Reporting to the Boss (for baals)

[glowingeyedgoddess]

Sitting in the lobby of Farrow-Marshall Aereonautics her slender legs crossed primly, visitor badge pinned to a smart business jacket, was a truly stunning young woman who drew the eye of everyone coming in to work. In return their attention was ignored; the passing staff were too low status to be of use to her and being so far above them she paid them no attention. Perhaps one of the passers-by might make a useful spy, but if she knew the owner of this building, which she did her every move was already being watched. She would find her spy another time.

Of course a woman of Anna's status was not alone, an assistant hovered nearby to cater to her every whim and two well built men stood nearby, bodyguards in the unlikely event anyone wanted to do the lovely blonde harm. Nonetheless her right hand, bare as it was, made her feel terribly exposed, the lack of Kara'kesh only adding to her discomfort. Taking out her phone, she tapped in Anna Pearson's password and began to scroll through it idly, paying little attention to the millionaire socialite's contacts of the wealthy and powerful, the primitive technology merely a tool to disguise her growing impatience at being kept waiting.

If Baal did not summon her soon then the woman or rather the snake that controlled her every movement was sorely tempted to depart prematurely, the only thing holding Astarte back being the knowledge that the action would have likely severe consequences. So she sat and waited, none of the growing impatience she felt appearing on her beautiful features. If Ba'al wanted her to wait then she would wait, and not gratify him further by seeing how angry it made her.

Comments

[baals]

It's a bit of petty power move to make her wait but it's still a valuable tool. A none too subtle reminder that she works under Ba'al. But finally, one of Ba'al's assistants comes to tell her that 'Mr. Hadad' is ready to see her.

His office is obviously had an interior decorator put it together. It's all clean lines and angles of a modern style. It's nothing out of the ordinary for a CEO's office. On the surface, anyway.

Despite the little power-play of making her wait, she does warrant respect, which is why he stands to greet her. "Ah, so sorry for the wait," said with a look that says he's not sorry. His own people are shooed from the room, while he doesn't ask her to do the same with hers, it's implied. Though he wouldn't take offense if she kept at least one of them. Ba'al may not appear armed but one can't be too careful. Honestly, he'd be flattered if she kept her guards.

"I have something for you. Someone, rather." He flips open a file folder on his desk. It's the profile of a powerful Mafia Don. A man with many connects to the same politicians that are in their interest to control.

[glowingeyedgoddess]

Anna doesn't bother to answer the assistant, merely putting away the phone and following them into the office. It's a little less gaudy than she was expecting but the thrum of naquada in her blood quickly draws her attention to the man at the centre of the room, the reason she's here.

"I hadn't noticed." She answered airily, her host's voice tinkling pleasantly as she respectfully inclines her head. In response to the dismissal she flicks a finger and her guards immediately departed to wait outside, the female lo'tar assistant quietly retreating to a corner of the room, head bowed respectfully.

Astarte on the other hand advances to peer curiously at the file, crystal blue eyes flicking between it and Ba'al inquiringly. "Indeed, and who might he be?" Some of that question can be answered from the details in the file, but exactly what Ba'al wanted done with him only he could divulge.

[baals]

Ba'al saves the gaudy gold and opulence for his home, well, mansion. He half sits on the edge of his desk before answering. "An opportunity. He and his little network are yours to do with as wish. I'd like you to retain and strengthen his political ties, of course."

He knows this is a suspiciously generous offer. That particular mob boss is very well connected. It's not completely unheard of for Ba'al to be generous but he's still leaving out exactly what he wants. Some of what he wants should be obvious, he wants their offspring in the heads of already installed politicians.

[glowingeyedgoddess]

Astarte's eyes follow Ba'al to the desk, calculation hidden behind a long practised veneer of servility, wondering what it is that he is up to, particularly given the generosity of the offer.

"That can very easily be done, although it would help if you were to direct where those ties are to be developed; I confess I do not understand your purpose in coming to this world as well as I could." She thinks she understands the gist, but perhaps he might let some further plans slip while unfolding some of his design.

[baals]

Ba'al is tempted, briefly, to tell her his entire plans but too much information could easily lead to her turning on him. They have a good relationship going and it would be a shame to ruin it.

"I have complete confidence that you will choose the best ties to develop." It's more of a test than confidence. Her choices may tell him if she plans on turning on him any time soon.

"As for my purpose here... what would you like to know?" Ba'al tries to put on something approaching an innocent face.

[glowingeyedgoddess]

"I am honoured by your faith in me." Meaningless compliments were easy to bestow, and if they fuelled his ego it could only act as a point in her favour.

Nonetheless she needed to act carefully, his displeasure rightly to be feared, so to hedge against it Astarte folds her legs with a deliberate slowness, skirt riding up to reveal ever more slender thigh.

"We are establishing a power base here, admittedly it will take time for it to bare fruit and yet you do not take stronger measures against the Tau'ri now, why?"