Vinie let out the last stream of smoke from his cigarette, then dropped the stub to the ground and crushed it beneath his shoe. I watched him closely, noticing how unusual this was. He didn’t smoke often—only when something was really weighing on him, when the pressure became too much to ignore.
“Just say it, Vinie,” I said, folding my arms across my chest. “What’s going on?”
He exhaled slowly before answering. “It’s Elizabeth,” he began. “She wants me to secure a deal with Monroe Business Enterprises.”
Monroe.
The name alone carried weight. It was one of the most powerful companies in the industry, known for being extremely difficult to negotiate with.
Vinie ran a hand through his hair, clearly frustrated. “She’s been trying to close this deal for months and couldn’t make it happen.
