Ethan sat at the restaurant for twenty minutes before a black BMW 7 Series pulled up at the entrance and a man walked out of the driver’s seat, hurrying to the back and opening the door.
Stepping out was Irina, dressed in a white blazer and heels, she stepped out of the car, adjusting her sun glasses before walking into the restaurant’s door.
Eyes of the other people in the restaurant were immediately drawn to her but she ignored all the attention and calmly walked directly towards his table as soon as she spotted him.
Two other men dressed in casual clothes walked in after her, choosing a table not far from Ethan’s. At first glance, they blended in with the crowd, but the way their eyes scanned the room and the subtle bulges beneath their jackets told a different story.
They weren’t civilians, they probably were Irina’s bodyguards.
But Ethan didn’t mind, after all, yesterday’s attack was a valid reason to have guards around.
She sat opposite him before taking off her sunglasses and allowing her violet eyes to rest on him.
No words were exchanged between them for a while before the waitress appeared, "Good afternoon. May I take your order?"
There was a bit nervous sweat on her forehead due to the atmosphere at the table, but she eased up a little at Ethan’s smile.
Irina didn’t glance at the menu, she just replied, "Sparkling water, chilled."
She walked away to fulfill the order leaving the two alone at the table.
"Now then, Ms. Romanova," Ethan broke the silence, "were you impressed?"
She picked up the glass of sparkling lime water the waitress had just put down and drank a little.
Impressive wasn’t the word to describe the results of the test she gave Ethan. Even some experienced hacker working for her would have a hard time, especially considering the limited time she had given him.
She put the glass down and looked at him again before replying, "I admit, I am impressed."
"I fully expected you to fail," she said, "but I guess I underestimated you."
"I’m glad I exceeded your expectations," Ethan responded with a smile.
"So, Ethan Carter," Irina started, "what exactly do you want my support for?"
Her words meant one thing, she was willing to back him and that was all Ethan needed.
"I want your connections, your network and more importantly, your resources." He leaned back as he said, "in exchange for tech that the world may never see or have access to."
Irina also leaned back, as if thinking about his words, but the decision was all but made. She saw him as an important asset just like he did her.
"Very well," she said at last, placing the glass back on the table with a soft click. "You’ll have my support—but understand this, Ethan Carter: loyalty is not a word I use lightly. If you fail me, if you waste my time, you will regret it."
Ethan’s smile widened, almost wolfish. "Then I’ll just have to make sure I don’t."
He extended his hand for a shake as he said with a smile , "I look forward to working with you."
Irina looked at his open hand before taking it, shaking his hand, "me too."
With that, Ethan’s pieces were all in place and it was time to permanently deal with the obstacle known as Nathaniel.
But before that, "there is something I need from you right away," he said, his tone calm but carrying an undercurrent of seriousness.
Irina tilted her head, studying him with those sharp violet eyes. "Already making requests? Bold of you."
There was no change in his expression, "I need your contacts in Russia. Specifically, someone who can find people who are not meant to be found." 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢
Irina tapped her finger against the rim of her glass, eyes narrowing slightly. "And who is it you want found?"
Instead of a reply, Ethan just took his phone out and tapped a few times, sliding it across the table until it stopped in front of her.
On it was a picture of two people, a little girl no older than seven clutching a stuffed bear, and a woman in her thirties with dark hair tied back in a simple bun. Both were caught in a candid moment, walking across a crowded market, unaware of the photo being taken.
Irina’s brows arched, her fingers still on the rim of her glass. "A child," she murmured, then shifted her gaze back to Ethan. "And her mother. Why would you bring me this?"
Ethan leaned forward, lowering his voice so only she could hear. "Because they are a leverage against an obstacle."
Irina was silent for a moment, thinking for a while before she finally sighed and said, "Fine, but expect me to also make use of you soon."
With that, she stood gracefully, slipping her sunglasses back on. Without another glance, she turned and walked toward the exit, her heels clicking softly against the polished floor.
The two men who had accompanied her were already gone, no doubt securing the perimeter before her arrival at the car.
Ethan watched her go, his smile fading into something colder. He leaned back in his chair, fingers drumming lightly against the table before reaching for the bill.

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