Chapter 27:

Tony POV-

I groaned, Danny had assured me that Vlad would not be late, which meant that I had to actually be at my office before him to "prevent him to getting extra access to my office without me there". Sure enough, at 11:30 on the dot, Pepper rang up to tell me that Vlad was on his way to my office, and, not ten seconds later, Mr. High-and-mighty himself, strolled through the door.

"Well, hello Mr. Stark, long time no see," he said, extending his hand with a false cordial smile.

I shook his hand, not really wanting to, but not letting my reluctance show on my face. The specter deflector didn't zap him because it was only set to affect his ghost form and other ghosts, but I couldn't help but want to zap the smug smile off of his face.

"Yeah, I have to admit, after the way things ended last time, I didn't expect you to contact me anytime soon," I told him, leaning back in my chair as he took the seat opposite of me.

"Oh that?" he brushed it off, but I managed to catch a glimpse of anger in his features. However he was so good as masking his emotions, had I not been looking for it, I would have missed it completely, "I realize now that I had been completely foolish in my last proposition and now I have a much better idea for you."

"I hope so," I replied, easily mimicking his false sincerity.

He must have remembered that I don't like being handed things because, when he pulled a large leather-bound portfolio out of his briefcase, he set it on the desk and slid it across to me.

I picked the book up, opening it. I skimmed the pages. From what I could tell, this "better idea" was very much based on the last one, I think he might have only changed the wording around. Of course, in this presentation, it appeared to be that I would be the one benefiting, and, if I had been anybody else, I might have been won over by this idea, but, fortunately, I am not. Vlad took my momentary "distraction" to have a conversation with me.

"So, I hear tell, that you have recently adopted a daughter," he broached the subject. I tried to act nonplussed but I couldn't help the slight tension that came to my shoulders at his mention of Danielle.

"Yes, I have," I answered simply, pretending to still be reading the portfolio.

He smiled. His smile had a creepy edge to it. "Children are so wonderful, aren't they?" he asked me, in what I felt was a rhetorical manner considering he kept talking immediately after, "Why, I always wanted children, but I never seemed to…earn the right woman," he said.

I looked up to acknowledge that I was "listening" but then continued to read the file.

"How about I take you, your assistant, and your daughter out to dinner tonight," he told me, man those kids are good.

"I don't know Vlad," I said, knowing that he would insist.

"I insist, and I won't take no for an answer," he smiled creepily again.

Suddenly my computer beep. I momentarily set the file down and opened the screen to my laptop.

"I've been having all kinds of security problems lately," I informed him, "So I invested in an even better system that covers everything. Oh…looks like I've got something, I turned the screen to show him the outside of my house where two green birds where trying to force their way in.

"Mr. Stark, living in the most haunted city in the country, I feel I must warn you that those look like ghosts to me," Vlad told me, with false concern.

"Hmm…" I pretended to think for a moment, "My security installer told me that my problem might be paranormal…I, of course, didn't believe him, but I'm glad I allowed him to install the ghost proof security anyway," I laughed, "Let's see what happens when I do this," I clicked the enter key and a green beam shot out at the birds, knocking them out of the sky. I grinned, but I saw, Vlad cringe a little.

"Well, I guess I won't be having those problems anymore," I laughed and Vlad joined in my laugher.

I closed my laptop and set it aside, once again picking up the file and then setting the portfolio back down.

"So do we have a deal," he asked, hopefully, getting over his surprise at seeing my new security system.

"I'm sorry Vlad, I told him, pushing the file across the desk. We just don't have a place for Vladco in Stark Industries. You understand don't you," I added.

He pursed his lips, "Of course Mr. Stark, I understand," he told me, standing up to leave.

"So what do you say about Dinner at the Chart House tonight?" I asked.

"Of course, Mr. Stark, how about six thirty-ish," he asked. I subtly clicked the sensitivity on my belt up a notch, and stood up.

"Six thirty-ish it is," I agreed shaking his hand. I saw him jump a little when my hand touched his.

"Oh, sorry about that, static electricity is a bitch isn't it?" I asked with a laugh.

He laughed too in a fake manner and somewhat forced.

"See you tonight, Mr. Stark," he waved as he walked out of my office.

Vlad POV-

I will admit, I had been taken back by the fact that he accepted my invitation to dinner even after rejecting my proposal. Ah, well, only a minor set back to my original plan.

'Well,' I thought 'That security might also hinder my plans for a few hours, but, I will have the advantage because it would appear that Danielle has not told her 'new' father her biggest secret,' I grinned to myself at this fact.

'I wonder if she even knows that I am here,' I pondered the possibility.

"She will be in for a surprise tonight at dinner then," I said, as I got into the limo, driving with it's tinted black windows back to the finest hotel in Malibu that money can buy to prepare for dinner.