Chapter 31 - A Shared Coffee
The back of the luxurious, armored town car was quiet as it navigated through the heavy city traffic.
Julian pulled a thermal thermos from his briefcase and offered it to Valentina.
"Black coffee. No sugar. Just the way you need it before a war,"
Julian smiled slightly, his dark eyes watching her carefully.
"Thank you, Julian,"
Valentina replied, taking the cup and letting the warmth seep into her hands.
"I apologize for the scene in the lobby. I didn't expect him to be quite that desperate."
"You don't need to apologize for the actions of a fool, Valentina,"
Julian said, his tone incredibly respectful.
"I admire the way you handled it. Most people would have let anger get the better of them. You just... erased him."
"Anger requires energy,"
Valentina noted, taking a sip of the bitter coffee.
"I refuse to waste another drop of energy on a family that tried to drown me. My focus is entirely on the future."
Julian nodded slowly, a deep, genuine admiration growing in his chest.
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"Well then, Madame Director, let us focus on destroying the telecommunications board."
Valentina smiled, a sharp, brilliant expression that made her look breathtakingly powerful.
