Pepper Potts had always believed that Salomon was Tony Stark's friend, and Salomon had left an excellent impression on her. At school, she had dealt with students who received elite educations; after entering the workforce, she dealt with the bourgeoisie of the Military-Industrial Complex. Compared with the stupidity, rudeness, bluntness, greed, cunning, and calculation so common among those people, Salomon's lack of exaggerated tone or expression, vulgar behavior, and even his elegant posture naturally made him far more likable.
Moreover, Pepper had always felt that Salomon could surely accomplish things ordinary people could not, such as changing luck or extending life. That was why she had always hoped Tony Stark would speak with Salomon more often. This wonderful misunderstanding had not been cleared up. Tony Stark also hoped to get something from Salomon, though not superstitious trinkets like charms.
Before long, he would take office as Secretary of Defense and become the government's star spokesman.
This was a field the Stark family had never personally entered. Not every capitalist was like the head of Koch Industries, who enjoyed joining political struggles himself, nor were they like those old financial dynasties that used bloodlines to forge indestructible interest groups. Entering deep waters could certainly bring great rewards, but it also drew the attention of the monsters lurking there. Tony Stark felt somewhat insecure.
He knew the Military-Industrial Complex did not like him, because he had once taken their business.
Energy companies did not like him either, because he had led the clean-energy initiative.
The families that had signed the Declaration of Independence, as well as Wall Street's Jewish Plutocrats, did not have particularly good relations with Stark Industries. The former were beyond his reach, while the latter were more interested in Stark Industries' shares.
He wanted to keep Pepper away from