VINCENZO VOLKOV

After lunch with Little Mouse, I returned to my office and immersed myself in the stack of reports waiting on my desk. One in particular caught my attention: the International Grand Cru Awards. My wine company had placed third. *Third.* The word tasted like ash in my mouth. We didn’t settle for bronze. Not in my world.

I made a mental note to visit the vineyard first thing tomorrow morning before heading to Prime Estates. That project wasn’t merely another business—it was ...