Neither the muffled racket of the casino nor the buzz of alcohol could calm the general's nerves as he waited for his contact to arrive. He kept glancing at the tall wooden doors, expecting her to walk in any second.
Eduala Judluxt was her name. She was the sole heiress to one of the most successful weapons manufacturing firms in the galaxy. She would be here in the Canto Bight casino tonight and had agreed to meet with General Hux. And she was to be given whatever she wanted in order to secure the rights to her company's newest weapon.
That was the extent of the general's knowledge. Give her whatever she wants. He didn't know what time she might arrive, what she looked like, or—for that matter—whether or not she was human. For all he knew, she could be a Bothan with an insatiable lust for red-headed human men.
The general took another sip of his drink, resting his elbow on the table. He'd been waiting for at least an hour. He drummed his fingers across the table absently.
His foot tapped the polished floor of the private room rapidly, beyond his control. He was nervous. In the control room and on the battlefield, he considered himself among the bravest. He even liked to think he was something of a diplomat. But when it came to charming spoiled old women, he was at a loss.
Finally, the doors opened with a creak. Hux jumped to his feet, relieved that Ms. Judluxt hadn't stood him up after all.
Two butlers held the doors open for her as she sashayed into the room.
"General Hux," one of them announced, "Miss Eduala Judluxt."
It was all the general could do to keep his mouth shut as he observed her. She was younger than he'd expected, even younger than himself. Her tall, slender body was clad in a sparkling black dress that clung beautifully to her curves. She wore elbow-high white gloves and a white fur draped around her shoulders.
Her lips were pulled into a seductive scarlet grin and her eyes were a bright shade of green that the general could see even from a distance. Her hair was black and shimmering like her dress and cut into a sharp bob curling slightly around her face with thick bangs along her fair forehead.
She was so unlike the female soldiers and officers he was used to, so unlike anything he had ever seen that he stumbled over his words as she approached.
"M-Miss Judluxt," he said.
She held out a delicate gloved hand with a smile. The general took it, shaking, and kissed the back of it.
"Pleasure to meet you," General Hux said, keenly aware of how high his voice sounded.
"Please," she said, "The pleasure is mine. It is not every day a girl gets to meet the general of the First Order, one of the most powerful men in the galaxy."
Her voice tinkled like a pleasant fountain of cool water and yet it made Hux's face feel hot. He could only hope his coloring hadn't changed noticeably.
"I hope I haven't kept you waiting long," Ms. Judluxt said, heading toward the chair that sat across from the general's.
Hux hurried to pull the chair out for her. "No; not at all, Miss Judluxt."
She sat down and crossed her ankles gracefully. Hux noticed the long slit in her dress allowing a glimpse at her thigh and a hard lump formed in his throat as he went to take his seat.
"Oh, General," Ms. Judluxt chuckled, "If we're going to be doing business together, you can call me Eddie."