Pluck the Flower While It Blooms

After cleaning up the coffee on the floor, Pepper went upstairs and made two more cups.

Leon and Tony also emerged from their "seclusion" and followed her up to the living room, each brother taking a seat in a single armchair.

They sipped coffee.

And admired the ocean beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows, its surface rippling with golden waves.

Tony: "A dinner party?"

Leon: "Obadiah invited us?"

The brothers turned to Pepper in unison, and she nodded.

To welcome Tony and Leon back after their narrow escape from death, Obadiah had specifically asked Pepper to come fetch them because neither of their phones could be reached.

"Couldn't get through?"

"How could they not get through?"

Tony was puzzled.

"Sir, before you began building the armor, you said you didn't want anyone disturbing you and told me to reject all outside communications."

"Uh, I guess that did happen..."

"Tony!"

"Is the company yours or mine?"

Faced with Pepper's displeased stare, Tony coughed awkwardly twice and changed the subject. "When?"

Pepper stood up, snatched the half-finished coffee from Tony's hand, and strode away on her black-stockinged legs, leaving him only her slender back.

"Now!"

"Do you even know what time it is?"

At that.

Tony looked at Leon.

Leon shrugged indifferently. Perfect timing to send that shell-less iron turtle on its way.

Night arrived quickly.

At a five-star hotel near Stark Tower.

Obadiah had extravagantly booked out the entire place, drawing a crowd of reporters who caught wind of it.

By the time Tony and Leon arrived in their respective rides, looking reasonably presentable, the hotel exterior was already surrounded three layers deep by reporters and curious onlookers.

Fortunately, the security was barely adequate and kept the crowd from blocking the hotel entrance entirely.

Tony's ride was the classic silver Audi R8. It was relatively inexpensive, but Tony liked it.

The moment he stepped out, a hotel attendant came over to park it for him.

But the other attendant who came to park Leon's vehicle was left somewhat dumbfounded, because Leon had arrived on a Jet Glider.

Unlike ordinary motorcycles, the Jet Glider had no brakes, throttle, handlebars, or anything like that. It only had two knob-like grips integrating all operating functions and one large screen.

"Um, Mr. Leon, I'm terribly sorry, but I don't know how to drive your... motorcycle. You, um, perhaps..."

Even though Leon's reputation was a complete mess, his status was still what it was. There was no way some idiotic subordinate-defying scenario would occur.

At that moment, facing Leon's smiling face, the attendant was sweating profusely and so nervous she could barely speak properly.

"It's fine. Don't be nervous, I'm not going to eat you."

Leon patted the generously endowed waitress on the shoulder and comforted her thoughtfully.

"You just need to lead the way. It can drive itself."

"Huh??"

She understood every word Leon said, but once they were put together, why did none of it make sense?

Tony and Leon's arrival instantly set the entire venue ablaze.

After all, this was the Stark brothers' first official appearance after disappearing for three months. That impromptu press conference from before didn't count.

As they walked down the red carpet.

The two brothers became the center of everyone's attention.

It was as if they had not come for dinner, but as superstars holding a press conference.

Sure enough.

Among the powerful elites invited by Obadiah, a reporter had slipped in, making Leon cast an impressed glance her way.

It was absolutely not because she had once opened her doors wide for Leon, leaving him unable to forget and wanting to relive the memory.

"Hey, Leon, remember me?"

A blonde young woman in a purple off-the-shoulder evening gown walked toward Leon.

"Hey, of course I remember, darling."

Leon familiarly wrapped an arm around her waist and gave her an open, passionate French kiss in front of countless reporters.

At the sight.

Some uninformed spectators asked, "Isn't he worried about getting canceled for being so blatant?"

But people familiar with Leon quickly answered for him. "I'm dying! He was already a ruin to begin with. What is there to collapse?"

What was more.

Leon's mature, handsome looks appealed to both men and women, and paired with his carefree, uninhibited, openly free-spirited lifestyle, he had instead attracted a huge following in America, a country that worshipped and was known for "freedom."

"Ah—"

"Young Master Leon, I want to have your babies!"

"You're a man. What babies are you having?"

"If anyone's having Young Master Leon's babies, it'll be us girls!"

"Get in line!"

A burly, eight-foot-two muscular man in overalls and a center-parted hairstyle screamed at the top of his lungs, but his voice was soon drowned out by even more female voices.

Leon had long since grown accustomed to scenes like this.

He had even officially organized several fan receptions, open only to attractive female fans with great figures.

Those in the know, knew.

Leon entering a party with a beauty in his arms was perfectly normal.

But for the first time ever, Tony, who was walking ahead, politely turned down an heiress he had once had a fling with, his eyes searching for something.

Since Obadiah, the host of the banquet, was currently beaming as he accepted media interviews, Leon and Tony decided to find something to eat first.

After getting past the media crowd, the brothers temporarily went their separate ways.

Tony arrived at a bar and had just ordered a Scotch whisky when Agent Coulson of S.H.I.E.L.D. came over.

"Mr. Stark."

"You are?"

Tony looked puzzled.

"Agent Coulson."

Coulson introduced himself with a smile.

"Oh, that Shield whatever, right? Pepper mentioned you. I heard you also came looking for Leon."

Tony remembered.

"It's S.H.I.E.L.D., Mr. Stark."

Coulson corrected him.

"Sure, sure."

Sipping his whisky, Tony waved dismissively. Then his eyebrows rose as his gaze locked onto a blonde beauty in a blue evening dress, her hair styled in loose waves.

It was Pepper, who had arrived at the hotel before Tony and Leon.

"I know this has been a difficult time for you, but we need you to give us a report. We still have many questions, and you may forget some details after a while."

"So why don't we settle it now? How about meeting at Stark Tower at seven in the evening on the twenty-fourth?"

Coulson suggested tactfully.

"Let's do that. You're right. I'll go find my secretary and get it arranged right now."

His eyes fixed on Pepper's figure.

Tony downed his whisky in one gulp. After saying goodbye to Coulson, he headed toward Pepper, who was standing alone.

Their relationship was ambiguous, but that final paper-thin barrier had never been pierced.

Pepper had always had reservations. She felt that Tony was her boss while she was only an employee. With such unequal status, relationships often did not last.

And she would also have to face the strange looks of her coworkers.

More importantly, Tony had been rather promiscuous, making it difficult for anyone to feel secure with him.

But.

After this kidnapping incident, Pepper's thoughts gradually changed.

Tony felt the same way.

He believed he should give Pepper an answer.

Pluck the flower while it blooms; do not wait until it is gone and snap bare branches in vain.

Meanwhile.

Leon and the blonde young woman—Christine, the reporter who had previously had some dealings with Leon—had already found themselves a room...