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"Blood Toxicity, twenty-four percent." Jarvis voiced as the music rang in the underground workshop. "The continued use of the Iron Man suit is accelerating your condition. Another core has been depleted."
"I know, I know." Tony sighed and removed the Arc Reactor from his chest before taking out the Palladium chip. "It's quickly eating these up."
"I've run simulations on every known element, and none can serve as a viable replacement for the Palladium core. You are running out of both time and options, Sir."
Tony placed the new piece back in his chest and clapped his hands. "I know, Jarvis. But today, we're not going to focus on that. You saw my announcement, so it's time to make a winning election strategy."
"Are you sure about what you're doing, Sir? I have been running simulations from the moment you announced it. It still needs to acquire more data," Jarvis responded quickly.
"I know exactly what I'm doing. What we need is more exposure, the good kind," Tony mumbled, pinching his hand in the air at the holographic display. "I can't be at multiple places at multiple times. But I know what can…"
"The suit." Jarvis finished Tony's words.
Tony smiled, clapping. "Jarvis, make a new project."
"What shall be its name, Sir?"
"Election Twenty-Twelve," Tony barked and started formulating plans. "We need to earn some goodwill. Divide the country into zones by crime statistics. We'll deploy one or more remote suits to each of these locations. They'll respond to fires, robberies, murders, and kidnappings faster than the police. But it's all useless unless we can show it to the world. Make a list of all the nationwide news broadcasting channels that are in my budget."
"Understood." Jarvis sprinkled countless screens in front of Tony. "I suggest focusing on the internet as well."
"That's the next part," Tony added. "Make a channel on YouTube and name it 'Tony Stark'. All the recorded heroic deeds will be broadcast live and uploaded there. Do the same for other popular sites."
"Perhaps doing all this in a limited manner shall be better. Too much exposure can tire people out, making them dislike seeing you everywhere," Jarvis suggested.
Tony nodded firmly at that, "Don't promote any of the content we make. Let it spread naturally."
Jarvis finished creating the new project file. All that was left now was creating the suits. "How many suits would you like to build, Sir?"
"There are fifty states, so let's give each state ten." Tony made some mental calculations on how much it'd cost him. "I think we can manage five hundred. But hold on to the Arc Reactor part. Palladium isn't suitable for this project."
"But there are no other options, Sir," Jarvis said.
"Yet," Tony replied, and began to design the suits for the project. They didn't need any advanced weaponry, so he tried to reduce the cost as much as he could.
"Miss Potts is coming," Jarvis announced abruptly. "I sugges—"
"Mute," Tony chirped and looked at the door, knowing she was coming in furious.
"Did you just donate our entire modern art collection to the Boys Scouts of America?" She interrogated, following Tony around.
Tony tried to keep moving, "I did, and look at the news now. They're already talking about it. So easy, I just changed the narrative."
"B-But it was priceless!" Pepper said, and continued to follow, "You know, you have to take this seriously. One mistake and it could bring your winning chances down to zero. There's so many things I need to talk to you about. Like the Expo—it's a gigantic waste of time and money."
"But I need the eyes on me, and the Expo brings eyes," Tony argued. "It is very important for me."
"So it has nothing to do with your ego?" she questioned, knowing him all too well. "Look, you can't just win an election by throwing your money around. If people could do that, every President in history would have been a millionaire or a billionaire."
"But they do become millionaires after leaving the office," Tony argued again and went over to make a smoothie for himself.
Pepper sighed and handed him the knife he was looking for without even thinking. "Stark Industries is in complete disarray. Do you understand that?"
"What do you mean? Our stocks have never been higher."
Pepper felt angered by that and pulled the juicer's plug. "People are waiting for you to make decisions, Tony. You have to run this company. Otherwise; you won't have Stark Industries or even the Presidency—"
"Boring~" Tony looked at her, as serious as he could be. "You do it. Make the decisions…. Oh, that's an amazing idea! You run the company."
"W-What?" Pepper's blue eyes flickered in confusion. "I already am… I am trying to run the company."
"No, you RUN the company."
"I know, but I need your permission and input to do—"
"You're not listening to me." Tony groaned and abruptly grabbed Pepper's shoulders with both his hands, silencing her. "You be the CEO!"
Pepper's mouth went wide for a moment before her eyes widened. She tried to speak, but stopped in confusion. "Are you drunk?"
Tony shook his head and gripped her shoulder tighter. "I hereby irrevocably appoint you Chairman and CEO of Stark Industries effective immediately."
Saying that, he patted her shoulders and turned around to grab two glasses of champagne, leaving her standing there, shocked out of her mind.
"I've actually given this a fair amount of thought. Even more so ever since my announcement. I can't remain as the CEO once I'm the President." Tony poured the champagne as he spoke. "Did a bit of headhunting. Looking for a worthy successor—smart, passionate, loyal to the company and… beautiful."
He glanced at her as he said the last word. "And then I realized, I already have the perfect candidate right beside me. One who I can trust with my life, who has already saved me before, so to speak—you… It's always been you."
Pepper sat down on the couch, still processing Tony's words.
"I checked out everything. There are no legal issues—I'm allowed to appoint my successor." Tony brought the glasses and extended one to her. "You."
Pepper raised her hand to take the glass but didn't, shaking her head, her eyes wide and worried. Still speechless, she just watched as Tony sat down beside her.
"Congratulations."
"I-I don't know w—"
"Take it." Tony pushed it to her hand. "Just take it. Only with you at the helm can I have some peace."
She took the glass, looking at Tony's face. "I don't know what to think."
"Don't think. Drink," Tony said, raising his glass and clanking it with hers. "To the new CEO of Stark Industries."
She smiled speechlessly and drank the champagne. Both of them emptied the glass in one go, making way for seconds. They drank that one slowly, discussing the company's matters and what Pepper planned to do next.
After seconds, third and fourth rounds followed, leaving both of them mumbling their thoughts out. The distance between their bodies on the couch went from little to none. Their backs relaxed, and Tony's arm around her shoulder.
"Wait, does that make me your employee?" Tony muttered, looking at Pepper. He saluted her jokingly, "What's your first order, Madam CEO?"
Pepper giggled and leaned forward, turning to look at Tony, still relaxed back. Her hand gently extended over to his chest, touching the Arc reactor, making its faint hums. Then she looked up at his face, noticing his eyes locked with hers.
"Tony…" She muttered and suddenly moved, spreading her knees apart and straddling Tony's lap.
Tony was a little surprised but completely happy to oblige. He grabbed her waist with both hands, sliding his palms over her curving hips, pulling her closer.
Without any more words spoken, she leaned down and started kissing him on his neck, gently pecking his jawline, and found her way to his lips.
Drowning in the heat of the moment, he parted his lips to give way for her tongue, both caressing each other, exchanging watery heat. His tongue hungrily dug deep into her mouth, gulping down the lingering taste of champagne.
Tony gripped her toned ass with both his hands, following the sway of her body, feeling her loins grind against his erection in heated passion. Every brush pressed against his manhood, tempting it to come out and play. His loins reacted in salute; Throbbing, craving, unable to wait.
He quickly slid his hands up her legs to pull her skirt up, appreciating the softness of her skin on his palms. At the same time, Pepper lifted his t-shirt off his head and started kissing him on his shoulder, on his chest, caressing everywhere.
"Oh!" Pepper exclaimed all of a sudden as Tony stood up, his hands holding her up under her ass, carrying her slender body. She continued to kiss his neck, however, letting him take her away.
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