The X-Project

Adrienne returns to Wyngarde with the information she stole from the Blue Queen.


The car had pulled up at the airport, and the driver motioned Adrienne over from her perch at the taxi stand. Obviously, the Black Court did not want to wait for their intelligence. She was quickly driven through the Manhattan traffic, and found herself once again in front of the Hellfire Club brownstone entrance, that led into the large building. Her bags were left in the truck, so at least a ride home was provided, or at least intended, and she was passed through three different assistants while being led back into the warren of Black Court offices, before finding herself once again in front of Wyngarde.
 
There was no illusion today; just a tuxedo looking slightly worse for wear. One of the Black Court's events from the evening prior must have run late, although the man himself looked as sharp and at ease as ever.
 
"Ah, Adrienne. I see there were no delays with the flight. That is fortunate, considering the recent weather. How did you enjoy the hospitality of the London chapter?"

Adrienne was looking rather sharp and at ease herself, something she took great pride in considering that she'd just been for two overseas plane rides and a rather busy night of entertainments in a short space of time. "I enjoyed it immensely, Jason," she answered with an easygoing nod. "Their hospitality is second only to that of our own here in New York. The Blue Queen showed particular... hospitality towards me, I'm happy to report." She smiled slyly at him.

"So Mrs Steed was once again ensnared by the honeypot. How wonderfully... predictable." He got up and drew a bottle of champagne from the small fridge, twisting off the foil with the ease of long practice. "There were no questions about your presence at the party? No approaches from the Red Court or the Blue King's supporters?" 

"Uhh... do approaches for orgies count?" Adrienne asked innocently, smirking. "No, no approaches questioning my presence there. I even took a few Readings of the walls to catch some conversations just to be absolutely sure no one was talking about me negatively. I got a couple extra tidbits of information for you via that method if you're interested. Wrote them down on the plane home." She produced an envelope for him much like the one he'd given her to take to Steed, albeit much thinner.
 
"Very good, Adrienne." He accepted the letter with a nod, placing it on the desk and filling two glasses. He passed one to her and resumed his seat. "Would you consider Steed to be suitably sure that her seduction was her taking advantage of an opportunity?"

Adrienne took a polite sip of the drink but then set it aside. "You mean would I consider myself to now occupy a place on the list of her conquests? Yes, certainly I would," she answered after pausing a moment to think about it.
 
"And she believes that you were nothing more than an attractive functionary? A minor member of the court getting a chance to visit another chapter and being swept away by her charm?"

Grinning easily, Adrienne took another sip of her drink and then nodded. "Absolutely." She set the glass down again and the smile turned wry. "I mean, come on, Jason; isn't that exactly what I am? Attractive functionary? You've made it pretty clear that this is all I'll ever be within the Hellfire Club, so it's not as if I had to pretend to be one for Steed."
 
"You wound me, Adrienne. I said that's all you would ever be on your own. But, with the right allies, I see your potential being far greater." He set down his glass for a moment. "The question is your conviction. You didn't argue trading sex with an attractive woman to steal her key for access to your business and money back. What would you be willing to do if the rewards were ten times that? Or a hundred times?" 

The brunette shrugged. "It would depend on the situation; the rewards, the business that needed to be done to achieve them. I'm an opportunist at heart, Jason. And a self-preservationist. That means that with each opportunity that is presented to me, I decide how I'll be benefited the most. But in all our associations together, you've known exactly which buttons to push when it comes to both providing opportunities and offering self-preservation to get me to do what you want. As such, I don't believe you need to be worried about conviction."

"With appropriate leverage, certainly. But without any motivating factor but your own ambition? I wonder..." He regarded her for a moment, before draining half of his glass. "The car will have the details regarding your business affairs and a lawyer from Lloyds holding the proxy. You're welcome to verify his independence if you need to. He simply needs spoken confirmation and can order the release of all holds against your accounts and those of your company. This business shouldn't take longer than ten days, and once it is finished, I will issue the release. In two weeks, Adrienne, this could be a very different Hellfire Club and the opportunity for an ambitious woman could be significant. Do think about what it is you really want. When the time comes, there might be the chance to take all of it." 

Taking this as her cue to begin her departure, Adrienne drained the rest of her glass and stood. "A very different Hellfire Club, Jason? How very ominous. I'm very much looking forward to discovering these opportunities you speak of," she said with a slight smile.

"I imagined you would be." Wyngarde toasted her with his glass. "We will speak soon, Adrienne, about those changes."