This story is a fan fiction about the work of Charlaine Harris, Southern Vampire Mysteries. Some characters and passages have copyrights belonging to CH.
I want to publicly thanks to Elfchef for her extraordinary kindness and patience to help me in translation to English. Without her none of this would be possible, so she deserves due recognition. The story is as much mine as hers.
Please review!
CHAPTER 7
EPOV
It was my first time here. Gerald and Ryan showed the way to the conference room. Rightfully I took my place at the head of the table.
My choice in seating confuses them. Of what I could remember of human etiquette the head of the table was reserved for the owner of the business or the head of the household. This may as well have been my house. We were doing business together and with this much of my money at stake it would serve well to let them know now who was holding all the cards in this game.
Their nerves were still wrong tight. It was beginning to bore me.
They respected me and feared me because they knew they lived only because I wished it so. After all they were still of use to me. Their constant cowardice however was becoming revolting with great haste. Humans are a waste of time. Gerald was wringing his hands. Ryan was sweating and neither of them had uttered a word towards the conversation I was here to have; like I mention humans are a waste of time.
I leaned back in the chair in to allow myself room to stretch my legs. The undercarriages of most tables were not made to accommodate someone of my height. I placed my legs on the table. I signaled for them to continue because in truth they were testing my finite patience.
Ryan drank a glass of water, cleared his throat and began to show me the reports and deeds. All buildings had already been purchased on behalf of ''EN Development'', a company created specifically for this purpose. The speed with which they made the transactions and the confidentiality clause that all vendors have signed created no opportunity for speculation.
There was no doubt that they were competent at what they did. They bought all the buildings and saved 15% of the initial budget that I had instructed allotted them.
They expected me to say something but if the job was well done, there is nothing to say. Actually, I like to stay serious and quiet to maintain respect and the gap between my status and theirs. When business partners knew failure can lead to death there is less chance of theft or betrayal. It has been my experience that fear is sometimes a stronger motivator than financial gain.
The rest of the meeting was devoted to deciding what to do to with the buildings now that we had them. We ran through all the buildings one by one. I instructed them on what I wanted renovated and what I wanted demolish and reconstructed. The buildings that had to be rebuilt required architectural designs. Needless to say there was still very much to do.
There was now much to do. At this stage the project should be delivered to one person only, to avoid any possible leaks, the person should have expertise to undertake managing the entire management enterprise.
The name of my company should appear on all the contacts but that my name as owner should remain hidden.
Until the inauguration just Gerald, Ryan and the new project manager would know who the owner was.
"Who will be the project manager?" I asked
Gerald and Ryan looked at each other in doubt. I did not like this. This question should be long equated and solved. There is still a decision to make it was a serious flaw. Now I was angry. That's not how I conducted business. I demand quick answers and assertive decisions.
"Not yet decided? This is unacceptable" I looked at them angrily.
Ryan ran his hands through his hair and stammered showing me that he had little stamina. He has been in the business for many years but nobody has prepared him to negotiate with me. No amount of preparation would have been futile.
"No, it's not that. We already had someone in mind but …but …" Fuck! I do not have time for this! If it were possible I would die again right here of old age waiting for him to speak.
"What is the problem?" It took effort but I made my tone less hostile even though the urge to jump over the table and rip their throats out was sounding more appealing with every breath they took.
Certainly they did not think I got where I am by putting the hand over the shoulder of undecided humans?
I dug my fingers into the arms of the chair while waiting for the blessed name of the person who would be the project manager.
"We do not know " Said Gerald
Ryan drank more water and finally said "We would indicate the most competent person for the project in question, since her experience covers all types of buildings and will certainly be the right person for the job but ... I noticed that Eric already knows her and we do not know if it will ok for you"
"Who?" I swore to myself that it was the last time I will ask. If I had to ask again, someone would lose at least some teeth.
"Catherine Jenkins!" I kept silent, only to torture them some more because so much indecision deserves punishment and at the same time I was equating all the variables in question. Catherine, If she is the most competent, there is nothing more to say. I do not take decisions based on positive or negative emotions. They were useless in any case and in this case the stakes were too high.
Yet other idea surfaced in my mind. She would deal directly with me and from what I little I learned from our short but sweet encounter she stutters less in my presence. She is not a coward like these two.
The idea of spending more time with her, alone, increased my thirst. I remembered her body and my lower abdomen quivered in anticipation. Besides, I owed her a favor, as she made sure to inform me. There would be no doubt this would create an opportunity to reward for her hard work and dedication.
After all defense of a client, even unnecessary, is cause for at least a promotion.
"Very good. Tell her to call me to define all that is required"
I got up and left. Gerald and Ryan were wide-eyed, no doubt expecting me to explain something about the conversation they heard.
I was never one to explain my actions or motivations to anyone. Their ignorance told me that Catherine did not disclose to all her colleagues that I was one of the targets, otherwise they would not be so surprised at our association.
That's good. A human being discreet and not sharing more information than what is strictly necessary is a good potential ally. If we can consider a human an ally.
I am not, and never was a fan of humans. Nothing against them I was just saying. They are too fallible and have a dose of ignorance that would have long caused the extinction in other species but somehow these blood bags persevere.
In almost all my life I saw them only as a source of food and easy sex. Just stare and they are immediately on my powers of glamour. Then I they are mine for the taking. The monotony of those circumstances was insurmountable.
Catherine, however withstood the power of my glamour. How? How is it possible? Since I am an adult vampire, this has never happened to me. I failed a few times throughout my first century of existence when I was still improving my skills. From then on, nobody has ever endured.
Well, we have now plenty of opportunities to test her and see how much she can withstand. I know not to mix business with pleasure but now it is too late for that. I'll possess her body, whether she wants it or not and in the end she will love it and beg for more. They all do.
I got in the car and drove to the Fangtasia. After Catherine's tease I needed to fuck.
CPOV
I usually think that nothing surprises me anymore but I was sadly mistaken. Upon arriving at work in the morning I was greeted by a Gerald and Ryan. My first cause for anxiety was that they were both very nervous but very excited.
I mentally prepared myself for the reprimanding that would come because of the awkward situation yesterday but I did not expect any of this.
While they showed me the new project that I would have to work on I just felt like cussing and swearing out loud for all to hear because of everything the project would entail. Instead I smiled warmly and imagined hitting my head on the desk to relieve the urge to laugh.
I stopped laughing mentally, when Ryan shut the office door to avoid being heard and informed me, in a whisper, the name of the client. I was speechless and for the most part dumb founded. It took a few seconds to regain my composure even then it was minimal, that fact did not go unnoticed by superiors.
"Is there a problem?"
"No!" It was almost a shout. I calmed myself and repeated my answer with more self-assurance and less panic. "No, of course not"
They passed me all the necessary documents, the deeds, the area plants, the pre-list of what should be done, the adverting company contact that is already chosen to create a sales campaign and finally the personal contact of the entire thing: Eric Northman.
They did not leave my office without first stressing to me that his name was a matter of the strictest need to know basis and as of right now absolutely no one needed to know. No one should ever be informed of Mr. Northman without prior authorization.
When they left I sat back in my chair and closed my eyes. I laughed. It seems as though since last Friday my life now revolved around Eric Northman.
I realize now that would eventually meet him anyway.
My attitude was just a stupid heroic preface to a story that was already written.
I do not believe in destiny but there are situations that seem written and however much I desired not to see him it was inevitable.
Not that I want to get away from Eric it was just that the idea of bumping into a vampire wasn't particularly safe. My first encounter did not go well as evidenced by my still aching and still casted arm.
Ryan appeared again in front of me to pull me out of my mulling. He looked like something very important just occurred to him.
"Catherine, I realize now that you may be apprehensive because now in addition to your day job you will have to work at night. It is regrettable but inevitable due to the inherent peculiarities of our client, but rest assured your extra hours will be reflected in payroll" I hadn't even thought of any of that yet. I was still in thinking about more frivolous things like the blue of Eric's eyes and why oh why could I not escape them. As he continued to speak I maintained my composure although he did not have my full attention. "Obviously I do not expect you in a morning meeting if you work late into the night" Ryan had always been good to me. I thanked him for understanding and took the time to imply that that had been the initial cause of my momentary apprehension.
He left, closing the door behind him and I grabbed the card with Eric's contact.
It remained in my hand for a good portion of day while I was trying to think of what to do next.
Another more important thought came to mind:
What time do vampires wake up?
To who is sleeping with the story, I ask just a little more patience. Soon the story will progress and heat. I wanted to spend some time creating the characters and the context of the story before I start to complicate everything. :)
