Kurt and Emma, Tuesday afternoon
Jun. 10th, 2008 01:31 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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xp_logsA business meeting.
Emma smiled as she looked up at the knock on her office door. She always enjoyed being the bearer of glad tidings and even more so when it meant the possibility of taking down both a potential business rival and, more to the point, maker of mutant misery.
So there was absolute sincerity in her voice as she purred, "It's so good to see you, Kurt."
"Likewise, Emma", he returned with a smile in response, walking in and sitting down. "Am I to take it you have good news for me?"
"I have interesting news," responded Emma. "Possibly good. With a proviso that more work needs to be done." She nodded at the neat folder that perched on the table in front of Kurt. "I've had my people put together some information on your father's companies and I took the opportunity to do some investigation of my own while I was in Europe. Baron Wagner has a number of companies with a range of principal activities, but there are financial vulnerabilities that could be used to bring down some of the larger ones. With business confidence being what it is, it's likely that this would start a domino effect and we could destroy everything that he has. It would not be easy, but it would be possible, though it would require some very, very large cash injections and a great deal of work with a number of hedging funds. That's one option that you may wish to consider."
Kurt considered this, reaching for the folder. "I am prepared to do whatever work needs to be done, as far as I can, but I cannot help very much with the cash resources. There are other options?" She'd said that was one option, after all.
"There are always other options," said Emma. "Considering how unsavoury the man is, murdering him in his bed would seem not an unreasonable one." She raised a finger to quiet Kurt's next words. "Don't worry, Kurt, I haven't hired anyone I shouldn't have to do anything to which you'd have ethical objections. I don't even particularly wish to hurt his companies; there are a lot of people employed in those companies and collapsing them would hurt his employees more than it would him. Because Baron Wagner has quite a few personal financial resources. Quite a few." She smiled suddenly, a predator's smile. "Rather more than the tax authorities in Germany are aware of."
"...is that so." Kurt's own smile was suddenly rather more wolfish than usual. "Murdering him in his bed would be counter-productive, I feel - I do not wish to make a martyr of him - but disgracing him and having his properties confiscated... that will relieve him of his money and much of his power at the same time."
"Well, we do know about those pesky German tax authorities," said Emma. "They're so - possessive. And quite tetchy. And really quite enthusiastic if they happen to come across - say, a list of bank accounts held by German citizens in non-German countries containing money that rightfully belongs to Germany." Emma was enjoying herself far too much, but she didn't feel the need to stop any time soon. This was definitely her kind of fun.
"And very inclined to seize that money back for Germany", Kurt completed the thought, then asked delicately, "Do you think that perhaps that money, rather than sitting in the national coffers, might be handed over to the fraudster's eldest son? His illegitimate eldest son, but nevertheless."
"Not all of it, naturally. A rather large slice of it would stay in the coffers where it belonged. The more important question would be what happened to his companies. Cash is - dull," said Emma, with a certain acquired contempt. "Companies live. Companies make money. Have employees. And Germany likes to keep people working and spending and making their economy a happy, thriving place to be. Germany may just be willing to cut a deal to make sure that Baron Wagner's companies continue to help keep the wheels of commerce grinding along."
"I would certainly not wish to put all of those people out of work", he said with a faint smile. "They have done nothing to me, after all. But if his companies were to pass into the hands of a woman who has already proved herself successful in business, who might be willing to make a deal in turn..."
"It is a possibility," conceded Emma. "As is the possibility that Germany's rather interesting inheritance laws may mean that my intervention is not required. But it's far too early to even think about matters like that. The first step is to make sure that we have the evidence we need. Which means we need to obtain evidence of Baron Wagner's not on the official record bank accounts. Which just happen to be in a very, very private bank in a country that prides itself on keeping people's bank accounts very, very secret."
"I do so love a challenge", was the cheerful response.
"Good," said Emma. "Then I suggest you ensure your passport is in order and work on your persuasive skills. While I was travelling, I undertook a few side trips. One of them was to Andorra, keeper of secret bank accounts for everyone who isn't all that enthused about informing the authorities of their earnings. I believe I've identified the bank with which your father has a number of accounts. There is an employee who works there who is a very good Catholic man and his conscience is starting to trouble him. Being such a good Catholic yourself, I presume you are aware that the Pope has just declared the making of obscene wealth a mortal sin?" Emma's expression made her feelings for that particular declaration quite clear. Emma loved wealth and obscenity with a fierce passion.
"I was aware of it", he said with a faint smile. "And of course, greed has always been a sin. I think you have found the one to work on... to save the souls of many, of course."
"Oh Kurt," said Emma. "I'm the Queen of Hellfire. It's so very much more fun for me to damn souls than to save them. However, in the circumstances and just this once, I'm willing to save a few. But I don't think my powers are necessary and, quite frankly, I want to keep my involvement to a minimum. Word gets around in the business world, Kurt, and I want to be able to keep playing in my world. The gentleman in question is probably quite amenable to persuasion, especially if it's backed up with quite a lot of theological discussion on the state of his soul and the necessity for making sure his little disc of information makes it to the appropriate authorities. He's an honourable man doing dishonourable things. Having another honourable man talk to him may just save me from having to do something - energetic."
Kurt grinned. "I wish I could care about my father's soul... but frankly, he is all yours. I know exactly how to approach our honourable man to save his, however."
"Excellent," said Emma. "I am happy to make an approach with you, but it won't be as myself. A large hat and some pyschic blurring will do nicely, I think. If you can organise a time and a ticket to Andorra la Vella, then I shall introduce you to the labyrinthine ways of tax havens and secret bank accounts and uncharming men who I'm quite happy to have out of the international banking system before they get anywhere near my money." Her smile was serene and possibly just slightly evil. "I do believe this may be a victory for all of us, Kurt."
Emma smiled as she looked up at the knock on her office door. She always enjoyed being the bearer of glad tidings and even more so when it meant the possibility of taking down both a potential business rival and, more to the point, maker of mutant misery.
So there was absolute sincerity in her voice as she purred, "It's so good to see you, Kurt."
"Likewise, Emma", he returned with a smile in response, walking in and sitting down. "Am I to take it you have good news for me?"
"I have interesting news," responded Emma. "Possibly good. With a proviso that more work needs to be done." She nodded at the neat folder that perched on the table in front of Kurt. "I've had my people put together some information on your father's companies and I took the opportunity to do some investigation of my own while I was in Europe. Baron Wagner has a number of companies with a range of principal activities, but there are financial vulnerabilities that could be used to bring down some of the larger ones. With business confidence being what it is, it's likely that this would start a domino effect and we could destroy everything that he has. It would not be easy, but it would be possible, though it would require some very, very large cash injections and a great deal of work with a number of hedging funds. That's one option that you may wish to consider."
Kurt considered this, reaching for the folder. "I am prepared to do whatever work needs to be done, as far as I can, but I cannot help very much with the cash resources. There are other options?" She'd said that was one option, after all.
"There are always other options," said Emma. "Considering how unsavoury the man is, murdering him in his bed would seem not an unreasonable one." She raised a finger to quiet Kurt's next words. "Don't worry, Kurt, I haven't hired anyone I shouldn't have to do anything to which you'd have ethical objections. I don't even particularly wish to hurt his companies; there are a lot of people employed in those companies and collapsing them would hurt his employees more than it would him. Because Baron Wagner has quite a few personal financial resources. Quite a few." She smiled suddenly, a predator's smile. "Rather more than the tax authorities in Germany are aware of."
"...is that so." Kurt's own smile was suddenly rather more wolfish than usual. "Murdering him in his bed would be counter-productive, I feel - I do not wish to make a martyr of him - but disgracing him and having his properties confiscated... that will relieve him of his money and much of his power at the same time."
"Well, we do know about those pesky German tax authorities," said Emma. "They're so - possessive. And quite tetchy. And really quite enthusiastic if they happen to come across - say, a list of bank accounts held by German citizens in non-German countries containing money that rightfully belongs to Germany." Emma was enjoying herself far too much, but she didn't feel the need to stop any time soon. This was definitely her kind of fun.
"And very inclined to seize that money back for Germany", Kurt completed the thought, then asked delicately, "Do you think that perhaps that money, rather than sitting in the national coffers, might be handed over to the fraudster's eldest son? His illegitimate eldest son, but nevertheless."
"Not all of it, naturally. A rather large slice of it would stay in the coffers where it belonged. The more important question would be what happened to his companies. Cash is - dull," said Emma, with a certain acquired contempt. "Companies live. Companies make money. Have employees. And Germany likes to keep people working and spending and making their economy a happy, thriving place to be. Germany may just be willing to cut a deal to make sure that Baron Wagner's companies continue to help keep the wheels of commerce grinding along."
"I would certainly not wish to put all of those people out of work", he said with a faint smile. "They have done nothing to me, after all. But if his companies were to pass into the hands of a woman who has already proved herself successful in business, who might be willing to make a deal in turn..."
"It is a possibility," conceded Emma. "As is the possibility that Germany's rather interesting inheritance laws may mean that my intervention is not required. But it's far too early to even think about matters like that. The first step is to make sure that we have the evidence we need. Which means we need to obtain evidence of Baron Wagner's not on the official record bank accounts. Which just happen to be in a very, very private bank in a country that prides itself on keeping people's bank accounts very, very secret."
"I do so love a challenge", was the cheerful response.
"Good," said Emma. "Then I suggest you ensure your passport is in order and work on your persuasive skills. While I was travelling, I undertook a few side trips. One of them was to Andorra, keeper of secret bank accounts for everyone who isn't all that enthused about informing the authorities of their earnings. I believe I've identified the bank with which your father has a number of accounts. There is an employee who works there who is a very good Catholic man and his conscience is starting to trouble him. Being such a good Catholic yourself, I presume you are aware that the Pope has just declared the making of obscene wealth a mortal sin?" Emma's expression made her feelings for that particular declaration quite clear. Emma loved wealth and obscenity with a fierce passion.
"I was aware of it", he said with a faint smile. "And of course, greed has always been a sin. I think you have found the one to work on... to save the souls of many, of course."
"Oh Kurt," said Emma. "I'm the Queen of Hellfire. It's so very much more fun for me to damn souls than to save them. However, in the circumstances and just this once, I'm willing to save a few. But I don't think my powers are necessary and, quite frankly, I want to keep my involvement to a minimum. Word gets around in the business world, Kurt, and I want to be able to keep playing in my world. The gentleman in question is probably quite amenable to persuasion, especially if it's backed up with quite a lot of theological discussion on the state of his soul and the necessity for making sure his little disc of information makes it to the appropriate authorities. He's an honourable man doing dishonourable things. Having another honourable man talk to him may just save me from having to do something - energetic."
Kurt grinned. "I wish I could care about my father's soul... but frankly, he is all yours. I know exactly how to approach our honourable man to save his, however."
"Excellent," said Emma. "I am happy to make an approach with you, but it won't be as myself. A large hat and some pyschic blurring will do nicely, I think. If you can organise a time and a ticket to Andorra la Vella, then I shall introduce you to the labyrinthine ways of tax havens and secret bank accounts and uncharming men who I'm quite happy to have out of the international banking system before they get anywhere near my money." Her smile was serene and possibly just slightly evil. "I do believe this may be a victory for all of us, Kurt."
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