The gift arrived in the afternoon, a package delivered by a man I didn't recognize. The box was made of dark, polished wood, sealed with a simple gold clasp. Inside, was a single bottle of wine. I didn't need to read the label to know what it was.
The bottle was dark and elegant, the glass had an almost imperceptible glow which was a subtle declaration of rare and profound wealth. It was expensive; a 1982 Château Lafite Rothschild, a bottle of wine so rare, so expensive, that it was a myth. It was a gift from Rafael Costa.
But I knew all too well that the gift was not a gesture of goodwill; it was a power play. He was trying to impress me, trying to get close, closer than he had boldly done at the gala.
