"Alright, I'll keep a close eye on any news from around the world."
"If they show up, I'll check it out."
Hearing this, Tony finally relaxed. He didn't press Harvey for specifics about where the aliens might appear. As long as they were identified as enemies, he wouldn't hold back.
"…"
Harvey fell into thought when Tony mentioned he'd be monitoring global events closely. Without his Thor powers, the God of Thunder wouldn't be much of a threat to Earth, and even if he had them, Thor wouldn't harm the planet. Tony would most likely be dealing with Loki, so Harvey saw no need to mention it.
Knowing that the looming threat wasn't life-threatening, both Tony and Pepper were able to set their minds at ease. With that, Pepper joined them at the table, and the three of them shared a pleasant lunch.
Afterward, Harvey headed home. Rather than hanging around and watching Tony and Pepper get cozy, he figured he might as well take his car out for a spin—and maybe pick up some women while he was at it.
Harvey remembered 2011 as the year Captain America woke up, and Thor came to Earth. But honestly, he didn't recall the exact months. It couldn't be far off now, though; he just had to wait for the show to start.
Driving his luxury car around the city, even during the holiday season, Harvey couldn't help but notice that New York still lived up to its reputation. There were always a few incidents—people helping themselves to free merchandise or the occasional gunfight.
But anyone with any experience in the city knew better than to mess with a guy like Harvey, especially when they saw his flashy car and distinctive plates. Sure, they might be quick to fight over respect, but nobody's throwing their life away for pride alone.
Before becoming friends with New York's elite—like Tony Stark—Harvey had always been the type to take his car out and just drive around. In all those years, nothing dangerous had ever happened to him, which told people he wasn't someone to mess with. And now that he was known to be close friends with Tony Stark, former arms dealer and CEO of Stark Industries, the word had spread all over New York.
Even though Tony had shifted his business toward energy, the man was still a legend, and his connections with the military were well-known. The hustlers of New York weren't stupid; they'd push around regular people, but no one with any sense would cross someone like Harvey.
Some of New York's underground figures and gangs had already caught wind that Harvey was back in town after a year away. They were quick to lay low, knowing full well that even a stray bullet grazing his car could cost them their lives.
Meanwhile, in certain circles of young women and high society, the news that Harvey was out cruising spread like wildfire. Women began dressing up and hitting the streets, hoping to catch his eye.
With a net worth of over 8 billion dollars, Harvey wasn't just "young and successful"—he was the real deal. He earned tens of millions in dividends alone every year, making him a prime catch for any woman with aspirations of luxury.
And since he wasn't married yet, was exceptionally handsome, and no one had to worry about being labeled "the other woman," Harvey was a hot commodity among New York's beauties.
Harvey, for his part, wasn't opposed to women with makeup. He appreciated when makeup highlighted a woman's natural beauty. But he had no time for women whose makeup made them look like completely different people—he considered that more "renovation" than makeup.
And Harvey was particular about cleanliness. He didn't care how beautiful or famous a woman was; if she wasn't clean, she wasn't for him.
Finding a truly natural beauty in America—a woman who hadn't yet been with anyone—was almost impossible. Harvey wasn't looking for someone untouched, but he wasn't interested in women with too much experience either.
That's why his standards were so high, and why any woman he did choose had to be extraordinary.
Unlike Tony, who had a reputation for sleeping around with every attractive woman he saw, Harvey was patient. He had time, so he wasn't in a rush. He cruised through New York in his convertible, waiting for the right one to come along.
As night began to fall, Harvey continued his casual drive, occasionally pulling over and waiting for women to approach him. Just when he was about to call it a night and head home, a tall, striking brunette caught his eye from a distance. She glanced around nervously before her eyes lit up as she spotted his car.
She hurried over, jogging up to his window.
Her outfit wasn't overly flashy—just a simple black skirt and professional attire that still showed off her curvy figure.
"Are you Harvey Amberlock, the famous young billionaire from New York?" she asked, hesitating for a moment before speaking.
Harvey looked her over. She was beautiful, and her life force was intact—a sign that she was still a virgin.
"I am," Harvey replied, "but you're not my type, so I suggest you don't get any ideas. You should head home."
The woman hesitated before biting her lip and speaking again. "I heard that if you sleep with someone, you give them a lot of money."
"I need money right now, so please, give me a chance."
"Take another look at me and see if I might meet your standards."
She pleaded softly, her voice tinged with desperation.
Harvey sighed. "I've heard the 'I need money' line so many times it's lost all meaning. You can earn money or borrow it. Or find someone else to take care of you."
"You're young and attractive enough. I'm sure plenty of wealthy men would be happy to sponsor you."
Harvey could tell she wasn't genuinely desperate; her look seemed too rehearsed. "But I'm not interested, so you'd better move along."
"Please, I need $100,000 in three days to save someone's life. The banks are closed for the holidays, so even if I wanted to mortgage my house, I can't."
"I could find someone else to help, sure, but I've heard about you—how you always sever ties cleanly after a one-night stand."
"I can't be sure if those other guys would let me go afterward."
"I don't want to ruin my future over $100,000. I've heard you're a man of your word. You don't need to give me millions—just $100,000 will do."
"I'd be willing to stay with you for as long as you want, even for a month if necessary, as long as I can pay the bill. And I promise I won't ever bother you again."
Tears welled up in the young woman's eyes as she grabbed Harvey's hand, pleading with him.
"Get in," Harvey said after a moment's thought.
Without hesitation, the woman got into the car, her face lighting up with relief.
"Thank you, thank you so much," she repeated, gratitude filling her voice.
She had heard that Harvey Amberlock was a man who valued his freedom and preferred a clean break. That meant he wouldn't come after her in the future, and that was the only reason she had approached him.
She had been hoping, against all odds, that she could get the money she needed without compromising the rest of her life.