Three days later — Weekend.
Inside a sleek New York restaurant, the evening glow reflected off the tall windows.
"Kai, besides your usual S.H.I.E.L.D. work, do you ever take... higher-paying side jobs?"
Alice asked casually, slicing her steak with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.
Kai raised an eyebrow, feigning confusion. "Higher-paying? You mean the bounty missions the NYPD posts sometimes?"
"Of course not." Alice chuckled softly, the sound smooth as silk.
"You heard about the auction yesterday, right? A friend of mine spent nearly thirty million dollars on an original Van Gogh."
She set her fork down delicately. "Now she's paranoid — says a few bodyguards aren't enough. So, she asked me to find someone really capable to escort the painting for a few days. Naturally, I thought of you."
Kai smirked. "You know Iron Man. Why not ask him?"
Alice leaned in conspiratorially. "Tony Stark wouldn't even get out of bed for half a million dollars."
She clasped her hands together, eyes gleaming. "But you, Kai… you're different. My friend's offering five hundred thousand, after tax. Please? You're off work tomorrow anyway, right?"
Kai chuckled as he cut another piece of steak. "Your friend's filthy rich. Why are you still clocking in at Stark Industries?"
Alice rolled her eyes. "Because I have self-respect. She and I were college roommates — that's it. Just because she's loaded doesn't mean I'll go begging her for a job. I'm not that kind of woman."
Kai thought about it for a second, then nodded. "Fine. You bought dinner. I'll consider that my fee."
Alice's face lit up. She nearly jumped up to hug him — or maybe kiss him — but Kai leaned back smoothly, dodging her approach.
"Tsk. Shy little hero," she teased.
Her tone turned playful. "What's the matter, Kai? Never been kissed? Want me to give you a free sample?"
Under the table, her legs — wrapped in sheer black stockings — brushed lightly against his.
Kai frowned and immediately pulled his leg back.
Alice only smiled brighter. In her mind, he was just a powerful but bashful eighteen-year-old who'd never been with a woman. Easy prey.
Of course, she had no idea that Kai wasn't shy — he was a clean freak.
If she knew how many disgusting secrets Hydra's information division had on her past, she'd know exactly why Kai avoided her touch.
He wasn't selling his body for anyone — not even for five hundred thousand.
Alice, however, was confident her "beauty and money" strategy would work. After all, she wasn't trying to recruit Tony Stark or Steve Rogers.
This was just a teenage superhero — young, rich, cocky, and (she assumed) inexperienced.
After dinner, Kai politely declined Alice's "coffee at her apartment" invitation, saying he had another meeting.
Watching him walk away, Alice smirked. Then she pulled out her phone and typed a quick message.
A few streets away — inside a private dining room.
"This 'escort job' is bait," Natasha said, twirling her pasta. "That half a million is just the appetizer. They're testing your limits, seeing if you'll bite. The real offer will come later."
Tony Stark, sitting opposite her with a glass of red wine, nodded. "She's right. Classic slow-hook tactic. Hydra's done this before."
Kai sighed and leaned back. "I'm not surprised Natasha's here. But Tony… what's your excuse? Did Pepper kick you out again?"
Tony froze mid-sip. "Excuse me? When have Pepper and I ever fought?"
Kai tilted his head. "Didn't you two argue about your 'secret workshop' under the Malibu villa last week?"
Tony slammed the glass down. "Goddammit, you little gremlin! I'm here because of you! I even brought you a gift!"
"A gift?" Kai asked suspiciously. "It's not my birthday. What, you trying to confess your feelings now? Because I don't swing that way—"
"F**k YOU, you hell-spawned brat!" Tony barked, flipping him off.
He shoved a sleek set of car keys across the table. "It's time you had your own ride."
Kai looked at the keys. "What's the catch?"
"No catch," Tony said with mock arrogance.
"But as a Stark Industries employee, if you keep running around without a car, people might think I'm underpaying you. Can't have that ruining my image."
Natasha laughed quietly into her drink.
Kai leaned back, unimpressed. "A car? You realize I can move faster than anything on wheels, right? My top speed makes your Iron Suit look like—"
"Limited edition," Tony interrupted smugly. "Worth over five million dollars."
Kai blinked. "...Thank you, boss."
He snatched the keys immediately, pocketing them before Tony could change his mind.
Tony groaned. "See? I knew this greedy little punk would take it!"
Natasha chuckled. "At least he said thank you."
Kai smirked. "Actually, boss… any chance that 'thank you' comes with a raise too?"
"Hell no!" Tony snapped.
"Cheapskate," Kai muttered under his breath.
Tony glared. "What was that?"
"Nothing, Mr. Grandet."
Natasha nearly spit out her drink laughing.
It was another typical day in New York — just Tony, Natasha, and Kai, saving the world one insult at a time.