radicalducati Page 10
Page 10
Her high heels clicked crisply on the stone pavement until her figure disappeared around the corner.
Hawke stood there, his fingertips unconsciously stroking the earlobe that had just been touched by her breath.
Five people.
Hawke counted silently in his mind.
17. Let's exchange ideas more deeply, Professor?
[Photo of Vivian]
Five bait bombs, each coated with a different color of honey, were precisely placed in his path.
The first four:
The youthful and athletic sweetheart – Catherine
The Asian academic prodigy, Kobayashi Miu, is full of forbidden allure.
Samantha, a stunning Black woman radiating both sunshine and wild charm.
Abby has an explosive figure that defies the laws of physics.
Each type precisely points to his different "preferences".
This lineup is practically a targeted "Campus Belle 101" of the intelligence world.
He navigated the situation with ease.
Responding to Katie's adoration with a friendly humor,
He offered some slightly sharp guidance on Miyu's academic research.
Responding to Samantha's enthusiasm with equal energy,
He graciously agreed to Abby's "request for help" and diligently assisted her.
Hawke enjoyed the "feast" that had been carefully prepared for him, accepting all the guests without revealing his knowledge.
As long as you're not sick...
Especially the last one, Vivian, the actuarial science teacher!
This person is definitely not an unknown individual. As for the evidence?
Her looks speak for themselves!
Even if it wasn't Mera, the Queen of the Sea, it must have been some other important character.
He secretly memorized her name, intending to investigate it when he got back.
In the afternoon, the sun is just right.
Hawke knocked on the door of Professor Emilia's office.
Unlike Professor Finch's seriousness, Professor Emilia's office was bright and spacious, with lush greenery and a faint aroma of baked goods in the air.
"Ah, our 'eye of the financial storm' has arrived?" Professor Emilia put down her delicate bone china teacup, wearing a well-tailored beige suit, and smiled. "How did Finch's 'moral judgment' go this morning? Did it nail you to the cross?"
Hawke plopped down on the sofa opposite her and picked up a sweet cookie she pushed towards him: "Professor, you follow gossip too? Professor Finch might be having some indigestion."
Emilia chuckled softly, exuding the charm of a mature woman: "Indigestion? He was choked by your style of play. However, I like your sharp edge. Finch's old problem is really... full of pedantic scholarly naiveté."
She didn't look at Hawke again, her slender fingers unconsciously circling the dark blue ribbon tied around the neck of the port bottle.
The ribbon wrapped and unwrapped between her fair fingers, like a restless snake.
Hawke did not respond, but simply walked to the desk, picked up one of the empty glasses, and poured some bourbon into it.
“The capital market,” Emilia finally turned her face after a long pause, the light shining into her deep brown eyes, a mixture of wisdom and an indescribable madness, “its laws are never written in parchment, but are inscriptions carved on the blades of the victors, Hawke.”
“Some people, like you,” she said, her voice lower and with a frosty quality, “are born knowing how to make…capital flow more rapidly and more recklessly.”
Emilia stood up, the toes of her high heels sliding silently across the carpet before slowly brushing against the hem of Hawke's perfectly tailored trousers.
That subtle friction is clearly transmitted through the fine wool.
Hawke slowly turned around and saw interest and curiosity gleaming in Emilia's eyes.
"To be honest, Hawke, you've really nibbled well at Bates. But the old foxes on Wall Street are all wondering who will be the next bite to whet your appetite?"
Hawke slowly picked up a cookie, meeting her intense gaze: "A snack?"
He curled his lips into a smirk, a hint of cynicism in his expression. "Professor, you're a far more professional player in the game of capital than I am. And... what I told you before, the CEO position at Lane Capital, is much more exciting than being a university professor."
Hawke needs a financial expert to lead Lane Capital. This person must not only be experienced but also bold, aggressive, and a financial fanatic who doesn't care about the consequences.
Emilia was the most suitable candidate in his eyes.
Although Andy is a business genius, his strength lies in his comprehensive, stable, and well-rounded abilities. In the two years since he took office, the entire Lane Group has been built into an unbreakable force.
However, it would be a bit much to ask of her to be a force to be reckoned with in the financial markets, as she is better suited to business, operations, management, finance, and risk control.
Upon hearing Hawke's invitation again, a spark flashed in Emilia's eyes. She pressed her high heels against Hawke's thigh and leaned closer.
“Hawk Lane, after Bates Capital collapsed, Wall Street said you were ruthless and precise, like a machine.” She parted her red lips slightly, her warm breath brushing against his earlobe. “Tell me, on which chessboard are you planning to make your next move?”
Hawke looked at her face, so close to his, a face that radiated both intelligence and charm, and helplessly spread his hands: "Professor, I don't have a target for now. My move against Bates Capital was truly due to a personal grudge..."
But then his voice suddenly lowered: "But it's not absolute. We can... exchange ideas more deeply, Professor?"
Emilia looked at his face.
The strange flame in her eyes suddenly intensified, as if dry tinder had been thrown in.
She lunged forward, her body crashing into Hawke's arms with a resolute force, her hands gripping the front of his expensive shirt tightly.
"Don't call me professor!" she practically hissed through gritted teeth, her hot breath hitting his chin, carrying the rich, sweet aroma of port. "In your presence, I'm not that damned professor!"
She stood on tiptoe and pressed her foot hard against Hawke's prominent Adam's apple, leaving a subtle yet distinct stinging sensation from her canine teeth.
“Tell me!” Her voice trembled and broke from the violent movements and some kind of repressed madness, her body pressed tightly against his through the thin fabric. “Bates is just an appetizer, isn’t she? Tell me, Hawk Lane… who is your next target?”
Sunlight streamed through the blinds, casting dappled shadows between the two.
18 Tony Stark
The air in Manhattan was filled with the sweetness and luxury unique to the holidays.
The “Winter Stars” charity gala at the top of the Lane Building was undoubtedly the most dazzling social spectacle of the Christmas season.
Hawke Lane, the new king of Wall Street who had just sent Bates Capital to its grave a few days earlier, stood at the entrance of the banquet hall, wearing a perfectly tailored midnight blue velvet tuxedo. His smile was as dazzling and brilliant as a finely polished diamond, radiating an undeniable sense of control.
Beside him, Andy wore an ice-silver backless dress, as if moonlight had solidified, her beauty sharp and calm.
The guest list can be described as a "Christmas wish list" of power and wealth.
Tony Stark's signature flashy red supercar was parked downstairs; his aura pierced through the ceiling even before he arrived!
When he enters the scene, he brings his own spotlight effect, but he is always accompanied by Little Chili.
Norman Osborne with his young son, Harry Osborne, the father and son, one old and one young.
General Ross, dressed in a crisp military uniform, his medals bearing witness to past battles, surveyed the entire room with sharp eyes.
Military, political, and business tycoons gathered, their conversations like exquisite background music.
Hawke greeted Tony, who was immediately surrounded by singing and dancing girls, and after saying hello to Pepper, who was standing next to him with a slightly gloomy face, he smiled broadly:
"Uncle Tony, it's great to have you here. I heard your presentation on that new weapon broke the record for presentation length again? I hope tonight's charity auction will help you rediscover your 'efficiency'."
Upon hearing the term "uncle," Tony chuckled dryly twice and changed the subject:
"Efficient? Ryan, you played Bates' game swiftly and decisively, leaving nothing but ashes. I call this 'in-depth explanation,' ensuring that investors... well, and potential buyers, understand what they're buying. By the way, I heard you've been quite interested in 'special security' lately?"
Tony glanced meaningfully at a spot not far behind Hawke.
There, Koo Ja-yoon and Shin Si-ah stood quietly, like two shadows blending into the background.
Gu Ziyun wore a simple black dress, her eyes calm and serene.
Shen Shiya, on the other hand, wore a dashing white pantsuit, exuding youthful vigor.
Their appearance was like two pebbles thrown into a calm lake, creating invisible ripples among a certain group of people.
"The news spread that fast?" Hawke shrugged. "They're just two ladies who are naturally strong."
In the upper echelons of the United States, nothing stays secret forever. Information about the products of Project Witch has already reached the ears of these ruthless capitalists like the wind.
Who doesn't want to be incredibly strong? Who doesn't want to be invincible?
Who cares if he's a "demon man" or a "demon woman"?
At this moment, a "Russian female tycoon" named "Natalia Romanova" is holding a glass of champagne, her dazzling red hair swaying gracefully as she chats and laughs with an energy tycoon.
The miniature earpiece in her ear transmitted a command: "Natasha, target status?"
Natasha tilted her head slightly and whispered in Russian, her voice as soft as a whisper: "Targets Koo Ja-yoon and Shin Si-ah are on alert. Hawke Lane... he smiles like an angel."
Inside the Quinjet, parked in the stratosphere with its optical camouflage activated, Fury listened to Natasha's analogy and was somewhat speechless: "Please admire his handsomeness after the mission is over. Keep an eye on things. Stark and Osborn are also there. Don't let the situation get out of control. Especially Ross, I think he's about to start 'recruiting'."
In one corner of the screen, General Ross was talking quietly with a senior Defense Ministry official, his gaze occasionally glancing in the direction of Gu Ziyun.
General Ross was in charge of military human experimentation and was very interested in superhumans and various biological experiments. In addition, the US military stationed in South Korea was also under General Ross's jurisdiction.
Fury suddenly realized that General Ross might know more about the Witch Project than he did!
Norman Osborn, holding a wine glass, walked up to Hawke with a formulaic smile: "Mr. Lane, congratulations on another victory. How's the digestion of Bates' legacy going? I heard Lane Industries' stock price has been soaring lately, even Osborn Industries is feeling a bit... pressure?"
His words were gentle yet sharp.
Hawke's smile remained unchanged as he calmly replied, "Mr. Osborne, you flatter me. The market always favors efficiency and innovation. Speaking of which, the industrial sector is merely a sideline for Osborne; your breakthroughs at the forefront of biotechnology are truly impressive. I wonder how your 'physical enhancement project' is progressing? It sounds very promising."
He steered the conversation toward areas that Osborne himself avoided discussing.
Norman's eye twitched almost imperceptibly, and his tone turned cold: "Trade secrets, Mr. Ryan. But these two beside you... special assistants? They have a very distinctive air about them. Which security company's new product are they?"
“They are my personal ‘risk advisors’,” Hawke said casually, his eyes carrying a knowing look. “They specialize in dealing with…unconventional business risks. After all, the world is sometimes more complex than the rules of the game on Wall Street, isn’t it?”
He glanced meaningfully in the direction of General Ross.
At this moment, Harry Osborne shook off the socialites surrounding him and curiously walked towards Shin Si-ah in a quiet corner.
His young face wore a friendly smile: "Hi, you're special. I'm Harry Osborn. You look... cool."