[Bonus Chapter] | Chapter 19. Doubt

"Tony, what are you looking at?"

"I'm waiting ..."

Tony turned his head and refocused his gaze on the woman in front of him, "Excuse me, could you repeat your name?"

"You weren't even listening to what I said before, were you, Tony Stark? "

"Perhaps, it's because someone is so attractive that I can't concentrate." Tony raised his eyebrows and blurted the words out.

"Or, someone didn't listen carefully from beginning to end."

"Both explanations are fine, but I personally prefer the former."

In response to Tony's frivolous reaction, the woman helplessly shook her head and reintroduced herself, "My name is Maya Hansen. I'm currently doing research on biological DNA coding."

"Wow, biological DNA coding..."

"You've already done that reaction just now, Tony."

"Okay, maybe I really wasn't listening earlier." Tony shrugged at that and subconsciously glanced down at the watch on his wrist.

"Are you waiting for something?" Maya asked, noticing Tony's distracted look.

"Listen, Maya, if you can, I'd be happy to discuss your biological DNA coding research with you and learn about your research progress. However, there's a very important thing waiting for me right now." Tony touched Phantom Thief Kid's letter in his pocket for a moment. A few flashes of hesitation passed over his face as he looked at the attractive Maya in front of him and thought back to what was on the letter.

Finally, he waved his hand and made a decision, "Well, it's not really anything too important. I'm actually more concerned about your biological DNA coding research than this. I wonder if I could have the pleasure of going to your room to study it in depth." Compared to waiting for the so-called Phantom Thief, Maya caught the eye of the playboy.

"You can go and see my research, but that's all."

"Of course."

Tony raised an eyebrow and casually agreed. His eyes swept over the party venue in front of him, and he soon found his driver Happy in the crowd.

"Hey, Happy, we should get back. Go get my car."

"Right on it, Sir." Grabbing the keys Tony threw at him, Happy's eyes glanced back and forth between Tony and Maya, followed by a look of understanding.

"Sir?"

Hearing the strange way Happy had suddenly called him 'Sir' just now, Tony's face couldn't help but show a little bit of doubt.

However, before Tony could think too much, the voice from behind pulled his thoughts back.

"Mr Stark, Mr Stark ..."

Tony turned his head and saw a man with long hair and a cane limping towards him, "I'm Aldrich Killian, I'm a big fan of your work ..."

"Oh, hello, Killian." Tony eyed Killian and shook hands with him.

"You don't really look like you've come to a party in that outfit."

"I'm here specifically for you, Mr Stark."

"For me?" If it had been a beautiful woman who had said that, Tony would have been more than happy to accept it. Looking at Killian's unkempt and scruffy appearance, he wasn't in much of a happy mood.

"I'm from a privately funded think tank called Advanced Idea Mechanics, or AIM for short, which specialises in researching the latest cutting-edge technologies that have emerged in this period of time." As Killian spoke, he pulled out two business cards from his pocket and handed them over to Tony and Maya.

"Just give her both of them, not me."

For guys like Killian, who came to make connections with him in the name of a privately funded think tank, Tony would frequently see a couple of them within a week. So, he didn't pay much attention to Killian's introduction.

He glanced down at his watch and said, "Well, Killian, it was nice to talk to you, but there are more important things waiting for me to do."

"Really? Well, I see." The rejection in Tony's words was quite obvious, and Killian's excited expression immediately dimmed.

Tony took Maya's hand and took a few steps outside; then, as if on second thought, he turned his head and looked at Killian. The guy was still standing in the same spot in his sloppy outfit.

"I'm sorry, wait a sec."

Apologising to Maya beside him, Tony immediately turned and walked toward Killian.

"You know what, Mr Ald..."

"Killian." Killian looked at Tony, who came back to talk to him and turned excited.

"Yes, Killian, I've reconsidered and think that there's actually a possibility of full cooperation between us. I should send Maya away first, and we'll meet on the roof in 5 minutes. You understand me?"

"I know, no problem, Mr Stark. I'll go right away."

"I thought you weren't interested in private think tanks?" Looking back from the business card in her hand, Maya looked at Killian, who looked excited when he left. She turned to Tony, who had returned.

"I really don't have any interest in think tanks."

"Then why did you ...?"

"I'm just interested in Killian."

"Hmm?" Hearing Tony's words, Maya subconsciously moved a step to the side, not expecting Tony Stark, the playboy who was well-known throughout New York, to actually...

"Not that kind of interest." As soon as Tony looked at Maya's expression, he knew that she had misunderstood and quickly explained, "I just thought Killian's presence was too much of a coincidence, and something very interesting had just happened to me, so I was going to do a little experiment."

"And what if you're wrong about that?"

"Then, I'll have to apologise to Killian."

Tony shrugged but didn't take his earlier actions to heart as he dragged Maya out of the party. However, he didn't see his car waiting for him at the door.

"Excuse me, one moment, please."

Tony was naturally a little embarrassed that such a slip-up had occurred at such an important time.

Speaking to Maya, who had stepped aside, Tony turned his head and soon spotted Happy Hogan, the driver, not far away.

"Happy! "

"Oh, Tony, why did you come out so early?" In the distance, Happy, the driver, was bowing his head and eating a hamburger. Hearing Tony's voice, he quickly turned his head, looked at Tony's eyes and quickly explained, "I just suddenly felt a little hungry, so I went to buy a hamburger nearby."

"That's not what I meant. Where's the car?"

"What car?" Happy looked bewildered.

"My car? I just gave you the keys."

Tony looked at Happy's blank expression, and his heart suddenly felt uneasy.

"The keys? Weren't they always with you since a while ago?"

...

-:Binge:-

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