Marvel's Princess – Read Fanfic

The members of the jury and the spectators, including Old Joe, applauded in unison, and Bella and Lawyer Jerry Hogarth clapped as well, albeit with a sense of humanitarian concern, expressing their joy.

Seeing his clerks applauding, the big-bearded judge, who had secretly received a substantial amount from Stark Industries, followed suit with a few reluctant claps.

The defendant’s client was in tears, grabbing the doctor’s hand to stall for time: “Oh God! Doctor Brandon, thank you for saving me!”

“It’s no problem, just doing my duty as a doctor.”

“No! Please let me thank you properly!” The adrenaline was starting to take effect, and the defendant’s client was so excited he almost did a couple of flips right there.

The doctor helped him and looked pleased with his emergency response skills. Considering how serious the patient had been moments ago, he felt proud to have brought him back.

With a proud tone, he suggested, “Let’s continue the court proceedings.”

“This is like wishing for my death!” The defendant’s client had no choice but to return to his seat to continue facing Jerry Hogarth’s relentless questioning.

It was a complete defeat.

The defense client was routed, and his lawyer had only asked a few trivial questions from start to finish.

After adjourning and reconvening at two o’clock in the afternoon, the jury reached an informal verdict, finding Stark Industries and Wexler Steel in breach of contract. The judge, respecting the jury’s opinion, issued the final judgment based on Arizona law.

Stark Industries and Wexler Steel were ordered to pay all due pensions to the steel company’s retired workers within 90 days.

Bella and others, including Old Joe, had decided that the former monthly pension payments were unreliable and now demanded a lump-sum payment from the acquiring company and the steel plant.

Considering the retirees might live to be 100, the calculation was made by subtracting their current age from 100 and multiplying the result by the annual pension they were supposed to receive.

If they lived past 100, it was their loss. If the currency depreciated, that was a risk they would have to bear.

Having worked in the steel plant all their lives, no one believed they could reach 100. Living to 90 was a blessing, and everyone was happy to get more money.

Even with currency depreciation, they accepted it!

Stark Industries and the steel plant were unhappy. Not everyone’s pension was $45,000 a year like Old Joe’s, which was on the higher end. Even so, as calculated by their formula, the total pension payout for the 59 workers exceeded $50 million.

A broken-down steel plant must pay an extra $50 million on top of normal acquisition costs. No one would be happy with that.

Bella knew they would be dissatisfied and expected them to appeal and continue delaying. Thus, the protest activities didn’t stop.

Previously, robbing a bank seemed morally wrong, but at her suggestion, the three old men donated most of the stolen money beyond necessary living expenses.

Now, with a legal victory, the retirees were morally vindicated. Whether it was protesting outside Stark’s office or gaining media sympathy, they stood on high moral ground.

The elderly are inherently a vulnerable group, and their vulnerability transcends race or gender—everyone will reach this stage in life. Today, it’s them; tomorrow, it could be us.

They deserved sympathy and now had the court’s decision for support. Bella and Natasha gathered many students and spoke out on various media platforms. Stark Industries’ competitors also secretly exerted effort, and the retirees’ protests gained significant social attention.

Politicians, media journalists, and figures from all parties closely followed the topic, increasingly disadvantaging Stark Industries at the storm’s center.

“Everyone ages. Today, it’s Old Joe and Old Willy, and tomorrow, it’s us. Perhaps Tony Stark has enough money not to worry about his retirement, but we do! I believe Obadiah Stane, the CEO of Stark Industries, should, too; he’s just an employee, and 99% of the country has to think about these issues!

I’m just an ordinary person, doing what little I can to encourage everyone to stand up. We must tell these capitalists ‘no.’ They can’t just swallow our pensions!”

Obadiah watched Bella speak candidly to a CNN camera and wished he could smash his computer.

“I’m seventy and still working. After struggling for so many years, don’t I have some savings? I don’t need a pension!”

The issue escalated faster than he had anticipated, and it was no longer just about Bella and a few dozen old workers from a broken-down steel mill.

The issue spread nationwide, affecting many employees and workers of Stark Industries to varying degrees.

This group ranged from Obadiah’s assistants to the janitorial staff, all concerned about their pensions. Could theirs be next?

Employer-employee relationships are just.

That is not slavery. If you don’t pay, who will work for you?

The entire group was in turmoil, with Obadiah holding daily meetings to reassure his subordinates. A man of decision, he called off the ongoing lawsuit against Bella’s side.

“Just throw money at it to quiet the instigator.”

$50 million for pensions was extortionate. Stark Industries couldn’t afford such an amount—who lives to be a hundred? Let me see!

The age limit was set to ninety years, and pensions were paid out based on this new standard.

A week later, the retirees received their pensions from Stark Industries, totaling $15 million. Depending on individual calculations, some could receive up to $300,000, while others at least $100,000.

The holes in their financial plans were nearly patched. Homes wouldn’t be repossessed, and a substantial amount remained for future family expenses.

After receiving the money, the retirees, their children, neighbors, and friends faced various pressures: persuasions, threats, and bribes. Subtly, they indicated to Bella that they hoped this would be the end.

“Fine, I respect your decision.”

Bella and Natasha left Old Joe’s house. The old man, embarrassed, personally escorted them to the door and watched them drive away before shuffling back to his own home.

Natasha was somewhat disappointed, feeling that things hadn’t ended as perfectly as they could have.

But Bella was quite satisfied. To have come this far was already quite an achievement.

It’s not that Tony Stark is a good person, and everyone in Stark Industries is good.

Everyone still plays by the rules, but hiring hitmen and kidnapping could happen if pushed too far. Bella isn’t afraid, but that doesn’t mean others aren’t.

She got the reputation and praise she needed, and the retirees received almost adequate financial compensation. This matter could now be considered closed.

Become a Patron to read chapters ahead of public release and support me 😉

Read up to 30 chapters ahead on p atreon.