Kindness and Charisma

[Aela Talith]

[member="Alexia Santiago"]

Ten percent was actually a pretty decent rate for helping someone fence something, especially when that something was a priceless piece of art. He would likely clear something well into the millions even after everything was said and done.

Still. "Twenty five percent."

Wes said simply. He wasn't just going to take the first offer.

"I'll be doing most of the work." He reminded her. "Plus I can probably make the sale within three days."

That was also a lie, he didn't have a buyer lined up and it might take longer, though she wouldn't know that of course. There were parts of this business that were sort of unseen, even by other criminals. There was a reason Fences were so specialized.

 

[Alexia Santiago]

[member="Wes Spalding"]

"Fifteen," she said smoothly and without a hitch. "I'm the one getting you into this shindig where you'll meet more potential clients and grow your business exponentially." She knew fifteen percent was extremely decent for a fence. Generous even. But she had no problems negotiating. It was fun to her, in a nerdy way.

Reminded her of her Da and how he could haggle almost anything.

"Aaand, I'll be doing all the work during the party to get the painting out," she reminded him gently but firmly. Bag shifted on her shoulder and she got a better grip on the box of tarts.

 

[Aela Talith]

[member="Alexia Santiago"]

That was more than enough truthfully. Even if he sold the painting for thirty million credits he would clear four point five million, not bad for essentially doing nothing.

Of course a buyer would take time to find, but he could probably contact Jorba back on Nar Shaddaa and see if he knew anyone. There were a dozen Crime Lords and Sith with money to waste, someone always wanted something new and pretty, no matter what it actually was. Throw a bit of a legend into a piece? Yeah they were more than happy to shell out a ludicrous amount of money for what was essentially some oils thrown onto a piece of canvas.

Idiots. "Done."

He told her with a wide smile. She likely knew that fifteen was too much, but what was done was done. Wes would find her a buyer for the painting, and then they would part ways.

"Kiss on it?" Wes asked her with a wide smile.

 

[Alexia Santiago]

[member="Wes Spalding"]

Good. They had a deal. It ensured he'd be out of her hair at the ball and she'd have a clean exit and it ensured that he didn't go blabbing his mouth about a stolen and staged kiss. It also ensured her temporary safety with the Senator. She smiled slowly but it was nothing impish. She wore so many masks, so it was hard to tell what her genuine smile was. Only a few select people knew or could pick it out.

Perhaps for Wes she gave him one, though quick.

"You wish," hand came from behind her back and on her way out, she patted Wes' chest, letting the re-sealed tube of bright orange paint press against his jacket. She'd been prepared to squirt it all over his dress outfit and ruin it, if she'd had to. Would've delayed him awhile and set him back a few thousand credits.

But she didn't.

The sealed paint tube was harmless. Just as quickly she went to withdraw her hand, leaving that paint with the painter. The unused weapon.

 

[Aela Talith]

[member="Alexia Santiago"]

He let a scowl sit on his face for a few moments, though he said nothing as she turned away from him. There was much to do, and bandying about paints for too long would just end up with him getting angry and her as a dead body in the back alleyway.

That wouldn't do either of them any good. "Let's go."

Wes pointed to the painting. He wasn't about to carry it, and she was supposed to take it as a gift anyway, though exactly how she planned to replace the original he actually had no idea. There were quite a few options for her to take, though which one she would actually choose he had no idea.

"Wouldn't want to be late." He told her with a smile. "He'll get jealous."

Better to keep her on her toes.

 

[Alexia Santiago]

[member="Wes Spalding"]

She set the tarts down and began to carefully roll-up the painting. Then she grabbed it all. Wes was a real gentlemen. Typical. Like everyone else in this line.

"Whoa. You're not coming with me. I'll send an electronic invite when I get back. Best if we don't show up together."

She had his number.

Trying to balance and carry everything, she teetered to the door.

 

[Aela Talith]

[member="Alexia Santiago"]

He rolled his eyes. "Fine."

Was his answer. He didn't trust her of course, only an idiot would have, but he was willing to go out on this small limb at the very least. Mostly it was because he already saw the profit that would be happening here, and he knew that she needed him to actually sell the painting in the first place. He frowned for a moment, and then looked her up and down.

"Just remember." He called after her. "I don't bluff."

Were she to forget about their arrangement there would be dire consequences.

For her and maybe him.

 

[Alexia Santiago]

[member="Wes Spalding"]

"Yeah, yeah. A real Prince Charming." With a final teeter, she managed to get the doors open herself - with the tarts, painting, purse and all! She was very talented.

She didn't even offer Wes a look back as the door closed behind her.

She managed to sneak back home and into the house to stash the replica before the senator saw her. Though, she definitely got a bruising grip on her arm later. Nothing she could cover up with makeup. He was angry she'd taken so long.

She couldn't decide who was worse. Wes or the 'wife-beater' senator. Maybe Wes could kiss better.

A few hours later she was dressed in a navy gown and looked like a queen. And Wes did get that electronic invitation. She may be a conwoman but she was true to her word with her own. Usually.

Feeling the senator's eyes on her neck as she wandered away, she took a glass of bubbly and another for him.

 

[Aela Talith]

[member="Alexia Santiago"]


Wes was rather glad to see that Alexia had come through for him, mostly because he hadn't actually wanted to antagonize the Senator. A man like that could create quite a bit of trouble for him, and he still had to live on Coruscant after all. Better to just let everything go smoothly instead of ruining what he had on this world.

Of course Alexia very likely could have gotten away with not sending the invitation at all. What she hadn't known was that Wes couldn't press the issue. Even if he'd delivered the pictures to the estate somehow the Senator likely wouldn't have looked at them until tomorrow, and it was doubtful that the Forger could have made it past security, thus if she had just called his bluff she might have gotten off scott-free. Better for him that she hadn't realized it.

"Aaah." Wes said as he stepped into the lobby of the massive estate. "How nice to be back."

He mused to himself as he gently tugged on the bottom of his jacket.

"Now lets see whose here." Amusement rung through his voice as he stepped into the party proper.

 

[Alexia Santiago]

[member="Wes Spalding"]

Head quarter turned as she heard a familiar voice. Wes had made it. Lips twitched slightly. A firm hand at her back broke her attention as the senator's slightly inebriated voice reached her ear. "Darling, you've been gone so long."

She hadn't. Just a minute to get them both drinks. He was getting out of control. She handed him the champagne glass.

"Sweet-cake," she smiled and let her hand trail up his arm. "Just getting something to wet your throat."

"I can think of other ways," he slurred and pulled her into a sloppy kiss. His eyes turned to the stranger who just walked in. Wes. Noting that expensive suit. He was a politician, always looking for donors and supporters. "Whose that? Why don't you go introduce me." His fingers latched around her arm and caused a slight wince to ripple across her masked face.

"Sure sweetie." She walked with the senator toward Wes, his bruising grip still in her arm. "Hello sir," she spoke to Wes like they'd never met. "May I introduce you to our host, Senator Borram."

 

[Aela Talith]

[member="Alexia Santiago"]

He couldn't help but roll his eyes when he saw the duo walk towards him, not because of jealousy of course. Wes didn't care if the Senator threw Alexia on the nearest table and had his way with her, but because they were going to interrupt his business.

His intent had been to use the Senator's various art pieces to strike up conversations with the dozens of rich people who were in attendance at this little party. He had wanted to essentially make in roads in this community, playing himself off as a legitimate art dealer to those who wanted the real thing, and a purveyor of...goods to those who weren't as interested in the idea of where the real thing came for. The former would have received forgeries of course.

The latter? Well that would depend.

"Good evening." Wes gave a short bow of his head.

"You have a lovely home." He told the Senator. "Many fine pieces."

Art was what he could talk about the best.

 

[Alexia Santiago]

[member="Wes Spalding"]

The senator beamed. He loved compliments. At least Wes didn't call her out. She'd expect nothing less. "I thought so too," he practically purred. Walking over he gave Wes a hard slap in the back, finally releasing Alex. Arm twitched. She had to keep from rubbing at the fresh bruises. But she was a big girl. She could take care of herself.

"Why don't I show you around?" In other words, he wanted to brag. And brag and brag.

"I'm going to check on the other guests," she began and took a step away.

 

[Aela Talith]

[member="Alexia Santiago"]

"You know." Wes began. "I'd like that Senator."

That was a lie, a horrible, horrid lie. This man seemed about as likeable as a Nexu with a bloody mouth, meaning Wes didn't want to be anywhere near him at any time at all. Luckily for him he was pretty good at getting away from people when he needed to, and thus he simply went with the easiest and perhaps oldest trick in the book. "But I'm afraid the delicious drinks you're serving have gone right through me."

For a second Wes thought the man was going to yell at him.

"AHAHAHHAA"

Even his laugh was annoying.

"Alright I'll catch up with you later then, Bathroom is right down the hall to the left."

Wes smiled. "Thank you Senator, I'll be sure to grab that tour."

The man nodded and Wes immediately turned away, his face contorting in a mix of disgust as he began to follow after Alexia, his lips thinning. What an unpleasant person.

 

[Alexia Santiago]

[member="Wes Spalding"]

Luckily the senator was a bit too drunk at the moment to notice Alex's absence at his side and in that bruising grip of his. Plus, a business man just walked up to chat as she and Wes walked away. He hadn't always been like that. Only recently. And for a moment, she wondered how many other women had suffered at his hands.

She did not feel bad about this job at all. She usually tried to target people who had it coming. So the senator was nothing new, she just had to be careful. Hand came up and briefly ran across her lightly bruised skin before quickly falling away.

"Smooth exit," she whispered to Wes, without turning around.

 

[Aela Talith]

[member="Alexia Santiago"]

He glanced at her, a small smile on his lips.

"Well." Wes half turned to glance back at the Senator. Half of him wasn't sure if the man even knew what he had, or if he even cared. It seemed that the Art was just a way for him to establish himself, talk about himself. He'd seen it a dozen times before.

The man had no appreciation for art, only what art could bring him.

"I assume we'll be going to the bathroom." He leaned into her and gently placed a hand onto her rear, his back towards the Senator who was just a few meters behind him. "Have some fun?"

Wes was playing a very dangerous game, but that was what made it fun.

 

[Alexia Santiago]

[member="Wes Spalding"]

Cerulean eyes widened slightly but she made no break in her stride, didn't even turn around as she felt that warm breath of his cascading close to her neck and those fingers of his slide over the curve of her...

"Wes. Spalding," she whispered firmly back. There was a dark alcove ahead, nestled just before the archway that lead to the stairs and back up to the painting in the senator's study. He had no idea of the danger he was getting himself into. If anyone else had tried what he was so brazenly doing right now she would've turned on a credchit and smacked him in the face and made a scene. She could only imagine what the senator would do. If anyone happened to glance their way...

"Unless you would like to end up in a body bag on the well manicured lawn out back, I'd strongly suggest you remove your hand."

They were passing through the last of the crowds.

 

[Aela Talith]

[member="Alexia Santiago"]

"Hm?" The senator was a boffoon, and although he could tell Alexia didn't even really like him, this simple act made him feel better about the other man being such an idiot. Besides, there was also the fact that she had a pretty nice rear end.

"Oh." He said. "Sorry."

Suddenly his hand did not remove itself, but instead his fingers stretched and scrunched and then moved back to back for a second. When Wes glanced down at Alexia he saw her rather displeased expression. False confusion pulled on his face.

"Ohhh. You said remove." He nodded his head and slowly moved his hand away.

"Gotcha." Finally Wes removed his palm. "My bad."

 

[Alexia Santiago]

[member="Wes Spalding"]

Shoulders stiffened as he got a real handful. Heeled-feet stumbled just slightly but they were already within the temporary safety of the alcove. She did have a very nice rear, thank you very much. She spun around in that low-neck cut formal dress of hers as if she could back him up against that alcove wall. Her lithe form wasn't a match for his muscle. Even if his exercising was just painting all day.

So, she settled for a strong finger poke in that chest of his. Cerulean eyes were sharp enough to to cut. "Your bad?! This is not an all-you-can-eat buffet. I'm trying to get us both out of this alive. And as millionaires but you're making this very difficult!"

This is why she hated unknown variables.

 

[Aela Talith]

[member="Alexia Santiago"]

Wes held up his hands.

"I thought you told me to do it." He lied. "Some kind of ploy to get the Senators attention."

Again that was a complete and utter lie, but she didn't have to know that, though she probably did. Wes hadn't exactly been subtle about the whole thing, in fact he'd been downright gross about it. The Forger smiled at her, then offered her a quick wink.

"What next?" He glanced.

They were pretty well hidden within the tiny alcove, though just where they were going to go next was up to her.

 

[Alexia Santiago]

[member="Wes Spalding"]

Eyes rolled.

What a scoundrel. She too glanced around. They didn't have much time. Finger lowered away from that chest of his. Fingers smoothed down the fabric of her dress in the back.

"Everything is ready upstairs. I'm going to switch the painting. Think you can distract the senator and make sure he stays away?"

Hands perched on her hips as she gave the fence a critical look. Some of the makeup had smudged away, the bruises on her arm starting to show through.