13. Dumping Stocks

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Dusty and Steve approached, both looking pleased. "You showed a lot of heart out there, Sandro," Dusty said. "Keep that up, and you'll go far." Steve nodded. "And you, Caylen. You put up a good fight. Just remember, respect is a two-way street." Caylen nodded, a hint of a smile on his face. "Got it."

After responding to Dusty and Steve, Caylen went face to face with Sandro, who put on a stoic expression. The tension between them was palpable, and Dusty, Steve, Nick, Kofi, Drew, and Sheamus were all ready to intervene if things escalated again. However, to everyone's surprise, Caylen extended his hand towards Sandro.

"You know, you're an alright wrestler," Caylen admitted, his tone sincere. "I apologize for my rude words and actions earlier."

Sandro hesitated for a moment, staring at Caylen's extended hand. He then took a deep breath and shook it firmly. "Apology accepted. Let's bury this under the bridge and start anew."

The atmosphere instantly lightened, and everyone around them breathed a sigh of relief. Dusty and Steve exchanged approving nods while Nick, Kofi, Drew, and Sheamus clapped Sandro on the back, congratulating him for handling the situation with maturity and respect.

"Alright, everyone, back to training," Dusty called out, his authoritative voice cutting through the chatter. "Let's get back to work!"

The wrestlers resumed their training, pushing themselves through the rigorous drills. Sandro, despite the confrontation and match, felt a renewed sense of determination and camaraderie. The rest of the training session passed without incident, and soon it was time to wrap up for the day.

As they were packing up, Sandro turned to Nick, Kofi, Drew, and Sheamus. "Hey, I've got a new apartment, and I was thinking of having a little housewarming party tonight. You guys want to come?"

The four of them exchanged excited looks and quickly agreed. "Sounds great, Sandro. We're in," Nick said with a grin.

Just as they were about to leave FCW's building, they were stopped by the Bella Twins, Nicole and Brianna. They had overheard Sandro inviting the others to his housewarming party and approached him with bright smiles.

"Hey, we heard about your party," Nicole said, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "Mind if we join?"

While asking, both Nicole and Brianna stood to the left and right of Sandro, clasping each of his hands. Sandro felt his hands pressed against their soft curves, causing him to blush slightly. He cleared his throat, trying to maintain his composure.

"Uh, sure, you two can join us," Sandro replied, managing a smile on his face while trying to keep his will so that his little brother wouldn't have any reaction.

"Great!" Brianna said, her enthusiasm evident. "We'll bring some snacks and drinks later, text me your address. Oh wait, you don't have my number right? Here's the number of my number and my sister's number."

Sandro takes the price of paper containing both Nicole and Brianna's number, promising to text them his address. Hearing that the two of them smiled brightly, blowing Sandro a kiss before leaving the building first

Ignoring the teasing look from his friends, the group left the FCW building together. Sandro couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and anticipation for the evening ahead. It would be a perfect opportunity to unwind and bond with his friends and new acquaintances.

They arrived at Sandro's new apartment, which was a fancy modern cozy apartment. Seeing the size of the apartment and the luxury it had, Nick, Kofi, Drew, and Sheamus were surprised especially since they knew the price around this neighborhood.

The four of them praised Sandro's apartment, commenting on how beautiful and fancy it was. Sandro smiled and thanked them for their kind words, inviting them to sit wherever they felt comfortable.

He headed to the kitchen to unpack the groceries they had picked up on their way back, laying out snacks, drinks, and several heavy meals like burritos and tacos on plates. He set the drinks beside the paper cups he had bought as well.

Meanwhile, in the living room, Nick, Kofi, Drew, and Sheamus settled on the comfortable couches, watching a football game on the large flat-screen TV. They chatted among themselves, their conversation naturally drifting to Sandro's impressive living space.

"Man, this place is amazing," Nick said, shaking his head in admiration. "I had no idea Sandro's family was this well-off."

Kofi nodded, agreeing with Nick's sentiment. "Yeah, the rent in this neighborhood is no joke. And if he bought this place, it must have cost a fortune."

Drew leaned back, stretching his arms along the back of the couch. "Sandro always seemed pretty down-to-earth. It's crazy to think he comes from money, even though he already told us himself."

Sheamus chuckled. "Well, it makes sense now why he always picks up the tab when we go out. But seriously, good for him. The fella deserves it."

Sandro, hearing bits of their conversation as he moved back and forth between the kitchen and the living room, smiled to himself. He was glad his friends were enjoying themselves and that they appreciated the apartment.

After a few more trips, he finally brought out the last of the food and drinks, setting everything on the coffee table in front of the couches.

"Alright, guys, dig in," Sandro said, joining them and taking a seat. "Help yourselves to whatever you want."

The group eagerly reached for the food, each grabbing their favorite snacks and meals. As they ate, their conversation continued to flow, touching on various topics from their training sessions to their future plans in FCW.

Just as they were starting to relax and enjoy their food, the doorbell rang. Sandro got up to answer it, opening the door to reveal Nicole and Brianna, each holding bags filled with more snacks and drinks.

"Hope we're not too early," Nicole said with a playful smile.

"Not at all," Sandro replied, stepping aside to let them in. "Come on in. Everyone's in the living room."

The Bella Twins walked in, immediately adding to the lively atmosphere. They greeted Nick, Kofi, Drew, and Sheamus, who all welcomed them warmly. Sandro helped them set their contributions on the table, and soon the living room was filled with laughter and lively conversation.

As the night went on, the group played games, shared stories, and got to know each other better. Sandro found himself enjoying the company and the relaxed environment. The tension from earlier in the day had completely dissipated, replaced by a sense of happiness.

At one point, Nicole and Brianna, both seated on either side of Sandro, leaned in closer, their presence causing his heart to race slightly. They teased him about the fight with Caylen, admiring how he stood up for himself and his family.

"You really showed a lot of guts out there," Nicole said, her eyes sparkling with admiration. "Most guys would have backed down, but you didn't."

"Yeah," Brianna added, nudging him playfully. "You're definitely someone who can take care of himself."

Sandro, feeling a bit bashful under their compliments, smiled. "Thanks, guys. I just did what I felt was right."

The twins exchanged a look, their expressions filled with warmth and approval. It was clear they were impressed by Sandro's actions and his character.

As the night wore on, the group continued to bond, their conversations becoming more personal and meaningful. Sandro felt a deep sense of contentment, knowing he had built strong relationships with his friends and had earned the respect of his peers.

Eventually, the evening wound down, and it was time for everyone to head home. Sandro walked his friends to the door, thanking them for coming and promising to do it again soon.

"Thanks for having us, Sandro," Kofi said, clapping him on the back. "It was a great night."

"Yeah, mate," Drew agreed. "We'll have to make this a regular thing."

As Nick, Kofi, Drew, and Sheamus left, Nicole and Brianna lingered behind for a moment, giving Sandro a warm hug.

"Thanks for inviting us," Nicole said softly. "We had a great time."

"Yeah," Brianna added. "You're a great host, Sandro."

Sandro smiled, feeling a sense of warmth and gratitude. "Thanks, guys. I'm glad you could come. Let's do this again soon."

With a final wave, the Bella Twins left, and Sandro closed the door behind them. He looked around his now-empty apartment, feeling a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction. It had been a long day, but it had ended on a high note.

He cleaned up the living room, putting away the leftover food and drinks, and tidied up before heading to bed. As he lay down, he reflected on the day's events, from the intense confrontation with Caylen to the successful housewarming party.

He felt a sense of satisfaction with the day's events, reflecting on the progress he had made and the bonds he had strengthened. Just as he was about to drift off to sleep, his phone rang. It was his father, Jack.

"Sandro, I have some urgent news," Jack said, his voice steady but tinged with concern. "I just received a call from our investment specialist and stock brokers. They informed me that Lehman Brothers was facing significant internal problems. There are major failures in supervision across all their departments and severe inadequacies in their financial market regulations."

Sandro immediately sat up in bed, his heart pounding. "Dad, have you started to dump our stocks while the prices are still high?"

"Yes," Jack replied. "I've instructed our investment specialist and stock brokers to implement our emergency strategy immediately. We're moving swiftly to liquidate our positions before the situation deteriorates further."

Sandro let out a sigh of relief. "Good. We need to stay ahead of this. It's July now, I had predicted that we have around three months before the market could completely collapse if Lehman Brothers announces bankruptcy."

"Exactly," Jack agreed. "We'll monitor the situation closely and make sure we're prepared for any further developments. Stay focused, son. This is a critical time for our financial stability."

"Thanks for the heads-up, Dad. I'll keep an eye on things from my end too," Sandro assured him.

After ending the call, Sandro lay back down, his mind racing with thoughts about the potential market collapse. He knew that the financial world was on the brink of a major crisis, and being proactive was the key to safeguarding his family's investments. He felt grateful for his father's foresight and the meticulous planning they had done together.

The next morning, Sandro woke up early, feeling a renewed sense of determination. He had a busy day ahead at FCW, but the conversation with his father was still fresh in his mind. After a quick breakfast, he checked the latest financial news and market trends to stay informed about any new developments regarding Lehman Brothers. The reports were unsettling, confirming his father's information about the company's dire situation.

At FCW, Sandro found it challenging to focus entirely on his training. During breaks, he discreetly checked his phone for updates, making sure that their investment strategy was being executed as planned. His friends noticed his distraction but didn't press him for details, respecting his need for privacy.

During lunch, Sandro received a message from his father's investment specialist, confirming that the initial stock dump had gone smoothly. Most of their high-risk assets had been sold off at favorable prices, and their portfolio was being restructured to minimize potential losses.

The relief was palpable, knowing that they had successfully taken the first step in mitigating the impact of the impending financial crisis.

Feeling a weight lifted off his shoulders, Sandro was able to refocus on his training. He pushed himself harder, using the adrenaline from the morning's events to fuel his performance. Dusty and Steve noticed his renewed intensity and gave him nods of approval, recognizing his dedication and drive.

The days that followed were a whirlwind of training and constant monitoring of the financial markets. Sandro balanced his wrestling career by staying vigilant about their investments. His father's regular updates reassured him that they were on the right track, but the uncertainty of the situation kept him on edge.

One evening, after an intense training session, Sandro received a call from his father. Jack's voice sounded more relaxed this time. "Sandro, I have good news. Our strategy is working. We've managed to minimize our exposure to the collapsing sectors, and our portfolio is holding strong. The investment team has done an excellent job."

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Name: Alessandro Zhang

Age: 18 (2008)

Birthplace: Orlando, Florida USA

Brand: None

Wrestling Style: None

Faction: None

Championship History: 0