I'm a Profiteer in Cold War Germany

Chapter 217: Chapter 127: Her Weakness, His Sovereignty

Anna froze, clearly not expecting him to counterattack.

She looked at Werner holding her hand, a slight smile playing on her lips. "You want to know?"

"I do." Werner’s thumb gently caressed the back of her hand. "After all, we’re going to be in a deep partnership, aren’t we? I need to know my partner’s weaknesses."

"You’ve changed, Werner. You used to at least pretend to be a little more reserved."

"What’s the point of pretending with you?" Werner continued to hold her hand. "We’re both smart people. We don’t need to put on an act, right?"

Anna laughed, a frankness in her smile as if she’d been seen through. "You’re right. In that case, I’ll be direct—my weakness is you."

Werner raised an eyebrow.

"Don’t act so surprised." Anna pressed closer. "From the moment you risked your life for me, I knew I was a goner. Werner, in a world full of betrayal, you’re the only one willing to die for me."

Her fingers traced lightly over the back of his hand. "I’m not kind, nor am I weak. I can fight alongside you, help you when you need it, and make the most ruthless decisions when the time comes. But..."

She paused, her gaze growing more direct. "But in front of you, I don’t want to pretend."

Werner stared at her for a few seconds, then suddenly released her hand, instead wrapping his arm around her waist and pulling her closer.

"Then don’t," he said in a low voice. "Anna, we’re the same kind of people. We’re both preparing our escape routes, both waiting for that day to come. So before that day arrives..."

He paused, his other hand cupping her cheek. "We need to support each other. You protect me, and I’ll protect you. Deal?"

Anna’s breathing quickened slightly.

She looked at Werner, her eyes filled with surprise, but also a long-suppressed emotion that was now burning.

"Deal," she said.

Then she leaned forward and kissed him on the lips.

The kiss was fierce, carrying with it a long-suppressed release.

Anna’s hands wrapped around his neck, and she kissed him forcefully, as if trying to convey everything she wanted to say through that kiss.

Werner returned her kiss, but quickly took the lead.

His hand tightened on her waist, while his other cradled the back of her head, deepening the kiss.

He kissed her possessively, as if declaring some kind of ownership.

Anna let out a soft moan, then responded to him even more eagerly.

After a long moment, the two separated.

Anna’s face was slightly flushed, her breathing a little ragged.

"You bastard," she said softly, but there was no anger in her voice, only a hint of satisfaction. "I was the one who started it, but you still ended up getting the upper hand."

Werner smiled, his arm still around her waist. "That’s because I didn’t want you to think you were in control of the situation. We’re equal partners, remember?"

"Equal?" Anna raised an eyebrow. "Then what do you call this arm you have wrapped around me?"

"This is... confirming our cooperative relationship," Werner said with a straight face.

Anna laughed out loud, then gave him another light peck on the lips. "Such a smooth talker. But I like it."

She leaned against his shoulder again, but this time her posture was more relaxed, more intimate. "Werner, from today on, we’re true allies. Not just in terms of interests, but also... in other ways."

Werner could feel her breath and smell the faint scent of her perfume. His arm was still around her waist, and he could feel the warmth of her body.

"There’s one more thing," Anna said suddenly. "After you join Koko, the business at the foreign trade shop will expand. Greta might not be able to handle it alone."

"Do you have a suggestion?"

"I can arrange for someone to go in," Anna said. "I have an informant named Monica, who works in the foreign trade department. She’s sharp and very loyal. If necessary, I can have her go help Greta."

Werner thought for a moment. "Alright. But we need to be sure she’s reliable."

"Don’t worry, I’ll vouch for her." Anna paused. "Besides... with her on the inside, I can also stay on top of the situation. If any problems arise, we can get an early warning."

Werner nodded.

He understood what Anna meant—she wasn’t just helping him; she was also setting up her own pieces on the board. But that was fine. They were a community of shared interests to begin with.

"Right." Anna looked up at him. "After you get into Koko, you’ll have many opportunities to interact with businessmen from West Germany. You need to maintain contact with Joshua and Reynard. Those are all bargaining chips for the future."

"I know," Werner said. "Vonke reminded me as well."

"Vonke?" Anna raised an eyebrow. "You went to see him?"

"Yesterday."

"What did he say?"

"He told me to prepare an escape route for myself," Werner said, looking at her. "Same as you."

"Werner." Anna leaned back against his shoulder. "We have to survive this together, and wait for that day together. And then..."

"And then?"

"Then we leave this godforsaken place together and go somewhere free," Anna’s voice was soft, but firm. "Whether it’s West Germany, the United States, or any place where we don’t have to live in constant fear."

Werner’s hand tightened slightly on her waist. "Okay. I promise you."

The two of them sat like that, in a dim corner of the tavern, enjoying a moment of peace and intimacy amidst the noisy backdrop.

Werner knew that from this day forward, his relationship with Anna had changed.

They were no longer just partners, no longer just allies of convenience.

They had become a true collective—in business, in intelligence, and in affection.

’This could be dangerous, but it might also be his greatest source of support.’

*****************

The snow had stopped by the time they left the tavern. Werner walked Anna to her car.

"See you next week?" Anna turned to face him, a hint of provocation in her eyes.

Werner didn’t answer. Instead, he suddenly pulled her into his arms and kissed her again.

This kiss was even more domineering, more profound, as if to tell her that he was the one in control of this relationship.

Anna was taken aback by the sudden offensive, but she quickly responded, hooking her arms around his neck.

When they separated, her eyes were shining like stars.

"You’re really..." she said, panting, "getting more and more outrageous."

"You taught me," Werner said, releasing her with a smile. "See you next week, Anna."

Anna looked at him, a complex emotion in her eyes. Then she smiled, turned, got into her car, and started the engine.

The car window rolled down, and she leaned out. "Werner, be careful."

"I know."

"And..." Anna paused. "I’ll miss you."

With that, she quickly rolled up the window and drove away.

Werner stood there, watching her taillights disappear down the snow-covered street. He raised a hand to touch his lips, where her warmth still lingered.

He lit a cigarette and took a deep drag.

One era had ended, and another had just begun.

Vonke was out, Klaus was in.

Eva was gone, and Anna had stayed—and grown closer.

The days of being a Black Market hustler were over; a new Chapter at Koko had begun.

Werner walked to his car. The sound of the engine starting was especially clear in the night. He put the car in gear and drove off.

The headlights illuminated the road ahead, the post-snow Berlin streets gleaming with moisture.

In the distance, the red light of the Berlin Television Tower blinked in the night sky, like an unblinking eye watching over the divided city.

Werner knew the road ahead would be more dangerous, but also more exciting.

Once inside Koko, he would come into contact with East Germany’s core foreign exchange channels, participate in the most sensitive international trade, and become a target for more people. But at the same time, he would also gain unprecedented resources and power.

More importantly, Koko was the bridge between East Germany and the Western world.

Here, he could establish more Western connections and accumulate more bargaining chips. When the Berlin Wall eventually fell, these would be his lifeline.

And now, he also had Anna.

This smart, calm woman, who was just as clear-headed as he was.

She would become his closest ally, and possibly his greatest weakness. But Werner didn’t care. In this game, there was no absolute safety, only relative certainty.

And his certainty now was greater than ever before.

Werner took a deep breath and stepped on the gas.

The car sped into the night, disappearing at the end of East Berlin’s gray streets.

The game was just beginning.

The world of Koko was waiting for him.

It was a bigger stage, with higher risks and richer rewards.

There, he would truly come into contact with the core of power and see the nation’s deepest secrets.

There, he would make all the necessary preparations for the final day.

The day the Berlin Wall would fall.

And he, Werner Betelich, would undergo a glorious transformation on that day, from a merchant operating in the gray areas to a hero who "contributed to the unification of the Two Germanys."

But before that, he still had many things to do.

Many people to see.

Many secrets to master.

Many risks to take.

And Anna would be with him through it all.

[End of Volume Two]

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