Targu Province - Kerrigan
Kerrigan Lokir finished up the last of her day and was heading to the door with Natalie. It had been a long week and she was ready for the break the weekend would provide. She just had one last dinner meeting tonight and a short schedule tomorrow to survive and then she could relax some. Two of her sales VP's were waiting to take them to dinner tonight to discuss the spring marketing plans, when Kelan Benedict stepped off the elevator with a bouquet of flowers. Kerrigan groaned as Katie beamed from the secretary's desk.
"I told you not to toy with my staff, Kelan," Kerrigan said heatedly, hands-on hips.
"Of course not dear, these are for you." Kelan pushed the bouquet into her chest before she could make sense of what was going on.
The VP's and Natalie began to gossip as Kerrigan spluttered, trying to come up with a response. She caught a glimpse out of the corner of her eye of Katie slumping, dejected, into her desk chair. "And just what am I suppose to do with these? I thought you were taking Katie out?"
"Katie? Your secretary? No, my dear. I have reservations tonight with you. We have important business to discuss about the future between Dragon Corporation and Benedict Group."
"Tonight? NOW?! But I am on the way to a meeting with my executives." Kerrigan said forcefully.
The two VP's stepped up and bowed to Kelan Benedict. "Oh, no, My Lady. If Mr. Benedict needs you tonight, how could we interfere? I am sure we can reschedule for next week. It's just reports for next spring after all."
"No, but I have you all scheduled for tonight! Natalie! Tell him!" she looked at her aid with near pleading eyes.
Natalie held up her hand to her face as if to say "call me" and mouthed "Breanna is on speed dial".
Kerrigan pouted at the betrayal. "But I need you now!"
Kelan swept in, "Oh come now, Kerri dear. I promise to treat you to a fine meal. Besides, we have serious business to attend to." With grand gestures, he swept them into the elevator and smirked at the gawkers as the doors closed, sealing them inside alone.
"You are a real jerk, you know that right? I have work to deal with tonight and you just barged in and kidnapped me before my meeting with my staff." Kerrigan said, petulantly.
"They didn't seem to mind." Kelan said haughtily
"You likely paid them off. Are you bribing my staff now?"
"Me? I have no need. They recognize that our business is very important and that theirs could wait and did the natural thing, stepping aside for us." Kelan said.
Kerrigan stared at him, seeking any hint of bravado, but found he believed every word out of his own mouth.
"You likely crushed Katie. She really thought you were courting her."
"She is a sweet girl. And perhaps I will take her out from time to time, but this is business. She will understand."
Kerrigan sighed in relief, now that she realized Kelan wasn't actually trying to take her out but really was seeking a business partnership for Benedict Group.
Kerrigan was pleased that Kelan had the good sense to take her to Velyki's finest diner and her favorite place for steak, the Emerald Bison. She had earned her reputation as the dragoness not only at the negotiation table but also before a steak.
"I see you did your homework"
"Katie was treated well to several meals, outings, and fine jewelry before she even considered giving up such a trade secret. You should be proud you have such loyal staff." Kelan said seriously.
Kerrigan considered and a waiter pulled out a chair for her. She sat and said, "I don't know, if that is all my personal secrets are worth, perhaps I need to invest in better staff."
Kelan chuckled, "Nonsense. Thus far I have merely gotten your favorite restaurant out of her. I would say that could have been obtained far less expensively by hiring a tail for a few days. If my own staff were that tight lipped, I would likely go broke from joy after passing out bonuses."
Kerrigan suppressed a smile at the tidbit of information and filed it away for later. "So why are we here Kelan, and what is so important that you had to prevent me from meeting my staff about next quarter?"
"Well, I think our meeting tonight could well decide next quarter." Kelan declared confidently.
"Oh, is that so?" Kerrigan asked skeptically, "I think I am going to need some wine before I hear any more of this. Where is that waiter?" she held out a glass for the passing waiter to fill with red wine.
"Indeed. But first, I do not believe any business should be decided on empty stomachs. Lets eat, then we can talk."
'Well, at least he will not spoil a good meal with his rambling,' thought Kerrigan.
'Be wary child. This one is cunning,' came Abraxas's deep tones in her mind.
"Glad you agree."
Kelan nodded, and waved to a waiter to order. Kerrigan chided herself realizing she had answered Abraxas aloud.
Kelan took the liberty of ordering for them both, "I will have the Shrimp and Escargots à la Bourguignonne. And for my lady here... please get her the Butcher's Butter steak." He glanced at Kerrigan as he guessed, "Medium...rare...yes, medium rare for her please. I will also have... a 1787 White Pinon Valley Wine with dinner and keep the wine coming for both of us."
The waiter blanched. "Sir, that is our rarest vintage. The bottle is 1400 dragons."
"So? You do know who I am right? And who is sitting across from me?"
The Waiter glanced at Kerrigan before bowing and left them with a small basket of bread and butter. Kerrigan raised an eyebrow at him.
"What? I did well didn't I?" Kelan asked.
"I am capable of ordering for myself... but this time you chose satisfactorily. Perhaps Katie gave away more than you originally let on. But is the wine necessary for business? Besides, a white is not going to help snail go down any easier, no matter how expensive it is." Kerrigan said with a slight glare.
"Now, Now, my dear Kerri. You wound me. It doesn't take a spy or bribe to discover the dragoness of Dragon Corporation likes her meat. Merely asking the chefs of the fine establishment such as this is enough to get you that information. As for the wine, our future may well be decided tonight. I think it merits a decent drink."
"My name is Kerrigan, nor Kerri. And not deer. I am not some doe in the woods for you to hunt" She said, and more playfully stuck her tongue out, beginning to relax some. She snatched a roll from the basket and began expertly slicing with her knife and liberally adding butter. She was pleased to see Kelan track the motion of the blade carefully. She finished with the roll and pointed the blade at him. "I advise you remember that if you want to have a profitable business with me in the future."
"I see. I will be sure to keep that in mind, my dear."
Kerrigan glared at him over the top of her wine glass, drinking deeply.
The waiter was very attentive and returned often to refill their wine, and was soon delivering steaming plates of food. Even Abraxas stirred around her mind at the smell of the ribeye steak before her. This was one of the finest cuts of beef to be found anywhere in the kingdom and cut easily beneath her fork. Each bite nearly melted in her mouth, flavor bursting from every centimeter of juicy flesh. If the company was not pleasant tonight, at least the meal was delicious!
Across from her, Kelan forked invertebrates into his mouth. The thought of the slimy slugs going down his throat made her shiver. She almost gagged on her next bite of steak as Kelan licked his fingers after a particularly large snail slide down his gullet. Kerrigan watched him wash it down with a waste of very expensive wine. He had yet to even offer her a glass, not that she would really want white wine with her steak.
"If you are finished slurping, perhaps we can discuss this business you dragged me here for." Kerrigan said when she could stand it no longer.
Kelan dabbed his mouth with his napkin before waving for the waiter to clear the table. "Yes, fine if you are ready then we can discuss and then perhaps some dessert."
Kerrigan stared hard at him, "I want to know first. Do you really have feelings for Katie or are you just using her?"
"She is a sweet girl. I told you that. and sure I wouldn't mind seeing what else she has to offer. Who knows what might develop. I could see myself liking her very much"
"Liar. You don't have any feelings for her. You lie worse that those greasy-haired salesmen at the dealerships."
"I resent that! I will have you know, my hair is not greasy. It is well taken care of." Kelan gently brushed a hand over his slick hair.
"Point proven. You are just using her. I am warning you, don't hurt my staff." Kerrigan waved her dinner knife like a blade again.
Kelan held up his hands, "Tonight is about us, and our future. I told you. I treated her nice, but it was only to get the needed info to treat you right. I have done alright tonight haven't I? I am not all they say I am, right?"
Kerrigan sat back wearily but had to agree to a point. She nodded for him to continue.
"I believe there is great opportunity for our companies to cooperate in the future. We cover separate provinces, but if we work together, we could be a powerhouse," Kelan said.
"There are certainly advantages but what are you suggesting? Some sort of merger?"
"Merger... sure you could call it that." Kelan pulled out a small black box and set it on the table.
Kerrigan went rigid. "What the hell is that?"
"A merger."
Kerrigan hissed and slid her chair back, standing.
Kelan grabbed her wrist, "Kerrigan hear me out."
Kerrigan stood there in total shock but reached for her wine glass. She took a long sip, then tipped it back, draining the glass. She flagged down a waiter and held it out for a refill. Once it was full, she looked at Kelan and said, "At least do it right."
Kelan beamed, "Alright." He scooped up the box and dropped to one need before her. The whole restaurant hushed as he asked, "Will you marry me?"
Kerrigan leaned over to him and everybody began to clap and some even stood. Kerrigan looked Kelan dead in the eye and said, "No". Her whole cup of red wine followed directly into his face as she turned and stormed from the restaurant, pulling out her phone to call Breanna who she knew would have a car waiting not far away.
Kelan wiped red droplets off his face. "That WAS a very expensive suit," he muttered to himself. He looked around at the stunned faces of the other guests and barked, "What are you looking at? Get back to eating! And if I see this in a single news article or online, I will make sure to track each and every one of you down! Don't cross the Benedict family or you will be at the bottom of our mines by tomorrow!"
Just then one of his cronies rushed over with a towel and began dabbing at Kelan's suit. Kelan smacked him in the face, "Off, man. can't you see it's ruined. Just have the tailor send me a new one. No point wasting energy on this one."
"And what of the girl? Shall I have the boys bring her back?"
Kelan slapped him across the ears this time, "That, you moron, is none other than Kerrigan Lokir. She is not some common whore we can just dump off the nearest cliff. No, that is my future bride. Keep that in mind."
The man bowed low, "My apologies. What would you have me do?"
"I need to blow off steam. Kerrigan is going to take more of a chase than I expected." A wide grin crossed his face, "but I can enjoy a hunt. Yes, this should be quite the pursuit indeed. But that can wait for next week. For now, that secretary... what was her name, Kate, Karen?"
"Katie"
"Katie! She was right, Kerrigan is quite the prey. I will have to make it up to Katie."
"Sir, you just proposed to her boss, and were rejected. Will Katie forgive that?"
"Oh, ye of little faith. She will for the right price. You are right though. I may have to up may game to get what I want this weekend. Hmm. What does this frozen wasteland have to offer?"
"There are some nice hot spring spa resorts just outside of town. I hear there are a few that are quite high end."
"Jervais, you might have a brain after all! That is genius. Set it up. A king bed for the weekend in the best suite at one of the hot springs. Send a huge arrangement of flowers to Karen and tell her I will pick her up after work at 6pm tomorrow."
"You want me to deliver them tonight?"
Kelan glared at his manservant and drawled, "Yes, how else is she to know I plan to take her out tomorrow? Now GET MOVING!" He kicked at Jervais's back side and snatched his wine glass off the table, finishing his own glass before storming towards the door.
A waiter ran after him, "Sir, the bill!"
"Charge it to my corporate account." He snarled.
"You don't have one set up!"
Kelan fumes and leaned out the door, yelling after Jervais. When Jervais returned, Kelan grabbed a glass from a neighboring table and smashed it over Jervais's head. "Now, pay the nice waiter for my meal, make sure my account is set correctly, and finish paying for the rest of the people here. Oh, and tonight is on you now, Jervais. Got it? Next time, don't forget to set up the account when I go somewhere." And with that, he stormed out, leaving a dizzy Jervais to deal with the mess.