Dark Lord Seduction System: Taming Wives, Daughters, Aunts, and CEOs novel Chapter 53

Chapter 53: The Falling $8B Domino

"We’ve already begun positioning," Dmitri announced with the confidence of someone who’d been orchestrating this moment for months. "Four shell companies have been quietly acquiring Quantum Tech stock through intermediaries. Nothing large enough to trigger disclosure requirements, but sufficient to establish controlling positions."

Antonio consulted his notes with practiced efficiency. "Phase one is nearly complete. We’ve identified fifteen key employees with access to proprietary information, trade secrets, and development roadmaps. Twelve have already been... persuaded to cooperate."

"Persuaded how?" Vincent asked, though his tone suggested he didn’t particularly care about the methodology as long as it was effective.

"Standard leverage techniques. Financial pressure, personal vulnerabilities, career advancement opportunities." Antonio’s smile suggested that "persuasion" was a polite euphemism for something much darker. "The chief technology officer, for example, has a gambling problem that’s put him two hundred thousand in debt to some very unforgiving people."

"And now his debt is manageable?" Dmitri inquired.

"Completely forgiven, thanks to our consulting fees for sharing Quantum Tech’s upcoming product announcements and security protocols."

Vincent returned to his seat with the satisfaction of a general reviewing successful battle plans. "What about media positioning?"

"Already in motion," Antonio replied, his eyes gleaming with malicious anticipation. "We’ve been seeding stories about Quantum Tech’s ’uncertain leadership transition’ and ’concerns about strategic direction under inexperienced management.’ Nothing directly attacking Charlotte yet—that comes during phase two."

Dmitri pulled up financial projections on his tablet. "Based on current intelligence, Quantum Tech will announce quarterly losses exceeding projections by sixty percent. When that information becomes public—"

"When we make it public," Antonio corrected with predatory satisfaction.

"The stock price will crater," Dmitri continued. "We estimate a drop of seventy to eighty percent within the first week."

Vincent nodded approvingly. "And that’s when little Charlotte discovers that running a technology company requires more than daddy’s money and purchased credentials."

"Here’s where it gets beautiful," Dmitri said, refilling their glasses with the reverence of someone preparing for communion. "She’ll have no choice but to seek help from the ’family friends’ who helped her father build the empire."

"Us," Antonio clarified unnecessarily.

"Us," Vincent confirmed. "The trusted advisors who’ve been waiting in the wings, ready to ’save’ Quantum Tech from complete annihilation."

"I also suggested something else to our dear Charlotte," Antonio added with particular satisfaction. "Told her she should consider recruiting some fresh talent from top universities. Young blood tends to be innovative, I said. Hungry. Eager to prove themselves."

Vincent’s smile turned predatory. "And she believed you?"

"Hook, line, and sinker. She’s already announced a new hiring program targeting recent graduates from MIT, Stanford, CalTech." Antonio’s laugh was pure malice. "What she doesn’t realize is that we’ll be providing the candidates."

Dmitri caught on immediately. "Our people."

"Our people," Antonio confirmed. "Young, ambitious, and completely loyal to whoever’s paying their student loans and promising them seven-figure careers."

"Brilliant," Vincent breathed. "We’ll have operatives embedded throughout the company before she even realizes what’s happening."

"By the time phase three begins, we’ll control more of Quantum Tech than she does," Antonio said with satisfaction.

Dmitri raised his glass again. "To Charlotte Thompson. May she prove to be exactly as incompetent as we expect."

"To purchased degrees and inherited stupidity," Antonio added.

"And to the billions we’ll make from both," Vincent concluded.

They drank their toast with the reverence of men who understood that other people’s failures were their greatest opportunities.

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