Log:Business Dinner

Business Dinner
"Did you like New York?"
Participants Gray and Molly	2017.11.04 Gray contacts Molly for a business dinner.
Location
It's a business dinner. Mr. Graywolf's attempt at an apology for his abrupt exit during their last meeting. He's chosen the most expensive restaurant in the area and arrived early to see that there are no hiccups with his reservation. Molly will be directed to his table when she arrives. He's taken the liberty of ordering a bottle of wine, appropriate for a meal. At first glance, he's distracted, scrolling through some news on his phone. However, he notices her before she's able to get too close and he stands. Again, he's dressed terribly formal. A dark, pinstripe, Armani, crisp white shirt, gold tie, bold turquoise tie-tack. His long, black, hair, had been braided into two braids. Both wrapped in turquoise to match his tie-tack. He stands and smiles politely, "Ms. Utridge, a pleasure seeing you again." He steps around the table and pulls her chair out for her. Molly's probably hard to miss once her jacket is removed. She'd managed to drop Alora off with her mother for the evening just in case the business dinner ran late. Her mother in no way believed that a business dinner was scheduled for a Saturday night. But it was. Molly had arrived about five minutes early as she'd wanted to just be punctual and her manners were also still intact. The jacket one off revealed the black dress that she wore. Which had a very low neckline. It's not very flashy and accessories are minimal. Her hair had been left down today and it was smoothed back. Makeup is light but smoky. There is a smile though when Gray greets her, "Mr Graywolf, it's a pleasure to see you as well. Thank you for the invitation." she tells him as she takes her seat. He pauses a moment. His expression somewhat taken back. Obviously he wasn't prepared for how striking his dinner guest would be. Once Molly's seated, Malaki pushes her chair in easily. "No thanks are necessary, Ms. Utridge. I feel terrible for running out of our last meeting so abruptly. This is the very least I can do." He half-rounds the table, lifting the bottle of wine from the ice bucket to display the label to Molly. "Can I offer you a glass while you consider the menus?" Molly is good with Empathy and when there's a bit of a taken aback moment there's a bit of thought where she thinks she might have done something very wrong, "I can have them grab my jacket if needed." she offers easily. "I haven't worn this since I bought it and honestly I didn't see myself wearing it before I gave it away." she chuckles. Then she shakes her head softly, "You have no reason to feel terrible, things happen. I'm a mother, if I had an emergency with my daughter I would have left just as quickly Mister Graywolf." she offers to him. "I would love a glass of wine though, yes." she tells him with a smile. Gray smiles and shakes his head. "No, please. You misunderstand my pause completely. It wasn't the dress, but in fact my ignorance to how lovely a companion I would have this evening. I assure you, you are a welcome sight and this a perfect venue after the stuffy backroom deals I've suffered through with other executives." He fills her glass half full. The Wine is a light, white. Nothing too heavy. Once she has her drink, Malaki moves back to his own seat and gracefully finds his place there. "I recall the photos in your office. How old is she?" He lifts his glass for a sip, gesturing to a waiter in the distance. Molly has time to respond, then before she knows it, he's there going over the menu for her. Molly gives a bit of an embarrassed smile, "Well thank you, Mister Graywolf." she tells him with a dip of her head. "I have been told that I'm a prettier than most of the bald men people usually deal with." she grins to that. "And I just thought it might be too revealing. I don't do dinners a lot. It's sometimes bad for business oddly enough." she shakes her head. There's a small sip of wine taken, just to get a feel for it, then a smile, "Alora just turned 3 in July." she tells him. Then there's a look over to the waiter when he appears and there's a smile to him as he goes over things. Graywolf orders a steak. A center cut sirloin, about an inch and a half thick. Cooked rare. He also has a Cesar salad and a sweet potato with butter, brown sugar and a pinch of cinnamon. He relaxes back afterward, regarding Molly until she's ordered. He sips his wine, considering her stance on business dinners briefly. "I will do my level best to break that stigma then. Since my charitable contribution was settled during our last meeting, how about you simply pitch me your idea for a...," he pauses a moment, "A resort wasn't it?" The man seems genuinely interested. Which may seem odd all things considered. It isn't every day someone so obviously Native American is such a dominating force in high capital business dealings in this area. Molly orders salmon and greens. Because hey, no kid means hot food! If he watches carefully he can probably pick up on the fact that Molly has not always been in the position of being wealthy. There's tiny ticks. Once she's done ordering there's a look back to Malaki and a smile, "Oh it's nothing really bad. Just a lot of people don't do dinners in this small city." she chuckles. "When I was in New York that was different of course." she admits. Then there's a nod, "Yes. I thought that something like that might give a bit of growth to the city. Maybe give the family name a bit more leverage in the city as well. Or both the names of course." she offers. "I see how a resort could be a lucrative endeavor here. But is it tourism you're looking to capitalize on?" Malaki's question is posed quietly before he sips his wine again. If he noticed that Molly's new to her station in life, he doesn't let it show. Either that or he simply doesn't judge. He was born into poverty himself. "I mean, if you are a resort could be a path. But, if you wanted to really give your family name more leverage, I think there is a better way. Odd in fact that you should mention New York too, since my thoughts are of its skyline. How much prestige would follow in the wake of erecting a skyscraper of a building? Residential and commercial," he muses. "A tower of glass and steel." Molly takes a sip of her wine as she listens to him and there's a bit of a hand wobble, "No, not really. I mean, small city Fort Brunsett is not the tourist destination. Unless people start coming here due to murders." she sighs as she settles her glass down. There's a bit of a thoughtful look and she gives a nod of agreement, "Something like that might be a good idea. Like high rise apartments above, shopping and things below?" she offers. "I'm just a numbers person really." she chuckles. "You're in luck then, Ms. Utridge. It just so happens I have the numbers you might need," Malaki says confidently, cracking a brief smile. He finishes off his wine before he leans forward to refresh his glass. "The jobs that such a thing would create would no doubt stimulate the local economy to unseen levels. As a silent partner I would have only one request outside the return and growth of my investment. A penthouse to overlook the local landscape from." He relaxes back with his glass, considering Molly again. He doesn't comment on the murders. That would have more to do with his 'night job' which he tries to keep secret. At least for now. Molly gives a soft smile to that, relaxing a bit more, "Well, numbers to go with are of course a good thing to start processes." she admits. "They are usually easier to get things started with the zoning commissions and those folks at least." she chuckles. The request from him does make her quirk an elegant eyebrow curiously, "No batcave to go with it?" she asks him. Then she smiles, "I'm kidding. I think a penthouse would be lovely for you and easy to do." she nods to this. "The mountains and surrounding country side will be a lovely sight at least." she comments with a softer smile. "Easier access for a helicopter in case I need to travel," Malaki replies. "But, I wouldn't complain about the view. My ancestors would appreciate the spectacle I'm sure." Dinner is served a moment later, and the conversation dies briefly. Malaki doesn't begin his meal until Molly's started on hers. Once she does, the works his knife through the meat expertly, rotating between it, his salad and the sweet potato. After a sip of wine he speaks up. "Did you enjoy New York?" Molly gives him a smile, "That is also a good reason for a penthouse, of course, Mister Graywolf." she tells him. "So what is your ancestry specifically? I didn't want to presume anything. If you are comfortable speaking with me on it?" she asks. When dinner is served she takes a few minutes to season just a few things and then starts to eat. She does follow proper etiquette. The question of New York draws her eyes to him and there's a drink of wine before she settles her glass down. "Have you ever felt as if you were cursed, Mister Graywolf? I felt that way there once I graduated." she admits. Gray chuckles softly, "I'm Comanche , but my mother married a Chieftain among the Shakopee Mdewakanton when I was very young. I was raised on their land by my mother and grandfather." He sips his wine again, then continues to eat while Molly's voice fills the space between them. He uses a napkin to wipe his mouth and he gives Molly's question considerable thought before he replies. "I believe in curses, but I cannot say I am cursed. Most of the tragedy I have seen in my lifetime, I have been able to repay to some extent. An thanks to my late step-father and his tribe, I have been fortunate financially." Another sip of wine, "Why would you feel that your cursed?" Tom, that bastard. Usually Malaki would notice vengeful spirit. Notice his presence. But for whatever reason it escapes him tonight. He is able to reach out from the shadow lands and touch Molly's shoulder, giving her a chill to her core. Molly seems to be sincere in wanting to know the ancestry and there's a nod to that, "We have a few Abenaki in Vermont. I don't think the Comanche have any ties. Though I could be wrong." she admits. "I've not been able to repay any of the tragedy in my life. I don't think I will ever be in a position to do it either." she shakes her head softly. There's a look to him again, "Just...a lot of horrible things happened once we got settled in New York. Things that aren't really dinner conversation." she tells him. "My husband died in New York when Alora was very young. So that was the last thing." she frowns. "Just those sorts of things." she explains. The coldness that grips her makes her gasp aloud though and her head whips to the side as if she is going to see some person with a cold hand touching her, but there is no one there. Tom really hates whites. But can you blame him? Still, Molly won't find him there, at least not this time. But the vengeful spirit will most definitely remember her. Sadly, it escapes Malaki's notice, or he would put a stop to it before it begins. He glanced away at just the right moment and a window blew open to allow a draft of cold November, Vermont air. Tom's doing. A waiter closes it. "I'm sorry for your loss, Ms. Utridge. But I can relate with it. I lost all of my people in Minneapolis, years back. Gang violence I was told." He sips his wine again, now focused on Molly. "I assume you take great comfort in your daughter. So there is that." Molly's still staring off for the moment, her breathing a bit off due to the coldness that's settled in. It was unnatural. She looks back to Malaki and there's a bit of a soft smile, "Thank you, Mister Graywolf. It's been a few years, but he's missed. Alora never got to meet him and she's getting to the age where I'm having to start explaining things. It's a challenging time." she admits. "And yes, she's a great comfort. I love her dearly." she smiles to that. Gray nods, and goes back to his meal. Summarily, he finishes it off. When Molly joins him is being finished, he waives the waiter back over to elaborate on the desert menu. Malaki chooses a slice of chocolate cake, with a dark chocolate frosting. That and an espresso. "He comments, "You must allow me to have something sent home with you for your daughter," while Molly goes over the menu. Molly finishes off her dinner and there's a moment taken to wipe her mouth and finish her wine before she takes a sip of her water. There's a smile as dessert is mentioned. "I think I'll have what he is having as it sounds delicious." she tells the waiter. Then there's a softer smile, "And angel food cake and ice cream is fine to go home." she adds. A gesture from Malaki and it put into motion. Desert is delivered a short time later, then the coffees. Afterward some light conversation while Alora's to-go desert is put together. "Meet with the planning and zoning commissioners. I'll reach out to a contractor I know they builds for the Shakopee Mdewakanton people. See if he'd be interested. If I can get him to fly in, we can discuss it over lunch in a few days?" Malaki sees Molly to her car, or her cab, which ever. He then heads home himself to consider the business venture. Tom on the other hand, he follows Molly.