Ilya leaned back in his chair, his fingers steepled as he regarded Roman with a cool, calculating gaze. The tension in the room was palpable as he processed the information presented to him.
After a long moment, Ilya spoke, his voice calm but firm. "Mr. Povich, I must admit your proposal is... intriguing. The connections you claim to possess are indeed valuable. However, I'm afraid I must decline your offer of partnership."
Roman's confident smile faltered slightly. "Decline? But surely you see the potential here, Ilya. The power we could wield together—"
Ilya raised a hand, cutting him off. "I see the potential, yes. But I also see the risks. And in our line of work, Mr. Povich, risks can be fatal."
He stood up, pacing slowly around the table. "You see, the empire I've built isn't just about connections or influence. It's about control. Absolute control. And bringing in an outsider, no matter how well-connected, introduces variables I'm not willing to accommodate."
