"Why, Uncle Stane?"
Tony writhed across the expensive carpet like a maggot. The circular cavity in his chest was empty, and he could immediately feel the shrapnel moving with his blood. His heart was about to stop.
Obadiah toyed with the Arc Reactor in his hand and answered in the tone of a victor.
"Because someone offered me more than you did. With this, I have the capital to cooperate."
"Was it Cassandra? Did she approach you?"
Tony's face turned ashen. Was he about to kick the bucket, or was he simply in a bad mood? Perhaps both.
Obadiah had no idea who he was talking about and looked slightly confused, but he soon turned and left. "Guess all you want."
Tony wanted to guess, but his brain was no longer working. All he could smell was the muttony stench of the carpet.
His heartbeat slowed further and further. He closed his eyes, and his final thought was:
If there's a next life, I'm never buying a wool carpet again.
But he did not die.
After an unknown amount of time, he opened his eyes again and saw Pepper's face. She looked both sorrowful and happy as she kept wiping away her tears.
Tony looked down at his chest. She had arrived in time and replaced his reactor with the old one, saving his life.
"What? Can't bear to lose your boss? You'd still have time to cry at my funeral."
Tony climbed to his feet, shook his head, and joked with his assistant.
Potts smiled and patted Tony's chest. "I'm just happy I don't have to look for another job."
"Fine. How did you know something happened to me?"
Tony headed toward the basement. He had roughly guessed what Obadiah intended to do after taking the Arc Reactor.
Stark