AN: Sorry for the long update. Rotations at the hospital and school has kept life busy... basically... kicking my butt.
Am going to finish all my stories. So don't worry. I would say more but my mind is really tired right now. Thank you to all who have been reviewing! Your reviews fill my email and remind me to get back online and write!
Chapter 11: The Banker
In town, a man sat alone in his office waiting on his meeting with the owner of Love and Lucky.
The head of the Sweet Valencia Bank, Bora Prominence, was a sleazy man by anyone's standards. The climate inside the room was tacky with a shade of obnoxious much like his outfit. The color scheme of both alone would make the average person uncomfortable - bright blues and royal purples. His desk of polished redwood was trimmed in gold sheet. A fine collection of alcohol was displayed on the shelves behind him. You could tell that the office was one of those trite places even with a cliché secretary, a cute little vixen by the name of Jenny.
In her periwinkle frock, Jenny sashayed into his office with a smile. Her blue eyes dancing as she announced, "Erza Bellsione is here to see you Mr. Prominence."
"Here? Now?" Bora stood knocking over his empty whisky glass. He cursed until he realized that his documents weren't ruined. Jenny laughed at his tense state. He glared at her shaking form.
"Show her in." He snapped, fixing his tie.
"As you wished."
As soon as the door opened, Bora scurried forward, tripping over his feet when the beautiful red haired lady appeared. Jenny made herself scarce by promptly closing and locking the door behind Erza.
"My darling such a delight. Where is your brother?"
He reached out kissing her hands. She pulled them back with a faint frown before answering, "Oh he's somewhere. Probably the saloon flirting with that bar maiden, Kinana. She has been working extra hours since Mira left, and he's been finding more and more excuses to come to town."
"And to what do I owe the pleasure of your company? Oh may I offer you bourbon? Wine? Whisky?"
"Nothing thank you." The lady sat in a plush blue chair; her hair stark contrast to its background. He couldn't help his labored breathing as she crossed her legs. Though her family be the deadliest around these parts, he could not help but appreciate a fine woman. He decided to take the chair beside her instead of sitting across the desk.
With a small shrug, she said, "I am not here long enough to get comfortable. Acnologia's deadline is approaching, and he needs the Dreyar land for the railroad. The politicians are breathing down his neck for the deed. He's getting unhappy. And when he's unhappy. Nobody is happy."
"Easiest course of action would be just to tell Heartfilia where his daughter is. Captain Jude would steamroll the whole place into oblivion, and we could take whatever we want." Bora had only recently learned the identity of the girl staying at the ranch. Lucy Dreyar was none other than Lucy Heartfilia, the missing daughter of the industrious naval shipping family from Fiore.
"You forget that the boy Sting could show up. And Laxus and Mira are still there even if the girl leaves. Perhaps there is another way."
"Are you here to ask if I can change the account? Your brother has already asked months ago. Laxus changed the land deed before he went to prison. The title is in Sting and Lucy's names as a joint account. It wasn't done through my bank, but the next town over. And there were witnesses, Reverend Atlas Flame and the Professor Levy McGarden. Neither would be able to be discredited easily. Acnologia should have known that before he got Dreyar out of the slammer."
"We need the ranch now. Irene wants to kidnap the Lucy girl and force her to marry Cobra, but I don't have the heart for such tasks. As for telling the father where his daughter is. It might not be a good idea to bring Jude Heartfilia into this mix. Acnologia and he have a history."
"Come again?"
"That is on a need to know basis." A tense moment passed as the two stared. The mantle clock ticked. Erza refused to say anything more.
Bora frowned in concentration before asking, "So what do you want me to do?"
"Put pressure on the Dreyar ranch. Don't extend any credit to them. This is our last chance before something drastic may happen."
"Actually I have a meeting with Miss Heartfilia today."
"Even better." Erza leaned closer in triumph.
"Is there anything else that you need?"
Bora reached out to put his hand on her coated his words and Erza suppressed a shudder as he squeezed, but she still leaned closer to him. "Bora?"
The man grew sweaty at the sound of his name whispered on her lips.
"Although Bora, don't you dare hurt that child!"
A dagger materialized in the lady's hand as she leaned forward skewing the chair right between his legs.
He swallowed the bile in his throat down at the noticeable closeness of the point to his pants. His gaze followed her arm up to her face which was contorted with rage. "Or you will be half the man you were."
He nodded swiftly, "Of course, Miss Erza"
She slapped his face good naturally, "Good man. I had to warn Irene too. I can't willingly let a young innocent be taken advantage of by a man like you."
"Isn't that what your family is doing to her?"
Twisting the blade inches closer to his manhood, Bora gulped loudly.
"Did you say something?"
"No ma'am."
"Good. It's a pleasure doing business with you then." Withdrawing the blade, she cupped her cheek with her free hand. Erza brusquely rose from her chair wishing no more than to rid herself of the teoublesome man but she glanced at the liquor box
Bashfully, she asked, "Actually if you don't mind, think I will have a small drink."
Bora ran to his shelf behind his desk, fearing for his life and his man parts. "What would you like?"
"I was thinking of Strawberry wine or banana liqueur. Actually now that I think about it, I would like it all. You put your hands on me, that doesn't go without some type of punishment."
"But, but. All of it?!"
"Are you arguing with me?"
Her dagger appeared again.
He didn't care. Bora just wanted to get the damn woman out of his office.
"Take whatever you want!"
Soon Erza left with a large bag of bottles slung over her shoulder. Jenny followed at a close distance with an ever watchful eye before deviating to the post office. Mira would be very interested in what had transpired today.
It was time to let Love and Lucky know why the ranch was being targeted.
Next Chapter: Brawl in Main Street
Natsu's hand lingered on her hips as he reached to help her down from the wagon. Lucy's face blushed as he slid her small form down his hard body in an entirely inappropriate way. Quickly she looked around to make sure nobody had notice the touch. By the time her feet touched the ground, she was about to burst into flames.
Pouting, she mumbled, "I could have gotten down by myself"
Leaning in close, he sniffed her hair.
"I never noticed before, but you smell nice. Like pine after a rain and... Honeysuckles? Gardenias?"
Her heart hammered loudly as she stared into his eyes. "It's the homemade lye. We make it with pine ash and flowers around the house."
"Well, well, well…."
Lucy gritted her teeth in frustration at the familar voice. She could hear Natsu's long drawn out sigh at the interruption, but she was annoyed for a different reason.
Eric "The Cobra" Bellsione step from the porch of Bracker's Saddle Shop.
"Don't stop because of me. You two look hotter than a cat on a tin roof during the summer day."