Chapter 7: The Devil's Bargain
The interior smelled of brine, diesel, and rust. In the center of the vast space, sitting at a makeshift table beneath a glaring halogen lamp, was Viktor Volkov. He was an older man, elegantly dressed, sipping vodka from a crystal glass that looked absurdly out of place.
""Mr. Vance,"" Viktor smiled, revealing gold-capped teeth. ""I am surprised. My men were supposed to ensure you did not survive dinner.""
""Your men are inefficient,"" Arthur replied coolly, stepping into the light. ""I’m here to correct a market inefficiency. You want money. You tried to use my fiancée to get it by taking her sister. It was a messy, high-risk strategy.""
Viktor’s smile faded. ""It is a matter of business.""
""This is business,"" Arthur countered. He pulled a digital ledger tablet from his coat and slid it across the table. ""Fifty million. Untraceable. Available instantly. In exchange, I walk out of here with Maya. Elena’s debt is cleared. You never approach them again.""
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Viktor looked at the tablet, then up at Arthur. He laughed, a dry, rasping sound. ""You offer me fifty million for the girl? But Arthur, if I kill you right now, I can force the woman to drain your entire estate.""
""If my heart stops, a dead-man's switch freezes every asset I own, permanently,"" Arthur lied smoothly, his eyes deadlocked with Viktor's. ""Take the fifty. It's clean.""
