After I finished with hiring, I realized I was getting off track from my projects. So I should hire people for headquarters too, but first, I need to install cameras there.
The Fantastic Four returned by mid-June, and somehow Reed Richards told the entire world they got caught in something that trapped them. People believed him, obviously.
I realized something: I'm rich, but no one has tried to invite me to bachelor parties or any high-level meetings.
«Because I've been diverting those messages, sir.»
"Why, though?"
«You'd get pulled into power struggles, and assassins might be sent after you. Besides, you're still young… and weak.»
"That explains it."
"Wait... did you just say I'm weak?"
«No comment.»
Now I know why I haven't been invited.
I made $1.9 billion from June 1997 to June 1998, plus the remaining $600 million. So my net worth is $2.5 billion.
I wish I had developed SPACE when I was two years old. Speaking of SPACE, I need to develop my own satellite. Ideas keep piling up, but I should upgrade my car first.
I got a call from Verra and Priscilla saying we needed to meet. After the call, I remembered the business cards I said I'd make. I went ahead and created them. They weren't hard to design.
I took my car and drove to Manhattan. They said to meet at a restaurant. When I arrived, they were already there.
"Good afternoon," I said as I sat down.
"You're late," Priscilla said, giving me a strange look. Verra looked at me the same way.
"I'm not late. In fact, I'm early. For someone who lives in Chicago to get to Manhattan in four hours, that's fast," I said, catching them off guard.
"You live in Chicago? We didn't know," Varra said.
"It's okay, Verra. It's not a big deal," I replied, realizing I never told them where I live.
"Varra. My name is Varra," she corrected me.
"I thought you said your name was Verra," I said, confused.
"I stuttered and pronounced it wrong because I was afraid," she explained.
I remembered. She did stutter when she first told me her name.
[A/N: It was a mistake on my part, but I'm correcting it.]
"Okay, Varra," I said, looking at them. "What did you call me here for?"
I raised my hand to order some food. The waiter came and took our orders, and while we waited, we got some refreshments.
"Is your offer still on the table?" Priscilla asked, looking at me.
"What offer? Oh, you mean the job offer?" I replied.
"Yes, that one," Varra said.
"You took two months to decide. Yeah, the offer still stands, but I don't know what position to give you since you're a doctor and I don't own a hospital," I said, glancing at Priscilla at the end.
"I understand," Priscilla said, though she didn't look discouraged.
"You're not going to ask why I need her appearance or what I'm going to do?" Varra asked, expecting an answer.
"Nah, it's not my business," I said. Just then, the waiter arrived with our food.
"Then I'll tell you," Varra said, as if she'd made up her mind.
"You don't have to," I replied, starting to eat.
"There's this guy I want to impress," Varra continued. "And Priscilla is his type."
"I don't want to know," I said, chewing.
"He's looking for a guy named Dreykov who apparently--"
"I DON'T WANT TO KNOW!" I shouted, cutting her off.
Everyone in the restaurant turned to look at me, and I apologized.
"I don't want to know what you're planning. Just don't involve me," I said, continuing to eat.
After that, we talked a bit and discussed a few things. I told Priscilla that she couldn't stay in New York if Varra was going to live that kind of lifestyle. I said I'd buy her a house or condo somewhere else. I also told her she'd be paid yearly starting now. I gave her $1 million upfront, and she'd be paid again next year on the same date.
I left New York and returned home.
I started tearing my car apart and installing the high-performance parts. I rebuilt the body using Vibranium.
I redesigned it to look like a 2023 Dodge Challenger Black Ghost, with a Vantablack finish. I reinforced the glass using Vibranium, combining its properties with AM-III and Dycanian Glass.
Those were the toughest car windows possible.
I realized the tires also needed an upgrade, something that couldn't be easily punctured or torn. I developed new ones by combining Vibranium with nanotech and a small amount of polyurethane. It was difficult to integrate, but it worked.
I installed small hologram projectors in the headlights and throughout the interior. I upgraded the interior with Vibranium as well and added several enhancements. The car had two doors but seated five people.
I installed DRIVE into the system. The car could switch between automatic and manual. The interior hologram could create the illusion that someone was driving, even when it was operating itself. It also had other uses.
DRIVE had a male voice.
I was satisfied with the results.
I took it out for a test drive, and it was smooth as hell. I drove toward New York, not to brag, but to test the car.
This wasn't a Dodge anymore. I had upgraded it, and Dodge hadn't even released this model in 1998 yet. So I renamed it OSEONG and put a star logo on it to make it look like my own design, inspired by Dodge.
I decided to buy some cameras for the headquarters. When I got home, I upgraded them and integrated holographic tech into them.
The reason I still go to school is to maintain appearances and spend more time with Maria. Everyone at school knows I'm smart, especially the teachers. They know I intentionally keep my grades at around 50%. So when I miss a few days, they don't question it because I don't cause problems.
I went to headquarters, installed cameras all around, and used holograms to make it look like there weren't any cameras at all.
I posted a job offer online. I was mainly looking for people with prior work experience or those who had graduated with a degree in Business Management or Accounting. I told them to come next week for the interview.
I just remembered something. I created the serums and built the chambers, but I haven't created the Vita-rays controller yet. I'd better work on that while I wait for next week.
[A/N: This is more about filling in the blanks.]
I worked on creating the Vita-rays controller. It's dangerous to work with this type of radiation, but it's safer than gamma radiation. I made Vita-rays controllers that could easily connect to the radiation chambers. I created two of them since there are two chambers.
«Sir, you might want to look at this.»
SPACE showed me something, and I was surprised when I saw it. I decided to create a watch, integrating Nanotech, Pym Particles, and Vibranium to act like a suit. It didn't go as I imagined at first.
Pym Particles enlarged the Nanotech, but Vibranium absorbed part of the process, disrupting the outcome. I kept failing and decided to pause the project for a while.
It was interview time. I went early to the headquarters, opened the doors, and returned home. I activated a hologram of myself in the building while I stayed in the basement.
Everyone arrived on time. There weren't that many people compared to the factory. They saw me already "inside," just chilling on the staircase, waiting for the time to hit 08:00.
Once it did, I told them to enter. None of them noticed I was a hologram. I told everyone without prior experience or a college degree to leave while there was still a chance.
Three of them left, but some stayed. I checked everyone who lacked qualifications or prior experience in business. There were eleven of them; three left, so eight remained.
"Okay, eight of you are still here. You're temporarily hired as general workers. Your performance will be valued. Leave now and come next Monday."
Everyone was surprised by my decision. Six left, but two remained. I didn't know why.
"What are you waiting for? If you two don't leave within ten seconds, don't bother coming on Monday. You're permanently fired."
They left immediately. They thought I didn't know who was qualified.
Fifty-two people remained, and nineteen had prior work experience.
"Seventeen of you with prior experience, you're temporarily hired. Come tomorrow for training. Except for you two, we'll conduct personal interviews."
"Isn't this an interview?" someone asked.
"It's a group interview, do you understand?" I said. The guy nodded. I told all seventeen people to leave and come tomorrow. Thirty-three people remained, excluding the two.
I told them they were all temporarily hired and should come Thursday for training. Then I was left with the two individuals.
I told one to follow me while the other waited in the lobby. We went upstairs to my office. I passed a room and had an idea when I realized who these people were.
I entered my office and picked up a paper on the desk, created via hologram to give the illusion that I was physically there. I looked at her while holding the paper.
"Can I ask you what your name is?" I said. The question seemed to catch her off guard. I hadn't asked anyone else their name. She didn't show it, but if it weren't for SPACE notifying me, I wouldn't have noticed.
"My name is Loren Miller," she said, looking at me. I said nothing; her information was already in front of my glasses.
FULL NAME: LAURA CLARK
AFFILIATION: S.H.I.E.L.D.
PARTNER: CLINTON FRANCIS BARTON
SUPERIOR: NICHOLAS JOSEPH FURY
That's one of the reasons I didn't try to make a physical appearance. I'm on SHIELD's radar, damn. Is it because no one can view my profile?, though there might be other reasons I don't know.
"Are you married, Miss Loren?" I asked, trying to fish for information.
"No, sir," she said, looking at me.
"Do you have a boyfriend?"
"No, sir."
I stood about a meter away from her, looking straight into her eyes. My height is 5'6", and hers is 5'3", so I could easily meet her gaze.
"I don't know what SHIELD wants with me or my company, but you had better leave my premises before something bad happens, Laura Clark," I said in a serious tone. She tried to attack me, but her fist passed right through my illusion. She didn't know what to do; this was probably new to her.
I materialized in a corner (creating another hologram of myself) and was ready to respond.
"You didn't even realize I wasn't real. Leave in peace, or your face will be all over international news. You'll become the most wanted person," I said, stepping closer.
She froze and decided to leave without fighting, having seen that her first attempt was futile. I walked her out of the building and called the next person in.
We went to my office and repeated the same procedure as before: hold a paper, look them in the eye, and ask questions.
"Can I ask you your name?" I said. She wasn't caught off guard this time and answered calmly.
"My name is Natasha Romanoff." she said, her Russian accent unmistakable.
"Natasha Romanoff, you've got a cute name, miss," I said. She didn't seem fazed.
"Thank you, sir," she replied, sitting upright.
"Did you serve in the army by any chance?"
"Sort of," she said.
FULL NAME: MELINA VOSTOKOFF
AFFILIATION: RED ROOM
SUPERIOR: GENERAL ARKADYEVICH DREYKOV
FRONT/ADOPTIVE FAMILY:
Alexei Andreovitch Shostakov (Husband)
Natalia Alianovna Romanova (Daughter)
Yelena Belova (Daughter)
"Are you married by any chance?" I asked, and she looked at me like I was weird or something.
"Yes," she replied.
"Do you have kids?" She sized me up before answering.
"Yes, two kids," she said.
"Does your husband, Alexei Shostakov, treat you well?" I asked. She froze for a moment before removing a gun from her waist. It already had a silencer. I smirked as I looked at her.
"Who are you really?" she said, aiming the gun at me.
"Is that really the question you should be asking? Let me answer that for you… You know who I am. Let me ask you a question… What mission did General Dreykov give you?" I said, my tone serious. She fired her gun at me. The shot phased right through me and shattered my window. She was surprised when she saw that. I looked back and realized my window was broken.
"Ah, shit. Now I've gotta replace the window. I better make it stronger than before, maybe even indestructible," I said, not caring about the look in her eyes.
"How much do you know?" she asked, glancing around the office to locate me.
"You haven't answered my first question, and you expect me to answer yours?" I said, smirking.
"To monitor and get information from you," she replied, trying to stay alert.
"Nah, that wasn't the first question I asked you, Melina Vostokoff," I said, smiling.
"ANSWER ME! How much do you know?" she said angrily, though she wasn't truly angry, just pretending. If it weren't for SPACE, I wouldn't have noticed the difference.
"Look at you, you don't even feel angry. Did they take your emotions away when they experimented on you four times?" I asked, smiling at her.
"How do you know that?" she said, calm in voice but tinged with sadness.
"Man, it's getting cold in here. Let's change rooms, and drop your gun; it won't do much," I said as I left the office and moved to another.