Man of Steele

Victor stopped at the closed doors, glancing at the plaque that read "Rebecca Thompson, CFO." He turned to the assistant's desk, where a gorgeous redhead sat, her eyes fixed on him. She was about to speak, but he beat her to it.

"Is she in?" he asked.

"Yes, Mr. Steele. I'll let her know you're coming," she replied, reaching for the phone on her desk.

"Don't bother," he said, opening the doors and walking in.

The room was expansive, almost intimidating in its stark simplicity. The walls were bare, save for a single, large window that offered a sweeping view of the city skyline. The furniture was minimal—sleek, modern, and functional, with no unnecessary decoration or personal touches. It was a spartan space, devoid of the usual clutter that marked a busy executive's workspace. A large Victorian-style desk dominated the center of the room, its dark wood polished to a high sheen, standing out in sharp contrast to the minimalist surroundings. Behind it sat the woman he was looking for, her posture straight and commanding.

Victor paused just inside the door, his brow furrowed in confusion as he took in the size of the office. His eyes flickered around the room, his mind clearly racing.

"Becky…Why is your office larger than mine?" he finally asked, his tone laced with irritation.

Becky looked up from the papers spread across her desk, a small, almost triumphant smile playing on her lips. "This was supposed to be yours," she said casually, her eyes glinting with amusement. "I took it."

Victor remained silent for a moment, processing her words as he stepped further into the room. His gaze wandered over the sparse furnishings and the lack of personal effects.

"What do you want, Victor?" Becky's voice cut through his thoughts, sharp and direct. She had a no-nonsense look about her, the kind of demeanor one developed after years of overseeing a vast financial empire. The department was still in the throes of reorganization after the recent merger, and she was the one holding it all together.

Victor smirked, trying to regain his composure. "I'm the COO, am I not? I'm just doing my job," he replied, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

Becky's smile grew colder, more dangerous, as she leaned back into her chair, resting her head on the plush headrest. "You were never going to be made CEO, Victor. I don't know why you ever expected that."

Victor's smirk faltered, the confident mask slipping for just a moment. "I didn't expect anything, Thompson," he retorted, a defensive edge creeping into his voice.

"Oh, didn't you?" Becky countered, her voice smooth and taunting. "Weren't you the one who boasted and begged Buddy to make you the CEO of our new company here? Something about being next in line at Nebula? And now look—Henderson is the CEO."

"I was on the list," Victor objected, his tone firm but not entirely convincing.

"No, you weren't," Becky shot back, her words cutting like a knife. "It was always going to be Chris Henderson. The board is packed with Stardust loyalists. Buddy has been rendered powerless. Only you and I along with some stooges are left from the old nebula, still holding positions of power like this."

Victor's eyes locked onto Becky's, his expression hardening. Slowly, a smile crept back onto his face, this one more calculated, more sinister. "I'm still second in command," he said quietly. "Only one more step to the top."

Becky laughed, the sound devoid of warmth. "Henderson isn't going anywhere."

"Not yet," Victor agreed, his voice low and measured as he took a seat across from her.

Becky glanced at Victor, then down at the papers scattered in front of her. "If Stardust hadn't come along, we would have been screwed. And you, Victor, would have ended up as the CEO of a husk of a company, selling off anything of value just to keep the lights on."

Victor rolled his eyes, clearly unimpressed by her stating the obvious. "Good thing the merger happened then. Still, we should have taken the lead. Stardust is a new—"

Becky cut him off, a hint of annoyance flashing in her eyes as she adjusted a strand of hair that had fallen out of place. "Victor, what's done is done."

Without waiting for a response, she picked up a piece of paper from her desk and handed it to him. Victor took it, his eyes scanning the numbers. It was a financial report—Stardust's profits and the projected earnings for the year. His eyebrows lifted slightly as he absorbed the figures.

"You see that? It's in the billions," Becky said, her voice steady. "Money we need to revamp Nebula's properties. It's what you've always wanted—your way to the top, as you like to call it."

Victor's expression shifted from mild interest to deeper consideration, but Becky wasn't finished.

"You can also leverage the resident young genius. I heard he was the one who pushed for the merger."

Victor's eyes lit up with curiosity. "Yes, Daniel Adler—a once-in-a-lifetime talent, a genius. You're right, his help would be crucial."

He paused, thinking aloud. "He's published a comic of his own, hasn't he?"

Becky nodded and handed Victor another sheet from her desk. "Mr. Adler has made a tidy sum from the studio."

Victor's eyes widened as he skimmed the page. "He gets a percentage?"

"Yes," Becky confirmed. "And he also holds considerable influence with our CEO and also one of our biggest shareholders. Adler has plans, Victor. Turn to the next page."

Victor flipped the page over, reading aloud the name that stood out. "Scott Snyder." Listed below were several high-profile writers who had been hired or were in the process of being hired. There were also notes about a significant financial project Adler was spearheading.

"I'm sure we'll be enlightened soon enough about what Adler is planning with the DC IP," Becky said, her tone neutral but carrying an undercurrent of caution.

Victor remained silent, absorbing the implications. Becky continued, her voice firm. "I'd rather we stick to what we know—avoid taking any unnecessary risks. Whatever Adler and Henderson have in mind, it's big. Too risky."

Victor let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head. "Yes, because taking risks did wonders for Nebula. We played it safe to almost bankruptcy."

Becky's expression hardened, a flicker of annoyance crossing her face again. "I'll see you at the meeting, Victor."

Without another word, Victor stood up and left the office, his mind racing as he walked down the long, dimly lit corridors of the corporate headquarters. Before the merger with Stardust, Victor had carefully crafted a strategy to replace Buddy as the new head of Nebula Studios. He saw the writing on the wall—Buddy's days were numbered, and Victor had every intention of seizing the reins. His plan was simple yet bold: sell off some of the less profitable IPs to generate immediate cash flow and use those funds to revive the animation series that had been wildly popular in the '90s and beginning of 2000. Those shows had once captured the hearts and minds of a generation, and Victor believed that with the right marketing and updates, they could do so again.

To Victor, the studio's obsession with live-action superhero films was a colossal mistake. They had poured every penny into them in the 80's. It was a losing battle. It was proven that once the initial buzz had faded, the broader audience would lose interest in superhero live-action movies. The only ones clamoring for them were basement-dwelling manchildren. 

Nebula's previous experience was enough for him.

Victor's vision extended beyond just animation. He also wanted to reform DC comics, bringing it back to its former glory by steering it toward the mature, intricate storytelling that people like Daniel Adler were pioneering. He hoped that Adler would be an ally in this endeavor, a powerful partner in reshaping DC's creative direction. But there was one thing Victor could not and would not allow—Adler having free rein with the DC IP. That was Victor's key to dethroning Chris Henderson and claiming the top spot for himself.

If Adler was given control over the DC IP's without Victor's input or control, it would solidify Henderson's position and leave Victor out in the cold. That was a risk he could not afford to take. He needed to speak with Adler as soon as possible and find out exactly what he was planning. The recent hires, especially learning that Scott Snyder was employed at the time the merger was only in talks, only heightened his anxiety. 

He had briefly met Daniel Adler a month ago, but Adler hadn't been around much since the Oscars. The internal aspects of the merger had only been finalized after the awards, and Victor had been told that Adler was busy with his publishing company.

As Victor arrived at his office, he called out, "Jessica."

His assistant, Jessica, immediately turned her attention to him. "Yes, sir?"

"Is Mr. Adler in the building?" Victor asked, a hint of urgency in his voice.

Jessica picked up the phone to check. "I'll find out."

As Jessica made the call, Victor stepped into his office. The room was a love letter to the film industry, filled with old Nebula Studios memorabilia. Old movie posters adorned the walls, each one a relic of a different era in the studio's history. There were figurines of iconic characters, awards from past productions, and framed photos of memorable moments in the company's journey. It was a space that reflected Victor's deep connection to the company and its legacy.

Victor glanced around the room, his eyes narrowing as a thought crossed his mind. "The bitch really did steal my office," he muttered under his breath, still annoyed by Becky's earlier power move.

Just then, he heard Jessica's footsteps as she entered the office. "So, is he here?" Victor asked, turning to face her.

"Yes, sir. He's with Mr. Hager and Mr. Morgan," Jessica replied.

Victor's eyes widened slightly. Thompson hadn't been exaggerating when she said Adler had influence. If Adler was meeting with Buddy and Morgan—two of the most influential figures in the company—it was clear that his presence carried weight. 

"Thank you, Jessica," Victor said, dismissing her with a nod as he walked out of the office, heading toward where he knew Buddy would be.

As he arrived at the room, he paused briefly outside the door before pushing it open. Buddy Hager, the former head of Nebula, called out cheerfully as he entered. "Ah, Victor, come in!"

Victor's gaze immediately shifted to the teenager with sandy hair sitting in the room. The young man was dressed in a suit like the others—a reminder that there was a board meeting today. Seated with Adler was Henry Morgan, one of the board members and a significant shareholder, casually sipping a cup of coffee.

Victor's resentment toward Buddy simmered just beneath the surface. The man had accepted a powerless position as chairman during the merger, something Victor would never have done. If only he had been the head of Nebula at the time, he would have fought tooth and nail for full control.

Buddy, noticing Victor's attention on Adler, pointed in their direction. "Daniel, I'm sure you must have met the COO."

Daniel looked up at Victor and smiled, his demeanor calm and collected. "Yes, we did meet last month, though we didn't speak much."

Victor extended his hand, which Daniel took in a firm handshake. "Well, we should rectify that. I've been wanting to meet the genius behind Stardust's rise," Victor said, his tone polite but with a hint of calculation.

Daniel leaned back on the couch, still smiling. "Should we call the meeting now? I mean, everyone's here."

Henry Morgan glanced at Daniel and nodded in agreement. "He's right. Everyone's here early. If we finish this up, I can be back in Texas by sundown."

Buddy and Henry stood up, ready to get the meeting underway. Victor pulled out his phone, acknowledging their eagerness. "You're right. I'll call the meeting."

Before they left the room, Victor turned to Daniel. "Ah, Mr. Adler, maybe we could speak in private?"

Daniel raised an eyebrow but agreed. "Sure."

As Buddy and Henry exited the room, Victor and Daniel were left alone.

Victor sat across Daniel in the quiet room. Victor leaned forward slightly, his hands resting on his knees as he began to speak.

"Before the merger with Stardust, I had plans—big plans—to save Nebula," Victor started, his voice steady. "Buddy was on his way out, and I was ready to take over. The company was floundering, and I knew what needed to be done."

Daniel listened intently, his expression calm and focused, as Victor continued.

"I have a vision for the important IP's of DC," Victor said, his eyes gleaming with a mixture of ambition and conviction. "Our downfall, as I see it, came from our overreliance on live-action movies. We burned through all our money trying to keep up with the blockbuster trend, but it didn't work. It was a mistake."

"What do you have in mind Mr Steele" Daniel asked. 

Victor paused, gathering his thoughts before continuing. "What I propose is a return to what always made us money—animation. Movies and series that capture the essence of these characters in a way live-action never could. We have an animation studio now with the merger, something nebula did not have before;. We can bring back the golden age of animation, revamp the comics with new writers, breathe new life into these characters. And for that, I need your help."

Daniel remained silent, his gaze steady as he absorbed Victor's words. Victor pressed on, sensing the importance of securing Daniel's support. "I know you've had great success with your own comic series. Imagine what we could do if we brought your work under the DC umbrella."

The room was silent for a long moment as Victor's words hung in the air. Daniel didn't speak immediately, his eyes narrowing slightly as he processed what Victor had laid out. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Daniel spoke.

"I agree with you on several points, Victor," Daniel began, his tone measured. "The reason I pushed for the merger was because I wanted to save DC, to gain access to its IP's. These characters, these stories, they mean something to me and a lot of people. They have value beyond what some people understand and many in the industry look down on it."

Victor felt a surge of satisfaction. Daniel's agreement was a crucial step forward. But just as he began to feel confident, Daniel continued, making Victor pause.

"But," Daniel said, his voice firm, "I don't agree with your assessment of live-action. I believe there's still immense potential in live-action superhero films—potential that we've barely scratched the surface of. In fact, I've planned something grand, something that involves live-action in a way that could change the game entirely."

Victor's satisfaction faded slightly as he absorbed Daniel's words. "I'll support your efforts in animation and comics," Daniel continued, "but you'll need to support my plan as well. It's something I intend to reveal at the meeting, and I believe it's going to redefine how we approach these characters and their stories."

Victor studied Daniel for a moment, weighing his options. He wasn't someone who jumped to conclusions without hearing all the facts. He needed to know more about Daniel's plan before deciding whether it was good for the company—or for him.

"I see," Victor finally said, his voice neutral, careful. "Well, Mr. Adler, I believe we can discuss this further after the meeting."

Daniel stood up, signaling the end of their conversation. "After the meeting then, Mr. Steele. It's good to see there are some executives who still see value in comics. The others… well, they're not as invested."

Victor nodded, though his mind was already racing ahead, wondering what exactly Daniel had in store. He left the room and headed toward the conference room, deep in thought. Whatever Daniel's plan was,he got a sense it was big—bigger than anything he had anticipated.

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