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  Nero sat at the polished round table in Stark Industries, his posture rexed as if he were merely a casual discussion rather than a tense shareholder meeting. Warren sat a few seats away, and although they both acted as if they didn’t know each other. Around the table, other familiar faces sat, most notably Obadiah Stane, whose presence filled the room with a heavy, almost oppressive tension. This meeting was Obadiah's st-ditch effort to rein in Tony Stark, to vince him that ceasing ons produ was not just i a financial disaster waiting to happen.

  Tony was te, as usual, leaving the room to fill with idle chatter and the faint king of gsses as shareholders mingled, f alliances or sharpening their knives, depending on how they viewed the uping discussion. Nero, however, remained silent, his eyes calmly sing the room. The days of hiding in the shadows were far behind him. Gohe times when he had to worry about someone like Kingpin notig him. If he wanted, he could erase Kingpin from existeh a mere thought. But power wasn’t about ag impulsively. He’d learhat patience was a on in itself, and he wasn’t about to cause a power vacuum that would draw more i lives into the chaos. Kingpin would live a little longer, not out of mercy, but because his existeill served a purpose.

  Warren caught Nero’s eye for a brief moment before turning away, a small, nearly imperceptible nod exged betweehey pyed their roles well, strangers in a crowded room, both fully aware of the game they were part of. Warren knew Nero’s strength, though he had only seen glimpses of it. The true extent of what Nero could do was something he kept closely guarded, even from his allies.

  The versation around them shifted as the doors opened, and Tony Stark finally strolled in, a smug grin on his face as if he were pletely unaware of the storm brewing in the room. Or perhaps he simply didn’t care. He was Tony Stark, after all—charming, brilliant, and reckless, a bination that made him both admired and hated by those around him.

  Tony didn’t apologize for his tardiness. Instead, he dropped into his chair, his attention focused on Obadiah, whose expression remaiern and unyielding. The room fell silent as everyoook their seats, all eyes now owo most powerful men in Stark Industries.

  Obadiah leaned forward, his voice cutting through the tension like a kony, we o talk about your ret decisions. Ceasing ons produ—it’s a mistake. A catastrophic mistake. The board o hear you out.”

  Tony looked unimpressed, almost bored, as he responded. “Obie, I’ve already made my decision. We’re done making ons. It’s over.”

  Obadiah’s jaw tightened, but he kept his posure. “This isn’t just about you, Tony. This is about the pany. About the shareholders, the employees—people whose livelihoods depend on Stark Industries tinuing to do what it does best.”

  Nero leaned ba his chair, the exge with a faint smile. The power struggle between Tony and Obadiah was a fasating dance, ohat Nero had been anticipating for some time. Tony was a wild card, uable and driven by emotions that most people couldn’t grasp. But Obadiah—he was a known quantity, a man whose motivatioransparent, if only to those who knew how to read them.

  The tension in the room was thick as Obadiah tinued, his voice growing more forceful. “You think you’re doing the right thing, but you’re leading this pany into ruin. The board won’t stand for it, Tony. They’ll push back, and when they do, you’ll be left with nothing.”

  Tony leaned back, crossing his arms as he met Obadiah’s gaze head-on. “I’m not here to make everyone happy, Obie. I’m here to make a difference. And if that means burning this pany to the ground and rebuilding it from the ashes, so be it.”

  A murmur ran through the room, Nero’s eyes narrowing slightly. Tony’s words were bold, but they weren’t just empty bravado. There was a vi behind them, ohat Nerony wasn’t just challenging the status quo—he was deg war on it.

  Obadiah opened his mouth to retort, but Tony cut him off, his tone sharp. “I’m done justifying myself. This is the new dire of Stark Industries, and if you ’t get on board, maybe it’s time for you to find another seat.”

  The room went dead quiet. Everyone could feel the weight of the moment pressing down on those present. This wasn’t just a disagreement—it was a battle for the soul of Stark Industries.

  Obadiah sat back, his expression dark and unreadable. “You’re making a mistake, Tony,” he said quietly, but the threat was clear. This was far from over.

  Tony didn’t respond, iurning his attention to the rest of the board, his voice taking on a more measured tone. “Stark Industries will adapt. We’ll innovate, find new markets, and push the boundaries of what’s possible. But we will not be defined by the mistakes of the past. We will not be ons manufacturers. Not anymore.”

  Nero couldn’t help but admire Tony’s audacity. The man was reckless, yes, but there was a vision behind his as that went beyond profit and loss. It was a vision that resonated with Nero, even if their methods differed.

  Obadiah, sensing the tides turning against him, decided to call for a vote. "Raise your hands if you support my position," he decred, lifting his hand fidently. A few hands followed his, though not as many as he hoped. His gaze shifted to those who remained silent, their disfort evident under his intense scrutiny.

  One of the shareholders spoke up, clearly uneasy. "We prefer to remairal."

  Obadiah's lips tightened as he turned back to Tony. "The board vote stands—three against one. You’re outnumbered, Tony."

  Tony was about to brush him off, his typionce barely masking his growing irritation, when Nero’s quiet chuckle cut through the tension. "Why do you assume you speak for all of us?"

  Obadiah’s eyes narrowed as he turoward Nero, his expression one of thinly veiled hostility. "And who are you?"

  Nero didn’t bother with a direswer, iurning his attention to Tony, who was now studying him with a blend of curiosity and reition. "It’s you," Tony muttered, his frown deepening. Nero merely smiled, a casual, knowing grin that did little to hide his amusement.

  A while before Tony's disappearan Afghanistan, he'd crossed paths with Nero at an exclusive nightclub. The enter had been memorable, though not in the way Tony had hoped. With his usual charm, Tony had tried to impress Maria and Sofia, only to be met with relentless rejes. Nero, with a drink in hand, had watched the spectacle unfold with a mog smile that had irked Tony more than he cared to admit. That same smile now pyed on Nero's lips as Tony stared at him across the boardroom table, reition flickering in his eyes.

  Obadiah, sensing the shift in the room, sigo his assistant, who swiftly handed him a binder. Flipping through the pages, Obadiah's eyes nded on a hat made his jaw tighten—Nero Principe, listed as an 8% shareholder. The fact that Nero had been invited by Obadiah’s own assistant, following orders to call signifit shareholders, only added to the sting. Obadiah's eyes narrowed as he regarded Nero.

  "Are you in favor of Tony's idea?" Obadiah asked, his tone sharp, b on accusatory.

  Nero didn’t rush to answer. Instead, he casually dusted off his jacket as if ridding himself of some imaginary dirt, his expression one of mild amusement. "Sure," Nero finally said, his voice calm yet cutting through the tension like a knife. "Mr. Stark's venturing into energy, and I’m curious about what he achieve. ons bring in profits, no doubt, but they also leave a mess. It feels... dirty."

  The subtle disdain in Nero’s tone wasn’t lost on anyone, least of all Obadiah. Nero wasn’t just siding with Tony—he was making it clear that he found the idea of tinuing with ons produ distasteful. He didn’t o eborate; his gesture and choice of words spoke volumes, dismissing the notion of blood money as beh him.

  Tony’s frown eased slightly as he observed Nero, the tension in the room shifting. While Tony was still puzzled by Nero's presence, he appreciated the ued support. "Looks like we’re not as outnumbered as you thought, Obie," Tony remarked, his tone almost pyful, though the underlying tension remained.

  Obadiah’s lips thinned, his gaze shifting around the room as he calcuted his move. What had started as his fident power py was unraveling faster thaicipated. He could feel the board’s resolve faltering, their previous fiden him eroding under Nero’s support in Tony.

  "We still outnumber you, Tony," Obadiah said, voice taut with frustration. "You and Mr. Principe are just two votes."

  Tony’s expression didn’t ge. With a calm, almost bored look, he replied, "I still hold the majority of the pany’s shares, Obie. Doesn’t matter how many of you disagree. If anyone’s not on board, they sell their shares to me right now." He casually pulled out his checkbook, flipping it open without hesitation.

  The room went silent, all eyes on Tony as he made his offer. Nero caught the slight smirk Warren tried to hide, and with a faint chuckle, Warren spoke up. "Actually, Tony, you’re not outnumbered. I’m with you on this one."

  Obadiah’s eyes narrowed, now wary. Warren was not an unknown like Nero—he owerful figure, wealthy and iial, and his ret rise as a hero with Neogenes added to his weight in the room. Warren’s support tipped the scales, and Obadiah k.

  Nero watched the room with quiet amusement, enjoying how quickly the tide turned. Obadiah was grasping at trol that was slipping through his fingers, while Tony and Warree their trasting personalities, now stood uhe shareholders who had once backed Obadiah were shifting in their seats, clearly rethinking their positions.

  "Seems like you miscalcuted," Nero said lightly, his tone casual but with a subtle edge that made Obadiah flinch. He didn’t o say more—his presence alone was enough to ule the man.

  Tony leaned back, a satisfied grin creeping onto his face as he closed his checkbook with a snap. "So, who’s ?" His voice carried a teasing lilt, but there was no mistaking the seriousness of the challenge.

  Obadiah’s face tightened, but he kept silent. Warren’s gaze locked with Nero’s again, and they both uood the game was nearing its end.

  Nero rose from his chair with an air of casual indifference, adjusting his jacket as if the entire meeting had been nothing more than a minor invenience. "Looks like the board’s made up its mind," he said smoothly. Without waiting for a response, he began to walk towards the door, pausing briefly to gnce back over his shoulder. "What a waste of time. ime, try not to bother me with something so trivial."

  Obadiah’s fist tightened, his knuckles turning white, but he remained silent, his frustration palpable. Tony, oher hand, couldn’t suppress a smirk. "He always knows how to get under people's skin," Tony muttered under his breath, loud enough for only those closest to him to hear. Obadiah caught the ent, his eyes narrowing as he watched Nero leave, misinterpreting the e between them. He assumed Nero was Tony’s ally, his narrowed eyes b into Nero’s retreating back.

  Nero didn’t care. He walked out of the boardroom without a backward gnce, leaving the power struggles and corporate games behind. He found Maria waiting in the lobby, scrolling through her phoh a serene expression. Without missing a beat, Nero slipped into the seat beside her, ing an arm around her waist in a familiar, affeate gesture. He let out a small sigh, ying his head on her shoulder.

  "How was it?" Maria asked, her voice warm and inviting, as if she already khe answer.

  Nero closed his eyes for a moment, sav the brief respite from the tediousness of the meeting. "B," he replied simply, his tone carrying a hint of pyful exasperation.

  Maria smiled, a knowing glint in her eyes. "Wao get you some ice cream to make up for it?"

  Nero’s face lit up instantly, the weariness evaporating. "Yes, please, mommy," he said with a grin, the teasing lilt in his voimistakable.

  Maria chuckled softly, clearly amused by his pyful response. "Alright, anything for my big baby," she teased back, ruffling his hair affeately.

  Leaving the skyscraper hand in hand, Nero and Maria stepped out into the bustling streets of New York. The city buzzed around them, yet it felt distant, the two of them ed in their own world.

  Nero squeezed Maria’s haly, a mischievous grin pying on his lips. "You know, if you really want to make up for that dreadful meeting, ice cream is just the start."

  Maria rolled her eyes, though her smile betrayed her amusement. "Oh? And what else would you suggest, Mr. Principe?"

  He tilted his head, pretending to ponder. "Maybe a stroll through tral Park, followed by a not-so-actal detour to that bookstore you love...and di that little Mexi pce you keep talking about."

  Maria chuckled, clearly enjoying his pyfulness. "You’ve got the whole evening pnned out, haven’t you?"

  Nered, a hint of mono his tone. "What I say? I’m a man of many talents."

  They tinued walking, the chaos of the city blending into the background as they bantered bad forth. At one point, Nero paused in front of a small flower stand, pulling Maria closer as he gestured grandly to the dispy. "Pie," he said, his tone pyful yet sincere.

  Maria eyed him skeptically, but couldn’t suppress her smile. She sed the flowers, eventually settling on a simple yet elegant white lily. "This one."

  Nero plucked the flower from the stand, handing it to her with a flourish. "A fine choice, my dy."

  Maria ughed softly, tug the lily behind her ear. "Oh, my big baby got a flower for mommy," she teased, her eyes sparkling with amusement.

  Nero grinned, his voice light as he tered, "Just trying to stay in yood graces. You know, for all those times I will make you suffer in the lobbies while I gh b meetings."

  Maria pyfully bumped her shoulder against his. "Hmm, you’re lucky you're cute."

  Nero chuckled, ing an arm around her waist as they tinued walking dowreet. "Cute, huh? I’ll take that as a win."

  After a few blocks, Nero gnced over at Maria, his tourning mischievous. "So, where’s this ice cream you promised? Or was that just a trick to keep me from sulking?"

  Maria smirked, tilting her head thoughtfully. "Maybe I just like seeing you all excited over ice cream. It’s a good look on you."

  He raised an eyebrow, pying along. "Well, I’m not above bribery."

  With a ugh, Maria tugged him toward a small ice cream shop tucked between twer buildings. The neon sign flickered above them as they ehe cool air a wele trast to the warmth outside. Nero sed the menu like a child in a dy store, his eyes wide with anticipation.

  "I’m thinking...chocote chip cookie dough," he decred after a moment, his voice filled with mock seriousness. "What’s your pick, madam?"

  Maria preteo pohen finally settled on a fvor. "Strawberry sorbet. Light, refreshing—unlike someone I know who’s about to inhale a sugar bomb."

  Nero ughed as he handed over the money for their order. "Bance is key. I’ll hahe sugar overload, you keep us grounded with your sophisticated choice."

  They sat outside on a small bench, the city bustling around them, but it felt peaceful in their little bubble. Nero savored his ice cream, a tented sigh esg his lips. "You know, this might just be the highlight of my day."

  Maria smiled, lig her sorbet slowly. "Well, if that’s all it takes, maybe I should treat you more often."

  "Don’t say that unless you mean it," Nero quipped, pointing his spoon at her pyfully. "I’ll hold you to it."

  Maria shook her head, ughing softly. "You’re so easy to please. What’s there to think about?"

  Nered, grinning as he scooped up another bite of his ice cream. "Maybe I’m just a man of simple tastes. Or maybe you’re just that good at knowing what I like."

  Maria raised an eyebrow, amused. "Simple? You? That’s a stretch."

  Nero leaned ba the bench, looking up at the sky. "True. But you know, it’s the little things that keep me sane. Ice cream, a good book, and your pany. What more could I ask for?"

  Maria preteo sider this. "Well, if that’s all it takes, maybe I should start charging you for my presence."

  Nero chuckled, shaking his head. "Nah, you wouldn’t do that. You enjoy my pany too much. Besides, where would you find someone else willing to endure all those b meetings just for the promise of ice cream?"

  "Endure?" Maria teased. "And I bet you were having a little too much fun back there, stirring up trouble."

  Nero’s grin widened. "Guilty as charged. But you had to see Obadiah squirm, it was so worth it."

  Maria tilted her head, smirking. "I suppose it was. You do have a knaaking people unfortable."

  "Only the ones who deserve it," Nero said, his tone light but with a hint of seriousness. "Besides, it’s not every day I get to mess with someone who thinks they’re untouchable."

  Maria nodded, a glint of approval in her eyes. "True. You did a good job today. Maybe I should reward you with something more than just ice cream."

  Nero’s eyes lit up with mothusiasm. "Like what?"

  Maria turned her head, a slight blush creeping up her cheeks as she tried to hide her smile. Nero leaned closer, his grin pyful yet teasing. "Oh, how naughty you’ve bee," he quipped, his voice dropping to a mischievous whisper.

  She shot him a look, clearly fighting back a smile. "You’re incible," she muttered, though there was in her words.

  Nero chuckled softly, enjoying the moment. "Only with you," he replied smoothly, reag out to tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear. The simple gesture felt natural, fortable, as if they’d dohis dahousand times before. "So, about that reward..."

  Maria rolled her eyes but couldn’t help the grin tugging at her lips. "You’re relentless, aren’t you?"

  Nero leaned back, hands behind his head as if sav his victory. "It’s one of my finer qualities," he said with mock seriousness. "But I’m willing to iate. Ice cream’s a good start, but I’m open to suggestions."

  She let out a small ugh, shaking her head. "You really think you’ve earned more after that meeting?"

  He shot her a sideways gnce, his expression suddenly more thoughtful. "Well, I did mao keep my cool. Didn’t flip the table or anything, even when Obadiah tried to act like he was still in charge. That ts for something, right?"

  Maria raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "I suppose not causing a se is worth a little extra."

  Nero smirked, nudging her pyfully with his shoulder. "See? You get it. So, what’s on the list? tral Park? That bookstore you ’t resist?"

  She gave him a sly look, tilting her head as if sidering his offer. "Maybe. Or maybe I’ll just drag you to that art exhibit I’ve been wanting to see. You know, the one you keep dodging."

  Nero groaheatrically, though his eyes gleamed with humor. "Fine, but only if we stop by that taco p the way. I’m still hungry after all that corporate nonsense."

  Maria ughed, shaking her head in mock disbelief. "Deal. But no pining when we’re surrounded by abstract sculptures."

  Nero fshed a pyful grin and remarked, "Well, it seems like abstract is the go-to style for sculptors these days."

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