The atmosphere in the office shifted instantly the moment Luca stepped through the door.
"Oh, Luca!" Sara said, breaking the silence as she rose from her seat. Her smile was bright, perhaps a bit too bright, fueled by the professional excitement of the morning.
"This is Joseph. He sent over a brilliant proposal regarding the renewable energy market. I was so impressed that I decided we should meet in person."
Joseph stood up, his heart hammering against his ribs like a trapped bird. Being this close to Luca De Augustino was like standing next to a dormant volcano. "It's an honor, Mr. De Augustino to finally see you," Joseph said. "I won't take much of your time. Just ten or fifteen minutes more to go over the projections would be sufficient."
Joseph's plea was desperate. It was a silent attempt to cling to these minutes with the sister who didn't know he existed.
