Hey. (; Now as I think about it, the plot idea wasn't that thrilling, but I got some nice writing exercise (ooh, these many new words). I normally don't like to write about real places I've never seen with my own eyes, but I sniffed through some sites and came up with La Boheme restaurant anyways. ;p Plus I intend to use sometimes catchy lines from different books/movies, if it bites you in the eyes, I'm sorrey!

I'm not a review junkie, but it would be nice to hear what you think. If you feel like it, praise or flame. (Ha, funny me.) I'm sorry for mistakes I didn't catch, or are a result of my ignorance. (I try to fight it, believe me!) (:

Jealousy Part II

"Are you supposed to be in here?" Rhodey asked, walking into Pepper's office and noticed Tony behind the desk, snooping around.

"Are you?" his friend shot back and gave him a side-glance just to continue his rummage through documents.

"I," the officer stressed, as he approached the desk, "was searching for you and Pepper's secretary told me you're here. You, on the other hand, are just now working on earning some penalty points from your CEO," James said pointing at the mess all over the desk.

"I own the company, I can do whatever I want," Tony snapped back and one moment later whooped a satisfied "Aha!", taking a crumpled chit out of a drawer. "I knew she is writing down these."

"You may own the company, but you have one strongly tempered girlfriend, who happens to be the CEO," Rhodey pointed out and, after a second of thought, added, "and has piercingly loud voice when is pissed, too." When he received no response from Tony, Rhodey questioned impatiently, "Okay, what is this that you found?"

"It's Pepper's monthly password for her computer," Tony replied, tapping with pencil on the desk, waiting for the computer to load.

"Couldn't you have hacked it or something?"

"Nope, no time, no tools. It's an emergency."

"And why is it an emergency?" James frowned to himself and came up to Tony's side.

"Mandy. Or Brandy... Whatever. The secretary. I overheard her gossiping that Pepper just went on a date with someone named Sam," Tony grunted, tapping his lips with his fingertips now.

"Okay... Who's the guy?" asked confused Rhodey. "This easily could be a girl too. Sam is a popular name for both sexes."

"That's what I need to find out," Tony narrowed his eyes and started to hit the keys with speed of lightening. "Who that Sam guy is..."

"Don't tell me you're jealous!" Rhodey glared at him with disapproval. "Pepper's the most loyal, devoted person I know! You must have misunderstood something."

Tony ignored him and exclaimed "Look! She even took a day off for tomorrow!", like it was proving some strange theory in his head.

"So what?" James rolled his eyes.

"So what? Can't you see she's clearly up to something? Last time Pepper took a day off was 6 or 5 years ago," Tony said and showed Rhodey her monthly schedule.

"It doesn't prove anything, Tony," Rhodey shook his head, throwing up both hands. "You're suspicious of her cheating on you on base of what? Some gossip and one-day leave?" he patted Tony on shoulder. "Now c'mon, we were supposed to grab a drink now."

"No. She almost never has plans. And look at these notes. 'Call Sam', 'Present for Sam'..." Tony broke off for a moment, "'Hotel for Sam'. And there's 'get the Victoria's Secret underwear' too! All for today!" he roared.

Giving himself, and his friend, once last chance, James sighed and carefully asked again, "Do you honestly believe Pepper would do that? And write it in a schedule, she knows you have access to?"

"No idea," Tony snarled, "she does write down everything in her plan."

"Right," Rhodey nodded dolefully. "She loves you, Tony, you know that," he added with more confidence, "and why would she cheat on you, after everything you've been through? For God's sake, you're a multimillionaire, what would she seek for more?"

"Uh... First of all – she still haven't said that she loves me," Tony replied, standing up from the desk and rubbed his eyes, "secondly – you know Pepper damn too well to say that she'd be with me just because of the money."

"So what do we do?" Rhodey asked finally.

Tony snapped with his fingers, clearly getting an idea. "C'mon, we're getting a drink," he said, heading for the doors.

"Now you're talking sense," James cheered and tracked after the man.

When they were already in elevator, the officer realized that his friend dropped the matter too easily and questioned him directly with tiredness, "We're not getting a drink, are we?"

"Of course we are," Tony replied in a exaggeratedly soothing voice, clapping James on his shoulder, then started clicking on his phone.

Rhodey rose an eyebrow. "Oh really? Then where are we going then?"

"La Boheme."

"Why there?" Rhodey shook his head a little.

"JARVIS localized her phone and says Pepper's there," grinning, Tony answered and showed Rhodey tracking program on his phone.

"You're unbelievable," Rhodey growled, rolling his eyes.

"Just for a second, I swear. I just need to be sure everything's fine and we're off for the night," Tony pleaded, cocking his head to one side.

James saw in his eyes desperation of a man in love. Paranoid and crazy, but still. After all, Tony Stark in love, that was something new. And he was totally unaware of it. "Fine," he muttered, "but when she sees you and kicks your ass, I'm not defending you."

"Fine by me," Tony replied and rose his hands in sign of concord, when they left the elevator for his car. "But she won't."

"Could you be more obvious than you're now?" Rhodey's rhetorical question came, when Tony almost pressed his forehead to the glass.

"I can't see her," Tony answered muffled.

"Good, maybe she didn't make it, or there was no date at all?" Rhodey asked, letting out a long breath and leaned against the wall.

"And what, her Blackberry marched itself for a lobster here? Technology does not lie, jock. I know she's here. I'm going in," Tony declared and moved from the window for the door, not waiting for Rhodey.

"Ooh, I'm going with you, just to see both of your faces when she spots you," Rhodey snickered and he jogged after Tony.

There was an unbelievable crowd inside with all of the tables occupied, but nevertheless a waiter showed up immediately offering Tony a free one. Tony rebuffed him at once, and headed for the bar with Rhodey, trying to avoid crowd's sudden interest in his personality, however without the effect really.

"Scotch, twice," he ordered to the bartender.

"Next time," Rhodey chugged, standing next to Tony, "when you decide to play a detective, please, make sure you're not world's most noticeable asshole."

"Do you see her?" Tony asked, focusing his eyes at the crowd, seeing nothing really.

"Actually, I do," Rhodey replied, pointing with his finger at his left.

Pepper was sitting in the corner of the room, her back to them, so she probably didn't see Tony and Rhodey and wasn't really interested in the fuss they made. Tony's eyes sparkled (when his heart ached a bit) as he saw she was wearing a very classy, yet sexy black dress. Unfortunately they couldn't tell who she was talking to, the person being behind her and a wall of flowers. All they could see though were Pepper's confident moves with this someone, and hear her sincere laugh.

"Now what?" Tony's companion questioned, sipping his drink slowly.

"Go to the toilets, they are at the other side of the hall," Tony pointed, his heart pumping in his chest unpleasantly.

"What? Go to the toilets yourself, I'm not playing your game," Rhodey protested.

Tony rolled his eyes. "I can't go, she'd notice me right away. Please, do me this one favor, and see who's she with," he begged.

"No."

"Please, please."

"No!"

"You took my suit and showed it to the army."

"Fine," Rhodey barked and gulped his drink, before going.

"Remember, do it quickly," Tony called after him, but Rhodey just waved his hand at him while walking away.

Just for 5 minutes Tony stood there alone, when he saw Rhodey come back briskly.

"Go, go, go," Rhodey rushed him, moving with his head quickly a couple of times towards exit. "I think she saw me."

"What? Ow, man, how could you screw that up... Who is she with?" Tony rambled, while Rhodey tried to drag him out by his sleeve.

"Stop. Both of you."

Both men froze in place at the sound of imperious, feminine voice.

"Turn around. Explain," Pepper demanded and founded her hands. "What are you doing here?" she asked, gritting her teeth. "You were supposed to work on the suit, Tony."

The long and uncomfortable silence was interrupted by another feminine voice with strong accent. "What's going on, Gin?" a dark haired woman, that appeared behind Pepper, questioned. "Oh my, isn't that Tony Stark?"

"See? I told you this could be a girl," James snapped at Tony.

"Okay, okay. But it doesn't change the fact, it still could be something."

"For the love of..." Rhodey sighed heavily, "you are obsessed."

Pepper's and Sam's eyes were switching from Rhodey to Tony, both of them very confused, until Pepper silenced them both.

"Shut up! What are you talking about?"

"This idiot here persuaded himself that you're cheating on him," Rhodey answered, rolling his eyes once more.

"What?" Pepper asked dumbly, and Sam immediately opened her eyes widely.

"You're dating Tony Stark? Man, why in a hell you didn't tell me that?" she whined.

"We're all going out, now," Pepper commanded, seeing more and more interest in their conversation from people in the restaurant.

"Were you two spying on me?" she questioned, when they reached the pavement.

"Pepper, I didn't intend to, it just sort of... happened," Tony mumbled. "And did I tell you that you look extra gorgeous tonight?"

"Hush. Happened? Just happened? What in a name of God would suggest you, that I'm cheating on you?"

"Tony Stark? But Ginny, you're such a goodie-two shoes, and he's... he's a man-whore," Sam interrupted her, still not believing her ears and winced.

"Hey! I don't believe we know each other to throw epithets like these," Tony shot back, narrowing his eyes. "Who are you, anyways?"

Pepper heaved a sigh. "Sam is my old friend from high school. I haven't seen her for over 14 years, cause she left for New Zealand. Satisfied?"

Tony slowly nodded and moved his eyebrows once.

"Sam, this is Tony Stark, my ex-boss and my silly boyfriend," she carried on.

"You worked for him? All you said was that you are working for a big company," Sam accused. "You really have a specific way of telling things."

"I didn't think that was relevant and saying 'Hey, I'm a Stark Industries CEO and date its owner' seemed a bit... swagger-ish," Pepper made a flat smile.

"You're a CEO?" Sam mouthed, her jaw hanging.

"Doesn't matter," Pepper waived her hand.

"Right," Tony started, "Can we go now, and enjoy these leftovers of a lovely evening?"

"No. You're an idiot. You, Rhodey, are a double idiot letting him believe his crap and follow him. What's wrong with you?" Pepper asked and pursed her lips.

"I was trying to get him to his senses!," James opposed. "But no, he heard some gossip, and checked your schedule, and saw the underwear note..." he threw up both his hands.

"Aren't you confused?" Sam laughed, after studying Pepper's face carefully.

"You checked my plans?" Pepper questioned, blinking quickly.

"Yes, and know that I'm sorry, Peps," Tony caught her hands in his and leaned over her, to whisper in her ear. "I know, you're the most trustworthy person ever. I love you," he murmured, before kissing her cheek, "and I'm not disturbing you anymore" Tony said, before trying to step away from her. However Pepper stopped him, by gripping on his arms.

Rhodey expected an anger explosion, but didn't get to experience one. Instead of it, Pepper simply smiled at Tony, because she knew, that he was different from any man she knew and had to have his own way of realizing such an emotion. She leaned to Tony herself and whispered in his ear "I love you too" so quietly, that Rhodey and Sam couldn't hear her. Then she added "Victoria's Secret is for you," and kissed him quickly on the mouth. "Now go, and do some mess with your friend. I have some stuff to catch up with Sam," she said now loudly, pulling away from, crazily grinning, Tony.

"Damn right, you have," Sam agreed. "Nice to meet you, Stark," she smiled at him and waved her hand at them, following Pepper inside the restaurant again.

"Okay, that was nice. I'm driving, I haven't even finished the drink," Rhodey ordered and approached Tony's car. "Coming or not?" he asked impatiently, when Tony haven't moved an inch, his eyes still following the two women.

"Coming," he answered and finally broke his gaze, heading for the passenger seat.

"Man, this woman has enormous patience with you," James said and started the engine.

Tony said nothing, but smiled to himself. For the first time in many years he felt a new wave of fresh air burst into his life. At least one part of it, totally different from his daily basis tomfooleries, fell into its place. It was unbelievable, he, in love. Looking silently through the window at the city lights his thoughts roamed around his girlfriend. Tony couldn't imagine a better person to change him, learn how to love, and he was one damn lucky guy to have her.

There was no Tony Stark, always needy for attractions self-involved jerk, already. It was just him and Pepper now, he knew he won't let go of, even if his life depended on it. So, in his head already formed a subtle plan of putting a ring on her slim hand. Partly to release his possessive nature, and calm the new, green with jealousy, monster inside. Hopefully, Virginia Potts wasn't going anywhere else, than to his bed, in her Victoria's Secret underwear, because he needed to acquaint her with some little project about greatest creation of his own.

Fin

Thank you for reading. :)