"Mr Stark! When is this new product going to be aired!" The masses of paparazzi reunited in the Star tower, the site of the conference trying the hardest they could to have him say that this massage technology was in truth, a dick massaging system.
Their imagination astounded him.
'Hopefully, it will never come out...' He thought, but he couldn't say that.
"It should be out of the bag in a year or so, as always we plan to revolutionize the market, the first place I will use this technology will be my ironman suit!"
"And what exactly does it massage, Mr Stark!"
'Your mom.' That was the rightful official answer, but not one he could say.
"My entire body, but mostly my gluteus and abdomen which are the most painful." He explained with twitching eyebrows, 'Reputation Tony... reputation.'
**
**
Thankfully the conference ended with Pepper coming along to give him a soft congratulatory hug, she was one of the few that knew that every single one said in this conference was pure BS.
They moved to her office where they'd have their natural meeting with some wine and appetizers, since she's the CEO he was not supposed to be giving any more conferences on behalf of Stark Industries, but this was a particular situation.
Sadly, now this BS had to become the truth or they'd be slandered for failing in their promises, Stark Industries was fated to be the greatest inventor of massaging hardware.
"Natalie."
"Virginia."
Blonde and red-head greet each other rather coldly, Natalie Rushman was now taking the spot that Virginia Potts used to do, and she naturally knew how things ended, trouble and feelings.
After a brief handshake Pepper set her eyes on the other lady in the room, her breath had already been taken away once, but it did yet again.
"Nice to meet you, I'm Tony's cousin, Cassandra White." The golden-haired beauty shook the other blonde's hand, at that moment her gaze contorted slightly into a greater smile.
The moment the world 'cousin' was said, it was as if a mountain was lifted up Pepper's shoulders, a romantic competition against such beauty was nothing different from despair.
"I didn't know you had a cousin, Tony! Nice to meet you, I'm Virginia Potts, but you can call me Pepper just like him, I'm honoured." To answer that Cassandra merely nodded and took a seat right beside Tony with Natalie taking the other side and the CEO sitting in the front.
An unfair arrangement she believed, but this is a real business, not personal business.
"Now tell me, what exactly happened during that meteor incident, Tony!"
As usual, he had given a long explanation, mostly lies, about the crash in which Natalie listened attentively and Cassandra merely sat beside him, she could sigh in relief when confirmed that nothing major occurred and Tony was okay, still, she couldn't help but laugh at the way the entire thing had evolved into merely by a misplaced comment.
"Good luck inventing a butt massager~" Pepper joked and everyone laughed except Tony.
"Yes yes, I'll have it finished before the next trimester." while he giggled and flirted with Pepper, however, someone wasn't smiling.
"When are we going to Monaco? moreover, do I really have to go?" The blonde questioned with reluctance, it is not that she didn't want to go, there was simply too much work to do.
"In a week, Mrs Natalie here has already arranged the flights, all we need is your pretty butt on the plane and we're ready to go... we need to support the team, of course, you need to go!"
"And what are you doing for the week?" A mild blush appeared on her cheek, contrary to the brief flinch Cassandra had upon the unfathomable comment.
"I need to keep working in my reactor and might show Cassandra around the place if there is some time." He said dismissively.
"Tony has been helping me settle." Cassandra tried to join the conversation while from the other side of the table, she felt Natalie's glare all over her body.
She felt a slight sting, Tony and Pepper were so close, and obviously... so into each other.
"And where are you from, Cassandra?" Pepper asked suddenly and took a sip of her wine, it was a natural question.
!!!
Ridiculously enough, this was a question they didn't plan, where did she come from?!
"She-" He was about to invent something, but Cassandra beat him to it.
"Japan..." It came out of her mouth, once again instinctively.
"Oh? now that I look at it, you do have some Asian factions in you, but mostly caucasian..." Pepper analysed Cassandra's perfect face, she'd say there is twenty per cent Asian genetics in there, she was stunning.
"Are you okay, Cassandra?" Tony patted the woman's back, she had been struck in there and by now he knew it is because she was swimming in a sea of dark memories.
"Yes, just... some headache." She smiled and reassured him, but he knew better.
"Anyway, Cassandra and I will retreat for now, should I call you a cab, Natalie?" Since Cassandra wasn't feeling well again, it was time to go.
"I can take the bus, boss... aren't you going to schedule any sparring sessions with me during the week?" the secretary asked with impulsiveness, she hoped he'd say yes, that way she'd have an excuse to be there.
"You can come anytime you want, you know I train every day but we're moving to a temporary apartment due to the incident, the FBI will be investigating, I'll send you two the address. Let's go Cassandra." He pulled the woman and allowed herself to be led to the building's parking lot, not before saying her farewells and sending Natalie one last glare.
"Hmn, thank you, Pepper, Natalie..."
"Take care and have a safe journey!"
As flashy as always Tony boarded the vehicle together with the blonde, ready for a long journey with several mid stops, the car was already filled with shopping bags.
None of the two girls could stop thinking about Cassandra, for several reasons.
"Are you okay?"
Now in the vehicle, he felt freer to ask her.
"I'm okay, Tony I just... remembered... Japan... West Genetics..."
"Impossible... Japan?" If she was from some other planet how could there be some other Japan in there? moreover... west genetics... there is no such company at least that he knows in Japan.
"What do you remember?"
"I remember... west genetics... stigmata... A-Aoi... Cassandra Aoi." When she said that last word, it was as if her consciousness switched off.
"Cassandra!"
**
**
The next day Cassandra woke up to the sight of the same ceiling she had seen prior, this time she had the clothes she wore prior.
Her first instinctual movement was to look for the man that made her feel safe.
"Tony?"
He wasn't in the room, but there was a chair that indicated that he had been there.
[Good Morning, Mrs Cassandra…] Jarvis greet her when it detected that she had woken up.
"Good morning, Jarvis… where is Tony?" She stood up only to realise that her clothes were the same as before, he hadn't changed her to her pyjamas.
A part of her felt happy that he was such a gentleman the other, was slightly disappointed.
[Mr Stark is working on one of his projects while I move some of our most important items as we may have to temporarily leave the villa either today or tomorrow]
"Thank you… can I go and look for him?"
[Naturally, Mrs Cassandra, Mr Stark would be pleased with your presence.]
"Do you think so, Jarvis?"
[Definitely... when Mr Stark works with you, his cardio is more peaceful.]
A smile appeared on her face, she was determined to leave a nice impression on the man that had done so much for her, first off she needed to take a shower, then, she choose some casual clothes and dried her hair, afterwards... passing by the kitchen she saw some apples, she cut them and put them on a tray, taking them with her to the garage.
All along, Cassandra White was humming in happiness.