“The kind that requires witnesses.”
Pavel approaches. “Mikhailov is already inside. He brought four men.”
“We have enough people here?”
“Eight men positioned inside. Three more in the secondary warehouse in case we need additional support.”
“Good.”
I start toward the warehouse entrance. Anna follows a step behind. Pavel falls in beside me.
“What am I walking into?” I ask quietly.
“Mikhailov wants to renegotiate the shipping route percentages. He’s claiming increased costs on his end justify a larger cut.”
“We agreed to terms six months ago.”
“He knows that. He’s testing boundaries.”
I push open the warehouse door. Inside, the space is massive. Metal shelving units hold crates and pallets. Forklifts sit idle near the loading bay. In the center of the floor, a table has been set up with chairs.
Mikhailov stands near the table. He’s in his fifties, heavy build, graying hair. Four men flank him, all armed, based on the bulges under their jackets.
My own men are positioned throughout the warehouse. Casual positions, but strategic. Covering exits and sightlines.
“Volkov.” Mikhailov extends his hand. “Good to see you.”
I shake it briefly. “This is my wife, Anna.”
He nods at her. “A pleasure.”
Anna says nothing.
We sit. Anna takes a chair slightly behind me and to the left. Out of the direct line of conversation but close enough to hear everything.
“Let’s get to it,” I say. “Pavel said you want to renegotiate terms.”
“The shipping routes through the Baltic have become more expensive to maintain. Fuel costs are up. Port fees increased. My margins are getting squeezed.”
“Those are operating costs. They affect everyone equally.”
“Which is why I’m asking for a percentage adjustment. Instead of thirty-five percent, I need forty-five to make the routes profitable.”
“We agreed to thirty-five percent six months ago. Those terms were fair then, and they’re fair now.”
“Circumstances change.”
“Circumstances are always changing. That’s not a reason to renegotiate every six months.”
Mikhailov leans back in his chair. “I’m not asking for charity. I’m asking for a sustainable arrangement. If I can’t make profit on these routes, I’ll have to pull out entirely.”
“Then pull out. I have three other operators who would take the contract within a week.”
His expression hardens. “You’d throw away six months of functional partnership over ten percent?”
“I’d protect the integrity of our agreements. If I let you renegotiate after six months, everyone else will expect the same treatment. That creates chaos.”
“Or it creates flexibility.”
