Breaking the ice
"I will never betray him. Go ahead and leak the contract. We'll face the storm together. But I will never lie for you."
For a long, silent moment, the only sound in the tavern was the howling of the Patagonian wind beating against the glass.
Then, slowly, the tension in Victor’s shoulders vanished. A terrifying, slow smile began to creep across his face. He didn't look angry; he looked absolutely ecstatic.
"That was a beautiful speech, Ethan," Victor murmured, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a small, blinking digital remote. "Truly touching. The kind of raw, passionate defense that makes for spectacular television."