Keeping his head turned to the left side of the office, he stared at the shelves. His gaze wandered, observing the contents from where he was seated. Eventually, he switched so that he was staring at the other side. He didn't want to make it seem like he was trying to listen in, although he really wasn't able to.
He rolled both of his wrists slowly. Thankfully neither of them made a single crack. Although his watch did make a tiny sound as it slid forward. His fingers lightly held the bezel of it as he briefly checked the time. Then he let his hands rest on his lap.
The sound of the pen against the paper lead him to watch the three men and Dorota again. While observing, his head tilted to the right. Well that sure was a quick negotiation in his opinion, but it might not be the first have met nor may it be the last.
Antony's eyes trailed up, first gazing at the hand then up to the man. The corners of his lips quivered up into a light grin as he swiftly stood up. Without looking down, he grasped the man's hand and gently shook it.
"Thank you, Sir. Have a great evening," He said, staring into the man's eyes before looking over at the other two.
(ahhh damn I'm so sorry my exams are really intense atm but they're almost done)
The men packed up and left. Dorota stood and looked over at Adrian.
"So what did you think? The meetings are usually quite brief, since we just settle on the product we need and use the same contract we always have."
She glanced down at the little stained-glass clock on the desk, a gift from her father. It read just past 4 o'clock in the evening, which meant she'd have to start setting up for the evening show in about half an hour.
(It's all good, finals are so draining. You can do it and good luck! :D)
He watched as the men stepped put into the hallway and closed the door then gazed back over at Dorota. For a second he didn't say anything, but nodded in response. "Definitely more swift compared to previous meetings I've been in," He answered before adding, "It must have been very straightforward."
Antony kept standing, deciding it was better to copy what she was doing. Pushing up his sleeve, he quickly took a look at the time. In the corner of his eye, he picked up on her staring at the clock on the desk. "What's next Miss Dorota?" He asked while dropping his arms at his sides.
(ahh thank you!! only two more and then I'm done)
"Well, their company, RoyCo, has been working with Elyasia a long time." In fact, their company had been one of the first ones her father had put her in contact with. "We have a long standing relationship and a long standing standard agreement."
She dusted her skirts, unnecessarily, and walked out from behind her desk. "Well, it's already getting just a bit late. I have a bit of leisure time before I need to head for the bar and the kitchen to handle everything for this evening."
A small blue note lay on her desk and she had not forgotten it. It reminded her of the rebel official that would be joining them tonight. She was to send one of her people, probably Yasmin, to work out the details of a mission coming up.
"We have half an hour free before the evening bustle settles in. Do you play cards, Adrian?"
(I don't play cards, so I may just have to bullshit my way through ^^')
(Awesome, that's great! I hope it all goes well.)
(Also it's all good, I only so much about cards too.)
RoyCo. He'll have to do some research on them later. Maybe he's looking too deep into the fact that one of them had on a purple vest, but still, he isn't familiar with the company. Even after weeks of preparing for this mission, there is still so much he doesn't know. "Ah I see…"
Antony looked over to the right as he brushed his hair. The weight of his feet rested between the two after shifting to his right for a moment. His posture was more relaxed compared to before, yet it was professional as it should be. While he let his hand drop to his side, he stared back at Dorota.
The corners of his lips slightly curved up into a light grin. He nodded, "Of course, I used to play a lot during my army days, but that doesn't mean I just played cards." Doing something like playing cards this early into the game is a great opportunity, it's one not everyone gets this early. "Any particular one? Go fish? Pairs?"
( thanks :) )
Dorota pulled out a very nice deck of cards from the desk and sat back down.
She spread the cards out in front of her. They were dark coloured and hand-painted and painted over with polish.
"I'm not bothered, I'll let you decide."
She was looking forward to trying to crack Adrian's facade. He looked very guarded, and Dorota had made a hobby of figuring people out.
Glancing down at the floor for a moment, he rolled his right wrist. By the time he gazed up, he took a look at the deck of cards she placed. It had been a while since he had seen a deck, especially in a calm setting. He bit the inside of his bottom lip while nodding.
Adrian turned to push the chair back against the wall then made his way over to the desk. "Go fish should be appropriate given the time," He said. Sitting down in one of the chairs by the desk, he gently pushed it forward to be a bit closer. "Would you like to go first?"
Dorota nodded quickly, offering him a knowing smile. She cut the deck, handed out the cards and fanned her own deck in front of her. She prodded a few of her cards, running through the strategy in her head.
"Alright. Adrian, I'd like your fives," she said finally. She looked up at the man before her and watched him, keeping her face blank.
Sliding the cards towards him, he waited till she picked up hers before doing the same. He held them in his left hand, each being spread out a little so he can read the corners of them. Antony tilted his head to the left as she spoke. A soft chuckle left his lips as he took the card from his hand then slid it back over to Dorota. "Woah, you must be a psyche," He joked. "Off to a good start I must say."
Dorota smiled in quiet triumph. "Ha! Don't worry, I'll make your defeat swift and painless." She picked the card up and slid it into her deck. "My entire childhood was strategy," she continued. "Now, your… Jacks."
Curling his bottom lip back, he shook his head while trying to hold in his laughter. Antony lightly smiled while watching as she put the card into her deck before glimpsing back down at his own. "Did you play cards with your parents?" He asked. When she asked for a jack, his brow quirked up. As he shook his head, his eyes squinted for a moment. "Go fish, Miss Dorota."
She hesitated just a moment at his question. "All the time. With my father especially, though he favoured chess or backgammon." She clicked her tongue and reached for the deck facedown, pulling a 5 and sliding it into her deck. "All yours then. And you? Where did you learn cards?"
Antony chuckled a little, "My parents taught me after I was adopted as a way to bond, but as a seven year old, it didn't interest me then." He stared at his deck while biting the inside of his lip. As he thought about a card, he tilted his head to the right before glancing back at Dorota. "Any hearts?"
Although she didn't show it, her interest showed itself– he had offered backstory and she tucked the information away for later. "I can tell it didn't interest you. You should be asking me for a number, not a suit," she reprimanded lightly.
Antony found himself laughing a little again. This time though, it came more more freely rather than it being forced himself. Ah, at least he made a small mistake that could be quickly covered up. He gave a small shrug. "I suppose I am more interested in the players and not the cards," He added on. "Nine?"
Noting the difference in his laugh, Dorota forced a grin onto her face- always match the tone of the room, her father had taught her.
“Nine indeed.” She pulled out a single card and handed it to him. “We can make a player out of you yet.”
Taking the card, he gave a slight nod. "Thank you," He said in a low-tone. There was already another nine, so he paired it with the one given and placed it down. Antony looked up at Dorota, smiling. "When it comes to certain games, I am quite the player," He nodded. Glimpsing back down at his cards, he bit his bottom lip. "Do you have any two's?"
Dorota made an appreciative sound. “Is that so? I’ll have to see about that.”
She handed him the pair of twos in her hand, eyeing the three fives right next to that. Hopefully Adrian could give her the fourth one. “I will not take your bait and will discover as we get to know each other the games in question you claim to be so adept at.”
Antony took the pair then placed them with the other card he took out. Briefly looking down at his cards, he scratched the side of his head. "Sevens?" He asked, thinking as he stared at the back of her cards. As she spoke, he chuckled. "I bet as time goes on you will. You are very skillful after all. Hopefully I will get to know my boss better too. Right, Miss Dorota?"
She shot him a not unfriendly look and shook her head. “No sevens here. Go fish.” Her goal with this game had indeed been to get to know him. She’d be spending a great deal of time with him from now on, after all, and something of a relationship would put her mind at ease. It was still important to her to strike a professional boundary in their relationship.
Gently, he took a card from the deck, sliding it back to him and placing it in his hand. A gentle sigh left him while he shook his head. "Whenever you are ready," He said. While he stared at his cards, he could not help but his thoughts wander for a mere second. Most, if not all, of his missions started out like this, they all had many moments such as now. They are critical, even if he is only playing cards with a target. He couldn't help but find it interesting, stressful, and fun at the same time.
Dorota was fully focused on her cards and asked Adrian for a five. She glanced down at her watch, then, and saw in surprise that they were five minutes behind. She quirked an eyebrow but didn't say anything. If he gave her a full suit she could claim a partial win for the unfinished round of Go Fish.
"Not to intimidate you, Adrian darling," she said sweetly, "but this defines the game."
At first he said nothing, instead just simply staring down at his cards. Briefly, his eyes flickered down at his watch. He nodded slowly. "A five…," He whispered to himself. Antony glimpsed up at Dorota then back at the deck in his hand. Shaking his head, he pulled out his five then handed it to her. "Here you go, boss. Well played." Relaxing back into the chair, he quietly applauded.
She made a little gesture as if to bow and set out the other three fives on the table before taking the card and putting it with the rest of them. "Plenty of time for you to ruminate and plot your vengeance, Adrian, don't you fret."
She pointed her watch in his direction, an old bronze accessory with delicately shaped hands. "I'm afraid our leisure time is up." She got to her feet slowly, indicating for him to just set his cards down anywhere. "It's now quarter to five. The evenings at Elyasia start at seven. Our pre-evening routine here starts with a quick run-through of the entertainment, which takes about forty minutes. Then, I oversee the guest list, any dietary requirements for the evening, just details to put my mind at ease. Yasmin and I will probably run you through your tasks and positions for the evening as well. By then, I usually have about an hour to get ready. We're half an hour behind schedule today, we got caught up in the game, so today just half an hour for my getting ready." She had walked over to the door, pulled it open and began towards the bar.
He playfully scoffed, still clapping a little before stopping after a couple seconds. "Oh, I'm afraid that I will have to plan my revenge later," He responded. "Defiently before our next game."
Antony placed his cards down across the desk. Right after, he stood up and turned to face Dorota. He stared at her as she spoke while writing in the air a few words. Once she was finished, he nodded. "Half an hour, got it." Swfitly he made his way over to the door. His hand reached the door handle. Before leaving, he took a quick glimpse around the room then left, following Dorota.
She led him to the bar, where voices were already collecting in the next room. They walked into the bar and theatre– the main room. The floor was still empty of tables, though beginning to be crowded with clumps of people here and there. Right next to the stage, a handful of men seemed to be stretching, and as Dorota watched a couple more women joined them. More people stood about chatting.
"Alright!" Dorota called out to them. Her voice had lost any of the light quality she used off-hours. She now sounded like a strict, organised leader. She pointed to the stage. "Dancers get off, stretch on the floor." She pointed at the group of chatty ones. "You all, there, get up on stage." They obeyed quickly. One by one they told her their act. A singer, a comedian, another singer. "We'll start, with singers, comedy, then dancers run their choreography so that the floor can be cleared for the tables to be set up. Sound good? Go!" she said with a clap of her hands.
Quickly, soft singing filled the room, and Dorota turned to Adrian. "Any questions so far?"
Antony gazed around as they walked. He observed some of the people they had passed by. Now that there were a lot of people in the places they passed, he felt like he had a better understanding of the place.
Standing a couple steps behind Dorota, he watched as she talked to the performers. His eyes lingered down to the floor for a second. Over to the side, he looked at the group who were talking before Dorota told them to get on the stage. Lifting his chin up, he looked at the preformers and listened along to what they told her.
Briefly, he kept glancing around and watching the others in the room. Hearing Dorota, he focused his attention back back her. At first, he just simply shook his head in response. Only after a couple of seconds, he held up his index finger. "Well, how close do you want me to be?" He asked. "Still three steps behind or should I just be off to the side?"
Dorota paused thoughtfully. "You're here because this place gets crowded and I've started not feeling safe here in the evenings. Rare are the nights where we're careful about who comes in. Tonight, we have to be, for the sake of a meeting Yasmin will be taking during the evening," she explained, her hands gesturing along as she went. "On that note–" she piped up, glancing around, smiled and waved, "I need Yasmin."
She'd been standing near the kitchen entrance talking to a cook. At Dorota's signal she made her way over, weaving her way slowly between people and performers.
Dorota turned to Adrian and with a professional wave reintroduced them. "She needs to run you through the schedule for tonight. I'm going to go check in on the performers."
Dorota left and Yanni stared at Adrian a moment before nodding at him.
As she spoke, he had to take a step forward as he noticed someone walking behind him. Briefly, he looked at the person before bringing his attention back to the target. Antony looked at Dorota, nodding along to what she was saying. His eyes glanced down, watching as her hands moved while she spoke.
He turned his head in the direction she was waving. It took him a moment to find Yanni amidst everyone else walking by. Biting the inside of his cheek for a moment, he let out a gentle sigh. His mind quickly replayed their first interaction, recalling what he has to do in order to fulfill his mission.
"Very well. If you need anything, Miss Dorota, just say my name," Antony said. He watched as she walked off. Carefully he looked at the others who were around her. Seeing that Yasmin was at his side, he glanced over and returned the nod, "Great to see you again."
Yanni gave a small honest smile. "And you. Now, as I'm sure Dorota told you, the evenings here start at 7." She waved to the stage. "The first act is a singing trio, then a short bit of dancing. Dorota will be sat in the first row at that time, with you beside her. After that, we have an official coming at around 7:50. I will seat him at a table where I will join him, and Dorota will have to move out of this room to settle herself backstage."
This man was too well connected to see Dorota's face. But, the pretense was that she would have to be ready to come on stage.
"Another dance after that, then Dorota comes on. At this point you'll have followed her backstage and you will need to be waiting in the wings to stay with her everywhere she goes from then on. Then, another singer, and the evening is done. Is that clear?"
