The following morning Alexander and I met in the driveway he had already pulled the Koenigsegg around and was leaning on the sloped hood, In the most ridiculous outfit I had ever seen he wore a plaid leather jacket, pink polo shirt, ripped jeans, and a pair of high top shoes that had both the blacks and grays of the jacket and the pink of his shirt.
However the soft rumble of the car that filled the air helped me forget about the unexceptable behavior of my client as it drew my attention to the car, It's scissor doors opened revealing a beige leather and carbon fiber interior. Four segmented seats filled most of the cabin each padded in the beige leather reminding me of thinner ravish versions of nascar racing seats, a padded carbon fiber center console stretched across the middle of the car acting as an armrest for all passengers.
Alexander stood and decided that I wanted details on the car “She’ a beauty isn't she, zero to one-hundred in one point nine seconds, twenty three hundred horsepower with a max speed of two-hundred and eighty miles an hour.”
Alexander gave off the feeling of a kid trying to show he'd gotten the coolest toy for christmas
“Yes it's a very extravagant car alex and currently your only capital so please drive with care, any damage to this car means a significant drop in its value”
Alexander just shook his head at my statement “I know Alastor you don't need to keep reminding me, i'll drive safely” the way he tensed the last word made me fo the first time in my professional carrier murder a client
“I know you are aware alex but as your case worker it is my job to help you grow your financial standing witch includes, advising you on responsible behavior in matters concerning you current assets.”
Alexander's all to famillure glassy look had returned by the time I finished my explanation “Alex we do have an appointment to keep if you're ready, after all Victoria Blackwood is not known for her patients .”
At that alexander seemed to come back to reality a spark of excitement visible in his eyes “Well, then we probably shouldn't be late”
Alexander almost dove into the front seat acting like I would attempt to steal it out from under him “what's the address” he asked as I closed my door “1257, SW Massachusetts St, when we arrive I’ll handle business with blackwood.”
“Alright '' Alexander said as he typed the address into a screen embedded in the dashboard, then we pulled away the consistent smooth rumble of the engine mixing with the soft vibrations of driving down the stone driveway.
On our way we ran two stop signs and made at least one illegal turn before pulled up to the address where four identical men in a dark gray Rolls-Royce phantom met us, two stepping out of the back “Alastor are they here for us”
Looking over at alexander I was ready to assure him of his safety until I saw the look of excitement in his eyes as he tracked the two suited men walking towards our car “Alex they are here for us but it's just a security measure that blackwood takes with all her clientele. ”
A moment later the two men opened our doors and in unison said “get in the other car '' Alexander and I quickly got out, walked over and got into the back seat of the Rolls-Royce. Alexander leaned over in his seat “Why do they all look the same” he asked in a lowered tone
“They are all clones of the same person, a morphogenic named Riccardo Moretti he acts as blackwoods private security.” the look of excitement for a moment returned to alexander's face as he leaned back in his seat.
Within a few moments we were on the move our car close behind, we were heading for a nearby privately own ferry where we would park the cars and meet with blackwood.
About fifteen minutes later that's exactly where i found myself standing next to alexander surrounded by copies of Riccardo Moretti each wearing an identical black three piece suite a noticeable bulge on at their sides. One stepped forward and patted us down then nodded to another that left through a door behind them.
“When do we meet victoria'' alexander asked “Soon alex the clone who just left is probably getting her now but remember I negotiate the price of the car it's my job after all.” alexander just huffed, not giving me much hope for a smooth transaction with Blackwood.
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A moment later she walked in using the same doors the clone had left thru earlier “ALastor, what a delight to see you again!”
“Miss blackwood I am surprised you remember me” she seemed taken aback at my statement her pale hand falling across her collarbone copper nails contrasting well with her white shirt and black blazer
“Alastor, how could I possibly forget one of the few employees I tried to steal away for old grip, that relic never appreciates what he has” she took a step forward, a new light in her eyes “You are still working for Mr.Jones, because if not I'm sure I can offer you a better paying contract than your current client.”
Standing a bit straighter I was half tempted to take her up on the offer until I remembered why she wanted me to sign on with her “Miss Blackwood I am flattered, but I do still work for Mr.Jones under contract and have no current desire to swap professions I enjoy finance, that high action life most xenos seek isn't for me”
“A pity” she scoffed “well then enough talking about what could be ,let's get to the business at hand” she said walking towards the parked car the clicking of heels on metal plates echoing thru the sealed haul of the ferry as she inspected the car
“A Koenigsegg Gemera, Alastor if you're driving one of these then I might not be able to offer you better pay than old grip” she said, opening the trunk and smiling at what she saw. “ Have you had any repairs or alterations made Alastor”
“The car belongs to my client Miss Blackwood but I am happy to say that it is in pristine condition with no history of damage, repairse, or modifications.” with any luck my good standing with miss blackwood would help us get a cash offer close to cars the fair market price
She stood from her examination of the car “Nine hundred thousand cash” her offer was so low it was almost insulting “Miss Blackwood the Gemera is a foreign limited production car with a fair market value of one point seven million and we will accept nothing less than one point three”
She looked directly at me now, the once playful look in her eyes now gone “Mr.Lamont this car Is worth what I offer as the current market is a bit saturated, Afterall i just acquired two as payments for some idiots bet on kelpies recent fight”
Doing my best to look over at alexander as nonchalantly as possible I saw he had turned to stone again appearing to have completely stopped breathing all but confirming my suspicions “well miss blackwood I am aware that attempting to sell multiple collector cars of a single kind on a smaller market can affect the price, you however have access and ability to export them to other markets meaning there shouldn't be any loss from selling the car after you purchase it from us even at a higher price then im asking for.”
For a moment she just stood there, then a light sparked in her eyes not a metaphorical light but a copper colored light that seemed to sit behind her eyes and shine through. “You make a fair argument Alastor, so I have a new offer for you”
At this Alexander appeared to snap out of it as he stepped up now standing just slightly in front of me. “Oh yeah Victora what's that” alexander said before I could respond
“I will pay you the full market value for the car and a job” she said the glow behind her eyes growing in intensity I had to step in “Miss Blackwood I would like to offer a counter proposal.” alexander stepped forward again cutting me off “Deal Victoria”
The moment those words left his mouth the copper glow left her eyes and the prior friendliness returned “That’s wonderful to hear you and Alastor will make the job a snap” looking at Alexander, I saw a crazed smile fall away in confusion, “Riccardo here will get you the details and make sure you get home safely, it was a pleasure as always Alastor and maybe if you enjoy yourself on this little job you will be more open to coming back and discussing further partnership”
She said all this while walking back to where she entered the Riccardo duplicates parting before her and closing once she was passed
“Alastor what did I just do” I turned to face him ready to tell him exactly what he had just done but once again I was cut off “Alright you twos follow me”
This version of Riccardo was wearing a different suite from the rest whereas they had your typical two button suits with plain jacke and pants this one wore a blue double breasted pinstripe suit with nice brown shoes.
We followed the Riccardo to a small room on the opposite side of what I now believed to be blackwoods office “Take a seat.” he said pointing to a set of metal chairs after a moment of me and alexander both remaining standing he simply shrugged “Suite yourself”
The Riccardo walked over to the door bolted it shut and turned around “Alright, I can tell you twos ant to happy about this whole business so I'm gonna cut straight to the point the boss wants you to steal something from a rival of hers, and before you go getting yourself worked up she already has all the details from security to the name of the individual guards she just needed someone to do the job”
He said all this with the most bored expression I believe I have ever seen like this was just a normal daily occurrence
“ who exactly is this rival of Victoria Blackwoods, from what I know she doesn't have any real rivals.” alexander asked
Riccardo just smiled “that's not important, and no she doesn't have any real rivals but none of that is your concern anyway, everything that you need to know will be dropped off at your house probably before you return”
At that alexander took a step forward “what stops us from just saying no letting her keep the money and walking away” and for the first time Riccardo reacted standing straighter shoulders back as he rose to his full height the look in his eye could have cut steal
“Once you make a deal with Victoria Blackwood there is no turning back or els the plain of greed itself will consume you.” With his warning delivered, Riccardo returned to a more relaxed state, then Alexander had to open his mouth.
“Plain of greed?” the clear confusion and patronizing tone in his voice told me I needed to step in before he got us into more trouble, “Alex Miss Blackwood is a astral class who draws from one of the primordiale plains specifically the plain of greed, and if you steal or withhold anything that has been promised the plain will send whatever it can to take it back pulse compensation witch typically includes your life.”
At my words alexander physically backed down gaining a slight slouch as he took a step back “gotcha” he whispered
“Look I can see, you twos arnt so happy with ths deal but that's your problem I am here to shed a little light on whats happening alright” Ricardo said anoyance clear in his tone
ALexander and I just nodded alexander because he was probably no longer paying all that much attention I nodded in hope of some extra information after all the smallest deital could make all the difference.
Riccardo strieghtend up “Now let's get thru the basics, do you know who the labyrinthine lords are.”