NationStates Jolt Archive

Malissa Alexanovna Lucille Razlina-Black pulled herself out of bed and sighed, feeling her body slowly respond to the cleansing rays of the sun. Another day, another fortune... she stood up and stretched, before undoing her nightgown and letting it slide down her naked frame. She walked over to the mirror and stared up and down her body, feeling her breasts react to the cool morning air. Hrmmm...

She grabbed a comb, and started to work on her flowing blonde hair, smiling thinly. She'd shower in a second, just to make it reach that perfect height of shininess. One of the mirrors blinked, and a different woman's face appeared. "Lady Executive, your appointments for the day..."

Unselfconscious in her nakedness, Malissa scanned down the list. "A meeting with the Trade Delegation from Valient?" she asked, sharply. "I didn't ask for that..."

"No, ma'am... they did."

"I see. Well, good work. Leave your keycard with security on your way out tonight."

"M'lady, I have served the Coster for many, many..." Malissa pressed the button, and tuned her out. The countess finished brushing her hair, and then slowly picked out a soft white 36D bra and matching panties. With a faint smile at starting the day in such a good manner, she went into her en-suite to shower.

Ryley Adair coughed and shifted slightly in his bed. He was very uncomfortable

He was not terribly surprised: he was lying in a makeshift bed, made out of his sweater for a pillow, sport jacket for a blanket and a rolled up wad of briefing notes making due for eye-patches.

So was the life of the Minister of International Trade and Economy for the Valient Government. So was his life.

Ryley sighed, and stood up, cracking his neck and running his hand through his light blonde hair. He blinked, trying to gain his surroundings.

But that was soon apparent: he was onboard a trans-oceanic flight from Alexandrian Airport to Roania, where he was to meet with Roanian Officials to discuss the further opening of trade with each other.

Ryley cracked his neck again, and looked around. He was alone on the Boeing 737, save for the crew. Most of his delegation were already in Roania making ready his final presentation to the government. If all went well, routes would open, jobs would be created, and closer ties would be made.

Not that Roania and Valient needed to be any closer. It was public knowledge that Valient's president, Alexander Valient, frequented Roania for work and for pleasure. In fact, he had attended the wedding of various heads of states and of course, attended many partys.

Ryley strode over to the sink and washed his face, toweling himself dry before getting a drink of coffee.

At merely 25, Ryley should have had the youthful energy to be up and ready to take whatever the world had to throw at him. Yet, he was finding that being a government minister wasn't as easy as his election win which granted him the chance to become that.

He sighed again, and looked out the window. The plane began its descent into Roanian Airspace, and he could pick out cities from the landscape. However, he was not able to name any of them.

He took a drink of his coffee. Perhaps he would learn during his time in Roania.

That is, if there was any time for fun at all...

The Imperial Minister for External Commerce checked down the list, and nodded. His part was done. For only a slight loss in various commodities that the DSI wasn't skilled at in the first place, the Roanians had grabbed access to much of Valient's microtechnology sector. And from there, they could spread...

He had also ensured that Valientian trade embassies would be kept solely in the Outer Cities, and that the Inner Cities would not be soiled by anything so filthy as a foreigner. Dogs... he swilled his wine and spat into the sink. He wished he could watch the head of their delegation's expression when he got crushed into a little cube by the ITC's Chief Executive... Carzwell just wondered who the unfortunate chap would be.

~~

Malissa brushed out her hair and nodded, then grabbed a pair of panties and a simple blue pullover dress. In a few minutes, she was en-route to her offices, her robotic chauffeur keeping things ticking away. The young woman finished her make-up and looked herself over in the small bathroom's mirror. Dressed to kill.

As soon as she was at the ITC's immense and sparkling offices, she let one of her employees grab the door for her, checked her mail from the Company President and Board of Directors, and took her personal elevator up to her private office. From there, she checked her various records, information flickering across monitor screens in the very blink of an eye. Settling herself into her ergonomic chair, she put her feet up, inspected her nails for impurities, and then smiled. "Send in the first victim."

Hers was an amazing success story. Her father had put her in at middle management, at age 18, by the simple expedient of informing the company's board that their heads were the perfect height for his revolutionary new tactical AXE system. Within a matter of 6 years, she had destroyed all competition, on her own, until there was no one else who could possibly be considered for the position of CosExec when the old one retired. Sadly, he never made it to retirement, instead falling off a balcony during a meeting with his beautiful young protege.

Her negotiating strategy was simple. Use her body as the asset it was. If men were going to treat her easily or as if she was an idiot, then she'd let them. If they wanted to touch her, she'd let them. But she'd charge 'em. And a man who went, or tried to go, too far would find his life ruined, and possibly over.

And those who resisted her body, would find that her soft curves concealed a mind like a knife.

Malissa wondered what tools would be needed to crush this 'Minister'.

As he waited to be showed into the conference room, Ryley met with his advisors: all older, greying men who seemed annoyed at leaving all the bigger decisions to Ryley. But they didn't have much of a choice. As Minister, he had the power to hire and fire at his descretion. He exercised that power fairly liberally, because he realized that some people would never quite mesh with his way of action.

And what was his way of action? Rapid expansion into foreign markets, while opening up Valient's markets in turn. Rather than close off an turn inwards, like so many countrys were starting to do with continental blocs, Valient, and Ryley himself, still believed in the economics behind international trade. Isolationism was a thing of the past. It was only needed when a country was in danger of going bankrupt. Valient was in no danger.

But Ryley did always have a flair for economics. Graduating Cum Laude from Harriman School of Economics at the age of 17, he was immediately selected to work with the Valient Department of Foriegn Affairs: his major was international economics after all.

After a few years, Ryley had risen from being a departmental assistant to being a deputy minister. His was a star on the rise, and President Alexander could see that. After the most recent election, which saw Ryley be elected to public office at the age of 24, he was assigned the portfolio of International Trade and Economy.

But there were those who felt that he had jumped the queue. One of them was trying to get his attention at the moment.

"Ryley, dammit, you need to understand. Roania now has access to over 50 per cent of our microtechnology sector, while we have made only few inroads into their industries."

The man was Jason McCoy, one man who still held some bitterness over Ryleys position.

Ryley nodded: it was true. Somehow, Roania had made vast moves and had taken over some of Valient's larger homegrown microtech companies: Harvest Tech, Leonid Tech and Trimen Corp. were all swallowed in similar takeovers. Not hostile, but close enough.

"And we have been unable to secure a lease for an embassy in Tarnaqin."

Again, he nodded. Another issue that needed to be addressed to be sure. Still, Ryley was sure that some... allowances could be made. All he had to do was sit down with his counterpart from the ITC and hammer out a deal.

He was sure something could be done. And if not, he had the power to ensure something could be done.

Suddenly, a woman appeared and beckoned towards the conference room with her left hand.

"This way gentleman. Minister Black will see you now."

As a group, the delegation, made up of Ryley, McCoy and eight other men and woman filed into the room and sat down at the large oak table, circular but sturdy.

The room went quiet as the delegation laid eyes on Malissa. The men could barely hide their instant lust, while the woman could barely hide their jealousy.

Ryley didnt bat an eye: he was on business, and though she was attractive, she was also his foe, one he would meet on the battlefield which was the boardroom.

"So, Minister Black. I assume you know why we are here..."

((Tarnaqin. No u. I wouldn't mispell the name of my own capital.

PLACEHOLDER))

Malissa smiled and twisted one of her rings. It shot a wide beam of light at the wall across from her, displaying the information on her computer screen. "I've been informed that you have objections to the government's own trade negotiations. Despite our clear superiority in the field of microtechnology." trade statistics flickered down the display.

The young woman stretched langurously and yawned, flicking back her hair. "Oh, excuse me... I didn't get much sleep last night... busy studying up..." she gave an obvious wink to one of her aides, who, on cue, coloured. It was cheap, but generally affective. She twisted the ring again, knowing that the mere existence of such a toy would hammer in her point. The information vanished.

"Anyway, the point of the matter is that you've asked for a meeting with me, the Chief Executive of the Imperial Trade Coster, to relieve the pressure upon your industries by my subordinates." Malissa picked up a long cigarette, lit it, and took a few experimental puffs. "The question is... what's it worth to us?"

"What is it worth to you? TO YOU?"

Jason jumped up from his seat and pointed a finger at Malissa. A few of her aides strained to leap to her aid, but she waved them down.

"We've been getting the runaround from your governement ever since we've initiated trade negotiations. This damned business has got to stop. You can't push us..."

"Mr. McCoy, that will be enough."

Jason looked to his left and saw Ryley nod towards Jason's seat. Jason wasn't finished, not even close, but for now, he would sit and be quiet.

Once he had reseated, Ryley nodded towards Malissa. "Forgive my assistant. He is a little forceful with his views."

Malissa nodded back, and smiled her most alluring smile. "It was no trouble at all, Minister Adair. I am glad to see you have your assistants under such control."

"Oh no, it is not control - it is simple respect. Oh, and call me Ryley. The point is, we are not here to relieve the pressure upon our industries by your subordinates. What we are here to do is establish an even further amalgamation of some of our mutual industries."

Ryley brought out a small pda and pressed a small button on its side. A similar display to Malissa's shined on the wall, with some variant numbers. "I am forced to agree that Roania is superior in the field of microtechnology when compared to the Commonwealth - Dominion," said Ryley, looking at Malissa's ring. "But it through this that I am sure that your specialists could help Valient make further inroads into understanding such a field.

"In turn, I am prepared to offer you the help of some of Valient's top specialists in other areas of expertise. Imagine, Ms. Black: first our industries, and then, who knows?"

Malissa's eyes flashed. "Minister Adair. Your ideology of international trade is well known. But this is the Divine Imperium. Ideology gets in the way." she glared across the table at the loud man, then leaned across and whispered in an aide's ear. There was a hissed exchange in Aguan, and then the young woman turned to face Adair again. "Ty Ryley," she murmured, delicately, "I am afraid that such rudeness as the government has consistently pointed out to me in my briefings only proves my case."

"There seems to be very little you can offer us that would be worth the price of continued abruptness and discourtesy." an aide continued for her, taking up immediately where she left off. "Perhaps if your aides had been... more concentrated on the task at hand, and less on how big and important they were," his eyes also flashed, "the trade negotiations would not have gone so poorly as they have for Valient."

"But we are kind," a third aide began, this one an Asian beauty, "and will engage in private negotiations with you." she gave a courteous smile to Jason. "We are most sorry our traditional ways of negotiation were not to your liking. The government is old and conservative and very dedicated to control."

Malissa retook up the thread as soon as the Altaran had finished. "We are also old, but we are adaptive. If there is a problem with the negotiations over commodities and prices, then we will hear them. Calmly." she stretched again. "I am afraid, however, that I see no value in our corporations helping their rivals in Valient out. Such would be...counter-productive, to their way of thinking. But I will speak to them, of course. If you feel that training partnerships and..." her eye flickered to the screen, "special assistance would be mutually beneficial, then I will be glad to assist."

She smiled a beautiful smile, and then frowned a little, distractingly adjusting her dress so that a bit more cleavage was displayed. "But, of course..." and now her gaze was as cold as drawn steel, "such a policy would have to be mutual... in the field of biochemistry, perhaps?" she pushed across some pre-prepared papers. "I am willing to enter into negotiations with Divine Technological Solutions," tell them what to do, "provided that you agree to do the same with your biotech corporations."

"As well, I believe that mutual lowering of tariffs on goods such as timber and precious metals can be achieved...with some...limitations, of course. I'll talk to the Minister and the PM." she scribbled some further notes. "In addition, gentlemen, ladies..." and here she fixed Jason with a gimlet glare, as if mentally adding 'and apes'... "the various medical fields in the DI are concerned about copyright laws? But I'm sure that's a moment for another time." The aides all bowed and left as one. "I'm afraid this was sprung on me only this morning, so I couldn't spare you too much time." she checked the clock. "Hrm. An hour... I'll have to move my appointment with the Patriarch forward, and then there's the board meeting..." she returned to her paperwork, silently, daring one of them to ask how she could be so prepared.

A minute passed, and then she looked up and smiled brilly. "You all appear to be casting a shadow."

((Welcome to hardball negotiations, Val. :p In a minute she's going to ask Ryley to stay for a few seconds afterwards.))

Grumble.


Ryley frowned, and dismissed his assistants. They all left grudgingly, Jason muttering under his breath. He was going to get to the bottom of this on his own. "Executive Black. I am an accreditted diplomat from Valient, here to finalize negotiations I have already concluded with your government."

"Do you have a reason for your stonewalling?"

Malissa looked Ryley straight in the eyes. What a moron, she thought. But that wasn't the right word. Not really. There were no words to describe the depth of Malissa's dislike for Ryley. No words.

She began to collect papers off the table and put them neatly into her briefcase. When she finished, she turned, gave Ryley an icy look, and walked out the door without saying a word.

Ryley frowned after she left. He had to get her agreement, or she could scotch this entire deal. And to do that, he had to move her to a position of no longer wanting him dead. How should I do that... the idea came to him remarkably quickly. The trade minister quickly ran out the door after her. "You're obviously under a lot of stress, Executive Black. Maybe we can discuss this more after dinner?"

When she realized that Ryley was asking her to dinner, Malissa very nearly dropped her briefcase in shock. Composing herself almost instantly, she opened her mouth to tell him, in detail, what he should do with his dinner invitation, then stopped suddenly.

They weren't in the conference room anymore. They were in the hallway. In public. If she turned him down here, she'd look like a total bitch, and she couldn't have that. There was only one thing she could do. Malissa turned to Ryley and forced a smile.

"Dinner sounds lovely. Pick me up at 7:30. Don't be late."

With that, she turned and walked away.

Ryley arrived at Malissa's manor at 7:25, a nervous smile on his face as he waited with his roses. He had to make a good impression if he wanted the trade agreements to go everywhere, and dating her made more sense than bribing her. He leapt back as a strange native creature darted from one of the bushes to behind another one, and frowned. The DSI had its surprises... not the least of this was the fact that its richest citizen was a woman. He had been buzzed in, and his limousine was waiting.

So, without much hesitation, he smoothed back his hair and knocked on the door, telling the butler who answered that he was Ryley Adair, and that his mistress expected him. Then it was back to waiting.