Page 27 of Dissension

Refusing to sit, Kara picks up the folder and begins to read. She ignores Kallack’s sneering look, waltzing slowly around the room in her black dress, looking at the documents within. She finds she likes walking around quietly when she does this; it puts people on edge.

She goes line by line, barely hearing the conversation of the men in the background.

“Look, Bittinger, everything is in order-”

“We’ll see,” is Dieter’s soft reply. Her chest warms hearing his confidence in her.

Mostly, the contract seems clean. However, there are a few open holes that Kara sees, little ways for the other man to slipout of the deal legally. The contract has some vague lettering that she doesn’t like either. With a sigh of irritation, mad that these two men across the table have tried to pull one over on Dieter, Kara sits down next to him, folder open.

Pointing to a few lines in the contract that she doesn’t agree with, she leans over to whisper in his ear, “Most of the contract is good, but Kallack has left it open for Paulson to sneak out of the deal. He makes it look like he intends to pay the loan and interest as agreed, but there’s a clause around situations where he may not be able to make a payment on time and be allowed to make the payments at a later date. No consequences. No interest listed. No specifics. I don’t like it.”

Dieter exhales slowly. The men across the table look anxious, as if realizing they’ve been found out. He leans back in his seat, looking at them with uncomfortable intensity. “Alright, Kara. How do you propose we fix it?”

The slimy lawyer across the table splutters, face turning red. “There’s absolutely nothing wrong with the contract. What does this slip of a girl know about any of this? Bittinger, be reasonable-”

Kara scowls at the bastard. She points her finger at one of the lines in the contract, saying firmly, “I know enough to know that you wrote a minor loophole into this contract. This isn’t going to fly. I want collateral. I want it to be something that’s going to hurt if your client reneges on his payments. Therewillbe penalties for missed payments.”

Paulson looks at his lawyer sharply, a nervous expression crossing his pinched features. He doesn’t have a poker face, clearly. Not like Kara’s client, she notes with a strange bit of pride. Dieter has remained poised and rather snake-like, emotionless.

It’s strangely empowering, the fact that he’s perfectly happy to let her throw her weight around in this room. In fact, Kara knows it doesn’t bother him one bit.

The other lawyer gives Kara a condescending look, sweat on his brow. Why is he always sweating when she sees him? “We aren’t doing collateral of any sort. That’s absolutely outrageous-”

“Why is it outrageous? Are you new to this game?” Kara feels her blood heat dangerously, her claws and teeth feeling eager for blood. Hungry for it. “You’re asking my client to stick his neck out for you and invest. Why should he invest so much in your client if you have absolutely no collateral to put up if you can’t follow through on your terms? Trying to get missing payments with no interest? Excuse me, this is a completely juvenile attempt at closing a financing deal; I’m embarrassedforyou. I’ll either write in a percentage of late fees and interest or I’ll take collateral. You choose.”

“You unreasonable bitch!”

Kara cackles a bit at that, feeling her dangerous emotions swell, feeding on the discord. “That’s right. I’m a bitch and that’s what he pays me to be. Did you really think Dietrich Bittinger would just sit down and take this sham deal? That’s fucking insulting. I’ll edit this, the way itshould be. Then, we can sit down and your client can sign on the dotted line like a good little boy.”

The ‘good little boy’ goes red.

Dieter is faking a yawn. When he cracks his neck, he groans slightly. He’s ridiculously pleased; he always cracks his neck like this when he’s pleased. “Are we done here? I have other things I need to get to tonight.” He sniffs slightly and Kara knows he’s itching for a bump. It’s disturbing how well she knows his small tells already.

He stands up, causing the other man across the table to scramble to his feet as well. Paulson looks flustered, nervous,wringing his hands. “I’m sorry, Mr. Bittinger, I hope my counsel didn’t insult you with the contract…”

The slimy douche beside him turns an interesting shade of purple. Kara almost feels bad for him, getting thrown under the bus by his limp noodle of a client. Almost, but not quite. In fact, lately she finds herself not feeling pity for anyone she comes across during her adventures with Dieter.

Adventures with Dieter. Maybe she’ll start a special diary and make that her title page.

He allows her to be the hammer in the room. It’sfun. Gloriousfun. The outlet it gives her to be a hardass to anyone who tries to play a weak hand is undeniable.

He’s changing you, a whisper utters in her mind.Is he changing you for the worse?

The men are wrapping up their conversation. “I’ll give you a chance to re-write the contract. I expect it to be as Kara likes. If you piss her off a second time, I won’t give you another moment at the table.”

Kallack nods, still red and angry looking. “Of course. I’ll make the suitable changes.”

Dietrich isn’t smiling, hasn’t smiled once since entering the room. He doesn’t seem to want to linger. “See that you do.” He holds his elbow out for Kara to grab, escorting her from the room. When she attaches herself to him, he silently pulls her away.

His face is still stony.

“Did I come on too strong?” Kara asks, only slightly worried that she got too aggressive. Is he displeased with her? Kallack brings out the worst in her with his sleazeball ways.

Dietrich seems distracted as he pulls her along. “You could be the queen of the damned and I literally wouldn’t bat an eye.”

Well, that’s strangely comforting. Andtroubling.

When they return to the glittering banquet hall, Kara tries to not search the room for Nick and Claire, knowing they’re both present,somewhere.She doesn’t want to see them together, it hurts, twisting up her guts into knots. Her eyes pass over a myriad of faces and she resigns herself to the fact that the night is probably only going to get worse when Dieter takes an odd turn towards the far hall.

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