Chapter 10: Hostile Takeover and a Shared Future
The corporate world, Adam was quickly learning, could be just as ruthless as a supervillain battle. Maybe even more so, because at least with a supervillain, you knew who to punch. With a hostile takeover, it was all about legal loopholes, backroom deals, and spreadsheets that could make your eyes bleed. CatCo was under siege, not by aliens, but by a corporate shark named Ethan Maxwell, who was making a play for Cat Grant's media empire.
Cat, however, was a force of nature even without superpowers. She paced her office, a whirlwind of designer clothes and cutting remarks, barking orders into her phone. Adam, ever the diligent assistant, was "helping" by making sure her coffee was precisely 180 degrees Fahrenheit and subtly "suggesting" lines of inquiry.
"Honestly, the audacity!" Cat fumed, slamming her hand on her desk. "Maxwell thinks he can just waltz in here and steal my legacy? He clearly doesn't know who he's dealing with!"
"Indeed," Adam said, placing a freshly brewed cup of coffee on her desk. "Though, I have seen this play out in a few documentaries. Usually involves a last-minute save by the underdog, or a really obscure loophole in the bylaws that no one saw coming. Or, you know, a secret, benevolent billionaire swooping in. Just spitballing, of course. My expertise is primarily in coffee and avoiding eye contact with angry executives."
Cat paused, her eyes narrowing. "A loophole, you say? What kind of loophole?"
Adam shrugged. "Oh, you know. Something about, like, a forgotten clause in the original corporate charter. Or a technicality in the stock transfer agreements. Something that makes the whole deal null and void. It's usually buried in the fine print. Like, really, really fine print. You'd need a magnifying glass and a very patient lawyer."
Cat stared at him for a moment, then a slow, predatory smile spread across her face. "Get me my legal team, Mr. Stiels. And tell them to bring their magnifying glasses."
Adam nodded, a quiet sense of satisfaction settling in. "Subtle. Very subtle. And now Cat's going to unleash her inner corporate shark. Good times."
Meanwhile, Kara was grappling with a different kind of hostile takeover: the return of her aunt, Astra, and her uncle, Non. The revelation of Myriad, a Kryptonian mind-control program, had shaken her to her core. Her family, her legacy, was far more complicated and dangerous than she had ever imagined.
Adam found her looking distraught in the breakroom, staring at a news report about Astra's latest move.
"Family drama, huh?" Adam said, sitting beside her. "Always the worst kind. Especially when it involves alien mind-control programs and super-powered aunts."
Kara sighed, burying her face in her hands. "It's Myriad, Adam. My aunt wants to use it. To control everyone. She says it's for their own good. But it's… it's wrong."
Adam put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "I know. It's tough when the people you love are doing things you can't understand. Or agree with. But you know what? You're fighting for what's right. And that's all that matters." He paused, then leaned in. "Just a thought, but I remember reading something about Kryptonian communication networks. They're usually pretty robust, but sometimes, if you hit them with a specific, disruptive frequency, or overload a certain node, they can be vulnerable. Especially if they're trying to coordinate something as complex as a global mind-control program. It's like trying to run a supercomputer on dial-up. Bound to have a weak point."
Kara looked up, her eyes wide. "A disruptive frequency? A weak point in their network?"
"Again, just spitballing," Adam said with a shrug. "But hey, if you're looking for a way to track them, or disrupt their plans, sometimes the best way is to look for the weakest link in their communication chain. Every villain, even an alien one, has a blind spot. Even if it's just bad Wi-Fi."
Kara gave him a small, grateful smile. "You always have the most… interesting ideas, Adam."
"It's a gift," he said. "Or a curse. Depends on the day."
Later, as the corporate battle raged on, and the D.E.O. worked to track Astra, Adam found a quiet moment with Kara on the CatCo balcony, overlooking the glittering lights of National City. The city hummed below them, oblivious to the battles being fought, both corporate and alien.
"So," Kara said, leaning against the railing, "Cat's legal team found some obscure loophole. Maxwell's hostile takeover is dead in the water. She's calling it 'the greatest legal victory of her career.' And she thinks you're a genius."
Adam chuckled. "Just doing my part. And I'm glad. CatCo without Cat Grant would be like a superhero without a catchy name. Just… sad." He looked out at the city, then at Kara. "And you? How are you holding up with the family reunion from hell?"
Kara sighed. "It's… hard. But Winn and Alex are working on that frequency idea. It might help them track Astra's movements. You really do know a lot about… everything."
"I try," Adam said, his voice soft. He turned to face her, the city lights reflecting in his eyes. "You know, Kara. This world is… crazy. Aliens, superpowers, hostile takeovers, mind-control programs. It's a lot. But… I wouldn't trade it. Not if it means being here. With you."
Kara looked at him, her heart doing a strange little flutter. His words, simple and heartfelt, resonated deep within her. She saw the sincerity in his eyes, the unwavering support he offered, the quiet strength that lay beneath his sarcastic exterior. The idea of a future together, however distant, however impossible it might seem with her life, began to form, a fragile, beautiful possibility.
"Me neither," Kara whispered, her hand instinctively reaching out to touch his. "Not if it means being here. With you."
They stood there for a long moment, just looking out at the city, a shared silence that spoke volumes. The world might be chaotic, but with each other, they could face anything.
Adam, later that week, found a moment to print out a fake "CatCo Employee of the Month" award. It featured a ridiculously posed photo of himself, complete with a cheesy grin and a thumbs-up. The caption read: "For outstanding achievement in looking busy, making coffee, and subtly saving the world. Also, for knowing all the best loopholes. Adam Stiels: A True Corporate Hero." He slipped it into his desk drawer, a private joke, a reminder of his quiet victories.
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