Chapter 7
Pepper walked into the Stark Mansion after talking herself out of quitting for the last two hours. She realized that she let herself get too close and too playful with Tony and it was her fault that she was having feelings for him. She knows how he is with girls and she shouldn’t have thought it’d be any different with her. It was going to be difficult but she was going back to keeping things strictly professional between them. She opened the door and a woman came down the stairs and Pepper felt knots in her stomach. Crystal clear, she thought. Tony was never going to be what she hoped he would be.
“Where’s Tony? I need to get paid” the woman said rather abrasively.
“Paid?” Pepper asked.
She was confused for a moment.
Tony was hiding in the other room so he could see if he got a reaction out of Pepper.
“Yeah for services” she said.
“Riiiight. You’re an escort. This is a first for Mr. Stark. How much?” Pepper asked.
She was trying to push down a fury inside of her whose flames were threatening to come out.
“That’ll be one thousand three hundred and twenty dollars” the woman said.
“Just a moment” Pepper said heading into the other room where Tony kept his safe. She opened it and counted out the bills to pay the woman and locked it up behind her.
She headed back out into the living room and paid the woman. She waited until the woman left to head downstairs to find Tony when he walked out of the other room.
“Pepper be prepared to stay tonight” he said.
Pepper was completely thrown off. He was pretending as if nothing happened last night.
“What?” Pepper asked.
“We have to leave at four am. We’re going to Massachusetts for the funeral” Tony said.
“Ok I’ll stop home later to get some things” Pepper said as she went to find a place to work.
She was so angry she could feel her blood pressure rising. She needed a vacation.
Tony sat down on the couch in the same room with Pepper.
“Jarvis I need everything you can find on Richard Alcott” he said.
He was determined to investigate Rachel’s husband and try and find out who killed him, so he could keep Tiffany safe.
Pepper looked up at him and her heart was breaking even though she was still mad. She could only imagine what was going through his head at any given moment. She wished she could shut her feelings for him off but they were too strong and too deep. She watched and listened while he talked to Jarvis to get to the bottom of what business Rachel’s husband was in.
Tiffany came down the stairs and headed into the kitchen.
“Oh good you still work here” Tiffany said to Pepper as she passed.
Pepper didn’t say anything. She was actually afraid of what would come out of her mouth if she spoke without being asked a question. She had a mouthful for Tony but she didn’t want to give him the satisfaction that she was angry at him. And she didn’t want to say something he might mistake for flirting so silence was better.
“Pep?” Tony asked.
“What can I do for you Mr. Stark?” she asked as she looked up.
“Nothing. You just haven’t said a word since you got here” Tony stated as he eyed her up.
He was trying to read her.
“I have nothing to talk to you about unless you need something” she said.
“I don’t need anything. I just thought-
“I should get back to my work in the other room and let you finish what you’re working on” Pepper said gathering her things and going into the kitchen to get some coffee.
“Pep come on” he called after her but she ignored him.
Tony was very upset. He didn’t like Pepper not talking to him. He decided that he would give her a little time before breaching the subject.
Pepper was in the kitchen with Tiffany who was filling her school bag with snacks.
Tiffany opened one of the cabinet doors and it was like heaven. There were bags and bags of crunchy cheese doodles. Tiffany grabbed like three bags and shoved them into her bag.
“You eat those too?” Pepper asked wrinkling her face in disapproval.
“Yes my favorite snack ever” she said grabbing an apple and a bottle of water.
“Don’t worry your father eats them like they are going out of style and I need to order them in bulk. You will never run out. As a matter of fact if you’re going to be staying here now I better order more now” Pepper said making a note for herself.
“I’m glad you didn’t quit. Us girls need to stick together” Tiffany said.
Even though her father was totally distracted by her she had taken a liking to Pepper.
“I’m not going to lie I almost quit last night but your father needs me and I just needed to get my head on straight” Pepper said.
“I think he’s acting jerky because he’s in love with you. You should just seduce him on the couch. That’ll get his attention”Tiffany said bluntly.
“Your father is a very handsome man I won’t deny that but he is my boss and boundaries need to be established” Pepper said as she repeated her mantra.
“I just think you’d both be much happier and in better moods if you guys were banging” Tiffany said as she headed to the front door.
Pepper stood there speechless. She was no doubt Tony’s daughter. She put her coffee cup in the sink and when she looked up she saw the mail had come through the slot. Pepper walked over and picked it up. She leafed through it and there was one in particular that caught her eye.
“This came for you” Pepper said handing Tony the manila envelope.
“What is it?” he asked.
“I think it’s the paternity test” she said.
Tony ripped it open and scanned the results quickly.
“She’s mine. I figured she was but now we know for sure” he said.
Pepper was on her way back into the kitchen when Tony stopped her.
“Pepper” he called.
“Yes Mr. Stark” she said coming back to where he was sitting.
“You know I hate the Mr. Stark. Please just Tony. Are you mad at me still?” he asked.
“Not at all” Pepper said with a smile.
She was going to kill him with kindness.
“Then why aren’t you talking to me? You haven’t made any jokes at my expense or yelled at me or told me not to do something” Tony whined.
“You can do whatever you want from now on. I’m not getting involved in any of your personal choices” Pepper said.
Tony knew something was up with Pepper and he didn’t know how to fix it.
“Why not?” Tony asked.
“Because we need boundaries. I will no longer overstep. That was a mistake and look where it lead us. I don’t want any confusing feelings or gray area. You’re the boss. I’m the assistant” Pepper said.
“Pep you’re not just my assistant. You’re my friend. Our relationship has evolved. So you’re saying you’re not my friend?” Tony asked.
“When I’m on the clock I’m your assistant and when I’m off the clock we can be friends” Pepper explained.
“It just doesn’t make any sense. Why are you doing this? Pepper you kissed me back” Tony said.
“Yes I did and that was a big mistake. It should never have happened and it was my fault for allowing it to happen” Pepper said.
“I’m sorry you feel that way it wasn’t a mistake for me. I just don’t get why you’re doing this now after all this time”
“Because my blood pressure was 140 over 90 yesterday. I can’t handle the stress of all your personal stuff. If you need me for work or Tiffany I will help but all the personal stuff is just too much” Pepper said.
“Did you go to the Doctor? That’s not good Pepper” he asked very concerned.
“No I tested it at home. I did things the Tony Stark way” Pepper said.
“Pepper this is serious. You should get checked out” he said placing his hand on her arm.
“Tony it went down once I got home for the day. I’m fine. Just let me work. I need to work somewhere away from you”she said honestly.
He was deeply hurt by Pepper’s words and he knew he deserved it.
“What do I have to do for us to go back to what it was?” Tony asked.
“Hire a new assistant” Pepper joked.
Tony didn’t know what to say. He was so upset. He didn’t think he was that bad. He didn’t want to affect Pepper’s health and he was even more upset that Pepper said she regretted the kiss.
“NEVER” he said walking away.
Tony sent Rhodey a text he wanted to get away from Pepper for awhile so she could work in peace and he could clear his head. After Rhodey agreed to meet him Tony came up to find Pepper.
“I need a break. I’m going to meet Rhodey. Feel free to do whatever you want while I’m gone” Tony said as he headed for the door.
“Are you ok?” Pepper asked suddenly changing her tune.
“Pep I think we should have some boundaries” Tony said grabbing his keys and walking out the door.
Pepper knew she probably deserved that and she decided to take this time to go and get her stuff since she would be spending the night.
Tony pulled up to Neptune’s Net and Rhodey was waiting for him outside.
“What’s on your mind?” Rhodey said as they sat at a high top table.
“It’s Pepper. Things are not going well and I can’t seem to focus on anything else because it’s like she’s the center of the universe and everything else I need to focus on is rotating around her and I can’t make it stop” Tony confessed to his friend.
“I’ve seen this before Tony” Rhodey said nodding his head.
“What is it? What’s wrong with me? Why can’t I focus?” Tony asked.
He was desperate for an answer.
“Nothing dude. You’re in love” Rhodey said.
“That’s impossible” Tony said.
Could I really be in love with Pepper? Does this beautiful woman with freckles that has taken care of me for the last ten years suddenly mean more to me? Have things really changed that much? There’s no way ive changed.
“Tony you called me to come all the way out to Malibu to listen to you whine and then argue with me” Rhodey said.
“Pepper and I had a fight last night. Now she’s drawing boundaries. She wants to keep everything employer and employee. She wouldn’t even talk to me for a good forty-five minutes. And then this morning when she found the escort I hired she had no reaction” Tony said.
“You hired an escort? What are you thinking?” Rhodey said shaking his head at his friend.
“I didn’t actually sleep with her. I just wanted her there so Pepper could see her in the morning because I was angry” Tony said.
“Wow Tony you really know how to press her buttons. What did you guys fight about?” Rhodey asked him.
“I still can’t wrap my mind around it. We had a great day. We went to the press conference and I suggested we blow off the rest of the day and go to the beach. We stopped to get a bathing suit for Tiffany and we went back to the house and she was thrilled. Then we went to the beach and we came back here. We ordered takeout and I opened her favorite wine and I gave her the diamond bracelet I got for her and told her how much I appreciated her and we were feeding each other and I went to kiss her and she freaked out. I don’t get it” Tony said.
“What did she say?”
“She said “I’m not yours to kiss anytime you want” and something about me being hot and cold with her” Tony said.
“And what was your response?” Rhodey said trying to take it all in before he responded.
“I told her I always want to kiss her and she was saying she is not here for that. Again I don’t understand what the problem is” Tony said.
“Tony Pepper doesn’t want to be your friend with benefits. She doesn’t want to run your errands all day and kick women out of your house and kiss you sometimes. She wants to be with you. I told you not to sleep on this. Pepper is going to move on and you’re going to be alone. Think about what it’s like for a second to love someone like you and what that must be like for her” Rhodey said.
“But that’s just it Rhodey. Pepper doesn’t love me” Tony said.
“Are you blind Tony? Why do you think she’s been here all these years?”
Pepper in love with me. Impossible. She has a comeback for every sexual innuendo i throw at her he thought.
“No but I’m damaged. Rhodey I can’t go through that again” Tony said referring to his heartbreak.
“Pepper is not Rachel. And you found out why Rachel left. She didn’t leave because of you” Rhodey said.
“I can’t feel that pain again. Do you know what that’s like?” Tony asked his friend.
“Of course Tony. Normal everyday people get their hearts broken. It’s a part of life and you move on. I don’t know why you do this to yourself. Don’t you want to be happy?”
“I don’t know what I want”
“And I don’t know what to tell you” Rhodey said.
“Thanks for meeting me. I got the check” Tony said putting his credit card down.
Pepper arrived back at the house with her overnight bag and sat on the couch. Tony wasn’t home yet and she was worried about him. Tiffany came through the front door and saw Pepper on the couch.
“Where’s Tony?” she asked as she came in to join Pepper on the couch.
“He went to meet Rhodey”
Tiffany looked up at the wall and saw all the photos of her as a kid framed and hung up on the walls from the time she was a baby to her most recent school picture.
“Did he really frame those?” Tiffany asked.
“Well he asked me to frame them but he hung them up himself” Pepper said.
Tony came through the door and joined them on the couch.
“How was school? Any better today?” he asked out of genuine concern.
“I made a couple of friends today” she said.
“That’s great” he said.
“We’re leaving at 4am to go to the funeral so I thought we’d have an early dinner and get some sleep. We can go out just me and you. What do you say?” Tony suggested.
“Okay” she said.
Pepper went upstairs to prepare Tony’s overnight bag and Tiffany’s as well. She went into the bathroom and filled the tub as high as it would go and turned on the audiobook for Pride & Prejudice. She just laid back and closed her eyes. Tony gave her so much stress but at the same time he was exciting and he liked to share it with her. They were in a funk and she needed time away from him. She really wanted to use her vacation but Tiffany seemed to want her around.
“This place has such great views” Tiffany said as she looked around.
“Your mom always loved the beach. I took her to Cape Cod for spring break. My father flipped when he found out” Tony said.
“This is the nicest place I’ve ever been. I’ve never been further than Connecticut” Tiffany said.
“You have me now and I can take you anywhere you want to go” Tony exclaimed.
“Even this food is so fancy for me. It’s good but if I had it my way I’d just have cheese doodles” she said.
“Crunchy” Tony said.
She laughed.
“Look I wanted to apologize for last night. I was upset about my fight with Pepper and I took it out on you. It wasn’t right” Tony said.
“You want my forgiveness?” she asked.
“Yes. That would be wonderful” he said.
“Then don’t lie to me. You have a thing for Pepper true or false” she said.
“True” Tony admitted.
“I knew it. I’ve only been here less than a week and I could figure it out”
“Is it that obvious?” Tony asked.
“To literally everyone in the universe” she said.
“What about you? You better not be talking to any boys” Tony said.
“Says the world’s most famous playboy” Tiffany said.
Tony shut his mouth and tried to think of something to talk to his teenage daughter about.
“So what interests do you have? What do you do for fun?” he asked her.
“I like movies and drawing mostly and smoking weed” she said.
Tony’s eyes got big.
“Not anymore” Tony said smiling.
Tiffany looked away.
“Why didn’t you make my mom come with you?” she asked.
“I tried. I pleaded with her. She just handed me the hotel key and the letter and ran off. It all happened so fast. Believe me if I knew what was happening I would have done anything to protect her. I would have brought her back here too” Tony said.
“How long am I going to have to hide?” Tiffany asked.
“Just until I find these guys” Tony said.
“Are you going to kill them?” Tiffany said.
“If I have to I won’t hesitate” Tony said.
“I’m tired. Can we go now?” she asked.
“Sure” he said as he paid the bill.
Pepper heard the car pull up and decided not to go downstairs. She wanted to pretend she was asleep in case because she knew Tony wouldn’t wake her up.
“Goodnight Tony” Tiffany said as she headed up the stairs.
“Wait come here” he said.
“What?” she asked.
“I got this in the mail today. It’s official. I’m so happy I want to frame it” he said handing her the paternity test papers.
Tiffany felt herself starting to tear up and she looked up at him.
“It’s awkward and I don’t know you, but I’m grateful for you” she said trying to fight her tears.
Tony pulled her in for a hug despite how awkward it was.
“Goodnight” he said even though he knew he wasn’t going to be able to fall asleep.