Chapter 1
Tony awoke and slipped out of bed and headed into the shower before his latest conquest was awake. He was as quiet as possible while he dressed and headed downstairs to greet Pepper who would have his coffee ready.
“Good morning Miss Potts” he said.
“Morning Mr. Stark” she replied as she handed him his morning coffee.
He nodded as he headed down into his work room. And then stopped suddenly and turned around.
“I need you to do me a favor Pep” he said.
“Oh no. I told you I’m not doing that anymore” she said.
“Don’t look at me like that. Sex is like eating and sleeping. You need it to live nothing more. I can’t be burdened with a relationship” Tony said.
“This is the last time Tony. I’m not going to keep doing this” Pepper said.
“I don’t have anyone else but you to do it” he said.
“Tony?”
He heard a voice that wasn’t Pepper’s and he scampered down the stairs like a coward to let Pepper deal with it.
“Hi” Pepper said smiling at the tan blonde that entered the room wearing the outfit she had from the night before.
“Who are you?” she asked.
“I’m Pepper. I’m Tony’s assistant. There’s a car ready to take you wherever you need to go” she said.
The girl looked shocked and confused for a moment.
“First time with Mr. Stark? I’m sorry. This is how it works” Pepper said.
“I’m so embarrassed” the girl said.
“I’m sorry. The car outside will take you wherever you need to go”
The girl walked out the front door and Pepper felt slightly bad for her.
“Pepper I need you” she heard over the intercom.
She sighed and headed down the stairs.
“Don’t freak out. I need you to cut my pants off” he said.
“Tony I-
“I accidentally melted my zipper and I can’t cut them off myself. It’s a very delicate area” he proclaimed.
“And you trust me to do this? Isn’t a man more qualified? Someone who has the same equipment. Let me call Happy” she said.
“No it has to be you. You’re the only I trust with this”
Pepper sighed and grabbed the scissors.
Pepper approached Tony and stopped.
“What now? “He asked.
“I’m not going to undo your belt. There is nothing wrong with your hands or your buckle” Pepper said as she waited.
“You drive a hard bargain Miss Potts” he said as he undid his belt slowly.
Once he put the belt down Pepper grabbed the waist of his jeans and looked up at him.
“Tony please don’t make this more uncomfortable than it already is” Pepper warned.
“Pepper you’re a beautiful woman and you’re going to be near my crown jewels so I will say this, if something happens I’m sorry and if nothing happens I’m sorry” he explained.
Pepper ignored what he was implying and began cutting down a little bit at a time slowly revealing Mr. Stark’s boxer briefs.Pepper didn’t want to look as she cut but she had to. She carefully cut around his delicate area and she was trying desperately not to brush against him.
Tony looked down at Pepper who was so close to his nether regions and it was impossible for him to control his thoughts. And then it happened and it brushed against Pepper’s hand.
Pepper felt herself flush as she felt him against her hand. She angled her body so she didn’t have to look at it and continued to cut now down the leg to free Tony of his jeans. She reached the ankle and finally he was free to slide the other leg off. She got up slowly as he slid the other leg off his jeans and stood their silently waiting to collect his jeans for the trash. He was standing there in only boxer briefs and a t-shirt and he was at full attention. He smirked at her for a moment and she just cut him off before he was able to speak.
“You see Tony you always take it too far. I know you can’t control that, but then you look at me like that and that’s uncomfortable” Pepper said.
“I’m sorry. You just look so mad and I think it’s cute. You did great. I did not mean for that to happen and make you uncomfortable. I sincerely apologize” Tony explained.
“I have work to do” she said as she headed to the door.
“Bring it down here and work in here with me and bring me a new pair of jeans”
“I can bring you pants but Tony I am not working down here. I can’t hear over your music”she said.
“So I’ll shut it off and we can talk” he said.
“No way Tony. That’s too distracting” she said.
Tony just gave her a look and she knew she was defeated and she’d be doing her work in Tony’s workshop.
Pepper joined Tony in his workshop and tossed him his jeans. She found a comfy spot while he put his pants back on.
“Thank you for that Pepper. You were very professional” Tony said as he glanced over at her.
“It’s my job Tony” Pepper said not looking at him.
“I know but I do appreciate it. I know you hate doing things like that” Tony exclaimed.
Tony went over to continue some of his projects while Pepper continued pouring over Tony’s calendar and her paperwork.
“I’d like next Friday night off if you don’t need me” Pepper asked.
“I can make that happen even though I don’t like it” Tony said.
“Tony I have vacation time. Don’t start with this again” Pepper said.
“I know it’s just pure selfishness on my part. I always want you here”
“What’s going on next Friday night? Girl’s night?” he inquired.
“It’s none of your business” she said.
“Do you have a date?” he pressed.
“Tony it’s none of your business” Pepper said.
“What’s his name? I’ll do a background check” Tony said.
“TONY” she said loudly.
“Don’t you want to protect yourself? Someone should screen him first” Tony said.
“This is why I didn’t want to do my work down here” she said.
“Can I ask you something?” he asked.
“If it’s not about my plans then sure” she said.
“Before when you were cutting my pants off and you were down there did everything look ok? Like should I do more manscaping? ”he asked.
“Tony that’s enough” Pepper said.
“Pep who else am I going to ask?” he said.
“There is plenty of women that would love to give you that answer. I’m not one of them” Pepper said.
“I don’t care what other women think, I only care what you think” he said.
“I wasn’t really looking at it in detail. I was looking so I wouldn’t cut you and it’s not like I could see a whole lot anyway. You had on underwear. I’m sure you’re fine. It’s not like its hindered your ability to get girls” pepper said.
“Well what’s your preference on a man?” he asked.
“It doesn’t matter what my preference is because I’m not going there” she said as she scanned through emails until one caught her eye.
“When were you going to tell me you had your MIT class reunion coming up? I need to rsvp. Do you want to go?” she asked changing the subject quickly.
“It all depends if I have a hot date” he said looking at her longingly.
“Well I need an answer by Thursday” she said.
“Maybe if Rhodey goes” Tony said.
They both continued their work in silence secretly stealing glances of each other but not at the same time. He likes to watch her delicate hands type or scroll through her phone. He also liked her face when she was on hold with someone. And she liked the moment Tony would light up when he had an idea and the way he looked when he slid under the cars he was working on. She also liked his math face and his face when he was confused about something. She drifted off into a daydream about what it would be like to kiss him and she snapped herself out of her weak moment. It would be insane to kiss him and she knew that better than anyone. There was so much potential for him to be the man she wanted he just hasn’t realized it yet.
It was a beautiful Tuesday afternoon in Malibu and Pepper decided to do some work outside while Tony was tinkering with his toys and she could slip out unnoticed.
Once outside she closed her eyes and basked in the rays for a moment. In fact it was so warm she decided to take her blazer off and get a little color on her shoulders. Just for a little bit since she was prone to sunburn due to her fair complexion. She sipped her iced coffee and grabbed at her phone. She had another message on her Tinder account. She clicked on it and it said:
“Hey cutie does the carpet match the drapes?”
She rolled her eyes and typed a response back quickly and said
“Does your IQ match your tiny penis?”
She giggled to herself when Tony came up behind her.
“What’s so funny?” he asked.
“Nothing. Tony what are you doing out here?” Pepper said closing out of Tinder quickly.
“I came up to see where you went. What are you looking at?” he asked.
“Nothing” she said hiding the phone again.
“Let me see it” he said reaching around her back to get the phone.
He got his hands on it and Pepper basically let him snatch it right out of her hand. Pepper was swatting at him playfully as he unlocked her phone.
“You’re on Tinder?” he asked as he swiped through her matches.
This was news to him and he was not happy about it. He saw her open message and he was livid.
“Is this guy for real? Doesn’t he know that you are a woman to be respected? Does he know you work for me and I will blast his door down” Tony exclaimed.
“Tony relax. I had a good comeback for him and besides is it really any different than the way you are with girls? What’s that speech you gave me about how sex is like food or oxygen and nothing more and a relationship is a burden” Pepper said.
“Is that what you’re on here for? Sex? ” Tony asked not wanting to know the answer.
“I’m just on here to pass the time. It’s fun and silly. I wouldn’t seriously meet someone off Tinder. Your secrets are too valuable” she said.
“I’m going to look through your matches” he said.
“What if I said no?” she teased.
“Then you’re going to have to try and stop me” he teased back.
Pepper didn’t care and she watched as Tony was scrolling through the guys she matched with.
“I see a type here. Not what I expected” he said handing her back the phone.
“What were you expecting Tony?”
“Tall, dark, handsome, eccentric, rich and genius” he said.
“I don’t know anyone like that” she teased.
Tony was hurt but he would never let Pepper know it. She was way out of his league no matter how much he wanted her.
“I like this look Potts. We should mandate no blazers Tuesday” he said.
“Don’t get used to it Tony” she said as she picked up her blazer and put it on.
She started gathering her paperwork when a ping went off to notify her that Tony had a new email. She tapped the phone with her finger and saw an email that appeared from an email address she never saw before.
“Tony do you know the email address Ray68@snailmail?”
“Is there a subject?” he asked.
“It says URGENT”
“Open it and read it to me” he said while he flopped down in a chair next to her.
“Tony its Rachel. I’m the last person you probably expected to or want to hear from. But I was wondering if you’re going to the MIT reunion. I’m going to be in town and I REALLY need to talk to you about something. Please let me know if you’ll be there. Regards, Rachel”
Pepper watched as Tony stiffened up and he had a look of distress on his face. He seemed to have drifted off for a moment. Hearing her name even after all these years sent him into a memory he thought he had forgotten.
A seventeen year old Tony was busy welding when the front door to their apartment on the Boston harbor opened. It was his best friend James Rhodes with what he thought was two girls.
“Hey Tony this is Stephanie and her friend Rachel. They wanted to come back to the house” Rhodey said hinting to him that he brought one of them home for him.
Tony nodded but continued to weld as Rhodey brought Stephanie into the other room.
“So James tells me you guys go to MIT. Where are you from?” Rachel asked as she sat down on the couch.
“New York” he said taking off his mask for the first time to look at her.
She was tall with long shiny black hair and blue eyes. Suddenly he felt insecure. He grabbed a rag to wipe the sweat off of his face and hurried into the kitchen to wash his hands. He returned a moment later.
“I’m Tony” he said as he reached his hand out to hers and smiled.
He was so nervous. None of the girls at school paid any attention to him and Rachel was gorgeous.
“Rachel” she said as she smiled back.
“Where are you from?” he asked as he grabbed a soda from the fridge and offered her one.
She took it and sat on the couch with him.
“Hyde Park” she said referring to one of the rougher areas of Boston.
Tony didn’t know what to say. He wasn’t too popular with girls in school because he was so nerdy and he was only seventeen.
“This place is incredible. The view of the harbor is amazing” she said.
“Not as amazing as the view I have right now” Tony said bravely.
Rachel smiled at him and felt herself blush.
“Have you had dinner?” he asked.
“Not yet” she said.
“Me either, I’d love for you to come with me. My treat of course “he exclaimed.
“I’d like that “she said.
“Who’s Rachel?” Pepper asked snapping him out of his memory.
“No one. Delete it” Tony said.
“Tony I can tell you have something on your mind. Who is she?” Pepper asked again.
“I said she’s NO ONE. Just delete it please” he asked.
He was seething. He couldn’t believe she had the nerve to try and talk to him after all these years. And by email. He wondered how she even got his email. There was nothing that she could say that would remotely interest him. Tony put on a pair of shorts and a tank and headed to his home gym to lift weights. He put his music on extremely loud and text Happy to come and spot him. As he began his reps he was getting angrier and angrier because more and more memories were flooding him. This was a part of his life he thought he buried.
Tony came up after his workout to get some protein and Pepper was afraid to even speak to him. He was really angry.
“Do you want lunch?” Pepper asked quietly.
Tony stopped for a moment. He was really angry and he knew it wasn’t Pepper’s fault. He didn’t want to be mean to his sweet Pepper.
“Sure” he said as he sat down at the table.
Pepper took out Tony’s meal prepped lunch and started to heat it up. She opened the fridge and gave him a bottle of water. He still wasn’t speaking and she was trying her best not to pry.
“How was your work out?” Pepper asked.
“Fine” Tony said but she could still sense he was angry.
“I’m sorry. Do you want me to leave you alone for the day?” she asked as she put his food in front of him.
“No it’s not you. I am angry but it’s not you. I’m sorry. Please don’t go” he said squeezing her hand.
“I don’t know what you need me to do right now. I don’t know what to say to you. You won’t tell me what’s going on and that’s fine but I feel like you’re angry with me” she said as she watched Tony eat.
“Rachel is someone I never want to see again. Just leave it at that. I’m going to take a shower” Tony said.
Pepper was perplexed. He never once mentioned a Rachel before. And she couldn’t recall Tony not wanting to see any woman ever again. She never seen him like this and she really hoped he would be ok.