knows what he was doing these days, as Obadiah Stane seems to be the only head of SI as Tony has become a less than active CEO in the past three years. Often, when they were still on speaking terms, she had wondered whether or not being head of a company was the right fit for Tony. But their acquaintance had been too brief and Pepper hadn't really been able to get to know the real Tony.
And right now, she isn't willing to talk to him at all.
The door of the bathroom opens and Pepper is reminded of Aurelia's words about the universe making fun of her and her knowing instantly when it would. A grinning Tony in the ladies of an expensive restaurant certainly looks like it.
'I knew it was you. I mean, you can't have legs like that and not attract a man's attention. Even from behind. Especially with a perfectly shaped one like yours.'
Pepper represses a sigh. 'Hello, Tony. Still drunk I see. You're in the ladies bathroom, please leave.'
He does the opposite and and closes the door behind him, leaning on it. 'Pep, we need to talk. I was an ass the last time we saw each other and that wasn't ok. I tried to call but your assistant, or should I say, your Wall of China, but she wouldn't put me through to you. And since I'm not a complete moron, I didn't hack your phone and bypass the blacklist you put my number on. I totally get that you ddin't want to hear from me again. Hell, even Rhodey won't say anything about you."
"How gentlemanly of you, Tony. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go back to my date."
Pepper makes a step forward but Tony doesn't bulge. Pepper waits. She knows he won't try anything untoward. But he still has something to say, apparently.
'Is it serious?'
Pepper's heart sinks a little at his subdued tone and hates herself for that. 'Yes, it is. He just asked me to move in with him.'
'But you haven't said yes yet.'
Pepper didn't have it in her to lie to him and tried not to compare this situation to the easy lie she told David before going to the bathroom. 'No, not yet. But I'm seriously considering it.'
'He's not right for you.'
Pepper exhales. 'Tony, please, don't do that.'
He shakes his head. 'I don't mean that I'm the one for you, Pep. I'm not an idiot. I know that I'm way too fucked up for you. I… I've accepted that. I shouldn't have asked you to… to be with me. That wasn't right. Still isn't. Probably won't ever be although I'm working on that. But that guy, David, right?' Pepper nods, although she knows she hasn't told him his name. Tony has a way of finding out things she doesn't say. 'He's… too sleek. You're going to be bored out of your mind with him. And he won't get you. You're… God, Pep, you're a fucking supernova and that guy, he probably thinks you're just an ambitious girl who finally arrived at the top and who'll want you to either slow down or stop altogether. Or if he doesn't, he'll resent you for not being what he needs. But I know you, and you're just getting started. You need someone who gets that you need your job to be who you are.'
Pepper shakes her head. 'I'm not my job, Tony. And I am slowing down. Andrew's company is on the right track and people are finally trusting me not to run his business into the ground. If I have played my cards well, and I know I have, the company's future is assured fo the next twenty years. I have people I trust working for me all over the globe. I don't even need to leave the country every month anymore.'
Tony walks towards her and puts his hands on her shoulders. 'That's what I mean, Pepper. You're ready to look for your next challenge. You've outgrown VAST. You've made your point to the world, shown them that Virginia Potts is not some bright-eyed newcomer. If I know you well enough, and I think I do, VAST could probably be run by that idiotic son of Wannamaker or even by the other son who's still in college. You'd just need to leave them some kind of handbook. Am I wrong? And Dave, or whatever his name is, he probaly thinks that you're done, that you'll settle or just join him to run his galleries, which is the stupidest thing ever. You only go up, Potts. And with that guy, you'll just bury yourself in something that's not even challenging enough for a ten year old. Come to Stark Industries. I need you. I swear, I won't even try to have sex with you.'
She slaps him. She doesn't know why. Well, she does know why but won't admit it. The slap just came out of nowhere and before she realised what she was doing, the sound of her hand on his cheek was already resonating around them. There is a tremor in her voice when she speaks:
'No.'
He doesn't move and she has to circumvent him to get out of the bathroom. When she exits the room, David is on the other side, looking at her quizically. She doesn't let him the time to ask her what's wrong and grabs his arm. She asks if he has paid and answers affirmatively. 'I wasn't sure you'd want to stay after I asked the question. Pepper, you look pale. Look, it's really not such a big deal if-'
Pepper stops walking and faces him. They've reached the parking lot and she hopes Tony won't follow them here but she's pretty sure he won't. 'David, I love you. You're everything I ever wanted in a man, in a relationship, in everything. And I will give you your answer. But not tonight. And when I see you next, I'll tell you why I waited to give you your answer and hopefully, we'll move forward from then on. But right now, I have to leave, and I need you not to ask why. Can you accept that?'
He nods. She kisses him on the mouth and hails a cab, because she sent her chauffeur home when she arrived, while David stays on the same spot, slighly dumbstruck. He watches the car leave and still doesn't move. Behind him, he notices a man watching the same car go in the distance.
What the hell just happened?
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