Jin felt a strange pressure on his windpipe as Emil spoke of the Jedi and the Sith. He thought a fish bone might have been lodged into his throat, perhaps down his larynx, and he rubbed at his neck muscles, trying to figure out the source of his discomfort. He cleared his throat, and when that didn’t work, he adjusted the collar of his dress shirt—still, nothing. It was only after Emil had finished his initial sermon that Jin felt the weight lift, and he sucked in a cold breath of air.
“Just because I am a senator does not make me your lapdog, Chancellor. You can at least afford a ‘please.’ Don’t forget I put you where you are. I doubt it will take much to see you topple.” Jin knew he was speaking too rashly. It was more than a vague insult, but a very clear threat. Emil could probably have him smothered in his sleep for the warning—if his guards could get past Venka—but the Senator was not worried. To beat Demeter, they would need each other.
Once they were finished, however? A different story.
Before either man could continue hashing out their scheme to depose the minister, however, one of the waiters who’d been circling the small party, keeping the guests off their back, peered in from over Emil’s shoulder. “Gentleman, I don’t mean to intrude upon your conversation, but I am afraid we have a slight problem in the suite foyer. An uninvited guest has arrived.”
Jin tossed his handkerchief onto the table. “This better be good.”
He rose from his seat and moved with Emil back inside, away from the gorgeous balcony view, to the normal din of the party, of clinking champagne glasses and boring smalltalk. It was only once he reached the foyer that he caught her, dressed in a gown the deep shade of red, with earrings and a pendant that shined under the low-hanging chandelier by the door. Her lips split into a grin.
“Chancellor Ro, Senator Vaisra,” said Minister Demeter. “It is such a pleasure to meet you both.”
@Mockingjay
“Just because I am a senator does not make me your lapdog, Chancellor. You can at least afford a ‘please.’ Don’t forget I put you where you are. I doubt it will take much to see you topple.” Jin knew he was speaking too rashly. It was more than a vague insult, but a very clear threat. Emil could probably have him smothered in his sleep for the warning—if his guards could get past Venka—but the Senator was not worried. To beat Demeter, they would need each other.
Once they were finished, however? A different story.
Before either man could continue hashing out their scheme to depose the minister, however, one of the waiters who’d been circling the small party, keeping the guests off their back, peered in from over Emil’s shoulder. “Gentleman, I don’t mean to intrude upon your conversation, but I am afraid we have a slight problem in the suite foyer. An uninvited guest has arrived.”
Jin tossed his handkerchief onto the table. “This better be good.”
He rose from his seat and moved with Emil back inside, away from the gorgeous balcony view, to the normal din of the party, of clinking champagne glasses and boring smalltalk. It was only once he reached the foyer that he caught her, dressed in a gown the deep shade of red, with earrings and a pendant that shined under the low-hanging chandelier by the door. Her lips split into a grin.
“Chancellor Ro, Senator Vaisra,” said Minister Demeter. “It is such a pleasure to meet you both.”
@Mockingjay