Chapter 123: The Truth Unmasked

A sly grin stretched across Tony's face as he hung up the phone. Von's clipped response, laced with barely concealed frustration, only amplified his amusement. The truth, however, was a delicious secret Tony held close to his chest. He knew, with absolute certainty, who had leaked the experimental drug. The red pill incident had become a public relations nightmare, the funding for their little science project drying up faster than a desert flower. Tony revelled in Augusto's squirming, a silent payback for years of manipulation and veiled threats. Maeve's voice broke through his reverie. "Dinner tonight, Tony? We haven't had a chance to catch up in ages." He forced a smile, the playful glint in his eyes fading. "Thanks, Maeve, but I'm afraid I'm already booked. Meeting Natasha for... something." The lie tasted bitter on his tongue, but it provided a convenient excuse. "Raincheck, how about next week?" The amusement still lingered in Tony's eyes as he tapped away on his phone, compo