The penthouse remained silent after Elena showed the chart.
The red line on the screen had dropped sharply.
Laurent International's stock was falling.
Alex leaned closer to the tablet.
"Well."
Adrian stood beside the window.
Calm.
Unmoved.
Elena crossed her arms.
"He doubled his short position."
Alex nodded slowly.
"That's extremely aggressive."
Adrian said nothing.
Alex continued studying the numbers.
"You know what the interesting part is."
Adrian looked at him.
"What."
Alex smiled faintly.
"Victor isn't bluffing."
Elena nodded.
"No."
Alex leaned back against the counter.
"He's willing to burn money."
Adrian answered calmly.
"Yes."
Alex shrugged.
"That makes him dangerous."
The room stayed quiet for a moment.
The stock chart updated again.
Another small drop.
Alex watched it carefully.
"You know what investors are thinking right now."
Adrian waited.
Alex pointed at the screen.
"They're wondering if Victor knows something."
Elena nodded slowly.
"That's how panic starts."
Alex leaned forward slightly.
"And panic spreads fast."
Adrian said quietly,
"Yes."
Alex looked at him.
"You're still calm."
"Yes."
Alex laughed softly.
"That's becoming your favorite answer."
Adrian didn't respond.
Elena turned back to the tablet.
"Volume is increasing."
Alex frowned.
"That's not surprising."
Elena zoomed the chart.
Several large trades appeared.
Alex studied them carefully.
"Well."
Adrian asked calmly,
"What."
Alex pointed at the numbers.
"Someone is selling."
Elena nodded.
"Yes."
Alex rubbed his chin.
"That's exactly what Victor wanted."
Adrian said nothing.
Alex continued.
"He pushes the price down…"
He gestured toward the chart.
"…and nervous investors start dumping shares."
Elena crossed her arms.
"That weakens the company."
Alex shrugged.
"For a moment."
Adrian watched the chart quietly.
Alex studied him.
"You're waiting again."
"Yes."
Alex smiled faintly.
"That's impressive patience."
Adrian didn't respond.
The tablet vibrated.
Elena checked the alert.
"Another drop."
Alex leaned closer.
The stock had fallen again.
Five percent now.
"Well."
Adrian asked quietly,
"How far."
Elena answered calmly.
"If this continues…"
She paused.
"…ten percent by the afternoon."
Alex whistled softly.
"That's expensive."
Adrian said nothing.
Alex leaned back against the counter again.
"You know what Victor is really doing."
Adrian waited.
Alex shrugged.
"He's testing you."
Adrian nodded once.
"Yes."
Alex continued.
"He wants to see when you react."
Elena glanced at Adrian.
"That's likely."
Alex crossed his arms.
"But the real problem isn't the stock."
Adrian looked at him.
"What."
Alex smiled faintly.
"The narrative."
Elena frowned slightly.
"Explain."
Alex pointed at the screen.
"Right now the story is simple."
He paused.
"Victor Moreau believes Laurent International is weak."
Adrian said nothing.
Alex continued.
"And markets love simple stories."
Elena nodded slowly.
"That's true."
Alex leaned forward slightly.
"So the real move isn't financial."
Adrian asked quietly,
"What is it."
Alex smiled.
"It's psychological."
Elena raised an eyebrow.
"That sounds vague."
Alex shrugged.
"Victor made this public."
He gestured toward the tablet.
"So we make the response public too."
Adrian studied him carefully.
"You want a statement."
Alex nodded.
"Yes."
Elena frowned.
"That reveals concern."
Alex shook his head.
"No."
Elena waited.
Alex smiled faintly.
"It shows confidence."
Adrian said nothing.
Alex continued.
"You don't fight the market quietly."
Elena crossed her arms.
"What do you suggest."
Alex shrugged.
"A press conference."
Silence.
Adrian looked at him.
"Why."
Alex leaned against the counter again.
"Because Victor already turned this into a show."
Elena nodded slowly.
"That's true."
Alex continued.
"So now we control the stage."
Adrian remained calm.
Alex watched him.
"You're thinking."
"Yes."
Alex smiled faintly.
"That usually means I'm right."
Adrian didn't respond.
The stock chart updated again.
Another drop.
Seven percent now.
Alex exhaled slowly.
"Well."
Elena frowned.
"This is moving faster."
Adrian said nothing.
Alex studied the chart again.
"You know something interesting."
Adrian waited.
"Victor is burning money every second this continues."
Adrian nodded slightly.
"Yes."
Alex leaned back again.
"That means he's emotional."
Elena shook her head.
"Victor is never emotional."
Alex smiled faintly.
"He is when he sees you winning."
Adrian didn't respond.
The elevator chimed.
A security officer stepped into the penthouse again.
"Mr. Laurent."
Adrian turned.
"Yes."
"Media outlets are requesting statements."
Alex laughed softly.
"That was fast."
Elena nodded.
"The story is spreading."
Alex crossed his arms.
"Well."
Adrian looked at him.
"Well what."
Alex smiled faintly.
"Looks like the market wants a show."
Adrian studied him for a moment.
Then he nodded once.
"Schedule it."
Elena blinked.
"A press conference."
"Yes."
Alex laughed quietly.
"There it is."
Elena quickly typed on the tablet.
"I'll notify the networks."
Alex walked toward the window.
The skyline stretched across the glass again.
The city looked calm.
But somewhere in the financial world, billions of dollars were moving.
He turned back toward Adrian.
"You know what the funny part is."
Adrian asked quietly,
"What."
Alex smiled faintly.
"Victor thinks this is a market war."
Adrian didn't respond.
Alex continued.
"But wars aren't won by money."
Adrian looked at him.
"What wins them."
Alex crossed his arms.
"Belief."
The stock chart flickered again.
The price dropped another half percent.
Elena glanced up.
"This needs to happen soon."
Alex nodded.
"Yes."
Adrian remained calm.
Alex studied him carefully.
"You're not worried."
"No."
Alex smiled faintly.
"That's the part Victor hates."
Adrian said nothing.
Alex looked back at the skyline.
"You know something."
Adrian waited.
"Victor just pushed the market."
He smiled slightly.
"Now let's see what happens when you push back."