The elevator doors closed behind them.
Alex leaned against the mirrored wall and exhaled slowly.
"Well."
Adrian stood beside him, calm as always.
Elena checked her tablet again.
"The stock is still climbing."
Alex smiled faintly.
"That press conference worked."
Adrian didn't respond.
Alex looked at him.
"You just embarrassed Victor in front of the entire market."
Adrian said quietly,
"No."
Alex raised an eyebrow.
"No?"
"I corrected the narrative."
Alex laughed softly.
"That's a very elegant way to describe it."
The elevator stopped at the penthouse level.
They stepped into the quiet living room.
Sunlight stretched across the floor through the massive windows.
Alex walked toward the kitchen and poured water.
"You know what Victor is doing right now."
Adrian asked calmly,
"What."
Alex shrugged.
"Recovering."
Elena shook her head slightly.
"No."
Alex looked at her.
"No?"
"He's responding."
Alex frowned.
"That was fast."
Elena turned the tablet toward them.
Alex leaned closer.
"Well."
Adrian asked quietly,
"What did he do."
Elena spoke calmly.
"He just announced another statement."
Alex laughed softly.
"Of course he did."
The screen showed Victor standing in front of a different set of cameras.
Calm.
Confident.
Almost amused.
Alex watched the broadcast carefully.
"Well."
Victor began speaking.
"Markets react to information."
Alex crossed his arms.
"That's already passive-aggressive."
Elena remained focused on the screen.
Victor continued.
"Today's volatility reflects investor curiosity."
Alex whispered,
"He's good."
Adrian said nothing.
Victor's voice stayed calm.
"Laurent International is a strong company."
Alex blinked.
"Well."
Elena looked at him.
"What."
"He's agreeing with us."
Adrian remained silent.
Victor continued speaking.
"And strong companies should welcome scrutiny."
Alex nodded slowly.
"There it is."
Elena frowned slightly.
"What."
Alex pointed at the screen.
"He's shifting the story."
Victor looked directly at the camera.
"My investment in Laurent International reflects my confidence."
Alex laughed quietly.
"That's bold."
Adrian said nothing.
Victor continued.
"But confidence must be tested."
The room grew quiet.
Alex watched carefully.
Victor paused.
Then he said the next sentence calmly.
"Which is why I'm increasing my position."
Silence.
Elena looked at the tablet.
Alex leaned closer.
"Well."
Adrian asked quietly,
"How much."
Elena spoke slowly.
"He's buying again."
Alex blinked.
"That man does not stop."
The stock chart updated.
Alex studied the numbers.
"Well."
Adrian remained calm.
Alex continued.
"He just bought another two percent."
Elena nodded.
"Yes."
Alex rubbed his chin.
"That puts him at twelve percent."
Adrian said nothing.
Alex leaned back against the counter.
"That's not small."
Elena continued scrolling.
"There's more."
Alex sighed.
"I hate that sentence."
Elena turned the tablet.
Alex leaned closer.
Then he blinked.
"Well."
Adrian asked calmly,
"What."
Elena spoke quietly.
"The Meridian Alliance is buying too."
The room fell silent.
Alex crossed his arms.
"That's aggressive."
Adrian nodded once.
"Yes."
Alex continued studying the chart.
"Victor just restarted the takeover."
Elena nodded slowly.
"Yes."
Alex smiled faintly.
"That's stubborn."
Adrian remained calm.
Alex looked at him.
"You expected this."
Adrian didn't deny it.
Alex laughed quietly.
"You really do plan three moves ahead."
Elena looked between them.
"What's the response."
Adrian answered calmly.
"We wait."
Alex blinked.
"Again."
"Yes."
Alex shook his head slowly.
"You're unbelievable."
Adrian didn't respond.
The stock chart updated again.
The price climbed another percent.
Alex leaned closer.
"Well."
Elena frowned.
"What."
Alex pointed at the screen.
"Victor just pushed the price up himself."
Adrian said quietly,
"Yes."
Alex smiled slowly.
"That's expensive."
Elena nodded.
"The higher the price…"
Alex finished the thought.
"…the more he pays."
Adrian remained calm.
Alex leaned back again.
"You know what this means."
Adrian asked quietly,
"What."
Alex smiled faintly.
"Victor is emotional now."
Adrian didn't respond.
Alex continued.
"He's chasing control."
Elena crossed her arms.
"That's dangerous."
Alex shrugged.
"For him."
Adrian watched the chart carefully.
Alex studied him.
"You're not worried."
"No."
Alex smiled faintly.
"That's terrifying."
The tablet vibrated again.
Elena checked the update.
"The market just reacted."
Alex leaned closer.
The price climbed again.
"Well."
Adrian looked at him.
"Well what."
Alex laughed softly.
"Victor just turned your company into the hottest stock on the market."
Elena nodded slowly.
"That's ironic."
Alex crossed his arms.
"He's trying to weaken the company…"
He gestured toward the chart.
"…and instead he's making it more valuable."
Adrian didn't respond.
Alex continued watching the numbers.
"You know what the best part is."
Adrian waited.
Alex smiled faintly.
"Victor can't stop now."
Adrian said quietly,
"No."
Alex leaned back again.
"If he stops buying…"
He shrugged.
"…the market will think he lost confidence."
Elena nodded slowly.
"That's true."
Alex smiled.
"So now he's trapped."
Adrian remained calm.
Alex looked at him.
"You did that on purpose."
Adrian didn't respond.
Alex laughed quietly.
"You really are ruthless."
The room grew quiet again.
Outside the windows the city continued moving.
Traffic.
Ships along the river.
People rushing through streets.
Alex watched the stock chart climb again.
Then he spoke quietly.
"You know what the funny part is."
Adrian asked,
"What."
Alex smiled faintly.
"Victor thinks he's attacking your company."
Adrian said nothing.
Alex continued.
"But he's actually investing billions to make it stronger."
Adrian remained calm.
Alex leaned against the counter.
"That's the most expensive mistake I've ever seen."