"Now let us invite Mr. Tony Stark to the stage to make a statement, but he will not answer any questions, thank you!" After finishing his speech, Colonel Rhodes walked to the side of the stage and made room for Tony on the podium.
Tony stood at the podium, looked at the audience and reporters below, then looked at Pepper, Mark, and Rod on both sides of the stage, and then he said: "It's been a while since I last saw you, so I'll read from the script this time. Some people speculate that I was involved in the incidents that happened on the highway and on the roof..."
Just as Tony began to read aloud from the script in his hand, the reporters in the audience were unwilling to let him go: "I'm sorry, Mr. Stark, do you really expect us to believe that it was a bodyguard in a battle suit who happened to show up, even though your bodyguard..."
"I know it's confusing, but Happy is a bit overweight. But I believe if he's willing to shed a few pounds like Jon Favreau, he can wear the Iron Man suit.
It's one thing to question the official story, but it's another to make wild accusations or insinuate that I'm a superhero."
Tony's cover-up remarks made the reporters present smile excitedly. They knew that big news was coming!
"Mr. Stark, I didn't say you were a superhero."
"Really? That's good." Tony began to ramble awkwardly, "Because it's irrelevant and fantastical, and I'm obviously not cut out to be a hero.
I have a ton of character flaws, I've made so many mistakes, and they've been so public—"
"Read from the script!" Rhodes, who was standing next to him, gritted his teeth and whispered a reminder when Tony started to express himself freely.
"Okay, okay, the fact is—" Tony paused halfway through his speech and showed a mysterious smile, "I am Iron Man!"
Tony frankly admitted his identity as a superhero, which caused the reporters in the audience to flash their cameras wildly. They didn't care how much film they consumed or how much memory they used. Their fingers seemed to be cramping as they frantically pressed the camera shutters to capture the material for tomorrow's newspaper's front page cover.
"That's so cool, Dad! You are now the first superhero with a public identity since World War II!" Mark rushed onto the stage and said after Tony finished his speech.
"Okay, stop adding fuel to the fire." Pepper took Mark aside. "Didn't you see how furious Mr. Rhodes and Mr. Coulson are? All their previous preparations have gone to waste. They'll have to work overtime to clean up your dad's mess."
"Hehe! I'm a little excited because I witnessed the birth of Iron Man. Don't worry, I'll save his face outside, but I'll definitely teach him a lesson when I get home. Don't cause trouble for others like this anymore!"
"Pfft!" Pepper couldn't help but burst out laughing at Mark's serious expression. "It's already good enough that you don't cause trouble for others, and you still want to teach your dad a lesson. By the way, last time you asked me to help you buy Stark Industries stock, it's already fully invested. Do you want to continue?"
"No! No!" Mark quickly shook his head. "Now that Dad has revealed his identity as Iron Man, Stark Industries' stock is sure to soar. I don't have that much money to invest. And the shares you helped me get from the stock market and some small shareholders, combined, are more than enough.
With these shares, I can help Dad gain over 50% of the voting rights, so I won't have to worry about him sidelining the board. Besides, my company is about to start expanding, and I'll have to invest all my money in it. What do you think, Pepper? Do you want to ditch Tony and come work for my company?
I promise I won't always make awkward requests like him, nor will I get mad at you. My salary will be double your current standard, and I'll give you a custom-made limited edition of every future company product that goes on the market!
"Thank you for thinking so highly of me, Mark. But I still can't work at your company. Tony is already such a grown man, but he doesn't have a child like you to worry about. I don't know how long he can last without me.
But don't worry, I personally selected your company staff and managers for you. They are all top-notch in terms of work ability and character, even better than me."
"Humph, I'm not worried about their work ability. At worst, I can just work alone. There's no productivity that can't be replaced by technology. I just think it's a shame for you to stay and work with Tony. Hmm!" Suddenly, a brilliant idea popped up in Mark's mind. "Sister Pepper, come over here. I have something to tell you in private!"
"What?" Pepper listened attentively.
"How about we play a trick on Tony? You pretend to quit your job and come work for me. Let him experience life without you so he understands your importance."
"That's not good. If he really approves it..." Pepper said worriedly.
"Impossible. Even I can see that you two like each other. A playboy like him won't confess his feelings to you unless you make him suffer a little. And even if he really approves your resignation, it won't be a big deal if he really comes to work in my company." Mark said, patting his chest.
"Then you got a great deal by doing something for nothing." Pepper said in a pretended anger after Mark saw through her little trick.
"If you don't refuse, I'll take it as you agree to my plan!" Mark inherited Tony's shamelessness and continued to ask. Pepper herself did not reject Mark's suggestion and nodded in acquiescence.
Tony, who was standing on the podium and welcoming the media for interviews and filming, had no idea what a big hole his treacherous son had dug for him.
plz support me if you can
patreon.com/AZFANFICTION
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/AZofficial
This fanfiction is 90-chapter ahead and also this fanfic is 90 chapters ahead there