A Woman Scorned [Plot Post: OTA]

[baisant]

((ooc: plotting thread here, for reference!))

Because of the nature of Guilty Pleasures itself, Jean-Claude had not noticed that anything was afoot at first. Saturdays are Ladies' Nights (not when they invite the ladies as clientele like most other clubs would use the term, but rather when they invited the female dancers to participate as well). For a weekend, it brought in a larger array of people and thus more revenue for the club itself. And thus because Cherry was not due for another full day yet, it was not until he was pulled aside by her on again, off again lover and fellow dancer, Zane, that he understood what a grave error he had made indeed. For Cherry was not answering Zane's texts, and even though they were not currently sleeping together, she would never go the day without at least letting him know why she was so quiet.

It did not bode well. The fact that Millicent had issued the statement earlier in that day that in celebration of her victory, her vampires were given permission to hunt, feast, kill, and turn whomever they so desired, and the ensuing chaos that had begun in the wake of that is hardly a coincidence. Nor is the fact that Cherry, Jean-Claude knows for a fact, had been the dancer he'd chosen to play Millicent in his little display of politics the month previously.

No, it doesn't bode well at all, and after Jean-Claude's own attempts at contacting her are met with a phone call gone straight to voicemail and text messages about payroll left unanswered (which would never happen for anything short of a disaster), he knows that he has a kidnapping on his hands. And he need not exercise too much imagination to understand who it is that might have taken her. The trouble is, how to get her back without landing himself in even more trouble with the Duchess herself. The answer? Crowd sourcing.

Comments

[baisant]

Jean-Claude watches her think, trying to determine what she might be thinking about. Despite being a flirt, he's clever. He needs his dancer back, alive. It will not do to let people think that they can harm his own without consequences. And it will not do to let his people think that he does not have their back.

"I cannot go after her myself," he admits. "There are people that need me here. And Millicent's people would welcome the opening. When the cat's away..." He shrugs slightly, letting the rest of the saying to speak for itself.

[outstandingbalance]

"Makes sense," she says, still professional. It does make sense to her, and at his age, with his position, he has to think about his organization. He has to consider that he's just made himself a target for anyone looking to curry favor with Millicent. If he leaves himself open, if he looks weak and like he can't protect his own, then this probably won't stop with one dancer.

Natasha drums her fingers twice before inclining her head in a short nod.

"Let's say I help you out with this, I don't want the word getting out. I can't have people thinking I'm available to clean up just anyone's messes for money." No telling how her current employers would take to the idea of her freelancing on the side. "The circle stays small."

[baisant]

Jean-Claude inclines his head in response to her words. An acceptance of them. "Forgive me, ma chère," he says, "but I would not want it getting out that I was not able to defend one of my own people in such a way either. It does neither of us any good if word of this should spread."

He raises an eyebrow, giving her a direct look in turn. "Are we in agreement?" he asks. He needs to know for certain. He knows better than to let this opportunity go by, or to assume that she has agreed when no such thing has happened. He recognizes Natasha for the professional asset that she is. He will owe her for this. And he will remember that.

[outstandingbalance]

She studies his face for a brief moment, considering how much she trusts him and how much she has to trust him for this to work. He's right that it wouldn't benefit him to have word getting around either, and she can't conceive of a likely reason for him to betray her.

Finally, Natasha extends her hand.

"It looks like we are."