"So, Professor, I understand you've been considering breaking ties with us." The young lady sitting across the table from Doctor Jaime Dominic, the hiding Professor James Barrie, swirled her wine glass before taking a sip. "This is such an inopportune time."
Barrie tried to keep from tensing. There was something about this girl that made him anxious. He tried to buy sufficient time to regain his composure on such a fragile negotiation.
"Where is Kampfer? Why may I not speak directly to the man I am doing business with?" The professor swallowed hard when he saw the impish glint in the girl's eyes. She had caught him, without so much from her as a blink.
Isabella smirked as she stretched out her arms behind her back. She knew exactly what was going on in the professor's mind. However, she didn't want to break him so quickly. She tossed back her flowing black hair and sat up in her chair. The finely dressed young woman humored the nervous man's question.
"He had some other business to take care of and was unable to be an audience to you. However, he still felt it was necessary that you expressed your concerns to us as soon as possible. That's why I'm here."
Barrie was completely terrified by now. The calmness of this girl, no, this demon, had torn his nerves to shreds. A bead of sweat trickled down the professor's pale face. Such a quick-witted and clever demon had made him utterly fear for his life. He was unable to determine if any action he made, or even an act of God for that matter, could safeguard his life.
"You don't look to be feeling well, Professor." Isabella took another sip of wine. Her voice had softened and sweetly flowed. Such a change in her demeanor further sickened the professor. "Perhaps we should speak again when you are feeling better." Even the mischievous sparkle in her eyes had dulled to a calm understanding.
The professor strained his voice as to not let his overwhelming nausea get the better of him.
"Yes, I do believe that would be best. I'm terribly sorry Miss… Miss…?" Barrie realized then that this whole time he'd been there he had never acquired the name of this beautiful but witchy young woman.
"Kampfer. My apologies, dear Professor." Isabella laughed slightly and finished her glass of wine. She then stood and proceeded to courteously bow. "Miss Isabella Fae von Kampfer. How rude of me not to introduce myself when we first met." The proud and mischievous glint had returned, dancing brighter than ever before in her blue-grey eyes.
Professor Barrie stumbled as he rose from his chair, his face bleached near-white. He stood and gawked at this lady Kampfer. Suddenly all the stark similarities between her and the Kampfer that Barrie knew became clear to him. The calm businessperson personality could have been easily looked over. However, the straight, flowing hair and the distinctive nose, so unmistakable, had completely eluded Barrie until that moment.
"You should probably get home and take care of what is ailing you."
"Wh-why, yes," Barrie stammered as he moved towards the door, "I just need some sleep."
Isabella smiled thinly. "Alright then, get some sleep and call when you're feeling well enough for another meeting."
After the professor had left, Isabella poured herself another glass of wine and sat back down. She drew in a slow sip, savoring the complexity of flavors and aromas. Once she set her glass down, the wizard's daughter leaned her elbow on the table and cupped her chin in her hand.
"Father was planning to use this man to get my toy into Rome… But this Professor Barrie seems too unreliable." Isabella let out a small sigh. "He needs to be eliminated."