Natalie returned with a steaming cup of apple cider with cinnamon. "The kitchen was out of tea, but I thought you might like some of this. The cook said it was fresh in from the orchards."
"Bless you, Natalie," Kerrigan cuddled the mug and let the warmth revive her spirit. "Natalie, we have out work cut out for us. How is that report coming on Bayan Rail line and on all of the Jinstain businesses?"
Natalie looked surprised at Kerrigan's renewed vigor but responded quickly, "I will have it ready this afternoon."
"Good. After lunch then."
"Ah, about that. The design team for our automotive line wanted to discuss some concepts with you... would you mind if two of them meet with you?"
"Only if they will ride in the car with me to lunch. They can pitch me on the way. But I need food. Tell them they can pay for lunch if they want more time," Kerrigan shot back as she stood to leave.
Natalie quickly pulled out her phone and fired off a series of text as she followed Kerrigan to the elevator. As they passed Katie's desk, they both glanced over to see Katie admiring a new necklace in a small makeup mirror.
"Katie... that wouldn't happen to be another gift from Kelan would it?" Natalie asked.
"And if it is?" Katie asked, her tone harsh as she tucked the mirror back into her purse.
Natalie and Kerrigan just shook their heads, "Please don't get hurt." Kerrigan whispered as they stepped on the elevator. When they stepped off, a man in a fine suit and a young lady dressed in a fir lined tan coat greeted them. The lady held out her hand, "Miss Lokir? I am Emma Carlton from the auto design department. May we take you to lunch?"
Kerrigan looked them both up and down as Natalie helped her into her own black cloak with gray furs, "I suppose. As long as you can walk and talk and don't bore me. Natalie, I will be back by three. Get yourself some lunch. We can go over the Jinstain reports then. Is Breanne ready?"
"She will be in the car behind, Ma'am." Natalie replied, helping Kerrigan slide on her gloves.
"Very good. Alright you two, what do you have?" As they strode for the cars waiting outside in the slight snowfall, the two designers set off on a tirade of ideas. Once in the car, Kerrigan sighed and tried to tune them out until Emma said, "But while we have all of these ideas we really want to know what you as a top business woman is looking for in your next car."
Kerrigan paused in her wondering thoughts to seriously consider the question. "It needs space on the inside. I am always having meetings on the go. The back here might as well be two benches facing each other, and one along the back."
The designers scribed madly in notebooks.
"Soundproof, and an option to upgrade with armor. You have no idea the number of threats I receive... and you know, we live in all this freaking snow. Are tires really the best for getting across snow and ice? What about tracks of some sort? I don't give a damn what they look like, but if they make sure I don't get stuck, that would be worth it to me."
The designers eyes were aglow with new ideas. "Miss, this is gold. We will buy lunch... but I think we will both be leaving you to eat it alone because we have many ideas to sketch!"
"Yes, yes." Kerrigan waved them off as the car rolled to a stop before her favorite soup shop.
When Kerrigan got back to Dragon Corporation, Natalie was waiting in her office with a thick packet of papers. "I have the Jinstain report ready, ma'am."
Kerrigan reached for the folder absently but paused when she noticed the nervous look on Natalie's face. "What is it, Natalie?"
"Miss, I am getting reports that the Benedict group has started making moves to counter some of our latest projects. Things they should not even be aware of yet."
"Such as?"
"One of the new cosmetic lines for one. As well as getting the jump on some of the Jinstain building sites we were considering. They even made a move to try to buy the pub on High Street we have under contract. Thankfully our lawyers were able to keep that one together. But now several of our projects are facing increased scrutiny from the local code enforcement office, and a couple of our permits have been pulled."
"Damn... how the hell did they find out about those things?"
They both looked at each other before simultaneously saying "Kelan!"
"Is he really here for corporate espionage, or is he here to court you?" Natalie asked.
"If he is here for me, he is doing a shit job starting with Katie. Likely he is after Dragon Corporation or at least trying to undermine us. Well, we will be on our guard. I have a source of my own I can reach out to later this week and see what he knows... Now, what about Jinstain?"
Kerrigan watched Natalie straighten her papers before tucking an errant strand of hair behind her ear, "The tavern you were interested in has finalized negotiations and our lawyers completed the official handover Monday. The renovation team has begun work and expects completion by the end of next week."
"Good. I have high hopes for that location. High Street was such a happening place, it was a shame to see that bar being run into the ground. Go on."
"The furniture store you approached on your last visit, unfortunately, was not able to be acquired."
"No? Why not? It is rare that I don't get an owner to sell. He seemed in dire straits from the records I saw."
"Indeed, but it seems we were too late. When our negotiators reached out, they were greeted with a cease and desist letter from Dreadnaught Law. It seems one of their clients beat us to the punch and had already completed a contract."
"Dreadnaught again, huh? Who are they hiding?"
"I am not sure my lady but there is some talk of a new company in that region. Vokrizin seems to be gaining some power, though the moves it makes are low key. We also had approached a new stock photo company, AperturePhoto, but they refused to even consider selling. They are also represented by Dreadnaught, and I only just found out, they are actually a major subsidiary of Vokrizin. It is possible that AperturePhoto is actually Vokrizin's flagship."
"Now that is interesting."
Kerrigan squirmed as Abraxas raged within her soul, his powerful voice booming in her mind. 'VO KRI ZIN,' each syllable pounded against her mental walls, 'The Dovajun speaks.'
"Chill, Abraxas! You will crack my skill with that thrumming. What does it mean?"
'The name, restoration, to restore, Honor.'
"To restore honor? Whose honor?"
'This I do not know, but it is a name only the Dovajun would bestow. Perhaps the honor of her Deinmaar, perhaps to restore the honor of her temple. Until we ask her in person, and she chooses to tell us, we may not know her motives.'
Kerrigan jumped when Natalie cleared her throat, "Are you ok, miss?"
"Yes, sorry. Lost in thought. Where were we?"
"I was telling you that there is a team beginning to put feelers out to large corporations seeking to invest in Jinstain to join in a charity event. They mentioned title positions being open for a new community center. The capital campaign is seeking to raise as much as 25 million dragons."
"Wow, that is rather ambitious for Jinstain. Keep an eye on that project, and see who else joins in."
"Yes, Ma'am. The only other news I have right now is that the Benedict group has been sniffing around several of the old warehouses in the industrial district. I am not sure yet what they plan to use them for but they seem interested in that area."
"We own two or three in there right?"
"Yes, they are old investments that never went anywhere and we were never able to unload them before the market crashed."
Kerrigan smiled, "Perhaps we will have an opportunity here soon to extort Mr. Kelan if he really wants those buildings." Kerrigan considered before saying, "Don't authorize the sale of any of those for now... I want to know what he plans to do with that area first. Keep digging, please."
"Yes ma'am"
"This news about some of our corporate secrets leaking is troubling... go ahead and clear my schedule for Saturday night. I will see if I can get in touch with some of my contacts" Kerrigan said, deep in thought.
"Of course!"