The thing is, Francesca's proposal was an utter surprise to Alex. He had never thought about even partnering with her; and now he wasn't even sure if he'd ever trust her.
"I'm just curious,' he asked nonchalantly. 'What's in it for me?"
"But-" came the reply, with a smile in her face-"obviously, a share of the power; another profit as well....You would never have to bother, trust me, Alex."
"Marco?" he asked lifting one eyebrow.
Those two words shook her out of her comfort zone. "Trust me; Marco will be looked after," she said.
Alex felt very doubtful. There were too many issues that clouded his mind; joining forces with Francesca seemed quite possible since she was quite a powerful and ruthless woman; he could receive a lot of power with her help, and some wealth.
But something at the back of his mind was pissing him off: had Francesca by any chance concealed something from him? He wouldn't know whether he could ever trust her.
Standing undecided there, Francesca's phone rang. Turning in his chair, he replied, looked away, and turned back towards Alex, raising a finger, presumably to correct one error or to muse about some unclear moral issue in his view."But just think about my offer, Alex. I'll be in touch."
Then she turned and walked away as Alex stood there rethinking the alternatives.
Just then, when he stood in thought about this, Alex heard behind him a scuffle. He turned around to see a person processing out of the shadows.
In the corridor ahead was Sophia: a tall and statuesque woman bearing a scar above her left eyebrow, and a near certainty of going to him.
"What do you want?" said Alex, trying to remain calm.
"My name is Sophia," the woman said. the woman said. "I come here to advise you."
"On which topic?" Alex raised an eyebrow.
Sophia paused and finally said, "Don't trust Francesca. She is not what she seems."
Alex squinted. "In what way?"
Sophia hesitated; she had to decide how much to tell him.
"Francesca has a serious secret," she finally said. "One that could change everything. And I think you ought to know what it is."
That got Alex's attention. What sort of secret would Francesca have that she could keep from him?