No one spoke for a long moment.
The monitors still displayed the headline.
MERIDIAN SHIPPING ALLIANCE BACKS MOREAU ACQUISITION BID
Alex stared at it.
"Well," he said quietly.
Elena crossed her arms.
"This changes the board completely."
Adrian remained near the window, hands loosely behind his back.
"Yes."
Alex leaned back in his chair.
"That alliance controls three international corridors."
Elena nodded.
"Yes."
Alex rubbed his chin.
"And Victor just bought their support."
Adrian said nothing.
Alex glanced at him.
"You're calm."
"Yes."
Alex smiled faintly.
"That's not reassuring."
Elena turned back to the tablet.
"This gives Victor enough capital to pressure the shareholders."
Alex frowned.
"How fast?"
Elena checked the numbers again.
"Within days."
Alex whistled softly.
"That's aggressive."
Adrian finally turned from the window.
"That's desperation."
Alex raised an eyebrow.
"You think so?"
"Yes."
Alex thought about Victor's face at the Meridian Club.
The certainty.
The confidence.
"You might be right," he said slowly.
Elena looked between them.
"We should respond."
Alex leaned forward slightly.
"With what?"
Elena gestured toward the screen.
"The alliance."
Alex shook his head.
"No."
Elena frowned.
"No?"
"That's exactly what Victor wants."
Adrian watched Alex carefully.
Alex continued.
"He escalated the war into a public battle."
Elena nodded slowly.
"Yes."
Alex leaned back again.
"And if we escalate back…"
He shrugged.
"…the markets panic."
Adrian said quietly,
"Correct."
Elena looked at him.
"You agree with Alex."
Adrian nodded once.
"Yes."
Alex blinked.
"Well."
"That's new."
Adrian ignored the comment.
Elena studied the screen again.
"So we do nothing."
Adrian answered calmly.
"Yes."
Alex smiled faintly.
"I love when the plan is patience."
Elena didn't smile.
"This alliance could move the board against us."
Alex nodded.
"Maybe."
Elena raised an eyebrow.
"Maybe?"
Alex leaned forward again.
"You know what alliances hate?"
Elena waited.
"Uncertainty."
Adrian's eyes moved slightly.
Alex continued.
"That group backed Victor because they believe he'll win."
Elena nodded.
"Yes."
Alex smiled faintly.
"So make them doubt."
Elena folded her arms.
"How?"
Alex shrugged.
"Same way we handled the investors."
Adrian said quietly,
"Information."
Alex nodded.
"Yes."
Elena frowned slightly.
"The fraud documents again."
Alex shook his head.
"No."
Both of them looked at him.
Alex smiled.
"You don't threaten Victor."
He tapped the screen.
"You threaten the alliance."
The room fell quiet.
Adrian's expression sharpened slightly.
Elena spoke slowly.
"You mean expose the story to them."
Alex nodded.
"Yes."
Elena thought about it.
"That makes them reconsider the partnership."
Alex leaned back again.
"Exactly."
Adrian studied him carefully.
"You're very comfortable with pressure."
Alex shrugged.
"I grew up broke."
Adrian didn't respond.
Elena turned toward the monitors again.
"I can send the documents anonymously."
Alex nodded.
"That's perfect."
Adrian raised an eyebrow.
"No."
Alex blinked.
"No?"
Adrian looked at Elena.
"Send them officially."
The room went quiet again.
Elena frowned.
"That reveals our hand."
Adrian said calmly,
"Yes."
Alex leaned forward.
"Wait."
He looked at Adrian.
"You want the alliance to know the documents came from you."
"Yes."
Alex thought about it.
Then he smiled slowly.
"Well."
Adrian waited.
"That's terrifying."
Elena nodded slowly.
"It sends a message."
Alex laughed quietly.
"Yes it does."
Adrian returned to the window.
The skyline stretched endlessly beneath him.
Alex watched him.
"You know what Victor thinks right now."
Adrian asked,
"What?"
Alex smiled faintly.
"He thinks he scared you."
Adrian didn't respond.
Alex crossed his arms.
"But he actually just made you angry."
Adrian said nothing.
Elena's tablet vibrated again.
She checked the screen.
Then her expression changed slightly.
Alex noticed immediately.
"That look again."
Elena turned the tablet toward them.
Another market update.
Alex read the headline.
Then he sighed.
"Well."
Adrian walked back toward the table.
"What now?"
Elena spoke quietly.
"Victor just purchased additional shares."
Alex frowned.
"How many?"
Elena tapped the screen.
"Seven percent."
Alex leaned back slowly.
"That's significant."
Adrian remained calm.
"Yes."
Alex rubbed his face.
"So now he's officially inside the company."
Elena nodded.
"Yes."
Alex exhaled slowly.
"Well."
Adrian looked at him.
"Well what?"
Alex smiled faintly.
"Victor just moved from enemy to shareholder."
Elena crossed her arms.
"That complicates everything."
Alex nodded.
"It definitely does."
Adrian studied the numbers carefully.
Then he said quietly,
"Good."
Alex blinked.
"Good?"
Adrian nodded.
"Yes."
Alex leaned forward again.
"You're enjoying this."
"No."
"That answer came too fast."
Adrian ignored him.
Alex continued.
"Why is that good?"
Adrian looked at the screen.
"Because Victor just exposed himself."
Elena frowned slightly.
"How?"
Adrian tapped the numbers.
"He bought the shares publicly."
Elena nodded.
"Yes."
Alex tilted his head.
"And?"
Adrian's voice stayed calm.
"That means he's accountable."
Alex blinked.
"Well."
"That's unpleasant."
Adrian didn't respond.
Alex leaned back again.
"So now Victor is financially tied to Laurent International."
"Yes."
Alex smiled slowly.
"That's beautiful."
Elena looked at him.
"You like that."
Alex shrugged.
"Now if he tries to destroy the company…"
He spread his hands.
"…he destroys his own investment."
Adrian nodded once.
"Yes."
Alex laughed softly.
"That's poetic."
Elena turned back to the monitors.
"The alliance still gives him leverage."
Alex nodded.
"For now."
Adrian looked at the city again.
"We wait."
Alex sighed.
"More waiting."
"Yes."
Alex shook his head slowly.
"You're the most patient dangerous man I've ever met."
Adrian didn't deny it.
The room grew quiet again.
Outside the window, the river reflected the afternoon sun.
Ships moved slowly along the water.
Alex watched them for a moment.
Then he spoke again.
"You know what Victor just did."
Adrian waited.
"He made this war too big to hide."
Adrian nodded.
"Yes."
Alex crossed his arms.
"And once a war gets big enough…"
He smiled faintly.
"…someone always makes a mistake."
Adrian didn't respond.
But Alex saw the same small expression again.
That almost-smile.
"There," Alex said.
Adrian glanced at him.
"What?"
"That face."
Adrian looked away.
"No."
"Yes."
Alex shook his head.
"You really are terrible at hiding it."
The monitors continued updating quietly.
Victor had escalated.
The alliance had chosen sides.
And now the war was no longer private.
Alex leaned back in his chair.
"Well," he said softly.
"Let's see who breaks first."