Chapter 166
Alexander
+25 BONUS
I strode through the executive floor, Madison following close behind. The cacophony of ringing phones and urgent voices created a backdrop of chaos. My empire was under attack, and every second counted.
The conference room door was already open, revealing a gathering of grim faces around the polished table.
Our CFO was gesturing frantically at a laptop screen while our head of Legal paced by the windows, phone pressed to his ear. The PR director was furiously typing on her tablet, and two members of our crisis management team huddled over documents, speaking in hushed tones.
“Everyone,” I announced, not bothering with pleasantries.
All heads snapped up, conversations halting mid–sentence. I took my place at the head of the table while Madison slipped into a chair beside me, tablet ready.
“Give me the damage report,” I demanded, loosening my tie slightly.
Our CFO cleared his throat, his usual composed demeanor cracking under pressure. “Futures are indicating we’ll open down 27% tomorrow. The Asian markets are already reacting—our subsidiaries listed in Tokyo and Hong Kong are down 31% and 29% respectively.”
“Fuck,” I muttered, rubbing my temple. “Market cap loss?”
“We’re looking at multiple billions, sir. I can’t give you an exact figure yet because it’s still falling.”
The PR director pushed her glasses up her nose. “The allegations are spreading faster than we can track them. Traditional media, social platforms, financial forums–it’s everywhere.”
“And the source?” I asked, already suspecting the answer.
The head of Legal shook his head. “Anonymous tips to multiple financial news outlets, all hitting simultaneously. Too coordinated to be a coincidence.”
“Of course it is,” I said, my voice tight with controlled rage. “This is a calculated attack. Someone wants our stock price in the gutter.”
Madison quietly placed a cup of black coffee in front of me. I nodded slightly in acknowledgment.
“Have the SEC reached out yet?” I asked, taking a sip of the scalding liquid.
“Not officially,” our Legal head replied. “But my contact there says they’re monitoring the situation. We should expect a call by morning.”
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“Wonderful,” I said dryly. “Nothing I love more than government bureaucrats poking around the business based on fabricated allegations.”
The crisis manager, a woman with a perpetual frown who charged more per hour than most people make in a week, spoke up. “We need to issue a statement immediately. The longer we wait, the more it looks like we’re scrambling.”
“I’m aware of how time works,” I snapped, then immediately regretted my tone. These people weren’t the enemy. “Sorry. What’s our statement looking like?”
The PR director slid a tablet across the table. “Draft statement. Strong denial, a reminder of our spotless financial record, hint at legal action against those spreading false information.”
I scanned it quickly. “Too defensive. Rewrite it. We’re not just denying–we’re outraged. This is a transparent attempt to manipulate our stock price. Add that we welcome any investigation because we have nothing to hide.”
She nodded, pulling the tablet back and typing rapidly.
“We need a board meeting,” I continued, addressing the room. “Tomorrow morning, 8 AM sharp. I want every board member there in person or by secure video link.”
Our CFO winced. “Sir, that’s less than ten hours from now.”
“I’m aware of how clocks work, too,” I replied with a humorless smile. “Call them. Wake them up if necessary. Their multi–million dollar investments are under attack—I doubt they’ll mind the early
alarm.”
Madison was already sending messages, her fingers flying across her tablet’s screen.
“What about the quarterly report we planned to release next week?” asked our CFO. “Should we expedite it?”
I considered this for a moment. “Yes. Have it ready for review by tomorrow afternoon. If the numbers are as strong as projected, we’ll release them early. Transparency is our best weapon right now.”
The crisis manager leaned forward. “We should also prepare for potential shareholder lawsuits. They’re inevitable in situations like this.”
“Already on it,” the Legal head confirmed. “We’re documenting everything about how these allegations emerged. The timing and coordination suggest market manipulation.”
I stood up and walked to the window, looking out at the Manhattan skyline. Somewhere out there was the person or group responsible for this attack.
“This isn’t random,” I said, turning back to face the room. “Someone’s trying to tank our stock
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price. It could be a competitor looking to weaken us before a hostile takeover attempt. It could be someone with a personal vendetta. Either way, they’ve cost us billions in market cap with a few well- placed lies.”
The room fell silent, the weight of my words settling over everyone.
“I want our statement released within the hour,” I continued. “Distribute it across all channels— press release, social media, email to major investors. Then, I want a list of everyone who benefits from our stock tanking. Focus on institutional investors with large short positions and competitors who’ve been circling.”
The team nodded, renewed purpose in their expressions.
“One more thing,” I added. “Whoever’s behind this is counting on us to panic. We won’t give them that satisfaction. Our response will be calm, methodical, and absolutely ruthless.”
I glanced at my watch. “It’s going to be a long night. Order food, and get comfortable. Nobody leaves until we have a comprehensive battle plan.”
As the team dispersed to their various tasks, I caught Madison’s eye briefly. Her expression was professional, but I could see the concern there. I gave her a slight nod.
The PR director approached with her tablet. “Revised statement, sir.‘
I read it quickly and nodded. “Better. Send it out.”
As the room returned to controlled chaos, I felt a familiar surge of adrenaline. Someone had made a serious miscalculation by attacking Knight Industries.
They were about to learn why that was a very, very bad idea.
Lucia Morh is a passionate storyteller who brings emotions to life through her words. When she’s not writing, she finds peace nurturing her garden.
