It's been a while, I know, but I appreciate your patience! Little by little, bit by bit, I get to write and eventually post an update these days, but I am grateful for your on-going support! Thank you so much! :D
Happy Reading!
We'd reached the tarmac about an hour later-Vanessa and I and Pepper, plus the gorilla twins. Pepper somehow had convinced Nick to join us, and we were waiting for his car to arrive, which she assured would be happening momentarily. I was grateful that she was able to work it out, but I was also very curious as to how she'd been able to work it out. It wouldn't be like her to promise him anything that would compromise her self-respect or personal dignity just so she could come along out of a sense of duty, but there was also a tiny seed of worry planted deep in the recesses of my mind that she just might have. Any other chick, I wouldn't have cared. But Pepper? She's better than that. She deserved better than that.
I stared out the cabin window in thought, watching a black cab approach in the distance. There he is, the man of the hour, I thought, and my stomach knotted. I wasn't looking forward to sharing a flight with this douche bag, let alone a whole weekend in the Caribbean, but what choice did I have? I wanted Pepper to be in my line of sight as much as possible right now. Even if that meant watching her with another man.
The cab pulled up to the plane, and I saw a tall, blond, tan man with a game show host smile who could only be Pepper's new object of desire get out of the back seat. The driver retrieved a suitcase and garment bag from the trunk, and Nick took them from him, handing him cash for the fare. Pepper had been waiting for him at the base of the stairs, and I hadn't blamed her. I wouldn't want to be in close proximity to the nausea-inducing kissy-face Vanessa insisted on playing with me whenever she was around, either.
I watched Pepper bounce up to him jovially, and throw her arms around his neck. He threw his garment bag over his arm and pulled her into his embrace, holding her tightly. I worked my jaw enviously, keeping my eyes glued to them, my mind instantly racing to recall that day in her apartment when we'd done the same thing. And how great it felt, I remembered. Having her in my arms was completely...
I blinked and tore my eyes away from them, stopping myself. I had a long weekend ahead of me. There was no point in torturing myself with this before we even got off the ground.
Just then, Vanessa rejoined my side. She'd excused herself to the restroom once Pepper was no longer standing in our presence, and she could end the performance. "Admiring the love birds, are you?" she chided.
I smirked and rolled my eyes. "If they're love birds already, it would be a first for her," I replied, taking my gaze back to them. "Pepper doesn't fall hard and fast. That I know."
"Do you?" she retorted. "They say all it takes is the right person, Tony. And maybe Mr. Nick is just that one for your dear flower."
I huffed, but didn't respond. The way they were making googly eyes at each other outside at the moment wasn't disproving her theory. A lump formed in my throat, and I swallowed hard as they now were making their way up the stairs, hand in hand, and grinning.
Nick appeared through the door first, and we instantly laid eyes on each other. He barely noticed the head stewardess taking his luggage from him, and stowing it. Vanessa had coiled herself around my arm, but I ignored that and tore out of her embrace to abruptly stand up. He was beaming. Me? Not so much. I just surveyed him blankly.
"Mr. Stark? Vanessa? This is Nick Green," Pepper said as they made their way over to us, smiling proudly through the introduction. He immediately extended his hand to me.
I ignored him, and just kept staring at him blankly.
"He, um, he doesn't..." Pepper started to awkwardly explain to him my peeve of being handed things, even hands, but he dismissed her.
"No, it's fine, honey. You don't have to explain. I..." he stammered. Honey? They're already at "honey?", I wondered in astonishment. He gave me an awkward smile as he pulled his hand back, and cleared his throat uncomfortably. Then he re-plastered that toothy, white-as-alabaster grin across his face, and clasped his hands together. "Well! I was, uh...surprised that Ginny had called asking me to come with her, but I must say..."
"Think nothing of it! The pleasure is all ours," Vanessa purred, as she stood up and abruptly wrapped herself back around my arm. "I'm Vanessa Matthews, by the way. And I do shake hands, unlike my fiance," she said, extending her hand daintily to him. Nick smiled at her politely before taking her hand, a look of relief washing over his face. Christ, he's a schmuck, I spouted off bitterly in my head.
Meanwhile, Pepper was staring at me in annoyance, her jaw set. I caught a glimpse of it and shrugged indifferently, mouthing "What?" to her silently. She just shook her head in disbelief, and rolled her eyes. Hey. She knew, going into this, my low tolerance for douche bag financial advisors. From L.A. Named Nick. Why was it my problem that she just happen to hit that trifecta this time? She couldn't have picked a worse guy to date in my opinion, and I didn't mind letting her know that at every opportunity.
The pilot appeared from the cockpit, and greeted us all. "If everyone is present and accounted for, we should be ready for lift off momentarily," he said politely. He nodded and smiled, turning back around on his heels and disappearing again. We all took our seats. Vanessa and I sat together, side by side of course. Pepper and Nick took the seats directly across from us, and buckled up.
Not long after, the pilot fired up the engines and pulled away from the terminal, and we all settled in. I tried not to notice as Nick and Pepper cooed and purred to each other softly, but it was tough. I furrowed my brow, and turned my head, straining to inconspicuously eavesdrop on their conversation. But I was unable to make out their quiet words. However, what he'd said to her made her smile. Especially when he grabbed her hand and affectionately squeezed it. I quickly averted my eyes again, and wished it was me in that seat next to her at that moment, making her smile and holding her hand instead. Lucky bastard, I thought to myself, enviously. You'd better keep her smiling, too, or you'll have me to deal with, I resolved.
I just kept my gaze out the window, trying as much as possible to tamp down the effects of the stomach-churning reality in which I'd found myself. Vanessa kept trying to engage me in conversation. But I just lolled my head in her direction briefly, explaining I was still tired from the night before, and then rolled it back around to gaze out the window until my eyelids started to feel heavy. I figured this would be one of the few times I could actually get some decent sleep without fear of her shooting me up with some mystery drug, or waking up to find myself in some unknown location, shackled to another bed frame. I know. The paranoia was starting to sink in deep, and I needed some time just to get away from her and relax. But the more I tried to get comfortable, the more difficult it was becoming. My head was beginning to spin, and I felt like it was getting hard to breathe.
As soon as we reached altitude, I leaned over in Vanessa's direction. "I think I'm gonna go lie down," I whispered to her, before slowly rising up from my seat, careful so as not to give away my current condition. She pouted at me, but let me out of her grasp without argument.
"Mr. Stark? Are you alright? Can I get you anything?" Pepper asked politely, in true Personal Assistant fashion. Always the consummate professional, I thought, understanding she had to keep up appearances, but grimacing at the sound of my formal name coming out of her lips at a time like this. It sounds strange, but I love it when Pepper drops the formality and just calls me Tony. It makes it feel like we're...more than just boss and employee, you know? And at that moment, I longed for that small comfort.
I looked at her and put on what I hoped was a reassuring smile. "I'm fine, Ms. Potts. Just tired. Enjoy the flight, huh? Catch you on the flip side," I joked, still trying to mask how I was feeling. But Pepper and I caught each other's glances for just a moment and I sensed a glimmer of worry in her eyes. I nodded and winked at her, out the view of Vanessa, but in plain view of Nick, and Pepper smiled back, this time with more relief than worry. Nick just smiled, pretending not to notice.
I left the group and walked toward the direction of the main bedroom. Once inside, I collapsed on the bed, and groaned as I rolled over, pulling a pillow tightly to me and squeezing it hard. My skin felt cold and clammy now. My heart was beginning to thunder in my ears, and my whole body trembled, as I struggled to catch my breath. I was suddenly freezing cold, but began sweating like a pig at the same time. Then the realization of what was happening hit me- I was going through withdrawals.
XxXxXxXxXx
Once we got settled in, Nick leaned over to me and smiled. "Okay. Despite everything, tell me your not just a little bit excited to be going," he said softly. I blushed and smiled bashfully.
"Despite everything, I hope it will be a nice getaway, yes," I replied softly back. I looked at him appreciatively. "Thank you, again, for agreeing to go."
He gently grasped my hand and squeezed it. "Wouldn't miss it," he murmured hopefully, but something distracted me. I saw Tony turn his head to the side, and close his eyes for a moment. His breathing had become a bit haggard, and the color in his face had paled noticeably. I was just about to lean forward, and ask if he was alright, when he turned his head toward Vanessa, and murmured something in her ear. Whatever it was, it didn't look like she approved, but she stayed silent as he stood up and walked past her.
"Mr. Stark? Are you alright? Can I get you anything?" I offered. I called him Mr. Stark, only because Vanessa was glowering at me as I spoke, and I figured I needed to play the role of the humble assistant in her presence if I expected to be able to keep my eye on him for the next few days, without any further objection from her.
He briefly turned his head to me and replied. "I'm fine, Ms. Potts," he said, clearly sharing my same philosophy. He gave me what he must have thought passed for a reassuring smile, followed by a wink, and bid us adieu. But I couldn't help but continue to worry about how he looked. Frankly, he looked...sick. I flashed back to this morning, when he looked so distant and out of it at the hotel. It is no shock for you to know that I'd seen Tony hungover plenty of times before. And despite the fact that my gut had told me he hadn't been hungover just from too much alcohol, I had no choice but to believe that was all that was the matter. But for him to suddenly go from the picture of perfect health to pale and sickly right before my eyes caused many red flags to go up in my mind. Something was wrong. Very wrong.
I tried to give him an accepting smile, but immediately shed it when he turned his back to walk toward the sleeping quarters. I could still feel Vanessa's eyes on me, but I pretended not to notice.
"You okay?" Nick murmured to me.
I glanced back and forth between where Tony had just been, and Nick's concerned face. I smiled weakly. "I...I should go check on him," I muttered, making to leave my seat. But Vanessa stopped me.
"He's fine, dear!" she crowed. "No need for alarm! We've had a whirlwind schedule these last few days. I'm sure we all could do with a little recovery!"
I frowned, but relented. "Okay," I agreed. "I suppose."
"And what a good little assistant you are, to want to attend to him!" she cooed, in a syrupy-sweet baby-like tone. "No need to play nurse maid any more, though, Ms. Potts! He's got me to do that for him now!" she informed me, with an exaggerated, shark-like grin.
I bristled at her condescension, but stifled it and tried to give her a polite smile instead. "I'm not playing nurse maid. He just doesn't look well, Ms. Matthews. What kind of assistant would I be if I wasn't concerned?" I said.
Vanessa huffed, but kept her toothy grin. "Quite right," she said. "But as his fiance, I should be the one to look after him. That is my place now, after all." With that, she swiveled around on her heels and marched down the corridor and out of sight.
I watched her disappear before I spun around. "Did you see that?!" I whispered sternly to Nick, gesturing behind me. "I'm his personal assistant! And I can't even do my job with her around!"
Nick shrugged impishly. "I...don't see the problem, actually," he admitted. "She is his fiance. Isn't it better that she handle this kind of stuff now?"
I scoffed. "But...but...she's," I stammered helplessly.
Nick chuckled. He stood up and walked over to me, pulling me into his arms. Feeling defeated, I relented and let him."Ginny, I know it's hard for you to accept," he said. "You want to be the one to handle everything and have it all under control."
"I...well, yeah, I suppose, but..." I continued.
"And you've been his assistant for so many years, doing every little thing for him, that it's hard to allow someone else to step in," he stated.
I just frowned. "Nick, she wasn't even going to go in there," I argued. "I insisted. Vehemently. And she finally gave in. That doesn't sound like someone who..."
He interrupted me, and smoothed his hands down my upper arms. "Honey, calm down," he said. "Come on. Come sit down. Let's relax, and let Vanessa take care of her fiance, and you'll see it'll all be okay. Okay?" He led me back over to our seats, though I was stubbornly keeping my eyes on the corridor leading to the bedrooms as we walked.
We sat down, and Nick motioned for a flight attendant to come over. "A gin and tonic, and a..." he said. I still wasn't paying attention to him. He leaned into my line of sight, and I blinked, bringing my gaze back to him. Then I glance upwards at the woman, who was looking at me with an expectant smile.
"A...martini. Vodka. Dirty," I rattled off, absent-mindedly.
Nick grinned, and she bustled away to make our drinks. "There now," he said, with satisfaction. "That's better."
I closed my eyes for a split second, and sighed. What could I do? Vanessa was in there with him, and it would only ruffle her feathers if I barged in now. So I laid the moment to rest, and brought my focus back to Nick.
I smiled warmly. "You're right," I said. "Maybe I do need to start learning to let go."
Nick gave me a sympathetic smile and took my hands in his. "Well, if it's any consolation, from one control-freak to another, I feel your pain," he teased.
We chuckled. And I began to relax.
A few moments later, the flight attendant appeared with a drink tray, and served each of us. Nick held up his glass in a toast, and I joined him. "So, in honor, I'd like to propose at toast- to letting go," he said.
I briefly shifted my eyes back toward the bedroom where Tony and Vanessa currently were, and bit my lips together in thought. Was I just being a control freak? Had I read too much into the situation, and let my own feelings interfere with reality? Was I really beingthat...pathetic?
It was then and there that I decided- I couldn't go on pining for Tony like I had for so many years. He'd clearly made his choice in who he wanted to spend his life with, no matter if I agreed with his methods in doing so or not. So far as I was concerned, from that point forward, I was a new woman. Mr. Tony Stark wouldn't have this girl's heart to break anymore. It was time to turn over a new leaf. And what better way to do it than to be present for the man who sat in front of me now, clearly interested in treating me the way I knew I deserved.
I took a deep breath, wished the both of them well, and as I brought my eyes back to look at Nick, I released all of the hurt and the anguish I'd kept bottled up for so many years out into the proverbial ether. I smiled proudly at my newly found resolve, and nodded in agreement.
"Yes," I proclaimed. "To letting go."
