Stark Industries Headquarters
The phone slipped from Pepper's numb fingers, hitting the polished surface of her desk with a soft, final thud. The line was dead. "Tony is missing." The words were an impossible echo in the silence of her office. No. No, that can't be right. Arthur must have it wrong. Her hands, resting on the desk, trembled slightly, but her gaze was fixed on a point in the distance, unblinking. Tony was a genius, a force of nature, an anchor in her chaotic world. You couldn't just lose a man like that. It was absurd.
Breathe. A small voice inside her head, firm and familiar, cut through the mounting hysteria. She closed her eyes, forcing herself to take a long, deliberate breath. When she opened them again, her gaze had lost its frantic quality and was now filled with a cold, clear focus. Her shoulders straightened, and her jaw tightened into a rigid line. There was no time for this. She had a job to do.
She went to Arthur's office, her steps quick and purposeful. She didn't have to search; the top-left drawer was her destination. Her hand went straight to the sleek, encrypted drive, her fingers closing around it like it was the only thing that mattered. She returned to her own office, the distance feeling like a million miles, and locked the door.
She inserted the drive into her laptop. A single, unassuming file appeared. She double-clicked it, and the screen came to life, the words hitting her like a physical blow.
[PROJECT PHOENIX]
[CONTINGENCY SCENARIO: HOSTILE TAKEOVER & CORPORATE CRISIS]
A tiny gasp escaped her lips. He actually had a plan for this. A real plan. For this specific eventuality. She scrolled down, her eyes wide as she read the clinical, detached language.
[Trigger: Moderate Scenario, Potential Hostile Takeover attempt by means of Legal or Criminal setup. Worst case scenario: Attempt on Life or Abduction.]
[Reaction: Collapse of Stock Price]
[Plan of Action:]
[Activate Trojan Horse mode: Complete Takeover of Shell Companies Network of Suspected Conspirators.]
[Probable Actions of Judas: Sale of Controlling Shares to Shell Companies to avoid losses and laundering of Illegal Funds.]
[In this scenario, let the bastards bleed, approve sale only after 60% drop in Price, and temporarily hold the Controlling Stocks until Market stabilization.]
[Additional objective: Once shares are acquired at a discounted price, transfer remaining funds to XXXX305 and reroute to personal account.]
[Abort in case of discovery.]
[Happy hunting.]
Pepper stared at the document, a wave of profound relief washing over her. It was terrifying, and it was brilliant. Happy hunting? She let out a small, humorless laugh. She read the first instruction again, a fire of determination igniting in her chest. She had a purpose now. She was not just waiting for Tony to come back; she was making sure he had company to return to.
She closed the document, her hands no longer shaking. She reached for her phone, a new, steely resolve on her face. It was time to get to work.
___________________________________________________________
Unnamed Military Base, Afghanistan
The debriefing room was a bare, functional space. The walls were a stark, institutional white, and the air was thin and sterile. The only sounds were the distant hum of generators and the rhythmic tapping of a pen on a legal pad. Major Harrison sat across from Arthur, his face a hard, unreadable mask. He wore a crisp uniform, a sharp contrast to the dust-covered fatigues of the soldiers outside. Another officer, a Captain, sat to Harrison's left, silently taking notes.
"Mr. Steele," Harrison began, his voice flat. "Let's start from the top. You were in the convoy. Can you confirm the location of the attack?"
Arthur sat still, his hands resting on the tabletop. He had his professional mask on—the one he used in courtrooms. "I can confirm we were on a well-paved, two-lane road in the Salang Pass. The attack occurred approximately twenty minutes after we left the base."
Harrison leaned forward, his eyes locking on Arthur's. "And what did you observe? Did you see the hostile combatants? Their armaments?"
"I was in the lead vehicle," Arthur said, his voice calm and even. "My view of the ambush was limited. I saw flashes of light from the ridge line and heard the explosions. I was instructed to stay low and remain in the vehicle. The objective was to return to base safely." He paused, his Rhetoric skill subtly guiding his next words. "I trust the military's official report will have a more detailed account."
The Major's pen stopped tapping. "We're interested in your account, Mr. Steele. As the only civilian witness." He laced his fingers together, a gesture of controlled patience. "You were quite vocal with Colonel Rhodes about the convoy's position. Did you know something, Mr. Steele? Was there a reason you wanted to be in the lead vehicle?"
Arthur met his gaze, his mind racing through possible scenarios. He knew the Major was trying to paint him as a liability, someone with foreknowledge. The truth would sound insane. He had to pivot. He would use their own language against them.
"Major," Arthur said, his tone shifting to one of polite concern. "With all due respect, my concern was one of legal liability. A high-value corporate client, Mr. Stark, was traveling in a rear vehicle. Given the known risks in this region, my advice to the client would have been to travel in the most secure position available. It's a standard legal precaution."
A flicker of something—disbelief? annoyance? —crossed Harrison's face. "Standard legal precaution? You're telling me you feared for his life before the attack?"
"I'm telling you I feared a legal nightmare," Arthur replied, his voice calm. "Had Mr. Stark's vehicle been hit, the lawsuits against the military and Stark Industries would have been... insurmountable. My duty is to mitigate that risk, Major. It's why I was brought on this trip."
The captain scribbled something on his pad. Harrison's jaw tightened. Arthur had just shifted the conversation from a matter of military failure to one of corporate liability. He had framed his "foreknowledge" as simple, professional due diligence. He wasn't a hero or a fool; he was a lawyer doing his job.
"Mr. Steele," Harrison said, his voice now a low, chilling whisper. "You understand the... sensitivity of this matter. A full report on this incident could have dire consequences. For a lot of people."
The subtext was as clear as the sterile air: a threat. He was telling Arthur to keep quiet. Arthur remained unmoving, his face a mask of placid professionalism. He leaned forward slightly, his posture subtly conveying a sense of command.
"Major," Arthur said, his voice softer, but with a hard, unyielding edge. "I am a civilian. I have no access to the chain of command, nor do I have any intention of making a statement. I am a witness, and as my client's legal representative, my priority is ensuring his interests are protected." He let the last sentence hang in the air, a silent implication that Tony Stark's interests were already being protected back home. "I trust you understand that a civilian witness disappearing on a military base would raise far more questions than my testimony ever could."
He could see the calculation in Harrison's eyes. Just then, the door swung open. Colonel Rhodes stood in the doorway, his face grim. He looked at Arthur, then at Major Harrison.
"Major, my apologies," Rhodes said, his voice a low, firm command. "Mr. Steele is a civilian asset. His presence here is no longer required. His flight back to New York is ready for departure."
Harrison's face was unreadable. He simply nodded. "Understood, Colonel."
Arthur stood up, but before he left, he turned to Harrison. "Major, for the record," he said, a small, professional smile touching his lips, "I look forward to reading your official report."
The helicopter ride to the airfield was a quiet, turbulent blur. The roar of the rotors was a welcome sound, a white noise that drowned out his thoughts. He looked out the window at the endless, desolate landscape. Tony was out there somewhere. He knew it. He felt it. And he had a plan to ensure he came back to a company—and a legacy—that was still his.
He was on a flight to New York within the hour. The jet was a sleek, private military transport, a ghost in the sky. He sat in a plush leather seat. The first thing he did was pull out his laptop, and with a few rapid keystrokes, he used his personal wealth—a staggering $500 million—to place a massive short position on Stark Industries' stock. He had acquired this wealth by collecting a generous inheritance from a lot of dead criminals with lots of Cayman accounts. He started shorting just as soon as the news of Tony's disappearance broke. The chaos of the last few days was a distant, surreal memory. He had survived.
___________________________________________________________
Stark Industries Headquarters
"JARVIS," she said, her voice a low, steady murmur. "Are you there?"
A polite, resonant voice filled her office. "At your service, Ms. Potts. I am detecting an unusual spike in your stress levels. Is everything alright?"
Pepper took a steadying breath. No, it isn't. She didn't have time for euphemisms. She needed him to understand. "JARVIS, I need you to listen to me very carefully. Turn on a secure channel. It's about Mr. Stark."
A beat of silence followed, a fraction of a second too long. The calm resonance in JARVIS's voice was replaced with a subtle, almost imperceptible tremor. "Has there been an update on Sir's status?"
"He's missing," Pepper said, the words a difficult admission. "There was an ambush in Afghanistan."
The AI's reaction was immediate and heartbreaking. The lights in the office, tied to the system, flickered once. "I see." The voice was now a cold, sterile monotone, a deliberate suppression of emotion. "I am running a search. There are no recent communications. No pings from his personal locator beacon... no, that is incorrect. No communications at all."
"JARVIS," Pepper said, her voice softer. "I need you to focus. I have a plan to secure the company. It's a contingency, a legal framework to protect Mr. Stark's legacy. It's called Project Phoenix."
She projected the document onto her office's main screen, showing him the file Arthur had created. The AI went silent for a moment as it absorbed the data, running billions of calculations in a nanosecond.
"Fascinating," JARVIS said, the emotion returning, but now it was a clinical admiration. "The legal analysis is flawless. This 'Trojan Horse' mode… it is a brilliant exploitation of corporate loopholes." The lights in the office returned to normal. "I will ensure the board of directors remains unaware of the transfer of ownership of their shell companies. The deception must be maintained."
A new voice, frantic and out of breath, broke the tension. "Pepper!" Happy Hogan stumbled through the open doorway, his suit disheveled, his eyes wide with panic. "I just heard from the military. They said… they said Tony… they said he's gone. It's all over the news."
Pepper simply nodded. She met his gaze, her expression a mix of weary empathy and firm authority. "I know, Happy. Arthur called from Afghanistan. He told me what happened."
Happy's face crumpled with a mixture of confusion and relief. "Arthur? You knew? But why… why didn't he call me?"
"He was under surveillance, and even telling me was risky. He said he had to make sure I knew what was happening here," she said, her voice calm and steady. She walked to Happy and placed a hand on his arm, her touch reassuring. "Happy, listen to me. This isn't a time to panic. I need you to do your job. You're still Tony's head of security, and I need you to be strong... for both of us. Tony… he's a genius. He's a survivor. We have to believe in him. We have to believe he'll find a way back."
Happy's shoulders slumped slightly, his initial panic draining away, replaced by a quiet, desperate hope. He nodded, a single, decisive motion. "You got it, Pepper. Whatever you need." He turned and left, a new sense of purpose in his stride.
Pepper returned to her desk; her gaze fixed on the screen.
"JARVIS," she said, her voice full of steel. "Let's begin. When the market opens, execute Phase 1. Let the board's stocks bleed."
"As you wish, Ms. Potts," JARVIS replied, the lights in the office a brilliant, victorious blue.
____________________________________________________________
New York City
Arthur got out of the car, the cool, New York air a shock to his senses. He looked up at the familiar skyline, at the towering Stark Tower. The logo, usually so bright and arrogant, was now a somber, muted light.
He went to his home office, powered on his laptop, and pulled up the news. The headlines screamed "Tony Stark Missing," but the stock market reports were even more telling. Stark Industries' stock had plummeted to historic lows.
A new notification shimmered in his peripheral vision.
[Timeline Adjustment Log]
* [Event: Project Phoenix Initiated. Status: In Progress.]
* [Phase 1: The Initial Shock & Covert Transfer. Status: Complete.]
* [Your actions have a low probability of causing a Timeline Correction. Objective: Maintain Covert Status.]
Just as he was about to lean back in his chair, the doorbell buzzed, a sharp, insistent sound.
Arthur paused. It was late, who could it be at this time? He went to the intercom and pressed the button.
"Yes?" he said, his voice cautious.
A calm, professional voice replied. "Mr. Steele? My name is Agent Phil Coulson. I'm with the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division. We're here to debrief you about Tony Stark's disappearance."
He took a deep breath. "The... Strategic Homeland Intervention, what was that again? Division? I'm sorry, Agent. I have no idea who you are or what your organization is. And if you have any questions, you can direct them to Stark Industries' legal department. I'm a civilian, and a lawyer. My client's disappearance is a sensitive matter."
"We understand that Mr. Steele," Coulson said, his voice unwavering. "But this isn't a legal matter. This is a matter of national security. We just want to ask a few questions about your time on the ground in Afghanistan."
Arthur felt oddly at ease. Intimidation tactics, he smirked, Classic S.H.I.E.L.D. They were trying to corner him. He had to stand his ground.
"National security?" Arthur asked, a hint of steel in his voice.
"Agent, I'm not a public official. I was on the ground as a legal consultant. If you have any questions about the military's protocols, you can ask them. As for my testimony, I've already spoken to the military. And I'll only do so again with a legal warrant present. And I suggest you do the same, as you don't want to get into a legal battle with Stark Industries."
There was a long pause on the other end of the intercom. Arthur held his breath.
"I understand, Mr. Steele," Coulson said, his voice calm and professional. "Thank you for your time. Have a good evening."
Arthur waited for a full minute, listening for footsteps. Nothing. He went to his window, peering down at the street below. A black sedan with tinted windows pulled away from the curb, a ghost in the night.
Pepper's New York Apartment
Arthur stepped into Pepper's apartment, the air warm and filled with the faint scent of flowers. He saw her standing in the living room, a glass of whiskey in her hand, the city lights of New York a soft, comforting glow behind her.
"Thank you for coming," she said, her voice a little shaky. "The news... It's everywhere. I was so worried about Tony."
Arthur nodded, his own exhaustion palpable. "He's a survivor, Ms. Potts. We just need to give him time." He walked toward her, the tension of the past forty-eight hours beginning to melt away.
"It's done. Phase 1 is complete. We've secured the shares. They have no idea what's coming."
Pepper let out a long, slow breath, a sense of profound relief washing over her. She looked at him, her eyes welling up with tears. "You… you saved his company. I don't know how to thank you for what you did."
"You don't have to," Arthur said quietly. "We're a team."
Her expression shifted to one of quiet contemplation. "The board members… do you think any of them will get suspicious?"
Arthur shook his head, a wry smile on his lips. "It doesn't matter, Ms. Potts. This wasn't about them being suspicious. It was about them being greedy. They all tried to launder money and save themselves. Their own guilt is the best cover we have."
"As if Jarvis would let them find out," She snorted.
Arthur put on a confused look, "Jarvis?"
Pepper just stared at him, impressed by his cynical pragmatism. "It's better if Tony introduces you."
He nods, "And Arthur..." Pepper calls A small, genuine smile touched her lips. "Call me Pepper."
He meets her gaze, his own smile now reaching his eyes. "Of course, Pepper." He gave her a final, reassuring nod. "Take care of yourself, and trust in Tony. He'll find his way back."
With that, he turned and left, the room now a little more hopeful as Pepper lay down on the couch as exhaustion in her body wore off a little.
______________________________________________________________
A/N. Muhahaha..!!!! 15K words at last, phew...!!
I am a little excited, honestly. This was my first successful multiple POV chapter, which were the failed ones you as?
Not telling, bite me... they are part of my dark history, and I will continue to pretend they don't exist.
So... now It's time for "pulls out a water gun." Give me the money bitch!! Hahaha, I am going to be rich.
Arthur cleared his throat. "You mean me, right?"
Shut up!!! or I will turn you into a femdom, let me have my fantasy properly.
'pouting' Yes, he is going to be rich, just in case someone asks me about his superpower.
And before you ask, no, I did not dump the $500 mil at once, just set a shorting plan in motion. I am dumb, not stupid...wait, isn't that the same thing? Anyways Ciao!