Faust

We reap what we sow

I feel like she's trying to devour me with those gray eyes. It feels like they see me as who I am better than I do..... No, stop thinking. The most important thing about negotiations is having ledgers on your opponent. On that part she already got the upper hand, what I can do now is try to figure out her agenda and twist it towards my benefit. To do that. I can't let her see me as an inferior person. She believes that she controls the situation, and me.
         I need to prove her wrong.

"Can I use my inhaler ?" I put my hand in my jacket. She nods and gives a 'please' gesture while that little smile remains unchanged.  Nan doesn't move or make any sound as I pull out my drug inhaler.
           She's the has the say in this room. He wouldn't question her decisions.
           I push the string on top just one time and take a puff. In this situation, I can only allow myself that much. This is a 'working' scenario, not a 'social' scenario. That one puff is just to stop me from overthinking.

           I slowly puff out, there's no way they don't recognize that smell. Nan let out a little chuckle.

           "I didn't know you like opium, Mr.Lee. If you want we can provide you with more here."  This is the first time I hear her voice. It reminds me of wind chime in summer breeze.
           "Thank you for the kind offer. But I believe anything free of charge will have you pay in other ways." I smile back at her.

"Mr.Lee I apologize for any discomfort or hostility you feel on your way here. I would like this work to be done in private as you probably know our organization is very xenophobic."

"That, I do understand. But what bothers me is why you want to use a stranger for such a work if your people dislike it that much."

           First move.
"I have my reasons, and I'm afraid those are not for you to know."

Straight-up denial. Huh?

"Usually I value my employers' privacy as much as they do. But this one is a bit too strange and personal for me to look the other way."

           Small push.

"I assured you this fair although as strange as it is, will not influence you in any way personal."

           Well, that was a fucking lie.

           "Miss Qin, maybe our definition of 'personal fair' is very distinct. But blackmailing my friend to have me working for you seems very personal to me." Nan shivers at that sentence.     
Weird.
            She looks..... annoyed, she turns her attention to nan. He lost his grin and have a poker face on.
            "Miss..... you did say get him here at all cost." Motherfucker. So it was your idea. Qin Yan stares at nan for a second before she softly signs.
            "Mr.Lee I am deeply sorry for my man's means to have you here. As a token of my apology, I'll double your payment for this." Wordlessly I stares at nan, who still got his poker face on. Well. That doesn't explain much but is good that I know now. And as for the money......

             60k...... That's about how much I'll charge if the job involves me getting shot at.

            "I came here for my friend's sake. Miss Qin if you want me to consider taking the job. Then on top of cash payment, I need your words that after it's done my friends or myself will not be blackmailed again neither by you nor anyone in your organization." I say the last part while looking dead into nan's eyes.

            "Deal."  That sorts out one of the problems. But makes the fact that she specifically asks for me to do the job more suspicious.
            "Mr.Lee, I'm glad the problem is sorted. Surely we can discuss business now ?"She asks with a small sign of impatience.
            "Surely."
            "Splendid. The job is simple. I'll only need you to deliver this package to Ivan at Nochnaya."    
Oh fuck.