The Day after the wreckage at the villa, Tony finally did what any billionaire with a demolished mansion would do: he handed the mess over to a top-tier construction company.
"Stark Mansion 2.0," Tony quipped, throwing the keys to the foreman. "Don't spare any expenses. And maybe… reinforce the walls this time."
The man nodded, trying not to look at the remnants of what once was a luxurious villa.
Meanwhile, Pepper had her hands full back at Stark Industries. With Hela by her side, she was working tirelessly to mitigate the damage done to Tony's reputation after his wild stunt.
The media was having a field day, and shareholders were getting antsy.
Hela, dressed in a sleek, jet-black business suit that hugged her curves in all the right places, was surprisingly good at handling corporate sharks.
"These mortals," She muttered under her breath after dismissing another persistent reporter, "always so obsessed with power and appearances."
Pepper glanced at her, half-amused. "Well, you'd know a thing or two about that, wouldn't you?"
Hela smirked, her green eyes flashing dangerously. "Indeed."
But while the women handled the business…
Seph and Tony?
They were kicking back in a small donut shop, enjoying a quiet moment of indulgence.
Tony sat in full Iron Man gear, only his helmet off, looking completely out of place as he chomped down on a chocolate-glazed donut.
Seph, sitting beside him in a black leather jacket, his usual charming smirk plastered on his face, sipped his coffee like he had all the time in the world.
"Mmm…" Tony groaned, savoring the sweetness. "This… is what happiness tastes like."
Seph chuckled, eyeing the half-dozen donuts Tony had already devoured.
"You keep eating like that, and Happy's going to have to cut a bigger hole in your suit."
"I'll just make a new one," Tony quipped through a mouthful of pastry.
Seph shook his head, his golden eyes gleaming with amusement. "You really have no limits, do you?"
"Nope." Tony grinned, licking his fingers. "Why would I? Life's too short to play it safe."
Seph leaned back, his smirk deepening. "And yet, you're here eating donuts with me while your reputation burns down like your villa."
Tony chuckled but didn't respond. He simply took another bite.
"Admit it," Seph prodded, his tone playful. "You're avoiding Pepper."
"I'm not avoiding her…" Tony muttered, but his eyes flickered toward the door.
Seph arched a brow, his smirk widening. "You're terrified of the lecture she's going to give you."
Tony groaned dramatically, dragging his hand down his face. "Okay, maybe a little. She's scarier than anyone when she's pissed."
Seph laughed softly, shaking his head. "Smart man."
Just as Seph was about to take another sip of his coffee…
"Gentlemen."
The low, commanding voice echoed through the tiny donut shop, causing both Seph and Tony to freeze mid-bite.
Dressed in his signature black leather coat and eyepatch, the director of S.H.I.E.L.D. walked in like he owned the place. His mere presence sucked the air out of the room.
Tony's expression instantly soured.
"Great. Just what I needed to go with my sugar rush."
Seph, on the other hand, looked completely unfazed. He casually popped a glazed donut into his mouth and gave Fury a lazy nod.
"Director."
Fury's one eye narrowed as he approached.
"Stark. Seph." His gaze lingered on Seph for a beat longer than necessary.
Tony wiped his mouth dramatically. "Come on, Fury. Can't a guy enjoy a heart attack in peace?"
"Not when that guy turns his house into a war zone and causes a PR nightmare." Fury's tone was clipped, his patience clearly running thin.
"It was a minor misunderstanding," Tony said with a dismissive wave. "We had a difference of opinion… and maybe we broke a few things."
"A few things?" Fury's brow shot up. "You leveled an entire mansion, Stark."
Seph leaned back, a smirk playing on his lips. "To be fair, Fury… it was entertaining."
Fury's jaw clenched. "I'm not here to be entertained."
Tony sighed, slumping into his seat. "Okay, okay. What do you want, Fury?"
Fury crossed his arms, his expression turning deadly serious. "I want to know what the hell you were thinking last night."
Tony glanced at Seph, hoping for a lifeline. But Seph just smirked and motioned for him to speak.
"Look…" Tony cleared his throat. "It was… a calculated move."
Fury's eye twitched. "Calculated? Stark, you nearly caused an international incident."
"Okay, maybe it was a little… improvised." Tony's grin was anything but convincing.
"You think this is funny?" Fury's voice dropped to a dangerous level.
Tony tried to change the subject. "By the way, who does your tailoring? That coat is sharp."
Fury wasn't amused. "Don't play games with me, Stark."
Before Fury could press further, the door chimed softly, and in walked Natalia Romanoff—but this time, not in her usual civilian disguise. She was in full S.H.I.E.L.D. tactical gear, her black bodysuit clinging to her body like a second skin.
Tony's jaw dropped.
"Holy…" He blinked, his eyes drinking her in.
"Agent Romanoff," Fury acknowledged her presence, but Tony was too busy ogling to notice.
"You're…" Tony blinked again, his voice trailing off.
"Stunning? Deadly? Out of your league?" Natalia arched a perfectly sculpted brow, her red lips curling into a smirk.
"I was going to say… overdressed for donuts." Tony's grin returned, but it was clear he was still processing the sight in front of him.
Seph, meanwhile, was struggling to suppress his laughter.
"You knew?" Tony finally tore his gaze away from Natalia and looked at Seph.
Seph's smirk was positively wicked. "Since day one."
Tony's eyes widened. "And you didn't tell me?"
Seph shrugged, his expression innocent. "Where's the fun in that?"
Tony groaned, burying his face in his hands. "I spent weeks trying to get her to go out with me…"
"I know," Seph chuckled. "It was hilarious."
Natalia's eyes twinkled with amusement as she looked at Tony. "Don't take it personally, Stark. You're not my type."
"Ouch." Tony clutched his chest dramatically. "Right in the ego."
Fury's patience was wearing thin.
"Enough." His voice was sharp, cutting through the banter.
All eyes turned to him.
"I'm here because last night's mess put us on the radar of people we'd rather avoid."
Tony leaned back, finally serious. "Like who?"
Fury's jaw clenched. "Ivan Vanko."
Tony's playful demeanor vanished.
"Whiplash…" He muttered under his breath.
Seph, however, remained calm. "He's out."
Fury's eyes snapped to him. "And how the hell do you know that?"
Seph's golden eyes gleamed. "Because I made sure he'd hear about last night."
Fury's brow furrowed. "Explain."
Seph leaned forward, his tone cool and calculated.
"Last night was never about a party," He began. "We needed to draw Ivan out—make him believe Tony was spiraling out of control."
Fury's expression darkened. "And you thought wrecking a mansion was the best way to do that?"
"Worked, didn't it?" Seph smirked. "Ivan's ego won't let him stay in the shadows for long. He's already on the move."
Fury rubbed his temples, looking thoroughly exasperated. "You created a damn circus just to lure out one man."
Seph's grin was unapologetic. "And it's working."
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Spoilers for the next three chapters!
Chapter 114: The Man with No Past
Chapter 115: Fury's New Plan
Chapter 116: Beauty Trap or Dangerous Game?
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