Dwayne had expected a private sale, but it...wasn't that unusual for bidding wars to break out. It just complicated things way the hell more than he really wanted to deal with when he was "selling" with a target in mind.
This particular buyer had a stable. Not just a casual dabbler who wanted something pretty to take home, but, as far as Dwayne's sources could provide, at least three or four purchases established on his record. Wolves that needed to be found and freed. Sending in a plant was the best way to get that information...
But he couldn't do that if some kid with too much money and too much faith in his own balls bought Mira out from under the buyer. Or worse, spooked him into backing out of the deal. And from the way the fat man was huffing, frowning, and narrowing his eyes at the new competition? That wasn't out of the realm of the possibility.
Right. Smooth this over.
"She's docile, but still not a pet for a first-timer, kid," Dwayne says smoothly. He feels like kind of an ass: the guy is cute, and sort of clueless. Maybe just doing it because daddy says he should, a birthday present he doesn't really want? Dwayne isn't sure that his heart is in it, and he can smell the reluctance and anxiety coming off him, hear his heart beating way faster than it should be for a simple deal like this.
"This wasn't meant to be an open negotiation, is our deal still on or not?" the original buyer interrupts, looking both irritated and nervous. Of course he is: even if the kid is just a entitled brat of a party-crasher, he could drive the price up in an impromptu bidding war.
Dwayne smiles, putting on his full charm. Pacifying, even though his stomach tightens up. Mira demurely raises her eyes, even though she gives no other sign of being alert, and he can tell that she doesn't like this, either. Dwayne raises a hand. "We don't have to be rude, we are civilized, after all." He shoots a sidelong glance at Mira, clearly indicating, well...some of them are civilized, anyway. He looks at Josh again.
"Downtown, there's a place called the Velvet Room. Ask for Paulina, and tell her that you're looking for the Executive treatment. Trust me, kid. It's a much better deal than adopting a new playmate you don't know how to handle." He gives Josh a tolerant smile, one that he only has to look up a couple of inches to manage.
no subject
This particular buyer had a stable. Not just a casual dabbler who wanted something pretty to take home, but, as far as Dwayne's sources could provide, at least three or four purchases established on his record. Wolves that needed to be found and freed. Sending in a plant was the best way to get that information...
But he couldn't do that if some kid with too much money and too much faith in his own balls bought Mira out from under the buyer. Or worse, spooked him into backing out of the deal. And from the way the fat man was huffing, frowning, and narrowing his eyes at the new competition? That wasn't out of the realm of the possibility.
Right. Smooth this over.
"She's docile, but still not a pet for a first-timer, kid," Dwayne says smoothly. He feels like kind of an ass: the guy is cute, and sort of clueless. Maybe just doing it because daddy says he should, a birthday present he doesn't really want? Dwayne isn't sure that his heart is in it, and he can smell the reluctance and anxiety coming off him, hear his heart beating way faster than it should be for a simple deal like this.
"This wasn't meant to be an open negotiation, is our deal still on or not?" the original buyer interrupts, looking both irritated and nervous. Of course he is: even if the kid is just a entitled brat of a party-crasher, he could drive the price up in an impromptu bidding war.
Dwayne smiles, putting on his full charm. Pacifying, even though his stomach tightens up. Mira demurely raises her eyes, even though she gives no other sign of being alert, and he can tell that she doesn't like this, either. Dwayne raises a hand. "We don't have to be rude, we are civilized, after all." He shoots a sidelong glance at Mira, clearly indicating, well...some of them are civilized, anyway. He looks at Josh again.
"Downtown, there's a place called the Velvet Room. Ask for Paulina, and tell her that you're looking for the Executive treatment. Trust me, kid. It's a much better deal than adopting a new playmate you don't know how to handle." He gives Josh a tolerant smile, one that he only has to look up a couple of inches to manage.