Dimitri

For months things had gone perfectly.

Everything exactly as Dimitri had predicted.

Then came today.

"Dimitri-san," she said pleasantly, "we simply believe the project requires a more... direct approach. I have more experience in international handling and—"

Tap.

His fingers stopped moving.

Silence.

Then Dimitri leaned back.

He looked at her.

Then at the executives.

Then laughed.

"Haha..."

People in the room somehow looked more nervous.

"You Americans are sooo funny."

His accent curled around the words lazily.

His eyes were smiling.

Only his eyes weren't.

"You say you want to change the person I personally chose for this?" He tilted his head.

"And all for..."

His gaze slid toward the woman beside them.

"...her?"

tsk.

Silence.

Nobody moved.

Nobody breathed.

Dimitri looked almost amused. Almost.

Then he reached forward and grabbed the project file.

Months of reports.

Pages and pages.

Without even looking—

He slid it across the table.

Directly toward them.

"Then continue without me."