CHAPTER SEVEN
Summary: When Hermione's contract with SHIELD is sold to Stark Industries and she's traded like she's prized cattle, she is far from pleased. But then, she meets the notorious man for herself and she finds herself thinking that perhaps, it wasn't all that bad a trade.
Disclaimer: All original characters and canon events belong to J.K. Rowling and Marvel. Non-canon events and characters are my own. I am not making any profit from posting this fanfic. Characters are likely to be OOC. This takes place after Iron Man 2, and I will be taking liberties with the timeline/ canon events. Rated for language, violence and sexual content.
Q&A
So I wasn't going to address the chocolate thing but I've seen a few comments so I just want to clear something up. Yes, I know chocolate is poisonous to animals (I've had many pets over the years, and currently have five different species in my house, and I do have a background in professional animal/pet care and medicine) but only in large quantities. The odd chocolate biscuit here and there is fine and won't cause any issue. My dad gives my pets 1-2 chocolate biscuits a week and they are perfectly fine, as agreed by the vet when they go for their checkups. My dad had two German Shepherds when he was a kid and he gave them chocolate every day, and they both died of cancer at the age of 19. They had no health issues in regards to the chocolate consumption. A little chocolate is okay, too much is poisonous, there's a very fine line between the two.
Meldz – you won't be disappointed, I promise, and there's certainly plenty to choose from.
Gin-Sensu - Not a gala, but there will be some fancy dining coming in future chapters.
JeSuisMewmew – I'm walking a fine line between the two until it tips to one side completely.
Page count: 8
"Hey, Roomie!" Tony's voice carried. "Where are you?"
"Bedroom!" She called back, rolling her eyes to herself.
She stood in her walk-in wardrobe, shifting on her feet nervously and biting at her lip. She stood before the large mirror, scrutinizing her appearance and wondering if she had enough time to change into something else.
Her hair was drawn into an elegant knot at the nape of her neck, showcasing her neck and shoulders whilst one or two curls framed her face. Her makeup was kept minimal, just a dash of mascara and red-stained lips. Her cocktail dress was plain and simple; black fabric that sat off her shoulders and tight sleeves that fell down to her wrists, whilst the hemline fell an inch above the knee, the fabric conforming to her body shape and highlighting her pale complexion. Silver strappy heels sat on her feet, matching the clutch purse and bejewelled belt that fasted around her middle.
It was simple but classy. Perfect for the occasion. But maybe she should try something else before she made up her mind?
"Ah, there you are, what d'you want for dinner...?"
Tony trailed off as he stepped into the doorway and she took a breath before turning to face him, steeling herself for his reaction. He stood with his feet shoulder-width apart, his arms down by his sides, his mouth parted slightly and his eyes were a fraction wider than usual as they slowly took in her attire from head to toe.
"Well? What do you think?" She asked nervously, gesturing to herself with her clutch purse grasped in her hand.
"I... Er..."
Her stomach plummeted. She looked awful.
"I knew I should've gone with the blue," she grumbled. "I look ridiculous, don't I?"
"Wait! What?" Tony blinked slowly, his eyes lifting to catch hers, the hazy fog seeming to clear from his mind as he gave his head a subtle shake. "No, you look beautiful."
"Really?" She checked, ducking her head shyly.
"Stunning," he confirmed confidently, folding his arms over his chest and propping his shoulder against the door frame. "I've never seen you in anything but jeans and a lab coat, you clean up nice," he remarked. "What's the occasion?"
"I have a date," she confessed.
"A date?" He tried for casual as he arched an eyebrow, but she saw the slight narrowing of the eyes and pursing of the lips.
"Yes, and I have to admit, I'm a little nervous." She shuffled her feet and her teeth once more caught the corner of her lip. "It's been a while since I last went on a date."
"How long?"
"About a year."
"That's one hell of a dry spell," he commented.
"I'm always busy with work," she shrugged. "It was an accident, actually. I took a walk this morning and literally bumped into someone. He knocked my tea all over me and ruined my shirt. He offered to buy me another one and before I knew it, he'd asked me to dinner tonight."
"Fab," he offered lightly, looking lost in thought as his eyes fell to the floor. "Where's he taking you?"
"I'm not sure, he said it was a surprise."
He lifted his gaze, looking concerned. "So, he's picking you up?"
"Yes," Hermione nodded. "I said I'd meet him at Emma's and we'd go from there. I'm due to meet him in twenty minutes."
"What's his name?" He asked casually.
"I'm not telling you."
"Why?" His brow furrowed and his lip jutted out in a pout before he thought better of it and drew it back.
She sniggered at the sight. "Because I don't want you to be all overprotective and scare him away before I even get to the dinner table."
"Overprotective?" He challenged.
"Yes, overprotective. You know, doing an enhanced background search until you know his name, job, home address, hobbies, his school teachers, what he has for breakfast? That kind of thing."
"I'm glad that recognise my hacking skills... And what's wrong with doing a little background check. It won't hurt anyone. You never know, he might have an arrest warrant out on him 'cause he's a drug dealer or an abusive asshole."
"He is not, he was perfectly charming and polite," she defended.
"They're the ones you need to look out for," he pointed out.
"I'm not arguing with you over this. I forbid you from doing a background check on my date, but now, I best go before I'm late."
She reached for her white pea coat and slipped it on before fastening it, protecting her from the autumn, evening chill.
"Fine," he sighed in reluctant agreement. "But don't come crying to me if he murders you." He pushed away from the door frame before continuing with, "D'you want me to walk you to Emma's? With you out for the evening, I thought about ordering my usual from there, so I'll be going in that direction anyway."
"You just want to be nosy and see who my date is," she said knowingly.
"I promise I'll stay out of the way," he held his hands up.
She eyed him thoughtfully before nodding in agreement and once he retrieved a jacket and she gave Sally a goodbye scratch behind the ears, they took their leave in the lift, greeting the security guards before stepping out of the Tower and onto the street.
"Should I expect you home?" He arched an eyebrow.
"I don't know what impression I gave you but I don't sleep around and never on the first date."
"Just asking," he held his hands up in surrender.
"I shouldn't be out too late, and if the date goes sideways, then I'll make an excuse and duck out early."
"Why aren't you meeting at the Tower?" He asked curiously.
"I didn't want him to know where I lived or worked," she shrugged, slipping her hands into her coat pockets. "Firstly, he doesn't know that I work for you and I wouldn't be surprised if he fangirls over you and asks if I can set up a meeting or get him your autograph should he discover the news. And secondly, if this date goes bad, I don't want him potentially showing up at my place of work. That's why I set Emma's up as the meeting place. It's neutral territory but it's familiar for me, something I'm hoping will help calm my nerves."
"You're nervous? Why?"
"I'm not the easiest person to date, I know I can be difficult and intimidating and I haven't had the best luck in the past, and considering I'm thirty-one, I don't have much experience. You're forgetting, I was with my first boyfriend for five years before we broke up because he was a cheating arsehole, and after that, my relationships were far and in-between."
"Bullshit, you'll be fine," he declared with a roll of his eyes. "You're incredibly intelligent, you have a job that earns you forty thousand a month, you bake the best brownies in the city and you're looking fine as hell in that frock."
A laugh fell from her and she turned to look at him, her eyes sparkling with amusement and gratitude.
"Well, thank you, Tony. However, I know from experience that some men take issue with women earning more than they do, and he might find that intimidating, or he might try to take advantage of me. Let's be honest, what do I have to offer? I'm a workaholic that lives with her boss in the same building in which she works. If I'm being honest, I don't see this date going any further than dinner."
"You haven't even had dinner yet," he rolled his eyes. "Hold off on the judgement and at least try to enjoy yourself," he advised. "You never know, he might surprise you."
"You think so?"
"Yeah, for all you know, he's going to lure you back to his dungeon, cut the skin from your body and turn it into a coat. That'll definitely be a surprise when he's jabbing a sedative into your neck."
"Honestly," she huffed, smacking him on the arm with the back of her hand as he sniggered.
"In all seriousness, there's some weirdoes in this city and you've only met this guy once. Make sure he takes you someone public, well crowded might be better so if needs be, you can escape and get lost amongst the crowd. If you get a strange vibe or you feel uncomfortable, give me a call and I'll fly over in my suit and pick you up."
"You're being overprotective," she sang.
"No, I'm being realistic," he corrected. "I just want to make sure you're safe, I'm only looking out for you. I can't have my highest-paid employee murdered, it'll be bad for business."
"Charming," she scoffed.
She gave a sudden squeal when her heel got caught in a crack on the pavement, sending her into a stumble that would've had her face planting the ground had Tony not used his reflexes to steady her. Even with the Balancing Charm she'd fitted on the death traps she still struggled to stay upright, what did that say about her?
"Don't laugh," she chided him. "I'm not used to wearing these things, I much prefer my trainers. And technically, it's wasn't my fault my heel got caught in a crack on the floor. It's a wonder it didn't happen before."
To ensure her continued safety she slotted her arm through Tony's to help keep her upright, something the billionaire didn't seem to mind as he silently slipped his hands into his jacket pockets.
A few minutes later, they arrived at Emma's and Hermione took a step back from Tony.
"Well, off you go, he'll be here any minute."
"I think I'll wait until he gets here if you don't mind, just to ensure your safety, of course," he said, giving her an innocent smile.
She didn't buy it.
"I do mind, actually," she said, narrowing her eyes slightly. "You just want the opportunity to interrogate him," she said knowingly.
"As I said, ensure your safety," he repeated.
She rolled her eyes. "No, get in there and order your dinner. You can still see me through the window... No, get in there or I swear, I'll turn you blue again," she threatened.
He narrowed his eyes, appraising her carefully before releasing a huff of annoyance when he realised she wasn't bluffing.
"Fine," he acquiesced. "But I'll be watching."
"That's what I like to hear," she chirped.
He snorted. "Remember, if you're uncomfortable, call me and I'll pick you up."
He gave her a final glance before turning and stepping into the diner, the waitress taking one look at him as he took a seat by the window before giving his order to the kitchen, without having to speak with him.
Tony kept his eyes on Hermione and when he saw a taxi pull up outside the diner, his eyes narrowed and he slipped the earpiece into place.
Damn, he thought. No personal car meant he couldn't use the license plate to discover the registered owner.
"Jarvis?"
"Yes, Sir," replied the AI.
"Stand by," he instructed.
He sunk back into the booth and lowered his head slightly, trying to hide his face in case Hermione's date should look over, spot him and recognise him, when the taxi door opened and a man stepped out. Given the distance and the dark, it made it difficult to see him clearly and make out his features, but he did notice that he was taller than Hermione, even when she wore heels.
His eyes narrowed when he approached Hermione and they shared a kiss to the cheek in greeting before he led her towards the taxi, holding the door open and allowing her to climb in before he followed her. When the taxi pulled away, Tony said,
"Jarvis, follow them."
"Yes, Sir."
"And check any cameras in the area, grab a screenshot of his face and run it through facial recognition. I want to know everything, from his shoe size to his last dental check-up."
"Yes, Sir. But if I might? I don't believe Dr. Granger will approve."
"I made a promise that I wouldn't do a background check. I never said that I wouldn't have someone else do it for me," he defended. "It's for her safety. She only met the guy this morning and she knows nothing about him.
"And you are certain you are not jealous?"
Tony scoffed, barely sparing the waitress a second glance when she placed his food and milkshake on the table before him. Rather, his attention was on the screen of the device in his hand, his eyes locked on the facial recognition programme Jarvis had running.
"Jealous? Of course, I'm not jealous, I'm just worried she might be in danger. Anyway, what do you know about jealousy, you don't have emotions?
"Jealousy: the state or feeling of being jealous. Jealous; feeling or showing an envious resentment of someone or their achievements, possessions, or perceived advantages."
"That's the oxford dictionary definition," Tony rolled his eyes.
"Yes, Sir, it is," replied the AI. "However, I believe you are jealous."
"Why am I jealous?" He challenged.
"You are jealous that it is not you in which she is having dinner with this evening. You are jealous that she is giving her affection and attention to another male."
"Shut up, Jarvis," Tony scowled. "I'm not jealous. Why would I be jealous of..."
He paused, perking up slightly when a ding sounded, alerting him that the facial recognition software had found a match. His eyes swept over the smiling face of Hermione's date, his hair a dirty blonde and cut short, his eyebrows bushy, his eyes a dark blue and his chin and jaw slightly squared.
"Chris Ford, 28, paralegal for Grant and Mitchell law firm... Failed the BAR three times... Hmm, so he's either a dummy or doesn't hold well under pressure... Attended New York University ... It's not Yale, though, is it?... Graduated tenth in his class... Oh, Daddy paid the tuition, huh?..."
"Sir, your father paid your college fees," interrupted Jarvis.
Tony frowned. "When did you get so sassy? I never programmed you that way, I swear you've been conversing with Granger too much and I don't like it." He pursed his lips before giving his head a shake and clearing his throat, continuing with, "Plays squash twice a week... Boring... Shares a townhouse with his older sister... Oh, Daddy paid for that, too. Has a 2010 Audi A5 registered to his name... Ah, it was totalled two weeks ago in an accident... Younger sister was driving, a bit of bad luck, that is... Daddy's a hedge fund manager, mother died of lung cancer in 2007... Has three unpaid parking tickets... No warrants or arrests... Oh, now that is interesting," Tony muttered. "A sealed juvenile record... Not for long," he grinned to himself, his food forgotten as his fingers hastily typed away at his phone screen.
"Sir, I really must advise against this," Jarvis intervened.
"Don't be a party pooper," Tony replied, snagging a fry from his plate and putting it into his mouth before returning to his phone once more.
"Sir, if Dr. Granger discovers that you..."
"She won't discover anything unless you or I tell her, and I have no intentions of telling her anything. So if she should become privy to my hacking into his sealed court records or his background, I'll know it was you that snitched and as retribution, I'll cut your access to the world wide web."
"That seems entirely too harsh a punishment, Sir," the AI responded.
"Perhaps," Tony agreed. "Ha! I'm in! Now let's see what naughty things you did as a kiddie... Egging cars, Tee-pee'ing houses, rearranging garden ornaments into depicting sexual acts, stealing hanging baskets... Seriously, that's why he has a record? For being a damn kid?" Tony grumbled, rolling his eyes. "This guy's so boring she'll be looking for any excuse to ditch out."
"And you are certain you are not jealous, Sir?"
"I'm not jealous," Tony scowled. "I'm far more interesting than a damn paralegal."
"But it is him Dr. Granger is having dinner with this evening," reminded Jarvis.
"Jarvis, you really know how to ruin a guy's night. And I have dinner with her every evening," he argued.
~000~000~000~
"How was your date?"
Hermione startled and had to grip the railing to prevent her from falling over and she glared at Tony in annoyance. She hadn't even stepped out of the lift yet, the doors had only just opened and Tony was stood before her, his expression expectant.
"Rubbish," she admitted.
"Really?"
She tipped her head slightly. Was that relief?
"Really," she confirmed, stepping out of the lift, removing her coat and crossing over to the couch before collapsing onto it, greeting Sally when she climbed onto her lap and licked her cheek. Tony took a seat beside her, Hermione noting the paused movie that was on the TV.
"So, will you tell me his name now?" He asked.
Hermione narrowed her eyes suspiciously, seeing the knowing sparkle in his eyes and the slight tug at the corner of his mouth.
"Chris Ford, and don't you dare do a background check. It's no longer required; I won't be seeing him again."
"Weird vibes?"
"No," she shook her head. "It's just... God, I feel awful for saying this but... He was so boring," she sighed. "Throughout the majority of dinner, he only spoke about himself and whenever I tried to get a word in, he'd just cut me off. I did let slip that I worked for Stark Industries, not that I worked in such close quarters with you, mind... Anyway, when I told him I was a medical doctor with four masteries under my belt, he laughed in my face, as if I wasn't smart enough to hold the qualifications I do. I don't know how I didn't fall asleep at the table, or how I didn't smack him in the face."
Tony snorted. "That's something I wouldn't mind seeing."
"Trust me, I've a decent right hook. I broke a bully's nose in my third year of school. Honestly, it felt great."
Tony laughed. "I bet it did. So you're not seeing this guy again?"
"No, definitely not. He tried to ask me out on a second date but I declined, something he took offence to. But at least he wasn't a serial killer that wished to harvest my organs and turn me into a rug."
"You got lucky on that front," Tony agreed.
"Anyway, my first date in a year was a disaster and I don't wish to speak about it any further. I'm exhausted and my feet are killing so I'm off to bed. Night, Tony."
She shifted Sally from her lap, gathered her coat and headed for her bedroom, Tony's eyes following her movements until she could no longer be seen but her heels continued to echo in the silence.
See, Jarvis? He thought smugly. No reason to be jealous.
