Chapter 36 Non-negotiable

• Gibson's Steakhouse was the kind of joint where money talked in whispers - all dark wood and brass that caught the light just so. In the Lancaster Room, Ethan Langford's fingers played a nervous tune on the tablecloth, matching the drum in his chest.
• Sophia sat across from Ethan, her Armani suit as sharp as the smile she wore. Next to her, Sergei's bulk filled an entire side of the table, while their lawyer, Harrison Wells, arranged papers with practiced precision. They'd picked this spot - their kind of territory, where deals got done over rare steaks and hundred-dollar pours.
• The whole setup stank of aged beef and old leather, mixing with the smell of Ethan's fear. His collar felt like a noose, custom-made or not.