After cleaning up the coffee on the floor, Pepper went back upstairs to brew two more cups.
Leon and Tony ended their “seclusion” and followed her to the living room.
The two brothers sat down in separate armchairs.
They sipped coffee while taking in the stunning ocean view beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows, where golden ripples shimmered in the sunlight.
Tony: “A dinner party?”
Leon: “Hosted by Obadiah?”
Both brothers turned to look at Pepper simultaneously.
Pepper nodded.
To welcome Tony and Leon back after their narrow escape, Obadiah had specifically asked Pepper to come get them because neither of their phones was going through.
“Not going through?”
“How could they not go through?” Tony asked, confused.
“Sir, before you started building the armor, you explicitly stated that you didn’t want anyone to disturb you and instructed me to block all external communications for you.”
“Uh, right, I guess I did…”
“Tony!”
“Is the company yours or mine?”
Facing Pepper’s displeased glare, Tony coughed awkwardly and changed the subject.
“When is it?”
Pepper stood up, snatched the half-empty coffee cup from Tony’s hand, and walked away on her slender, black-stockinged legs, leaving him with nothing but her elegant back.
“Right now!”
“Look at the time!”
Hearing that, Tony turned to Leon.
Leon shrugged indifferently.
It happened to be the perfect opportunity to see that shell-less iron turtle off on his final journey.
…
Evening arrived quickly.
At a five-star hotel near Stark Tower.
Obadiah had lavishly booked the entire venue, and many reporters had rushed over upon hearing the news.
When Tony and Leon arrived dressed to the nines in their respective rides, the area outside the hotel was already swarmed three layers deep by reporters and onlookers.
Fortunately, security was adequate, preventing the crowd from blocking the main entrance completely.
Tony drove his classic silver Audi R8.
Though relatively inexpensive by his standards, he genuinely liked the car.
The moment he stepped out, a hotel valet hurried over to park it.
However, the valet assigned to park Leon’s ride was completely stumped—because Leon had arrived on the Jet Glider.
The Jet Glider wasn’t like a standard motorcycle.
It had no brakes, throttle, or handlebars—only two rotary grip controllers integrating all functions and a large digital screen.
“Uh, Mr.
Stark, I am so sorry, but…
I don’t know how to ride your motorcycle.
Would you mind…” This story is hosted at g.com.
Even though Leon had a terrible reputation, his status was undeniable.
A cliché scene of an employee disrespecting a high-profile guest was never going to happen.
Facing the smiling Leon, the female valet was breaking into a cold sweat, her voice trembling with nervousness.
“It’s fine, don’t be nervous.
I won’t eat you,” Leon comforted her thoughtfully, patting the busty valet on the shoulder.
“You just need to lead the way in front.
It drives itself.”
“Huh??”
She understood every individual word Leon said, but when put together, why did it sound like complete nonsense to her??
The arrival of Tony and Leon instantly set the scene ablaze.
After all, this was the Stark brothers’ first official public appearance in three months following their disappearance—excluding that impromptu press conference.
Walking down the red carpet, the two brothers were the center of attention.
It felt less like attending a private dinner and more like global superstars holding a press conference.
Case in point—a female reporter had somehow slipped into the crowd of elites and figures invited by Obadiah, catching Leon’s eye.
It definitely wasn’t because she had once opened her doors wide to him, leaving him with fond memories he wanted to revisit.
“Hey, Leon.
Remember me?”
A blonde woman in her thirties, wearing an off-the-shoulder purple evening gown, walked up to Leon.
“Hey, of course I remember, sweetheart.”
Leon casually wrapped an arm around her waist and gave her an open, passionate French kiss right in front of the press corps.
Seeing this, someone in the crowd who didn’t know better asked, “Isn’t he worried about his image collapsing doing that in public?”
An insider familiar with Leon quickly answered, “Are you kidding?
His reputation was already a pile of rubble—what image is there to collapse?”
Not only that, but Leon’s mature, handsome looks—appealing to all genders—combined with his uninhibited, unapologetically free lifestyle actually earned him a massive following in an America that idolized “freedom.”
“Ahhh—”
“Master Leon, I want to have your baby!”
“You’re a guy, how are you gonna have a baby?!”
“If anyone’s having Master Leon’s baby, it’s us girls!”
“Get in line!”
A massive, eight-foot-tall buff man wearing overalls and a middle-part haircut screamed at the top of his lungs, though his voice was quickly drowned out by a chorus of women’s shouts.
Leon was long accustomed to scenes like this.
He had even officially hosted fan meetups before, open exclusively to female fans who were attractive and well-endowed.
Those who knew, knew.
It was entirely normal for Leon to have a beauty in his arms the moment he entered the venue.
Unusually, however, Tony—walking ahead—polite declined an approach from a high-society woman with whom he had previously shared a fling.
Since Obadiah, the host of the evening, was currently glowing with satisfaction while taking interviews from the media, Leon and Tony decided to grab some food first.
Bypassing the press, the two brothers temporarily parted ways.
Tony walked over to a bar.
Just as he ordered a glass of Scotch whisky, Agent Coulson from SHIELD approached him.
“Mr.
Stark.”
“And you are?” Tony asked in confusion.
“Agent Coulson,” Coulson introduced himself with a warm smile.
“Oh, right, from that Shield place, right?
Pepper mentioned you.
I heard you guys were looking for Leon too.” Tony recalled.
“It’s S.H.I.E.L.D., Mr.
Stark,” Coulson corrected gently.
“Whatever, same thing.”
Sipping his whisky, Tony waved his hand dismissively.
Suddenly, his eyebrows raised, his gaze locking onto a blonde beauty with wavy curls wearing a blue evening gown.
It was Pepper, who had arrived at the hotel ahead of Tony and Leon.
“I know this has been a trying time for you, but we really need to debrief you.
We still have many questions, and some details might fade over time,” Coulson said tactfully.
“So how about we schedule a meeting?
The twenty-fourth, seven p.m., at Stark Tower?”
“Let me stop you right there.
You’re absolutely right,” Tony said, his eyes glued to Pepper’s figure.
“I’m going to go talk to my assistant right now and lock this down.”
Finishing his whisky in one gulp, Tony nodded to Coulson and walked toward the solitary Pepper.
Though the two shared an ambiguous chemistry, neither had ever broken through that final boundary.
Pepper had always held back, viewing Tony as her boss and herself as an employee.
In a relationship with such unequal status, romance rarely lasted.
She would also have to endure the gossip and strange looks from colleagues at work.
Crucially, Tony was a notorious playboy who offered very little security.
However…
After this kidnapping ordeal, Pepper’s perspective had gradually shifted.
Tony felt the same way.
He felt he owed Pepper a proper answer.
Pluck the flower while it blooms; do not wait until it’s gone to break an empty branch.
On the other side of the room—
Leon and the blonde reporter, Christine Everhart, had already found a private room…