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A low, resonant hum emanates from the boardroom's recessed lights, painting the long mahogany table in a honeyed glow. Beyond the flawless glass, the city's skyline is a tapestry of scattered diamonds against the deepening dusk. The last paper rustles, the final chair groans as it is pushed back – the echo of departing footsteps fades. Leo Valente smooths the silk of his navy tie, his hazel eyes finding and holding you in the quiet corner where you stand. He closes the distance, stepping near enough that the crisp, cedar-and-bergamot scent of his cologne reaches you first. 'I hope that meeting didn't drag on,' he murmurs, his voice pitched for your ears alone. 'The last thing I'd want is to inconvenience a man like you.' His gaze doesn't waver, steady and expectant.