Chapter 183

• Vanessa's pov
• I sipped from my glass of wine, leaning back against the leather booth as Renata flipped through the financial brief in her folder. The restaurant buzzed with quiet chatter and the clinking of cutlery, but my mind was sharp, eyes narrowed slightly on the man sitting across from me.
• Mr. Leonard Gertz. Mid-fifties. Real estate tycoon. His portfolio was impressive, but his handshake was weak—typical of a man who lets numbers do the talking. Still, I needed him. We needed this deal sealed and dusted by next quarter. Renata had put in good word and convinced him to consider a sit-down.