**Chapter Two: The Thin Rope**
A week after that fateful meeting at the café, Leonardo found himself in a state of constant vigilance. Every gesture, every word, every glance from Marcus carried a world of hidden meanings he tried to decode. Their newfound friendship was like a delicate piece of glass—beautiful to behold but easily shattered by the slightest careless move.
On Tuesday morning, while Leonardo was immersed in his work, his phone rang. "Marcus" flashed on the screen. **His hands trembled as he held the phone, as if carrying an invisible weight that grew heavier with each ring.**
"My dear friend, I hope I'm not interrupting your focus."
"Not at all! I'm always happy to hear from you."
Marcus's voice was soft and intimate: "Do you remember that project you told me about? I immediately thought of you when I heard about a similar opportunity. The competition is fierce, but I'll use my connections to help you."
Leonardo's heart swelled with gratitude. "That's... that's wonderful! I don't know how to thank you."
"No need for thanks; this is what true friendship is." Then he added in a more serious tone: "But there's a small problem."
"What is it?"
"The project requires a partner. And I believe you need a partner who complements you... someone more assertive and pragmatic."
**Leonardo felt as if he were walking a tightrope between gratitude and independence, between the opportunity of a lifetime and his fear of losing control over his own project.** His palms grew sweaty as he gripped the phone tighter.
"Are you hesitating?" Marcus's voice dropped half a tone. "I think I may have overestimated our trust."
"No! No, on the contrary... I'm very grateful. It's an honor for me."
"Excellent!" The enthusiasm returned to Marcus's voice. "I'll send you the papers tomorrow. And please be ready for the first meeting the day after."
After the call ended, Leonardo sat in silence. **His chest heaved with irregular breaths, as if he had just run a long distance.** He was supposed to feel joy, but something was troubling him. Why did he feel he had lost something when he thought he had gained everything?
That night, while wandering the dark streets, he spotted from a distance the gray-haired man he had seen at the café. He was standing under the dim streetlight, seemingly waiting for someone. As Leonardo approached, he heard the whisper that would haunt him for days:
"Beware of gifts that come tied with invisible strings, my boy."
Before he could respond, the man vanished into the darkness, leaving Leonardo with his endless questions and the rope of trust that had begun to fray ever so slightly. **He stood there, trying to calm the trembling in his hands, with a strange feeling that he had fallen into a trap whose boundaries he couldn't yet see.**