Stark Studios

Henry was at a loss for words regarding Tony Stark's inexplicable self-confidence. He watched as Stark nonchalantly launched into a long-winded explanation of his thoughts.

"Wall Street on the East Coast and Hollywood on the West Coast are the two easiest places to reach that level. I'm keeping a close eye on the East Coast myself. Here on the West Coast, I also need someone I can trust to keep an eye on things."

"The main reason we approached you is because you're not afraid of them sending people to clean you up. Unless you're telling me that your turtle shell can be broken through with a single RPG shot."

"Of course, that's no excuse for you to act recklessly. I'm sure you're not foolish enough to arouse their suspicion and make them determined to eliminate you."

"But the place I need you to keep an eye on is completely invisible unless you're at a certain height. So making you the CEO of Stark Studios is both a condition I'm giving you and the price you have to pay for achieving this goal."

Henry said nonchalantly, "So, in other words, I'm just a figurehead as CEO."

"Of course not," Tony said generously. "Stark Studios is one of the very few companies that I still wholly own. Since I've appointed you as CEO, you'll have all the power you're entitled to."

"I don't need you to contribute profits every year. Just make sure the company doesn't lose so much money that it has to go bankrupt and be liquidated. Right now, the company's main business is renting and selling equipment, and we also have departments for equipment research and development, manufacturing, and maintenance."

"If you have some free time, could you check if there's anything that can be improved with the equipment? Based on your skill level in making that little gadget, one by one..."

Tony tapped his ear, referring to the small Bluetooth earphones Henry had made for Audrey Hepburn that he had seen at the fundraising dinner in New York.

I believe you have many ideas about the machinery and equipment. The company won't take these achievements for nothing.

The bonus will be distributed according to the technician's reward standards.

"What If...? you have your own patents to apply for, you can also use the company's legal team, which should greatly avoid the situation you mentioned."

"Stark Industries should be grateful that we don't steal their achievements in this area. No one can take our patents unless we voluntarily relinquish them."

"Besides machinery, equipment, and patents, What If...? you want to restart the company's film production department, that's fine too; you can use the funds as you like. The only requirement is that you don't bankrupt the company. How about these terms?"

"Wow, this is really—" Henry didn't know how to describe it, and then asked, "If you just parachute in a CEO like this, will the people at Stark Studios accept him?"

Tony said, "The CEO of Stark Studios was always an honorary title held by the old man himself. Since his death, that position has been vacant, and I haven't appointed anyone else."

"However, the company's main business is related to machinery and equipment. Even the R&D department has a fixed allocation, and there is no need for special approval for film production investments."

"So it's all the managers of each department who are carrying out their daily business according to past practices. After all, since 1950, the old man hasn't been paying attention to this aspect, and most of the time he's just left it to his own devices."

"Whoever I appoint as CEO, regardless of what others think, they have no choice but to accept it. At most, they might not cooperate privately. This is a small problem; you can handle it. You need me to step in and help you."

"Thinking back at the list of publicly listed companies on Wall Street, Stark Studios isn't on it," Henry asked curiously. "You own the company wholly? There are no other shareholders?"

Tony replied, "In the beginning, the old man did have some collaborators. But due to the company's business transformation..."

Most shareholders were pessimistic or looked down on making such a small amount of money. That's when we recouped a significant portion of our investment.

"Then some people were older, and the old man exercised his right of first refusal to buy back the shares from them."

It didn't become part of their estate. By the time it came into my possession, it was a wholly privately owned company.

Henry then asked, "I heard that you sold off quite a few valuable assets while raising estate tax funds. At first, you were criticized as a spendthrift. Weren't Hollywood film companies interested in Stark Studios?"

"How is that possible?" Tony said proudly. "At that time, every major film company on the scene expressed interest in acquiring Stark Pictures. There were even outsiders who came to us, wanting to enter Hollywood through Stark Studios."

"However, one of the conditions for everyone is that I must be the head of the equipment R&D department. Or at least I must provide certain equipment improvement results every year to maintain the equipment's competitive advantage."

"Those old men think I'm young and easy to manipulate. They want someone with hundreds of billions in assets like me to work for them. They're really dreaming. They won't budge, and I won't agree either, so things have just dragged on like this."

"Once I've resolved the tax issue, there will be no reason for me to sell Stark Studios. Also, due to business negotiations, Stark Studios missed the opportunity to take all its subsidiaries public."

"Right now, Stark Studios is one of the very few wholly owned private companies that I still control, and it's profitable. It's not the kind of junk that loses money every year and nobody would want even if it were given away for free."

"I see," Henry thought to himself.

From Tony Stark's perspective, What If...? Stark Industries, which has transformed into a military-industrial complex, is a limited-edition supercar, then Stark Studios is a toy-sized matchbox car.

This is one of the main reasons why he dared to hand over Stark Studios to him. Even if it went bankrupt and was liquidated, it wouldn't really affect him; he would only lose a foothold on the West Coast.

Moreover, given his attitude, when he says he's delegating power, he really means it! Just don't let him stop indulging in his hedonistic lifestyle.

Think about Stark Industries, Obadiah Stane and Pepper Potts Potts, two generations of "tools "Pepper (players who are essentially just supporting characters), both of them were exhausted.

So one harbored rebellious intentions, while the other went even further, taking over the family business and becoming Stark Family. If she hadn't become Mrs. Stark, do you think Pepper Potts might have one day chopped up Tony Stark and followed in his footsteps?

Henry's thoughtful expression led Tony to misunderstand, thinking the guy was still hesitating. Remembering the conditions he hadn't yet stated, he added, "What If...? you're still worried about the FBI and being on certain lists, I can assure you, you can rest assured."

"Once you become my employee and enter this circle, those people will know when to back down. Unless you go and kill someone in front of the police or FBI Agent today, become a criminal caught red-handed, and get arrested, no one will easily touch you."

After much deliberation, Henry decided to say, "So, are you aware that I'm currently working for the Continental Hotel?"