The morning after the gala arrived faster than I wanted it to. I didn't expect to actually have fun at the event, I never do, but it hadn't been half bad. Maybe it was the champagne. Or maybe it was watching certain rich men try not to trip over their egos in designer suits. Either way, I survived it.
Now, the sun had the audacity to try and wake me up. Its light filtered through the narrow slit between my curtains, throwing a thin beam directly across my floor and onto my bed. I groaned and stretched, limbs tangled in sheets, dragging the blanket over my face as if that could block out the responsibility of a new day.
No luck.
Eventually, I forced myself up. I freshened up with the same lazy urgency you give a Monday you didn't ask for, then sat down at my desk with a cup of coffee in one hand and my laptop open in front of me. My inbox was already a battlefield. Deadlines, invites, last-minute changes from flaky clients... the usual.
Then my phone dinged. Once.
Then again.
And again.
Annoyed, I reached over to check who was blowing up my notifications this early. Before I could unlock the screen, it started ringing.
The number wasn't saved in my contacts.
I raised a brow. "Huh."
Still, I answered but stayed quiet. Just in case it was someone important, or worse, someone who had gotten their hands on my new number already. I had just changed it this month and was not looking forward to doing that dance again.
"Is this Miss Y/N?" a woman asked.
Her voice was oddly familiar, professional with just enough warmth to seem practiced. But I couldn't place it.
"This is Pepper. Pepper Potts."
Oh.
Right.
"Hi, Pepper," I said, straightening slightly in my chair. "Everything alright?"
"I know it's short notice," she said quickly. Her voice faltered, like she knew she was asking a lot. "But is there any chance you could tailor something for Tony? We've got a major event coming up and... well, our designer flaked. Just walked off the job."
"Pepper-" I tried to interject, already thinking of my schedule.
"You're the only one in New York we trust," she added hurriedly.
I paused.
Flattery. Delicious, effective flattery. People who fuel my ego are my kind of people.
"I'll be there in an hour," I said without missing a beat.
The relief in her voice poured through the speaker. She thanked me about six times before hanging up. I was already standing, brushing the wrinkles from my lounge set and heading to the closet.
Casual yet classy. That was the look. I wanted to walk into Stark Tower like I owned the place. I packed up everything I'd need: measuring tape, scissors, swatches, and a wide range of fabric samples.
I called CJ, my driver-slash-part-time emotional support system, and asked him to pick me up.
When I slipped into the passenger seat, he gave me a tired glance through the rearview mirror.
"Morning," he mumbled.
"Morning," I sighed. "These Starks are going to be the death of me, CJ."
"I thought there was only one Stark," he said, brows furrowed.
His tone made me laugh, even though I didn't want to. "Shut up. You know what I mean."
"Yes, ma'am," he replied with a lazy salute, pulling away from the curb.
We reached the Avengers Tower in about thirty minutes. It surprised me that it was so close to where I lived. You'd think the most advanced building in the city would stand out more.
I walked into the lobby, one hand tucked in my pocket, the other gripping the black case with my equipment. The interior screamed luxury. Of course it did.
Pepper was already waiting for me, and she looked stressed.
"Oh, thank god," she said as I approached. "I'm so sorry again for calling you like that."
"It's fine," I replied. "As long as I'm paid well."
I winked, earning a much-needed laugh from her.
"Come on. I'll take you to Tony. He's in his office."
"After you."
We rode the elevator up. Everything inside was sleek, polished, and far too expensive-looking. It smelled like new electronics and citrus cleaner.
When the doors opened, Tony was in the corner of his office, hunched over a workbench filled with blinking gadgets and half-finished devices. He didn't even look up.
"Morning, Stark," I called out, loud enough to be heard over whatever low hum was coming from his equipment.
He flinched. Clearly wasn't expecting anyone. He turned around and blinked at me, then looked at Pepper like she had brought in a stranger.
"Seriously? You brought her?" he asked dramatically, earning a well deserved eye roll.
"And Stark? Really? No 'Mister'? How rude."
He furrowed his brows at me. "This feels more like a favor than a job anyway."
"A favor, huh? So I don't have to pay you?" he teased, walking over.
"Don't get cute with me."
"I'm always cute. That's kind of my thing. I don't expect a fashion designer to understand."
God, he was exhausting.
"Pepper?" I said sweetly, turning to her. "Would you be a doll and take this man's measurements for me? I don't like touching dirty dogs."
Tony's smirk widened. "I could be a dirty dog for you, but that's a whole different conversation."
I laughed under my breath and crossed my arms. "You're not even a street rat to me."
Pepper shook her head with a small smile and got to work measuring him. I leaned against a nearby table and watched them, already planning the cut and style in my head.
He was taller than I expected. Broader, too. His build would need something sharp, defined. Probably something dark but not too plain. My eyes studied his frame, but not in the way he assumed.
"Checking me out already?" he asked, clearly amused.
I didn't even blink. "Every time you speak, I wish I stayed in bed."
Pepper passed me the measurements, scribbled on a sticky note. I held them up and began comparing fabrics. I narrowed it down to two: navy blue and black. Both safe choices, both elegant. But which one would stand out?
I held the swatches up to his arm, squinting slightly.
"The blue," Tony said, his tone softer now. "It looks better."
Something about the way he said it made me pause. He wasn't joking anymore.
"Don't tell me what to do," I replied quickly, walking away, though I had already made up my mind. He was right. The blue was better.
"When do you need the suit?" I asked.
"Day after tomorrow."
I looked at Pepper, who was already mouthing an apology.
"I'll have it done by tomorrow," I said with a sigh.
Tony gave me a crooked grin.
"Try not to fall in love with me while you're working," he said.
"You wish"