Who: Selene Gallio NPCs: Steve Page, notorious businessman When: 09/12/2012 Where: Private Room, her New York Club What: Selene receives a most dangerous threat. Rating: PG-13
The last thing Selene expected was to see Steve Page walking into her Club. The slimeball was constantly trying to undermine her - and anyone else - in all of her business ventures. Whether it was attempting to undercut her on a price of property, or attempting to rip her off on the art and vases she sold from Nova Roma, he was on her hit list. Not a literal one. She did not need to resort to such low class ways of keeping track of people that needed taking care of.
She had other ways to handle that.
Still, it was not her way to snub anyone, asshole businessman notwithstanding. Signaling one of the bouncers, he nodded and led Mr. Page to one of her private rooms. One of the rooms where there were no audio or video to record any happenings in those particular areas. Too many private business transactions were conducted here to allow that to happen. The last thing Selene needed was for anything she said in private to be released to the public urchins. Hence the need for such a room.
Making her way down to the room, greeting people here and there to slow her pace, to make him wait for her to arrive, Selene finally entered the room and greeted her unwanted guest. "Mr. Page. Such a surprise to see you gracing my esteemed Club."
She made no move to shake his hand. She sat slowly on the chair opposite him, keeping her business smile in place. It would take more than a visit from him to rattle her calm.
"I thought I would take a little time out of my busy schedule to visit one of the finest business women in New York," he said easily, resting comfortably in his own chair. "I quite admire you, you know."
Raising her eyebrow as an overt sign of surprise, she said, "I can't say I ever knew that about you. In fact, I would go so far as to say I believed you disliked me. For some odd reason."
Chuckling at the comment, Steve merely shook his head in exaggerated condensation. "Selene, Selene. I thought you were more intelligent then that. I have always admired your drive, your desire to go for the best. Go for the top. Never backing down from your stand. It takes quite the courage to do so. Takes skill. Takes...luck."
There was something not quite right about his words. Many others would consider them compliments of sorts, though they would guess he wanted something. She suspected this was not the case. There was nothing he wanted; not yet, at least. He believed he had information she would find intriguing. "Well, all business takes a little bit of luck. Even the smartest and richest person on the planet needs luck on their side."
"And yet, it seems you never have an unlucky transaction," he said thoughtfully. "Everything seems to go just right for you at the end. Even the best have ventures that do not go as planned. It is almost as if you have an extra little...something."
Alarm bells began ringing in her head, though she just laughed the suggestion off. "Or perhaps my greatest skill is making others believe everything goes as planned. I can assure you, Steve, it is rare for any ventures to go exactly as planned."
"Ah, the Selene I know. The one always with answers," he said as he stood up from his chair and headed towards the door. He paused for a moment at the exit, adding, "Your decision to be so open to mutants has always intrigued me. Many of us in the business would not touch that particular can of worms with a ten foot pole. Perhaps there is something you can offer them the rest of us cannot. Some...common familiarity."
Giving her one last smile, he left the room and headed towards the exit of the Club. Selene waited a moment before following, watching his every move until he disappeared from her buildings. Though the look on her face as as calm and gracious as ever, inwardly Selene was furious. He suspected she was a mutant. He could pussyfoot around the issue as much as possible. He came here specifically to let her know he suspected. To threaten her into submission.
No one did that to Selene and lived. He was a dead man walking.