At Stark's seaside villa, Tony lay on a lounge chair. On the table beside him sat a bottle of Perrier-Jouët Brut Champagne...
The night breeze whispered gently, accompanied by the sound of waves crashing against the cliffs, creating a tranquil and soothing atmosphere.
Pepper, dressed in a sleek black suit, stepped out through the transparent glass wall, her high heels clicking. The refreshing night air was invigorating.
The capable secretary brushed back her wind-tousled hair, her gaze soft as she looked at Tony.
"You were supposed to attend Cross Technologies' exhibition today. That young and promising boss, Darren Cross, specifically asked me about you," Pepper bent down, poured herself a glass of champagne, took a small sip, and asked softly, "Is there something worth celebrating? You sitting here alone, opening a fine bottle like this."
"Please convey to that young boss of Cross Technologies my thanks for his concern, but I'm not particularly interested in men." Tony, never one to lose his sharp tongue, glanced at the Perrier-Jouët on the table.
His reason for favoring this champagne was simple, it was pure appreciation for the exquisite pattern of white anemones and golden rose vines adorning the bottle, a design hailed as a masterpiece, unforgettable at first sight.
Émile Gallé, the skilled glassmaking master, earned Tony's deep admiration. He described this champagne as having a rich, mellow aroma and a delicate palate, combined with a top artist's design, making it unparalleled both inside and out. Like a youthful maiden from the Palace of Versailles, one couldn't help but be intoxicated by her beauty and purity.
If Sean were here, he'd probably understand that this reformed playboy's lengthy and convoluted description was essentially just a boast about his taste in fine wine. Much like his appreciation for beautiful women, it reflected an unusually refined elegance.
"If I must say there's something good…" Tony paused thoughtfully, then stood up and wrapped an arm around Pepper's waist, saying tenderly, "Today marks our fifth anniversary together."
The secretary covered her mouth, a surprised smile spreading across her face, her eyes misting over with emotion. She was clearly deeply touched.
Though Tony was New York's number one playboy, with a notorious reputation and a long history of romantic conquests, since officially committing to Pepper, he rarely engaged in such romantic gestures.
Generally speaking, if your boyfriend is a superhero, you have to accept that he might be late for candlelit dinners, accidentally forget your anniversaries, and even be mentally prepared for kidnappings or hostage situations. Even though Tony Stark, strictly speaking, isn't the type of overly eager superhero who dons his iron suit to rescue a neighbor's cat stuck in a tree or stop a bank robbery.
In his eyes, those are matters for the police. Iron Man deals with earth-shattering crises. He doesn't play the friendly neighbor or nanny to New Yorkers.
Even so, Pepper often woke at night to find Tony in his workshop, tinkering with his iron suits, or troubled by nightmares, suffering from anxiety of never knowing if a missile might someday come flying in and blow their home to bits.
All things considered, being a superhero's girlfriend required at least good stress tolerance and a strong heart.
"Dr. Wilson says I don't need to continue therapy anymore. He believes my anxiety is cured." Tony said, hugging Pepper, the woman who had diligently managed his company for him.
His increasingly mature face broke into a rare, genuine smile.
Sean often said that Tony had left his soul in that damp cave in Afghanistan... what returned to New York was only Iron Man, a pitiful soul devoid of security, one constantly needing armor to protect himself.
Stark disliked that statement because it was true. Like a beam of light piercing through all his disguises, it clearly illuminated his true inner self.
"Ultron cured me. It gave me a sense of security." Tony released his embrace.
Since the Ultron program went live, he had shaken off the anxiety that had long plagued him. He believed a perfect artificial intelligence would make the world a better place.
"Susan keeps complaining to me that Reed only has eyes for his work. He just finished developing Ultron and now he's off to Chicago, completely disregarding her feelings." Pepper deftly changed the subject.
She didn't want to talk about work and ruin the relaxed mood of the moment.
"Reed… he's a perfect assistant, especially when he's immersed in research. But in other aspects…" Tony shrugged. Once Mr. Fantastic's work ethic kicked in, even he had to admit defeat.
"But the space base project pushed by S.H.I.E.L.D. is truly enticing enough to attract any scientist in the world, just like the Manhattan Project."
The Manhattan Project, led by the United States in the last century, gathered the finest scientists from Western nations. Robert Oppenheimer, one of its leaders, was later hailed as the 'father of the atomic bomb', earning lofty acclaim and still regarded as a giant in the field of physics.
Any scholar passionate about and dedicated to science would not refuse to join such a grand plan destined to leave a significant mark on human history. Even Tony himself, if not for the need to keep a close eye on the Ultron program, might have been the first volunteer to participate.
Though Pepper didn't want to spoil the mood, thinking of Tony's recent moves in corporate decisions, she couldn't help but ask, "Then why have you been actively acquiring or taking stakes in major companies through Stark Industries lately?"
In the past, Tony rarely involved himself in company decisions. But after Stark Industries began its transformation, this top-tier genius with a brilliant mind gradually learned to share some of Pepper's burdens.
"The times are changing. I foresaw the transformations this world is undergoing, an unprecedented upheaval. So I need to prepare in advance." A confident gleam appeared in Tony's eyes.
He had always been a clever man, often among the first to anticipate shifts in the landscape.
"If you'd paid close attention to Umbrella, you'd notice that this research institution hailed by the media as the 'cradle of technology that changed human history' has long begun aggressive mergers and acquisitions, far more ruthlessly than us."
"I hadn't noticed that. I only knew Umbrella's financial reports are impressive, making many investors eager to hand their money to Sean." Pepper wore a look of infatuation as caressed Tony's cheek.
The most captivating charm of a genius lay in their confidence, and the men of the Stark family never lacked it.
"The World Security Council approved the Nine Realms Strategic Defense Plan and is preparing begin lunar development. Do you know what that means? A new era of interstellar colonization and space migration is coming." Tony said, taking a deep breath.
Even with all his pride, he couldn't help but admire Sean for single-handedly pushing the entire world forward.
He continued, "By then, the concept of nations will blur. People will become more enthusiastic about planetary development, like adventurers during the Age of Exploration hoping to find gold and treasure. Whether it's the arms business or new energy, Stark Industries has relied on government power. But once humanity ventures into the cosmos, individuals will become collectives." He looked up at the boundless night sky, "So we need to follow Umbrella's example and become a massive conglomerate of interests, a monopoly-like trust organization. Only then can we remain invincible."
This was why he developed the Ultron program, a perfect artificial intelligence that would remain relevant even when humanity entered the interstellar age.
On the contrary, Ultron's influence would only grow stronger. It was the cornerstone ensuring Stark Industries' enduring stability. Acquiring or taking stakes in major companies, especially those like Cross Technologies with core technologies, was about forming a monopolistic interest group, like a tree deepening its roots.
Pepper nestled in Tony's arms, asking softly, "What exactly does Sean want to do?"
"Few can guess his intentions…" Tony seemed to recall something, "Speaking of which, I just discovered that Cross Technologies was once called Pym Industries. That Dr. Hank Pym is a famous biochemist. Apparently, before he was even thirty, he discovered a subatomic particle named after himself that can alter the size of objects. I found all this in S.H.I.E.L.D.'s internal archives."
He wasn't aware of the grievances between Hank and his father, he was simply surprised.
Part of the reason Stark Industries placed Cross Technologies high on its collaboration list was to obtain the cutting-edge technology of Pym Particles.
The world wasn't short of clever people, but geniuses like Dr. Pym were still rare.
Tony had specifically looked into his background: a doctorate in biochemistry, with remarkable achievements in quantum physics, artificial intelligence, and entomology.
"I should have invited Dr. Pym to join my Ultron program development." He said jokingly, looking at Pepper's blissful expression.