And he knew it.
Dominic closed the book.
The soft thump sounded louder than his earlier shouting.
“The merger is finished.”
Constantine stared at him.
“You cannot be serious.”
“I was serious at twenty percent.”
Dominic pushed the journal toward his own side of the table.
“You brought me twenty-five and a trap.”
“You need the eastern routes.”
“Not yours.”
“You have committed resources already.”
“Not under these terms.”
Constantine’s face reddened.
“You think one waitress changes the balance of power?”
Dominic glanced at Amelia.
“No.”
Then he looked back at Constantine.
“Your journal did.”
Silas opened the door.
The gesture was not violent, but the meaning was absolute.
The meeting was over.
Constantine stood rigidly for several seconds.
When he finally moved, he looked at Amelia one last time.
The contempt was gone.
What replaced it was far more satisfying.
Caution.
He walked out without another word.
The door closed behind him.
For several seconds nobody in the Sapphire Room moved.
Arthur was the first to speak.
“I spent forty minutes with that cipher.”
Amelia immediately worried she had humiliated him.
“I had seen the structure before.”
Arthur shook his head.
“No.
I’m not criticizing you.”
He looked almost astonished.
“I’m trying to understand how you saw it while pouring water.”
Amelia glanced at the silver pitcher still sitting beside the journal.
“I notice things.”
Dominic gave a quiet laugh.
This time there was no cruelty in it.
“I noticed.”
He opened the journal again and pushed it toward her.
“Can you translate the entire thing?”
“Yes.”
“How long?”
Amelia considered the density of the pages.
“A few hours for a careful translation.
Less for the sections that repeat.”
Arthur actually laughed.
Dominic looked at him.
“You told me weeks.”
Arthur spread his hands.
“For me, perhaps.”
