An Invitation to Los Angeles
Catherine Hepburn grumbled to her side, "You're no better than me, no need to laugh at others."
The Kryptonian had been stabbed was instantly devastated, speechless and unsure how to respond. He simply lay down on the grass and rolled away into the distance.
Henry noticed that Virginia Potts hadn't followed, which meant she was looking for Catherine Hepburn, right?
Sure enough, this Pepper Potts, who had already developed a strong, independent presence even as a personal assistant, took an invitation from her handbag and respectfully handed it to Catherine Hepburn.
"Ms. Hepburn, Mr. Tony Stark is moving to a new house and would like to invite you to his housewarming party. This is a small gathering for very close friends and family, and it's at a time that avoids the noisy, chaotic parties."
She accepted the invitation. The father and son's handwriting was so illegible, it was impossible for anyone to imitate it. And since it was personally delivered by Virginia Potts, Catherine Hepburn had no suspicions. "Tony Stark moved to a new place? Where did he move to?"
"Mr. Stark moved to a private villa in Malibu Beach, Los Angeles, California, which is now named Malibu Manor."
"Ah, you mean that messy seaside villa? I remember Tony Stark really hated that place; he didn't want to go there unless he wanted to play in the sand."
Virginia Potts is still trying to cover for her unreliable boss. "This year, Mr. Stark has demolished and rebuilt the seaside villa, which features a modern and minimalist 21st-century style."
"The exterior design, created by a professional architect, differs from the previous, inconsistent and ill-fitting manor house. Furthermore, Mr. Stark has decided to move to the West Coast, which is why he invited family and friends to visit his new home."
Catherine Hepburn was startled and pressed, "Why would he suddenly move to the West Coast? What about the company in New York?" "Mr. Obadiah Stane is still on the East Coast, and the company's operations are fine. It's just that I'm not entirely sure why Mr. Stark wants to move to the West Coast."
Without pressing further, Catherine Hepburn simply opened the invitation and glanced at its contents. She murmured, "Los Angeles..."
"What If...? Ms. Hepburn is willing to go, Mr. Stark has instructed that I will arrange a private jet and car for your transportation, and accompany you throughout the trip."
The reason the elderly person has rarely traveled far in recent years is, of course, due to inconvenience. Although their mind is clear, their legs can still move, and they eat and sleep well, they inevitably suffer from age-related ailments.
In such a situation, traveling long distances could easily cause trouble for strangers if unexpected situations arise along the way. Therefore, Catherine Hepburn never considered traveling as much as she did in her youth.
Tony Stark had, of course, considered this possibility, so he sent his personal nanny to accompany and care for her throughout, which put Catherine Hepburn at ease. However, solving one problem only led to another.
Are you inviting only me?
Virginia Potts flashed a confident smile, as if the mission was about to succeed. "Madam, you can bring as many people as you like. Mr. Stark will cover all their travel expenses."
"Pets or other children are welcome. Mr. Stark specifically requested that Mr. Henry Brown be sure to participate."
Rolling back from the distant lawn, Henry sat up and looked at the shrewd redhead. "Would you do me the honor? That's not Tony's original wording. What were his exact words?"
"I'm sorry, Mr. Brown. Such vulgar language is inappropriate for me to utter, no matter the context, even if it's just a paraphrase."
Pepper Potts is still Pepper Potts; even when the big boss isn't looking, she still tries to save face for him. But when the time comes, she'll still subtly stab him in the back. Before she could even launch into a few sarcastic remarks about the young master, Catherine Hepburn gave her instructions. "Henry, go ask those two wild girls if it's alright for them to come with me to the West Coast."
"Okay." Henry stood up lazily, brushed the grass and clods of dirt off his trousers, and walked toward the two women and Kitty.
After wandering around, they found a Tiger and two girls who had forgotten about training their abilities and were playing together in a secluded spot.
Skye, Lorna, Kate asked me to ask you two: have you finished your Summer Vacation homework? Have you done everything you were supposed to do? Is it okay for you to go to Los Angeles with her?
"Going to Los Angeles? What are you going there for?" Seeing someone approaching, Skye hurriedly put her suppressor necklace back on. This necklace was different from the ones used by Mutants; the difference was that its influence range was much wider, and it didn't just affect the wearer.
Therefore, the pendant that is in use is relatively large and has some weight. So when Skye wants to practice her abilities, she not only turns off the device but also takes off the necklace.
As the two girls casually approached, Henry answered their question. "Tony Stark moved to Malibu Beach in Los Angeles. He invited Kate to the party; we were just there as guests."
"Ugh, this seems like such a hassle," Skye complained, then her eyes lit up. "How about this, you guys go ahead. We don't know Tony Stark anyway. We can take care of ourselves here in New York. Remember to leave the car keys."
... The key point is in the last sentence. But of course, Henry wouldn't agree to such a thing. "Heh, you guys don't think you can just be alone whenever you want and then cause a ruckus at home, do you?"
"Although Kate didn't say it explicitly, it was clear from her that none of you could escape her watchful eye. She wouldn't give you the right to refuse."
"They're practically just short of getting two dog leashes and putting them around your necks, making you like Kitty, being led around on a leash every day. If you resolutely refuse to go, she'll probably stay in New York and keep an eye on you."
"Ugh~" This time, Skye wasn't the only one complaining; Lorna Dane echoed the sentiment. They were both going through a rebellious phase, and nobody wanted to be constantly watched. However, the two younger girls didn't have the courage to defy the old man. Henry was even less likely to take their side and plead for them in this situation. What kind of nonsense was it to leave two minors at home for extended periods?
Not to mention Skye specifically asked for the car keys, making it blatantly obvious. Without that, the Kryptonian might have hesitated for half a second before refusing; with that extra sentence, that half-second of hesitation could be saved, and he could simply refuse!
However, Henry continued to talk about the benefits, enticing the two girls with promises of profit. "Don't just think about losing your freedom and all the unbearable things. You should think about how this trip has a rich patron paying the bill, and you can even eat his food."
"Lorna hasn't yet experienced the banquet that Tony Stark arranged, has she? The deliciousness of top-quality ingredients is sometimes something even my culinary skills can't completely replicate. With every bite, you can taste the money, and experience what it truly means to be expensive."
"Besides, his family owns a private beach. Haven't you ever thought about putting on your swimsuits, grabbing a surfboard, and enjoying a private beach in California no one will be fighting you for it during the summer?"
A flutter of excitement crossed Lorna Dane's face as she asked hesitantly, "Can I really come along?"
"Of course. Quicksilver can't be found, and I can't expect Wanda to take care of you. I'm worried that if you come back in a few days, you'll pick up all of Wanda's weird and eccentric ways. It's not that I'm criticizing your sister, it's just that Wanda's methods aren't suitable for you."
The little girl hasn't learned that annoying, never-ending-of-the-words personality yet; she can't be corrupted by her sister. That's what the Kryptonian truly thought.