Hannah tried to relax over the weekend, feeling that she deserved it after her intense week in Milan. But she couldn’t help reviewing the Tanaka board document Steiner had given her, finding it a hive of useful information. Reddy’s faction was larger than she’d feared, but Chen’s influence ran deeper. The key, she noted, lay with two swing voters whose loyalty seemed tied to personal gain rather than any ideology. Informa...

Hannah stepped into a room which was a stark contrast to the opulent club: minimalist, dominated by a polished ebony desk, a single leather chair and a small leather sofa. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the city’s glittering skyline, the glass so clear it felt like standing on the edge of the void. For a moment, Steiner looked out over the city. Then he gestured to the sofa. "Sit down." But he remained standing, silh...

Hannah stepped into Il Club Delle Maschere, finding the dimly lit room humming with soft jazz, the murmur of hushed conversations, occasional outbreaks of laughter and the clink of crystal. She paused at the threshold, feeling a little uneasy at being there alone and wishing that Maria was with her. A server had seen her enter and approached, offering her a flute of champagne, which she accepted. She sipped it and moved d...

“You're…Nathaniel?” The curvaceous, honey-toned woman asked the stranger with a hesitant smile on her face. This expression became less tense and more positive as the man nodded with a twinkle in his eyes. He was more attractive than she ever thought he would be. Numerous friends, online and offline, had called her insane for meeting with someone without having any idea what they looked like. The woman couldn't blame them...

Hannah got out of her hotel bed, knowing that this was truly a day of reckoning. She felt a little dazed from all the revelations the night before and tried to clear her mind, although one of Rossi's statements persistently echoed in her head. "Without Alex live, you'll be bluffing." A knock at the door caused her to finish dressing hurriedly. She opened the door to find Maria. "Is everything okay? You weren't answering y...

I had just turned 50 and was feeling a bit low. I had a successful real estate practice in the Detroit burbs I had worked very hard to build up. It was not an easy market, but I found ways to make it work. I was also on my third marriage and was starting to realize I had made a huge mistake. Why am I always attracted to the crazies? She was turning into a complete Looney Toons character. There was a very strong sexual att...

Rossi opened the door to his hotel suite almost immediately. He was wearing a silk robe and held a glass of whisky. He didn't seem surprised to see Hannah. In fact he appeared to have been waiting for her arrival. "I knew you'd come," he said, stepping aside to let her in. The suite was opulent, with panoramic views of Milan's skyline. "You're smarter than Maria gives you credit for." Hannah hesitated, unsure how to respo...

Il Club Delle Maschere had resumed its normal rhythm, with the dance troupe having disappeared, the soft jazz music returning and the masked guests once again huddling into their conversations. The atmosphere seemed different though, more charged than before as the dance performance had left its indelible mark on the club and everyone in it. Hannah and Maria both felt the air crackle, thick with unspoken possibilities. Th...

It was Saturday and Hannah was busy around her home, but as the afternoon wore on she decided to go out. She'd been working long hours recently and she felt she deserved a treat. She thought she'd buy herself a new outfit to celebrate her success. She found herself walking towards the exclusive boutiques she passed every day but never went in. She went into one and tried on a silk dress that cost around a week's pay. She...

Monday morning dawned with the promise of a new chapter in Hannah’s life. It was a bright, sunny morning, which matched her mood entirely. As she arrived at work, she took her place at her usual secretary’s desk, but almost immediately Ms. Buchanan called her into her office. Hannah’s heart raced with anticipation, feeling this had to be good news, although Ms. Buchanan’s initial demeanour gave nothing away. “You surprise...

"Hannah, could you grab me another coffee?" Ms. Buchanan called out from her office without looking up from her computer screen. "Of course," Hannah replied, her voice carrying a hint of frustration that she swiftly masked with a practiced smile. She had started to find her work dull and longed for something more interesting. As she poured the coffee, she couldn't help but overhear the hushed conversations of her colleagu...

The sportsball game played noisily in the background as I furrowed my brow in concentration, clicking the mouse. I dragged an island into the playing field and then cast Tolarian Terror, waiting expectantly to see if it was countered. It wasn’t. My prospects were looking up. ‘Magic The Gathering: Arena’ provided hours of entertainment when I was away from home, which wasn’t often. A new store meant firsthand attention, an...

I boarded the train in Bridgeport, Connecticut, sat down in my seat and sent a text to Naomi to let her know I was en route to Manhattan. As I settled into my seat a feeling of bliss washed over me. Excited to be heading back to the city. Excited to do some solitary reading on the train ride. Excited for the rendezvous with Naomi. My wife Jane and I moved from the city up to Bridgeport a couple of years ago. For the typic...