Who: Effie Trinket, Haymitch Abernathy, GANON When: Backdated by like, a week? Where: Ganon's office What: Ganon wants money. Rating/Warnings: Low/None (blackmail, mentions of extra-curricular affair) Status: Complete
His business was as grand as he’d advertised; lit up with neon lights, fountains everywhere, beautiful landscaping and staff in the utmost professional clothing. In the past couple weeks he’d done plenty to improve the appearances of the hotel and casino, and the results showed just how much money this man had at his disposal.
They’d been escorted up to his office on the very top level of the casino, first going through a maze of hallways and then an elevator. They knew they were close when the number of security personnel increased, all buff with concealed weaponry. They would get stared at, as if these men’s eyes could burn away flesh and leave bare bone.
Behind two white doors with golden handles laid his office. The marble floor was flawless, the space was unnecessarily large. There was a fireplace and mantle on one end a massive aquarium containing all sorts of exotic fish.
Ganon was standing next to his desk, flipping through some old paperwork with a glare when he looked up.
Effie knew about security guards. She’d felt the presence of the Peace Keepers in District Eleven during the victory tour. This felt like that, only worse. Because these people really had it in for her, not just… you know… keeping the peace.
She stood a little closer to Haymitch than she should have once they were finally in the office, then stepped forward when he looked up. She held up the envelope. “I got your package.”
There was no way Haymitch was going to allow Effie to enter that office alone. He’d agreed to park around the corner and enter the casino seperately but he wouldn’t let her enter that room on her own. Upon seeing the number of security personnel he was glad he’d insisted. He knew exactly what these men would remind her of.
He rested his hand at the small of her back briefly, giving her reassurance that he was with her every step of the way. He’d let her handle it, until the point came where he needed to step in.
Ganon hadn’t been too surprised to see Haymitch with her. He recognized him from the pictures, knew a little bit from his own PI personnel following them. The old relic Effie was married to was nearing his funeral and it was only right to assume the man she’d been having an affair with would step into that role. Eventually.
“Glad you were able to make it,” he said, flashing a charming smile before filing some papers away and sitting behind his desk. “Please. Take a seat. May I get you two something to drink? A glass of water? Scotch, maybe?”
All courtesy and the appearances of a host for now.
“No.” Effie said, shifting her weight. The hand on her lower back had been comforting. But still. She didn’t want to seem too interested in his touch. “Thank you. I’d just like to get this unpleasantness taken care of, if it’s all the same to you.” She took a step forward and dropped the envelope onto the man’s desk.
Haymitch watched the man, he was cool and charming and more dangerous than Haymitch had originally credited him to be. He knew more than these pictures showed. Shit. Just what was he going to ask for. Or rather how much. Haymitch had money but nothing like Effie’s husband and she had no access to it. Haymitch didn’t move. He stood watching and waiting.
“Wonderful. As would I.” No pleasantries. Down to business. He could handle that. From his heap of items on his desk he pulled out of folder with a plethora of documents, all with fine print and signatures and numbers. “Shame your husband didn’t tell you about the loans, though. Wouldn’t have caught you with the surprise that it did. But the fact is, he’s almost dead, and by default, anything he owes will fall on you. Now, I’ve outlined a list of payment options for you - typically by monthly - with interests listed.”
He slid the paperwork to her. There were plenty of zero’s on the final number owed. Too much for comfort, actually.
Effie took hold of the paperwork to look it all over. It made her jaw drop. The amount of money that the Old Man owed to this casino owner was staggering. From what Effie knew, the Old Man didn’t have this much money. He couldn’t even make this much money.
As she read the papers, the color drained from her face. She had no idea where she was going to come up with the money to repay these loans.
Haymitch looked at the papers over Effie’s shoulder and his eyes widened fractionally, what the hell had the old man been doing? “This can’t be right? Who could possibly owe so much? How?”
“Her husband, apparently,” Ganon said, answering for Haymitch. He’d seen worse, and in extreme cases like that, there’d be your typical murder and then possessing all of the client’s belongings, and possibly terrorizing the family. Honestly, he was responding to her situation with a kindness - not like he went into her house and trashed everything as a warning.
Although that kind of fun was surely tempting.
Ganon was about to write on something else when he paused, glancing up at Effie and looked at her for a second. And then his eyes traveled down, as if he was now examining her presence for the first time. “Of course, there are other ways to lessen the debt that don’t involve money.”
It was just now pressing upon her how much trouble Effie Trinket was in. She’d been worried about leaving her husband only a week ago, and now? Now his debt was going to crush her.
Effie finally lifted her eyes from the paper to look at Ganon. There was a look of shock on her face. “Wh-What?” She asked, her lips pulling down into a scowl.
Haymitch just didn’t get why either party had let it go on so long. Surely this kind of debt was obviously not going to be able to be paid, even if they could hand over everything the old man had. It was baffling.
He watched as dark eyes raked over Effie and when he spoke Haymitch barely held himself back from launching himself across the desk. His hands curled into fists, “Not happening” he bit out, “We’ll get you your money. So you can remove whatever filthy idea you have from your mind” it was clear he was angry. Very angry.
Ganon couldn’t help but laugh.
“Obviously, you two have a completely one-tracked mind. Tsk, tsk.” He could have meant it in a completely twisted way. He could have meant it in a completely different way. The truth was read between the lines, and right now they were more than blurred. “Ms. Trinket won’t be forced to do anything she doesn’t want. How she repays the debt, whatever odd favors she does to lessen it - all up to her.”
No more laughs, and then the grin faded, eyes flashing something dangerous.
“As long as it is paid off. I’ve done nothing more than to cooperate with that old man of yours. I’m done waiting. Look over those options and discuss it amongst yourselves. Get back to me when a decision has been made.”
Effie knew there was no way she was ever going to be able to pay off this debt. Maybe if she won the lottery. That was a lot of zeros. She turned her eyes back down to the paperwork and frowned more deeply, but her hands were shaking and she wasn't able to read the words anymore. She nodded once. "You'll get what's coming to you. I promise."
“This isn’t Effie’s debt, the old man’s still around why aren’t you making arrangements with him?” Haymitch said, hating that Effie was having to put up with this crap. “It should be him paying you back” He pointed out.
Ganon sighed. The furrow of his brows signified the rise of his annoyance. “Let me repeat myself. He’s steps away from being in a coffin. Once he dies, any debt he owes - whether it be me, to an actual bank, and so forth - will fall onto his spouse.” A pen pointed to Effie. “I’m saving myself the paperwork and handling it with the one who will, eventually, be responsible. Is there another language you’d like me to translate that to, Mr. Abernathy? Or was that succinct enough to understand for you?”
He gave a nod to the security guards by the door. They’d either get out soon, or they’d be forced out. He’d leave that decision to them.
“That was succinct enough. Thank you, Mr. Ganon.” Well, that settled it. Effie had to divorce the Old Man. That would take care of all of it. She turned to lead the way across the room and out the door flanked with security guards, but before she took her first step, her hand found Haymitch’s. She gave him a tug to come along with her.
For once over the course of their affair, Effie didn’t care who saw them.
Haymitch didn’t like it, it wasn’t fair and it assumed far too much. But he remained silent, letting Effie reply before leaving with her. Holding her hand firmly in his, he couldn’t care less if anybody saw them but then he’d been encouraging her to leave the old man for a while now.