Golden Rule - Transaction Center
Day 2
The transaction center of Golden Rule was in full swing that day. Businesspeople rushed from one end to the other of the large lobby of glass and metal and gold that stretched many floors up, bartering for stocks and deals, interrupting each other and focusing on their phones or notes as they took in the many screens and projections displaying charts and graphs of financial importance. Sound proof rooms were occupied in great numbers for meetings of all sorts, goods changed hands, deals were made and people shook on official agreements. Duplicity, deception and manipulation of all sorts weaved an extremely flammable web of webs among the hopeful mighty that swarmed the place.
This luxurious building was attached to the central headquarters of the company that had firmly entrenched itself as the one definite corporation in town, Golden Rule. The tall and imposing construction amidst the company's great skyscrapers was a place where money and powers passed and flowed through in greater amounts daily than a regular person would see in their entire lives, one of the economical centers of Nexus City itself.
In one particular, discreet room situated at the middle floors, two men sat across from each other over a table in which a pen and a set of papers that showed veritable walls of text was. One of them, who looked the meeker, took the pen and quickly had something written down on the documents, which he then passed along the writing utensil to the other. The individual took the pen and started to scribble his own part in the sealing of the agreement. His hand moved slowly in contrast with his eyes, which seemed to pursue the words on paper with sharp analysis and movements quicker than his business partner could follow.
Dominique Reever, in his nice suit and smooth executive look, businessman extraordinaire, experienced in transactions and con deals, looking much smaller than he was used to, did not quite know what to make of the man before his eyes that had introduced himself as Carl Bergschatten.
His appearance alone should not have been of great surprise or awe to Dominique, as he had dealt with more unusual looking people before. The strong build, the incredibly trimmed boxed beard and dark brown hair slicked back gave the man a respectable, rugged look, but it did not stand out in any way from the suit that must've been made of the finest dark blue he had ever seen, as the man himself appeared majestic. All of it drew him apart from regular people, but his eyes were the first thing to raise alarms. Those prismatic, knowing orbs of many tones of rich yellow that swirled with the light looked liked they had more years than the number of refractions within them, and they were as enticing as they were terrifying.
That wasn't the only thing, of course. This was not Dominique's first time dealing with Mr. Bergschatten. He had done small business and gone through purchases and sales with him, from him and to him, before on numerous occasions, most of them directly related to Golden Rule. Nothing had given him the impression the unusual older man was particularly business savvy. As people in his line of work tended to, just like a shark in the water, he had smelled blood hearing of this much much larger proposal that included many thousands' worth of magical materials, properties, and other assorted things. So Dominique had with all his greed, wrote a truly eviscerating, long winded, purposefully confusing contract that would heavily benefit him and eskew the other party entirely for profit. As soon as Bergschatten had walked through the door the wry businessman had actively engaged him in oh so pleasant, routine conversation to bring about the most casual atmosphere he reasonably could, derailing the themes he spoke of even as he off-mentioned the points of the contract, expertly manipulating him to further draw his attention from the deal.
Dominique had not quite expected, in blunt terms, his bullshit to be utterly seen through. He had to fight with his urge to choke as the other man did not fail to notice the intricacies he was attempting to hide; almost nonchalantly waved off the underlying issue as he argued him into the corrections necessary for the deal to adhere to the true conditions they had agreed on; and confused him by giving lead to the completely unrelated conversation they were having before. For some reason he was unable to say "no" to Mr. Bergschatten's demands, even though he was sure there was no supernatural influence whatsoever on him, and simply went along with the flow.
"Here, Mr. Reever."
The voice of Bergschatten broke through his train of thought like the thundering of a waterfall, and straightening to attention, Dominique took the contract back and only absent-mindedly gave everything a final check, avoiding the yellow eyes fixed on him.
"All checks out."
"Excelent." Was the reply, and Carl Bergschatten extended his hand to Dominique for a sealing handshake.
The businessman hesitated only for a moment before taking it. And so they concluded their meeting, in a far more orderly and oddly pleasing note than he would expect from someone who realized mid way the other party was trying to cheat him.
Bergschatten took no longer than a few seconds to pack his papers and copy of the contract, and giving a polite greeting, left the office in stride looking satisfied with himself.
Dominique sank into his couch just then, reeling back from his client's goodbye smile and the dangerous, knowing glint he swore he saw in it. Sighing, he ran a hand over his wide forehead to wipe away his sweat, but abruptly pulled it back. Confused, he blinked twice as he realized his palm was much hotter than it should be. And that Bergschatten's own had seemed like a furnace as it touched his skin.
------------------------------------
Watch your back;
Shoot straight;
Conserve ammo;
And never make a deal with a dragon.
- The most well-known guidelines of Shadowrunners
