|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sun Jun 18, 2023 4:28 pm
Alexandre had told Melody he’d meet her at some of the social events, since he did attend them fairly often, despite being seen as black sheep in his family and someone people tended to whisper about. He still turned up and worked hard to keep his image as clean as he could, not making more drama for himself or his family than possible, this was his way of building himself back up despite his not being able to settle on a job or pick with a degree and stick with it.
After working at the clothing boutique for Rose Jacobs he’d gone back to school, for botany, but also had taken up a paralegal job for his mother and her law firm. He wasn’t planning to rise in the company, by getting a degree in law, but he was good with organizing things and finding information. That was one of the reasons he was here tonight dressed in a well tailored suit of a dark blue color with a small gold, silk, square in the breast pocket. Tonight's event was a big one, held in a museum after hours for high society to view the new collection being presented. It wasn’t some local, or new, artist but a collection of pieces being brought together in this museum for the first time.
The main room was filled with tables, a stage, and attendants walking around offering food and drink to everyone. There were even stations set up along the perimeter for proper food. Alexandre being mindful of himself, and not wanting to run off to the bathroom, had decided to stick to hors d'oeuvres. While wandering, or at least seeming to be wandering, he’d stopped to speak to a few of his own family members who were here this evening. His grandmother had been the first he’d visited, as was proper, he’d seen everyone else in his family visit her first before speaking to each other and other people.
Now though he was keeping his eyes on someone, from a distance, and watching them as he moved around and spoke to other people. Slate hued eyes were watching his target speaking to others as well. Thankfully they didn’t seem to notice he was watching them, that he was keeping somewhat close to them, even as he seemed to no be paying them any mind. It was a game he was playing and one he did not want, or need, to be caught playing. His own family being here would not take the hit well if he was caught behaving like this…especially considering who he was tailing ever so carefully.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jun 18, 2023 7:25 pm
Melody arrived punctually and made her rounds, listening for gossip and goings on from the younger people who were more loose lipped than the adults. She was dressed nicely in a modest dark blue colored A style dress with a capelet of dark gray fluff to keep her warm. It was a simple outfit but clean and professional looking even with the standard adornments of music notes that were part and parcel of the Sharp family.
It didn’t take her long to find Alexandre and his target. Not that she knew the reason he was so obviously glaring at the man. With so many people it may not have been as obvious to others but she knew something was up from the way he followed them around. Having her fill of gossip for now, she made her way over towards him, carefully tapping his shoulder.
For the first time, she was actually his height. The heels she had chosen tonight brought her up the 5 inches to be at eye level with him. It was nice not being the shortest even if she had to wear heels to make it up. “Hello Alexandre, how are you this evening?”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jun 18, 2023 8:22 pm
Turning away from his target, much as he regretted it, the ashen blond tilted his head a bit in greeting. “I’m faring well this evening, and yourself?” Keeping his tone light as he shifted a bit so he could come to stand next to her so they could speak lightly, without being heard by others. Call him paranoid but one never knew who was at such events and might be listening in on things, especially the younger children who attended these events.
“I should have expected to run into you, you do make it a habit to fill your schedule with events to attend.” He wondered if there were many events she didn’t attend, all for the family name and her want to learn whatever she could from others. With his new position he could still try and keep an eye on his target, though it wasn’t the best angle it would work for now. He just hoped that man didn’t move…if he didn’t he’d have to get moving as well, and Melody would be suspicious of what he was doing.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jun 18, 2023 8:23 pm
Something seemed a bit off with Alexandre tonight, he really was watching that one man. It wasn’t someone she immediately recognized but then again some of the events she filled her time with weren’t always filled with the saame sort of people. Her net of info was cast widely over the various groups of people who attended all sorts of events in the city. “Things are going well for my needs tonight, how about you? You seem to have your eyes set one something tonight and it isn’t the finely dressed ladies.”
Without drawing as much attention to herself as he was, she looked over at the man that Alexandre was focusing on. They were on the older side of things so someone in a more professional standing probably. She knew that the blonde’s family had a wide variety of professionals involved in it so maybe they were someone related to one of his family member’s job. That or someone the family didn’t like overall but when it came to that the amount of information she had gathered since first meeting him hadn’t borne any fruit on the matter.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jun 18, 2023 8:25 pm
“Going well for your needs, what an interesting way to put things, Lady Sharp.” Alexandre comments in a low voice, turning his attention to her fully, a smile in place as he speaks. “You are correct, though I must say I’d never be found staring at the finely dressed ladies. I do prefer my own gender and have someone.” He certainly did have someone, someone who disliked these sorts of things immensely. He could understand these sorts of events, this sort of life, not being for everyone. It wasn’t easy to keep up and to keep yourself, and your family name, safe and in good standing.
“I’m watching someone, though I’m sure you’ve noticed who. I’m surprised no one else has seemed to notice and warned him.” Though perhaps someone had noticed and was keeping it to themselves, something to use against him or his family at a later date perhaps. He was being careful though. “Mr. Davenport over there is a judge.” A high standing one with a very good track record. He’d even been a criminal attorney previous to him taking the bench. “He is an interesting person…” Taking a drink as they came by, nothing with alcohol in it, and sipped at the glass of water he’d taken. “Perhaps you should get a drink and we can step outside for some air.” He offered with a simple gesture to accompany his words.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jun 18, 2023 8:28 pm
Smiling a bit at the title he added to her name, she nodded and followed him. Part of her was a bit sad at how all the cute men she would maybe enjoy being with weren’t interested in women. Maybe it was a curse for her but no matter, she was fine still with the company of all the otherwise involved men. “Another thing you have in common with my brother, though again I would ask if you could leave him be a bit, I don’t mind that you know our name but he would be a bit upset if he knew that someone else knew it.” There was a bit of ice in her smile, not quite threatening but enough to let him know she wanted to keep her brother out of things still.
“A judge, ah very interesting and yes let’s step outside for a bit. It has gotten a bit stuffy in here as more people arrive and the drinks begin to circulate.” Taking a water for herself, she took a slow sip as she listened and followed Alexandre outside to one of the balconies. It was still a bit cold at night even though summer was approaching so she pulled her capelet a bit tighter against her small frame. After the door closed and she was sure they were alone, she leaned slightly against the railing.
“So what brings a judge into your path? You might be a black sheep but never a criminal so it has to be something else besides getting in trouble. So it would be something related to him bringing difficulty in some way to your family? Although in my opinion the legal system seems a little ineffectual with what goes on behind the scenes now that I am aware of those things.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jun 18, 2023 8:29 pm
“Of course, I can understand not wanting to be a part of this world. My own partner isn’t interested in it though he grew up in it.” Shrugging a bit as he spoke, his voice low, as they made their way for the balcony so they could speak in a more private manner. He did not need people listening in on them talking, it would be unwise for things to be heard and circulate through the room.
“I won’t let him know that I know your family name, I’ll keep it to myself.” He was, like most in this place, good at keeping secrets when and where he needed to. He was also good at spreading things when they needed to be, especially to the right people. He knew how things worked here and he had a network, though it was mostly family members, his family had far reaching hands as they didn’t dominate any one area. They were nicely spread out but all here…in the room beyond were several of his cousins, older and younger, as well as aunts and uncles and his grandmother who ran the family.
Leaning against the balcony, glad for the doors being closed, he gave a small shiver. He hated being so small sometimes, it wasn’t all so great, he was nearly always cool or chilly as he simply didn’t have much for body fat to insulate and keep warm. “As I’m sure you’re aware my mother is a partner in her law firm. That judge has been blocking and dismissing everything she’s put before him for her client, a rather large corporation that she is representing. He’s also done the same to several others from her firm. I’ve seen the paperwork, as I’ve taken to working in the firm as a paralegal, and it all is fair and nothing out of the ordinary. So, I took some time to look over things. He’s only targeting the females from my mothers firm. Anything a male does is fine.” He’d let Melody connect the dots, it was very simple really. The judge seemed to have an issue with females. Alexandre was looking to see if he couldn’t find out anything about him, watching for any slips, anything he could use against the judge.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jun 18, 2023 8:35 pm
She had seen the picture he was painting time and time again, even in her own family. Even now as she managed and ran all the business’s moving parts behind the scenes, Aloysius was all everyone talked about because he was the one who inherited everything. In the past he had even had fans and a few crushes that she would have to see and deal with while making sure he actually showed up to events. It was frustrating to say the least but at this point she didn’t want to deal with it too much on her end. When it came to being a lawyer though, a judge denying a motion for a client led to more and more trouble for all involved parties. It would lead to less trust from the client for their lawyer as well as a paper trail of denials to use if the venue was changed.
“I was aware of her position, at least a little. Her current client and the cases she works are not something I would pry into since that would be a bit illegal right?” She smiled a little before continuing. “I would say that the situation they have put her in really doesn’t leave to many options, she could put in a motion to relocate the trial but given the judge is already denying all motions from her, it would be difficult. It would also be easy to show bias if he has a history of this but that’s not something judges really can be removed for unfortunately. So really it would have to be something forcing him to change his mind since it’s not like he can be removed usually judges are for life so that they don’t have political bias.”
The situation was tricky because blackmailing a judge could blow back into his mother’s face unless it was done right and by someone with no connections to any of the involved parties. That would be something she could help with since even her social connection to Alexandre in civilian life was circumstantial at best and coincidence in most people’s eyes. The age difference helped in that manner as well.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jun 18, 2023 8:36 pm
“Indeed, it would also not be something you’d need to know about. Her job, I assumed you found out when you looked into me.” No doubt she’d learned a lot, but nothing that deep, who his mothers clients were wasn’t needed for her to know nor would it be easy to find out or legal. But he wasn’t saying who either, just giving an idea of the sort of client she was dealing with at the moment. This was not a good thing for his mother to be dealing with, or anyone really.
“Indeed, and while there has been a noticed bias, on my part, I cannot prove it. It would be their word versus mine and I’m sure we can guess whose word has more power.” He could say the man had a thing against females but that really didn’t matter now did it. The man would simply deny it and he could say he was in the right, and he sort of was, never mind how much nit picking he did. It was just this side of legal and allowable. He was playing a very fine line and there was something to it. He was covering himself by walking that fine line; he was certain of it.
“I’m assuming that someone like this has skeletons in his closet, I just need to find them. I’m certain they are there to be found, because where there is one there are many.” He was bias against female lawyers, as far as he could tell, and that was an issue. What else was the man hiding? “I figure I’ll just have to appear at every social function this year.” Where as he normally would miss a few he wouldn’t this year, not even once he finished this task. He didn’t want anyone pointing fingers at him because he stopped attending certain events
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jun 18, 2023 8:40 pm
“I very much like the sound of digging up skeletons, I for one have a knack for that sort of thing. If you wouldn’t mind my assistance of course? I attend a lot of events to keep on the up and up as it were so it wouldn’t be out of the ordinary for me to attend things and ask around about stuff.” It was something she was good at and in a way took pride in. It had been a skill she used to keep the family going while Aloysius left everything to the wind.
Pulling her capelet closed all the way she nodded to herself as she listened, knowing there was no way he could keep her out of this now. “I think this will be very fun.” That sinister smile and icy sparkle in her eyes betrayed nothing of the enjoyment she had when taking people down with gossip.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jun 18, 2023 8:51 pm
“Oh no, I wouldn’t deny you this. I do believe you’ll enjoy yourself as much as I will. I will also, personally, owe you a favor for helping my family and myself.” He knew that held weight, offering a favor, it wasn’t something to offer up lightly. He would, of course, do his best to help her when she called in the favor. “I’ve settled for spying on him thus far, in the hopes he hands me whatever evidence I need about ill behavior.” Rather than trying to talk to people, and risking it getting back to the judge. He couldn’t risk his hunting getting discovered.
“We can keep in touch over what we find out. I’d prefer in person rather than a digital trail.” Just incase, paranoid or not he was playing it safe with this. He was going against a judge and Alexandre knew he needed to be safe with this, he could not risk his mother, her firm, or his family and their name.
“You know where to find me, so we can talk, we should for now head back inside though.” Nodding once he went to hold open the balcony door for her.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
