Chapter 82: Realization

The realization of the predicament I had placed myself in suddenly dawned on me, making me fully conscious of the gravity of my situation.

"It's still not too late, Boss."

"But it truly is."

I reminded myself to enjoy my tea before it lost its warmth.

"Are you hungry, Viktor?"

"Just a bit."

"Join me, then."

We retreated to his humble kitchen, where I took a seat at the small counter, watching him prepare a dish I've never mastered: Terran bread. This slightly leavened bread, pan-fried in fine olive oil, seemed simple, but the secret lay in the precise temperature of the oil and the timing of the flip. I've never managed to get it right, a fact I lamented as the first piece hit the oil, releasing its inviting fragrance.