To all of my incredibly supportive readers- you know I love you, and we're in this together for the long haul! Life sometimes gets in the way, and I can't update as often as I'd like (if I could spend my days just writing, BELIEVE ME, I would!) But I'll keep updating as long as you want to keep reading! That goes for all of my fics. Hell or high water, it's Pepperony forever! Even if they are only together in fanfic right now. May true love conquer all!
NOW! ON WITH THE STORY!
Vanessa and I spent the rest of the afternoon meandering through the side streets leading back to our hotel at her behest. She babbled away about various and sundry topics, as we made our way in and out of different shops. And I supposed it was to play the role of being a newly engaged and in-love couple to any onlookers. But I probably couldn't have looked more disinterested if I'd tried. My mind was on one thing, and one thing only- to somehow get Pepper alone ASAP, and let her know the extent of what was happening. Vanessa's plan was officially in full swing. And if I was going to derail it before she became the instigator of a nuclear holocaust, I'd need to get Pepper brought up to speed, and working right along with me. All without Vanessa being even the slightest bit aware.
Eventually, Vanessa grew tired and we made our way back to the hotel. When we got inside our room, she coiled herself around me, forcing a passionate kiss on my lips. "Mmmmmm," she moaned, after breaking it off, oblivious to my half-assed reciprocation. I smiled weakly, fighting to resist the urge to instantly wipe my mouth in disgust. She smirked at me. "I'm going to have a shower. Care to join me, love?" she purred.
"Go ahead," I answered briskly. "I was actually looking forward to taking in the view," I said, motioning toward the balcony.
She pouted at me. "Pity. I'd hoped you'd find the view better in the shower," she quipped. She lazily walked two fingers up my chest. "But fine. Have it your way. Take in the scenery. But when I emerge, darling, I have full intention of showing you the scenery in here."
"Can't wait," I choked out, which seemed to placate her for the moment. She cooed and giggled in approval, pecking my lips before spinning around on her heels, and bouncing into the bathroom.
As soon as she was out of sight, I instantly reached for my phone. Now was my chance to talk to Pepper.
But just as soon as I was about to dial, I heard some quiet rumblings next door. She and Nick were in the room next to ours, and they must have just got back. I could faintly hear Pepper's voice, and the sound of the french doors to their balcony opening, so I rushed to ours and yanked them open, marching outside to meet her.
"Mr. Stark!" Pepper chimed brightly when she saw me. She was alone, thank God.
She grinned and walked over to where our balcony railings neared each other, shielding her eyes from the sun. "How was your afternoon?" she asked with as much pleasantness as I was sure she could muster- probably because she believed Vanessa was well within earshot.
I leaned in her direction, and looked at her intently. "Can we talk for a minute? Privately?" I urged softly.
Her face immediately went from a polite smile to one of both relief and concern. "Yes, of course! I thought you'd never ask! But, hold on..." she said, holding up a pointer finger in front of her to halt me. She turned to look over her shoulder, checking on Nick's whereabouts, and then she turned back to me. "Go ahead. I think he's on the phone at the moment," she assured me. "So, what happened at the bank? Please tell me you didn't sign anything over to her!" she pleaded softly.
I looked at her in surprise, shocked at how similar her fearful conclusion was to the truth of what Vanessa planned to carry out. "Wow," I gasped. It was all I could manage.
Pepper's eyes went wide at my reaction. "Oh God! You did, didn't you? Oh, Tony!" she exclaimed regretfully, but still keeping her volume to a soft murmur.
I quickly regathered my wits, and corrected her. "No. No, I didn't. But you are surprisingly not far off, Potts." I proceeded to quickly tell her what Vanessa was actually up to. She gasped when I revealed her plan to start production on nuclear weapons to sell to North Korea by making me forfeit my holdings in the company, hence the reason for creating the fake marriage- so she could acquire all of my assets quickly and seamlessly, without any long drawn-out legal proceedings. And I explained that Obadiah had held no objection to us partnering up since it was all being done under the guise of developing new nuclear-based clean-energy applications.
"But how can she make you do this? And what would stop you from going to the authorities, now? You've got proof that she's collected funds from a known enemy!" she said.
"You really think they'd transfer funds from Kim Jong Un's personal bank account, or something? It would be coming from a decoyed account, no doubt. Untraceable. And besides, if I did go to the authorities, I'd..." I started to say. Here came the hardest part to take in all of this, in my mind. She frowned, waiting for my next words. "Lose you," I finished glumly. "She's assured me of that."
"You'd lose me? What do you mean you'd..." Then she gasped. "Ohhh," she said, suddenly making the connection between what she'd overheard from behind the bar on the plane the night before, and what I was telling her now. I nodded affirmatively in reply. Then she glowered, and I saw her eyes flash with anger at the thought of the threat on her life.
"And I'm not willing to assume she's bluffing, either," I stated, continuing. "That's why you can't let on that you know anything. One false move, one slip, and..." I didn't have the heart to finish the sentence. But I didn't need to.
Pepper swallowed hard in response, and nodded, clearly understanding the implied ramifications of my warning. We stared gravely at each other for a moment as she processed this new information. After a moment, she mustered the effort to speak. "Tell me something," she muttered, trembling.
"Anything," I said.
She closed her eyes, and took a couple of deep breaths to try to steady herself. Then she opened her eyes again, and looked at me. "In all of this, I have to ask- why would you be willing to risk so much...for me?"
Why WOULDN'T I?, I instantly thought. But I just shrugged and shook my head, instead. "I can't have your death on my conscience, Pep. I wouldn't be able to forgive myself," I answered.
Despite her current state, Pepper gave me a sympathetic smile. "Then I guess I'm flattered that you think so highly of me," she said graciously. "So, thank you. To say the very least."
I smiled back. "Well, you're worth it, Pep. And you're very welcome," I replied.
She chuckled softly. "Worth a nuclear meltdown, huh? Boy, you really know how to sweet talk a girl," she joked. That time, we both chuckled. Then Pepper's face fell again, and she looked sadly into my eyes. "Whatever you need me to do, Tony," she said resolutely. "I'll do."
I nodded, and smiled. "I know I can count on you, Pep," I replied.
At that instant, the noise of the bathroom door opening inside my room was heard, and I quickly looked over my shoulder in alarm. Then I looked back at Pepper, my eyes wide with fear. "Go!" I whispered to her, suddenly panicking that we'd been overheard.
"Right!" Pepper said, glancing over my shoulder and then back at me, and nodding.
She hurriedly disappeared back inside, leaving me alone on the balcony. I could hear Vanessa moving about in the room, and was immediately reminded of what she'd promised would happen once bath time was over. Shuddering at the thought, it made me want to soak up every solitary moment I had to myself before she inevitably beckoned. So I closed my eyes, trying to focus instead on the warmth of the sun on my face as I tilted it upwards, and deeply inhaling the salty air to calm my nerves.
I was listening to the sound of the waves crashing when Vanessa's shrill harping predictably interrupted my solitude. "Oh, Tooooony, darling!" she squawked. "Your present is ready for it's unwrapping!"
I opened my eyes and let out a burdened sigh, the weight of reality sinking itself back onto my shoulders. "Oh, goody," I muttered bitterly under my breath, gritting my teeth. I smacked the railing in front of me with a flattened palm, trying to shore up my gumption before swiveling around on my heels to tromp back inside to go play nicey-nice with my psychotic, pseudo-fiance.
XxXxXxXxXx
I managed to hold it together long enough to give Nick a quick smile as I passed by him on my way to the bathroom. He was still on the phone, and obviously hadn't heard any of my and Tony's conversation, so he was none the wiser that anything was wrong. But on the inside, I was boiling with emotion. And I needed a moment alone to steady myself.
I briskly shut the bathroom door behind me, and locked it. Then, I clapped a hand over my mouth, as I quickly lost my composure, and hot tears immediately spilled over onto my cheeks. Slowly, I sank down onto the toilet seat, sobbing uncontrollably but silently, as I was desperately trying to keep from raising any suspicions with Nick and giving myself away. Sure, he knew my conflict with Vanessa, and my concern for Tony. But after everything Tony had told me, I just needed a moment to process it all, without him being witness to it. And I wasn't yet sure I even wanted Nick to know what was going on. It was too horrific for anyone to believe, yet here Tony and I were, stuck in this nightmare together. All because of that self-righteous, entitled, spoiled brat, and clearly psychotic, Vanessa!
How DARE she treat him this way!, I raged in my mind. Who the HELL does she think she is?! Marching into his life like this, and taking everything over!
"I won't let it happen," I whispered to myself, shaking my head, my teeth gritted. "I can't. He doesn't deserve this. No one does."
Just then, there was a soft knock on the door. "Ginny? You okay?" I heard Nick say.
I froze for a moment, and then scrambled to grab some tissues to hastily dry my eyes. I stood up and rushed to the sink. "Uh, yeah...yes. I'm fine," I replied, wincing at my the sound of my awkward stammering. I quickly turned on the cold water, and surveyed my tear-stained face in the mirror just before I splashed some cold water on it to try to get rid of the evidence that I'd been crying.
"You sure? I thought I heard you crying," Nick said.
I grimaced. Damn it. Busted, I thought. "Crying?" I replied, trying my hardest to sound innocent, and splashing more cold water on my face.
"Did Tony say something to upset you?" Nick asked.
I scoffed, and rolled my eyes. That doesn't begin to cover it, I thought. "No, no," I assured him. "Everything is fine."
Satisfied with my appearance once again, I plastered an "all is well" smile across my face, and turned the door knob, opening the door to a very concerned Nick Green.
"You're sure you're okay?" he asked, eyeing me cautiously.
I leaned in to peck his lips, and smiled. "I'm fine," I told him.
He gave me a skeptical look, along with a wary, "Okay?"
I nodded once affirmatively, and walked back over to the open balcony doors, pretending to take in the view. "Whatever gave you the idea something was wrong?" I asked, feigning amusement, hoping I could just offer up some simple explanation, and gloss over any suspicions he had for the time being.
"You just seemed a little bothered when you came back inside," I heard him say.
I closed my eyes, admonishing myself for not hiding my display of emotion better. "Well, I..." I began. But then, completely against my will and out of my control, tears began to sear my eyes again, and I squeezed them shut, trying in futility to keep the inevitable from happening. By that point, though, my cover was blown. A sob escaped my lips, and Nick rushed to my side. "Ah, see? I knew something was wrong! What is it? What did he say to you?" he asked. I could see anger boiling up in his eyes.
Embarrassed by my inability to keep my composure, I just smiled at him sheepishly and shook my head. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't be crying. I just..." I began. Another sob left my throat, and I swallowed hard. "It's just Tony. And that witch! She's awful. Just awful."
Nick's demeanor changed from anger to concern, which I was somewhat relieved to see. Then he pulled me in for hug. The warm embrace actually felt very comforting at the moment, and I welcomed it, wrapping my arms around his neck, and closing my eyes.
"What's happened? What did she do now? Tell me," he urged, pulling back to look deeply into my eyes, and rubbing my back, trying to soothe me.
I took a minute to compose myself, as my mind was still racing. Should I lay out to him all of what Tony had told me?, I thought. But more importantly, did I know for a fact I could trust him with this information?
Nick certainly hadn't proven I couldn't. He'd been so caring and such a good sport to even be willing to accompany me on this trip. He knew all of my concerns- from what Tony was getting himself into to the rate of progression in our own relationship, and had been such a wonderful source of support, and endlessly patient with me. How could I not trust him with this?
I'd completely respect Nick if , after I told him everything, he no longer wanted any part of it, and left immediately. Honestly, who could blame him if he did? None of this was his concern, in the end. But I decided he needed to know what was going on, none the less. At least then, I wouldn't have to hide anything from him, and he'd know what I was up against. Bye bye, love, I thought to myself in regret. This'll send him packing for sure. And I'll once again have to chalk another lost relationship up to the consequence for being part of Tony Stark's bizarre universe.
I looked into his eyes, and took a deep breath. "Okay," I said. "I'll tell you. But I warn you- it's shocking. Unbelievably so. Never in a million years would I have thought anyone would go to such lengths to..." My voice faltered, and I had to stop talking for a moment to fight back another onslaught of tears.
Nick silently watched me with great concern, patiently waiting until I was ready to speak again.
"To take everything from him," I finished, my heart re-breaking at the sound of the words.
Nick furrowed his brow in confusion. "What do you mean by everything?" he asked.
I took another deep breath, and shored up my resolve. "Come on," I said, reaching for his hand and guiding him toward the foot of the bed. "You'll want to sit down for this."
