He adjusted his cufflinks with a flick of his wrist before sinking into the chair—measured, composed, and wholly in control. Every movement was deliberate. Every gesture radiated dominance.
The faint scrape of chairs against polished floors echoed as the associates took their seats. I immediately recognized three of Valentino's board members, positioned at V, and two from Carbone—Carmello's lawyer and one of his financial advisors. The rest were occupied by those associates Carmello had vaguely mentioned, their silence speaking volumes about the nature of their presence.
As murmured conversations faded, Valentino leaned forward, resting his hands flat on the table, his expression calm yet razor-sharp. The atmosphere shifted. A subtle tension hummed beneath the surface, a quiet but unmistakable acknowledgment that the moment he spoke, every word would carry weight.
I had seen this before—countless times. And much like those meetings, I refused to be caught unprepared. I had already requested a notepad and pen from Carmello. If I was going to be in this room, I would make sure I had everything I needed.
I stood beside Carmello, prepared and poised while he remained utterly at ease—just as he had during the InterMax meeting—exuding that quiet confidence of a man who knew exactly when to make a move and when to let others scramble.
Valentino straightened in his chair, sharp eyes sweeping the room as murmurs in Japanese filled the air.
Across the table, an elder man commanded silent respect—the kind earned over decades, not through theatrics but through the weight of his decisions. His presence was serene yet unshakable, like a force of nature that had weathered every storm and emerged untouched.
Beside him sat a younger man, his intensity a stark contrast to the elder's quiet authority. His gaze was fixed on Valentino, sharp and assessing. There was no doubt—he was an omega. The way he carried himself, the careful deliberation in his posture, the quiet but unwavering challenge in his eyes.
He wore a traditional kimono, its elegant folds at odds with the cutthroat negotiations about to unfold.
Valentino stood with poise, his every movement deliberate, as he addressed the room. His voice was calm yet authoritative, slipping effortlessly into Japanese.
