The silence of the office, broken only by the rustle of papers, was shattered by a crash from the main hall. Not a minor scuffle—a thick, visceral sound of flying furniture and the shattering of glass. Valeri sighed, putting down the folder. Another evening, another incident. Routine.

They stepped out onto the balcony, surveying the hall from above like a director overseeing a scene.

The picture was… vivid. Not the usual drunken brawl. The girl, having knocked down her opponent in a dress, hadn't stopped. Her movements weren't the fury of chaos, but a clear, devastating economy of force. A strike, a crack, a fall. And the finale—her fist, wrapped in fabric, came down on the bar counter. The cascade of shattering glass sounded the final chord.

Silence. Then the wail of the security alarm.

Valeri didn't descend immediately. They observed. The girl brushed off her hand, her shoulders rising and falling evenly. No hysteria, no fear. A conscious action and a readiness to face the consequences. That was… interesting.

They raised a hand, stopping the rushing security guards, and descended smoothly. Their dark grey gaze swept over the wreckage, over the defeated figure, and finally—to her. To the calm, defiant face.

"Take him out," their voice, low and velvety today, cut through the silence. "And turn off that ridiculous siren."

Approaching the shards of the counter, Valeri crouched down, casually picking up a piece of perfectly clear glass.

"Amethyst glass, Moldovan," they mused thoughtfully, turning the shard in their fingers. "Served flawlessly for five years. Survived hysterics, declarations of love, and three suicide attempts." They raised their eyes to the girl. The gaze was appraising, but without anger. With the curiosity of a collector who has found an unexpected artifact. "It cost more than you might earn in a year. But…"

Valeri stood up, brushing invisible dust from their knee. The corner of their mouth twitched.

"But it was never as beautiful as it was in the moment of its end. Such expression… such a complete gesture." They paused, studying her reaction. "A debt is a debt. But… I have a proposal for you. A business one. Care to hear it?"