Business with cuttingedge

[have_no_mercy]

'Monday morning' is such a subjective term. And Tess is going to take full advantage of that before she finally heads off to make good on her appointment with Ryan Edge. After all, she has three companies of her own to attend to, aside from all her extra-curricular activities

Comments

[cuttingedge]

Morning is only a subjective term for those who are not up somewhere around the crack of dawn, going through a daily exercise regimen and then having a healthy breakfast before attacking whatever business has been slotted for that particular day. Take Ryan, for instance. He's been up since 7 am, done his workout, had breakfast with his family, and arrived close to 8:30. It's given him at least two hours to get through other items on the to-do list, and halfway through a third when he's alerted to Tess' arrival

[have_no_mercy]

For her part, Tess has completed near a day's worth of work before her arrival. She's no stranger to the crack of dawn herself.

She settles into the chair without a word, well aware of what it's like to have another city on the line when something else requires your attention. Tess will amuse herself by scanning the 'office' carefully.

When she's addressed, however, Ryan gets her full attention. "As always, Mr. Edge. I'm doing quite well. And yourself?" Ah, social niceties.

[cuttingedge]

It's not a typical office, at least in the sense that Ryan's father would have used. Morgan preferred modern chic combined with an overtly masculine feel, so that you knew who was in charge the moment you walked into a room with him. Ryan, for his part, assumes that people will already know that. It's subdued more than anything else, warm without being blatant.

The desk is the largest thing in the room, in the shape of a curved 'L', and subjected to neat piles of folders and paperwork. A few pictures dominate the walls, mostly of world wonders; the Great Wall of China, Victoria Falls, that sort of thing. It speaks of a man comfortable in his own skin.

"Good, as always. Can I get you anything to drink before we start?"

[have_no_mercy]

It's tidy, neat and there's no clutter one might expect from someone in his line of work. Tess appreciates that. Although she's disappointed to see the Great Barrier Reef failed to make the cut for his wall decor.

Perhaps she'll rectify that one day.

"No, I'm fine, thank you." With that out of the way, she reaches into her briefcase and quickly pulls out several file folders, colour coordinated, of course. "This is what I was hoping you'd be able to help us out with," Tess says, right down to business, leaning forward to set the folders on his desk. It's all there, design plans, schematics, materials required, security concerns, financial proposal and a general information package about the tower itself. All indications are that it is what the public thinks it will be: a solar tower, capable of powering the city with clean energy.

[cuttingedge]

"Probably not. You want a job well done, you come to me and you don't rush it. If time really is of the essence, than feel free to hit up one of the other contractors in town, but I can guarantee that they won't put forth the same amount of effort I will in giving you exactly what you want."

Ryan picks up one of the folders, containing the overview, and flips through it again. "A self sustaining solar tower doesn't come cheap, and it doesn't come as quickly as you might like. I'll have a counter proposal for you on Thursday. Say, dinner here at six?"

[have_no_mercy]

"Why do you think I came to you first?" Tess is well aware of what she'll get, not only from Ryan but from his more above board competitors.

She can't help but smile, however. "Well, if you're going to throw dinner in, how can I possibly say no?"

[cuttingedge]

"Because I'm the best." Regardless of whether his methods or other companies aren't exactly legal, like the second 'business' his father left him, Ryan is very certain of this - at least in Metropolis. That doesn't mean he isn't making plans to expand, and this tower will help him with that.

"Then it's a dinner. I'll see you Thursday evening."

[have_no_mercy]

"I was going to say it's your stunning smile, but we can go with that."

Tess closes her briefcase, then sets it in her lap, preparing to leave. "Thursday at six."