Chapter 7 - THE UNTOUCHABLE ASSET
Elena walked closer to the desk, resting her palms lightly on the edge without being invited to sit.
"If I hadn't broken his wrist, he would have escalated, drawing unwanted federal attention to this entire building much sooner," Elena countered.
Marcus raised an eyebrow, genuinely impressed by her cold, strategic assessment of the geopolitical risk involved.
"You're calculating variables like a seasoned tactical commander, not a rookie restaurant server," Marcus observed astutely.
"People see what they want to see, Mr. Sterling. Uniforms make ghosts out of professionals," Elena answered smoothly.
Marcus took a slow puff from his cigar, his eyes narrowing as he weighed the dangerous potential sitting right in front of him.
"What is your real game here, Elena? The federal marshals have been hunting the ghost known as the Viper for three years," Marcus asked softly.
Elena's pulse didn't spike, her breathing remained perfectly even, and her micro-expressions did not betray a single micro-panic.
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"If I were the Viper, Mr. Sterling, you wouldn't be sitting across this desk asking questions right now," she whispered dangerously.
The air in the private study grew suddenly heavy, charged with an invisible, high-voltage current of mutual lethal respect.
