Wayne dominating the small time market
Bruce woke up after his four-hour sleep. The time was five in the morning.
He walked down to his PC to check for alerts and news, with nothing interesting to him.
Batman had garnered some fame among the masses, friends and foes alike. Many people who found their livelihood doing illegal things, were leaving New York, and some bright cases of leaving their life of crime behind.
Hell's kitchen was somewhat silent after the month of Batman dose, with crime cut down half from before.
'A temporary silence, before the rats come out thinking it to be a daily drama'
Bruce knew it was not permanent and the big leagues were just checking the waters before taking some action, but a minute of peace was still peace.
Wayne Enterprises was broadening its horizons, with Bruce employed for his new and old projects. The one-man company now hosted 147 new employees, incorporating various data scientists, computer analysts, and investment banker rookies, in the two named subsidiaries under it, Wayne Net and Wayne Investments.
The infrastructure had developed, with a new building carrying the Wayne name in Manhattan, bought from a debt-ridden investment banker, to be the second branch of Wayne Enterprises.
The main branch was used for informative services, receptions and appointments being made and the personal office of the CEO Bruce Wayne and Batman alike.
Today, Bruce was present for fulfilling his promises a month earlier, which had earned him some much-needed fame and respect among the masses, boosting business over the chart.
"Sir the press is ready." notified Neit Everhart, personal secretary to Bruce.
Bruce left his office to address the conference he had called, with mikes of major news giants in front of him.
And he deserved so, on the front page of Vanity magazine was Millianoire Bruce Wayne, net worth 16.3 million dollars as of January 31st, and now marking the launch of a new subsidiary of the Waynes, one which would not make much profit one might think if he forgets the power of mass media.
It was a small-time press meet, but enough to get work done.
"A month ago I posted on my Instagram handle of the charity worth 100,000 donated to the young and the less lucky ones among us. And with that came an idea, to become something more than an ordinary business tycoon.
We as humans need emotional pillars in our lives, that's what my father Chris Tucker was to me, and with him gone, I am left with a hole in my heart never to be refilled.
The initial month was very hard on me, leaving me alone, with a tear never to be mended in my heart with my parent's absence. And I realize, while I may not have a shade of an elder upon me, I could very much the tree to someone else.
And with that, I am very happy about your presence here to announce our new member to the family, an integral part to be, the Wayne Charity to our fold.
We are launching this 100% open company where every cent of money spent would be open-sourced, available to everyone to see the competency of our charitable spending. Wayne Enterprises would be donating a grant of two hundred thousand dollars every year, increasing our activities and donations in the favor of the people as we grow bigger.
And..." Bruce ignores the mobile vibrating in his breast pocket.
"The first children to benefit from this grant have consented their names to be read out, with one of them even present here among the crowd. Our first actions with the new project would include developing Wayne orphanage, along with the education grant towards the underprivileged yet bright students."
"With that, I would like to announce the final news from us, Wayne Enterprises is going public in the month of February 2009." A clapping sound dominated the hall, mostly from the new employees instead of the press before him. " Questions. Yes."
"Mr. Wayne, how would you like to comment upon the Stark downfall as a new and aspiring businessman yourself."
"Well I still have my investment in Stark Industries and I am sure they would plan something out for the future the CEO has promised to us. Yes, My dear."
"Thank you, sir. Mr. Wayne, how can we avail services for Wayne's finances when the CEO himself is investing in a weapon manufacturing company that does not make weapons?" Silent echoed in the small hall.
"Well I meant questions about Wayne's group of companies, but as a minor Stakeholder in Stark Industries, I trust the Stark prince to lead his company in a way it benefits those who are with him and those supporting him from the market. Anyone else, not about the Stark, yes?"
A reporter from a small-time newspaper had his hand up when the rest were filtered out with questions about Stark.
"Mr. Wayne, is the Wayne charity solely for the Wayne enterprises to act upon or the common public could have their hands over some of the goodwill it will be sharing among the underprivileged."
"Yes, Wayne Charity would be accepting any donations be made, we will see how this would work out efficiently, but one thing I promise is that the entire process would be without corruption and open for the public to witness, with the process and the result would be on its Instagram handle, with the consent of the receivers, of course. Is that all?"
"Thank you and have a nice day."
Bruce leaves the stage to leave somewhere there are fewer eyes around him. On his personal mobile was the prompt of a cyber attack being noticed.
Bruce pocketed his phone and walked out before his secretary, informing her of his retirement for the day with a smile.
Stark industries had been hit hard, really hard, becoming a fifth of what it was before the rise due to Tony's comeback.
Evaluated at a shadow of its glory, the 99.4bn$ company was going down with each passing day.
Bruce had, of course, investigated the inner workings of the board and the future Tony spoke of. The Arc reactor technology.
With that the company would gain immense popularity when introduced, so Bruce had invested 20 million out of his 16 million net worth, with various loans and debts to be answered in the future.
He stood before the glass wall on the third floor of the Wayne building, sipping black coffee and making his presence known to anyone spying on him, if any.
Outside he saw a man, seemingly in his mid-forties, kneeling before the building, with his hand broken in a cast and broken nose, crying his eyes out while holding a letter with the newly introduced logo of Wayne on it.
Bruce turned off the lights to reach out for his PC for his daily activities, usually followed by his outdoor nightly activities.
.
.
Knocks on the door, The bed is untouched. The flatscreen TV is on -- Jim Cramer delivering a sermon.
"Stark International: I've got one recommendation. Ready? SEELLLL! Abandon ship! Does the Hindenburg ring any bells?" Cramer pushes one of his big red buttons, and we hear the
sounds of SHRIEKING. Pepper shuts it off as she talks on the phone when another channel delivers the conference of the CEO of Wayne Enterprises.
These, a man in his thirties, scratched his chin around his 5'oclock shave.
"...Well I meant questions about Wayne's group of companies, but as a minor Stakeholder in Stark Industries, I trust the Stark prince to lead his company in a way it benefits those who are with him and those supporting him from the market...."
She leaves the room and heads to the living room where Agen Coulson meets her, inquiring her about their previous appointments.
On the table were newspapers with headlines: "STARK RAVING MAD?" "STARK LUNACY".
"I've left a number of messages trying to get something on the books with Mr. Stark." Informing the agent about his indefinite solitude.
She leaves for Tony's office where he was dim and unsettling. She finds Tony shirtless in a chair, his chest device for the first time, and steels herself.
"How big are your hands?"