57: Hammer

The next day.

Los Santos, Flushing, Stark Expo.

During the day, it was time for ordinary people to visit; everyone could enter and see by buying a ticket.

They could play and admire the most cutting-edge technology of the era.

The entire Expo showcased not only military items but also various civilian appliances.

Even radios and tablecloths were available.

It was a complete catalog of Stark Industries products.

And at night.

That was when the Stark Expo truly began.

Celebrities from all walks of life, capitalists, politicians, and reporters.

All gathered here.

Performances were continuously staged.

Sizzling dancers, dazzling lights, famous stars, and a stage full of technological flair, all highlighting the financial power of Stark Industries.

Below the stage, those who were qualified to enter, accompanied by their families and female companions.

Had already nearly filled all the seats.

This also indirectly showed the status of Stark Industries.

At this moment, there were six people who seemed out of place in this environment.

Joa, Polaris, Jill, Hank, DeFrey.

And Joa's female assistant.

The dynamic music, the surrounding reveling students, and the families of various celebrities.

Made Joa occasionally feel that he was getting old.

He couldn't blend in.

He preferred a slightly quieter environment.

"Boss, I think you should be more serious about your work."

"Since you took over the company, you've only been there less than five times in total."

Joa seemed indifferent to Christine's words.

"I trust your ability to handle everything in the company."

"If you want a promotion, I can appoint you as the company's CEO."

"I can also give you some shares, so you'll be more motivated to work."

To be honest, Christine tonight, who was his female assistant.

Truly made Joa's eyes light up.

Carefully applied makeup, elegant clothes.

Her appearance and figure were just like Kristen Stewart, the lead actress in Twilight when she was 18, before he transmigrated.

Even their names were similar.

If he were to compare, Joa felt that Polaris and Jill were even slightly inferior to Christine tonight.

"Christine, to be honest, you are very beautiful tonight."

"When I saw you before, did you deliberately put on such ugly makeup?"

"A thick pair of black-rimmed glasses covering half your face, a distorted figure, did you deliberately dress like that?"

Hearing his boss's compliment, Christine couldn't help but curve her lips into a smile.

"Sweet talk won't make my work any less."

"As for the other question... work is work, life is life."

"Moreover, as you know, beautiful women often encounter various troubles in the workplace."

Upon hearing this, Joa ignored the seemingly man-eating gazes of Polaris and Jill beside him and smiled as he looked at Christine.

"So, now you're showing your true self in front of me, can I interpret that as you wanting to skip the CEO step and directly become the boss's wife?"

Covering her mouth with a light laugh, Christine pointed to Polaris and Jill.

"I don't think they will agree."

"Boss, before you make a move on me, why don't you deal with them first?"

Polaris and Jill were half-coaxed, half-snatched by Joa in the first place.

A slight expression of jealousy or dissatisfaction was the most they would do.

If Joa truly fell for another woman, what could they do? They could only accept it resignedly.

Just as Joa was about to go further and ask Christine for a deeper conversation tonight.

Justin Hammer, wearing black-rimmed glasses, and his bodyguards behind him walked towards Joa and the others.

"Woah, look who it is?"

"The new boss of the Meryweather Group, once famous?"

"I think we must have a lot in common."

Saying that, Hammer was about to sit in the seat opposite Joa, next to Christine.

Seeing this, Hank, who had been standing guard, raised his hand to stop the other party.

"Sir, please step back."

Hammer, who was stopped, didn't even look at Hank, but raised his eyebrows and looked at Joa.

"Christine, I think you should sit next to me and make a seat for Mr. Hammer."

Hearing this, Christine shrugged, walked to Joa's side, and sat on the sofa on the right side that Polaris had vacated.

And Hank also appropriately took a step back.

Polaris sat next to Jill, and seeing Joa naturally put his arm around Christine, she whispered to Jill.

"This is a formidable rival; she met Joa even before I did."

Hearing this, Jill, who was already taken by Joa, pouted and said nonchalantly.

"We can't stop him, let him be. Anyway, given our current state, there's no such thing as draining Joa dry; we'll enjoy everything we're supposed to enjoy."

"It's just one more person, no big deal."

Hearing this, Polaris blinked, deep in thought.

It seemed true.

Their current state could no longer be constrained or measured by human moral standards.

If they were to be judged strictly, they might even be sentenced to the abolished death penalty.

"Hmm, then I also need to understand her personality, to make sure she's not someone difficult to get along with."

While Polaris and Jill were chatting.

After Hammer chatted with Joa for a few sentences, he stated the purpose of coming to see Joa.

"To make the Meryweather Group, which was on the verge of bankruptcy, regain its vitality, I have to say, you do have some ability."

Hearing Hammer's praise, Joa scoffed, teasing Christine to himself, not bothering to respond to the other party.

"Hey, Qiao, listen, I came to you this time to talk about teaming up against Stark Industries."

"Aren't you interested?"

Hearing Hammer finally get to the point.

Joa's interest was piqued.

He was all for messing with the sharp-tongued Tony Stark, and he was happy to participate.

Seeing Joa show interest, Hammer smiled.

Then he motioned for his bodyguard to take out a business card and place it on the coffee table, and Hammer spoke.

"Aren't you going to give me one of your business cards?"

Hearing this, Christine was about to open her bag to take out her business card and hand it to the other party.

Joa spoke first.

"Give him my number."

Hearing this, Christine was a little surprised, but more delighted.

Had the boss finally decided to work?

Instead of dumping all the work on her, leaving her no time to rest!

It seemed that her elaborate attire tonight had been very effective.

Hammer took the business card Christine placed on the coffee table, his gaze sweeping over the three female companions sitting beside Joa.

Finally, his eyes rested on Joa, and he spoke.

"I have to say, your taste is excellent; you're quite blessed with beauties."

With that, Hammer left, satisfied.

There were too many people at the Stark Expo today, so he would privately talk to Joa about how to bring down Stark Industries.

Hammer's parting words gave DeFrey an opportunity to show off, and he quickly spoke.

"Boss, should we take him out?"

Hank had beaten him to it earlier, otherwise, he would have wanted to stop Hammer too.

"Take out, take out, can't your brain hold anything else besides killing?"

"With your current body, if you do drugs, you could eat tons of them and there would be no problem at all."

Hearing this, DeFrey blinked, looking astonished.

'Oh, right, why didn't I think of that?'