The Wolf in the Gray Uniform

The multi-million-dollar agreement was signed within twenty minutes.

As the German delegation filed out of the room, looking thoroughly dismantled, Carmine let out a low whistle and shook his head.

“Remind me never to play poker with you, Harper,” Carmine admitted, pouring himself a glass of celebratory scotch.

Dante remained seated, watching Harper as she neatly stacked the signed documents into a leather folder.

“You’ve been in this office for three days,” Dante said quietly once the room had emptied of everyone else. “And already you’ve secured a deal that took Thomas three months to negotiate.”

“Thomas was old-school,” Harper replied, fastening her briefcase. “He relied on fear. Fear is expensive. Information is cheaper.”

“And what do you want, Harper?” Dante asked, his gray eyes fixing on hers with intense curiosity. “Now that the debt is gone, the uniforms are gone, and you’re sitting in the center of an empire?”

Harper paused at the door, turning back to look at the man who had changed her entire existence with a single signature.

“I don't want to be invisible anymore, Mr. Costa,” she said calmly. “I want to be the one holding the pen.”