Continuation of Pepperony Week AU

Hello there! This continuation is for pepperonylove! Hope you like it!

I highly recommend everyone reads the prequel/beginning of this story before reading this! This is a continuation of the AU from my 2017 Pepperony Week entry.

If you go to my profile you'll find it under "2017 Pepperony Week!"

Click on Chapter 6, the AU ;)

I've added a summary in case you don't read the beginning; feel free to skip if you've read it!

Summary: Virginia Potts was all set to graduate and be off to an internship at Stark Industries. Unfortunately, her mother's cancer suddenly got a whole lot worse. Thanks to an expensive surgery, her mom got better, but it left Potts without a Stark internship and in need of money. She joined Hammer Industries, eventually became CFO, and only meets Tony after Afghanistan, specifically at the Firefighter's Benefit. Okay! You're up to the present point!

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Chapter 2

Virginia Potts sighed, watching her boss, Justin Hammer, strut like a peacock up and down the halls of Hammer Industries. Due to the erratic behavior of their main competitor: the famous Tony Stark, the government were looking into other suppliers with more consideration. The arrival of two men in black suits connected to the FBI had put Justin at the top of the world. In other words, he was in his most annoying state. And he'd called a company meeting just so he could share that state with everyone.

Justin, oblivious to Virginia's annoyance, kept walking up to workers to pat them on the back, but really to congratulate himself.

"Thanks to your CEO," he kept saying, "Yes, all because of your CEO, that's me, business is booming guys. The government's finally starting to see Stark for the idiot he is. And now, they'll see my company for what it is: the best, the crème de la crème, the Rolls Royce of weapon engineering, the cream of the field!"

The employee next to Justin shot a look at Potts, questioningly.

"He means cream of the crop," Virginia muttered to him.

"And who is responsible for this you may ask? Who singlehandedly brought this company up to the level it needed to be to compete with the highest in the biz? Again: me. You're welcome!"

Potts joined her coworkers in some polite clapping to humor him, but muttered under her breath, "No one asked, and it wasn't just you."

Almost as if he heard her comment, Hammer rounded on Potts suddenly, making her jump, "Oh and Ginny. I want you to come with me to a hearing tomorrow for Tony Stark. Many important people in the biz will be around and I want you to do some mingling. 8am sharp."

Then as quickly as he turned to her, he turned back to his general audience, "Meeting dismissed!"

Gritting her teeth, Pepper walked quickly back to her office, closing the door before letting out a groan of annoyance. The way Hammer acted, the employees were just a minor inconvenience, practically there for show and nothing else. Great way to increase moral, Justin. Call a meeting and imply how useless everyone is but yourself.

Eventually, she sighed and got back to work.

And one more thing: she really really needed Hammer to stop saying "biz."

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Sighing, Virginia Potts followed Justin Hammer into the courtroom. She helped him haul all his computer equipment in for his presentation. Outwardly, she was perfectly professional. Inwardly she was screaming.

She'd been having a bad day. Her coffee machine broke, and she couldn't find her favorite heels that morning, so she was grouchy and running late before the day even began. Then she met up with Hammer to go to the press conference, attempting to find out what he wanted her to do. When she finally realized that he basically wanted a pretty face to watch him perform, he was already dragging her into the company car. Then, he made her carry most of the tech, because him carrying it would "ruin his image."

This was so not in her job description. And now that things were finally starting, she'd have to sit there listen to Justin talk about himself. And everyone knew Justin was at his worst when he was the center of attention.

And just to add a cherry to the cake, Mr. Stark was running late, which meant she'd have to sit and wait for him, along with everything else.

She'd just stood up to go get herself some water when a commotion came from the back and Tony Stark walked in, oozing the usual smug confidence and disregard for others' time. She rolled her eyes. Why had she found him attractive on that rooftop again?

Oh yeah, 'cause he hadn't been being quite such an arrogant brat at the time.

At least until he disappeared to get her a drink and never came back.

Potts half-listened to the senator and Mr. Stark insult each other and argue over who should have control over the suits, and at length Hammer got up to begin his presentation.

She was paying equal attention to how Mr. Stark was looking, there at the front of the room. She'd only seen him from a distance most times of course, but there seemed something… off about him.

Some of the banter, the confidence, the arrogance… seemed forced, compared to before. It was like he was hiding something…

She was distracted from her thoughts when Tony hacked into footage of Hammer's personal attempt to replicate the suit.

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Pepper was furious. Her boss had been doing what?

Not only had Hammer gotten them into trouble legally, but he had publicly humiliated the company. Not that he knew his failure would be broadcasted, but still… And worse then that, he had managed to use company funds to support the project and successfully kept it from her! What was he thinking?

There was something else too. On his way out, the self-assured Mr. Stark had paused, and given her a glance… that almost looked something like an apology.

It was just a look. He probably wasn't even looking at her.

Still, it almost looked like he knew who she was… like he'd recognized her from that night on the rooftop and remembered her. And even if he did, they were business rivals. Why would he apologize for making his rival in business look bad?

Pepper shook her head. She was probably making way too big a deal out of it. The man stood her up that night and was probably too drunk to remember it anyway. He was probably staring at someone else.

Still, as a lonely CFO used to working from behind the scenes, that look he gave her made her feel things she didn't want to. Not that she'd ever admit it.

To distract herself, she went to go visit her mother, who was currently in a nursing home. Somehow or other, they ended up talking about Stark.

Her mother had a way of doing that: of figuring out what Virginia was thinking but not telling her, and bringing it into a conversation.

"He's attractive, that young Stark, I'll give him that. Nothing as good-looking as Stark Sr. in the old days though, let me tell you. We were all swooning after him long before Maria came into the picture," Mrs. Potts mused from a comfortable armchair.

Virginia huffed, pushing thoughts of his attractive appearance out of her mind, "Oh please. Sure, he's got looks, but his arrogance more than cancels it out. He's the ultimate narcissist; he thinks he's the only hope for the entire world and irresistible to boot."

Mrs. Potts raised an eyebrow at her daughter, "Hm. Since when were you so invested in such intense opinions about Mr. Stark? I thought you never met the man."

Virginia felt her cheeks grow warm, "I've met him," she said brusquely, "But trust me, the man can't keep his attention on anyone else for more than five minutes."

Mrs. Potts smiled, "I think you like that man Virginia."

"Mom! Really? I just explained why I don't!"

Mrs. Potts simply looked at her daughter, and nodded pleasantly, still smiling, "Whatever you say dear."

Virginia groaned.

Mrs. Potts noted, though, that she didn't continue to protest.

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When Virginia got home, there was a man with a receding hairline and rather surly expression on his face standing next to the front door.

"Um… can I help you?"

The man sighed, and then pulled out a paper invitation, handing it to her.

"Mr. Stark is having a birthday party in a few days time, and wanted to personally invite you to attend. I'd be happy to offer my services and pick you up at about 5pm before the party to drive you to Mr. Stark's residence."

Virginia couldn't do anything but gape at him. Well… it appeared Mr. Stark remembered her… and he'd somehow found out where she lived…

When she didn't respond the man handed her a card, saying, "Name's Happy Hogan. My number's on the card. I'm Mr. Stark's driver. See you on the day."

Then without further delay, the man turned and got back into his car.

Virginia could hear him muttering to himself, "Oh no; the head of the tech industry couldn't have just sent an email… oh no. That's not good enough. It had to be paper. It had to be delivered by me. It had to involve sending me on a wild goose chase and searching the whole town to find a single woman."

Virginia stared after the car as it drove away.

It wasn't until Happy had left that that she realized she never gave an answer. Maybe it never occurred to Mr. Stark's employees that anyone would turn down an invitation from Mr. Stark.

Just for that she almost decided not to go there and then. But honestly… she was curious. For all she called him arrogant and self-centered, there was something else behind that veneer, which made Virginia want to know what it was.

And well… Tony'd remembered her.

Anyway, it's not like she had anything better to do that night.

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I know there wasn't a ton of Pepperony interaction in this, but I promise there's more to come!

Please review :)