Steel Meets Iron

Chapter 7

Pepper was used to the phone ringing, used to people calling her to look at something, used to people she hardly knew coming to meet her. It came with the job and she knew how to recognize the people who came with it. She was working handling phone calls, transferring this and that to the appropriate person, scheduling, rescheduling and the occasional canceling. She tried to do some work at home so she could at least monitor Tony who was adapting to fatherhood hadn't quite gotten there yet. Inconsistency was seldom forgotten by children. They had just gotten into their own little niche, an agreeable routine when Raven crashed right in the center of their calm universe. Pepper adored Raven but she knew that she was still cautious around them, tiptoeing when she had to ask for things, simple things that demanded their precious and sadly limited attention.

Tony had no idea how needy children were and she had a company to run. Were they on the road of neglecting her? If she was anything like Tony that would bite them right in the ass when she got older, especially considering she grew up in a mafia family. Who knew what other secrets she had bottled up in her head.

"Ms. Potts?" Her secretary came in. "There's a woman outside, she says she needs to see you."

"Who?" Everyone made an appointment. It was law around here. "Did she leave a card?"

She shook her head. "She said it was about you-know-who." It only meant Tony or Raven. Please the former and not the latter.

"Send her in."

She was the embodiment of a lawsuit. Dressed in a tight white dress, no doubt designer and fresh off the sewing machine, black heels that even Pepper would feel guilty squeezing out of Tony, and a black leather clutch that whispered I'm-not-here-for-business. She was stunning, high cheekbones, hair piled fashionably behind her head, fair skin and chilly gray eyes. A princess from a fairytale with the cunning features of an evil queen. Her heels chanted trouble as she came in and took a seat with the grace of royalty.

"Forgive me for the intrusion, I had no time to make an appointment. I assume that you have no idea who I am?" When Pepper didn't respond immediately she continued in that silky British accent that defied interruption. "I'm Lara Orson, a friend of Mr. Helms. Oh don't be alarmed, I'm just hear to check on Raven. Take her out to lunch, if you want to be specific."

She was so precise it was refreshing but unsettling, she knew Marshall Helms which was a big red flag. The fact she was coming to her instead of going to Tony and making a scene was reassuring, but she was no fool.

"You do understand that Mr. Helms' reputation has us a bit cautious?" She folded her hands tightly. "There has been talk and we don't want to bring any unneeded stress to Raven."

Lara Orson smiled, white teeth behind those sharp red lips. Red like blood like her nails.

"Unneeded stress," she echoed. "You," she paused taking in Pepper properly. "I hope you aren't having any trouble with Raven?" Her eyes seemed mocking. "She's quite a dear if you know how to treat her."

The tone made her maternal claws curl, everyone was just ready to boycott Tony in favor of a charismatic criminal. As if their little pack of criminals were the only people in the world who could love Raven.

"Me and Mr. Stark are handling Raven fine," she replied calmly.

"I see. Well, may I see for a moment. I haven't seen her in so long and everyone is missing her deeply."

"I'm afraid that I need to call Mr. Stark first."

She clasped her hands as well, "Not a problem. I can wait."

Tony was about to check on Raven when the phone rang It was Pepper. "Yeah?"

"We have a problem," she hissed. "Some woman is here asking to take Raven to lunch. She says she's friend of Marshall Helms. Lara Orson."