Partners In Crime

Chapter 30

TW: This chapter will contain some mildly disturbing descriptions and imagery, please read at your own risk!

An oddly enjoyable echo raced swiftly through the long, airy hallway. Blanketed with fashionable wallpaper, lavish platters -some made of pure silver while others of clay- decorated the walls, following through with the latest trend of hanging beautifully made dinnerware with a peculiar, yet distinctive pattern. One of which marked a blue coloring of several flowers on its white canvas was recognized by me to be the more well-known set of the Tudor Royal Collection. In short, the thought of money instantly glazed over one's mind at the mere sight of such a choice in decoration.

My heels clicked in a slow, collected style; dispensing the previously mentioned echo. I let out a few short breaths, hoping to gather my thoughts before the lengthy hallway appeared to be rather short, in lieu. The slight swaying of my ankle-length, neutral-colored dress, nudged my hands ever so often before I positioned them at the lowest point of my torso. Holding one hand in another, my appearance visibly became more elegant than before. Such walking technique was often used by the most dignified of women and was taught as an equally essential to reading and writing in most aristocratic households, including mine.

The sun was beginning to set with its rays breaking through the ceiling-high windows and underlining the golden undertone of my dress which was on the slimmer side of my wardrobe spectrum; hugging my body in all the right places while simultaneously spreading wider from my knees to my ankles, allowing my legs to have more freedom and space for a comfortable stroll.

At last, I reached the two-door entrance at the end of the hallway. With a last deep exhale and a short run of my hands through my figure to decrease any folds and wrinkles, I knocked on the wood.

Both of the doors opened at the precise time, revealing a round table with two chairs located across from one another, one of which had already been occupied by the target of my mission.

"Fine timing, Lady GS." He voiced, erecting from his seat and making his way in the direction of the empty one. He pulled it further from the table, creating enough room for me to fit through. Without a second thought, I took a seat.

After sitting back on his assigned spot, he cleared his throat, "Would you fancy a drink? Wine perhaps?"

"I'd much rather prefer if we got straight to the point." I declined his offer, gently waving my hand from side to side to dismiss the butler at my side, prepared to pour me a glass.

"Very well then," his lip twitched following through with a forced smile. With a clap of hands, he summoned a couple of maids carrying two folders of paperwork.

As I scanned through his written proposal, caring very little to none about what it had to say, I observed my surroundings along with his eyes narrowing at me. As predicted, he was displeased at my refusal of the drink. All the more, his poor attempt at the inconspicuous act was enough proof for me to assume why his factory was crumbling right before his eyes. Despite his own beliefs, the lack of trading deals was the least of all factors.

After a good minute of my fabricated expressions, intended to seem as though I was truly focused on the document, gave him time to come up with his own assumptions, "I suppose you don't have any objections towards my posed conditions, judging from the silence on your end."

I leaned against my chair, "All seems reasonable," with a quick lie and a smile, I felt eager to get the meeting over with, "However, I do have one question, if I may?"