"I accept," Alex said.
"When do I start?"
"Next Monday. Nora will handle the paperwork and your security clearance. You'll report to Dr. Rajesh Kumar in the R&D strategy division." Norman stood. Extended his hand. "Welcome to Oscorp, Mr. Carter. I look forward to seeing what you're capable of."
Alex stood and shook his hand. Norman's grip was firm. Almost too firm. Like he was testing Alex's strength.
"Thank you for the opportunity, Mr. Osborn. I won't disappoint you."
"See that you don't."
The meeting was over. Nora appeared to escort Alex out. They spent another thirty minutes on paperwork.
Confidentiality agreements that Alex read carefully with his enhanced memory. Tax forms. Security clearance applications. Emergency contact information.
By the time Alex left Oscorp Tower, it was nearly 6 PM. The sun was setting. The city lights were starting to come on.
He retrieved his phone from the security locker and walked out into the Manhattan evening.
'I did it,' Alex thought. 'I'm inside Oscorp. I have access.'
But even as satisfaction washed over him, his mind was already working ahead. Planning. Strategizing.
He needed to be careful. Norman Osborn was brilliant and paranoid. Any hint that Alex was there for reasons beyond the job would be disastrous.
He needed to build trust slowly. Prove his value. Gain more access gradually. And all while researching what he actually needed.
Information about their human enhancement programs. Details on the regenerative formulas.
Data on their experiments and especially their failures.
And he needed to prepare for the field trip. For Peter's transformation. For the moment when everything would change for his friend.
Alex pulled out his phone as he walked toward the subway.
Saturday night. Felicia's party. That was still coming.
But first, he had work to do.
---
The next two days passed in a blur of preparation. Alex studied Oscorp's public research papers. Learned everything he could about their corporate structure. Prepared for his first day on Monday.
But Saturday evening arrived regardless. Time for Felicia's party.
Alex stood outside an exclusive high-rise building in Manhattan's Upper East Side at 7:55 PM. The address Felicia had sent him.
A doorman in a pristine uniform eyed him suspiciously. "Can I help you?"
"I'm here for Felicia Hardy's gathering. Apartment 34B."
The doorman checked a list. "Name?"
"Alex Carter."
The man's expression shifted slightly. "Go ahead, Mr. Carter. Elevator to the thirty-fourth floor."
The lobby was all marble and gold. The elevator was faster and smoother than anything Alex had experienced. Quiet music played from hidden speakers.
He reached the thirty-fourth floor. Found apartment 34B. The door was slightly open. Music pulsed from inside. Not loud. Expensive sound systems that filled the space without being obnoxious.
Alex pushed the door open and walked in.
The penthouse was stunning. Floor-to-ceiling windows with views across the city. Modern furniture that probably cost more than a car. Art on the walls that looked museum quality. Everything screamed wealth and taste.
About twenty people were scattered through the main room. All young. Late teens or early twenties. All dressed expensively. All moving with the casual confidence of people who had never worried about money.
Alex recognized a few faces from school. Children of wealthy families. The kind of kids who drove cars that cost more than most people's houses.
Felicia stood near the windows talking to a tall guy with perfectly styled hair. She wore a black dress that probably cost what Alex made in a month. Her silver-blonde hair caught the light.
She saw Alex enter. Her face lit up with genuine pleasure.
"Alex!" She excused herself from the other conversation and walked over. "You came. I wasn't entirely sure you would."
"You invited me. Would have been rude not to show up."
Felicia smiled. "Come on. Let me introduce you to people."
The next hour was strange. Felicia introduced Alex to her social circle. They were polite but clearly confused about why he was there. Someone who didn't dress in designer clothes. Who didn't have a trust fund or family connections.
But Felicia's endorsement carried weight. If she thought Alex was interesting, they would give him a chance.
Alex observed everything. He cataloged details in his mind. Body language. Conversations. The drugs that were being passed around discreetly. The alcohol that flowed freely despite everyone being underage.
This wasn't just a party. It was a glimpse into a world Alex had never experienced. Old money. New money. Criminal money. All mixing together in one expensive apartment.
Around 10 PM, Felicia grabbed his arm.
"Come with me. I want to show you something."
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