The boardroom grew very quiet after Victor spoke.
Alex leaned back against the table and studied him carefully.
"Well," he said.
Victor looked at him.
"Yes?"
Alex shrugged.
"That's one way to stay involved."
Victor didn't respond.
His attention remained on Adrian.
"I'm a shareholder now."
Adrian nodded once.
"Yes."
Victor stepped closer to the table.
"That gives me rights."
Elena crossed her arms.
"Limited rights."
Victor glanced at her.
"For now."
Alex smiled faintly.
"You're extremely optimistic for someone who just lost a takeover."
Victor ignored him.
He continued looking at Adrian.
"You blocked the acquisition."
Adrian said nothing.
Victor continued.
"But now I sit inside the company."
The room remained silent.
Alex rubbed the back of his neck.
"That sounds uncomfortable for everyone."
Victor finally looked at him.
"You seem relaxed."
Alex shrugged.
"I'm adaptable."
Victor studied him for a moment.
Then he said quietly,
"You're the interesting variable."
Alex smiled faintly.
"That's the nicest insult I've heard all week."
Victor turned back toward Adrian.
"This changes things."
Adrian answered calmly.
"Yes."
Victor nodded.
"I'll be attending board meetings."
Elena frowned.
"That depends."
Victor looked at her.
"On what?"
Elena answered calmly.
"Whether the board invites you."
Victor smiled slightly.
"They will."
Alex laughed softly.
"You're very confident today."
Victor said nothing.
Adrian walked slowly toward the window.
The skyline stretched across the glass.
He spoke without turning.
"You spent billions."
Victor answered calmly.
"Yes."
"You lost the vote."
"Yes."
Adrian turned slightly.
"And you call that success."
Victor nodded once.
"Yes."
Alex folded his arms.
"That's a creative interpretation."
Victor ignored him.
His eyes stayed on Adrian.
"I didn't come here to take the company in one move."
Adrian said nothing.
Victor continued.
"I came here to change the board."
Silence settled across the room.
Alex leaned forward slightly.
"That sounds exhausting."
Victor smiled faintly.
"It's strategic."
Alex nodded slowly.
"Of course it is."
Adrian remained calm.
"What do you want."
Victor answered immediately.
"A seat."
Elena blinked.
"No."
Victor looked at her.
"I own ten percent."
Elena shook her head.
"That doesn't guarantee a seat."
Victor's voice remained calm.
"It makes one inevitable."
Alex sighed quietly.
"Well."
Adrian turned toward him.
"Well what?"
Alex shrugged.
"That's actually true."
Elena frowned.
"You're helping him now."
Alex shook his head.
"No."
Elena waited.
Alex continued.
"I'm describing reality."
Victor watched him carefully.
"You understand leverage."
Alex smiled faintly.
"I grew up without it."
Victor nodded slowly.
"That's why you use it well."
Alex leaned back again.
"Thanks."
The room grew quiet again.
Adrian studied Victor for several seconds.
"You won't get control."
Victor nodded.
"I know."
Alex blinked.
"Well."
Adrian continued.
"You'll lose more money."
Victor shrugged.
"That's acceptable."
Alex laughed softly.
"You're both terrifying."
Victor finally looked at him again.
"You enjoy this."
Alex shrugged.
"I enjoy watching rich people argue."
Victor almost smiled.
Then he turned back toward Adrian.
"I'll see you at the next board meeting."
Adrian didn't respond.
Victor walked toward the door.
Just before leaving, he stopped.
"There's one more thing."
Alex raised an eyebrow.
"That sounds ominous."
Victor ignored him.
He looked at Adrian.
"The alliance isn't leaving."
Elena frowned.
"That statement earlier suggested otherwise."
Victor shook his head.
"They're cautious."
Alex crossed his arms.
"That's the polite word for scared."
Victor smiled faintly.
"Yes."
Alex leaned forward slightly.
"So what's the real plan."
Victor studied him for a moment.
Then he said quietly,
"To make patience expensive."
Silence filled the room.
Adrian said nothing.
Victor nodded once.
"You're very good at waiting."
Adrian didn't respond.
Victor continued.
"But markets don't wait forever."
Alex tilted his head.
"That's actually true."
Victor turned toward the door again.
"See you soon."
Then he left.
The door closed quietly behind him.
The boardroom remained silent.
Alex leaned back slowly.
"Well."
Adrian looked at him.
"Well what?"
Alex rubbed his face.
"That man is exhausting."
Elena crossed her arms.
"He's dangerous."
Alex nodded.
"Yes."
Adrian walked back toward the table.
"He wants influence."
Elena frowned.
"He'll try to sway the board."
Alex shrugged.
"That's predictable."
Adrian said nothing.
Alex continued.
"But he also said something interesting."
Adrian looked at him.
"What?"
Alex smiled faintly.
"Patience is expensive."
Adrian didn't respond.
Alex leaned back again.
"He's going to attack indirectly."
Elena nodded slowly.
"That makes sense."
Alex continued.
"Market pressure."
Adrian said quietly,
"Yes."
Alex shrugged.
"He'll try to make the company unstable."
Elena looked at Adrian.
"That could work."
Alex shook his head.
"Not if the company looks strong."
Adrian studied him carefully.
"You have an idea."
Alex smiled faintly.
"Always."
Elena sighed.
"That's never reassuring."
Alex stood and stretched slightly.
"You know what Victor forgot."
Adrian waited.
Alex looked at both of them.
"He's not the only one who can play the long game."
The room fell silent again.
Outside the glass walls, the city continued moving.
Victor had lost the takeover.
But the war had entered a new stage.
Alex walked toward the window and looked down at the streets far below.
"You know something interesting," he said quietly.
Adrian asked,
"What?"
Alex smiled faintly.
"Victor thinks he just moved inside the house."
Adrian didn't respond.
Alex continued.
"But houses have a lot of rooms."
Adrian's expression remained calm.
Alex glanced back at him.
"And some of them…"
He smiled slightly.
"…are traps."