Catch Two and Take a Look

Chapter 31

The unpleasant meeting finally came to an end with Stark's apology.

Stark had some guts, at least. He hadn't screamed too loudly. Now, he merely cradled his aching right hand in his left and kept sucking in cold breaths over the bar counter.

Considerately, Alvin handed him an ice pack to apply to his hand. He also hadn't forgotten Stark's bodyguard named "Happy." Looking at his broken nose and comically swollen fat face, Alvin mused that Happy's parents must have hated him. Otherwise, they wouldn't have given him a name like Happy.

Stark pressed the ice pack against his right hand and glanced sideways at Alvin. "Kid, you're in trouble. Your restaurant is in big trouble."

Alvin smiled, wearing an extremely punchable expression. "Are you going to sue me? Because you harassed a waitress, then got your hand squeezed so hard by a nineteen-year-old waitress that you nearly wet your pants? Ha! Mr. Stark, are you sure? I certainly don't mind. The restaurant has surveillance footage and recordings. If you want a lawsuit, my restaurant will definitely become famous."

It was the first time Stark had suffered such a huge loss. He couldn't let it go without saving face. He snapped angrily, "Kid, I don't pick on women, but I'm going to teach you a lesson. One-on-one. My bodyguard is a professional boxer, and I've trained with him—" He paused when he saw Happy's utterly miserable fat face. "I'll sign up for a judo class too. Once I'm healed, I'll come teach you a lesson. One-on-one."

"Are you sure?" Alvin asked with a smile.

Stark glared at Alvin stubbornly and shouted, "I'm sure! I'll beat the teeth out of you, you fraud!"

Commissioner George hesitated, wiping his forehead as he looked at Stark—the awkward, stubborn genius who acted like a child in certain ways. George shook his head and ultimately said nothing. If you wanted to make yourself miserable, that was your business.

Alvin nodded with a smile. "No problem. Peace Hotel welcomes you anytime!"

Pepper, standing nearby, tapped the bar counter. Like a worried old mother, she glanced at Stark, who was glaring at Alvin like a child, then said to Alvin, "I came here to discuss business. Can we begin?"

Alvin shrugged, pulled out a sheet of paper and a pen, and sat down across the bar from Pepper. "Then tell me in detail about the vampire you saw. Let's see whether it's the same thing I know about."

Pepper thought for a moment, then recalled, "They looked no different from ordinary people, except their skin was very pale. I encountered it at a nightclub. It was extremely fast and could crawl along walls. It had two long fangs in its mouth. One of my bodyguards was drained of blood and bitten to death while trying to save me. Oh—and those things were almost completely cold."

Stark rudely cut in from the side. "A nightclub? No body heat? Little Pepper, how did you know? You never told me! You'll have to give me a report on that no-body-heat business when we get back!" Even with his sharp tongue, he couldn't hide the jealousy in his words.

Alvin raised his eyebrows suggestively at Pepper. A blush spread across the face of the capable, spirited blonde beauty. Avoiding Alvin's gaze, she glared at Stark. "You didn't even believe such things existed. What was I supposed to tell you, Tony? Every time vampires came up, you mocked me for having delusions!"

Irritably, Stark threw his sunglasses onto the bar and called to Jessica, "Miss Waitress, considering I'm injured, get me a beer. Let's hear what your fraud of a boss has to say."

Alvin put away the paper and pen and smiled at Pepper. "I think I know what those things are! Thank you for telling me. Let me ask one more thing—Ms. Potts, have you considered changing jobs? My Community School is expanding and needs many outstanding female leaders like you. It would be more fulfilling than taking care of an unruly overgrown child."

Pepper gave a dry laugh. "Thank you. I'll consider your offer." After a pause, she added, "If you're going to look for those things, please be careful."

Alvin smiled and shook Pepper's hand. He raised his eyebrows at Stark provocatively and held on for an extra five seconds. Just as Stark was about to explode on the spot, Alvin released her hand and said with a smile, "Please seriously consider my offer. You can even visit my school when you have time. My doors are always open to you."

Pepper found it somewhat amusing as she watched the two grown men trying to outdo each other. She shook her head without saying anything.

Ginny had been leaning against the bar, her chin resting on her hands as she watched the adults talk. Curious, she looked at Stark's right hand wrapped in an ice pack and said, "Cold. Uncomfortable."

The strange and unruly Stark was unexpectedly patient with Ginny. He made a grimace at her and said, "Your waitress is too violent!" As he spoke, he exaggeratedly blew on his right hand to show how much it hurt.

Ginny laughed at Stark's expression. "You and Nick, same. Fool. Jessica angry, beat you."

Stark clearly wasn't used to Ginny's way of speaking. He froze for a moment, then said, "Hey, little beauty, I'm not a fool. I'm a genius inventor."

Ginny nodded with certainty. "You and Nick, same. Fool."

Stark looked at Alvin in frustration. "Who's this fool named Nick?"

Alvin was delighted to see Stark put in his place. He shrugged. "Nick is a second-grade troublemaker, but you can't call him a fool. His dad doesn't have a very good temper."

Stark waved his hand angrily. "This is the worst day I've had all year!" With that, he turned and walked out of the restaurant first. Pepper nodded goodbye to Alvin and hurried after him, no longer listening to what Alvin had to say about vampires.

At the door, Alvin could still hear Stark complaining about Happy. "You actually lost to two big dogs? Find me a judo instructor or a fighting coach, whatever. I'm going to beat up that guy in there. The moment I see his face, I want to punch it flat."

Commissioner George, seeing Stark's group leave, let out a sigh of relief. He had been afraid Stark and Alvin would clash again. This outcome was still pretty good.

Commissioner George looked at Alvin questioningly. "Do you have any idea what those things are?"

Alvin thought for a moment. "I roughly know what they are. I need to verify it first. If my guess is right, then Commissioner, you're in big trouble."

Commissioner George asked irritably, "How do we verify it?"

Alvin smiled mysteriously, spread open his palm, then clenched it tightly. "Catch two and take a look. Then we'll know."