Lunch arrived without noise.
A staff member placed trays on the low table in the lounge and left immediately.
No small talk.
No eye contact.
Just efficiency.
Alex watched the door close behind him.
"That man looked terrified," he said.
Adrian sat in one of the leather chairs.
"People usually are."
Alex picked up a glass of water.
"That's not healthy."
Adrian didn't answer.
Outside the tall windows the lake shimmered in the afternoon light.
It looked peaceful.
Alex knew better now.
He sat across from Adrian.
For a few minutes they ate in silence.
Alex tried the food.
Expensive.
Perfect.
He barely noticed.
His mind kept returning to one thing.
Victor.
Finally he said it.
"He's planning something."
Adrian set his fork down.
"Yes."
"You seem very calm about that."
"Yes."
Alex leaned back in the chair.
"That's concerning."
Adrian looked at him.
"Why?"
"Because people who stay calm during traps usually know where the trap is."
Adrian took a sip of water.
"Yes."
Alex blinked.
"You already know."
"Yes."
Alex stared.
"And you're not going to tell me."
"No."
Alex sighed.
"That's becoming a pattern."
Adrian stood.
He walked toward the window.
The sunlight reflected across the lake behind him.
Alex studied his reflection in the glass.
"You're waiting," Alex said.
"Yes."
"For what?"
Adrian looked out at the water.
"For Victor to make the mistake."
Alex shook his head slowly.
"That sounds dangerous."
"Yes."
Alex stood and walked toward the window.
He crossed his arms.
"So this is a trap."
"Yes."
Alex glanced sideways.
"Yours or his?"
Adrian didn't answer.
That told Alex everything.
The door opened.
Elena stepped inside.
She looked serious.
More serious than usual.
"Security just confirmed something," she said.
Adrian turned.
"What?"
"Victor's men disabled the west cameras."
Alex frowned.
"That sounds illegal."
Elena nodded.
"Yes."
Alex looked between them.
"So what happens now?"
Adrian's voice stayed calm.
"Nothing."
Alex blinked.
"Nothing?"
Elena crossed her arms.
"He's testing our response."
Alex sighed.
"This man really likes games."
"Yes," Adrian said.
"And you're going to let him play."
"Yes."
Alex rubbed his face.
"I'm starting to understand why this war has lasted years."
Elena's phone vibrated.
She checked the screen.
Then her expression changed slightly.
"Another update."
Adrian waited.
"Victor just requested a private meeting."
Alex groaned.
"With who?"
Elena looked at Adrian.
"With you."
Silence settled in the room.
Alex looked at Adrian.
"You're not actually going."
"Yes."
Alex stared.
"That seems like a bad idea."
"Yes."
Alex laughed quietly.
"Good to know we agree."
Adrian walked toward the door.
Alex stepped in front of him.
"Hold on."
Adrian stopped.
Alex folded his arms.
"You walk into a private meeting with that man and you think nothing will happen?"
Adrian looked at him.
"Something will happen."
"That's exactly the problem."
Elena watched them both.
Adrian's voice remained calm.
"I'll be fine."
Alex shook his head.
"That's not the point."
Adrian raised an eyebrow.
"No?"
"No."
Alex hesitated.
Then he said it.
"If Victor wants leverage…"
He gestured toward himself.
"…I'm the obvious choice."
The room went quiet.
Adrian studied him carefully.
"Yes."
Alex sighed.
"So you walking alone into a room with him seems very stupid."
Adrian didn't respond.
Elena spoke instead.
"Security will be nearby."
Alex looked at her.
"That's comforting."
Adrian stepped past him.
"The meeting will take ten minutes."
Alex watched him move toward the door.
"Adrian."
He stopped.
Alex's voice was quieter now.
"You trust him?"
Adrian turned.
"No."
"Then why go?"
Adrian answered simply.
"Because he expects me to."
Alex frowned.
"That's not logic."
"It's strategy."
Alex shook his head.
"You're impossible."
Adrian opened the door.
Before he stepped out, he said,
"Stay here."
Alex stared.
"That's not happening."
Adrian looked at him.
"Yes it is."
Alex crossed his arms.
"You're not my boss."
"No."
Alex raised an eyebrow.
"So stop giving orders."
Elena tried not to smile.
Adrian studied Alex for a moment.
Then he said quietly,
"Fine."
Alex waited.
"You can come."
Alex blinked.
"That was easier than expected."
Adrian walked into the corridor.
Alex followed immediately.
Elena stayed behind.
"I'll monitor security," she said.
The door closed behind them.
The hallway outside was quiet.
Too quiet.
Alex glanced around.
"Where's the meeting?"
"West lounge."
Alex sighed.
"Of course it is."
They walked down the long stone corridor.
Their footsteps echoed softly.
Halfway there Alex spoke again.
"You know something?"
Adrian didn't slow.
"What?"
"If Victor kills us, I'm going to be very annoyed."
"That would be inconvenient."
Alex laughed under his breath.
"You're unbelievable."
They reached the west lounge.
The door stood slightly open.
Light spilled from inside.
Adrian pushed it open.
Victor Moreau stood near the fireplace.
He turned when they entered.
His eyes landed on Alex immediately.
"Well," Victor said softly.
"That's unexpected."
Alex leaned against the doorframe.
"Surprise."
Victor smiled faintly.
"I asked for Adrian."
Alex shrugged.
"You got both of us."
Victor looked at Adrian.
"You brought him."
"Yes."
Victor studied Alex carefully.
"That's interesting."
Alex crossed his arms.
"People keep saying that."
Victor walked slowly across the room.
"Do you know why I asked for this meeting?"
Adrian remained calm.
"No."
Victor stopped a few feet away.
His voice lowered.
"Because the game is almost finished."
Alex frowned.
"That's dramatic."
Victor ignored him.
He looked directly at Adrian.
"You built an empire."
Adrian said nothing.
Victor continued.
"You took everything from my family."
Silence.
Alex watched both men carefully.
Victor's voice grew colder.
"So now I take something from you."
Alex sighed.
"This again."
Victor's eyes shifted toward him.
"You still don't understand."
Alex tilted his head.
"Then explain it."
Victor smiled.
"Gladly."
He stepped closer.
"The rumor campaign."
"The market pressure."
"The retreat."
He gestured around the estate.
"It was never about business."
Alex felt the air change.
Victor's eyes returned to Adrian.
"It was about getting you here."
The words hung in the room.
Sharp.
Clear.
Alex looked at Adrian.
Adrian's expression didn't change.
Victor smiled again.
"Now the real move begins."
Alex shook his head slowly.
"You know something?"
Victor raised an eyebrow.
"What?"
Alex leaned against the wall.
"That speech sounded much cooler in your head."
Victor laughed quietly.
"You're still confident."
Alex shrugged.
"Someone has to be."
Victor's eyes narrowed slightly.
"You think this ends well for you."
Alex smiled faintly.
"No."
Victor frowned.
"No?"
Alex looked directly at him.
"I think you're about to make a very big mistake."
Silence filled the room.
Victor studied him.
Then he asked quietly,
"And what mistake is that?"
Alex glanced at Adrian.
Then back at Victor.
"The one where you underestimate the wrong person."
Victor didn't respond.
But for the first time—
His smile faded.