64. Shift in Power

Paul - His Office at Wolves Inc
The stuffy air coming in through the opened window carries the sound of the whispering people on the street and feet shuffling on the pavement. The honking of the cars usually covers up everything if one doesn’t pay attention.
When I close the window, the sounds of the city disappear. It's only silence and peace that fills my office now.
The warm sun shines through the window as shimmering specks of dust float in the air.
I sit on the edge of the chair, facing the desk. My eyes dart all over the papers scattered on top of it.
Almost a week has passed since we visited the gypsy witch. I haven't seen Laura since she dashed away after answering that phone call. I should attempt to contact her, but why must I always be the first to reach out?
Even if she's hiding somewhere in her apartment, she might not want to talk to me again. I guess I've already said what needed to be said. My hand comes up to loosen up my tie.
Brushing together my fingers in a futile attempt to caress the lingering illusion of her skin underneath my fingertips, I slip away into daydreaming.
I don’t know if I indulge in the reverie for a minute or for hours. A knock on the door brings me back to the cold reality of my office.
“Come in!” I call out, irritated by the interruption.
Dan enters with an apparent unease. I presume I won’t like what he’ll say next.
“Ion Corvin is here. He says that he wishes to speak to you.”
My jaw tightens. I'm not sure what this strigoi wants from me right now, but one thing is clear. It can't possibly be good.
Even when my heart aches to run after Laura, my duties lurk around the corner. I swallow hard, feeling how the situation yanks my sense of responsibility to the forefront.
I shut the blinds, reducing the amount of light in the room. It's a favor I usually provide to the strigois, but they never seem thankful.
A small sign is enough for Dan to go and invite them in. Once he opens the door, the four men step inside.
Ion Corvin wears a black suit, a pure white bow tie, and a polished set of black-and-white oxford shoes. He signals his goons to shut the door, then glances at me and shrugs with a chilly smile, tipping his antiquated fedora before settling into the chair in front of me.
“I’m glad you received me on such short notice.”
“What notice?” I smirk.
Ion Corvin ignores my sarcasm and continues, “The Council and the other strigois were highly displeased with one of us dying without any repercussions or finding a guilty party. Things took a turn for the worse, and, after a coup, I’m the new leader of the Council and the decision-making factor.”
“I’ve heard all about the situation. You hid my involvement in the murder affair for your own gain. Congrats on your promotion.”
"Thanks." He dismissively waves. "I've concluded that we, the strigois, got the short end of the stick when we signed the accord. We want to renegotiate; we want better conditions and compensation." He pauses for emphasis. "My men want blood, and you know how much this red nectar of life appeals to them."
The air suddenly feels thick as the man speaks with such authority. His tone is threatening, and his eyes are cold.
I force out a smile, trying to keep my attention on Ion Corvin to find if he has any tells.
“Get to the point. I’m a busy man.”
He leans forward, clasping his hands before him, looking me in the eye.
“I have a proposal for you.”
“Go ahead. I’m listening.”
He stares at me as if expecting me to say something else, but I remain silent. His gaze doesn’t waver one bit.
“I’ll give you a choice. The most fierce and bloody war in history or a part of your business empire. A few subsidiaries and affiliate companies are more than enough to please me for the time being.”
After a moment of consideration, I declare, “It’s a deal.”
“Paul!?” Dan shrieks from the side.
I raise my hand toward him and make him shut up. He gulps and closes his mouth, trying to get back his composure.
I return my focus to Ion Corvin. "Make a list of the names of the firms that interest you. Prepare the paperwork, and I'll sign it all at our next meeting."
“Marvelous!” Ion Corvin’s smile is wide, reaching from ear to ear. I’ve never seen him so pleased before.
When he rises from his seat, I give him a piece of advice.
“Oh, and next time, make an appointment in advance. I might not be reachable otherwise.”
The new Council leader nods, too excited to speak. His enthusiasm is clearly a deception to make me believe he achieved what he wanted.
Men like him always have something to hide. Most likely, he wants more than a few companies. If I were to guess, I would say he wants everything I have.
As the door shuts behind Ion Corvin and his escort and their footsteps fade away in the hallway, Dan begins pacing up and down the room.
"How could you cave so easily? Why did you agree to their conditions?" Dan inquires as he walks around my desk with his arms crossed. "This might very well be a trap. We should prepare ahead of time and have a backup plan."
My smile doesn’t do much more than crack the corner of my lips. “Of course it’s a trap. Call Maximilian Rostov. Tell him I need to see him.”
Dan glances at me with a shocked expression on his face. "Are you planning on summoning a shifter? This will only make matters worse."
“Dan, you’re too cautious. Do as I say.”
“Yeah, yeah. You’re not the only one who keeps telling me I’m too cautious.”
Dan reluctantly agrees to do as I ask. His phone rings before he can dial Maximilian’s number. After staring at his phone, he turns his back on me and takes the call.
“Hey! I can’t chat right now.” He pauses and turns around. “Paul, Alisa wants to talk with you.”