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Monaco – Hôtel de Paris
The Hôtel de Paris in Monaco stood like a monument to wealth.
Its marble façade gleamed beneath the Mediterranean sun, polished stone reflecting the glow of luxury cars lined up outside the entrance. Elegant fountains murmured softly in the courtyard, and the faint scent of expensive perfume mingled with the salty breeze drifting in from the harbor. Inside the grand lobby, chandeliers scattered warm golden light across polished floors while well-dressed guests moved in quiet conversations.
At one of the corner tables inside the hotel restaurant—
Justin Hammer suddenly slammed his hand against the table.
"What?! What did you say?" he burst out loudly. "You must attend the race?!"
The shout echoed through the room.
Several nearby diners turned their heads, their curious gazes immediately drifting toward him.
Justin instantly realized his mistake. His face stiffened, and he quickly forced a polite smile as he looked around.
"Ah… nothing, nothing," he said quickly, waving his hands awkwardly. "Everyone please continue enjoying your meals. No need to pay attention to me."
Once the surrounding guests lost interest and turned back to their conversations, Justin leaned forward across the table.
His voice dropped to a nervous whisper.
Across from him sat Jack.
The man looked utterly relaxed.
He wore a simple hat pulled low over his brow and dark sunglasses that concealed his eyes. To anyone passing by, he might have appeared to be just another wealthy tourist visiting Monaco for the famous Grand Prix weekend.
But Justin knew exactly who he was sitting with.
The most dangerous criminal on Earth.
"What seems to be the problem?" Jack asked calmly.
Justin clenched his hands under the table.
"This will kill me," he muttered anxiously. "If anyone discovers that you're here with me, everything I have will be destroyed."
His mind raced with horrifying possibilities—government investigations, international arrest warrants, the collapse of Hammer Industries.
Jack smiled faintly.
"I could destroy everything you have right now if I wanted to," he said casually.
Justin froze.
"With your financial resources and influence," Jack continued, "arranging my participation in the race shouldn't be difficult."
He rose from his chair.
"So it's settled. Take care of the race arrangements for me."
Justin stared at him helplessly as Jack began walking toward the exit.
"That devil…" Justin muttered under his breath once the man was out of earshot. "What terrible luck."
---
At the hotel entrance, sunlight spilled across the wide stone steps leading down to the driveway.
Guests moved in and out beneath the watchful eyes of security guards.
Just then—
A tall woman wearing a long red evening gown stepped through the entrance.
Her appearance immediately drew attention.
The flowing crimson fabric draped elegantly around her figure, moving like liquid with every step. Her posture carried a quiet confidence, and her presence seemed almost radiant. For a moment, conversations faltered as several onlookers instinctively turned to look.
She carried the unmistakable aura of someone who belonged in the spotlight.
Jack happened to be walking past the entrance at that moment.
He glanced briefly in her direction.
A faint, sinister glint flashed in his eyes beneath the shadow of his hat.
Then he continued walking without stopping.
The woman in the red dress paused slightly.
Her brows knitted together.
There was something strangely familiar about the man's silhouette… the way he walked, the shape of his shoulders.
But the moment passed.
He disappeared into the sunlight outside.
---
A short distance away, the streets surrounding the hotel buzzed with activity.
Monaco's racing weekend had turned the entire city into a spectacle of luxury vehicles and eager spectators.
Jack walked toward the road where a sleek green supercar waited quietly among the parked vehicles.
Meanwhile, another car approached the hotel entrance under the escort of several security guards.
A luxurious Rolls-Royce.
The door opened.
A plump man stepped out first, carefully holding a red velvet box in his hands as if it contained something precious.
Moments later, the other door opened.
Tony Stark stepped out.
He looked different.
Thinner than before.
His complexion carried a faint pallor that the bright sunlight did little to hide. His brows were drawn together in a deep frown as his eyes scanned the surrounding area.
He seemed to be searching for someone.
But whoever he expected to see… was nowhere in sight.
---
Inside the green supercar parked nearby—
Jack watched the scene through the tinted windshield.
He turned his head slightly.
"Saw Tony," he said casually. "What do you feel, Pepper?"
A muffled sound came from beside him.
"Mm—mm—!"
Pepper Potts glared at him furiously.
Her mouth had been sealed with adhesive tape, and her wrists were tightly bound with rope. She struggled against the restraints, her eyes blazing with fury as she watched Tony standing outside the hotel.
Jack chuckled softly.
"Tony looks rather pale," he said thoughtfully. "Seems like the attack hit him pretty hard."
Pepper's muffled protests grew louder.
Jack reached over and tore the tape from her mouth.
"What were you trying to say?" he asked.
"Help!" Pepper shouted instantly. "Help! Someone help—!"
Jack shook his head lazily.
"Pointless," he said. "The soundproofing in this car is excellent. No one can hear you. And no one is coming to save you."
Pepper's expression hardened.
"Jack," she said coldly, "you'll die like a dog."
Jack sighed faintly.
"Honestly," he muttered, "you're quite noisy."
Pepper leaned closer, her eyes burning with defiance.
"You will be defeated," she said firmly. "One day. And when that day comes… I'll make you kneel in front of me and beg."
Jack tilted his head.
"What a lovely fantasy," he said with a faint smile. "But reality is simpler."
He reached out suddenly.
Before Pepper could react, he pulled her roughly into his arms.
Their faces ended up only inches apart.
"Right now," Jack murmured, "you're in my hands."
Pepper struggled violently.
"Let go of me! Let go!"
Jack's grin widened.
"Actually," he said thoughtfully, "I'd really like Tony to see this scene. I wonder if he'd cough up blood from anger."
"Disgusting!" Pepper shouted. "You twisted psychopath! I will never forgive you—"
Her words were cut off abruptly.
Jack leaned forward and silenced her with a forceful kiss.
"Mm—!"
Pepper struggled desperately, but Jack ignored her resistance completely.
His hands roamed across her body without restraint.
Minutes passed.
Ten… perhaps more.
Pepper's breathing gradually became uneven, her body trembling despite herself. A flush spread across her face as conflicting emotions twisted inside her chest.
When Jack finally pulled back, an amused smile played across his lips.
"Interesting," he said softly. "Your body responds quite honestly. Your heart may resist… but the body tells a different story."
Pepper's eyes blazed with hatred.
"Jack," she hissed, "I swear I will make you regret this."
Jack laughed quietly.
"Imagine," he said thoughtfully, "if I took a picture of you right now and sent it to Tony Stark."
He leaned closer.
"Do you think he'd be excited?"
Pepper's eyes widened.
"You wouldn't dare!"
Jack waved a hand dismissively.
"Relax. I'm joking."
His fingers brushed gently against her cheek.
"My woman," he murmured softly. "How could I possibly share you with anyone else? Only I get to admire you… slowly."
Pepper's voice turned cold as ice.
"Don't even think about it," she said. "I would rather die than belong to someone like you."
Jack inhaled slowly near her ear.
"How frightening," he whispered. "But whether you belong to me or not… isn't your decision."
He smiled.
"My girl."
Pepper's body trembled.
"You will never have my heart," she said quietly.
"Doesn't matter," Jack replied with a shrug.
Pepper stared at him angrily.
"If you don't care," she demanded, "then why kidnap me?"
Jack's answer came without hesitation.
"Because I wanted to."
He leaned back into his seat.
"No deeper reason."
Pepper stared at him in disbelief.
"You're insane," she said. "Do you realize how much I hate you?"
Jack's smile grew wider.
"That's perfect," he said. "You'll remember me for the rest of your life."
His eyes gleamed with twisted amusement.
"I actually enjoy being hated. The feeling when someone despises me but can't do anything about it…"
He chuckled.
"Just like you now."
Pepper clenched her fists.
Her voice trembled with suppressed rage.
"I'll wait for the day you're defeated."
---
Back inside the Hôtel de Paris—
Justin Hammer sat alone at the bar.
He lifted a glass of red wine and drained half of it in a single gulp.
The sour taste lingered in his mouth.
That damned Jack had ruined his entire mood.
"Unbelievable luck…" Justin muttered bitterly.
Just then—
His eyes caught sight of someone entering the room.
Justin's expression brightened instantly.
All his earlier frustration vanished.
He stood up with a broad smile.
"Well, well," he said loudly. "Isn't this Tony Stark?"
Tony stopped walking.
His expression was cold.
"Long time no see," Justin continued cheerfully. "How have you been lately? You look full of energy."
Tony stared at him silently.
Then he spoke in a tired voice.
"Can you disappear?"
Justin clutched his chest dramatically.
"Disappear?" he said with mock hurt. "That's a cruel thing to say."
He casually draped an arm over Tony's shoulder.
"Come on, brother. Everyone goes through rough times."
Justin's grin widened.
"So your house burned down… the Stark Expo was destroyed… these things happen."
He lifted his wine glass.
"Why not forget your troubles and have a drink with me?"
Tony's eyes hardened.
"Go away."
Justin pretended not to notice the hostility.
Instead, his gaze drifted toward the elegant woman standing nearby in the red gown.
"Oh?" he said thoughtfully. "Where's your assistant today?"
He tapped his chin.
"Miss Potts, right? I thought she'd been kidnapped. Guess my memory's getting old."
His eyes sparkled with curiosity.
"And what's the name of this beautiful assistant?"
The woman in the red dress met his gaze calmly.
Her voice was quiet and steady.
"Natasha Romanoff."