Alessio and Natasha enter the restraunt and are immediatly shown to their reserved table. The walls are a faded blood red; the only light is given off by candles, both hanging from the ceiling or spaced out amongst the tables. Alessio summons a waiter and whispers something in the man's ear. The man exits in a near run, making great haste, only to appear moments later with a dusty bottle of wine, the label cracked and pealing, and two glasses on a tray. Both glasses have been filled with the rich, dark wine... and something else.

"I have been saving this for the right time. It is a 1378 Valpolicella, one of the first bottles ever made, accompanied by Bishop Jean de Bertier, who ran afoul of our family in 1620. He was only 18... and a virgin. It was gifted to me on my embrace. I feel it will grant us luck in our upcoming enterprise... not that we need luck."

Alessio raises his glaces in a toast.

"Cento di questi giorni!"

Their glasses clink together and both take a long quaff. The wine is strong and bitter, tasting of cherries and licorice. Mixing with that is the taste of salt and innocence. A mouthwatering combination.    

Above, their ancestors gaze down approvingly from ancient, oil covered canvas.

They sit, sipping their wine, tasting the slight nuances of the fine vintage and antique vitae. After several moments, Alessio breaks the silence.

"So, down to business: this Urban Renewal Project. We pick a few rundown landmarks around town, as well as some low-income tenements, tear it all down and build it back up. The public property would still be under the ownership of the city. We get a hefty tax write off. We also turn a decent profit from the remodeled housing. All of it financed through Gruppo Banco Leonardo, creating a solid reputation for us in the city, not to mention communicating to those in power that we have the funds and ability to get things done. What I need for you, my dear cousin, is to be our liaison. You are so charming and have such a knack for the finer points of manipulation that I simply could not trust this to anyone else. It should be a easy matter, getting these politicians to agree... but sometimes kine can be so very stubborn. Yet, be that as it may, I have great faith that you will handle this marvelously."

She smiles sweetly, "It sounds like a lovely idea, I'd be glad to do it. I hope that you will accompany me?"
She sips at her wine. She closes her eyes savouring the fine notes of the wine. The sweet with the salt, and that fine coppery lilt.
"Excellent wine Cousin, I'm impressed. I don't have such fineries at my business. I have two hundred year old scotch, but that is not this seductive bouquete."
She sets the glass down, studying the lip stick line on the glass briefly before looking to Alessio.
"About the white Rabbit, I have a new girl to my 'company' and she is fairly attractive. Tall, thin, blonde hair, blue eyes, tanned," as she mutters off this run on descrïption, her left hand twirls in the air. Casting the words off as if they were nothing. "Her friends tell me she's quite a dancer."
She sips her wine, her firey chocolate eyes flutter over to Doug. He is stopped over some, obviously still in some pain. She smiles wickedly, his pain amuses her.
"Infact," she sets her glass down. Her mood has changed to a twistic, sadistic one. "I had to punish Doug here recently. Seems he found Anna so attractive that he raped her and bloodied her pretty face."
She states these facts as if rape and disfigurement was a simple and unimportant thing. She couldn't care less the pain the rape cause, simply that her goods were damaged.
"Luckily, the scars are small and her body isn't unappealing. A few more visits with her and she will be the most willing of moles."
A hand slips into her purse, pulling out a happy head shot of Anna. Her hands are folded and her head is tilted as if she is trying to be coy. Her smile is bright and playful.
"So, what time would you like to handle business?" she returns to the previous topic and smiles. She doesn't seem in the mood to talk about Anna any further.

"Well, its far too late tonight... and I have business to take care of very shortly. Perhaps tomorrow?... if your schedule permits..."

"My schedule is free all day tomorrow. Just give me a call dear cousin," she says as she stands. Doug had entered, he seemed nervous.
He clears his throat and Natasha gives him a sour look.
"You're interupting...remember what happened last time."
Doug winces, a hand instinctively going to his back.
"S-sorry, but it is a-about your club."
"Oh fuck, speak up you simpering peon," she snarls. Doug just gasps and thrust her phone at her. She sntaches the phone and watches as he shrinks away. She gives Alessio an apologetic smile before listening to her phone. It was a voicemail, simply telling her they were out of halibut.
"Oh fuck, he acts like that couldn't wait," she rolls her eyes. She moves to kiss him on the cheek. "None the less, Halibut is the main dish tonight. Call me tomorrow and I'll meet you here."

Alessio nods in agreement and kisses his cousin's hand.

"Until tomorrow, my dear..."