Tony's take on envy. This one is post-IM1. Had to change the rating for language. The next two chapters of jealousy will have more action, to earn the T letter, too. Thank you for your support. As usual, sorry for mistakes I didn't catch. (:

Envy Part II

He was following their every move, his gaze never leaving them, as they were moving slightly. Reading these, analyzing. After a while Tony was dizzy and almost sure he got nystagmus from watching her well-exposed legs sway under the desk, right across from him. Either Pepper really needed to pee or wanted to get out of there badly. Probably the second. Well, she wasn't the only one.

There would be thousands of things Tony could be doing right now, instead of being squashed in a meeting room with a tribe of lawyers, engineers, accountants and God knows who else. Was that a girl from PR on Pepper's left even? Damn, they actually were that concerned about the new direction for company. Who'd thought. Except that most of them had no useful ideas, and inside Tony felt it was just the beginning of meetings round. Of course he could snob all of them. He could ignore the current meeting easily even, like he used to ignore all of them over these years. In fact, when come to think about it, the suit should be repaired immediately. Could be needed at any time. However, Tony chose the meeting over the tempting idea to don't give a shit. The reason for his choice was red-headed and still waggling with feet, distracting him from already boring and barren encounter.

Lord knows how ridiculous was the situation, where he had to suck up to his own personal assistant. Hence the sacrifice of his presence. Pepper was always a calm and reasonable woman, but lately she had a bit of craze. Most of it involved yelling at him for his 'coming out' as Iron Man, imprudence and lack of responsibility for people that he got into trouble. At some point Tony agreed with her, but hey, she knew he was quite often a thoughtless ass. Frankly speaking, he was one thousand percent sure there was something more behind all of that. Why else she would avoid a conversation with him and ignore him as much as she was now? For God's sake, through last 9 years Pepper herself handled much more combined. So why the nerves now?

Tony focused his eyes once again on her slim ankles. He could swear they were so tiny, that his palm could be easily wrapped around one. Or two at once. Then he was riveted by her petite hands, he already knew that were incredibly subtle, working on her PDA. For sure Pepper was taking notes, answering e-mails and planning his appointments at one time. Finally he concentrated on her face, flushed with color from working on high speed. She wasn't of banal beauty, she was the last girl he could ever say that's cliché. There was something about her eyes, lips... everything actually. Was she always that gorgeous?, Tony thought, sighing slightly as she tuck a piece of her hair behind ear. She was so damn kissable right now, and it was really hard to stop the dirty ideas that started to pop out in his head.

Ok, dangerous zone, cowboy, he warned himself and shook head a little. After a moment of forcing himself to pay attention to lab guy talking about new line of Iron Man themed products, Tony was definitely frustrated with his own stupid mind. Because he was eyeing the damn girl again.

He still couldn't decode his own process of thinking lately. Since he... came home he was different. Hell, anybody (even a jerk he was) would be different after a survival like his or betrayal of friend like Obie, and draw any conclusions at least. However, it wasn't just some post traumatic stress disorder as people claimed, but as if he was experiencing a very overdue, slow maturing.

For years Tony was exploiting Pepper without a hint of guilt, and now he was flooded and backfired with it. Because he treated her no better than his flings, made her life complicated and for sure scared off any possible boyfriends. That was the crazy part, he never had a thing for Pepper, but was damn scared of her leaving his side for someone else. It's hard to believe that she actually has been putting up with all of his crap.

Of course, he couldn't afford showing his guilt, loosing his face. But it wasn't just his conscience that was boiling inside of him. Something was bothering him about his PA. He felt these things, Tony never would suspect himself of. The need for her, close to him, was growing; the envy for every word, not directed to him, disturbing. He never felt like this before and was slowly understanding the source of his building attraction for Pepper, having less and less attention for other women (naturally a glance from time to time at a nice body was still a bit of pleasant habit).

So, when Tony tried to do something about it and gave her a hint of his intentions, he was run over with unfamiliar train named "NO". Maybe he didn't deserve that Angel of Mercy, but he could damn tell that he wasn't indifferent to her. Even if he wasn't prince charming on his white horse. It was hard to miss their almost-kiss that night, but for sure he startled her for a long time with his hesitation. That made him angry even more, following Pepper's intentions like he was the slowest person on the planet. When he came to terms with his feelings it was already too late. Plus, she was mentally as far away as possible from him.

For God's sake, she was sitting across the stupid table, just to be away from him. When he got himself so inveigled? By his own employee, too?

He was still watching her intensively, it couldn't be missed. When she finally looked back at him, feeling exposed under his gaze, Pepper gave him a strange look. She quickly looked away, distracted by Jerry from HR, that was sitting on her right. Fucking fop with a phiz straight from porno movie, Tony immediately thought. The twat said something to her and she burst out into giggles, although trying to hide it. If looks could kill Tony's would leave no one alive in this room. Hell, he had to get out of there.

The situation was saved for a moment, thanks to George, Director of Product Development, who distracted Tony while he run into the room, panting heavily.

"Howdy everyone! Sorry I'm late, I clocked out," he said and flopped onto the free chair next to Tony. Actually both of these, on Tony's side's, had been empty before George got here. Everybody must have sensed CEO's 'charming' mood. Well, George always had the balls and knew how to converse with Tony, so he paid no attention to his killing stare.

"What's wrong with you?" the blond-haired man asked with a cheerful smile, and followed with his eyes the object of Tony's Stark gaze, adding quietly, "Oh, that."

"Tell me you have some new, fancy toy to get me entertained with," Tony barked under his nose.

"Well, actually I have. But I will talk about that after the lab guy, so keep your panties on," George whispered.

"Tell me about anything. Distract me," Tony pushed on, giving man the killing look. Then his eyes were watching again Jerry lean over dangerously close to Pepper, whispering in her ear. In the name of God, was anyone in this room, listening to the lab guy? He shifted in his chair and turned to George again with a grimace.

"You really are a dog in the manger," George laughed and patted Tony on knee, just to cause another grimace from him, "Okay, okay. Have you tried to ask her out at least? Y'know women actually like to hear things black on white, or something..."

"I did... Sorta..."

"Sorta?" George asked incredulously, bringing his eyebrows together. His boss glared at him only and rolled eyes. "Right," he added and started looking through his presentation notes.

"I don't get it, George, I really don't. Since when that porno-face is better than freaking Tony Stark?"

George leaned back in his seat and replied, "Look. Pepper's your babysitter 24/7, Tony. She has seen more of you than any of us. Are you sure that she wants more of your happy-go-lucky attitude? She's a great, kind woman that probably dreams of some stability, than your diaper changing."

"I know," Tony growled.

"You know. OK then. Can you provide her anything that Jerry is now?"

"Is?" panicked Tony squeaked a bit. George only rose his eyebrows in reply suggestively. Well, Pepper was definitely playing his nerves... or was just that quick.

"HELL NO!" Tony uncontrollably shouted out and frightened out everyone. Pepper looked at him with disapproval, her stupid giggles long gone.

"I'm sorry, Mister Stark, if you don't agree, we can change the colors to lighter ones," the lab guy stuttered out.

"No, these are fine, carry on," Tony blurted out, totally unaware of what the guy was talking about. Then he hissed to George, "Shit. Hell no! How do you know that?"

"Um... Tony, I know that half of the company, including you, believes that you and Pepper definitely have a thing going on, but she apparently thinks otherwise."

"How? Why? She was acting somewhat different just two weeks ago! How do you know that?" Tony groaned, now imaging Pepper with that dick. He was sure damn envious it was Jerry, instead of him. Tony Stark wasn't used to be envious. He had everything. He could have everything with a nod of finger.

"I talked to her. That's what people do, you know, talk. You could try it out yourself with her," George shrugged.

"Is it serious?" wailed Tony, crumpling in his chair.

"I don't think so. It was just one date. He's an idiot, even to me. But girls have this strange process of thinking, Maybe he's the one, maybe he's not," George pretended a girlish voice, gesturing with his hands and looked back on the notes.

Tony remained silent for a while, noticing just that Pepper pushed away Jerry a bit, trying to focus on the meeting.

"Can I be that guy? Serious and committed?" Tony asked rather himself than George.

"Is she worth it, your change, for you?" came George's weary response.

"She's different from doll-faces I've known. She keeps me straight. Yep."

"Then work for it. Earn her. Give her some time. Don't rush the game," his friend answered with a smile, showing Tony a wedding ring on his finger and switched off to prepare himself.

Tony remained silent until the end of the meeting, staring blankly outside the window. Just for once he dared a look at his PA. She was looking right back at him, her gaze concerned. He gave her a quick smile and quickly looked out the window again, trying to avoid her stare.

More than envious for Jerry, Tony felt envious for George now. Because he was satisfied with everything he had, appreciating it instead of wasting time, like Tony was. He envied George's love for his wife. It must be wonderful to feel like that. And Tony wanted to feel that too.

Maybe it wasn't too late for him to grow up. For him to learn how to love someone else than himself. He'd definitely would give it a shot. Sometime in future, when he fights his weaknesses. Hopefully, it would be soon enough before Pepper walks out on him and resigns, for real.

Thank you for reading. :)