radicalducati Chapter 553: One Wrong Move and It’s Over
Chapter 553: One Wrong Move and It’s Over
Brandon took off his sunglasses and shot him a sharp look.
“Okay, I’ll do it right away,” the assistant said, clenching his jaw. After all, it was Brandon’s money, and he was the one footing the bill.
Meanwhile, in Duskville, Michael set down his coffee and called for his butler. “Ignore the noise online. I have long-term faith in Phoenix Alliance Group. Keep buying. As long as people are selling, we’re buying. Also, let it be known that I’m backing Phoenix Alliance Group.”
“Mr. Hayes, should I inform your mother about this…”
Before the butler could finish his sentence, Michael stood up and gave him a firm pat on the shoulder. “If you can’t handle this job, there are plenty of others who can,” he said sternly. “Just follow my orders.”
As Michael walked away, the butler let out a quiet sigh of relief, though cold sweat clung to his back. He picked up his phone and called his family. “Don’t rush into buying a house, buy Phoenix Alliance Group stock instead.”
“Are you out of your mind?” his wife said in disbelief. “Buy more?”
“I trust Mr. Hayes,” he replied, jaw tight. He’d noticed a change in Michael ever since he came back from Edenfield. There had to be something going on, some kind of inside information. Otherwise, Michael wouldn’t be buying up Phoenix Alliance Group shares like this.
Outside the hospital, a line of luxury cars pulled up. A driver opened the door, and Dave stepped out slowly. Coincidentally, Brady arrived at the same moment. They looked at each other and Brady’s lips curved into a faint smile. Dave, however, showed no reaction. He simply turned and walked away without a word.
Brady snorted at Dave’s calm demeanor. Phoenix Alliance Group’s stock had hit the limit down again, yet Dave didn’t flinch. Was he hiding something, or just pretending to stay composed?
Still, Brady was in high spirits. With Rachel out of the picture, Phoenix Alliance Group’s market value had taken a serious hit. And with this morning’s crash, Lawson Group had raked in another massive profit.
He’d heard whispers about foreign investors and big corporations stepping in to support Phoenix Alliance Group, but he didn’t take them seriously. In his mind, no smart investor would touch such a risky stock. He saw it as nothing more than Dave’s desperate last attempt to hold on. Brady had already made up his mind, he was going to take over Phoenix Alliance Group.
He turned to his assistant and said, “Keep spreading dirt about Phoenix Alliance Group. Add more rumors to ignite a massive attack against Phoenix Alliance Group.”
What he didn’t know was that this morning’s limit down had been triggered by a single phone call Dave made on his way to the hospital.
With his back turned to Brady, Dave allowed himself a small smile. He didn’t mind dragging the game out a little longer.
A lesson from his childhood came into his mind, the one he’d read in a book: “If you want to destroy someone, first blind them with pride.”
The higher someone climbed, the harder they would fall.
And Dave fully intended to watch Brady fall from the very top.
That phone call he made earlier had put all prior preparations on hold. Just as he had planned, the stock had hit the all-time low the moment the market opened.
Still, it was clear that many were secretly backing Phoenix Alliance Group, and Dave had a good idea who they were.
On the surface, Lawson Group’s secret shorting had caused heavy damage to Phoenix Alliance Group. But the sharp drop also forced a lot of small investors to sell, which wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.
Right now, Dave’s focus was on buying up shares at the lowest price possible, using his network of hidden companies to slowly rebuild confidence in Phoenix Alliance Group.
Once the stock price bounced back, both he and the silent backers would walk away with massive gains.
But that wasn’t enough for Dave. He wanted to strike a real blow to Lawson Group. For that, he had brought another financial heavyweight into the picture because the real battle was only just beginning.
****
The elevator doors opened with a soft ding, and Dave stepped out to find Bianca waiting for him.
“Dave, are you okay?”
The internet was flooded with harsh criticism, all aimed at the head of Phoenix Alliance Group. Bianca was clearly worried, not about the noise online, but about how Dave was coping. She had faith in his strength, what she really cared about was him.
To Dave, all the backlash was just background noise. What truly got to him was Bianca’s concern.
"I'm okay, really," he reassured her, gently taking her hand. His was gentle, it was his way of telling her he’d be okay, no matter how messy things got.
Bianca's anxiety disappeared at his touch, and she gave a soft smile. But the silent moment didn’t last longer as another elevator chime signaled Brady’s arrival. His presence always lingered like an unwanted shadow.
"What an unfortunate coincidence," Brady said, faking surprise at their closeness.
"Mr. Lawson," Bianca greeted him politely, keeping her composure. She knew what he was up to, but she stayed calm and poised.
Brady, seemingly unaware of the tension, casually asked Dave about Lucas’s condition.
Dave’s grip on Bianca’s hand grew firmer. He gave her a reassuring look and said, “I’ll join you soon.”
"Okay." Bianca walked away but couldn’t stop herself from glancing back at Brady. His face didn’t show even a hint of sadness.
Hard to believe he lost his wife just yesterday. To her, he was the enemy, the one pulling the strings behind Phoenix Alliance Group’s downfall, probably profiting from it all.
Back in the hospital room, Bianca saw Lucas slowly waking up. She quickly poured him a glass of water and said softly, “Lucas, your throat must be dry. Here, have some water.”
He gave a weak nod, barely noticeable. Bianca gently placed the straw at his dry lips, offering him a bit of relief. In that stillness, Lucas felt a quiet, wordless gratitude.
“Bianca...” His voice was faint, but it broke the silence.
Bianca set the empty glass aside and leaned in a little. Her voice was calm and gentle. “What’s going on? You can tell me. I’m here.”
“Sit,” Lucas said, motioning to the edge of the bed.
She sat down next to him. “Lucas… is there something you want to talk about?”
He let out a long breath. “Phoenix Alliance Group is hanging by a thread. One wrong move and it’s over. If I were you, I’d keep my distance. It’s not safe.”
Bianca looked at him, steady and sure. “If I walked away now, wouldn’t that mean I was only with him for the money and the title? But that’s not why I’m here. I’m with Dave because he’s my partner. We’re in this together, through everything.”