Morning light forced its way through the gaps in the floor-to-ceiling windows, stabbing into Tony's eyes.
He woke on the couch with a splitting headache—like a steel vise tightening around his skull.
The air reeked of alcohol, perfume, and sour vomit. When he tried to move, cold metal scraped against his skin.
Right.
He was still stuck inside the powerless Mark IV.
Like a sardine sealed inside a tin can.
Fragments of last night slammed back into his mind—
Rhodey's disappointed expression.
Two armored idiots demolishing his own house.
And Levi.
Standing calmly on the lawn, wine glass in hand.
"This is embarrassing."
That line hurt more than any punch.
What truly infuriated Tony wasn't losing the Mark II.
It was how effortlessly Levi had done it.
One casual gesture—
And two of the most advanced machines on Earth became lifeless scrap metal, dropping from the sky.
Tony Stark—genius, billionaire, playboy, superhero—
Reduced to nothing in front of a "business partner" he himself had elevated.
Levi hadn't negotiated.
He'd decided.
"JARVIS," Tony rasped.
"Good morning, sir. Your heart rate is elevated. Hydration is strongly advised."
"Damage report."
"Structural damage to the residence: seventeen percent. Estimated repairs: 1.72 million dollars.
Interior art and furniture losses: approximately 4.53 million dollars, including a Picasso.
Your 1965 Shelby Cobra is beyond restoration."
Tony closed his eyes.
The money didn't matter.
The humiliation did.
He initiated emergency disengagement.
Armor plates clattered to the floor one by one.
Bare-chested, he stood in the wreckage.
The party debris looked like the aftermath of a riot.
He staggered toward the liquor cabinet—
Paused.
His reflection stared back at him through the glass.
Pale. Hollow-eyed. Unshaven.
This was "invincible"?
Yinsen's final words echoed faintly:
Don't waste your life.
Levi's voice followed:
You're destroying my investment.
Tony clenched his fist—
And smashed the cabinet.
Glass exploded.
Hundreds of bottles shattered, amber liquid flooding the floor.
"Cancel all events. Three months," Tony muttered.
"Yes, sir."
He walked into the workshop barefoot, stepping through glass and whiskey.
The Mark II stand was empty.
Cold air blew through a gaping hole in the wall.
He brought up the Mark IV schematics.
The hologram flickered to life.
For the first time—
He saw flaws everywhere.
"Energy vulnerability… pathetic."
He needed faster response systems.
Independent redundancy.
Shielded power architecture.
He slashed the projection aside.
Eyes burning now—not from alcohol.
From obsession.
He would build something better.
Stronger.
Untouchable.
And he would prove who the smartest man in the room really was.
---
Stark Tower – 88th Floor
Silence ruled the private executive level.
At precisely 7:59:55 a.m., Natasha Romanoff arrived at the unmarked black alloy door.
8:00 sharp.
The door slid open.
Levi stood before the panoramic window overlooking New York.
"Good morning, Mr. Chen," Natasha said evenly.
"Punctual," he replied.
She placed a slim black drive on his desk.
"Your report."
Levi inserted it.
A cascade of holographic financial data unfolded midair.
Hammer Industries' public records.
Shell corporations.
Offshore transfers.
Secret procurement channels.
Even encrypted call recordings between Justin Hammer and Middle Eastern arms dealers.
And a secure folder labeled:
WHIPLASH
Complete dossier on Ivan Vanko.
From Anton Vanko's history with Howard Stark—
To recent purchases of palladium and military-grade capacitors through Hammer channels.
Levi scanned everything rapidly.
Efficient.
Comprehensive.
SHIELD's finest work.
"Impressive," Levi said. "Beyond expectations."
Natasha remained composed.
"I have certain… specialized sources."
Levi stepped closer.
He stopped half a meter away.
"You're full of secrets, Miss Rushman."
His tone lowered.
"I find that… intriguing."
Natasha met his gaze without retreating.
"Work hours, Mr. Chen."
A faint smile tugged at Levi's lips.
"Of course."
The door burst open.
Tony stormed in.
"Anthony! We need to talk about the Mark II—"
He froze.
Levi and Natasha stood close, reviewing a paper backup copy she'd prepared.
Tony's grin returned instantly.
"Oh. Bad timing?"
He looked Natasha up and down theatrically.
"Didn't know you moved that fast, Anthony. 'Seize the day,' right?"
Levi didn't look up.
"Tony. There's also a saying: 'Mind your own business.'"
He finally raised his eyes.
"Though if you're concerned about my private life, perhaps I should discuss yours with Pepper. The parties. The totaled Cobra."
Tony's smile died instantly.
Pepper.
Low blow.
"You—"
He pointed at Levi.
Then at Natasha.
Then lowered his hand.
"…You win."
He turned sharply.
"Carry on."
The door slammed behind him.
Silence returned.
Natasha watched Tony's retreating figure—
Then glanced sideways at Levi.
This man possessed overwhelming power.
Corporate control.
Psychological precision.
And now he'd casually dominated Tony Stark in his own building.
SHIELD's assessment of Anthony Chen—
Was no longer sufficient.
Not even close.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For 20 advanced chapters, visit my Patreon:
Patreon - Twilight_scribe1
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~