Chapter 67: The Conductor’s Counter

The war room was still, save for the faint hum of the holographic displays that surrounded the table. Ethan Carter stood at the center of it all, staring at the latest updates from Jessica's team. They had secured a controlling stake in Arctech, but the victory felt uneasy.

Jessica, seated to his right, was typing furiously on her tablet, trying to make sense of the unusual market activity that had followed their acquisition. "Something doesn't add up," she said, her voice edged with frustration. "Victor's proxies went dark. No pushback, no sudden sell-offs. It's like he just… stopped."

Sophia sat across the room, arms crossed and eyes fixed on Ethan. "He's waiting," she said, her tone thoughtful but cautious. "Victor's not the type to fold. He's letting us think we've won because he's setting up something bigger."