Pepper was hard at work and it was just about time for lunch when Tony surprised her at the office.
"What are you doing here?" she asked in surprise.
"I thought we had a board meeting," he said.
"We do, but I just didn't expect you to show," she said.
"You're not the only one full of surprises," Tony said.
Pepper gave him a look to show him she knew what he was talking about.
"Since you're here there's something I want to talk to you about," she said.
"OK," he said as he took a seat on the leather chair and anticipated what she was going to say.
"I'd like to explain about what you saw on Sunday," she said, not meeting his eyes.
"Pepper, it's your private business. You don't have to explain,"
"No, I want to. His name is Mike. We dated when I started college and I'm not into the whole casual sex thing. I only have sex with people that I know and trust and he's a great guy. We've stayed friends so when we're both single we meet up for sex sometimes. Although he usually has a girlfriend because he's a wonderful person so if I get sex six times a year than that's a lot for me," she said quietly.
Tony took a minute to process this. Poor Pepper was sexually frustrated. He could help her with that. He wanted to help her with that. But he wanted so much more. He was relieved it wasn't a serious or long term thing. He really wanted to help her with her frustrations. It was bothering him that she was feeling horny and not getting satisfied because she was too beautiful for that. But he was relieved because he didn't want a bunch of gross men touching her.
"You didn't have to explain because it's none of my business but I appreciate that you did. Also I'm sorry that you're feeling frustrated. Women should never have to deal with that," he explained.
"I appreciate you saying that, but it's OK really,"
"Well now that that's all cleared up we have a board meeting to get to,"
"Yes we do," she said, grabbing her things and heading out the door.
"So do you and Mike have plans again this week?" he asked.
Pepper gave him a look.
"I'm just curious. In case I decide to pay you a visit I wouldn't want to interrupt," he said as he looked over at him.
"I don't know. I really only text him when I need him and I'm feeling much better now," she said.
"You look good. I mean you look happier, less stressed," Tony said awkwardly.
"Well you should know. You were always in a better mood when you had overnight guests," she said as they got into the elevator together.
"That's different. I'm a man and that's part of my basic needs like water and food and air,"
"And it can't be a basic need for women too?" she challenged.
"Not like a man. We can't live without it,"
"Oh really? So you're not doing too good right now are you" she pointed out as they got out of the elevator and walked into the board room.
"No I'm not," he said as he took a seat.
Pepper began the board meeting and Tony played on his phone like usual. Although he was listening because he knew everything that was happening at the moment but he trusted Pepper to run the company. He was really contemplating how he was going to lay out his plans for Friday night. Pepper would need a dress and he already knew her size because he could see all the credit card statements from the birthday gifts she ordered herself on his credit card. He would take a trip to Rodeo drive after this meeting. Once the meeting finished Tony said his goodbyes to the members of the board as a professional courtesy. He didn't care for some of them but business is business. When it was only him and Pepper left he approached her.
"Is there anything else you need from me while I'm here," he asked Pepper while he checked her out when she wasn't looking. He memorized her naked body and he couldn't get it out of his mind.
"Nope that will be all. You're free to go and play with your toys," she teased.
"You're the boss now. I'm not used to this. I miss you hanging around the mansion," he said with a sad face.
"While I'll just have to surprise you one day," she said.
" I will make sure that I have clothes on unlike when I surprise visit you," he said, not being able to hold himself back.
"Goodbye Tony," Pepper said trying to hide her embarrassment.
"Don't be a stranger Pepper," Tony said as he left the office.
He hopped into his car and went straight to Rodeo drive. He went straight to Saint Laurent, one of Pepper's favorite boutiques and asked to see all the dresses in a size 2. He looked at a few different styles that he thought Pepper would look amazing in. First was a black sleeveless satin slip dress, then he moved on to a cut out bustier mini dress in pleated silk crepe. They were the two best in the whole store. He stared at them for a while in silence while the saleswomen gave great reasons why both would work.
"I'll take both," he said as he handed the woman his credit card and watched as she wrapped them in the bag.
Tony carried them back and to the car and was preparing his strategy for his date with Pepper. Vespertine and then maybe a walk on the beach. There was so much he wanted to say which is where he always fell short. He needed to use his words. He drove up the coast and reminisced to the story his mother told him of how Howard had mom her heart. It all started when she was staying in Monaco during a flight scale and she really needed a break. Her bodyguards were extremely overbearing and she was young and wanted to have fun. She outsmarted her bodyguards by changing stuffing all the pillows in her bed and covering them up to look like she was sleeping and escaping out of her balcony. She walked across the street to the nearest casino and found a spot at a baccarat table. She wasn't doing very well and losing lots of money quickly when she saw a man across the room at a blackjack table staring at her. She sipped her drink and smiled at him and continued with her game. He was very handsome. He had dark hair and a mustache and a nice physique but she was going to ignore him since there were several women surrounding him. She continued betting and was losing even more money when she heard a voice behind her.
"Do you like giving me all your money?" said a man's voice.
She turned to look and it was the handsome man from across the room whom she recognized immediately now that he was up close but she pretended not to notice.
"Excuse me?" she asked.
"You keep losing all your money. I own this place. I'm Howard Stark," he said.
"I'll have you know I'm a fantastic baccarat player. I'm losing this money on purpose," she said as she noticed that her body guards realized she was wishing and entered the casino.
He was about to speak but she interrupted him.
"See those men over by the cashier?" she asked him.
He nodded.
"They're my bodyguards and they're a bit overbearing. I came over here to escape," she said.
"I know where we could leave undetected," he said raising an eyebrow at her.
The guards were heading their way now getting close to spotting her when Maria made a gutsy move, she pushed Howard against one of the columns and pressed her lips to his until the guards passed them and went to the other side of the casino.
"Are they gone? Is it safe?" she asked as she pulled her lips away from his.
He nodded but the stupid dumbfounded look never left his face.
"My name is Maria," she said.
"Follow me," he said.
He took her hand and then went out the back door. They took a small walk and a short cut through some trees and there was a small dock and speed boat. They spent that night together and every night.
And after she would finish the story his mother would say.
"I fell for your father because he was there when I needed him. He always had perfect timing with everything when it came to my needs. There was nothing that I wanted that he didn't give me," she'd say.
Tony reflected on his parent's relationship for a moment. His relationship with his father was rocky at best but his father treated his mother like she was the most precious thing that ever walked the earth and he was going to emulate that with Pepper.
I was there for her. I showed up when she needed me. I was the pretend boyfriend and now I'm going to be the real boyfriend, Tony thought.
He was more determined than ever to get the girl.