Tony, unfamiliar with the specifics of the situation, was unfazed when Lalatina mentioned she needed to fill out some paperwork before leaving with him. He patiently waited as she completed the necessary forms, detailing who she was leaving with and for how long.
In less than ten minutes, Lalatina appeared before him, fully prepared with her luggage.
"You've got quite a bit of stuff," Tony remarked, eyeing the multiple suitcases she was carrying.
"Don't worry, I can arrange for these to be airlifted directly," Lalatina replied with a smile.
"Airlifting sounds cumbersome; I'll just have someone pick us up instead."
"J.A.R.V.I.S.!" Tony called out.
"Of course, sir. Please wait a moment. You can head down to the landing pad, and I'll have the shuttle there shortly," came the smooth, magnetic voice of J.A.R.V.I.S. from the villa.
Lalatina jumped at the sound, glancing around, curious about who was speaking.
"Let's go to the landing pad," Tony said, noticing her startled reaction but not feeling the need to explain further.
As they walked toward the stairs, the villa managers in the lobby exchanged curious glances at Lalatina following Tony Stark, their renowned guest.
Just a moment ago, Lalatina had lamented about the stark realities of her job, and now she was set to leave with a customer? This shift didn't sit well with the other women, and a few cast disparaging looks her way.
Feeling the weight of those gazes, Lalatina felt a twinge of discomfort but reminded herself of her choices. She offered two options: one was to have Tony refund her, which would allow her to remain in standby mode for the next customer, thus avoiding a year-long break that could lead to complacency. The second option was to accompany Tony, allowing her to continue her role for a year and then return to the Elite Hotel to resume her work.
"You're walking tall and proud; don't let their stares get to you," Tony encouraged, noticing Lalatina's demeanor faltering. "You shouldn't care what they think; they wouldn't get the chance to work for me, anyway. This opportunity should be something to celebrate, not something to be ashamed of."
His words caused the disapproving stares to dissipate significantly. Despite their judgments about Lalatina's choices, no one dared to confront Tony Stark, the most famous arms dealer in the galaxy, known for his charm and wealth.
"Thank you, Mr. Stark. I'll fulfill my responsibilities," Lalatina replied, relieved by his support, even though she knew the others might still talk behind her back.
Soon, Tony led her to the landing pad, where a spacecraft hovered, landing gracefully a short distance away.
As they approached, Lalatina realized that the ship appeared to be unmanned.
"Hello, Ms. Lalatina. I'm J.A.R.V.I.S., the AI Tony Stark designed. I'll be piloting this spacecraft, so there's no need for concern," J.A.R.V.I.S. announced.
"Uh, hello, J.A.R.V.I.S.," Lalatina responded, still taken aback by the situation.
"You needn't be alarmed. Once we reach Void Island, you'll encounter many surprising things, some of which might take some getting used to," J.A.R.V.I.S. assured her. "You can visit the Record Temple and speak with Ms. Sara to learn more about life on the island."
"Sara? Sara from the Elite Hotel?" Lalatina asked, intrigued.
"I heard she's also a former employee, so she should be a familiar face," Tony added. "During my time on the island, I've mostly been eating and researching, so you'll have plenty of opportunities to explore."
"Thank you for the recommendation, Mr. Stark!" Lalatina beamed, appreciating the chance to connect with someone she could relate to.
"J.A.R.V.I.S., let's head to the Record Temple so Lalatina can meet Sara," Tony instructed.
"Understood," J.A.R.V.I.S. responded.
For the modified spacecraft Tony had upgraded, the journey from Xandar City to Void Island, a distance of over two hundred kilometers, would take only a few minutes.
Before long, the spacecraft gently landed on a broad avenue near the Record Temple.
"Just head towards that grand building over there," Tony pointed. "That's where Ms. Sara works. After you get settled, have her bring you to my lab."
"Got it," Lalatina said, glancing at the impressive temple standing a hundred meters away. She nodded, and with that, Tony took off.
In the mountain villa, Harvey noticed Tony had brought back a woman and raised an eyebrow in surprise.
"What's this about, Kassadin?" Sonia asked, glancing up from her screen filled with data when she heard Harvey.
"Tony Stark brought back a lady from the Elite Hotel," Harvey casually explained.
"It seems he's made quite an impression," he added, considering the current gender imbalance on the island, believing that bringing more attractive women could help establish harmony.
"I'll go check it out," Sonia said, intrigued by the news, and set off.