Chapter 12 - THE MAFIA BOSS WHO LEARNED TO APOLOGIZE
That evening, Adrien asked Nina to join him in his office.
She hesitated.
Then agreed.
He stood beside the window overlooking Chicago.
"Nina."
"Yes?"
"I owe you an apology."
She blinked.
"For what?"
"The way I spoke to you in the meeting."
She looked down.
"You were under pressure."
He shook his head.
"That doesn't excuse it."
Nina remained silent.
Adrien continued.
"I treated you like entertainment. Like someone whose knowledge couldn't possibly matter."
Her throat tightened.
He looked at her.
"I was wrong."
For a moment, she didn't know what to say.
Then she smiled faintly.
"Yes, you were."
He laughed softly.
"I suppose I deserved that."
She looked toward the city.
"People underestimate me all the time."
Adrien studied her.
"Why do you let them?"
Nina thought about her father.
The medication.
The bills.
The years she had spent surviving.
"Because sometimes being underestimated is safer than being noticed."
Adrien nodded slowly.
Then said:
"Maybe."
May you like
He looked at her.
"But you shouldn't have to disappear to survive."
