Nicholas sat across from Dimitri at the pristine glass table in the restaurant's private lounge.
The air between them was tense, although both wore pleasant masks. Dimitri's fingers toyed with the rim of his wine glass, while Nicholas's eyes stayed sharp, fixed directly on his guest.
"Why do you want to buy a large percentage of Harrington Tech Corporation?" Nicholas asked, his tone clipped and straightforward, his gaze unwavering.
Dimitri chuckled, clearly enjoying the no-nonsense approach. "Ah, I like that," he said, clapping once. "Straight to business. Very good."
Nicholas didn't flinch or smile. He just waited.
"Because," Dimitri continued with a shrug, his accent thicker now, "Harrington Corporation is a good product. And we need such a company to build our reach here and internationally."
Nicholas caught something off in Dimitri's voice, an undertone that didn't quite sit right. He sensed there was more to it than just expansion plans, but he chose not to pry just yet.
