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When John returned home, he immediately noticed a problem.
He stared at the artificial intelligence module Tony had given him, turning it over in his hand.
"It seems… I don't have anything this high-tech," he muttered.
His home was comfortable, but there was no laboratory here that could make use of such advanced equipment. After a moment's thought, John picked up his phone and dialed Tony's number.
"Send me all the machines from your lab. Prepare a copy for me," John said, as casually as if he were ordering takeout.
On the other end, Tony was silent for a long moment. He was used to giving orders, not receiving them, and for a second he wondered if John had dialed the wrong number.
After hanging up, John realized the next step was clear: he needed to build a laboratory of his own.
As an alchemist, John's abilities were no less impressive than those of any scientist. He tucked away the dormant AI module and began drawing up plans for his new lab.
*****
The following day, someone responded to his job advertisement.
Sitting in his office at Taran Industries, John scanned a luxurious resume—one that felt both unfamiliar and strangely familiar. He glanced up at the woman seated across from him.
"Are you here to apply for a management position?" he asked.
The woman had wavy blonde hair with hints of brown, flawless pale skin, and a tall, elegant nose. Her features were exquisite, and she clearly knew how to present herself. White suited her perfectly. She wore brown glasses, and when John looked up, he noticed her eyes were a striking shade of gray-blue.
"I hope to become your assistant," she replied with a confident smile. "It's not just about the salary. I want to be valued and to grow here in the future."
John absently rubbed the ring on his finger, considering her words. After a moment, he nodded. "Miss Hattie Shaw, welcome to the team."
Hattie had never doubted she would succeed. She carried herself with the poise of a white swan, and her confidence was unmistakable. With her credentials, John had no reason to refuse.
"It's time for me to get to work," Hattie announced. She left the office and returned a short while later, already changed into a more sophisticated white outfit. She removed her glasses, and John caught another glimpse of her striking eyes.
Hattie noticed his lingering gaze. "Is something wrong?"
John shook his head. "No, your eyes are beautiful."
He turned away, focusing on the ring on his right hand, his thumb tracing its surface. "They remind me of a friend," he said quietly.
*****
Ferdinand could not help but envy John.
Was this the happiness of the wealthy? After Natalie's leave of absence, now there was the beautiful Hattie Shaw. Their styles were different, but both were stunning in their own way. Ferdinand wiped away imaginary tears. When, he wondered, would he have a beautiful assistant of his own?
He dutifully opened the car door for John, who took his usual seat in the back. Hattie approached, and Ferdinand stopped her politely. "Sorry, miss, the boss doesn't like anyone sitting next to him."
Hattie just smiled, her lips curling in a way that made Ferdinand's heart skip a beat. "That's alright," she said, and slipped into the passenger seat. The subtle scent of her perfume filled the car.
"Where to, boss?" she asked.
John thought for a moment. "Stark Industries. I need to pick something up."
A flicker of curiosity crossed Hattie's face, but she was smart enough to know her place and did not press for details. As Ferdinand drove, Hattie reviewed several documents, pointing out a few potential issues for John to consider.
This time, Tony did not come down from Stark Tower to greet them. Instead, Pepper Potts—Tony's assistant and the former CEO of Stark Industries—met them in the lobby.
"Hello, Mr. Wick." Pepper greeted John with a handshake. "Pepper Potts, Tony's assistant."
"Pott"s John echoed, a memory surfacing. He nodded. "Hello, Miss Potts."
He turned to introduce his own assistant. "This is—"
But Hattie had already stepped forward, extending her hand. "Hattie Shaw."
Pepper shook her hand, and for a moment, there was a spark in the air between the two women.
"Do you know each other?" John asked, a bit puzzled.
Pepper offered a professional smile. "Yes, we met at a cocktail party once. Tony was very enthusiastic about inviting her to work at Stark Industries."
Hattie replied with a smile of her own, "Unfortunately, something came up and I missed my meeting with Tony that day." She emphasized Tony's name just enough to make Pepper bristle.
The tension between the two was palpable. To Pepper, Hattie seemed little different from the ambitious women who had once vied for Tony's attention. Now that Pepper and Tony's relationship was official, she was naturally on guard.
John, oblivious to the history between them, could only marvel at the mysterious ways women made enemies. "Tony will be down soon. Please, come with me," Pepper said, regaining her composure.
Despite her annoyance, Pepper remained the consummate professional, leading them upstairs with a smile.
Seeing Hattie's triumphant expression, John murmured quietly, "That's enough."
Hattie relented, falling into step behind him.
Inside Stark Tower, John waited while Tony oversaw the loading of several machines for delivery. Tony crossed his arms and asked, "Shouldn't you be giving me something in return? Is this a fair trade to you?"
"It's an equal exchange," John replied casually. "Besides, I'm doing you a favor by helping you with your harem problem."
Tony looked confused. "What?"
John nodded toward Hattie. "A beauty like her is bound to cause a stir."
For a brief moment, Tony looked genuinely panicked before he managed to compose himself. "Where did you hear that rumor?"
"From your assistant," John said, glancing at Pepper, who was now giving Tony a look that could kill.
Tony's composure crumbled. Was this some kind of trick? This was too cruel. The greatest obstacle to a playboy's redemption was always the debts of his past. Tony, once a wild man, was now trying to be responsible—but the past always came back to haunt him.
With a dark expression, Tony pulled John aside and whispered, "Take everything and just get her out of here."
John smirked. "Playbo"y
Tony scowled. "Are you insulting me?"
"No, just using your nickname," John replied, patting Tony on the shoulder. "Relax, she's my assistant."
For some reason, Tony still felt like he was being set up. There was nothing between him and Hattie, but a man's possessiveness is a strange thing.
"You'll need a lot of energy to run all this equipment," Tony reminded him. "I doubt your house can handle it."
"That's because you lack imagination," John replied. "You really think the magical world doesn't have its own innovations?"
Tony personally oversaw the assembly, while John converted his father's underground garage into a laboratory. As for the cars that once filled the space, Ferdinand gazed longingly at the luxury vehicles collecting dust in the corner, his heart aching.
Once the lab was set up, John handed Tony a crisp green bill. "Your tip, Mr. Stark."
There are many ways to insult a man, but Tony always seemed to draw the short straw. Hattie entered with coffee, giving Tony a flirtatious look as she set the cup down. Tony left without taking a sip.
John gave Hattie a thumbs-up. "Salary bonus this month."
Hattie's charming smile softened. "Thank you, Mr. Wick."
Ferdinand, meanwhile, was left sulking. Hattie had gotten a raise on her first day, while he had yet to see a single extra penny, and his brother was still deep in debt.
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