it's pretty dirty business- August 9th [closed]

[stauncherhearted]

Three days was ample enough time to cool down, right? Nancy certainly hoped so, as she dressed her best and made for the sight of her boyfriend's narrowly-avoided murder: the Angelo.

Tonight, she'd set a good chunk of time aside for Cesare Borgia. She needed to speak to him, to apologize on Cooper's behalf. She knew he would never on his own, so she just wasn't going to tell Cooper about her mission. Or that she was seeing Cesare at all. She had enough forethought this time at least, to know it wouldn't end well if Cooper knew where she was ducking off to.

What she didn't get, though, was why it was such a big deal. Why Cesare was so offended that her boyfriend wanted to take her out, and show her around. It was no different than if Cesare had taken her, which he'd done so many times in the past.

Regardless, she made her way into the hotel, and to reception. A minutes later, and Nancy was being escorted to Cesare's private office. Never mind that she knew the way.

Comments

[stauncherhearted]

Nancy's natural response is to make excuses, no matter what. She's a born and raised liar, and telling the truth, no matter how benign, is hard.

"Oh, I don't know," she drawls. "It's always hard to tell. For all I know, we could be here all night." She had places to go, money to make. "I can have him call you."

[longterm]

"I have all night." After all, as a vampire, time isn't exactly against him. He sits down at his desk and pulls out his checkbook. At least he'll pay her for her time.

"How long does someone sleep for? If he fell asleep an hour ago, how much time do we need? Eight? Nine hours?" Sorry, Nancy. There is seriously no way of escaping from this.

[stauncherhearted]

Nancy purses her lips. Well, there goes that plan.

"I've got an appointment in two hours," she reasons, giving it one last go.

[longterm]

Cesare shrugs. No big deal.

"I'll pay double." He deliberately avoids elaborating or giving her any other options. He doesn't want to give her any vague opportunity to twist out of this situation and find another excuse. He's close to catching her. He doesn't want to let her get away.

[stauncherhearted]

Nancy laughs. "He's extremely important. I can't just cancel on him. In the spirit of confidentiality, I'm sure you don't mind me not mentioning his name. After all, as you've said, I've slept with half the vampires in the city." So back. off., Cesare.

[longterm]

And there's another line that Cesare doesn't believe either. Quite frankly, whoever this fictional person is, they're not as important as him. She can be sleeping with the damn queen, for all he cares. When it comes down to it, he feels that he's the most important out there for her business. If he blacklisted her, things would become incredibly difficult for her indeed.

So he just looks at Nancy for a second, stonefaced, then reiterates his point.

"Let's call Cooper, Nancy."

[stauncherhearted]

She's caught, completely. There's nothing she can say to him at this point to get around it.

There's a beat, the air in his office feeling particularly stale.

She looks to the side, lowering her gaze, a faint blush painting her features that she hadn't carefully painted on just an hour before. "He doesn't know I'm here," she mutters into her lap.

[longterm]

That's what Cesare had been waiting to hear. He nods and closes his checkbook, busying himself with his work again.

"Thank you. Don't lie to me again. You can go now."

He's put her under enough stress for now. Now that he's got what he's wanted, he's happy to let her go. Does he forgive her for her previous behavior, at the night of his gala? Not exactly. But that can be saved for another time.

[stauncherhearted]

Nancy stands, keeping her head down.

"I'm sorry," she tells him again. Because she is, but really only because she got caught. What else did you expect with a girl like her?

"Thank you, Cesare." Should she curtsey? Honestly, she feels like she should. Instead, she backs out of the room, feeling far smaller than she had when she first arrived.