Strange's ears visibly reddened.
He really had been planning to marry his doctor girlfriend lately, but he absolutely could not let this colossal lecher set his sights on her.
He opened his mouth, squeezing a muddled, broken breath from his throat, but ultimately only tightened his jaw and forcibly swallowed the retort that had surged to his lips.
Yongye looked at his stifled expression and laughed.
The laugh was brief and bright, carrying an easy nonchalance that set people's teeth on edge.
He straightened in his swivel chair, lowered both legs from the desk, braced his hands on its edge, and tilted his head, lifting his chin toward the secretary's station.
"Sharon."
Sharon Carter lifted her head from the piles of documents, a familiar layer of vigilance stirring in her light gray eyes.
"Mr. President?"
"Sharon, issue a public notice. Convene a heroes' conference in the Eye Society's name. Every Superhero of any renown, representatives from every faction-leave no one out. While you're at it, invite Lois."
Sharon quickly made a note on her electronic notepad. Her stylus paused, and she looked up. "Mr. President, Lois has a big mouth. Are you sure you want to notify her?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because I want all of humanity to know that the battle ahead isn't any one group's private affair."
Sharon's stylus hovered over the edge of the notepad for a moment, then quickly dropped again as she continued writing.
Selina leaned against the doorframe, her short, dark brown hair taking on a cold sheen under the lights. Her dark green eyes slid from Yongye's face to Strange's gaunt features, then back to Yongye.
She kept feeling that this bastard was plotting something again.
But she could not see through it.
Strange gave Yongye a slight nod, then turned toward the door.