Shadow Deal

There weren't many offices as opulent as this one.

It reeked of wealth and affluence, the very air thick with the scent of old money and power.

Floor-to-ceiling windows framed a panoramic view of the city skyline, its twinkling lights illuminated the polished mahogany furniture with a glow of gold.

At the center of the room was a vast, handcrafted desk that boasted of perfectly crafted gold inlays, its surface gleaming under the warm glow of an ornate chandelier.

Plush leather chairs sat in invitation, and the scent of aged whiskey mingled with the faint trace of imported cigars.

Every detail — marble floors, oil paintings of historic magnates, the quiet hum of an air purifier — whispered of a man who had clawed his way to the top and intended to stay there.

But despite the grandeur, a visitor appeared to be having a bad hair day of sorts.