Chapter 3
The MIT reunion day had arrived and Tony was a total basket case. He couldn’t wait to arrive with Pepper on his arm even if it was only for pretend. She had been on his mind heavily the last few weeks and he was glad she was going with him.
And weighing even deeper on his mind was seeing Rachel again after fifteen years. What was it that she was going to tell him? They were the only two women in the world to make themselves comfortable in his heart. He vowed to never put himself through that burden again and yet somehow Pepper was a constant on his mind. He needed to get a grip on his emotions but she was the one thing he desired more than anything else. He finished his drink and when he went down the stairs Pepper was waiting for him and he stopped dead in his tracks.
“Wow” was all he could say while he couldn’t keep his eyes off of her.
She had on a black body con dress with a plunging neckline. And she had a drop necklace that fell between her breasts. It was very sexy and very unlike Pepper and her more conservative work style.
“Is it too much?” she asked.
“How come you don’t dress like this for work?” he asked.
“Because that would be totally inappropriate”
“I wouldn’t fire you” he said as he continued to eyeball her mercilessly.
“Tony we haven’t even left yet can’t you behave?”
“I’m trying but you’re making it hard to do that” he said with a smile.
“And just to be clear Tony I am going as your date because you needed a date but this isn’t a date. You and I are not-
“Sure we are. You’re all dressed up and I’m wearing a tie” he said as he winked at her.
Pepper was going to argue but she knew it was falling on deaf ears.
They got into the jet with Happy and settled into their seats. Tony reached into his pocket to make sure the envelope with the letters and pictures of him and Rachel were still there. He poured himself another drink and offered Pepper one.
“No thank you Tony. I will wait until we get there”
“Suit yourself” he said as he downed his drink.
After a few minutes Tony was fiddling in his seat and he reached over and grabbed Pepper’s hand and was kind of caressing it softly. Pepper felt paralyzed and confused. She didn’t know what he was up to.
“Thank you for coming with me” he said as he gently brought her hand to his lips.
“You’re welcome” she said as she smiled at him.
“Are you two a thing now or something?” Happy asked motioning to what they were doing.
“What? “Tony asked at the same time that Pepper said no firmly.
“So you guys just hold hands sometimes?” Happy asked casually.
They pulled their hands away immediately.
“Pepper agreed to come with me since tonight is a difficult night for me and I was just taking her hand thanking her for the gesture” Tony explained.
“Tony since when is a party a difficult night for you? You’ll be working the room. I’m surprised you wanted to bring Pepper. I thought you’d find someone to go home with” Happy asked.
“MIT is for the smart girls not the hot ones” Tony joked.
“You’re a pig” Pepper said.
Tony smiled at her and wouldn’t stop until she met his eyes.
“So what’s so difficult about tonight?”Happy repeated.
“I’m going to tell you but you make one snide remark or joke or comment and I will excommunicate you from my inner circle and demote you” Tony threatened.
“I wouldn’t dream of it boss” Happy said.
“I’m meeting someone from my past after the reunion” Tony said.
“Why would I make a joke about that?” Happy said.
Tony looked to Pepper so she could have the floor.
“Because it’s Tony’s ex-girlfriend that just up and disappeared one day and broke his heart” Pepper said still as stunned by the situation as she assumed Happy would be.
“Are you enjoying this? Because I feel like you are. I never said she broke my heart. I said we tried the relationship thing and she said she loved me and I waited and I waited for her to write me or call and tell me where she went and she never did. She wasted my time for two years. I was seventeen and I didn’t know better and I vowed never to have that burden again” Tony explained to Pepper.
“If you say so Tony. What if you go there and see her and she tells you she still has a candle for you? What are you going to do?” Pepper teased.
“I would tell her that she’s too late and I need to go back to my hot date” he said placing his hand on her knee.
Pepper felt her heart jump at Tony’s response and the feeling of his hand on hers.
“Any other secrets I’m going to learn about you tonight? How come I didn’t know? Does Rhodes know?” Happy said.
“Rhodes knows because he was my friend when I met her. And no one else knew ever because I buried it” Tony exclaimed.
They finally arrived and Tony took Pepper’s arm in his and walked into the ballroom. He made his way around laughing with old friends and charming his way around introducing Pepper simply as his date. Pepper liked watching him work the room. She loved seeing people react to seeing Tony. It made her smile to think about. If only they knew him the way she did.
“What’s on your mind Pep?” he asked when they had a moment to break away.
“These people in here they love you. They are acting like Jesus just walked into the room” she said with a laugh.
“Only difference is he can walk on water and I’m much more handsome” Tony said seriously.
“That’s because they don’t know you like I do. They don’t really know what you’re like” Pepper said poking him playfully.
“And yet after all these years you stay. I can’t be that bad” he said baring into her soul with those chocolate brown eyes of his.
She was weakening and she couldn’t let him win so she deflected with friend zone.
“You’re all I have Tony. You’re my best friend” Pepper said.
“Let’s get a drink” he said as he brought her over to the bar and ordered them drinks.
“Every guy in here tonight can’t keep their eyes off of you and I’m the lucky one because you’re here with me” he said.
“Tony” said someone calling his name. He spun around and it was Rhodey.
“Heyyyy” Tony said as they shook hands.
“Wow Pepper. I didn’t even recognize you. You look hot. Are you guys-
“No we’re not. Why does everyone keep asking us that?” Pepper said as she shifted uncomfortably.
“Take it easy. She’s my date” Tony said possessively.
“I don’t know. Something about you guys seems different. And relax Tony I know Pepper’s your girl” Rhodey said.
“ Except She won’t consummate the relationship” Tony joked.
Pepper nudged him in the ribs hard.
“I deserved that”
“Here’s another round of drinks for us” Tony said as he passed them out and downed some whiskey.
“Tony slow down. Remember your meeting after this” Pepper reminded him.
“Meeting? Are you seriously working tonight?” Rhodey asked shaking his head.
“No he’s meeting Rachel” Pepper blurted out.
The effects of multiple glasses of wine had gotten to her. And she was mad at his little joke. She was sure Rhodey knew who Rachel was if he went to MIT with Tony.
Rhodey dropped the glass he was holding and it shattered on the floor.
“Put it on my bill” Tony said.
“Thee Rachel? Wait Pepper knows about Rachel?” Rhodey asked again confused.
“Yes Rachel emailed me and you know who checks my emails” Tony said.
“So what’s this meeting all about? I’m surprised you agreed to it” he said.
“I didn’t at first. But she emailed me a second time and something seemed off. She said she was in dire need to talk to me and that she hoped I was receiving her letters or she was going to lose all hope” Tony said.
“Sounds serious. Good luck dude” Rhodey said.
“Come on Pep lets go over to a quiet corner” Tony said taking her by the arm and leading her away.
She sipped her wine and followed him.
“You look very handsome tonight Mr. Stark. I did a good job fixing you up” Pepper said as she brushed back the hair on his forehead.
She didn’t know what came over her. The overwhelming desire to touch him and had won the fight against her better judgement.
“Yeah and me being naturally insanely handsome had nothing to do with it” he said as he gave her the eyes.
“Tony-
“Come here let me hug you” Tony said pulling her into him.
He held her tightly and caressed her sides gently while her arms were draped around his neck. They were both tantalized by each other’s intoxicating scent. Pepper’s perfume was sweet and drove him nuts and Tony’s Chanel de blue made her want to cling to him more tightly. His fingertips left warmth and tingling everywhere they touched. Tony felt himself weakening which was a new feeling for him. He usually always had the upper hand with women. He needed to pull away for a moment.
“Thank you so much for being here with me tonight” Tony said as he kissed her on the head.
Pepper pulled her face back for a moment and his eyes were gazing down into hers. She realized that they had been embracing for what seemed like forever.
“Tony we never hug” she said realizing how silly it was.
“We definitely should start. It feels amazing” he said as he ran his hands down her arms again.
They stood there for a moment staring at each other and Tony really didn’t care anymore and he reached for her face with one hand and had the other on her arm and he leaned in to kiss her. Much to his surprise Pepper didn’t resist. She kissed him back for a few moments and then she broke apart from him. The kiss was awkward for them both since it was the first time in such a personal moment between them. Neither of them wanted to stop but something told Pepper it was time to break apart.
“Tony you have to go. Look at the time” Pepper said breathlessly while trying to forget that she had too much wine and that when Tony kissed her she kissed back.
“I’m going to have Happy drive me over and then when I’m done we will swing by and get you. Have fun” he said as he lingered there for a minute and kissed her softly again. He kissed her on the cheek and squeezed her hand and he was gone.
I just kissed Pepper. Now what Stark. You’re getting soft. And what the hell does Rachel want.
His anxiety about seeing Rachel was through the roof but Happy got him there with two minutes to spare.
Tony walked to the hotel bar and he scanned the room for Rachel. He didn’t see her and he was about to sit at a high top when he heard someone whispering his name from a few tables back. There she was with a blonde wig and a baseball cap.
“Rachel what are you-
“Tony I’m in trouble. I need you to take care of something for me” she said.
A fury Tony didn’t know he could feel washed over him. You’ve got to be kidding me.
“You know you have a lot of nerve asking for help after all these years? You know what I need closure? I LOVED you. I waited for you for years. You just disappeared without a word. I blamed myself. I wondered what I did wrong as a boyfriend. Do you know I haven’t had a proper relationship since? And you didn’t think anytime in these last fifteen years would have been a good time to reach out. Why not?”he spat. He was surprised by how angry he actually was.
“I’m sorry about that but I don’t have much time. This letter explains everything including why I left you, but you can’t read it tonight and you can’t read it here. I need you to read it once you get home and then destroy it. You cannot tell anyone what is in this letter” she said handing it to him her hand shaking a bit.
Tony stared at her and he could see she was visibly shaken and whatever was in this letter was serious.
“Rachel just tell me what’s going on?” he pressed as he took the letter. He changed his tone completely.
“I have something very important in my hotel room. I need you to take care of it. Make sure when you go up there that you’re wearing this” she said handing him the white gold figuro bracelet with an engraving that he got her along with the hotel room key.
He looked at the bracelet and remembered the night he gave it to her and how Happy she was.
“I remember the night I gave this to you. Tell me what’s going on” he pleaded his big brown eyes searching hers.
“I can’t. I don’t know who is listening but it’s all in the letter. I have to go. I’ll be in touch. Take care of yourself Tony” she said as she got up and began to sprint.
“Rachel wait” he said as he tried to chase after her but she was gone.
Tony was in distress. He looked around the main lobby and hallways and even went outside but she was gone. He knew something was wrong. Tony stood there for a moment in a panic. He grabbed his phone and called Happy.
“I need you to go get Pepper and bring her to the plane and come back to get me and keep the car running.” Tony said and then hung up abruptly.
He had nerves he couldn’t shake off. The site of Rachel in a disguise and her hands visibly shaking were very unsettling. He got into the elevator and took it to the fifth floor. He followed the room numbers until he found her hotel room. He took out the bracelet and put it on and he swiped the hotel room key and pulled the handle. No sooner than he opened the door was he staring into the barrel of a gun. There was a dark haired brunette that was about sixteen years old staring him in the face while holding the gun on him. He held his wrist up so she could see the bracelet.
“Rachel sent me” he said shielding his face from the gun.
The girl helped him up and shut the door quickly.
“Where is she?” she asked.
“She had to take off. She said there was something in her hotel room that she needed me to take care of and told me to wear this bracelet” Tony asked more confused than ever.
“What do you mean she left? She told me she was coming back and bringing my father” the girl said.
It hit him like a ton of bricks. This thing in her room she needed him to take care of was his daughter and she was standing in front of him. Is that why she left me? Because she was pregnant. I could have handled that. I was a good boyfriend once. Why didn’t Rachel just tell me?
“I’m assuming that person is me. I’m Tony. I think I’m your father, but I swear I didn’t know anything about you until just now” he said still taking in the site of her.
“I’m Tiffany” she said trying to figure out how she recognized his face.
“You look just your mother so beautiful” Tony said not being able to believe that he and Rachel created a life.
“My mom told me to put this on and leave with you” she said opening her bag and putting on a wig and a baseball cap.
“What’s going on? Why do you need disguises?” he asked hoping he could put some of the story together until he could read his letter.
“We witnessed the murder of my stepfather and the people who killed him are trying to kill us” she said.
“Who are they?” Tony asked sounding alarmed.
“I don’t know” she said.
“Come on” he said motioning for Tiffany to follow him.
A few minutes later and they were heading into the car.
“Where to boss?” Happy asked.
“The plane. Let’s get out of here” Tony said.
Happy didn’t ask any questions he parked the car and they headed to the plane. Tiffany saw the name Stark on the plane and she stopped dead in her tracks. Tony stopped as well and turned around.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
“Holy shit. You’re iron man. I knew I recognized your face” she said putting it together for the first time.
“Yeah come on” he said as he stepped onto the plane.
“Tony I was starting to get worried. Is everything alright?” Pepper asked as she got up to hug him.
Tiffany came in behind him and sat down.
“Tony what’s going on?” Pepper asked as she stared at the girl sitting down. She knew this girl couldn’t be Rachel and she knew she was too young for Tony to be picking up. She wondered what was going on.
“Pepper I just need like five minutes. It’s been a very trying night” Tony said as he went to pour himself a drink.
Pepper was a little hurt but Tony no longer looked like her handsome pristine fun loving date. He came back looking like a worried ,handsome ,shocked man deep in his own thoughts.
“Are you Tony’s wife?” Tiffany asked as she turned to face the woman next to her.
“What? No. Tony isn’t married. I’m Pepper. Mr. Stark is my boss” she said.
“I’m Tiffany. Mr. stark is my dad” she said.