Chapter 5 - CHARACTER IS CURRENCY
Natalia spoke calmly.
“This is no longer about the waitress.”
Dominic turned toward her.
“It is about you.”
He stared.
“In our business,” she continued, “personal character is currency.”
Dominic’s mouth tightened.
“If you humiliate someone simply because you believe they are powerless, what should we expect when hundreds of millions of dollars give you leverage over us?”
“That’s absurd.”
“No.”
Natalia’s voice remained level.
“It is risk assessment.”
Victor nodded.
“A man who abuses small power will not suddenly become disciplined when given larger power.”
Dominic’s anger gave way to panic.
“The agreement is too valuable for everyone involved.”
Victor began putting on his jacket.
“I can improve the margin.”
“No.”
“Another three percent.”
“No.”
“Five.”
Victor looked at him.
“You still think this is a pricing problem.”
Dominic fell silent.
“I require partners who understand restraint.”
Victor buttoned his jacket.
“Tonight you demonstrated that you do not.”
His gaze moved briefly toward Cassidy.
“You spoke a language you did not fully master to someone you assumed could not understand it.”
Then back to Dominic.
“And you did so because you thought humiliating her would make you look powerful.”
Victor’s expression hardened.
“It made you look insecure.”
Dominic stood.
“Victor—”
“There is no deal.”
Silence.
“The European logistics contract goes to your primary competitor tomorrow.”
Dominic stared.
“Do not call my private office again.”
The sentence landed harder than any insult Cassidy had delivered.
Two years of preparation disappeared.
Private Russian tutors.
Board promises.
Forecasts built around the deal.
Gone.
Not because Cassidy spoke Russian.
Because Dominic chose cruelty when he thought there would be no consequence.
Victor turned away from him.
Then looked at Cassidy.
The coldness left his face.
“Your Russian is exceptional.”
“Thank you.”
“Your accent is Moscow.”
“Yes.”
“But your phrasing is not hospitality training.”
“No.”
Victor studied her.
“What did you do before this?”
Cassidy hesitated.
There was no reason to lie.
“I worked four years as a geopolitical translator supporting multinational peacekeeping and diplomatic teams in Eastern Europe.”
Natalia’s eyebrows rose.
“And you are serving wine?”
“For now.”
“Why?”
Cassidy glanced down at the table.
“Family obligations.”
Victor understood the tone and did not ask for details.
Good.
Then he removed a business card from his jacket.
Not a check.
Not cash.
A card.
“Call my office Monday.”
Cassidy looked at it.
“If you want to return to international work, I may have a position worth discussing.”
That distinction mattered.
Not:
I will rescue you.
Not:
You owe me.
An interview.
A choice.
Cassidy accepted the card.
“I’ll consider it.”
May you like
Victor smiled.
“That is the correct answer.”
