The stock chart kept climbing.
Alex stood beside the kitchen counter watching the numbers update every few seconds.
Laurent International's value had jumped nearly eight percent since the press conference.
Victor's buying pressure had turned into momentum.
"Well," Alex said quietly.
Adrian stood near the window, looking out over the river.
"Yes."
Alex shook his head slowly.
"That's the strangest attack I've ever seen."
Elena glanced up from her tablet.
"It's not an attack anymore."
Alex leaned closer to the screen.
"No."
Elena shook her head.
"It's an escalation."
Alex smiled faintly.
"That's a polite word."
The chart refreshed again.
Another purchase.
Another jump.
Alex whistled softly.
"Victor is still buying."
Adrian remained calm.
"Yes."
Alex crossed his arms.
"That man is relentless."
Elena tapped the screen again.
"The alliance increased their position."
Alex blinked.
"Well."
Adrian asked quietly,
"How much."
Elena answered.
"Three percent combined."
Alex leaned back slowly.
"That's serious."
Adrian nodded once.
"Yes."
Alex continued watching the numbers.
"You know what's interesting."
Adrian looked at him.
"What."
Alex pointed at the chart.
"Victor's strategy just changed."
Elena frowned slightly.
"How."
Alex leaned forward.
"He's not shorting anymore."
Adrian said nothing.
Alex continued.
"He's buying aggressively."
Elena nodded slowly.
"Yes."
Alex smiled faintly.
"That's not sabotage."
Adrian remained calm.
Alex finished the thought.
"That's conquest."
Silence filled the room.
Elena crossed her arms.
"He's restarting the takeover."
Alex nodded.
"Yes."
Adrian didn't react.
Alex watched him carefully.
"You expected this."
Adrian said quietly,
"Yes."
Alex laughed softly.
"You're terrifying."
Elena looked between them.
"What's the response."
Adrian answered calmly.
"Nothing."
Alex blinked.
"Again."
"Yes."
Alex rubbed his face.
"You're really testing my patience."
Adrian didn't respond.
The tablet vibrated.
Elena checked the update.
"The price just jumped another two percent."
Alex leaned closer.
"Well."
Adrian asked quietly,
"How high."
Elena studied the chart.
"If this continues…"
She paused.
"…Victor will own fifteen percent by tomorrow."
Alex exhaled slowly.
"That's a lot of influence."
Adrian said nothing.
Alex leaned back against the counter.
"You know what he's doing."
Adrian waited.
Alex shrugged.
"He's forcing the board to deal with him."
Elena nodded slowly.
"That's true."
Alex continued.
"At fifteen percent he becomes impossible to ignore."
Adrian remained calm.
Alex studied him.
"You're still not worried."
"No."
Alex laughed quietly.
"You really enjoy this."
Adrian didn't answer.
The chart refreshed again.
Another purchase.
Another jump.
Alex leaned closer.
"Well."
Elena frowned.
"What."
Alex pointed at the trade list.
"That wasn't Victor."
Adrian turned slightly.
"Who."
Elena zoomed the screen.
The investor name appeared.
Alex smiled slowly.
"There it is."
Adrian asked calmly,
"What."
Alex crossed his arms.
"Halpern."
Elena blinked.
"He's buying shares."
Alex nodded.
"Yes."
Adrian watched the chart carefully.
Alex continued.
"That means the board is reinforcing the company."
Elena nodded slowly.
"Yes."
Alex leaned back again.
"Victor just triggered the defense."
Adrian remained calm.
Alex looked at him.
"You planned that."
Adrian didn't respond.
Alex laughed softly.
"You're unbelievable."
The elevator chimed.
A security officer stepped into the penthouse.
"Mr. Laurent."
Adrian turned.
"Yes."
"Victor Moreau is requesting another meeting."
Alex blinked.
"Well."
Adrian asked calmly,
"When."
"Immediately."
Alex laughed quietly.
"That man moves fast."
Elena crossed her arms.
"This can't be good."
Alex smiled faintly.
"It's definitely interesting."
Adrian thought for a moment.
Then he nodded.
"Send him up."
The officer left.
The elevator doors closed.
Alex leaned against the counter again.
"You know what this means."
Adrian asked quietly,
"What."
Alex smiled faintly.
"Victor just spent billions pushing the stock higher…"
He gestured toward the chart.
"…and now he wants to talk."
Elena nodded slowly.
"That's suspicious."
Alex shrugged.
"It's Victor."
The elevator chimed again.
The doors opened.
Victor Moreau stepped into the penthouse.
Same calm posture.
Same confident expression.
But this time he looked almost amused.
Alex studied him carefully.
"Well."
Victor looked at him.
"Yes."
Alex crossed his arms.
"You're buying a lot of stock."
Victor nodded slightly.
"Yes."
Adrian remained calm.
Victor looked at him.
"You handled the market well."
Adrian didn't respond.
Victor continued.
"But markets change."
Alex leaned against the counter.
"That sounds like a warning."
Victor smiled faintly.
"It's an observation."
Adrian asked quietly,
"What do you want."
Victor answered immediately.
"A deal."
Silence filled the room.
Alex blinked.
"Well."
Adrian said nothing.
Victor continued calmly.
"You stopped the takeover."
Adrian nodded once.
"Yes."
Victor gestured toward the stock chart on Elena's tablet.
"But now I own a significant part of your company."
Alex crossed his arms.
"That's also true."
Victor looked at Adrian.
"And the alliance supports me."
Adrian said nothing.
Victor continued.
"So the war continues."
Alex shrugged.
"That's obvious."
Victor nodded slightly.
"Yes."
Then he said quietly.
"Unless we change the rules."
The room fell silent.
Alex leaned forward slightly.
"That sounds dangerous."
Victor looked at Adrian.
"I'm offering partnership."
Silence.
Elena blinked.
Alex stared at him.
"Well."
Adrian remained calm.
Victor continued.
"Two rivals."
He paused.
"One empire."
The room stayed completely still.
Alex slowly crossed his arms.
"You know…"
Victor looked at him.
"Yes."
Alex smiled faintly.
"That might be the most interesting idea you've had all week."