The following morning Peyton didn’t want to leave her bed. Just as she had anticipated, it was the best night’s sleep she had ever gotten — even though it had been interrupted in the middle of the night, and she was reluctant to leave the comfort of the furniture.

Sighing, the brunette sat up in bed slowly and tossed the covers to the side, swinging her legs over the edge and scooting off the mattress, sauntering drowsily towards the walk in closet. Peyton couldn’t help but wonder what the day had in store for her. Maybe she should get into the habit of asking Pepper what Tony would be doing so she could dress accordingly…?

I’ll do that later, she concluded, creating a mental note for herself so she could remember.

After rummaging through her wardrobe, she picked out a simple pair of pants along with a spaghetti strap top and her other items, and went across the hall and into the luxurious bathroom that she had spent five minutes yesterday marveling at.

She turned on the shower’s faucet and let the water run for a few minutes to get it to peak temperature before stripping down and stepping in. As she scrubbed her body down and lathered her hair with shampoo, she thought back to the previous night’s… events.

To put it rather bluntly, Peyton walked in on Tony having sex with a random woman.

Peyton shook her head wildly, scolding and telling herself not to think of it anymore, to put it behind her and to forget it ever happened. However, it was proving to be a hard thing to do. It was like that image had been scorched into her mind, and she was unable to do anything about it.

Peyton was sleeping soundly in her new bed, away from reality in a dream that her mind concocted. The dream was abruptly stopped as her eyes slowly opened and she sat upright in bed.

Her eyes glanced over at the clock and she took notice that it was nearing three o’clock. “Just get a drink of water and go back to bed,” she muttered to herself, rolling off the bed and stumbling towards the door on her wobbling legs that were just waking up themselves.

As she exited the room, she heard something that woke her up immediately. It was a shrill woman’s scream that made her wince due to her ears that were still sensitive after only having woken up not even a minute earlier.

There was another scream and Peyton’s heart began to race. What in the hell was going on? That scream was bloodcurdling…! Peyton couldn’t help herself and her legs carried her at a sprint towards where she heard the scream come from and opened the door.

She really wished she hadn’t.

Peyton watched as Tony Stark pulled out of the woman he was pounding and ram back inside with a groan. After a quick realization of what was transpiring, she quickly began to pull the door back as Tony started to look over at who was interrupting his sexual encounter, and made a mad dash back towards her own room, locking the door and diving in bed, jamming her head between the pillow and the mattress.

Peyton couldn’t understand why she was freaking out like this. It’s not like she hadn’t seen two people doing it before with internet porn that some friends had shown her and out of control Frat parties where people would make a huge spectacle of themselves in front of their peers. Besides, she hadn’t even seen them completely, just the silhouette of the two bodies that were entangled together as they went at it.

Stop thinking about it, Peyton! She scolded, trying to remove that image from her brain.I just hope that I can fall back asleep… And with that, she buried her face deeper into the sheet and did her best to doze back off and away from reality.

Peyton finished zipping up her pants and smoothed out her top, leaving the bathroom after having put up her moist brunette locks into a bun and gathering her belongings from the counter.

As she reentered her room and put her dirty clothes into a hamper for her to wash later, she slipped on some sandals and looked out at the sight her large window had to offer. The sunlight reflecting off the dark blue ocean certainly provided a picturesque morning view.

I wonder if he saw who it was that walked in on him? Peyton thought. It seemed she was truly doomed to think of what she saw forever, or at least until the day was over and she ultimately forgot about it. Probably. Besides, he could ask Pepper and Happy and he would easily conclude that it was me.

“Miss Salvatorrelli?” The robotic A.I. voice of J.A.R.V.I.S. rung throughout the room.

“Yes, J.A.R.V.I.S.?”

“Miss Potts would like for me to inform you that breakfast is ready and that you may come and eat whenever you’d like.”

“Thank you, J.A.R.V.I.S., please let Pepper know that I’ll be down shortly.”

“Yes, Miss.”

Peyton fell atop her bed and began to mentally prepare herself for whatever lay ahead. Would she be yelled at or hated by Stark for having interrupted his… business, or would he do the worst that he could and kick her out of his home? She hoped that neither of those scenarios would come to fruition and prayed that it would all blow over and no one would bring it up today, tomorrow, or for the rest of her life.

Shut up and get it over with. You’re only making it worse by thinking about it.

Her legs brought her up and carried her out of her room and down the staircase where she could clearly see Pepper putting some French Toast upon a platter to be served. Tony was nowhere to be seen and at that, Peyton let out a sigh of relief.

“Morning, Pepper,” Peyton greeted.

“Good morning, Peyton,” Pepper returned. “What would you like for breakfast?”

Peyton’s eyes glanced at the assortment of breakfast before her. There were pancakes, waffles, fruit, bacon, and even Eggs Benedict! “Oh my God, Pepper did you make all this by yourself?”

Pepper nodded and let out a light chuckle. “Yes, I did. If you don’t like this, I could make you something else?” She offered.

“No, no, no,” Peyton shook her head wildly in disagreement. “No, this all looks delicious. Thank you for the offer, though. There’s just so much, Pepper. Are we all really going to finish this?”

“Well, Tony and Happy haven’t eaten yet. Happy drove Tony to work to gather a few documents. When they come back I’m sure they’ll both devour the rest that’s left after we eat.” She laughed lightheartedly, handing the brunette a glass plate. “C’mon, let’s eat.”

After serving themselves a hefty helping of food, they resided at the bar and began to eat.

“J.A.R.V.I.S., could you please turn on the television?” Pepper inquired as she washed down some food with a glass of OJ.

“Certainly,” The A.I. relied. “What channel, Miss Potts?”

“CNN,”

“Pepper, this is really good. Where’d you learn to cook like this?”

“Well, my mother taught me and the rest I just taught myself.” She admitted. “Is it really that good?”

“Mhm,” Peyton nodded through a full mouth while wiping away some crumbs from her chin with a napkin. “I’ve honestly never had such good cooking.”

“Well, consider me flattered.” The strawberry blonde beamed.

“Tony Stark has yet to accept any interviews concerning his company and the fact that he’s recently come out as the suited superhero, Iron Man. Many politicians are buzzing and want to confiscate the suit for military purposes, though Lieutenant Colonel James Rhodes, a longtime friend of the billionaire weapons manufacturer, is insistent upon the fact that the suit and Mr. Stark pose no threat to the government—”

“Mute,” Pepper ordered sharply, the voice cutting off though the news anchor kept talking. Pepper sighed and changed the channel to Boomerang, where an old Looney Toon was playing. “I wish they’d just leave him be.” She muttered.

“It’s just one of the many perks of being famous — you’re on everyone’s radar.” Peyton mumbled into her cup of orange juice. “I honestly don’t know how he puts up with it. They’re basically calling him a possible terrorist to his own country.”

“It’s disgusting,” she nodded her head in agreement. “Peyton, I hope that what I’m about to say won’t put any pressure on you, but… Happy and I are really counting on you.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, the article you write can really influence people to see that Tony’s not as bad as everyone makes him out to be. I’ve known him for years and the media is always blowing his stunts and what he says way out of proportion, even though he can get out of control on occasion.” She chuckled. “I guess what I’m just trying to say is that I hope that you’ll be able to understand Tony and be able to see him for who he really is rather than the image that the media has made him into.”

Peyton smiled and nodded her head. “Well, Pepper, I’m going to give it my best.”

“Thank you, Peyton.” The two ate in silence for another minute before Pepper began to laugh quietly to herself. “So, you ran in on Tony and his… company last night?”

Peyton’s cheeks went red and she nearly choked on her OJ. “How’d you find out?”

“Tony asked me if I had been the one to intrude on him,” Pepper laughed. “I’m sorry, I’ll have to tell him not to be doing that, especially when we have a guest already here.”

“No, it’s fine. I don’t want to ruin his fun in his own home.” Peyton murmured as she took another bite.

“Ms. Potts, Tony and Happy are just pulling up to the home.” J.A.R.V.I.S. informed us. “Tony requests that you please have a plate of breakfast ready for him.”

“Thank you, J.A.R.V.I.S., I’ll get right on that.” She chuckled, getting up and placing her plate into the sink and beginning to make two new plates for Tony and Happy.

Peyton finished what was left on her plate and placed it into the sink along with Pepper’s. Taking it upon herself, Peyton washed the two plates and cups as the men filed into the home and into the kitchen. Peyton didn’t bother looking up at them as she muttered a “good morning” to them, not wanting to look Stark in the eye.

“Hey Hayden, come to the basement so we can do one of those interviews.”

“Kind of doing the dishes here,” she replied, deciding to not bother correcting him on her name.

“Oh, and Pepper could you bring me my food?” He called as he descended the flight of stairs.

“Peyton, there’s no need to do the dishes, I can do them.” Pepper said.

“Oh no, it’s fine. You made breakfast so I’ll wash the dishes.”

Pepper smiled in appreciation. “Well, thank you very much.”

“Not a problem,” Peyton replied, placing the last dish into the drainer and drying off her hands. “I’ll take his food down with me right now, I’m just going to go and grab my notepad.”

“Alright, take your time.” She chuckled.

Peyton then bounded up the stairs and into her room, grabbing her notebook and a pen before rushing back, grabbing Tony’s steaming plate of breakfast and descending the stairs into the basement.

She had yet to investigate the place and so she was immediately awed by what she saw as she walked down to the glass door. Peyton noticed the number pad and knocked upon the glass, Tony looking up from his desk and walking over to open the door.

“Here,” Peyton said, extending out his plate of food.

“Oh no,” he shook his head. “I don’t like to be handed things.”

Is he for real? She thought, concluding that he was when walked away and sat back down upon the chair.

Rolling her eyes, she delivered his plate and placed it upon his desk. “Thanks,” he mumbled lowly, reading some documents and placing them to the side as he soon began to dig into it.

“When did you want to do the interview?”

“Right now,”

“While you’re eating?”

“Why not?”

Sighing, she pulled up a nearby chair and sat down. “Alright,” she replied, opening up her notebook and getting herself situated.

“Oh, before we do,” he began, licking his fingers clean and savoring Pepper’s home cooking. “Did you enjoy the view last night?”

Peyton stopped what she was doing and could feel her cheeks beginning to heat up as blood filled them up. She had been hoping that he would refrain from bringing up the topic of last night. “Pardon me?”

“Did you enjoy the view last night?”

“Why are you bringing this up?”

“Why shouldn’t I bring this up? You’re the one who walked in on me.” He stared at her accusingly.

“What’s your point?”

“I just want to know if you enjoyed the view or not. I mean, I had no idea you wanted to see me in all my glory that bad—”

“Mr. Stark, you’re sadly mistaken. Last night was an accident that I am desperately trying to remove from my mind and nothing more.” Peyton stated. “Trust me, it won’t be happening again anytime soon.”

“So since it won’t be happening ‘soon’, it’ll be happening later.” He concluded.

“Let me rephrase. It will never happen again.”

“You still haven’t answered my question.”

“No, Mr. Stark, I didn’t enjoy the view.” Peyton exasperated through a sigh. “Now, can we please move onto the interview?”

“Yeah, sure,” he said, leaning back into his chair.

“Thank you,” she sighed, her blood pressure beginning to lower and her cheeks starting to return to their normal color. I don’t think I’m able to handle talking about your glory anymore…