It was nearing noon at Stark Industries on Monday and Pepper was typing furiously on her laptop while taking calls and jotting down notes when Tony decided to stroll in. There was a meeting at one o'clock and so this meant Tony was early in his eyes. Besides he was hoping to get some time with Pepper since she had been dodging his calls and avoiding him since Saturday night.
Pepper was talking to a very persistent man that Tony did not want to do business with when he entered her office.
Tony was in momentary shock. The woman behind the desk looked and sounded like his assistant but there was no way that it could be. Pepper was wearing a sleeveless floral jumpsuit with some mild cleavage and big dangly earrings with a bangle bracelet. She had on red lipstick like the other night, not her usual nude gloss and her hair was voluminous and wavy.
"That's right" she said as she pretended not to notice Tony.
"No Mr. Stark is not available" she repeated.
She could feel Tony's presence getting closer and closer to her desk but she still didn't look up to acknowledge him.
"You have a nice day now," she said, hanging up the phone.
"Ok who are you and what have you done to Pepper?" Tony asked while his drawer was still dropped.
"I thought you of all people would approve" she said as she printed some papers.
"I definitely approve. I'm just in shock"
"This is how I was before S.I." she said as she stacked the papers neatly.
"I'm speechless"
"It wouldn't be the first time," she teased.
"So let me guess. Was that Stefania's angry husband on the phone?" he asked.
"No. I took care of him. It was Don Milton calling again. He's been begging to give you his pitch about some aeronautics tech" she explained.
"And you took care of him too I see" Tony said with a wink.
She was about to go back at him when a text popped up on her phone.
"Shit" she said out loud and immediately covered her mouth.
Tony had the biggest smile on his face.
"Potty mouth Potts" he teased.
Pepper was stressed. A reminder went off on her phone about the wedding of an old high school rival she rsvp'd yes to with a plus one but didn't have a plus one. Tony stared at the distress on her face.
"What is it? What's wrong?" Tony asked.
"It's nothing. I'll figure it out" she said frantically going through her bag for her notebook. She had started a list of names of some guys she had dated before she didn't finish calling all of them yet. The only one she wanted to ask was Mike but they also agreed to never drag each other to stupid weddings and she was grateful that he spared her some of the miserable weddings he went to and she would give him the same courtesy.
She looked at the list and the guys on the list made her stomach turn. She was going to hire someone before she showed up at Lisa Cawley's wedding solo.
Pepper started frantically typing in her blackberry and jotting things down on a notepad.
"Look whatever it is can wait. Let's get some lunch before the budget meeting" he said.
Pepper grabbed the notepad and shoved it in her purse. As Pepper had her back turned to gather her things Tony grabbed a pencil and traced over the notepad to see the imprint of what she wrote down. It was a phone number. He silently typed it into his Stark tablet as he followed her.
The Matchmaker Los Angeles website came up.
Matchmaker? Is Pepper looking for a date or an escort? Or is she looking to get laid? Pepper should not be paying for dates or for sex. Also it's not safe. She's going to be pissed that I copied the number but I can't let her pay for sex.
The limo ride to their favorite takeout place was quiet and he felt like Pepper was distancing herself from him.
"What's on your mind Pep?" Tony asked.
"It's nothing," she said.
She was trying to avoid the fact that she was going to prove to everyone once again what a loser she is by showing up dateless to her rival's wedding. She was also trying to avoid how badly she was craving sex lately. But mostly she was avoiding how gorgeous Tony looked today and how much she loved hugging him and touching him and being that close to him on Saturday.
"Look I know this may be an embarrassing subject for you but there's no reason for you to be embarrassed. Women have urges the same as men and whatever needs you're having you shouldn't have to pay for them"
"Tony what on earth are you talking about?" she asked.
"You know Pepper, it's just as awkward for me to be talking about it with you. And I'm your boss and everything"
"Spit it out Stark" she said, getting annoyed with him.
"Sex. You should never have to pay for sex" he blurted out and couldn't look her in the eye.
"Tony I would never pay for sex. What makes you think I ever would? Not that my sex life is any of your business" she said.
"Oh thank God. I was going to say you're too classy for that and it's not safe in Los Angeles" Tony said breathing a sigh of relief.
"Tony where did you get the idea that I was going to pay for sex?" she asked calmly.
She could imagine what was going to come out of his mouth.
"The Matchmaker Los Angeles" he said, getting ready to accept whatever wrath Pepper was going to give him.
"That's an invasion of my privacy and I was only going to use them as a last resort and not for sex. I need a date for a wedding. It's my high school rival and I rsvp'd with a plus one and it's in two weeks and I don't have a plus one" she said.
"Take me. I'll go" he said flashing her his megawatt smile.
"No," she said.
"Why not? You said this girl is your rival. What better way to win the war than with me on your arm? I will make sure every eye in the room is on you not her and she'll be super jealous" he said.
"Tony no. You're my boss" she said.
"I'm also your friend and we'll be off the clock" he said.
"Tony you'll be bored and it's a whole weekend of events" she said.
"Let me do this for you. You need a date and I am an excellent date. I will dazzle everyone and all the men will wish they were me when they see you on my arm"
Pepper couldn't help but smile.
"Normally I would never agree to anything like this but Lisa Cawley is my legitimate enemy. I know she only invited me to show off so just this once you can be my date" she said.
"I would be honored"
"Let's go eat. We need to be back for the budget meeting" she said.
Tony groaned but followed her.