"Hello? Yes, understood!" Obadiah Stane hung up again, his expression grim.
It was the fourth call he had received that day informing him that some employee had resigned or been transferred.
He knew Tony was making his move.
Not only that, some departments had also begun quietly restructuring.
He was getting a taste of his own medicine.
If Obadiah could cause trouble for Tony through personnel changes, Tony could use the same methods to keep Obadiah guessing.
Of course, both men knew these were just petty tricks to irritate each other.
The real contest would come down to money and power.
Obadiah arranged another meeting with Freddy.
He could only pin his hopes on Freddy now.
Tony had Krillin protecting him, as well as his shares in Stark Industries.
Granted, Tony's stake wasn't large enough to give him absolute control.
But the other shareholders, large and small, were hardly likely to unite completely against him.
After all, S.H.I.E.L.D. held a block of shares too.
"Mr. Freddy, it's been a while." Despite his difficult position, Obadiah hadn't abandoned his manners.
He was even in the mood for pleasantries.
"Obadiah, huh? Things haven't been going too well for you lately, have they? Heh heh." Freddy showed no mercy, going straight for the sore spot.
"This is only temporary. I won't be defeated so easily." Obadiah might have been getting old, with few shares under his control, little support in the Military, and friends in the Political Faction who weren't all that reliable, but he still had confidence...
Even Freddy wondered where that confidence came from.
Freddy took a decidedly practical attitude, counting his money without a care and occasionally spitting on his fingers.
Obadiah grew irritated at Freddy's attitude. "You're selling a service. Is this how you treat your customers?"
Freddy