Gemotions

The lawyer’s office was opulent, all dark wood and leather. The air was thick with the scent of expensive cologne and unspoken threats. He sat ramrod straight in the plush armchair, his back stiff. He focused on the details on the wall, and the sound of his breath. He hated this.

He had reread the contract so many times that the words blurred before his eyes, but each time, he searched for a hidden trap. He did not trust the man across from him. This was a battle, a war of attrition. He would not yield.

"So, the preliminary assessment is…?" he asked, his voice low and steady, carefully neutral.