Opening

The day of the opening began as every day started for her lately. She would wake up before the crack of dawn and make a cup of coffee and then she delivered it to Stark. The plate with the cookies was already waiting there for her and like every morning she checked the cookies for abnormalities and ate two as breakfast.

Today she was really nervous when porting back to her home because the rest of the day would be different than usual. Standing in the entrance, Valerie decided to do more decorating as currently, the restaurant was very bleak. She placed two flower bots on both sides of the entrance, from there she had an undisturbed view to the open kitchen and the curved counter before it. The inner side of the table was a light sand-colored stone countertop with a hand sink for enough space to handle various types of foods and drinks. Across from the sink was an additional countertop with more space to work, which was directly under the glass front from the kitchen. On this barside stood her priceless coffee machine, that was when she realized that people would likely want to drink something else besides coffee so she looked through her storage ring to see if she had something like a beverage dispenser inside.

Theoretically, she could conjure up the machine herself but the limitation to this ability was that you needed to know how something worked to make it. The more knowledge you had the better the result, for example, she could have conjured up the coffee machine but the coffee would not taste great because she was lacking knowledge how to build a coffee machine. Because of this reason she baked and cooked herself instead of conjuring her foods and drinks. Conjuring up a dispenser was out of the question. Luckily she found something like a drink dispenser: an automated juice press. She placed the juicer beside the coffee machine on the bar countertop.

Beside the entrance to the bar area there was a showcase to display the muffins and cakes she would offer. On the outside of the bar on the light brown colored countertop was enough space to eat and drink comfortably. In front of the bar table, she placed four high chairs, roughly the same color as the counter and began to conjure up little flower vases with tulips in different colors in them and put the pots on each table and on the counter.

At nine o'clock am she began making her doughs for the pizzas and the lava cakes. Baking a fresh baking sheet full of blueberry muffins she opened her door and hoped to be lucky enough to get some customers.

Two hours later, at lunchtime, she had to admit to herself that maybe she was a tad bit too optimistic. Nobody had even glanced at her sign outside her entrance or tried looking inside. Getting bored of waiting she had a brilliant idea. Making a pizza for Stark and enchanting each slice with a stasis spell so that it would stay warm and fresh, Valerie bespelled the scent of the baked pizza to intensify and conjured up a wind to blow the smell out her door. Hoping the nice scent would entice people to come to eat and drink. Her plan was only half successful, she had 5 guests until 15.50, ten minutes before closing.

She was happy with the result, getting up from her stool behind the bar and intending to close the door, a woman with her blond her up in a ponytail, with striking blue eyes, an elegant grey business suit, and high heels walked efficiently in her bistro. She was quite beautiful if you liked efficient, clean and cold women. Having watched a few interactions between Tony and Pepper, Valerie knew Tony wanted to turn their friendship into something more but Pepper had been too busy to notice. What Vali didn't understand was how Stark could think that they would be a good match. Tony was a mess, a brilliant, always fun to be around kind of mess, but a mess nonetheless and she pegged Pepper to want an easy and clean romantic relationship. Taking care to not stare at Pepper Pots, she couldn't believe that of all the places in Manhattan Pepper found her eatery and on her opening day to boot.

Casting a questioning look at Valerie, Miss Pots asked

"Thank god, I am starving. You do provide meals until the last minute, or do you not?"

"Yes of course. Please sit down. I'll be right there to take your order."

Looking around Pepper walked to the counter and chose one of the high chairs to take a seat.

"Maybe you have already read outside, I only have one lunch menu, but the meal will change weekly. This week's special is our homemade pizza. We have Mageritha, Pepperoni, and Hawaiian Pizza. Chocolate lava cake or blueberry muffins are also available. There is freshly pressed juice or coffee to drink. I would like to recommend the coffee; it is our specialty and I'd like to think we have the best in town." smiling at Pepper, Valerie waited for the order.

"Oh, I didn't know you only provide one meal... I was in a hurry and saw you are open so I went in. Nevertheless, I would like to order a Margherita pizza, a small one if possible. I want a Cafè Latte and a big glass of water with it. And make it quick, I have another appointment coming up."

Pepper ordered while checking her phone and not once did she look up at Vali. After stating her wishes she ignored Valerie completely.

"A little Margherita pizza, a café latte and a big glass of water coming right up." Valerie went behind the counter to get Miss Pots her coffee and water, after that she started making the pizza. After seven minutes the pizza was finished and she brought it out of the kitchen. While waiting for Pepper to finish eating she began cleaning behind the bar. Even during her meal, Pepper was busy writing and reading on her phone. She finished quickly and demanded:

" I would like to pay, I want two additional coffees to go. My boss loves coffee and I am certain he would be delighted to drink yours. I have an appointment with him right after I leave. I think I will come here often to eat. Do you know your special for next week?"

surprised that Pepper wanted to take her coffee to Tony, Vali didn't know what to reply at first:

" I am happy you liked our coffee and meal but I am sorry we do not provide take-out. Our special meal for next week is going to be a burger. "

Fearing Tony would recognize her coffee if Pepper brought it with her, Vali quickly declined. She never thought that her bistro could be the reason that Tony would find out about her, but Vali supposed she should have thought about that earlier. Her game with Stark had just gotten a little more dangerous, but after some time of civil life, she began to crave the adrenalin rush of her former life and playing her cat and mouse game with Tony satisfied her craving for adventure.

"That`s odd. I hadn't thought you would be so oldfashioned. That's really disappointing. Nevertheless, I will come again. Bye"

Striding out the door, Pepper was gone and Valerie quickly locked the door behind her. Worrying about how to prevent Pepper to show Tony her bistro, Vali was casting a cleaning spell absent-mindedly and then went into the kitchen to get the pizza she made for Stark. Vali teleported to Starks mansion with four cups of coffee and her pizza. She was excited to see if Tony liked her pizza.