"You're stunning. I almost didn't recognize you," Tony Stark said sincerely.
Pepper Potts turned around, visibly surprised to see Tony. "What are you doing here?" she asked.
"I'm hiding from a government agent," Tony replied casually, only to have Pepper interrupt him before he could elaborate.
"Are you here alone?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.
Tony looked her up and down, ignoring her question. "Where did you get that dress?" he asked instead.
Pepper smiled. "Oh, it was a birthday gift—from you."
Tony nodded in approval. "I've got good taste," he said with a smug grin.
"Yes, you do," Pepper agreed, her expression softening as they gazed at each other in silence.
Out of the blue, Tony asked, "Would you like to dance?"
Pepper was caught off guard by the invitation. "Oh, no. Thank you," she replied quickly.
But Tony Stark was not one to take no for an answer. Ignoring her reluctance, he grabbed her hand and led her to the dance floor. Wrapping an arm around her, they began to sway to the rhythm of the music.
Pepper couldn't help but smile, her joy spilling over despite her attempts to suppress it. Tony noticed her struggle and teased, "Did I do something wrong?"
"No, it's not that," Pepper stammered. "I just realized I forgot to wear perfume today. And now, here I am, dancing with my boss in front of everyone."
"You smell great," Tony said in a deep, soothing voice. "And you look amazing."
Pepper's cheeks flushed as she looked down, murmuring, "Oh, God."
Tony, the master of charm, chuckled and added, "Maybe I should fire you. Then you'd finally feel comfortable around me."
Pepper immediately looked up, her face still flushed but smiling. "I doubt you could survive a week without me. You'd probably forget how to tie your shoes."
Tony laughed. "I'd like to test that theory for a week," he joked with mock seriousness.
"Really?" Pepper challenged. "Then tell me your Social Security number."
Tony hesitated for a moment, then offered the first digit. "Five?"
Pepper smirked. "Five? That's a good start—only eight more digits to go."
Tony burst into laughter, and the sight of Pepper's radiant smile left him momentarily mesmerized. Her shy yet vibrant demeanor was irresistible. He leaned closer and asked softly, "Want to get some fresh air?"
"Yes," she replied almost too eagerly, quickly correcting herself. "I mean, sure."
The two stepped outside, leaving behind Agent Coulson, who had been observing their interaction. Standing there, arms crossed, Coulson realized he wasn't going to get anything useful from Tony tonight. Sighing, he left quietly, conceding defeat.
Moments later, Tony hurried back into the hall and ordered two strong vodka martinis with extra olives, tossing a bill into the tip jar. As he waited, a woman in an elegant gown approached him.
"Tony Stark," she said, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "What a pleasant surprise."
Tony turned his back to her, pretending not to notice, but she walked directly to him.
"Tony," she repeated. "I'm glad I ran into you tonight."
With no way to escape, Tony faced her and tried to mask his confusion. "Hi," he said, gesturing vaguely. "Um…"
"Christine," she clarified, seeing his struggle.
"Right, Christine," Tony repeated with forced enthusiasm.
"You seem to be enjoying yourself," Christine said, her tone sharp. "Care to comment on my article?"
Tony gave a half-smile. "Sure. I feel… panicked. Totally panicked," he admitted, glancing toward the bartender. "Can I get that drink, please?"
Christine pressed on, her voice now serious. "Is it because I exposed your company's involvement in those atrocities?"
Tony sighed. "I'm here as a guest. Beyond that, I have no comment."
Christine's eyes narrowed. "I actually believed you once, Tony—every word you said."
Tony, losing patience, replied curtly, "I've been away. Maybe you didn't hear."
Christine's anger flared. "Is that your excuse for being irresponsible? Ever heard of a town called Gulmira?" She handed him a photograph.
Tony's expression darkened as he recognized the name of Yinsen's village. He studied the photo, his gaze lingering on images of Stark Industries weapons. "When was this taken?" he asked, his voice tense.
"Yesterday," Christine answered sharply.
Tony frowned. "I didn't authorize any deals."
Christine cut him off. "Your company did."
"My company isn't me," Tony snapped, clutching the photo as he stormed away.
Finding Obadiah Stane, Tony confronted him. "Have you seen these? What's going on in Gulmira?"
Obadiah sighed, steering Tony away from prying eyes. "Tony, you need to stop being so naïve."
Tony's anger flared. "Naïve? I used to trust the rules. The so-called bottom line. But this? Backdoor deals? Did you know about this?"
Obadiah didn't respond immediately, instead beckoning Tony to join him for a photo. After the flash went off, he leaned close to Tony and whispered, "You want to know who's keeping you out of the boardroom? It's me. I filed the injunction with the board—for your protection."
Patting Tony's shoulder, Obadiah walked away, leaving Tony standing frozen, watching his mentor disappear into the crowd.
4o