Chapitre 30: Part 29
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As I carefully parked my bike, I checked my watch again and smiled smugly.
- Still made it in time...
- Parker? - I heard a familiar voice, and when I turned around, I saw a pretty blonde.
- Miss Hardy. - I say it with the utmost tact.
- What an interesting bobber you have. - said the girl.
- Do you get it?
- Today you decided to talk rather than run away? - Felicia answered the question with a question.
- You have to start at some point. - I smile again. - By the way, do you want to grab a bite to eat after the guys? - I'm still interested, but after how many times she should probably send me away.
- I still don't get you, Parker. You ask him to dinner, and he refers to business and defiantly ignores, you want to get to know him better, he blows me off. You're always running away from me Parker, what's changed today? - Miss Hardy asked innocently, batting her eyelashes in bewilderment.
And why am I so amused by it? Perhaps I just like to piss people off. Or could it be seen as aggressive flirting?
- Why are you smiling like that? - She was indignant again, but it was so adorable that my smile only grew wider. - Are you intentionally pissing me off? - It immediately dawned on the girl, and her pretty face instantly became a mask of indifference in the manner of a snow queen.
- You're so perceptive. So how about a bite to eat after the guys? I know a place that makes an awesome shawarma.
- Are you kidding me?
- Just a little bit? - and I'm smiling evilly again.
- Good. (chuckles) Because I still want to know who Peter Parker is. - Blondie suddenly agreed, but she didn't think to take off her snow queen mask.
- You're so curious, you're like a kitty cat. So, Vietnamese shawarma, huh? Who'd have thought you'd say yes.
- Vietnamese? - Felicia asked with undisguised horror. - Quite an ingenious way to make a girl's first impression. - Miss Hardy said sarcastically.
- Or else...' I smiled again.
- Pete, Felicia? - I heard Harry's voice. - Did you catch him after all? - his mate said cheerfully.
- What? No. The blonde blushed.
- So you came on your own? Man. I approve. - Osborne nodded, clapping me on the shoulder. - You'll be a grown-up in no time at all. - Harry said, admiring the situation. - They grow up so fast. - Wiping away a stingy male tear, he pulled me to my philosophy class.
- See you later, kitten. - I only had time to throw, without hearing her answer.
The pair turned out to be surprisingly boring, though, what else to expect from people who memorise other people's material and do not try to understand it. And as you know, repeating the same thing over and over again is madness. Osborne was also bored, and so we were almost secretly discussing outside topics.
- What do you think, is it worth to make on the test sample reinforced defence systems and weapons or is it better to position the project as purely civilian and promote it in the peaceful industry for the same rescuers, firefighters or police? - Harry asked thoughtfully.
- Well, it depends on whose money you want to get. The military should have more of it, if you choose, and you should not forget about government contracts, plus various tenders from arms companies and all sorts of departments. Listen, why not make a variable modular system for different needs? That way you can simplify future production and increase possible profits and reach all available audience with absolutely minimal costs. You may have to tweak the 'project' a bit, but it may well pay off and give you extra points in Mr Oz's eyes. - Since I had nothing better to do, I was really thinking about helping a friend out.
- You're always right, Pete. But I didn't think it would be wise to spread myself thin, so I think I'll keep your idea to a minimum. But I'll still get the benefits and new clients, and I'll be able to squeeze into other areas of our tight-knit business. So you think it's better to move towards the military? - Harry said, completely immersed in his own thoughts. - My father would approve of that approach. And he works closely with the government himself, securing many large orders for our peacekeeping missions.
- It's up to you. - I allowed myself a smile. - But don't forget that Mr Oz respects strength and tenacity, so you have to be strong, or at least look it. - Osborn nodded understandingly.
- My father had always been like that, as long as I could remember, but that didn't stop me from aspiring to his ideals and wanting to be like him. You remember that I went to school because of his phrase about learning being the light and everything else being the darkness of ignorance that consumed our world. I didn't care where I went, that's why I followed my best friend. - Harry's face showed something remotely resembling a smile. - My father may not always show his love, and sometimes he threatens to disinherit me for the slightest misstep, but that doesn't change the fact that one day I will take his place and become another Osborn, so as not to disgrace the memory of my father and my ancestors. I truly admire him and I want to be like him, remember when we were little and someone wanted to be Captain America and something similar? Well, I didn't want to become someone else, because Osborne is always himself, and there were attempts and adolescent rebellion, but it all goes away and eventually you get back to what you were trying to escape from. - he said with a kind of wistful determination. - Pretty chicks, weed and alcohol don't let you forget who you really are. Well, you know that yourself, Pete, because kids always want to outdo their parents. You also want to be a scientist and get ahead, but I just want what my dad never dreamed of. To do better than him and still retain the best of his traits and pass it all on to my children. As you can see, my father has raised a rival, so I don't want to disappoint him. - the cameraman's smile has become more predatory. - And with your support and timely advice, I will be able to rise quite quickly and settle down on the top of the economic Olympus. So I hope you're with me? - Harry looked me in the eye, completely serious.
- Naturally. - I continued with a predatory grin. - You know me, I'm all for any kind of ruckus. And how can I leave you? You'd be lost...' I shook my head unhappily.
Ozborne's eyes were grateful, and he still had a smug, predatory smile on his lips, but Harry was silent. That was the end of the philosophy class, and three more days later I met up with Felicia again. This time Miss Hardy looked much more confident than she had the morning before, and she held her mask with the arctic calm of a queen.
- You didn't run away after all? - I asked her curiously.
- I'm not you...' the blonde replied immediately.
- That's right. I wouldn't have had the courage for Vietnamese shawarma. But you're the curious cat, so we'll see where this goes. - Felicia rolled her eyes and pushed me away slightly when I tried to hug her, probably still pouting, or I hadn't passed some test yet, because she wanted to get to know me better, and what better way to get to know me?
- Why did you become an apprentice to Victor Creed? Everyone knows that Russian guy works for the Mafia, right? And his club is just a front? - Felicia's sudden question threw me off balance a little.
- A man is always looking for power, and when he gets crumbs of it, he wants more and more. In search of power you can even go to death as an apprentice. The only question is whether it's worth it and whether you're willing to pay the price your new 'teacher' will name. It was curiosity that drew me to him. I suppose you've already made some enquiries about him, haven't you? - The girl nodded. - Good for you,' I smiled again. - But it was important to me, and I found what I was looking for. I would call his teaching method 'murderously' effective, even if I don't like it, but everyone has his own methods of 'teaching'. - The girl's eyes stayed on me, but she just hummed.
- I didn't expect such directness from you. - Still said the blonde.
And I mentally grinned. She believed me. I couldn't tell her I'd gone to Creed to cover for her, could I? She probably wouldn't understand, though who would? That's just it. So I've made a lot of noise, and now she can search for the truth all she wants.
I still don't know what she's interested in, though. But sooner or later I'll find out what's on her mind, because I'm also interested in what, how, why and why. I grinned mentally and caught a glimpse of a dude who had been following us for some time now.
And the expensive suit is obviously custom-made and not really meant for walking, because having money for such clothes and not having it for a car is a very strange choice, isn't it? And I noticed it a long time ago, so my suspicions are not so groundless. When I touched my pocket, I grinned imperceptibly, because there was still one of those vacuum grenades I had bought recently. So if there are more of these 'suspicious' types, I'll send them to meet the creator at the slightest aggression. I don't like all this, and it's a bit palaverous to use such toys in the centre of the city.
- Hey, princess... - still this dude approached us. - How about brightening up the company with someone of your own level? You're probably dying of boredom with this student... - the blond smiled condescendingly, slightly lowering his sunglasses.
- Get out of here, you wretch. Or you won't be able to pick up any bones, so trust my 'medical' experience, because I'll break them all. - I grinned predatorily at the dude, but he only smiled indulgently again, his smile immediately became 'fangy', and from under the slightly lowered glasses I could see blood-red eyes. - So you don't understand 'mouse' in a good way? - I immediately understood what was going on, turning my gaze to Felicia, only to see complete detachment, and all the people in that part of the neighbourhood had vanished.
- I've never been called that before. - the dude smiled. - Well, it's all right for an appetiser, you won't tell anyone, will you? - grinned the blond.
- I'm sorry, of course, but I'll give up 'snacks', because, you know, I promised a girl Vietnamese shawarma. And it's not my policy to break my word. So it's nothing personal, but wait, didn't I promise to break all your bones? - I said, without any smile, pulling the first knife out of my unloading.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone