Bianca Saint-John's office is located at the top floor of the building. Her desk sits in a small corner cluttered with papers and old chinese food boxes. There is a large window on the other side of the room over looking the city. If you need to visit Bianca, this is where you should look.
Last Edit: Sept 10, 2014 0:03:21 GMT -5 by FG Admin
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”Thank you for your assistance Cassie” Bernard replied before making his way toward the elevator.
It was a swift comfortable ride from the lobby to the top floor of the chronicle before a short ding announced his arrival at the destination. The Sensitive wasted little time making his way straight to the reporter’s office and poking his head through the opened office door. Skipping the usual introductions the red headed visitor dove right into business.
”Did you get what you were looking for last night….” Bernard opened with a slick smile, knowing full well she would likely recall last night's playful encounter, before a more serious expression crossed his face. Even if Carson fed you what you wanted to hear, you must ask yourself, why an organization that is so adamantly opposed to Hydra would allow two operatives into their clubhouse…… unless they were on the take. But that seems unlikely given Hydra's extensive screening; so why they there and what were they delivering.”
“Fortunately, for you…,” the wily visitor continued dangling the prize to entise the reporter's curiosity. “I may have the answer right here in my hand. All we have to do is crack the files on this computer and take a look for ourselves.”
Bianca's head snapped up as the man walked through her door. She had been expecting him, but not in this way. She thought he would knock and give a formal introduction, but she supposed that was fine. "Ah, Bernie. Cassie said you would be up..." She wiggled a finger at him. "You're the guy from the club. I remember you." She carefully closed the laptop on her computer and slid it to the side as she gave him her full attention. "I see you are cutting straight to business. So, let's do business.
"To answer your question, I more or less got what I came for. Things went... smoothly, so I can't complain." She gave a polite smile and shrugged her shoulders a bit. Bianca then stood from her chair and waved a hand at the chair across from her desk. "Please, take a seat. I have a few questions that I would like to ask you." She waited a bit to see what he would say and then returned back to her chair.
"There were two Hydra agents at the club? I didn't know that. I am now very curious about all of this." Although she tried to compose herself, the curiosity and excitement was gleaming in her eyes. She looked at him as he offered the computer. The information on that was like gold to her.
"So... what exactly will this cost me? I am willing to pay, but what's in it for you?"
The recognition was expected. So were the questions that followed as Bernard graciously took the seat across from the reporter’s desk she as requested.
Valid questions; Let me address the later concern first as it all ties together.” ”In short….satisfaction. You see, I have a knack for unearthing secrets. You my sweet, have the resources I need to validate those finds. So, what will it cost? A partnership…..starting with the unedited recordings of yesterday’s little rendezvous with Carson; that, and a little cash to help subsidize my compulsion.”
“Before you outright reject my terms, unwilling to share your precious interview, consider this.” “WHAT was it that put Hydra’s cover up and Carson back on your radar? The resurfacing notes; the accompanying invitation; …. If it was simply a lucrative payday I was after I’m sure Carson or others would have been more than generous to acquire what I have to offer.”
“So then, Why you?” “That answer also lies with the mysterious package returned to your possession yesterday. You indicate the truth can’t be silenced. So I offer this question. If you are the author of the documents proposing the scandal, who gathered the eclectic contents of THIS package and more importantly why were they buried?”
“So what do you say?” Bernard requested offering his right hand in a gesture of goodwill toward Bianca. “Partners?”
Bianca was still smiling but her expression changed as she pondered this offer. She started by saying "Interesting..." She leaned back in her chair and began to swivel it back and forth. "I would like to be partners. But I can't divulge that kind of information to just anyone because this is a business. I have to take precautions in what I say and do; otherwise it could cost me a lot of time and money... and possibly my job. In my field information is both money and power and can make you famous in just fifteen minutes. So I am definitely interested in what you are proposing."
His questions were interesting so she decided to answer the ones she could to help clarify a few things before she accepted the offer. She didn't have anything to hide.
"I'll answer the question about why the documents were buried. At the time that I originally wrote that article I did not have the job that I currently have. That was about five years ago, and a lot of the bigwigs didn't want me to run the story because Hydra was paying them off to keep things quiet. They took the money and shut me up." She sighed and shrugged her shoulders.
"They took my story and told me to drop it and leave it alone. I never really left it alone, but I stopped the official story and more or less did as I was told. I always figured that my article was left on file somewhere within our database and just sat there. So to answer WHO buried it, it was my boss and Hydra at the time. Who uncovered it and brought it back? That is exactly what I want to find out."
She now leaned forward. Her smile faded and she got a bit more serious. "However, I don't ever remember you and I ever talking about my missing documents or mysterious packages. So I now have to ask, how do YOU know about all of this? That obviously now makes you suspect number one..."
She sat back in her chair and returned her smile to her face. "I'll tell you what, I won't tell the police that you went snooping in places that you didn't belong if you sign all the job papers and get an official job here. If you officially work for me and sign the job waiver saying that the laptop and all its information belongs to me, then I'll share with you all of my information that I have collected. That way everyone wins. I could use someone with your talent working here. Agreed?"
It was now her turn to extend her hand to see if he would accept the new terms of agreement.
Last Edit: Jan 8, 2013 20:44:40 GMT -5 by FG Admin
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((More than Words...ESP Roll =18= Cobwebs from inactivity!))
For Bernard it was all about give and take. The Sensitive listened intently,casually retracting his gesture of goodwill as she made a play of her own. Only when Bianca finished her proposal did he reach out again; this time to accept the her offering, dwarfing the soft feminine hand that he clasped.
“I’m not worried about the police.” Bernard stated matter-of-factly looking straight into the eye of his accuser. “Whistle blowing seems a little counterproductive. IF the information WAS acquired illegally as you seem to suggest, wouldn’t you find yourself in a vulnerable position; as guilty as the party who obtained it in the first place just for possessing such a dubious package? ”
"A shame we couldn’t come to an agreement. You said it yourself, information is power. Right now you are in little position to bargain and I’m not about to sign anything that would compromise that leverage. So if it is all the same to you, I think, given the circumstances I will just walk away and seek the answers myself.”
With that Bernard released her hand.
”Good day Miss Saint-John. Thank you for meeting with me, I’m sorry to have wasted your time.” Bernard declared with a sincere smile and a polite parting nod before turning to make his way toward the door.
Bianca didn't look very perturbed about his change of mind. She leaned back in her chair and let off a sigh. "Counterproductive? Not at all. I move forward by taking out the competition. If you had signed the papers though, you would have been an ally. " She shrugged.
"I'm sorry to hear that you don't want to sign the papers. I already have more than enough information to run the story, thanks to my new friend Carson. So I'm not really at a loss here."
"Anyways, if you change your mind the job offer still stands. Oh, before you go I do have one more question. Who is your current employer? If you obtained the information you must have some pretty good resources."
((Power of Persuasion: 16+20 (stat bonus)=36. Dice log isn't very helpful today...))
Last Edit: Jan 10, 2013 15:37:17 GMT -5 by FG Admin
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((ESP roll-Tough nut to crack-roll = 54 minor success)) ((SP 12-1=11))
His orchestrated retreat was momentarily delayed as the stalwart reported blurted out a parting inquiry. It was all he could do to continue to read her lips as he turned away. Bernard momentarily pondered the question regarding his employment as he took his initial step toward the door. Fact of the matter was, he didn’t work for anybody and as long as the Sensitive had trust issues his singularity was likely to continue given his track record.
Bianca was a tough nut to crack, likely as paranoid as he. But the cunning red-headed visitor wasn’t finished yet. “Are you familiar with the N.O.E.R.?” He countered composedly without breaking stride to the elevator. His response had absolutely nothing to do with his employment status but, maybe use of the four lettered acronym would be enough to break down her barriers and let him in.
Last Edit: Jan 11, 2013 20:18:05 GMT -5 by Bernard
Bianca raised an eyebrow at his response. It certainly wasn't the answer she was expecting. 'Noir? Noer? Interesting. Never heard of it...'
She shook her head as he continued to walk away. This name of a company... (or person?) had certainly got her attention. She wanted to know what this was all about.
But more importantly, she wanted to know how he got the information from their private database. She would need to look into this as a potential security breach. She let the man walk as she thought the meeting over.
She leaned back in her chair and lifted the laptop screen back up. "Work, looks like you're put on hold. I need to see what this Noer is."
She opened up a new browser window and began searching the internet for information.
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The return elevator ride would be excruciatingly depressing having departed the reporter’s office with nothing more than that in which he came. Less, if you take into account the added attention the visit could draw to his illicit dealings over the past few days. Worse still, if the skilled journalist were able to piece together the bread crumbs of evidence left from Bernard’s trail of destruction or involve the police as she so impolitely suggested. His stomach sank at the thought.
This woman could put a face to his crimes.
He had all but determined he would simply walk away if she wouldn’t meet his terms. Now, as paranoia set in that decision wasn’t so clear. He had far too much to lose because of mere stubbornness. Bernard stood frozen in place, staring desperately at the button marked lobby as he struggled with the decision. His best option seemed to be the one his was so unwilling to commit. It was time to eat crow and salvage a deal if he could.
With a deep breath, he extended a single finger toward a different selection, causing the doors to the elevator that had never left the top floor to open once again. Reaching into the briefcase he extracted the employment paperwork he had received from Cassie upon his previous visit, holding it within his clenched fist. He could already begin to feel his chest as tighten as he sheepishly poked his head through the door and cleared his throat before he spoke.
“Excuse me once again Miss Saint-John, but I...I would like to take you up on your offer if it is still on the table. Truth is I need the job and I get the feeling I may be in well over my head. No doubt the agent that is missing this item is already actively seeking its return.”.
Last Edit: Jan 14, 2013 21:59:38 GMT -5 by Bernard