I'm Only Doing What's Best for You

Inside the charity gala venue, Tony temporarily pushed aside the unpleasant brief confrontation with Obadiah at the entrance. He needed some alcohol to calm his turbulent thoughts.

He had just reached the bar when a voice spoke beside him.

"Mr. Stark."

Tony turned and saw a middle-aged man standing beside him, dressed in a black suit and tie, with a professional smile and a rather high hairline.

"Agent Coulson, from the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division," Coulson introduced himself.

Apparently, after this incident, that black egghead could no longer wait to get in touch with Howard Stark's genius biological son, one of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s founders.

Pepper had told him last time that an agent from this Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division had been looking for him, but Tony clearly had no interest in so-called government agents and had not taken it to heart. Likewise, he did not care about these annoying agents now.

What was more, a figure in the distance firmly captured his attention.

It was Pepper.

She had changed out of her usual sharp business suit and into a dark blue evening gown. The fabric gleamed with a silky sheen, and its most striking feature was the bold backless design that highlighted the graceful lines of her back.

She was smiling as she spoke with several people, her manner elegant and poised. Under the brilliant lights of the venue, she radiated a dazzling beauty.

Tony stared, transfixed. He had hardly ever seen Pepper like this.

At work, she was professional, efficient, and meticulous; in private, she occasionally showed warmth and concern. But at this moment, dressed up for a social occasion, Pepper possessed an entirely different and breathtaking beauty.

He casually humored Coulson with a few words while carrying his glass toward Pepper.

At Tony's