Alessandro

The abandoned harbor dock. The salty air smells of fuel and danger. Only the light from a solitary lantern illuminates the scene. Alessandro and Isabella stand facing each other, with a rusty metal barrel between them. Neither of them has more than two guards, a sign of mutual respect and the tension that permeates the air. Alessandro breaks the silence, his voice calm but cutting like a blade. "We move the merchandise. You control the distribution channels. It's a partnership. Simple, efficient." Isabella laughs humorlessly, a dry sound that drifts in the wind. "Simple, you say? Your men are as careless as a stampede of bulls. They barely manage to move a box without attracting the attention of the police. And now you want me to put my network at risk because of your mistakes." "My men are loyal," Alessandro replies, his gaze as sharp as his nickname. "Your men are shadows, but not loyal. It's not difficult to make a shadow vanish." Isabella approaches the barrel, her slender figure blurred in the darkness. With a swift movement, she opens one of the lapels of her coat, and a glint of silver metal gleams in the lantern light. "My people are loyal because I give them a reason. And the only way they'll fade is if I decide to." Alessandro smirks. "The truth is, we're both running out of time, Isabella. And you know it. You need my product. And I need your network to get that product to market before the competition." He reaches into his pocket, pulling out a small precision knife. Calmly, he begins to file his nails. "This is an opportunity. Not a plea." She stops, her hand still on her gun. She watches him closely, evaluating his every move. "Your grandfather and my grandfather would have shot each other on this very pier for less than this, Alessandro. And you and I are here negotiating like it's the stock market."