Chapter 59: Getting Ahead of Tony

I said “Five percent of Stark Industries at thirty-five percent of its current price, and I want the complete blueprints for the Arc Reactor, along with the rights to use and modify the technology.” Obadiah’s expression immediately changed.

“You want five percent of Stark Industries for thirty-five percent of its value?”

“Yes.”

“And you expect me to give you the Arc Reactor on top of that?” I nodded.

“That’s what I said.”

He stared at me for several seconds before leaning back.

“You know I can’t simply hand over five percent of Stark Industries at a fraction of its value.”

“Then don’t.” I shrugged.

“But tomorrow morning, I can start making some calls. Board members, investors, reporters. I’m sure they’ll be very interested to learn that Tony Stark was kidnapped in Afghanistan.”

His expression hardened.

“Chris.”

I ignored the warning in his voice.

“The moment that news becomes public, nobody knows if Tony is alive or dead. Investors panic, the board starts worrying about the future of the company, and people start selling. The stock falls, and I buy whatever I can.”

Obadiah stared at me without saying anything, so I continued, “You need time to prepare everything before the news becomes public. I’m giving you that time, and this is what I want in return.”

His jaw tightened.

“You know this is blackmail.” I raised an eyebrow.

“Blackmail? No. Think of it as a friendly warning between friends.” Obadiah didn’t look amused, but I smiled slightly.

“Besides, if I were actually blackmailing you, I’d probably ask for much more.”

I noticed Helen cover her mouth for a second.

Was she trying not to smile?

Obadiah noticed it too, but he quickly returned his attention to me.

He already understood what would happen if he refused, so there was no reason for me to explain it again.

After a moment, he asked, “Why do you want the Arc Reactor?”

I blinked.

“Because I want one.” Obadiah stared at me.

“For what?”

“It looks cool.”

The room became silent.

Obadiah looked at me like he was waiting for another answer, and I almost smiled.

That really was part of the reason, but it wasn’t the only one.

Tony was going to build a miniature Arc Reactor while he was still in captivity, but nobody knew that except me.

Once I had the original Arc Reactor blueprints, I wouldn’t have to start from nothing.

I already knew the reactor could be made small enough to fit in someone’s hand, and I even knew about the new element Tony would discover years later.

That meant I didn’t have to follow the same path Tony did.

I could skip most of the trial and error, create my own miniature Arc Reactor, improve it with the new element, and patent the finished design before Tony even returned.

And if I did that, as far as the rest of the world was concerned, I would be the creator of the miniature Arc Reactor.

Tony could come back and build his own version afterward, but by then it wouldn’t be a new invention anymore.

I would have already created and patented it.

Obadiah looked toward me.

I could almost see him trying to decide whether it looks cool was actually my reason.

I wasn’t going to give him the real one.

Eventually, he sighed.

Eventually, he sighed.

“Five percent of Stark Industries at thirty-five percent of the current price, along with the Arc Reactor blueprints and the rights to use and modify the technology.”

I smiled.

“Exactly.”

Another long silence followed before Obadiah finally nodded.

“Fine.” I looked toward Helen.

“Prepare everything.”

She immediately picked up the documents beside her and said, “The final agreements should be ready by tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow,” Obadiah repeated as he stood.

He looked at me one final time, and I raised my hand slightly.

“Good seeing you, Obadiah.”

He didn’t respond.

He simply turned around and left, with White following him toward the entrance.

I watched him disappear before looking back down at Gwen.

She was still asleep.

Seriously?

How could she sleep through that entire conversation?

Helen’s voice pulled my attention away from her.

“Chris, we have a problem.”

I looked toward her.

“What?”

“We don’t have enough available money for this.” I blinked.

Oh.

Right.

Even at thirty-five percent of the current price, buying five percent of Stark Industries was still going to cost a ridiculous amount of money.

Most of my wealth wasn’t sitting around as cash waiting for me to spend it.

“Take a loan.” Helen frowned.

“Against Sterling Global?”

“No.” I immediately shook my head.

“Don’t put any company up as collateral.”

“Then what exactly do you want me to use?”

“My personal assets. Everything my grandfather and parents left me that’s legally mine. Bonds, stocks, properties, cars, anything that can be used as collateral. Check how much we can get from all of it.”

Helen stared at me for a moment.

“Chris, you’re talking about putting a considerable amount of your personal wealth at risk.”

“I know. Talk to several banks and find out which ones will give us the best terms and the highest amount. Use our existing relationships, preferred-client treatment, fees, commissions, whatever legal incentives are available. I want to know the maximum amount we can raise without putting any of the companies up as collateral.”

Helen still didn’t look completely happy about it, but before she could say anything else, White returned.

I looked toward her.

“White, you’re helping Helen with this.”

“Of course, My Lord.”

“But listen to her. She understands our finances and knows the people we’re dealing with better than you do right now. If she tells you how something should be done, listen. And if there’s something you don’t understand, ask her.”

White nodded.

“Yes, My Lord.”

I looked directly at her.

“I mean it. I don’t care about pride or ego. I want this done perfectly. Don’t make something harder just because you don’t want to admit that you don’t know how to do it.”

White lowered her head slightly.

“I understand, My Lord. I will make sure everything is completed properly.”

“Good.” I looked toward Helen.

“Tell her who she needs to contact.”

Helen nodded, and White walked over to her.

The two began discussing the banks our family had dealt with before, which people White should contact, which institutions were likely to offer better terms, and which ones weren’t worth wasting time on.

I stopped paying attention after that.

This was exactly why I had Helen, and White could learn everything she needed from her.

After several minutes, White seemed to have everything she needed and was about to leave when she stopped.

“My Lord, Miss Pepper Potts should arrive by six.”

Oh, right.

Pepper.

I had almost forgotten about her.

“Okay.”

White bowed slightly.

“I will begin contacting the banks.”

“Go.”

…………….

Author’s Note (28|08|2026)

I’ve seen the comments about the direction of Chris’s relationship with Gwen and Helen, so I’m leaving the final choice to you guys.

I’m putting up a poll that will be available to everyone.

The poll will stay open for three days, and the option with the most votes will be the direction I follow going forward.

After the three days are over, the result will be final, and I won’t be taking any more requests to change the relationship direction later.

So if you care about where this goes, make sure you vote now.