An assistant held a tablet, his hands trembling.
"Sir, there's been some movement on Wall Street."
"Read."
"The pharmaceutical sector index has dropped four percent since the market opened."
The assistant swallowed.
"Several major hedge funds have begun selling off our stock. An analyst at Goldman Sachs released a brief downgrading the entire industry to a 'watch' rating."
"What's the reason?"
"The reason is... policy risk."
The assistant handed the tablet to Vance.
"The market believes there's a five percent chance that Leo Wallace will secure the nomination. While that's only five percent, it's enough to send capital into a panic."
"Because if that five percent chance comes to pass, the entire industry's business model will be rewritten."
Vance stared at the red, plunging line.
It was panic made manifest.
Capital is the most sensitive of beasts, and it had smelled a shift in the wind.
And it was fleeing.
Vance knew he couldn't wait any longer.
