Ben Grimm tugged at Reed's tie with his thick hands, fussing with his rumpled collar.
After another clumsy round of adjustments, Ben finally gave up on making the old suit look a little sharper. He slapped Reed on the shoulder, sending him staggering two steps.
After dawdling their way to the eighty-seventh floor, the two finally reached the Technology Project Department of the Howlett Group. A while later, when the conference room doors opened, Reed Richards saw someone familiar—and utterly unexpected.
"Victor? Victor von Doom!" Reed exclaimed in surprise.
The Technology Department floor had high ceilings. Victor Doom, dressed in a finely tailored black suit, descended the spiral staircase at an unhurried pace and stopped before the two men, lifting his chin slightly.
"Hahaha, my brilliant old classmate! You look—though that suit is a little out of date. I'll introduce you to a top-notch tailor later. I hear his teacher's family served Mr. Howlett for generations. Hey, Ben, nice haircut."
Reed self-consciously smoothed the wrinkled hem of his suit. Looking at his old classmate's tall, dashing figure, like a wealthy heir wielding immense power, made his own loose, oversized jacket feel even more ill-fitting.
"What are you doing here?"
Ben folded his muscular arms and rumbled, not even bothering to respond to the other man's teasing.
He and Doom had never gotten along in college. His jaw clenched and his brow furrowed, creasing even his gleaming bald head.
"Surprised?"
Victor Doom opened the liquor cabinet with practiced ease, took out three crystal glasses, and poured a little whiskey into each with gentlemanly care. Seated at the head of the dark golden conference table, he continued languidly:
"Are you surprised I'm with the Howlett Group, or that we happened to run into each other? Hehehe. Try this. It's the sort of