……
After cleaning up the coffee on the floor, Pepper went back up to brew two more cups.
Leon and Tony also finished their "seclusion" and followed her up to the living room, where the two brothers each sat on a single sofa.
Drinking coffee.
Admiring the sea view with shimmering golden ripples outside the French windows.
Tony: "Dinner party?"
Leon: "Invited by Obadiah?"
The two brothers turned their heads to look at Pepper, who nodded.
To welcome back Tony and Leon, who had narrowly escaped death, Obadiah specifically asked Pepper to call the two brothers, as their phones were unreachable.
"Unreachable?"
"How could they be unreachable?"
Tony was puzzled.
"Sir, before you started building the armor, you said you didn't want anyone to disturb you and asked me to reject all outside communications for you."
"Uh, I think that was the case..."
"Tony!"
"Is the company yours or mine?"
Facing Pepper's displeased gaze, Tony awkwardly coughed twice and changed the subject, saying, "When?"
Pepper got up, snatched the half-drunk coffee from Tony's hand, then moved her beautiful legs, leaving only a slender back for him.
"Now!"
"Look at the time!"
Upon hearing this.
Tony looked at Leon.
Leon shrugged indifferently, thinking it was a good time to send off that shell-less iron turtle.
……
Time quickly came to evening.
A five-star hotel near Stark Tower.
Obadiah grandly booked the entire venue, and many reporters rushed over upon hearing the news.
When Tony and Leon, dressed impeccably, arrived in their respective vehicles, the area outside the hotel was already surrounded by reporters and curious onlookers, three layers deep inside and three layers outside.
Fortunately, the security was barely adequate, preventing this group from completely blocking the hotel entrance.
Tony's car was the classic silver Audi R8. Although its price was relatively cheap, Tony liked it.
After he got out of the car, a hotel attendant immediately came to help with parking.
However, another attendant who came to help Leon park was a bit dumbfounded, because Leon's vehicle was a Jet Glider.
Unlike a regular motorcycle, the Jet Glider has no brakes, throttle, or handlebars. It only has two rotary grip handles that integrate all operating functions and a large screen.
"Uh, Mr. Leon, I'm really sorry, I don't know how to drive your... motorcycle. You, what do you think..."
Even though Leon had a notorious reputation, his status and position were evident, so there was no possibility of such a foolish situation where a subordinate would disrespect him.
At this moment, facing the smiling Leon, the attendant was not only sweating profusely but also so nervous that she couldn't speak clearly.
"It's okay, don't be nervous, I won't eat You."
Leon patted the shoulder of the well-endowed female attendant, comforting her caringly:
"You just need to lead the way, and it will drive itself."
"Ah??"
The female attendant understood every word Leon said, but when they were put together, why did she not understand them??
The arrival of Tony and Leon instantly ignited the entire venue.
After all, this was the Stark brothers' first formal appearance after three months of disappearance; the impromptu press conference before didn't count.
Walking the red carpet.
The two brothers were the center of attention.
It was as if they weren't there for a dinner party, but rather big stars holding a press conference.
Indeed.
Among the powerful elites invited by Obadiah, there was a reporter who caught Leon's admiring gaze.
It was definitely not because she had once opened the door for Leon, making him unforgettable and wanting to reminisce.
"Hey, Leon, do you remember me?"
A blonde young woman in an off-the-shoulder purple evening gown walked towards Leon.
"Hey, of course I remember, dear."
Leon familiarly put his arm around the woman's waist and gave her a generous French kiss in front of many reporters.
Seeing this.
Among the onlookers, some who were unaware asked, "He's so blatant, isn't he worried about his reputation collapsing?"
But soon, enthusiastic onlookers familiar with Leon answered for him: "Hilarious! He's already a ruin, so how can there be any talk of collapsing?"
Not only that.
Leon's mature handsomeness, which appealed to both men and women, combined with his free-spirited, uninhibited, and unrestrained style, actually attracted a large number of fans in America, a country that champions and is known for "freedom."
"Ah—"
"Young Master Leon, I want to bear your children!"
"You're a man, what are you giving birth to?"
"If anyone's going to bear Young Master Leon's children, it's us girls!"
"Get in line behind us!"
A two-and-a-half-meter tall muscular man in overalls with a middle part screamed, but his voice was soon drowned out by more female voices.
Leon had long been accustomed to such scenes.
He even officially organized several fan receptions, exclusively for good-looking and well-figured female fans.
Those who know, know.
It was perfectly normal for Leon to have a beauty in his arms as soon as he entered the venue.
But, for the first time, Tony, who was walking ahead, politely declined the advances of a socialite with whom he once had a fleeting romance, his gaze searching for something.
Since Obadiah, the host of the banquet, was beaming as he gave media interviews, Leon and Tony decided to find something to eat first.
After bypassing the media, the two brothers temporarily separated.
Tony arrived at a bar counter, and just as he ordered a glass of Scotch whisky, Agent Coulson of S.H.I.E.L.D. found him.
"Mr. Stark."
"You are?"
Tony was puzzled.
"Agent Coulson."
Coulson introduced himself with a smile.
"Oh, that S.H.I.E.L.D. agency, right? Pepper mentioned it to me. I heard you also looked for Leon."
Tony remembered.
"It's S.H.I.E.L.D., Mr. Stark."
Coulson corrected him.
"Whatever, whatever."
Sipping his whisky, Tony casually waved his hand, then suddenly raised an eyebrow, his gaze fixed on a blonde beauty in a blue evening gown with wavy hair.
It was Pepper, who had arrived at the hotel before Tony and Leon.
"I know you've been through a lot lately, but we need you to give us a report. We still have many questions, and you might forget some details after a while."
"So, how about we finalize this? Seven PM on the 24th, at Stark Tower, how does that sound?"
Coulson said tactfully.
"That works. You're right, I'll go find my secretary now to finalize this."
Staring intently at Pepper's figure.
Tony downed his whisky, said goodbye to Coulson, and then walked towards Pepper, who was alone.
Although their relationship was ambiguous, that final barrier had not yet been broken.
Pepper always had reservations, feeling that Tony was her boss and she was just an employee; in a situation of unequal status, relationships often wouldn't last.
And she would also have to face the strange looks from company colleagues.
Crucially, Tony was also quite a playboy, making it difficult to feel secure with him.
However.
After this kidnapping incident, Pepper's views gradually changed.
The same went for Tony.
He felt he should give Pepper an explanation.
Gather ye rosebuds while ye may, old time is still a-flying.
On the other side.
Leon and the blonde young woman, the female reporter Christine whom Leon had interacted with before, had already found a room and started communicating again.