Authors Note: To those who are reading, I am sorry this has been taking so long. I appreciate those who read and even more those who stick with the story! 3 You are truly wonderful
"Oh" Elizabeth said, her breath catching in her throat. The idea of doing it again never once crossed her mind, but the fact that it crossed Tony Stark's was all too surprising for even her to understand. "Sorry about this Mr. Stark, I have to go. My son is running a temperature and I have to get him from school." Mr. Phillips inturrupted. "It is alright. Life stops for no one. I will have my secretary get a hold of yours and set up a new date." Tony said, standing up and shaking his hand. "Elizabeth, you can have the rest of the day off. Thank you for coming in early." With that, Mr. Phillips was on his way out the door.
"Well it looks like both of us have the rest of the day off, Ms. Stone." Tony said, slipping on his sun glasses . Elizabeth stood up and gathered her papers. "Yes it does appear that we do Mr. Stark." She said heading towards her office. "Well why don't you and I go get some lunch? I know I am starving." Tony suggested, keeping up with her quick step. "We will see Tony. I am busy." Tony peaked at her over his sunglasses and gave her an unconvinced look. "I was standing right there when you were given the day off. So enjoy it, and come spend it with me. We could have a wonderful time."
Elizabeth leaned against her desk and let out a deep sigh. "Persistent, aren't you?" Tony placed a hand on the desk and leaned into her. "Only when I really want something." He whispered into her ear. His voice was low and husky and made her feel like putty in between his fingers. "Excuse me." A voice said from the door. Elizabeth knew it was Alicia and also knew that she was coming to be nosey. "Yes Alicia?" she replied, looking around Tony. The smile on Alicia's face had to be a smile wide. "Can I speak to you please?" "Yes you can. Please excuse me for a moment Mr. Stark."
Tony moved out of her way and Elizabeth followed Alicia into her office. "Holy crap, you weren't making it up!" she exclaimed, grabbing onto Elizabeth's arms. "Shhh. Keep your voice down. " "I don't give a flying frick if he can hear me. You have the world's most eligible man in your office, leaning against your desk, and you act like it's everyday Joe Shmoe. Now you get in there and you bat those blue eyes, you play with that red hair, and you make him find you irresistible. Do you hear me?" Alicia said sternly. "You know as well as I do that just because he is coming after me now that it doesn't guarantee that he will have any interest in me tomorrow."
Alicia raised an unconvinced eyebrow. "You blantly lied to the man about who you are and he still wants to take you out to lunch. Suck it up sister, someone thinks you're smoking hot." Elizabeth laughed at her absurdity. "Look Liz, if I am wrong I will pay for us to have lunch next week wherever your choosing." Elizabeth pondered for a second. "All the lunch in the world isn't going to make it better if I am played for a fool." The blonde took her words into consideration. Elizabeth was right and they both knew that. "Just go or I will go over there and flirt my ass off with him." Alicia said looking over her shoulder to see if Elizabeth's new friend was still there. "Fine, I'll go." Elizabeth whispered, heading back towards her office. "So Ms. Stone, after great deliberation did you decide if you were going to grace me with your presence over lunch?" Tony asked, now sitting on her desk. "Yes Mr. Stark, I will go have lunch with you."
"Wonderful, I have a car waiting for us down stairs." He took Elizabeth's hand and led her to the elevator. "I hope you know, it isn't often that I take out the lovely girls I meet on Friday nights, out for lunch Monday afternoon." Elizabeth smiled and stepped onto the elevator and pushed the lobby button. "I am sure you don't often run into the ladies you met on Friday on Monday afternoons." Tony smirked. "This is true Ms. Stone, I don't often run into the again, but if I do want to see them, I have my ways." This is all went back to how Tony liked to do his research on the women he spent the night with.
Once on the first floor, Tony took hold of her hand and stepped off the elevator leading her out the front door. "Mr. Stark!" A man with a camera yelled, "May I get a picture of you with this lovely lady?" Tony looked at Elizabeth and back at the man with the camera. "I don't see why not." Tony said, pulling Elizabeth in close. "Smile." The man said, snapping a shot, "Thank you!" Tony nodded to the man and opened the care door for Elizabeth. "After you." Elizabeth smiled and slid into the car. "Thank you Mr. Stark." Tony smiled and slid in next to her. "Is there any place in particular you want to go? Sky's the limit. "If that is the case Tony, I want you to make me lunch." A smirk danced across his lips.
After a long, uncomfortable ride, they pulled up his driveway and to the front of his house. "And here we are, once again." He smiled, taking Elizabeth's hand and stepping out of the car. Elizabeth was fully aware of how her hands were becoming sweaty and she only hoped that he couldn't tell too. Tony lead her up the walk way, discussing the plans he had for the day, but Elizabeth couldn't hear anything except the blood rushing in her ears.
Suddenly Elizabeth wasn't walking anymore. "Are you ok? You seem a little nervous." Tony smiled at her. The red head nodded and added a quick smile. "Hopefully aren't going to flake out on me and run back home." He teased her. "No I made it this far Tony, and there is nothing I would like to see more than the infamous Tony Stark make me dinner." She smiled. He raised an eyebrow at her then continued into the house. She watched Tony take off his tie and toss it on the end table near the door and put his sunglasses on his head. "Glass of wine?" he asked her. "Yes please." She needed something to give her sturdy legs, because without something, she was sure she would fall on her face. "Red or white?" he asked from the kitchen. "Red please."
Elizabeth walked into the kitchen. Tony handed her a glass of wine then began taking food out of the fridge. The red head sat at the counter, admiring Tony's attempt to make something edible. "This isn't going to work, how about Chinese?" "That will be fine Tony." Elizabeth laughed, taking a sip of her wine. "Great! I'm assuming sweet and sour chicken. You seem like that kind of girl." Tony said dialing and putting the phone to his ear.
Minutes after the phone call was over, Tony lead her to the living room and offering her a seat on the couch. "So tell me about yourself." He said, taking a sip of his beer. Elizabeth took a minute to think this question over. She wasn't sure if she was ready to just spill her life to a guy she really didn't know. "I have done gymnastics and dance all my life. I have kicked boxed since 8th grade. I ran track in high school. I was Homecoming Queen my senior year. My momma is from Alabama and my daddy is from Texas. There is nothing in this world more that I like than a good ol' southern style party." Elizabeth smiled, she was proud of herself for being able to find minuet information to share. Tony seemed intrigued. Your parents are from Alabama and Texas? You don't really seem to have a twang to your voice." Elizabeth knew this was true now. "It is something I have worked on since I have graduated high school. I didn't want to seem like that 'dumb country bumpkin' that no one would take seriously." She knew at times her twang showed through, it was even more when she was at home and she didn't have to try to impress anyone.
"The sports don't really surprise me. You have a stellar body, phenomenal really. You sure had a busy young adult life, with all the extracurricular activities, school, friends and possibly a boyfriend." "My momma always said, there is nothing worth doing if you're not going to give it your all. That is what I did, I realized that I still had time to do more things and my grades were still spot on." She could feel Tony watching her, she also knew that she lost Tony somewhere in the conversation by the way he was looking her body up and down. Tony took her glace of wine and set it on the table and then his lips met hers. There was a desire in the way he kissed that threw Elizabeth off a bit. It wasn't something she expected, but she couldn't stop once it began. Time was slipping by and the passion increased. Her mind was spinning and she couldn't find anything in her mind to grasp onto to hold her steady other than the lips connected to hers.
"Sir, your food has arrived." A voice broke us apart. "Thank you JARVIS." Just as Tony finished speaking, the elevator opened and the delivery man stood there with what Elizabeth assumed was one of Tony's security guards. Tony walked up and handing the man money, told him to keep the change, and then walked back to the kitchen with greasy Chinese in hand. Elizabeth followed him and the smell of the food into the kitchen. Tony handed her a plastic fork and put her dish in front of her at the island. Hunger was something that Elizabeth was no longer feeling. Her mind was still on the kissing that was left at the couch just moments ago. Tony smiled at her and dug into his food.
Half way through dinner a phone started ringing. "Nick Fury, sir." The voice known as JARVIS spoke through the room. "Ignore it JARVIS or tell him I'm not here." Tony said, continuing his food. "Sir, he said it is not something that can wait." "I said I'm not here." The line went quiet for a moment then a new voice bellowed through the room. "Mr. Stark, I do not appreciate being ignored." This had to be who Tony was ignoring, Elizabeth thought glancing at Tony. His face looked pained. "JARVIS I told you to ignore him." "I tried sir, someone bypassed me." Tony now was furious. "I was having dinner Nick. Do you really think that you are above even natural needs?" "I really couldn't give a rat's ass what you were doing. That doesn't concern me." This Nick Fury was a real piece of work, and Elizabeth could understand why Tony didn't want to speak to him. "I also have company. So thank you for being exceptionally rude to my guest." He was more sarcastic with the voice. "Tell Pepper I am sorry for interrupting your romantic lunch, but this is important." Nick said. The look of embarrassment read directly across her face as if it was written there.
"This seems important, I will go. Have a wonderful evening." Elizabeth said, gathering her belongings and sprinting to the door. "Wait!" Tony called after her, but she was already stepping on the elevator and doors closing. Once downstairs, she called a cab and waited on a curb. She felt used and embarrassed, like she expected to feel. Elizabeth knew of Ms. Pepper Potts, but she wasn't aware that they were involved. In the spotlight, one could assume their relationship was more than just professional; almost romantic. "I've been played for a fool." She mumbled, holding her face in her hands. Within 20 minutes her cab showed up and she was on her way to her safe haven, her home.