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It's late. Late enough that Bruce is out and off at some gala, dinner, or date with a different woman this week. All the other executives have gone home to wives or booze for the day. But, Pepper has no wife, no husband, and a lot to prove. So, the redhead is still in her office, the door open to the long executive corridor on the top floor of the offices of Wanye Enterprises. So, light can be seen spilling out of her office and the quiet echo of a slightly staticy radio playing an evening live slow jazz show. It helps her work.
The redhead is on her third cup of coffee for the day, it nursed above the large ledger she's pouring over for the moment. Finances were her job now, and cleaning up the slight mess of finances that her predecessor left. She's three years back at the moment, eyes half crossed, but she's cleaned up so much already, fired three people, moved others out of positions, and generally made very few friends but a lot of clean money for the company already.
*
Richard tried calling Bruce's private line, but there was no answer. No doubt after a couple of years being gone, the latter has gotten used to not declaring his whereabouts. Not that he really needed him, but he found a place down in the Village and he needed access to some of his Trust. Gotta love finances.
Since it was on his way back from Downtown, Richard decided to stop by the offices. His steps slow as he sees few actually -in- the offices…Security would have certainly let him in if they were the same Security from before and if not, he'd probably be able to slip his way through if needed. Once he gets to the floor with Bruce's office, he pauses at seeing only one person at their desk. "A little late to be working, don't you think?"
*
The woman blinks up as she hears a voice she doesn't recognize. There is a flutter of defensiveness across her pale, perfect features as she tries to figure out who this man standing in the doorway of her office is. Not a board member, she didn't think. Not another executive. Ice blue eyes search his face as she states simply, "After what the last CFO left, there will be a lot of late nights until I sort all this out. Besides, *someone* should work around here. Mr. Wayne doesn't pay us to take golf trips." Unlike some of the other executives.
A heartbeat later, Pepper realizes she might be a touch TOO defensive. If he was another employee, he was also making a late night. She sighs and unfolds from her desk, standing smoothly to reveal a neat, rather tight red suit with a skirt short enough to reveal half her thighs and silk stockings. She's professional but… Attractive. Almost unprofessionally so. "Sorry. We've not met. I'm Pepper Potts, the new CFO." She offers her hand neatly to him.
*
Nightwing isn't dressed like any sort of businessman…he tends not to wear suits unless he has to. He's dressed rather trendily, actually, complete with a new haircut reminiscent of the whole Beatlemania currently enveloping the nation. Bright blue eyes look over the woman for a moment befor he takes her hand, "Richard Grayson. I know who you are, Miss Potts," but he's not really smiling. Maybe it was the defensiveness? "So, what's the scheme?"
*
As he offers his name, immediate understanding comes across her pale eyes. He may be defensive now, but she no longer is. Pepper lets out a breath that seems more relaxed and gives him an actually genuine, warm smile. "Mr. Grayson! I've heard so much about you. Goodness, come in.. If you're going to interrogate me, you might as well come in. Do you want some coffee? Or a drink? I… keep a decent bottle of scotch for when I need to entertain business." The little wet bar in the corner has some dust on it already, but she does keep one. It's proper business habit, these days. "…And there is no scheme. Mr. Wayne offered me a job, I took it. End of story."
*
Grayson doesn't relax, however. "Have you? From whom?" Because he knows Bruce wouldn't be talking about him. That's not his way. "I know he offered you a job. He told me. I mean, what's -your- scheme? Get involved in the finances so you can sell the company? Get involved with Bruce so that you can get some money out of him? He may be too flighty to see it, but I'm not. I may not be a businessman like he is, but I know a con when I see it."
*
The redhead's eyes go just a bit wider as she hears all that, actually a bit more shocked. Pepper exhales slowly, setting back behind her desk as Richard continues speaking at her. "…From Bruce, actually. He has said kind things, and let me know occasionally you may be drawing on your finances, so I should not worry about that. He's glad to see you again, if worried." Pepper admits honestly, watching him a bit more closely now. She crosses her long legs behind the desk. "And my scheme is that I have a business degree but, because I am a woman, very few people take me seriously as a business *person*. Bruce does. So, I've taken the job and I'm going to do the damned best job possible for this company. My scheme is to prove to the whole damn world that women ARE just as capable as men. Hopefully to double this company's stock. Hopefully to be so valuable, Bruce will never be able to get rid of me no matter what the world says. That is my scheme."
*
Reading between the lines, he knew it! She's after him. "Ok, sure. Because all well-meaning business-minded women show up to work in short skirts, showing off their legs to their wealthy employers. That's the definite way to be taken seriously in such a male-dominated career." His voice drips with irony. "You can say that your intentions are pure and platonic, Miss Potts, but if you hurt Bruce, it won't be taken so well." Is that a threat? From Grayson? Rumored to be almost as much as a playboy as Wayne himself?
*
A touch of amusement crosses her eyes and there is even a hint of a chuckle behind her voice. "No, short skirts help people discount you, so they stay more and forget you are there. So I can listen in to the people who might be trying to stab him through the back. So I can easier get rid of the people who already have." She has fired more than one person already. "And a woman in this field needs every damn advantage she can get. That is one of my advantages, so I use it. I won't let you shame me for it. As for Bruce… I'm doing my best to save him AND his company. I haven't a single intention of hurting him. Why would I do that to the man who's given me the best chance in my life?"
*
"That thinking is just what you seem to be trying to fight, Miss Potts. Which is it? Are you for women being strong in the workplace and being given their due for the work that they are capable of? Or are you for women sneaking their way into manipulating the Boys' Club of Business by using their wiles? You can't have it both ways." Richard still hasn't moved in or taken her up on the offer of drinks yet the interrogation has occured. "Shame on -you-, Miss Potts, for perpetuating a stereotype."
*
A deep laugh actually escapes her lips, though she squelches it a moment later, not wanting to insult him. "…Yes, I can, Mr. Grayson. I can actually have both, and I do. Until the manipulation isn't necessary, I'll use it. And frankly, I ENJOY dressing the way I do. I like being me. I… I was sick… a long time. I didn't look good. It feels nice to look good again. And that's my perogative, if I want to. I won't let a man tell me what to wear, conservative or showing off. I wear what *I* want to wear. For me. If I use it at work, all the better. If not, that is fine. But my work will speak for itself and already has. If you understand accounting, you are welcome to check the books. I've gone back three years already in three weeks."
*
Oh, the insult has been given. His eyes narrow some at her before he just shrugs it all off. "I don't give a damn what you do, Miss Potts, but like I said, you hurt Bruce and you'll have to answer to me." Because apparently Bruce is blinded by short skirts and red hair. Figures. It's a good thing he's moving out of the Mansion…with the likes of her around, he doesn't feel his identity is safe at -all-. "I understand accounting, but I'm not a businessman." He doesn't actually have a job at the moment. "I'll make sure my funds are transferred elsewhere so you don't have to deal with them." With that, he turns on his heel to leave.
*
A deep sigh escapes her lips and Pepper stands up again, "Look, please, Mr. Grayson…ask me what you want. Check my work. WHy….why do you think so awfully of me? Truly. We just met. I care about Mr. Wayne too. What… what can I do to prove to you that I'm not this whore of Babylon you think I am?" Pepper's voice is softer now, not quite so confident. Actually a bit hurt by all of this even if she's trying to hide it and keep her strong exterior.
*
"You've made it quite clear that you don't care what I think, Miss Potts. Bruce has also made that clear. I just hope that this business, who gives jobs to so many, doesn't get screwed over by whatever it is you're planning. And I hope that Bruce doesn't get screwed over by your 'care' for him." But part of that is Bruce himself dealing with adult relationships which, it turns out, he's not so good at. Richard just shrugs, "I'll just keep an eye on the papers for the scandal that'll no doubt come out of this."
*
"…I just asked you what you think, Mr. Grayson. I do care. I've explained to you my personal reasoning behind things… and you apparently don't care or believe about those. I'd… like to come to some sort of… Understanding. But I guess you are just like the rest of the world — you see a pretty girl and think she can't be in business. Think she can't do this the way men do, or for the reasons they do. I…don't know why I expected any different. I… I'll just have to prove to you the way I do to them, through hard work." But it's lonely. For a few moments, that aching loneliness is far too raw behind her eyes.
*
"See there's the problem, Miss Potts. You're stereotyping me as well even though that's not at -all- what I said. You obviously weren't listening to anything I said to you, instead forumlating your own opinion because I didn't fall for the batting eyelashes and charming smile." Richard watches the woman carefully, "I'm sure you're very good at your job. So good that no one less than Tony Stark had you as his Assistant for quite some time. No one can hold that job down without having a head for business because he's such a mess. I'm sure you practically ran that company. I have no doubt that you could run this one, with or without Bruce at it's helm. I seriously doubt you can prove to me that you're not out to take over the company yourself or through Stark, so I don't recommend you trying."
*
A deeper sigh escapes her lips, "I have no interest in taking over a whole company. I work better as a right hand. Bruce… this is HIS company. Many of his board or other executives don't see that. They try to take advantage of him. I'm doing my damndest to stop that. And…" Then she blinks, remembering something Bruce said about it all as he comments about Stark. Pepper shakes her head with a weak laugh, "…Through Stark? God no…Tony isn't even…Talking to me. Stark *fired* me. Why the hell would I ever try to do anything for him? I spent the last two months working for the department of defense. But I prefer private business. SO…here we are. I haven't worked for Stark since last year."
*
"Miss Potts," Grayson offers wearily (for a 22 year old), "I don't care about your life story. I don't believe that you're in this for the good of mankind. Sorry. No one who is in this line of work is in it 'for the good of it all'. Not even Bruce, as philanthropic as he is." He turns to leave again, "I won't keep you from your Very Important Work."
*
The woman, for the moment, gives up. Pepper shakes her head quietly and just looks back down to her work. "Please…shut the door behind you on your way out." She murmurs, the last bit of it she can find in her heart. She tried. It was the best she could do, was try. She sighs tiredly and tries to focus back on her books. Some days are harder than others.