The hum of the crowd was already palpable, even from behind the curtain. I could hear the chatter, the shuffling of chairs, the clicks of cameras being prepped. Over a hundred reporters, all waiting for me to step out and explain where the hell I'd been.

In my previous life, I'd never been great with crowds. Public speaking had always made my palms sweat, my throat tighten, and my thoughts scatter. That familiar knot in my stomach was back, coiled tight, as I stood behind the curtain. I might have Tony Stark's memories, but deep down, I still felt like the awkward guy who couldn't stand being the center of attention.

"Sir, they're ready for you," JARVIS chimed in my earpiece, as if the growing noise from the room wasn't already a clear signal.

I took a deep breath. "Yeah, I know. Let's get this over with."

The curtain parted, and I stepped out into the blinding glare of the stage lights. The crowd fell silent for a moment, the intensity of a hundred pairs of eyes locking onto me. I could already feel the weight of their expectations pressing down.

I walked up to the podium, the wooden structure feeling oddly flimsy under my hands as I gripped it tighter than I needed to. The flashes of cameras began almost immediately, the sound of shutters clicking like a steady heartbeat. Pepper stood off to the side, watching me closely, ready to take over once I was done.

I cleared my throat, the words I had planned bouncing around in my head. I had to keep it simple, make sure the world knew Tony Stark was back—at least the version of him I had to pretend to be.

I looked out over the sea of faces and started.

"First and foremost," I began, my voice steadier than I expected, "I want to apologize for whatever problems my disappearance might have caused."

There was a ripple of murmurs, pens scribbling, and cameras flashing, but I kept my eyes on the back of the room. I didn't want to get too focused on the faces in front of me, the weight of their curiosity, their judgment.

"I know that it's been a confusing few days, and I take full responsibility for the disruption my absence caused." I let my eyes sweep the room briefly, acknowledging their attention before continuing. "But I'm back, and I feel it's important that I get back to work immediately. My staff will have a statement for business by the end of today."

I saw Pepper nod subtly from her spot, already preparing to take over.

With a small, almost forced smile, I took a step back from the podium. "Thank you," I said simply, knowing I couldn't handle any follow-up questions. "I'm going to leave it to my very capable staff to answer any further questions. I've been through quite a bit recently, so I hope you'll understand if I step out."

The crowd erupted into a wave of questions, hands shooting up, cameras zooming in. But I was already on my way off the stage, leaving it to Pepper to deal with the flood. I heard her voice behind me, calm and professional as ever, fielding the barrage of inquiries.

I ducked behind the curtain, my heart still racing. This wasn't over yet. Not by a long shot.

As soon as I stepped backstage, I felt a presence looming. Turning the corner, I was greeted by the familiar figure of Obadiah Stane, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. His usual charm was nowhere to be found. Instead, his expression was a storm of anger, frustration etched into every line of his face.

"So," he started, his voice low and dangerous, "I had to find out you were back like the rest of the world. No call. No heads-up. Nothing."

I raised an eyebrow, trying to keep my own frustration in check. "Nice to see you too, Obie."

Obadiah pushed off the wall, his eyes boring into mine as he stepped closer. "You think this is a joke? Stocks tanked while you were gone, Tony. The board's been losing their minds. And now, you pull this stunt? A press conference without even telling me? We need something big if you don't want to lose control of your own damn company."

I crossed my arms, leaning back against the wall. "Relax, Obie. I've got it handled. Stocks fluctuate. You know that."

His face darkened, and I could see the tension in his jaw. "Handled? You've been missing, Tony. This isn't just about a little dip in the stock price. The board needs confidence. They need to know you're back in control, or they'll start making moves."

I forced myself to remain calm, though inside, my thoughts were spiraling. I couldn't stop thinking about how, in every version of Tony Stark's life I knew, Obadiah was the villain. The backstabber. The man who would turn on Tony in a heartbeat for power.

Was this all just part of that? Was he already laying the groundwork for a takeover? Or was I just being paranoid? Either way, I couldn't trust him. Not now.

"I'll make the appearance. Do the boardroom dance," I said, my voice clipped. "But let's get one thing straight, Obie: I'm not losing control of this company. Not now, not ever."

Obadiah's eyes narrowed, his frustration simmering just below the surface. "You'd better make sure of that, Tony. Because right now, you're not giving anyone much reason to believe you've got a grip on things."

There was a beat of silence, tension thick in the air between us. I could feel the weight of everything unspoken—years of partnership, trust, and now, doubt creeping in.

But behind that, in the back of my mind, I couldn't shake the thought: *He's a villain.* He was in every story, every version of Tony Stark's life. The betrayal was inevitable.

"I'll be fine," I said, pushing off the wall and walking toward the exit. "Thanks for the concern, Obie."

As I walked away, I could feel his eyes on my back, watching me with that calculating gaze. I didn't need to turn around to know what was going through his mind. But I'd be ready.

Because in this version of things, I wasn't going to be caught off guard.

Back at the mansion's underground workshop, the tension from my run-in with Obadiah still lingered, but I had other things to focus on. I couldn't afford to get rattled by him right now. The board would be in an uproar tomorrow, no doubt about it. Stocks had dipped while I was gone, and the media had been buzzing with rumors. Obadiah was right about one thing—if we didn't give them something to chew on, I might as well hand over the keys to Stark Industries.

But I wasn't about to let that happen.

"JARVIS," I called, my hands running over the sleek designs laid out on the workbench. "What do you think the odds are of the board accepting one of these proposals?"

"Based on previous reactions to innovations of similar magnitude, I would estimate a seventy-eight percent chance of success, sir," JARVIS responded, the calm, even tone of his voice echoing through the workshop.

"That's not bad," I muttered, examining the blueprint for the Inertia Nullification Gel (ING). It was one of my more ambitious ideas—an anti-gravity gel that could absorb impacts and negate the forces of inertia. If I could get it into the suits I was designing for myself and Rhodey, it would be a game-changer. The military applications alone would be enough to get the board's attention. But it could also be used in things like car crashes or construction—anything that required shock absorption on a massive scale.

This was one of the three things I had planned to show the board. It would shake up multiple industries if they understood the potential.

"The Inertia Nullification Gel should be enough to placate them for a while," I said, running my fingers across the holographic model spinning above the table. "But we'll need more. Something that shows we're not just thinking about profit margins, but the future."

JARVIS chimed in. "The self-healing solar cells could be a viable secondary option, sir. They should meet the board's interest in the clean energy sector."

I nodded. "Yeah, the 'artificial leaf' tech. It's cheap to produce, efficient, and it'll revolutionize clean energy. Plus, it'll be enough to, as Obie put it, 'shut up the hippies.' If we can sell that to the public, we're golden."

The self-healing solar cells were based on mimicking natural photosynthesis. They could heal themselves when damaged, extending their lifespan and efficiency in extreme conditions. It was the kind of clean energy innovation that would shut down a lot of critics and make Stark Industries look like leaders in the green energy space. I knew Obie would like that—it was flashy enough to win over the skeptical board members and the public.

But just in case those two didn't do the trick, I had a third ace up my sleeve.

"If neither of those works," I said, looking at the glowing blueprint of the Arc Reactor, "I'll reveal this. The Arc Reactor's power potential is limitless, and it could change everything. But... we need to be careful with how much we reveal."

JARVIS's voice hummed through the speakers. "The Arc Reactor, if presented properly, should exceed their expectations. However, it may also raise significant questions about the technology and its applications."

"Yeah," I sighed, thinking about how to navigate that particular minefield. "But if it comes down to it, we can't hold back."

I tapped a few keys, sending all the necessary information on the three projects to Obadiah. "Send these over to Obie. He'll present them at the board meeting tomorrow."

"Files have been sent, sir," JARVIS confirmed.

I leaned back in my chair, staring at the blueprints. Tomorrow was going to be a long day.

...

The sleek glass façade of Stark Tower glinted in the morning sun as I stepped out of the car. I felt a familiar tightness in my chest—part anticipation, part dread. The meeting with the board was about to begin, and while I had faith in the tech we were presenting, I wasn't exactly looking forward to dealing with them. Especially with Obie there.

Obadiah was waiting for me inside, his usual confident grin plastered on his face. He looked calm, collected, as if yesterday's tension between us hadn't happened.

"Tony," he said, his voice smooth, "I'm glad you made it. The board's a bit anxious, but I think we'll manage to reel them in. Stocks are down, but once we present this—" he waved a hand at the tablet holding the project details—"we'll be back on top."

I nodded, keeping my tone even. "You've got everything ready?"

Obadiah's grin widened, but there was a sharpness behind his eyes. "Of course. I've been doing this a long time, Tony. I'll handle the board. You just be there to look the part."

That was exactly what I was hoping for. Obie had always been the board's favorite, the one who could smooth over any rough patches with his charm and experience. I was counting on him to do most of the talking. If I had to stand there and field questions, it was going to be a headache.

We made our way to the boardroom, the familiar faces of the board members already seated around the massive, polished table. They all turned to look at me as I walked in, and I could practically feel the tension in the room. They were ready to pounce, but they didn't know what we had in store for them.

Obadiah took his place at the front of the room, clearing his throat to grab everyone's attention. "Ladies and gentlemen," he began, "I know the last few days have been rough, but Tony's back, and we've got some exciting things to show you. Things that'll put Stark Industries ahead of the curve and get us back where we belong."

I stood off to the side, watching as Obadiah smoothly transitioned into the presentation. He started with the Inertia Nullification Gel, explaining its potential applications in military, automotive, and construction fields. The board's interest was piqued immediately, and I could see some of the tension easing from their faces.

Next came the artificial leaf technology—the self-healing solar cells. Obadiah played it perfectly, emphasizing the clean energy angle and how it would boost our public image. I could see the board nodding along, their pens scribbling furiously.

But as good as Obadiah was at selling the ideas, I couldn't shake the nagging feeling in the back of my mind. I didn't trust him. Not with any of this. In every version of Tony Stark's life I knew, Obadiah was the villain, the one who would turn on him in a heartbeat for power.

Was this all just part of that? Was he already laying the groundwork for a takeover? Or was I just being paranoid? Either way, I couldn't trust him. Not now.

"And finally," Obadiah said, turning toward me with a practiced smile, "Tony has something to reveal that could change the very foundation of Stark Industries."

I stepped forward and raised up my shirt, taking a breath before speaking. "The Miniaturized Arc Reactor. It's not just keeping me alive—it's the future of energy. If we roll this out, we can change the world."

I watched as Obadiah's eyes widened slightly, the surprise flickering across his features before he masked it with a professional smile. It was a split second of revelation I was glad I had caught.

The board members, however, were less surprised. There were whispers, murmurs of excitement, curiosity buzzing around the table. I could feel the air shifting, and a hint of excitement coursed through me, despite the underlying tension.

I motioned to JARVIS, who initiated the display of the Arc Reactor's potential. The projector lit up, showing the reactor's capabilities, the advancements I had made since my previous one. The potential was staggering, the applications limitless.

But even as I spoke, I couldn't shake the thought that lingered in the back of my mind: *Was Obadiah really on my side?*

The meeting went as well as I could have hoped, the board members excited about the possibilities ahead. But even as I watched them get excited about the future, I couldn't shake the feeling that Obadiah was planning something behind the scenes.

For now, I'd play along. But I'd keep my eyes open.