a second chance | gwen stacy (wlw!)

16: Parental Guidance

"Your room was filthy, Harry. I've um.. cleaned up some of it for you while you were away." Bernard, Harry's old but energetic butler, nods towards Harry as he enters his large apartment complex. "You didn't need to." He says in response, laying his trench coat on the stand. Harry marches towards his father's study, intending to lock himself in there for the night. 

Just before he closes the door, Bernard stops him with a hand to the door. "You haven't had dinner yet." He exclaims in a concerned voice. Harry furrows his eyebrows. "I already had it." He mutters under his breathe, deciding to leave the door open and lean back into his father's chair. Harry scans the papers on his desk, filled with bills and charts which signal Oscorp's lowering profit. 

Bernard sighs, stepping into the room as he observes Harry. The room was filled with a fireplace, a library of books, and a large portrait of Norman Osborn on the wall behind Harry. His expression softens as he watches Harrry, to which Harry glances at him. 

"You know.. your father never did like keeping secrets." Bernard turns around, grabbing the doorknob. Harry raises an eyebrow, shaking his head. "Close it all the way, please." Harry says, keeping his eyes glued to his desk. 

Bernard pauses, turning to Harry again. "Yes, yes.." He says with a quick smile as Harry watches him. The door clicks shut as Harry is left alone. As soon as it's quiet, Harry glances at the portrait behind him, his eyebrows lowering as he sees a younger and healthier version of his father. 

He glances back at the stacks of papers in front of him, biting his lip as he tries to sort through them. "How is there even more than last time?" He says under his breathe, recounting the meeting he had with the board directors at Oscorp. 

They had wanted to split the company 50/50 with a rival organization, but Harry refused. However, if the company continued to plummet at this rate, he would be forced to sell it. The board directors were all close to coming to a unanimous vote to sell the company, except one, Doctor Octavius. 

Harry leans back in his chair, resting his arms on his desk and looking into the distance. Some of his father's closest friends were keen on selling the company, not even bothering to bat an eye to his own son. They knew that Norman was dying, and this would be the perfect time to earn what they invested, maybe even more. They thought he was a child. Harry despised them. His father and him would not be so easily disrespected. 

He notices a picture of Spiderwoman on his desk, picking up the fairly recent newspaper with the Daily Bugle headed as the distributor. The newspaper reads "MURDERER SPIDERWOMAN.. CAUGHT BUSTING AN OSCORP VEHICLE?" Harry glances at a picture of Spiderwoman and the gang of thieves tied up in webs. "Tch.. Damn it." He tosses the newspaper into the fireplace with a scowl. 

Harry shook his head, leaning his forehead against his hand with a sigh. He stares into the embers and sparks flying out of the fireplace, scowling as his hatred of that masked vigilante burned inside of him. He had to do something about her, or else she'd ruin everything he'd built.. his father had built. 

Harry stood up, placing a hand on the shelf and putting a hand to his hip. In his view, he spots a liquor cabinet, hosting some shot glasses and alcoholic beverages. Stepping towards it, he sees a lock around the handles. 

Harry sighs, remembering that his father would never let him near this and that Bernard had tried to keep him away from it. He looks around, hoping to find a key. Harry ravenges through his desk first, opening drawers and looking under papers and pills that his father had left.