Upon returning to the office, Daniel casually asked, glancing over at Nikita who had resumed his seat.

"Where's everyone else?"

"On client calls. They should be back soon," Nikita replied, focused on his keyboard.

"Nikita, I wanted to ask you to lunch today, but you had already left. I ended up having lunch with Pavel. How about we grab lunch together tomorrow?" Daniel placed his phone on the table but remained standing.

"Lunch with Pavel?" Nikita's interest peaked as he peeked out from behind his computer screen. "Is it just the two of you? I'll pass. Let's do lunch altogether next time."

"Sounds good, I'm in. Why are you hesitant to join Pavel?"

"Well," Nikita's tone softened, expressing some regret for his earlier blunt response. He hesitated before explaining, "He's... a bit elusive. Some colleagues who've collaborated with him received negative feedback afterward. He's even blacklisted certain individuals as potential team members without ever having worked directly with them, which can impact one's overall assessment. I'm currently staffed with him, and I can't help but wonder what feedback he'll give about my performance. If it's negative..." Nikita took a deep breath, puffing out his cheeks before letting it out slowly. "It might not reflect well on me, especially since I've already had one partner pull out. It's nothing personal, but I have reservations about it."

"That's intriguing," Daniel responded, looking puzzled. "Thanks for sharing with me; I won't mention it to anyone."

"You're welcome. Especially not to Pavel," Nikita replied, visibly uneasy, casting a wary glance around.

Daniel mimed zipping his lips shut with a playful smile, signaling discretion, which seemed to ease Nikita's tension as he relaxed back into his chair. Daniel continued to tread cautiously in their conversation. "He was quite forthcoming and friendly today, even offering some advice. Maybe he just takes time to open up?"

"Perhaps. I've kept my distance from him, so I can't claim to know him well. I've always steered clear of him at company gatherings," Nikita remarked, adjusting the slender metal frames of his glasses thoughtfully. "Who knows, maybe he has an interest in you. He did choose to collaborate with two other guys previously, but they were both lured away not too long ago with substantial offers from the industry. Perhaps he's scouting for a replacement."

"It's odd, I've only just joined for this project. We'll have to see how things unfold," Daniel responded, settling into his chair and powering up his laptop. As he typed in his password, his gaze lingered on the Excel spreadsheet filled with calculations, his thoughts drifting back to Pavel. After a few minutes lost in thought, he shook off the distracting musings and began reviewing the numbers.

He could sort out any uncertainties as they went along. For now, nailing the production cost modeling was crucial. Leaders often weave intricate webs of intrigue for their own gains. At Westinghouse, Daniel had faced similar situations without any repercussions for himself. Perhaps Pavel was genuinely seeking the right team for this critical project, or maybe he was testing Daniel's mettle. After all, the stakes were high.

Late into the night, after his second shower aimed at washing away the day's fatigue, Daniel found himself gazing at the illuminated skyline of Moscow. He replayed the conversation with Pavel in his mind. Upon reflection, nothing seemed overly concerning. There was no need for alarm; it was likely just an effort to establish a connection.

Perhaps Pavel genuinely wanted to involve him more in his projects, especially given that Pavel worked in the energy practice. While each partner had their unique focus, and Daniel was open to collaborating with others, he wasn't overly enthusiastic. These industries didn't align closely with his personal interests, and it was unlikely he'd be staffed from New York for them. This realization eased the tension, causing his previously taut shoulders to relax. Rather than overanalyzing and searching for hidden meanings, he decided to focus on delivering quality work and performing to the best of his abilities. That was it.

"You've spoken more about Pavel than the others. Would it be accurate to say you suspect him in relation to what happened to you?" Ksenia paused, placing her pen against her lips, which were naturally full and subtly tinted. An odd comparison to Sleeping Beauty flashed in Daniel's mind, where the main character matched her lipstick to her labia. He quickly pushed the inappropriate thought aside and looked out the window, gathering his thoughts.

"While I was in prison, I mulled over suspicions about each of them, including Pavel. He did seem to have more influence than the rest, but even then, I couldn't find a clear motive. Framing an innocent man would require a compelling reason, and neither Pavel nor the other team members had one. They've undergone thorough scrutiny, and I believe their financial activities are still under surveillance. If the true perpetrator had been identified, I would have likely known. That said, some of Pavel's behaviors did raise red flags. He's an odd character, and sometimes unpleasant people tend to draw suspicion," Daniel paused, reflecting on the vivid memories he'd revisited countless times, then shook his head with a sigh. "I can't squarely blame any of them. But I hope with time, I'll uncover who was behind it all and why."

"How did you feel when recounting the work-related moments?" Ksenia flipped a page in her notebook, positioning her pen.

"A yearning for my work," Daniel replied promptly, then hesitated before continuing, "A sense of despair that I might never engage in projects of that caliber again, coupled with envy for those continuing to work peacefully and freely. There's also a burning desire to identify the person who plunged me into hell so ruthlessly."

"Visualize these emotions in terms of color and intensity. Can you describe them?"

"Black," Daniel responded emphatically.

Daniel immediately imagined a vast, inky-black cloud blanketing the sky. However, extracting a singular emotion from this imagery proved challenging. Emotions were intricately woven together, blending and melding into one another. Yet, a concealed but dominant feeling persisted - a deep-seated, carefully hidden animosity towards the man whose name remained unspoken: Alexander.

As Daniel spoke, he consciously modulated his tone, gradually gaining Ksenia's trust and opening her eyes to his perspective. He was surprised by his own ability; his interpersonal skills, previously somewhat rough and unrefined compared to his peers due to a lack of settled, peaceful adulthood experiences, had significantly improved during his time behind bars. Ksenia responded appropriately: maintaining steady eye contact, showing no signs of suspicion or involuntary eyebrow movements. Either she was adept at controlling her reactions, or she was genuinely beginning to understand him.

After leaving the clinic, Daniel was escorted to an exclusive fitness club, accessible only to a select few. He was beginning to acclimate to this sense of exclusivity. There were undeniable perks to this lifestyle - Daniel had always valued comfort and saw no reason to be apologetic about it. Exercising in a nearly empty gym instead of a crowded, musty one, reclining on warm, solid stone in a steam room rather than a cold, tiled surface, and swimming in mineral-rich water instead of chlorine-treated pools - all of it was quite enjoyable.

Starting a run after the weights was always a bit challenging for Daniel. For the initial fifteen minutes, he struggled to find his rhythm; his breathing was irregular, and his pace felt off. However, once he settled into the groove, he became completely absorbed in the activity. He gradually reduced his speed from thirteen kilometers per hour to a leisurely five when he began to feel fatigued, transitioning into a brisk walking pace to cool down. Tengiz, who had been nearby lifting weights, realized that Daniel's workout was over and approached him, offering a bottle of water.

"I've got some, thanks," Daniel gestured to his empty one-liter flask, looking surprised at how quickly he'd finished it.

"You run impressively," Tengiz complimented with admiration. "As fluid and enduring as a well-oiled machine."

"I used to run marathons, so thank you," Daniel said, wiping his sweaty face with a towel as he stepped off the treadmill. "I'm heading to the steam room."