Poseidon gave Chrysanthemum her time to speak. She was doing her best to read his face, but he was focused on taking in her proposal. He was stoic and pensive and all the other words that made it hard to guess what was going on in someone’s mind. She rationalized that thinking and consideration were appropriate answers from a man who knew how to operate as a business and as a leader. He had variables to take into account, not the least of which being the woman taking a nervous bite out of her lobster and the seafood stuffing it was topped with.

Beyond the sounds of Chrys eating and the faint traces of sounds from the nearby club, the room was silent. The businesswoman was trying to focus on her food and act nonchalant, but her eyes darted back to Jorge when his voice broke the silence.

She had his interest. He admitted as much with his first statement, but she could see it in his eyes. He saw the potential in their partnership. There was so much they could accomplish together, and the cogs were already turning as he saw all the ways he could use her resources to do great things.

Jorge did still have one question inspired by Chrysanthemum’s behavior and forwardness, and he gave her the respect of asking plainly, one businessperson to another. He wanted to know what she was hoping to receive from her end of their agreement. Chrys dabbed the corners of her mouth with a cloth napkin and leaned over the table. ”Of course, I have a great many things I was hoping for in coming to you. Obviously, from a business standpoint, my company stands to make a lot of money partnering with your enterprise. My business department will work on numbers we can both be happy with—and I certainly want to keep you happy,” she added, twirling a dark lock of hair around her finger.

”But I am not just my company. Jorge, I want a seat at your table.” Chrys looked down and back up before amending, ”Your metaphorical table. As a company, I want to be your partner. As a person… I want to be a part of what you will turn the Syndicate into. I’ll play whatever role I can in your grand game.” She recognized when someone was playing a larger game than she was, and she respected a player as skilled as Jorge. ”I’m not giving away my world; I want a place in the one you’re creating.”

So this was what it boiled down to...a partnership. Admittedly, Jorge was curious about pulling a woman like Chrysanthemum into the operation would be like. She was smart, she had wealth and influence, and, the best part, she seemed fairly twisted enough to actually warrant working with. But why? What was it that she was after? After all, no one joined an organization like his, at least someone like Chrys, for the sheer fun of it. There was something else that she wanted and Jorge knew never to make dealings with someone until he was sure of all the cards they held in their hands.

So he asked. She was essentially selling out her entire universe in order to help him come marching in, but why? Did her world really slight her so much? Could she really be so upset with it that she wanted to see it brought to its knees? Or was she truly that dedicated to the cause? It was an interesting proposition, indeed, but he needed the full picture.

>>”Of course, I have a great many things I was hoping for in coming to you. Obviously, from a business standpoint, my company stands to make a lot of money partnering with your enterprise. My business department will work on numbers we can both be happy with—and I certainly want to keep you happy,”

He smirked. She was sultry, alright, but considering what she could do, Jorge made sure to keep his distance...in a respectful manner, of course. The twisted and knowing grin that pulled at his lips would have been unsettling for anyone else. However, he had a feeling that it was a look that not only was she familiar with, but comfortable with too. After all, if she could still want to work with him after being chained up for twenty-four hours, who was he was judge?

”Oh sweetheart…” he grinned. ”...I’m certain you’ve more than enough qualities to keep me happy.” A slight nod to her.

>>”But I am not just my company. Jorge, I want a seat at your table.”

An eyebrow raised as they both glanced down to the table she was seated at. A momentary joke, that was all, but it was enough for Chrysanthemum to recenter herself.

>>”Your metaphorical table. As a company, I want to be your partner. As a person… I want to be a part of what you will turn the Syndicate into. I’ll play whatever role I can in your grand game...I’m not giving away my world; I want a place in the one you’re creating.”

That was certainly an excellent answer. Jorge had to admit that he could see a lot of potential in this partnership now. She wasn’t trying barter for her world, she wasn’t trying to just randomly get revenge, but rather she was looking for a way of ensuring her own survival. That was something that Jorge could certainly respect. He respected survivors, he always did.

With a nod of his head he leaned back in his chair as he gestured for her to continue. ”If that’s all you want…” he grinned. ”...then I’m certain that we have something to talk about.”