The Most Powerful Man in the Room

Knock knock.

"Come in." The tone was short, not a waver of emotion to be found.

"I can't believe you've done this! Who is Ashley, and why is she sitting in what should be my office?" You ranted, flopping into a cushy chair as Mr. Edgar turned to regard you with a raised eyebrow.

"I must have missed the board meeting where they elected you CEO, but until such time, you answer to me, not the other way around." The answer was clipped, but still little emotion from the current CEO of Vought.

You considered for just a moment, killing him and taking his place, but...

"Sorry sir." You bit your tongue and apologized.

He ignored said apology, continuing on with whatever he wanted to speak with you about.

"You're being moved to head up R&D. Ashley will be in charge of the Seven from now on." Mr. Edgar stated as you sighed.

"I mean, I can't exactly argue with the sense in that... my powers allow me to create new medicine... or viruses nearly on demand. I could literally play both sides in a pseudo-biological warfare. Create panic with a massive body count, no, less people to buy the **** that way, keep the symptoms noticeable, but not fatal, and then give it a week or two and develop a pill that cures the disease, we'd be able to market it at whatever price we want, and we can repeat over and over and over again and again." You muttered under your breath as Mr. Edgar let you talk.

"Glad to see you're already getting into your new position." He stated, breaking you out of your head.

"Be that as it may, if I'm not there, Homelander will run roughshod over everyone, kowtowing them into his way of thinking, and Ashley far as I can tell lacks any ability to stand up to him." You pointed out, leaning back as you opened a new line of dialogue.

"Don't worry about Homelander, he'll be reigned in." Mr. Edgar assured you as you chuckled dryly.

"How, by your new recruit, if you think she's going to stop him, then you've just lost any respect I might've gained for you. Storm is a self-proclaimed fetishist about blue-eyed blondes, she won't stop him, she'll only teach him to aim even higher, push him to try and be the God of a New World or some crap!" You hissed as Edgar wasn't fazed.

"Well, she seems to be doing a good job of keeping you in line." Your blood went cold, could he be telling the truth, it was strange that she came to be interviewed when Mr. Edgar could just appoint her to the position...

"I don't know what you mean, Mr. Edgar. Stormfront and I are just colleges, she was capable of handling herself without my influence, unlike our previous hire." You stated calmly, forcibly slowing your racing heart. He wouldn't give up information freely like that, unless the purpose was to set you into a tailspin of panic.

"Hmm, a good poker face, and you immediately responded with deference and deflection to a different target, selling out someone who's becoming ore anti-Vought, maybe you will be voted CEO one day... but for now your talents lie elsewhere. The R&D team is expecting you." Mr. Edgar said, returning to staring out the window at the city below.

"Oh, sir, I meant to ask... speaking of anti-Vought, that Congresswoman is growing in strength, should I deal with her?" You asked, noticing the slight stiffening as he turned to regard you one last time.

"No, Nick, I'm already handling her personally, have a good day."