4 The Deal

The heroine lived up to that name. She was a beauty, long blond hair, eyelashes that framed her eyes just right, golden complexion, red lips, and blue eyes. And the morning skyline that was visible behind her--from her high rise office in San Francisco--only seemed to emphasize her good looks.

"Very well, let's talk about your proposal then." Her voice was in a cold business mode. Lyla knew that wasn't how she liked to go around in the world. The death of her mother, however, had shaped her interactions a lot. "I will not ask how you learned about my project. But, I am not willing to give it to you."

Lyla crossed her legs and leaned back. "I have no interest in your project. All that interests me is profit. I know you can't go ahead with it because of funding. I like to multiply my money. I think there might be something we can work out there." The way Lyla had been ignoring Ellen and looked at her Nails instead was a calculated move. Playing the villainess didn't come naturally to her, though she had the original's memories for that.

The woman on her computer screen narrowed her eyes, "You are unexpected sensible with that proposal."

A slow smile spread on Lyla's face. "Oh, I can be mercenary if the situation calls for it."

Ellen didn't rise to the provocation, "You will have to be a silent partner, not a peep--"

"Not that silent," Lyla interrupted her, "I will not interfere while you run the project, but I do have a few requirements."

Ellen was not happy at the interruption, and her irritation was visible in the scowl she displayed. "I should have known it wouldn't be so easy, so what requirements do you have?"

"Oh, that's easy, there are only two. First, I want regular updates. Second, I want this venture to work, so I want you to deploy someone to work directly with the recipient. Though I have heard beastkin can be very tricky customers so it probably won't work until you're the one liaising with them directly." When Ellen's face got darker with every word, a smile spread on Lyla's face, clearly mocking her.

"I knew I wouldn't enjoy working with you. Very well, your requirements are barely acceptable. I will agree to give you ten percent of the winnings--" "Thiry percent, you know just as well as I do how valuable this early start will be." "Fifteen percent, it wouldn't take my company that much longer to get the money ready anyway." "Twenty-five percent, with how your last plane development went, it'll stall you for another three-month minimum." "Twenty, the error has been fixed, and there is already another interested buyer." "It was nice working with you, send me the contract." Lyla ended the conversation, with Ellen still scowling.

She was surprised that she did enjoy their little verbal spar. Maybe she could be a villainess if required, at least partially.

She stood up and looked at her office. It was only grey tones everywhere. Even looking out of the window, you would see mostly grey buildings. For some reason, even the cars down in the streets were mostly grey, silver, or black. She wished she had a stunning view like the heroine had.

After Lyla looked at her watch, it was already late evening. She took another look at the documents she still hadn't finished. With a sigh, she packed most of them and went home.

The second she stepped out of her office, her secretary focused on her. And Lyla saw the astonishment on her face. It had only been visible for a fraction but still. "Miss Reyes, will you be leaving already?"

"Yes, I have some matter to attend at home. It will be a regular thing in the foreseeable future, do take that into account for my schedule." Lyla tried to keep calm. This woman's very existence had had her on edge all day, her realizing Lyla's strange behavior only made it worse.

"Of course, miss Reyes." The woman acknowledged, not giving Lyla any more insight into what she knew of her.

~~~

When she was finally back home, she didn't hear or see even a hint of Kylie. As the stressful day frayed her nerves, she was already starting to get worried. "Kylie? Are you there?"

Then she heard a splash from the bath, accompanied by a worrying squeal. Lyla was just about to reach the door when Kylie finally answered her. "Yes, I am here. And I am alright, so don't come in."

"Okay, I'm glad you're alright." Lyla sighed in relief and decided to make her and Kylie a hot chocolate again. When Kylie finally got out of the bath, her cup was still steaming. The moment she saw it, her eyes brightened.

"So, how was your day?" Lyla inquired as she took her first sip.

The girl only shrugged. "I was watching TV, got bored, and went on a search on the net. I started reading stories. I miss Shade."

A weight settled in Lyla's stomach. She put down her cup--still half full-- and went up to Kylie. "I am working on it." She implored the girl for patience with her eyes.

"How long? You know he is hurting!" Kylie's hair was still damp, and when she shook her head vigorously in denial, a few droplets hit Lyla.

Lyla pulled her close, "It's okay. I already put everything in motion."

Kylie didn't answer anymore, her body had started shaking, and Lyla could feel something wet on her shoulder. Then the girl started weeping in earnest, sobs racking her whole body. All Lyla could do was hold onto her and make soothing reassurances that everything would be fine.

~~~

Ronin was sifting through a lot of documents, by his side was a stoic wolf in human form doing the same task. They had tried to collate data as best as they could. They had found out a lot more about the high-level vampires, but there was still no clue for Meika's case. At the start, Greg and another wolfkin had tried to help. Neither of them had been patient. Their nervous ticks had only distracted Ronin and Devon--the remaining wolfkin. Both had banded together to kick them out for more hands-on information gathering.

As their teamwork, though mostly silent, had been quite productive, Ronin had decided that not all wolves were insufferable. They were working in the headquarters of the wolf pack, or more accurately, a cave system directly below. Ronin liked the rough, dark-grey stone walls.

There was a short knock, and a teenage wolf girl entered. She threw Ronin a cautious glance before she reported to Devon. "Chase asked me to inform you that some Ellen Avery wants to talk business with him. He wants you there, conference room, and you're supposed to bring one of the foxes?"

Her endnote turned the last sentence into a question no wonder there was only one fox here, after all.

"Alright," Devon assented and turned to Ronin. "Let's go."

They both made their way out of the room with the teen getting respectfully out of their way.

Ronin took a glance at Devon. "Coincidence? First, a vampire sends an anonymous warning, and now another just makes a business proposal."

Devon took a look at the stone ceiling. "Nope, not seeing any flying pigs."

The conference room was not underground. It was a well-lit room with a window-wall that had light flooding the whole room. Opposite of the window was the door through which Ronin and Devon entered.

To their left was an oval conference table, and behind it stood Chase. On the other side was a projection of a woman sitting at her desk.

"I think we can start now, miss Avery. The people I was waiting for have arrived." Chase said with a predator grin as Ronin and Devon walked to his side.

"Very well, mister Ross." Ronin could immediately see that this woman did not like being made to wait. "The project I am proposing is an exceedingly realistic artificial-sky. I heard you still live in caves and thought you might be interested." She even sounded pissy.