The press room was already full when Alex arrived.
Cameras.
Lights.
Journalists speaking in quiet voices while checking their phones.
Screens along the walls displayed the same headline over and over.
MARKET TURBULENCE AFTER MOREAU SHORT POSITION
Alex stood near the back of the stage and watched the reporters carefully.
"Wow," he muttered.
Elena stood beside him with her tablet.
"This escalated quickly."
Alex nodded.
"Yes."
Across the room Adrian stood calmly near the podium.
Perfect posture.
Perfect suit.
Completely still.
Alex watched him for a moment.
"You know what the strange part is."
Elena looked at him.
"What."
"He actually enjoys this."
Elena almost smiled.
"That's possible."
Alex crossed his arms.
"Victor is going to hate this."
Elena checked the tablet again.
"The stock dropped another percent."
Alex shrugged.
"Of course it did."
Elena continued.
"But the fall is slowing."
Alex nodded slowly.
"That's good."
A producer signaled toward the stage.
"We're live in thirty seconds."
Alex leaned closer to Elena.
"This is the part where rich people pretend everything is fine."
Elena whispered back.
"That's called leadership."
Alex smiled faintly.
"Same thing."
The countdown began.
Five.
Four.
Three.
The lights brightened.
Cameras turned toward Adrian.
He stepped to the podium.
The room fell silent.
Adrian looked across the crowd of reporters.
Calm.
Unshaken.
He spoke quietly.
"Good afternoon."
Several reporters immediately raised their hands.
Questions burst across the room.
"Mr. Laurent, is Victor Moreau destabilizing the company?"
"Is Laurent International under financial pressure?"
"Will the board respond to the short attack?"
Adrian raised a hand slightly.
The room quieted.
Alex watched from the side of the stage.
"You see," he whispered.
"He's good at this."
Elena didn't respond.
Adrian continued.
"Laurent International remains financially strong."
His voice stayed calm.
Controlled.
"The recent market activity reflects speculation."
Reporters scribbled quickly.
Alex leaned against the wall.
"Classic answer."
Adrian continued speaking.
"Our company operates across thirty international ports."
The screens behind him displayed global shipping routes.
"Our revenue streams remain stable."
Another reporter raised her hand.
"Mr. Laurent, are you concerned about Victor Moreau's short position."
Adrian paused briefly.
Alex watched him carefully.
Adrian answered calmly.
"No."
The room reacted immediately.
Murmurs.
Whispers.
Alex smiled faintly.
"That was bold."
Elena nodded slightly.
"Yes."
The reporter frowned.
"You're not concerned about the falling stock price."
Adrian shook his head.
"Short positions rely on fear."
Silence filled the room.
Alex crossed his arms.
"That's a direct shot."
Adrian continued.
"We don't make decisions based on fear."
The reporters wrote quickly again.
Another question came.
"Do you believe Victor Moreau is attacking the company."
Adrian answered calmly.
"No."
Alex blinked.
"Well."
Elena glanced at him.
"That's interesting."
Adrian continued speaking.
"Victor Moreau is a shareholder."
The room quieted again.
Alex smiled faintly.
"And there it is."
Adrian looked directly at the cameras.
"We welcome all shareholders."
The reporters exchanged confused looks.
Alex laughed quietly.
"That's evil."
Elena almost smiled.
Adrian continued.
"However."
The room grew silent again.
"Our company does not respond to speculation."
Another pause.
"We respond to results."
The screens behind him changed.
Financial charts appeared.
Revenue growth.
Shipping volume.
International expansion.
Alex leaned closer to Elena.
"That's the counterattack."
Elena nodded.
"Yes."
Adrian finished calmly.
"Our operations continue without disruption."
The reporters raised their hands again.
One of them spoke loudly.
"Mr. Laurent, are you saying Victor Moreau cannot affect your company."
Adrian looked directly at the camera.
"Markets react to belief."
Alex smiled faintly.
"There it is."
Adrian continued.
"And Laurent International believes in its future."
Silence filled the room again.
The reporters typed quickly.
Phones vibrated across the room.
The statement was spreading already.
Alex glanced at Elena's tablet.
The stock chart refreshed.
He blinked.
"Well."
Elena looked down.
"What."
Alex pointed at the screen.
"The drop stopped."
The price line had flattened.
Elena watched the numbers update.
"That was fast."
Alex leaned back against the wall.
"That's psychology."
On the stage Adrian stepped away from the podium.
The conference ended.
The reporters began shouting questions again.
Alex walked toward him.
"That was impressive."
Adrian looked at him.
"You're surprised."
Alex shrugged.
"Only a little."
Elena checked the tablet again.
"The stock just moved."
Alex leaned closer.
"Well."
Elena looked up.
"It's rising."
Alex smiled slowly.
"There it is."
Adrian remained calm.
Alex crossed his arms.
"You just broke the panic."
Adrian said nothing.
Alex continued.
"And Victor just lost a very expensive bet."
Elena nodded.
"Yes."
Alex looked toward the cameras still flashing across the room.
"You know what Victor is doing right now."
Adrian asked quietly,
"What."
Alex smiled faintly.
"He's watching this."
Adrian didn't respond.
Alex continued.
"And he's realizing something."
Adrian looked at him.
"What."
Alex shrugged.
"That markets don't follow fear forever."
The tablet vibrated again.
Elena checked the numbers.
"The stock just gained three percent."
Alex laughed softly.
"Well."
Adrian glanced at him.
"Well what."
Alex smiled faintly.
"Looks like the market believes you."