On the highway leading to Stark Mansion, the revitalized Tony faced Pepper's questioning. The anger on the secretary's face showed just how furious she was that her employer had hidden his palladium poisoning from her.
"So you were planning to wait until one day, when you were sent to the hospital and couldn't be saved, before telling me the truth?" Pepper turned away, her eyes slightly red, unwilling to pay any more attention to the utterly helpless-looking Iron Man.
Tony, who had always been skilled at handling women, felt a headache for the first time. In his panic, he could only shift the blame onto someone else. "I was going to confess, but Sean said it was better not to tell women about this sort of thing, because they often couldn't handle the shock."
Stark put on an innocent expression, secretly pleased with his quick wit. He had helped Sean out once when S.H.I.E.L.D. brought him in, so having the guy take the blame now was no big deal.
Pepper was only half convinced, but she reluctantly forgave Tony after seeing his sincere attitude. At the same time, she could not help feeling fortunate. She had joined Stark Industries after graduation and later became the personal secretary of the man beside her. She had nearly grown used to this life—handling everything for her careless, frivolous boss, dutifully serving as his secretary, housekeeper, and nanny, arranging all sorts of matters and dealing with the women who tried to cling to him after one-night stands.
It was like an inertia that had formed over time. If Tony really met with some accident, she probably would not even know how to begin a new life.
While the secretary was lost in thought, Tony, his hands on the steering wheel, secretly glanced at Pepper