They got out of the car and Pepper held Ace as she walked into the hotel with Tony and Happy. Tony leaned over and said "Whatever happens in the next 20 minutes, just go with it." Just as he said that, Natalie walked over in a red dress, smiling "How was your flight?"
Pepper looked at Tony and muttered, "You're unbelievable." Tony smiled at the camera and spoke through his teeth, "Put down the cat and smile. Don't look constipated." Pepper smiled and replied "I can't believe you." as he put Ace down.
Ace landed on the ground and stretched out his paws as the reporters took a picture. Before Ace could walk off, Natalie picked him up and held him in her arms as Tony followed her saying "You look great, but that's unprofessional. What's on the docket?"
Natalie smiled, "You have a meeting at 9:30." Tony replied, "Great, I'll be there at 11. Is this us?" as he pointed to a table, Natalie smiled in response, "It could be." Tony nodded, "Make it us."
Natallie nodded and scratched Ace's head, sighing "What a tough job…" Ace turned his head and looked at her with narrowed eyes. She looked at him and smiled, "You get it, right buddy?" Ace turned to Tony and struggled in her arms before she let go.
Ace landed on the ground and chased after Tony, who was walking to the bar with Pepper, as Natalie watched him go. She shook her head and turned around to get the table ready.
Ace caught up with Tony and sat next to his leg as he stood at the bar. Tony looked down and muttered "Why is this cat always on me…" Pepper rolled her eyes and said "He likes you, leave him alone."
There was a voice behind Tony and Pepper saying "Anthony! Is that you?" as Tony replied to Pepper, "And I don't like him, kinda like this guy-" before he could finish, a man was next to him and Tony finished "Justin Hammer."
Justin chuckled and spoke, "You're not the only rich guy on Earth with a fancy car." before turning his head and continuing "You know Christine Everheart from Vanity Fair. You guys know each other?" as he pointed at a blonde woman.
Ace looked up at Justin and Christine as Tony nodded "Yes, roughly." Pepper smiled, "Yes, we do." Justin smiled and explained to Christine while pointing at Pepper "BTW, big story. The new CEO of Stark Industries. Congratulations!"
Christine nodded, "I know, I know. My editor will kill me if I don't grab a quote for our Powerful Women issue. Can I?" as she pleaded, Pepper blinked and smiled slightly "Sure."
Christine smiled happily as Justin changed the topic, "She's actually doing a big spread on me for Vanity Fair. I thought I'd throw her a bone, you know." Pepper looked at Tony, who closed his eyes, before saying "Well, she did quite the, uhh… spread on Tony last year." Tony turned to Justin and Christine, adding "And she wrote a story as well."
Pepper continued "And it was very impressive." Tony echoed, "Very good."
Ace coughed at Tony's feet, looking at the ground as he almost laughed, although he wasn't quite sure what a cat laughing sounded like…
Justin looked down and asked "You have a cat?" Pepper cleared her throat saying "He's mine. Yes." Tony shook his head, saying "Won't leave me alone either, there's so many people like that…" Pepper picked up Ace and smiled "I'm gonna go… wash up." as she walked away, going to the set table.
Tony uttered "Don't leave me alone" but Pepper rolled her eyes and walked away. Ace looked back at Tony as Pepper sat at the table. He watched Tony sit for around 2 seconds, then leave the bar area.
Ace squeezed out of Pepper's grasp and ran off as Pepper sighed, "There he goes again." Natalie smiled "Would you like me to get him back, Miss Potts?" Pepper waved her head and sighed again, "Forget it, he's going to find Tony probably."
Natalie looked at the doorway, smiling "He's quite attached to Mr. Stark."
Ace turned into a bathroom and hopped onto the counter next to Tony.
He looked over and saw Tony holding his thumb on a little device that said 'Blood Toxicity level 53%' Ace was spooked and Tony looked at him, asking "Are you trying to give me a heart attack? I already have enough problems…"
He licked the blood off his thumb and held the counter, looking in the mirror silently as Ace looked into his shirt, seeing strange purple lines coming from a glowing metal object in his chest.
He tilted his head and Tony looked at him for a few moments before asking "You like goin' fast?" There was a huge question mark over Ace's head before Tony scooped him up and left the bathroom.
A few minutes later
Pepper was sitting at the table and looked up at the television to see Tony holding Ace as he got into the racecar while the announcer said "Incroyable! Monsieur Stark va conduire lui même! Apparemment il va prendre un chat avec lui! Je penses pas que c'est légale mais PETA n'est pas ici a nous dire riens!"
Pepper turned to Natalie and waved her over, saying "Natalie! Do you know anything about this?!" Natalie shook her head and said "This is the first I'm hearing of it."
Meanwhile
Ace was shivering on Tony's shoulder, gripping into the driver's suit. Tony said "Don't worry. I drive all the time." before the race started.
Ace nearly smashed into the headrest as Tony slammed the gas and flew down the track. Tony laughed as Ace's gums were flapping in the wind.
As they raced around the track, Tony was in second place and Ace was having a lot of fun! Turns out going really fast is really fun!
Imagine if you were drunk too!
Anyway…