Disclaimer: I do not own Iron Man.


The plane trip over to Monaco went surprisingly fast. I was determined to enjoy my time over there. I didn't want to worry about the government taking our suits or anything else. I was going to have fun.

I spent the first day shopping, travelling from store to store. As usual, Pepper had brought her work with her, although I understood why. She was a newly appointed CEO of a multi-billion dollar business. I would want to work on my holiday too. So I spent the day alone but I didn't care. I didn't worry. I focused on the colours of dresses, the feel of tops, the sparkle of jewellery. I think I was a bit too focused on trying to enjoy myself because in that first day I spent $9,000. I was normally conservative when it came to spending, even though I had thousands to spare. I guess I had been so determined to enjoy myself that I hadn't paid too much attention to the price tags. I wasn't worried though. The $9,000 I spent wouldn't even make a dent in my bank account and dad would just be happy to see me doing something normal.

I stashed the bags in the closet of my hotel room. As always when we travelled, we all had separate rooms, for which I was glad. I felt like being alone for a few hours. I paced around the room and inspected it, busying my mind. It was a new hotel that had been designed and decorated to look like an old one. Intricate gold paintwork adorned the walls which balanced with the classic cream furniture in the rooms. I studied the beautiful glass chandelier in the sitting room and the similar one in the bedroom. The bathroom was stunning with a clawfoot tub and gold leaf wallpaper.

Even though we came to Monaco almost every year, we never stayed in the same hotel. Dad always got Pepper to pick a new one each time. It was a bit annoying but fun at the same time. Every hotel was different and I loved finding each ones quirks.

After a restless night's sleep, I prepared myself for a day of rubbing shoulders with blonde bimbos who inherited daddy's money and rich old couples who drink tea like its vodka and complain about the clothes girls wear. No matter what event it is or where it's held, the same types of people always attended these rich shindigs. Almost all the people that would be there today in the 'exclusive area' wouldn't give a crap about the amazing race happening right outside. They will be there simply because it's the place to be 'seen'. I hated being associated with them when I would be more than happy to stand in the crowd outside and watch the cars like the normal people do. I had done that in previous years but since dad's announcement, more people knew who I was and I was told that my safety could not be guaranteed outside. So I was stuck inside, watching the race on TV screens and pretending to care about what people were talking about.

I sighed as I stood in front of the closet, surveying the clothes I had packed. I was torn between wearing a dress, which was expected of ladies at these events, or just saying "stuff it" and wearing my favourite jeans. After a minute of thinking, I grabbed a dress that I bought while out shopping yesterday. No doubt people would be taking photos there and the last thing I wanted was to be put in a magazine for wearing jeans as such a high class event.

I slipped into the chosen, appropriate dress. It was a cocktail length dress in a deep purple. One shouldered with a small side waist bow, it was tight enough to show my curves but not tight enough to be considered inappropriate. The only effort I put into my appearance was brushing my hair, which had nice waves in it from how I'd slept on it, and applying some mascara. I really couldn't be bothered doing anything more. Besides, I looked fine without makeup. I slipped my feet into a pair of simple black pumps, grabbed a black clutch and, after I gave myself a nod of approval in the mirror, I joined Pepper and dad in his room for breakfast. Pepper complimented me on my dress, so I knew I'd chosen right. I returned the compliment on her dress which made dad ask why he wasn't receiving any about his clothes. So then we both made exaggerated remarks about his wonderful fashion sense.

After breakfast we jumped into the Rolls Royce chauffeured by Happy and began driving through the streets of Monaco, accompanied by two policemen on motorbikes. With no rear facing seat in the car, it was a tight squeeze with dad in the middle seat and Pepper and I on either side. While Pepper spoke to dad about yet another thing that needed to be dealt with regarding Stark Industries, I studied his face. Not for the first time I noticed he had bags under his eyes. With each day that passed they seemed to be getting worse and their darkness was only accentuated by the paleness of his skin. I had just been ignoring it for the past month or so but I couldn't pretend everything was fine anymore. Something was worrying him and it was beginning to affect his health. What was it? I know something had been going on with him that he didn't want to talk about and I had been telling myself that it was fine, that if something was really wrong, he would tell me about it. But he still wasn't talking and he could deny it all he wanted but something was wrong.

What? It couldn't be anything that had happened recently because this had been going on for at least 2 months. Was it the suit or the business or his health-

"What are you staring at?"

I blinked. Dad was looking down at me with a grin on his face. My mind briefly entertained the idea of slapping his face and yelling at him until he told me what was wrong but he was so stubborn it probably wouldn't work.

I smiled. "Nothing," I answered sweetly.

I moved my gaze to look out the windshield but I could still feel dad's eyes on my face. Does he know I know something is wrong? He must. I'm far from stupid but even the thickest person could see something was bothering him.

Eventually I felt his eyes leaving my face as he resumed his conversation with Pepper. But a moment later I felt another pair of eyes on me. I glanced up to see Happy looking at me in the rear-view mirror. A second later his eyes were back on the road. No words had passed between us but the message in his eyes had been clear. He too was worried about dad and knew something wasn't right, and hadn't been for a long time. Now I know for sure that I wasn't just 'seeing things' or creating things in my head that weren't true. Happy and I were both concerned about dad. But what were we going to do about it?

I decided this wasn't really the time to think about it when the screams of the people outside interrupted my thoughts. I looked at the thousands of people lining the barricades, most of them screaming as they wondered what celebrity was arriving. What I wouldn't give to be one of them. Idolizing people who often didn't deserve it. Not worrying about their father killing himself in a flying suit. Just being normal. But I bet most of the people out there wanted to be anything but normal. It was sad really, how no one was completely happy with their life. Everyone wanted to change something; to be richer, happier, skinner. No one would ever be 100% happy.

As we slowed to a stop in front of the Hôtel de Paris, I took a deep breath and plastered a smile on my face. Immediately a man in a suit stepped forward and opened my door. I never understood the need for them. I have hands; I can open my own door.

I stepped out carefully but swiftly. People began cheering and screaming. I wondered if they actually knew who I was or if they were simply cheering for the sake of cheering. When dad stepped out after me, the screams intensified. I immediately walked up the steps to the open doors leading inside while dad grinned at the crowd and did a peace sign. When Pepper walked around the car, he smiled and followed her up the steps.

I stepped aside to let them enter first. I looked around, noting that while the hotel was beautiful, nothing made it stand out among the thousands of other fancy hotels I'd been in. As I trailed behind dad and Pepper, I looked at all the people milling around with drinks in their hands. As expected, most of them were girls in pastel dresses, guys in expensive suits and old couples with teacups in hand.

As I followed dad and Pepper into the main area of the lobby, I heard dad say, "You know it's Europe. Whatever happens in the next 20 minutes, just go with it."

The smile on my face immediately dropped. What had he done?

Pepper looked as concerned as I did. "Go with it? Go with what?"

A second later we got our answer.

Natalie Rushman. She was standing in front of us in a coral pink, skin tight dress. Of course. Of course dad would hire the girl who didn't even apply for the position of his personal assistant. Of course he'd hire her without considering or discussing it with anyone else. Of course he'd hire the woman I didn't like even though I'd only spent 1 minute with her. Call it intuition or whatever you want, but something about her just seemed off. Why would someone who could speak French, Italian, Russian, Latin and who modelled in Tokyo suddenly start working in the legal department of Stark Industries? No one in legal, in fact no one in the whole company, had a background like that. Modelling to legal? Maybe one day she decided to get a steady job? I don't know. But until I did, I wasn't going to warm up to her. Maybe it was because I was so young when Pepper started with dad or because Pepper is just such an amazing individual but I knew that I would never be close to dad's new PA.

"Mr Stark." Natalie smiled as she stepped towards our little group. Her eyes briefly flickered to Pepper and myself but quickly flew back to dad. "How was your flight?"

"It was excellent. Boy, it's nice to see you."

A waiter appeared carrying a tray with drinks and a glass bowl of peanuts. Dad instantly picked up the scotch made for him. Pepper, who was still looking stunned at Natalie's sudden appearance, slowly picked up her vodka tonic from the tray. Nothing for me on the tray. Thanks Natalie.

"We have one photographer from the ACM, if you don't mind," Natalie said before taking both of the drinks from their hands and replacing them back onto the tray.

While the photographer stepped forward and began taking shots, I slid around to stand behind him and out of shot. Both Pepper's and dad's faces were strained as they mumbled to each other while still trying to maintain a smile for the camera.

The photographer took one last shot before he slipped away and Natalie stepped forward. "Right this way," she said. Dad immediately trailed after her while saying, "you look fantastic."

The look on Pepper's face as she picked her drink up and followed them said it all. I stared at the back of Natalie's head as she spoke to dad about a dinner. I suddenly remembered every movie I'd seen where the kids drive off the mean nanny/stepmother/evil woman and they live happily ever after. If I had still been a kid, I would have tried it on Natalie. But since I was a bit too old for such tactics, I resigned myself to the fact that I'd just have to wait it out and see if Natalie would last. She'd been dad's PA for what, 5 minutes? And I was already praying that she would leave. Maybe I should give her a chance? She hadn't actually done anything for me to not like her. Maybe I was just being petty because she was replacing Pepper?

While dad inspected the table Natalie was trying to make ours and Pepper spoke to Elon Musk, I made my way over to the bar. Although there were many young girls there, I was by far the youngest so my presence was drawing many stares. Especially at the bar where, being underage, I could only order non alcoholic drinks. I tried to keep my face impassive as I stared ahead, waiting for the bartender to take my order. I had so many feelings rolling around in my head but I made sure my face didn't show any of them. I was wishing I could go back home already but I quickly realized that going home would give me no relief since Natalie will follow. I wasn't looking forward to meeting her in the morning in my PJ's.

"By the way, I didn't mean to spring this on you," dad said.

Pepper squeezed in beside me and placed her drink on the bar.

Dad stood in front of us with a familiar smirk on his face. "Green is not your best colour," he said to Pepper.

"Oh please."

I sighed and leant against the bar. Just when the thought that it couldn't get any worse crossed my mind, a familiar and irritating voice called out from down the bar.

"Anthony! Is that you?"

The reaction on dad's face was instantaneous. His eyes widened in annoyance and his face became tense. "My least favourite person on Earth," he said just as Hammer came up behind his and clapped him on the back. "Justin Hammer."

"How you doing?" Justin asked with a stupid grin on his face.

Dad locked eyes with Pepper, clearly communicating his desire for help. Pepper subtly shook her head with a tight lipped smile. Before dad could turn those eyes on me, I spun around to face the bar and order my coke.

"You're not the only rich guy here with a fancy car," I heard Hammer say with a laugh that didn't quiet conceal the hostility in his tone. "You know Christine Everhart from Vanity Fair?"

Oh, my day couldn't get any better. First Natalie, now Christine. There is nothing like the awkwardness of meeting dad's one night stands in public.

"You guys know each other?"

I gratefully took my coke from the bartender, hoping the sugar and caffeine would give me enough energy to get through the day. I turned around as Christine Everhart, dressed in a tight turquoise dress, approached us with a smile.

"Yes." Pepper smile showed that while she was less than happy with this reunion, she was clearly enjoying watching dad squirm.

"Yes, roughly," was dad's reply.

Christine's eyes briefly flickered over to me before quickly looking away. No doubt she was remembering our first encounter where she was dressed in nothing but my dad's shirt.

"BTW, big story," Hammer said as he waved a finger towards Pepper, "the new CEO of Stark Industries. Congratulations."

Christine laid on her thickest smile as she looked to Pepper. "I know, I know. My editor will kill me if I don't grab a quote for our Powerful Women issue."

"Oh."

"Can I?"

I could see the clogs turning in Pepper's mind as she weighed the pro's and con's. "Sure."

Hammer was obviously feeling left out as he quickly butted in. "She's actually doing a big spread on me for Vanity Fair. I thought I'd throw her a bone, you know."

Pepper managed to look interested in his news. "Right. Well, she did quite a..spread on Tony last year."

I bit the inside of my lip as I watched Pepper's double entendre register with Christine. Her face became tense and her smile strained as she tried to keep her composure.

Dad decided to add to the fun. "And she wrote a story as well."

Pepper nodded. "It was very impressive."

Sipping my coke, I had to smile as I watched dad and Pepper unite. It was always fun to watch someone being subtly insulted and not being able to call them out for it. And the look on Hammer's face as he registered their meaning was priceless.

Christine's eyes were wide in anger but she took the small compliment anyway. "Thank you."

"I'm gonna go wash." Pepper was clearly over this little meeting and desperate to escape.

Dad's eyes widened as he whispered "don't leave me." But Pepper was already weaving her way through the thin crowd before dad had even finished. He quickly looked to me and flashed me a look that said 'leave and all your inheritance is gone'. My first instinct was to simply walk away but I had nothing better to do and I didn't want to leave and risk having to meet Natalie. We hadn't 'officially' met yet and I wasn't looking forward to it.

So instead I stayed and watched as Hammer clapped dad on the back and put on a false smile as a photographer began taking pictures of them. Once again I stepped back so I wasn't in the picture. I didn't want to be in the magazines more than I already was. That's why I was so hesitant about this magazine shoot I was being asked to do. Before Iron Man, I had rarely made the pages. Some people hadn't even known Tony Stark had a child. But now with so many eyes watching dad, they were watching me too. People knew who I was now and I hated it. I couldn't go anywhere without a guard anymore whereas before I could go out without being recognised.

Dad slid on his sunglasses and grimaced as Hammer pulled him closer. The photographer kept clicking away. Everyone knew they hated each other so why bother with the fake display of comradeship?

Meanwhile, Christine was taking the opportunity to try and get a quote from the pair. "Is this the first time that you guys have seen each other?"

Neither of the men were paying attention to her as the photographer took one last shot. Dad stepped away from Hammer with a shudder. "God that was awful."

"Listen," Christine held up her small voice recorder, "is it the first time you've seen each other since the senate?"

"Ah, since he got his contract revoked," dad replied.

Dad began walking away while Christine and Hammer quickly followed. I heard Hammer quickly say "actually it's on hold," as he trailed behind.

I smiled with the news. At least something good had come from that stupid senate.

I downed my drink and ordered another one as I watched dad sit down at Hammer's table. I quickly walked in the opposite direction so dad couldn't shoot me another 'help' look. He was a big boy. He would survive.

I did a quick circuit of the room before I spotted Pepper sitting at the corner table dad had requested.

"Hey Pep." I slid into the seat opposite Pepper. "Has dad not escaped yet?"

"He's in the bathroom."

I grinned at her. "Did you hear Hammer got his contract revoked after the senate?"

A smile tugged at the corners of Pepper's mouth as she nodded. She informed me that after the video of Hammer's poor attempt to replicate our suit suddenly appeared on the internet not long after the senate, stocks had dropped dramatically and many companies had pulled funding from Hammer Industries. I was surprised that some companies still had faith in Hammer Industries. No matter how hard Hammer tried, Stark Industries would always be superior.

Minutes ticked by and dad had still yet to return from the bathroom. While waiting for him I looked up at the TV to see the Formula One cars being driven into their starting positions. If dad didn't hurry up, he would miss the start of the race.

I pulled out my phone and began surfing the web. I read a few articles on Hammer and found out that most of the world was laughing at him. I would have felt sorry for him had he not been such a prick.

I had just been considering texting dad to see where he had gotten to when across the table Pepper gasped.


Reviews are what keep me writing when I'm stuck.
Please leave a review below.
They always brighten my day.