Stealing Hearts

Chapter 4 - Mark II

Tony Stark's POV

After Veronica left I was going to get started on the paperwork she needed done but I got a better idea. "Hey J. what is Veronica doing right now?" I call out needing to know how much time I have.

"It seems Ms. Stark is on the phone with the head of Stark Industries governoring board."

"I thought she was going to shower," I murmur to myself feeling bad that she doesn't get any time to herself anymore and it's my fault. I haven't been pulling my weight and she has been taking the brunt of it. While I have been down here in my lab she has been dealing with the fallout that my announcement had.

"If I may, Mr. Stark. Maybe you can start making it up to Ms. Stark by making her dinner, she hasn't eaten since yesterday and your gift to her has just arrived."

"You are a genius J. I will make her dinner and we can watch a movie just like old times," I clap my hands together as I head out of the lab. "Also J, can you reroute any calls, emails, or text messages regarding work directly to me."

"Of course Mr. Stark, and please try not to burn anything I don't think Ms. Stark would appreciate having to call the fire department."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence J."

And that is how I find myself in the kitchen making shrimp scampi, one of Veronica's favorite Italian dishes, complete with homemade noodles. I also ordered a chocolate cake because as much as I can cook, baking isn't in my forte. And as much as it hurts my ego I want to make my sister happy since I've been an asshole lately and if I need to order her favorite chocolate cake from a bakery then I will do so.

"Tony you didn't need to order out I could've made dinner," I hear Veronica say as she walks down the hallway before I see her. When she rounds the corner she pauses completely her hands stopping from braiding her hair. "Did you make dinner?"

"Don't act so surprised Veronica, I am 38 and perfectly capable of making dinner. Besides I needed some way to make up to you for being a total ass and I ordered your favorite cake from your favorite bakery."

"Tony you really didn't need to, I'm not mad at you."

"That's because you're never mad. I have been a shitty brother and I haven't been pulling my weight. You basically run the company alone, you make us meals every day, and you almost never have time for yourself. So this is my apology dinner and a promise for me to start being a better brother and I will finally start pulling my weight."

As I spoke Veronica looked at me teary eyed before she ran around the kitchen island and pulled me into a hug which I quickly return. "Tony you are the best brother a girl could ask for, you really don't need to do all of this."

"Will you just shush, I know I didn't need to, I wanted to. I've made your favorite pasta dish and ordered your favorite cake and then we are going to watch whatever movie you want."

"Pirates of the Caribbean?"

"Even Pirates of the Caribbean."

"Thank you Tony, truly. But our family dinner is going to be joined in by Rhodey."

"What? I thought he was coming over on Saturday?"

"It is Saturday." Oh, well damn it. Of course at that moment the bell rings and Veronica leaves to go answer it. I can hear her talking to who I think is Rhodey as I dish up now three plates of food. I don't know what is said but they come in laughing, Veronica holding a white box.

"Rhodey here arrived at the same time as the delivery driver," Veronica explains as she set the cake down.

"In the 20 years I've known you I have never seen cook," Rhodey comments as he looked at me shocked.