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Earlier that same morning...
I awoke on the leather sofa in the shop on my stomach, completely nude, missing the blanket I usually kept down here that I would have used to cover my bare ass at the moment I realized it was, in fact, bare, and also missing the tall buxom blond female type that had accompanied me home during the previous evening. In short, I was...alone, I soon realized, as I looked around, a little bewildered that she'd seemingly vanished without a trace. "Well, that's a twist," I muttered. Wasn't I usually the one to make the getaway? Gotta tell ya', I wasn't loving the role reversal.
I peeled myself off the cushions (no easy feat- bare skin and leather couches don't mix) and sat up, scrubbing a hand through my hair and over my face, trying to come to full coherency. "Hey, J?" I called out, reluctantly. "Vanessa. Is she still..."
"Ms. Matthews instructed me to give you her regards, Sir," he said. "She had said she had an early meeting to attend, but that she had a lovely time, and she'd see to calling you as soon as her schedule was once again free. She was adamant on that, I might add."
I rolled my eyes. "Wow, okay, I get it," I said. She was giving me the "I'll call you, baby, I promise" spiel I'd uttered to hundreds of women in my time, knowing full well it was just lip service. I clucked my tongue and chuckled to myself at the strange feeling of naive rejection that had suddenly come over me. Like I was yesterday's news to her, or something. Me?, I thought. She's giving ME the brush off? Oh, this would not stand. Nobody rejects Tony Stark. Ever. I reject them. Make no mistake.
I slowly stood up, my muscles screaming at me from the vigorousness of the night before, and the fact that I'd spend the night on the couch. I stretched my arms over my head and yawned, catching a whiff of my own stench and grimacing. "Yikes," I muttered. "Okay. That's a little rough. Time to hit the showers, pal."
I collected my clothes off the floor from the night before, and trudged up the two flights of stairs to my bedroom, glancing in to the living room briefly and noticing my tan suede blanket from downstairs was there, wadded up on the couch, while Vanessa's red dress was absent from its place on the floor, further cementing the fact she'd abruptly left. I just shook my head, working my jaw in thought as I climbed the last of the stairs and deposited the clothes in my hamper for Pepper to take to the dry-cleaners. I chuckled as I turned on the shower as hot as it would go. Pepper, I thought. Once again, you're off the hook. Lucky you.
As I showered, I thought about last night, and what went on between Vanessa and I. It was fun to say the least, and she was a complete demon in the sack, but...
I narrowed my eyes and began working my jaw again, trying to make sense of everything. "But," I muttered to myself, as I scrubbed the shampoo out of my hair. What she'd asked me, before we went down to the shop. Let's just say it...gave me something to think about, alright? Okay, more than just something to think about. I'd never openly admit this, but I wasn't exactly focused on Vanessa that whole time she and I were together down there. There was someone else that had come to mind, and I couldn't help but picture her being the one I was with, instead of Vanessa. Oh, don't get me wrong! As I said, Vanessa was amazing last night, and, given the chance, I'd gladly accept the invitation to repeat the evening. But...
And there it was again- that caveat. The asterisk. The chink in my otherwise flawless armor. And it wasn't the first time this had come up. I'd felt this before. With a lot of other women (I don't mind telling you). It feels great in the moment, but there is always that sense that something's missing, until I think of her. And then it all comes together, in my mind at least. And the girls I'm with? They aren't usually the wiser. But last night, I got sloppy.
There were a couple of times, in the heat of the moment, where I kinda...sorta...almost said the wrong name. I know. I know! What an idiot, right? Believe me, I felt like an idiot when I did it, too. Good news, though. I don't think she noticed. Vanessa, I mean. We were pretty into it, so if she did, she didn't let on. But I don't think she did. I mean, what woman would let that one slide?
I finished my shower, and climbed out, feeling a lot less like a caveman drenched in residual sex-stank and more like a civilized human being. I smirked at the reflection in the mirror, trying to up the swagger and chase away those last tendrils of rejection that were holding onto to my male psyche. And it was working. Vanessa was quickly becoming a distant memory. So, feeling pretty good at the moment, I left the bathroom in search of something clean and comfortable to wear. Some shop time was in order. Funny thing, you might think, for me to want to return so soon to the scene of the crime. But the sooner I could clear the ghosts of last night out of there, and bring it back to center, for the good of my sanity, the better.
I found some sweats and a black long-sleeved shirt to slip on. And just as I was getting dressed, I heard JARVIS talking to Pepper. My ears perked as I caught the last of what he said to her- something about Vanessa's sudden and mysterious departure- and I hurried to the door, grabbing the towel off the bed to finish drying my hair. Nice, J, ya' big mouth, I thought to myself, the blow to my ego starting to resurface again.
"And now the cat's out of the bag," I quipped, appearing at the top of the stairs, and I guess I startled her because she spun around on her heels, with her hand clamped to her chest, staring up at me all wide eyed from the living room.
She offered a weak apology, but I know she was relieved Vanessa was gone. How could she not be? It's never pleasant business having to clean up after me. In any facet. Hey. I'm not totally without any self-awareness. It's just more fun to pretend that I'm am, sometimes. Don't ask me why.
I made a couple of remarks about her lucking out yet again, and I walked into the kitchen, the familiar wafts of my morning espresso beckoning to me. A good jolt of caffeine is exactly what I needed right then to start a productive day in the shop, anyway.
I swiped the cup from the espresso maker, and threw the shot back in one gulp, swallowing hard. All was well again in the world, until I spotted it. I frowned, walking over to it and picking it up in my fingers. Did I leave this here?, I wondered, honestly not remembering if I had or hadn't. But, anyway you worked it, it was a cruel joke for the Universe to play on me at that particular moment. The way she left things and all. It was almost like I was being tested.
Pepper suddenly appeared in the kitchen, catching me red-handed staring at the business card in my hand. I quickly shoved it in my pocket, and tried to play it off. She let it go, thankfully, and informed me that Obie had called needing her urgently at the office. I just smiled and dismissed her, watching her leave my line of sight, and drive away before pulling out that card again to look at it. Yes, sir-ree. It was a very strange coincidence to have this back in my presence again. Why, Tony? Were you actually thinking of chasing after this girl, you ask? Psshh. Please. Chasing is for chumps. I had a score to settle.
