157
~Alex's POV
The plane ride was always the same. The hum of the engines, the uncomfortable seating, and the sterile atmosphere of the cabin. Despite all of that, I couldn't help but appreciate the moments of quiet, the brief respite from everything back home. Luca, ever the professional, sat across from me, his eyes focused on his phone as he scrolled through business updates.
I leaned back in my seat, allowing the chaos of my mind to settle. The business deal we were heading to was big. Too big. There were stakes that I couldn't afford to lose. The moment I signed that contract, I knew things would change, and not always for the better. But that's the way it had always been in my world, when you made a deal, you made a sacrifice. And I was ready to make that sacrifice.
Luca glanced up at me for a moment, the corners of his lips twitching as if he knew what I was thinking. He knew me too well.
"Everything's set for the meeting?" I asked, not needing to explain myself further.
