The breakfast was winding down, and I felt relief wash over me. It had gone smoother than I expected, despite the formal stiffness in the air. The servers moved swiftly, clearing the plates and dishes until only the wine bottles remained. The men continued talking, their conversation now more relaxed, but still over my head, with words like "territories" and "expansions" being thrown around as if they were discussing stock market trends.

I leaned back in my chair, taking a sip of my wine and ...