Chapter 18
2008
3 days, 1 week, 1 month, 0 years
“And you’re sure you don’t want me to call Happy up to keep you entertained while I talk with Pepper about the boring legal stuff she’s bringing?”
Peter huffed and rolled his eyes at Tony.
“I’m fine, Mr. Stark. I’ll just sit here and read my book.”
He was sat cross-legged on the carpet, leaning forwards onto his elbows to look at the children’s book open on the floor in front of him. It was a fairly advanced book, especially for a child of six, but it still had enough pictures for him to look at instead if he got tired of reading the words.
“Okay, kid,” Tony replied. “If you get bored feel free to do anything you’re normally allowed to do on your own.”
Peter rolled his eyes dramatically, not even looking up from his book.
Tony’s snarky response was cut off by the elevator arriving at the penthouse floor.
“Tony,” Pepper called out.
Pepper walked over to the dining table.
She was followed by a woman with shockingly red hair, styled in curls. The woman was dressed in a white blouse with a pair of black pants with white criss-crossed stripes and a pair of heels near tall enough to rival the skyscraper tall pair that Pepper was wearing. She had a pile of files in her hands.
“Tony this is Natalie,” Pepper explained. “She’s from the legal department and she’s here to help us go through all the documents you’ve fallen behind on while you’ve hidden away up here.”
Tony shot Pepper a look, unwilling to bring up Peter around someone new when he had no idea whether they could see the kid of not. Luckily, while Peter was visible as he peered over the edge of the sofa, watching the three adults interact, his toys and the book he had been reading were all miraculously hidden from view.
He cleared his throat.
“You know why I’ve been ‘hidden away up here’,” he grumbled under his breath.
He turned his attention to Natalie. She was beautiful and Tony was sure that if he had met her even just a year prior, he would have been trying to sleep with her already. He was sure that, if this was a year ago, he would have missed the way she seemed unsettled for a moment, almost as though she had noticed something out of place or that she hadn’t been expecting.
Tony did his best to chalk it up to her meeting the big boss Tony Stark in his home while he was practically still in his pyjamas.
After an hour or two filling out forms, Peter had begun to become noticeably bored and Natalie had stiffened up again a little.
Tony gave Pepper a look he hoped said that he needed a minute to talk to Peter. He wasn’t sure it was the clearest, but she still somehow managed to understand what he meant anyway.
“Natalie,” she began calmly. “I’ve just realised that there’s a file missing here, would you mind running back down to my office to grab it quickly? I’ll be on the side table right by the door.”
Natalie nodded politely and headed back into the elevator.
Pepper shot Tony a confused look.
“Are you okay? You looked constipated for a moment there.”
With a pout, Tony stood and walked over to where the kid was sulking on the floor.
“What’s up kid? Bored?”
Peter nodded.
“I’m so bored Mr. Stark. Can I go hang out with Dum-E?”
“Not alone, Underoos. Would you prefer for me to call up Happy or should I see if Pepper is willing to go down there with you for a little bit?”
Pepper’s ears perked up at the mention of her name.
Peter eagerly announced, “Pepper, please!”
Tony chuckled softy and turned to face Pepper.
“Would you be willing to go down to the lab with Peter for a little while?” Tony asked. “He’s bored and wants to hang out with Dum-E but he’s not allowed in the lab alone. I’m sure Natalie and I will be able to complete the documents ourselves.”