First off - I dont usually like writing any comments...but it's been two months since I last wrote anything, and I'm sorry if anyone was waiting for this or something o: I dont know...

I was very busy with cosplay plans and normal life in general...anyway, this took me ages to write and I kept getting blocks so if it doesnt read as good, please tell me so I can adjust it 3

I was also planning on leaving it at a better part...but anyways, at least its here and its posted. Now I can put this section behind and focus feeling more fresh-minded, on the fourth part. Yaay!

Btw, thanks for reading, is nice knowing some people out there are enjoying what splurges out of my random head 3 lol XD

Sin Investment

PART III

Gil glanced at the documents he had been given to sort. Break was still on the phone. He wasn't sure what was going on but he sensed the atmosphere becoming heavier, like clouds gathering before a thunderstorm. It was hard to ignore, but he did his best to put his attention on the pink and white slips of paper in front of him. He had already figured out how he would go about organising them. They were already in a rough chronological order, so Gilbert decided to stick with this. He soon realised what the papers were for. The pink ones were Pandora copies of client transactions, and the white ones were copies of the statements to give to said clients. Gil was utterly clueless as to whether to store the pink ones separate, or to match the white and pink copies with each other and file them that way. It wasn't of importance how he did it, but for some reason he wanted to prove he could use his own initiative for once. He was only a temp worker, but as soon as his time in Pandora was finished he dreamed of switching to work under the Vessalius law firm, and for that he would strive hard for. He could already picture the scenario. He'd work as Oz's PA in a little office next to his, doing such boring tasks as filing, faxing, phone calls, all for his boss. Everyday he'd greet him with a cheerful "Good Morning sir!" and offer tea or coffee and –

"You don't understand a damn thing!" Break sneered loud enough for Gil to lose track of his daydream.

***

Rufus was thirsty, in a mental sense. Nothing new or interesting had happened in his long boring day, and he was just about ready to up and leave, quite willing to leave his employees to it as he longed to make his way back to his estate.

Even though he had become the media mogul of the century, there were days when he had just had enough. Today was one of them. There were no new facts to add to yesterday's news stories, and he had already planned the headlines for his papers the next day. It was some excuse of a report; he had one of his journalists invent some rumour about a large building company just so that there was something to cover the headlines. This was always the result of an uneventful day. There was simply no new information to scrutinize.

Now he was close to snapping. Somebody was going to get fired. Just to ease his boredom, to create some new scandal, to amuse him for a while, even though he already knew nothing interesting would come of it. It was at this point, when he was considering which measly employee to sack, that he noticed a subtle change in Reim's telephone manner in the next room.

Barma had already taken the time to study the habits of those he employed and could already tell that this was no business call. Or was it? Though it was obvious that this was a casual conversation, Rufus intended to make it a business call, for his own sake.

And who else would Reim be chitchattering to but Xerxes? One fact led to another so that he was twice as keen. Then more was revealed.

"If I send out Barma Corp. employees then that'll just grab more attention...I don't think it's a good idea, we're meant to be welcoming Oz not..." Rufus heard all he needed to hear. It was enough for him to realise Break intended to use his resources behind his back; and that was against the rules of the game. Intervention was no longer a whim, but a neccessity.

He strode over to Reim's desk and snatched the phone.

"I knew you would try and avoid me. It's easier just to give in, Xerxes, you know the deal." He blurted, not caring about the fact that he had interrupted mid-conversation. "Tell me everything."

"Ooh." Break sounded pleasantly surprised, but there were tones of dread in his vice. "My, my, if it isn't Mr. Barma...how are you this fine afternoon?"

Rufus disliked chitchat; it was harder to distinguish between fact and opinion, there was more to filter out to get the truth, and in most cases completely avoided the question in the first place.

"Does it matter how I am? This caring farce you put on really doesn't suit you."

Break laughed at this, but because of the unplanned intervention and the awkwardness of telephone calls, it seemed more like a nervous laugh.

A moment of silence followed, which Barma decided to leave alone. Things were always more exciting if there was an edgy atmosphere set up. He was stood, leaning slightly over the desk, so that his hair fell forward over his face. He would wait for Xerxes to say the first word, no matter how long that took. So he occupied himself in that short space of time. He turned to Reim, who stared at him anxiously, not daring to make a move. Reim was useless for the time being he decided, as he placed the receiver on his shoulder.

"You're dismissed." He murmured, turning his attention back to the phone. A rustling of papers and the scuttle of quick footsteps followed until the door was closed.

Assured that the office was empty, Rufus sat down on Reim's chair. It was comfortable enough, but still nothing like the leather suite he had in his own office. As he sat down a lock of red hair had snagged on a gold cufflink, much to his annoyance.

He'd deal with it later. Right now he was focussed on getting whatever information he could.

"Hehe...well. I guess that's only true for you, Barma. I couldn't really care for a guy who invades public privacy for a profit." There was coarseness in Break's voice over the phone. Now this is more like it, he thought.

"Well then, seeing as you don't care about me in the slightest, you'll have no problem telling me what I want to know. Emotions get in the way of such things, but now that shouldn't be an issue, am I right?" He didn't need to ask, he already knew he was right, but –

"You are sorely mistaken, I never said I was indifferent towards you, and I never said I'd tell you anything."

This didn't really come as a surprise, Break was never agreeable.

"Ohh.." Rufus smirked. "But if I heard correctly, you planned on using my resources for your own doing through Reim. You're a sly one ...but we've been through all this before."

"Hm." Break showed signs of hesitation. But hesitation was always good; to Barma it revealed a sense of reluctance. He was winning. There was silence again for another few seconds.

"Do you need reminding Xerxes Break? I was the only one to check back on your employment history, which was stupidly overlooked by everyone else..."

"Enough already." Break began mumbling, though the murmurs were not thoroughly picked up by the phone.

"...but that's okay, I get it. Of course a former criminal like you would have to get into a business like this by exploiting relationships, connections, whatever you call them, I understand..."

"You don't understand a damn thing!" The tension level rose, finally he had struck a nerve.

"Oh?"

"Dammit..."A heavy intake of breath crackled the receiving noise; Break seemed to have calmed down momentarily, the sound of another far off voice could be slightly heard, though it was indecipherable, nevertheless Break murmured "Never mind me...yeah, yeah I'm fine. Hey, just get on with it will you!..." His voice returned to its original volume. "I had to do what I had to do. Anyway, it doesn't matter right now. At the mo, I indeed want some of your resources Barma, so if you could do me, you and everyone else a favour and just spit out what it is you want from me that'd be grand." Though his words were polite, Rufus sensed a patronizing tone, subtle yet obvious; it was similar to someone entering a party wearing a strong but not overpowering cologne, a distinct but yet vague stench.

But at least it wasn't a 'no'.

"Hmmm. Well things are getting pretty tiresome around here but you know, I've been in this business for years, and even in moments of quietness, there's always something going on. So I figured that whatever's been happening lately has been happening without my knowledge. And then here's you, trying to sneak and use my services. The media is a tricky business ...it exists to uncover mysteries or to hide secrets, the rest is pointless prattle. So tell me, which one is it we're dealing with here, and what's in it for me?"

"We need to keep a low profile... old rumours are spreading, people are being stirred. If there's a leak, the whole of Pandora could potential be in trouble."

Rufus smiled, this was exactly the kind of trouble he had been waiting for, he leaned forwards on the chair, anticipating more.

"But that's all I'm saying. It concerns Vessalius and that case from a decade ago...but I can't exactly tell you more without knowing I'm going to get your full co-operation."

That case? A smile turned into a grin as he stood up and leaned on the desk casually, fully enthused. Whatever was going on, he definitely wanted in now.

"No worries. I'm a fair businessman with a strict policy about these sorts of things. What kind of assistance are you after?"

"I need a decoy, and maybe some form of security, nothing much. Anyway, would you look at the time! I guess I'll just fax you the details later..." More murmuring could be heard. "...No no NO!! Put the pink and the white ones SEPERATE! Man, you really are useless..."

"Excuse me?"

"Doesn't matter, look I'd best go, I'll fax you straight away tomorrow morning and – "

Aside from chitchat, Rufus also despised eMails, faxes and letters. Information was always better received face-to-face, when emotions could be gauged and reactions seen firsthand. And they were just another way of avoiding things.

"No, that won't do."

Barma took an extra minute to think. "Tell you what, meet me at Thyme around 12ish."

"What! You expect me to give up my lunch hour for you?!"

"Do you want my co-operation or not Xerxes Break? Think of it as a private business meeting, and claim your lunch hour back, there shouldn't be any problems."

"...Fine."

The phone conversation between them ended as abruptly as it had started. The sunlight was dying down and only silence could be heard in the small, messy budget office.

Rufus hadn't realised exactly how much energy had been drained until he put the receiver down. There was a particular kind of ache, a familiar numbness that had spread across his forehead. Seconds later he picked the phone back up, and typed in some sort of code.

"Send me my car. I've had enough."