Chapter 101 — The Game Begins
Amber thought the press conference would calm things down.
It didn't.
If anything—
It made everything louder.
The moment she stepped into the car outside the building, her phone exploded with notifications again.
Messages.
Calls.
News alerts.
Even emails from people she hadn't spoken to in years.
She sank back into the seat with a sigh.
"This is exhausting."
Alex sat beside her, scrolling through his tablet calmly.
"Public battles usually are."
Amber glanced at him.
"You seem very relaxed for someone who just declared war on another billionaire family."
"I didn't declare war."
She raised an eyebrow.
"You basically told them to test you."
"That's not war."
Amber snorted.
"It absolutely is."
Alex didn't argue.
The car moved through downtown traffic quietly.
Outside, several large digital billboards already displayed breaking news headlines.
Amber spotted one briefly through the window.
WILSON VS DAWSON: POWER STRUGGLE ESCALATES
"…Great," she muttered.
Alex followed her gaze.
"Publicity."
"I didn't want publicity."
"You got it anyway."
Amber sighed.
"That's the worst part."
Alex's phone buzzed.
He checked it quickly.
Then another message came.
Then another.
Amber watched him carefully.
"That doesn't look good."
"It isn't."
"What now?"
Alex turned the tablet toward her.
A financial news site filled the screen.
Amber read the headline.
DAWSON GLOBAL ANNOUNCES NEW INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"With who?"
Alex zoomed in on the article.
Amber read the name.
Then blinked.
"…You're kidding."
Alex shook his head once.
"No."
Amber leaned closer to the screen.
"Stonebridge Capital?"
"Yes."
Amber leaned back slowly.
"That's one of your largest competitors."
"Yes."
"And they've never worked with Dawson before."
"No."
Her brain clicked immediately.
"So this is retaliation."
Alex nodded.
"Daniel Dawson moves fast."
Amber frowned.
"Daniel?"
"Yes."
"My father prefers public pressure."
Amber tilted her head slightly.
"And his son?"
Alex's expression cooled.
"Private strategy."
Amber exhaled slowly.
"Well."
She crossed her arms.
"I guess the game really started."
Alex studied her.
"You're not worried."
Amber shrugged.
"I expected retaliation."
"This is only the beginning."
"Good."
Alex raised an eyebrow.
"Good?"
Amber smiled faintly.
"Now we know how they play."
The car pulled into the underground garage of Wilson Group headquarters.
Security escorted them toward the private elevator.
Amber noticed the difference immediately.
More guards.
More staff watching.
More tension in the air.
The company felt like it had shifted overnight.
Inside the elevator, Amber leaned against the mirrored wall.
"You know what bothers me?"
Alex pressed the floor button.
"What?"
"That Daniel Dawson didn't try to confront you today."
Alex glanced at her.
"That bothers you?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
Amber shrugged.
"Because he confronted me instead."
Alex's gaze sharpened slightly.
"What do you mean?"
Amber pushed away from the wall.
"He walked straight into the press conference."
"Yes."
"But he didn't argue with you."
Alex thought about that.
She continued.
"He spoke to me."
Alex's expression darkened slightly.
"He was testing you."
Amber nodded slowly.
"Exactly."
The elevator doors opened onto Alex's private floor.
Staff members immediately approached with reports and tablets.
Alex accepted them without slowing down.
Amber followed him into his office.
The door closed behind them.
Finally—
Quiet.
Amber walked toward the massive window overlooking the city.
She stared down at the streets below.
"So what now?"
Alex placed the files on his desk.
"We continue."
"That's it?"
"Yes."
Amber turned around.
"You're not planning a counterattack?"
Alex's voice stayed calm.
"Daniel Dawson expects a reaction."
Amber smiled faintly.
"So we don't react."
"Yes."
She studied him for a moment.
Then nodded.
"Alright."
Alex looked slightly surprised.
"You agree?"
Amber walked toward the desk.
Leaning casually against it.
"Of course."
He waited.
Amber's smile sharpened slightly.
"Because while you're not reacting…"
She tapped the desk lightly.
"…I am."
Alex frowned slightly.
"What are you planning?"
Amber tilted her head.
"Nothing dramatic."
That answer made him more suspicious.
"Amber."
"Yes?"
"What are you planning?"
Her eyes sparkled slightly.
"Research."
Alex sighed quietly.
"That's never a good sign."
Amber pulled out her phone.
Scrolling through something quickly.
"You said Daniel Dawson likes strategy."
"Yes."
"So I'm learning his."
Alex watched her carefully.
"And?"
Amber looked up.
"Well…"
Her smile widened slightly.
"He's been running Dawson Global's international investments for three years."
"Yes."
"And he's very aggressive."
"Yes."
Amber locked the phone.
"But aggressive people make mistakes."
Alex leaned back in his chair.
"You think he made one."
Amber nodded.
"Yes."
"Which one?"
Amber's voice lowered slightly.
"He underestimated me."
Across the city—
Inside Dawson Global's executive office—
Daniel Dawson stood near a wall of digital screens showing market data.
His assistant approached cautiously.
"Sir, Wilson Group hasn't responded to the Stonebridge partnership yet."
Daniel smiled slightly.
"Of course they haven't."
"Should we release another statement?"
Daniel shook his head.
"No."
His gaze drifted to a screen showing Amber at the press conference earlier that morning.
Her calm expression frozen on the display.
"Let them breathe," he said quietly.
His assistant hesitated.
"You're not concerned?"
Daniel chuckled softly.
"No."
He turned back toward the screen.
"Alexander Wilson is predictable."
His finger tapped Amber's image lightly.
"But she…"
His smile deepened.
"…isn't."
And Daniel Dawson loved unpredictability.
Because unpredictable opponents made the game far more interesting.