The afternoon light slanted through the glass walls, stretching across Max's office in pale gold that shifted with the passing clouds.
Outside, the department had quieted to a distant murmur; inside, there was only the soft rustle of papers, the muted click of pens, and the steady low cadence of Max's voice.
"German partners can be firm negotiators," Max said, sliding a document toward Noel with deliberate precision. "They value accuracy—every word in a clause carries weight. Miss one detail, and you lose the advantage."
Noel nodded, scanning the page, pen poised. "This clause," he said, tapping a section, "delays penalty for late shipment beyond thirty days. But there's no defined compensation if they fail to deliver."
Max smiled, one hand resting on the desk as he watched Noel work. "You caught it again. Most people miss that the first five times. Some never catch it at all."
