章節 15: Chapter 15: No Weaknesses
Harvey arrived at the food area and began selecting from the delicious dishes, grabbing a tray and serving himself.
He had invested so much money in Stark Industries that he didn't want to see Tony Stark suddenly falter. So, he came to check things out, give Tony Stark a heads-up, and satisfy his appetite.
Although there were other fine dining options available, they clearly couldn't compete with the lavish fare provided at such a grand charity event. Moreover, at this event, he didn't have to wait; he could simply eat to his heart's content.
Tony Stark, feeling a bit frustrated, walked over to the bar and ordered a drink.
"Hello, Mr. Stark. I'm Agent Coulson. We've met before."
Seeing Tony Stark heading to the bar, Coulson immediately approached and introduced himself.
"Ah, you're with Homeland Security, right?"
Tony Stark recalled and looked at Coulson.
"Department of Homeland Security."
"Yes, that's right."
Coulson smiled slightly and corrected Tony.
"You guys really should consider changing that name."
Tony Stark remarked, feeling a bit exasperated by the long-winded title.
"A lot of people have said that. We're actually considering a change."
"But that's not what I wanted to discuss. I need to understand some things from Mr. Stark."
"Although I know you've been having a rough time lately, there are some matters we need to discuss…"
Coulson continued, acknowledging Tony's situation and starting the conversation.
"I'll think about it. For now, I need to find my secretary."
Tony Stark replied casually, using the excuse to leave.
He went to find his secretary, Pepper Potts, but his gaze kept drifting towards the food area.
He was slightly amused to see Harvey Amberlock genuinely eating heartily, something that wasn't typical at these high-society events.
For Tony, a charity ball was a routine way to do good deeds, build his reputation, and engage in pleasantries with familiar faces. But for Harvey Amberlock, a rising New York tycoon, attending such an event was an opportunity to network with other wealthy individuals and potentially secure major deals.
It was expected for Harvey to make some attempts to mingle, even if it meant risking being snubbed. But, as Tony observed, Harvey seemed more interested in eating than making connections.
Tony found himself unable to understand Harvey's logic.
Pepper noticed that Tony's attention was focused elsewhere rather than on their conversation. She assumed it was because he was distracted by other attractive young women, but when she looked, she realized that wasn't the case at all.
"Are you really interested in Mr. Amberlock?"
Pepper asked softly while they danced.
"Not really. I'm just thinking about a few things."
Tony Stark immediately denied it.
"Agent Coulson seemed interested in Harvey Amberlock as well, but he didn't share many details with me."
Pepper's observation made Tony's mind race.
Coulson had approached Tony to inquire about the events in Afghanistan. Given Coulson's previous mention of a follow-up visit, it made sense that his interest in Harvey Amberlock was a priority.
However, it seemed that Harvey had taken precedence over Tony in Coulson's interests. This shift in priority was making Tony feel uneasy.
He realized that his initial frustration was replaced by curiosity about what Coulson might have been discussing with Harvey.
Tony turned to see that Coulson had vanished. He tried to recall the contact information Coulson had left on the table, but his memory failed him.
"Shall we step out to the balcony for some fresh air?"
Noticing Tony's preoccupation and the surrounding gazes, Pepper suggested.
"Sure."
Tony nodded and snapped out of his thoughts.
Harvey noticed that Tony and Pepper had gone to the balcony but paid no mind to it. He continued to enjoy the feast, elegantly consuming the food laid out on the long table.
The crowd couldn't help but watch as Harvey, with his graceful manners, devoured the food at a visible rate. Some young women were curious about where all the food was disappearing, as Harvey's stomach appeared unchanged despite the amount he ate.
They had hoped for a chance to approach Harvey, but he was so absorbed in his eating that there was no opportunity to strike up a conversation. The empty plates piled up as Harvey continued to eat.
It created a peculiar sight: everyone else was mingling and dancing while Harvey was solely focused on eating.
Men noticed the attention Harvey was drawing and felt slighted. They began to think about ways to make Harvey's experience less pleasant. If everyone had a weakness, what could Harvey's be? Family, friends, or perhaps his business interests?
Using weaknesses, they could leverage their power and wealth to undermine Harvey, but as they considered, they found no vulnerabilities.
Despite being a new player in New York's wealthy circles, Harvey Amberlock seemed to exist apart from the usual elite.
The only viable method to affect him was through his stock holdings, but Harvey's major investment was in Stark Industries. To target Harvey would be to oppose Stark Industries directly, which was unthinkable at an event hosted by them.
As for affecting the value of Harvey's properties, it was unlikely they could do so easily or legally.
Thus, the prominent figures considered the dilemma: how to challenge Harvey Amberlock when he appeared to have no apparent weaknesses?
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