Proof that Tony Stark has a Heart

Chapter 3

I wasn't sure what to do with myself for the rest of the day; it was barely even ten by the time Tony's driver dropped me off outside his hotel, and despite being in a room full of strangers,  was feeling my cheeks burn from the 'walk of shame' back up to my hotel room. I couldn't shake the irrational feeling that everyone knew I'd had sex with Tony. Not that I regretted it; it had been a lot of fun, and at least Hermione would appreciate the accolade of bedding Tony Stark when I got home, even if no one else knew who he was.

Changing into fresh clothes, I wandered down for breakfast in the hotel restaurant, not able to have much more than two slices of toast and a boiled egg before my stomach protested still suffering from the violently green cocktails the night before. Even with sunglasses, I didn't think I could handle the blinding sunshine of the outdoor world and wished Remus had thought to pack hangover potions. Surely I hadn't expected him to stay sober for two weeks with a fake ID? Deciding that the beach and clubbing yesterday fulfilled my social quota for at least the next day, I went back up to my hotel room with a large bottle of water and some crackers, hoping my stomach would settle before lunchtime.

I got more work done, plowing steadily through the thick Gringotts portfolio, eyebrows steadily rising at the extent of my inheritance. I knew the Potter and Black fortunes were extensive but when you added sixteen years' worth of interest — even longer for some Black vaults — plus profit from the many investments of both families, it was a large sum of money. And there was everything involved in PotterCo, the company that had been in my family for generations; it had languished, and I didn't doubt I'd be expected to take up the CEO position soon. I'd have to talk to Remus when I got home and see what it meant for me to be so wealthy. For now, I figured the best course of action was to put it back in my suitcase and ignore it until the end of my holiday. At least I knew I wasn't likely to have any repercussions from my shopping spree.

I dozed through another movie — I was rather enjoying the reintroduction to muggle culture — before deciding it was probably about time to find somewhere to eat for the evening. The sun was setting, and less offensive to his lingering hangover, so I showered and changed into something decent to wear for dinner, slipping my wallet and hotel keycard into my pocket. Riding the elevator down, I stepped out into the lobby, his eyes going wide when I saw a familiar man sprawled out on one armchair like he owned the hotel; for all I knew, he probably did.

"Are you stalking me?" I asked bemused, walking to stand in front of the older man.

Tony smirked at me, raising an eyebrow.

"Not by definition of the law," he retorted evenly, standing.

I snorted despite myself, lips quirking in a small grin.

"I'm free for the rest of the evening. Have dinner with me." It was hardly a request, and my grin widened a fraction.

Tony was cocky, but I had to admit, I kind of liked it.

"That's not like you, from what I've heard," I pointed out.

Tony's reputation wasn't exactly hard to find out.

"Sometimes I break my own rules," Tony told me, an attractive smirk on his face.

His arm slid around my back, directing me towards the hotel doors, and I didn't need to look to see people staring. It was nothing I wasn't used to, though, so I went with it, leaning into Tony's side.

"So how long did you spend waiting in the lobby?" I queried out of interest, and Tony looked somewhat sheepish behind his confident mask.

"Wouldn't you like to know," he replied evasively, opening the door to the same car he'd used the night before, "After you, gorgeous."