5 hours ago
So her flawless plan did in fact turn out to have one quite serious flaw, and that was that he would actually notice her standing there and feel compelled to make conversation himself. Which was perfectly okay by Lore, she was not a timid woman. The problem was that he was an unexpected interloper at tonight's event, and therefore she had no prepared cues.
Because Lore was always the most prepared person in the room… except when things deviated from her expectations.
She was certain he was a Volthström but offhand she was unsure which one. She had a very good memory for detail and she didn't forget things, so it would only take her time, but old British bloodlines had not exactly factored into her preparatory reading so as to be fresh. These were actually the sorts of families that had once objected to her father purchasing Ashurst from its ancestral holders – the unwelcome blight of “new money.” Though technically they were descended from bankers themselves, once you were wealthy for long enough she supposed it no longer mattered.
There had been Volthströms studying at Oxford, which was why she was confident in her recognition – not that they had ever socialised in any of the same circles of course, and she had only been there a matter of months before she transferred to the States to escape Damien's shadow anyway. But add to that how Tobias Volthström was famously friendly with Patron Northbrook, and equally infamous for only having the one son so late in his life. Her mind was still clicking over for the name.
“Oh. Yes, I suppose so, in a way – though it depends on how we are defining work. That usually implies a contract and some financial compensation…” she mused. “Work with is probably more accurate.” Though even that implied political acumen and interest Lore lacked, so she still didn’t sound entirely convinced. The assumption was a little revelatory though. No wonder the eyes all rolled off her if the room thought she was just Jessika’s PA. Far from being offended, Lore was slightly relieved.
She in fact had her own interests in Moscow, but it was true she had been swept up in Damien’s tide once again in the meantime. She wasn't sure he had been pleased to see her in Mexico, any more than Lore had been pleased to be there. And Jessika in fact had a perfectly competent team around her, it’s just that Lore knew she would be so much more efficient…
Beneath the frame of his mask he had amazing eyes. She was content to appreciate these things because most people rarely noticed the observation, or not from her. She considered that he might be intending to send her to fetch a drink or deliver a message if he presumed she was staff. Truthfully she was unlikely to correct him if he did – in fact she would probably just do whatever he asked. Though perhaps even more embarrassingly he might be expecting her to convey a message from Jessika.
At something of a loss with what to say next, she was about to say something even she knew was unlikely to go down well – like admiring his choice of observatory pillar – when her brain finally clicked over that final time. She practically beamed. “It's Carter isn't it?” She offered a hand to shake. “I'm Lore.”
Because Lore was always the most prepared person in the room… except when things deviated from her expectations.
She was certain he was a Volthström but offhand she was unsure which one. She had a very good memory for detail and she didn't forget things, so it would only take her time, but old British bloodlines had not exactly factored into her preparatory reading so as to be fresh. These were actually the sorts of families that had once objected to her father purchasing Ashurst from its ancestral holders – the unwelcome blight of “new money.” Though technically they were descended from bankers themselves, once you were wealthy for long enough she supposed it no longer mattered.
There had been Volthströms studying at Oxford, which was why she was confident in her recognition – not that they had ever socialised in any of the same circles of course, and she had only been there a matter of months before she transferred to the States to escape Damien's shadow anyway. But add to that how Tobias Volthström was famously friendly with Patron Northbrook, and equally infamous for only having the one son so late in his life. Her mind was still clicking over for the name.
“Oh. Yes, I suppose so, in a way – though it depends on how we are defining work. That usually implies a contract and some financial compensation…” she mused. “Work with is probably more accurate.” Though even that implied political acumen and interest Lore lacked, so she still didn’t sound entirely convinced. The assumption was a little revelatory though. No wonder the eyes all rolled off her if the room thought she was just Jessika’s PA. Far from being offended, Lore was slightly relieved.
She in fact had her own interests in Moscow, but it was true she had been swept up in Damien’s tide once again in the meantime. She wasn't sure he had been pleased to see her in Mexico, any more than Lore had been pleased to be there. And Jessika in fact had a perfectly competent team around her, it’s just that Lore knew she would be so much more efficient…
Beneath the frame of his mask he had amazing eyes. She was content to appreciate these things because most people rarely noticed the observation, or not from her. She considered that he might be intending to send her to fetch a drink or deliver a message if he presumed she was staff. Truthfully she was unlikely to correct him if he did – in fact she would probably just do whatever he asked. Though perhaps even more embarrassingly he might be expecting her to convey a message from Jessika.
At something of a loss with what to say next, she was about to say something even she knew was unlikely to go down well – like admiring his choice of observatory pillar – when her brain finally clicked over that final time. She practically beamed. “It's Carter isn't it?” She offered a hand to shake. “I'm Lore.”