The fine line between business and pleasure(Aline/Emilian)

[Aline Saroyan]

Aline made a tiny laugh and took another sip of her drink. "Especially so, danger never frightened me before," and whatever people thought about someone didn't mean she bought into their words. Yes, there could be a truth to it, but Aline believed in seeing people for their redeeming qualities.

[Emilian Sota]

Emilian's eyes flickered to Aline's, and he lost a brief war with himself as they did so. "And if you discovered later that all that was said by others was true?" So dangerous, but so very, very satisfying. It had been years since he'd been able to stretch his wings, and he couldn't really be blamed for wanting to see what could happen, could he? Oh, but he had worked so hard to gain control over himself...

[Aline Saroyan]

Aline, this time, drank deeply finishing off her drink. "There is a saying, you've made your bed now lie on it. I have no problems with this," whatever it was, Aline would find a way to get over and move past it. There was far too much at stake for her to hold anything against him. Whatever skeleton he had in his closet she had to accept it.

[Emilian Sota]

Emilian eyed Aline after that response and then, after another brief war with himself, shifted away from her into the arm of the couch. "You seem to be a very forgiving woman," he said. "I don't think I've met many like that." The forgiveness always had a limit, and, in his experience, it always seemed to be a shorter one than men had.

[Aline Saroyan]

Aline echoed his movements allowing herself to sink into the warm plushy chair. It reminded her of the armchair she curled up in at her fathers study while she listened to the sounds of quill on parchment. "I'm not perfect and I've made mistakes, but what kind of person would I be to forgive myself and never others?" they all came with skeletons in their closet and if she told him the things she did to secure a business deal he wouldn't see her the way she thought he might. "I refuse to dwell on my own mistakes so why others'?"

[Emilian Sota]

Emilian considered Aline once more after she spoke. People like her simply didn't exist, in his experience. "How about we just bottle up that little bit of optimism and sell it to everyone else, hm?" he teased. Although part of his old self wanted to push the issue, to just press and press until he found a limit, he managed to keep himself under control. "Of course, if it's a business mistake, sometimes it's best to avoid that whole forgiveness thing." Shift the topic. Talk about unreliable business partners and professional things instead of personal ones.

[Aline Saroyan]

There was a shift in the conversation, and for a moment Aline wasn't going to allow it. She wanted him to press on, she wanted to lead it somewhere dangerous. In her mind she could see herself moving towards him, but that image was erased instantly and at the mention of business partners she laughed and nodded her head. "They are the worst breed, but I promise you that won't be a problem for yourself or us," she paused eyes on the bottles in front of her. "My father doesn't take well to those that try to harm his business. Just as much as he protects his business and family, he protects his investments," and Emilian didn't realize he was the crown jewel of them all.

[Emilian Sota]

Emilian nodded, but from there on out their conversation never truly hit on important topics. Things shifted toward vague small talk, and eventually Aline left without Emilian making a horrible faux pas that would ruin his life all over again. Once she left, he had a little more vodka. Okay, well, maybe a lot more vodka, but at least he hadn't made a complete fool of himself. They would see one another again, but he hoped he would be better prepared.