Peter leaned forward abruptly, his fists clenched on the cafe table. His eyes, sharp and intense, locked onto Ethan with barely restrained urgency.
"When?" Peter asked, voice low but edged with desperation. "When exactly do we do this? And I need the full details—no vague promises."
Ethan smiled slowly, clearly amused but unsurprised by Peter's eagerness. He glanced around the busy cafe, at people sipping coffees and chatting obliviously. Then his eyes flicked back to Peter.
"This isn't exactly the place for sensitive details," Ethan said calmly, rising to his feet. "Let's go somewhere private."
Peter pushed back from the table immediately, as if afraid Ethan might vanish. Felicia stood more gracefully, tossing her empty cup into the bin nearby with practiced ease. She gave Peter a sidelong glance, a subtle smirk teasing the corners of her mouth.
"Easy there, Spider," she teased gently. "We'll get there soon enough."
Peter didn't respond. He just followed closely behind Ethan, tension radiating from every step.
Ethan led them outside and hailed a passing taxi. The cab slowed and pulled up to the curb, and Ethan smoothly opened the door for Felicia, who slipped in first, followed by Peter. Ethan leaned toward the driver and gave him the address of the print shop he'd recently purchased, settling back as the taxi pulled away from the curb.
Peter stared ahead silently, his jaw clenched, while Felicia casually leaned back, her gaze wandering out the window. Ethan watched them both, noting the way Peter's fingers curled tightly in his lap, tension practically humming around him.
The taxi stopped in front of the print shop—currently undergoing renovations, but already promising in its potential. Ethan stepped out first, and the others followed.
Peter eyed the old brick facade with skepticism, the scaffolding still visible in places. "This is the place?"
"It's a work in progress," Ethan said, unlocking the heavy wooden door with a key pulled smoothly from his pocket. "Give it three days. The contractor promised it'll be ready by then."
Felicia whistled softly as she stepped inside, glancing around the partially renovated interior. The floors were clean and polished, the old machines removed, and fresh paint already coated most of the walls. Peter remained quiet, absorbing the space with narrowed eyes.
"It's a good space," Ethan said confidently. "Perfect for a newspaper."
Peter finally broke his silence. "Enough distractions. You said you'd give details."
Ethan smiled faintly. "Right to business, then."
He walked to the center of the room, leaning against a half-finished countertop. He folded his arms casually, instantly shifting into his calculated strategist persona.
"Here's the full breakdown," he began crisply, voice taking on a commanding clarity. "Oscorp has a shareholder meeting in exactly two weeks. It's a high-stakes gathering, with significant decisions that will affect the company's direction for years. Our best window is exactly ten days from now—four days before the meeting, when a gala will be held at Oscorp."
Peter's brow furrowed instantly. "Ten days is too long. Norman, by now, knows Aunt May is free. He could strike back at any time. I need him neutralized now."
Ethan lifted a hand patiently. "Ten days is the optimum timing. If we move too early, Osborn has time to regroup before the shareholders convene. We strike too late, we miss our window to disrupt the shareholders' confidence. Ten days from now gives us enough room to prepare everything—our infiltration, the digital sabotage, and the leak to the press. Once our story hits, Norman's empire starts to unravel."
Felicia nodded thoughtfully. "It's strategic. If the goal is maximum damage, Ethan's timing does sound perfect."
Peter shook his head stubbornly, frustration edging into his voice. "You're risking lives with delays."
Ethan raised an eyebrow, unfazed. "I understand your urgency, Peter. But trust me—if Norman moves against you now, it'll be quiet and controlled. He won't risk exposure before the shareholder meeting. He'll be focused on making sure nothing happens before the meeting, and afterward he'll be busy focusing on containment and public relations damage control."
Peter's jaw tightened further, but he didn't interrupt.
Ethan continued calmly, "In ten days, you, Felicia, and I execute the three-pronged infiltration. Felicia will breach R&D, deploy my drives, and extract Oscorp's deepest secrets. You'll safeguard her, neutralize threats, and plant our surveillance devices. Meanwhile, I'll handle the financial sabotage remotely, triggering audits that will paralyze Norman's finances."
Peter's tension didn't ease, but his eyes were locked on Ethan now, listening carefully.
Ethan's voice softened slightly, becoming persuasive. "We'll leak everything at precisely the right moment—damaging but irrefutable truths. Osborn's empire shakes. Stocks plummet. Shareholders panic. Norman goes into crisis mode. You, MJ, and Aunt May become irrelevant distractions to him."
Felicia tilted her head, clearly impressed. "This isn't just sabotage. It's masterful."
Ethan smiled faintly. "Of course."
Peter frowned deeply. "And you're sure he'll wait those ten days without attacking?"
Ethan's voice hardened with confidence. "Absolutely. Osborn's ruthless, but he's not reckless. He knows any move he makes now will expose him to unnecessary risks. We've already cornered him, even if he doesn't realize it yet."
Peter hesitated, clearly still unsettled, but nodded slowly. "And if you're wrong?"
Ethan didn't flinch. "I haven't been so far."
Silence filled the room briefly, charged with Peter's lingering doubt. Ethan studied him carefully before adding, "But there's another reason the ten-day wait is essential."
Peter's expression grew wary again. "What other reason?"
Ethan turned slightly, gesturing at the unfinished room around them. "This place. The print shop that I'm turning into a newspaper publication. Have you considered my offer yet?"
Peter visibly hesitated, thrown off balance. "I… haven't had time to think about it."
Ethan's smile returned, genuine this time. "Consider it now. If we both put in the effort, we could have this place operational in ten days. Right in time for the Oscorp leak. Imagine launching our own newspaper with the Oscorp story—a grand opening no one could ignore."
Peter stared at Ethan as if he'd lost his mind. "You're serious? You think we can build an entire newspaper operation from scratch in ten days?"
"Absolutely," Ethan replied calmly. "The foundations are here. Equipment's already been ordered and will be coming soon. The plan is in motion. It just needs commitment."
Felicia chuckled, eyes bright with amusement. "I like it. It's also perfectly timed. Sounds like you planned this from start to finish, huh? Something like this will drive the Goblin insane."
Ethan nodded appreciatively at her enthusiasm. "Precisely."
Peter crossed his arms, clearly still conflicted. "You really think this can work?"
Ethan stepped closer, his eyes steady and intense. "Peter, with this story, this leak, and the details we'll uncover, we won't just cripple Oscorp. We'll show the city exactly what Norman Osborn really is. You've always fought from the shadows, never able to show the world the truth. Now's your chance. Our chance. This place can become your voice—a real, tangible impact. This place will allow Peter Parker, not Spider-Man, to take down Norman Osborn."
Peter looked around the room slowly, his gaze softening. He finally let out a reluctant sigh. "Alright. I'm in. But the second Norman moves against us…"
Ethan held up a hand, placating him. "Then the timetable shifts. But trust me—he won't. Not until the moment it's too late. Trust me, I have a little trick to keep him occupied."
Peter didn't smile, but his shoulders relaxed just slightly. "Fine. Ten days. Let's hope you're as good as you think you are."
Ethan smiled confidently, even as his own exhaustion tugged at the edges of his mind. "I always am."