Confused with Pierce's unlikely expression, he asked, "Mr. Aleotti, what are you looking at?" The deputy mayor did not wait for an answer and curiously looked in the direction of Pierce's gaze. He was looking at the woman sitting on the bar counter.
"Nothing," Pierce said coldly, brushing off his thoughts. He turned to the deputy mayor, hid his emotions, and tried to focus on their conversation.
"Well, Mr. Aleotti. Have a smoke," the deputy mayor said. He offered to light a cigarette for Pierce.
Pierce took the cigarette and sandwiched it in between his two fingers. He would hit it from time to time, hoping the nicotine would relax his nerves. Against the light, there was faint loneliness on his face.
"Mr. Aleotti, what do you think about my proposal?" The deputy mayor tried to sta
