31 Machine Man 30

Riding in the executive-class car Alvarado, I found myself in the company of Felicia Sara Hardy, who, for now, hadn't embraced her notorious moniker as the Black Cat. She was just regular ol' Felicia, with platinum blonde hair that bore a striking resemblance to the actress Felicity Jones albeit more beautiful. Surprisingly, she had seamlessly transitioned into the corporate world, and I had to admit, she's doing a fine job.

From what I remember, In the movie she was supposed to be Harry's secretary at OSCORP, but it seems this butterfly has found its way to me. Honestly speaking, she's not my type. I'm more of a Latina connoisseur, and she appears to share the same preference. I recall a moment when she caught me checking out one of my Latina employees, and she commented that she could definitely appreciate that behind. As per her work ethics she's great to have around, works proficiently, a notable improvement from my previous secretary.

In the midst of our conversation, Felicia Hardy, began briefing me on the upcoming meeting. "Mr. Arasaka," she started.

"Stop there, Felicia," I interjected with a smile. "How many times do I have to repeat, Alex is fine."

"Yes, Alex, sorry. But if you're not letting me call you Mr. Arasaka, I'll just call you, Boss then." she replied, returning the smile.

"No worries at all. Call me whatever feels right for you, just not Mr. Arasaka" I said, grinning casually.

As we dug into the meeting details, Felicia explained, "So, Boss, in this upcoming meeting, we'll be showcasing the capabilities of our newest Main Frame. It's set to significantly enhance the processing and calculating power of their station. Our system has already been certified for use and has passed off-gas testing, radiation testing, thermal testing, fire, and fire suppression tests. It's at least 2 times more powerful than what is currently being used by all companies."

I couldn't help but smirk. "I know. I'm the one who designed it."

As Flint brought the car to a stop, he turned to us and said, "Boss, we're here," gesturing to the grandeur of Doom Industries. Swiftly, he stepped out and courteously opened the door for Felicia and me.

Standing before the colossal Doom Industries building, my gaze was captivated by the sight of an immense statue in the process of creation. Up on scaffolding, a sculptor skillfully wielded a welder's torch, casting sparks that added a mesmerizing scene.

Taking in the artistic spectacle, I couldn't help but comment, "Well, would you look at that. Maybe I should order one for myself."

Felicia, eying the statue with a bemused expression, commented, "Looks like someone sure is full of themselves."

Curious, I turned to her, seeking her perspective. "Is it that bad?"

With an air of warning, Felicia cautioned, "Boss, please, do not! Under any circumstances, put one in your building."

Amused by her insistence, I chuckled and raised my hands in mock surrender. "Okay, I won't. I won't."

Entering the building. Felicia talks to the receptionist. We have a meeting with Susan Storm. The receptionist, somewhat disinterested, checked her computer and replied, "Yes, Miss Storm is waiting for you on the 31st floor. Please take this badge." Felicia thanked the receptionist, and we proceeded to the top floor.

As we walked, Felicia commented on the receptionist, "Did you see that? She seemed fed up with her job. She doesn't even give those fake smiles out."

"Yeah," I agreed, noting the lack of enthusiasm. "Must be a pretty strict place. So please, when we meet with them, be more professional."

Felicia, adopting a serious expression, responded, "You know, I am always serious," putting on a cuteish face and narrowing her eyebrows to make herself look serious.

Felicia tried to ask the purpose why I tag along to finalize the deal, as the contract only needed to be signed, she playfully inquired,

"Boss, why are you coming with me? Is it because you don't want to be separated from me? Do you feel lonely when I'm not in the office?"

Her tone carried a flirtatious playfulness. Alex, with a smirk, responded, "Oh, don't tempt me. I bite back, you know."

As we walked down the hall, we spotted the office we needed to visit. Upon entering Susan's office, she greeted us warmly. "Good morning, Mr. Arasaka, it's good to see you again. Thanks for swinging by."

With a smile, I shook Susan's hand. "Absolutely, Susan. Thanks for having us."

Felicia, picking up on our exchange, playfully remarked, "Boss, I'm starting to see why you tagged along."

Susan, not catching Felicia's comment, asked, "Sorry, what did you say?"

Playfully, Felicia hugged Susan, saying, "We're glad you're here to help us seal the deal, Miss Storm." She shot me a smirk.

Noticing Felicia's antics, I raised an eyebrow. Looking back at Susan, who seemed a bit taken aback, I quickly apologized, "Sorry about that, Susan. Felicia can be a bit overly friendly at times."

Susan, regaining her composure, replied, "No problem, Mr. Arasaka."

"Call me Alex," I insisted.

"Sure thing. You can call me Sue," Susan said.

And so, the meeting kicked off with an unexpectedly lighthearted vibe. As we geared up to finalize the contract, all we need is one last step, a signature from Victor Von Doom to seal the deal. Making our way to his office, the first thing that caught our attention was the massive metallic 'V' in the center, the place is giving off an unmistakably gothic vibe. The entire room exuded an air of tension.

Upon entering, three men came into view, two of them seemingly presenting a business proposal.

Reed Richards, standing tall with his glasses and clean-cut appearance, exuded an air of intellectual authority. However, his focus on the technical details seemed to blind him to the palpable tension in the room. Lacking a bit of confidence, he appeared absorbed in his own world of calculations.

Next to him was Ben Grimm, whose rugged appearance and sturdy build spoke of strength and resilience. Though annoyance crept onto his face, and he shifted his weight uncomfortably, seemingly wanting to get out of the room as soon as possible.

On the opposite side, Victor Von Doom, with his sharply dressed attire, exuded confidence and intelligence. A smug smile played on his lips, adding an extra layer of arrogance to his demeanor. He seemed to revel in the tension, fully aware of the impact he had on the room.

As the three of them are talking, Sue chimed in, "He's right, Ben. It's just business."

With a smirk, Victor added, "I think you both know my Director of Genetic Research and CIO."

Ben, looking concerned at Susan said, "Hey Susie", he whispered to Reed " that's one more thing he has."

Observing the dynamics, Felicia nudged me and teased, "Boss, looks like you've got some stiff competition."

"Felicia" giving her a stern look as I reminded her about professionalism, to which she responded by mimicking a zipper over her lips.

Sue interrupted, "Sorry to cut in on the meeting, but Mr. Arasaka is here to finalize the contract."

As Victor expressed surprise, he exclaimed, "Ah, Mr. Arasaka! I have been a big fan of your recent endeavors, especially those prosthetics—they are a marvel." Walking toward me, he glanced at my hand, and instead of the usual business etiquette, he extended his left arm for a handshake.

Anticipating the gesture, I obliged with a smile. "It's nice to meet you too, Dr. Doom." He turned my hand and examined it closely, remarking, "I hope you don't mind. It seems your hand is more than a prosthetic. You can definitely punch someone and knock them out with this. Are you using servo motors?"

I explained, "It's fine. I'm actually using electrically conductive nanofibers. They're more like machine fiber muscles than common rotary or linear actuators."

Victor, fascinated, couldn't help but be amazed, calling it a piece of art. While he marveled at my prosthetic, Sue seemed to have finished her greeting, as I observing her and Reeds awkward handshake.

Reed, lacking a bit of confidence and struggling to read the room, stumbled over his words, "You're, you've, I mean, how have you bee—"

Sue, cutting him off, said, "Never better," and coughed to redirect Victor's attention. "Sorry to break things, but can we get back to business?"

Victor, noticing Susan and Reed's interaction, couldn't help but ask, "This isn't going to be a problem, is it?"

Reed reassured him, "Not at all," and Sue added, "Ancient history."

Victor smiled, eyeing Sue, and said, "Good. Then you're just in time to hear the great Reed Richards ask me for help."

Turning to Reed, he continued, "You know, you made a lot of folks at MIT feel like a junior high science fair. So, you'll excuse me if I savor the moment."

Amidst this exchange, my ever-so-lovely assistant, Felicia, chimed in, "I like him already."

As Victor and Reed finalized their deal, stepping out of the ornate office, I took a moment to approach Victor with an additional offer. "I overheard the deal you and Reed Richards made," I began.

Victor looked at me inquisitively, asking, "What about it?"

Giving him my best smile, I revealed my proposal. "I always wanted to go to space, especially with the coming weather. I heard it would be lovely. I can wave off the expenses for all the equipment you just ordered from me, and I'll even throw $10 million to secure that extra seat."

Victor, surprised, couldn't help but ask, "Just a ride to space? That's it?"

I affirmed, "Yes, that's it. And to do a live stream and show those flat earthers that the Earth is round."

Victor chuckling at the joke and cheerfully replied, "You have a deal, Mr. Arasaka," using his right hand to finalize the deal with a proper handshake.

 Smiling, I replied, shaking his hand, "Alex is fine. A pleasure doing business with you."

As we descended in the elevator, Felicia couldn't help but wear a worried expression as she addressed me, "Boss, you can't be serious. Throwing around 20 million dollars just to chase a girl?"

Looking at her, I contemplated her words. "It's not about chasing a girl; I am genuinely interested in their project and the solar storm."

She continued to express her concern, pointing out, "But you will not get anything from that deal, as Viktor already said that he will get most of the patents from the projects in there. And what if something happens?"

Thinking to myself a hundred percent chance to get super powers in a guaranteed and safeway is priceless albeit with 1 in 5 chance to look like a monster. I then talk to her and reassured her, "Well, if there were any problems, our company won't be really affected, would it? Since we're not part of the deal."

She clarified, "That's not what I meant. What I mean is, if something happened to you."

Playfully, I looked at her and said, "Awww, is Miss Hardy finally worrying about me?"

Giving up, she sighed, "It will be a nightmare to look for another boss as generous as you!" With that, we made our way back to Arasaka HQ. The office ambiance was a mix of anticipation and excitement, with the sleek elevator carrying us back to the bustling heart of our corporate headquarters.