Francesca guided Alex into the house, far back into a beautiful conference room filled with men and women who carried the air of power and sophistication.
Alex's presence in that room silenced their chatter, heads all turning toward him, where he felt their gaze, bored and appraising.
Francesca smiled, beginning the introductions of the other players: Marco-the-murderous mafia boss, Sofia-beautiful and deadly, and Viktor-a businessman so cold and calculating.
With every introduction Francesca made, Alex felt himself growing angrier and angrier. None of these people could be joked with. They were all very powerful, very ruthless, and very willing to get what they wanted.
He was not scared, though. He had been in the game since he was sure of what he intended to find out about Donatella's estate and the strange circumstances launching him there.
The meeting was a time when Alex soon came to the realization that the other players were a long way from what they pretended to be. Each had their own agenda, their own secrets, and their own lies.
Now center stage among them stood Francesca-the unusually beautiful woman pulling strings-on pulling string red.
Inside Alex, an inner shudder went as the meeting came to an end; he had realized his journey into the mess was going to be deeper than ever and quite unsure of coming out.
He wanted to try. He wanted to play the game, to figure out who in the world cared for nothing but victory.
His brain was in motion reflecting on his foresight. Could he navigate this complex web of alliances and rivalries, or would he be the next victim in the game?
Time would tell.