"If you think I'm doing this out of petty hatred, or just because I have the hots for Lady Fairfax, you're wrong." Jacob pouts and crosses his arms.
"So you will do what's necessary to achieve your goal... Even if you have to dirty your hands... Good." Talia nodded with approval. "That doesn't mean, you will not take chance to enjoy the situation, eh?" She leaned against the table. "Lady Fairfax, will behaving a ball tomorrow. That's enough for you to feel fallout of the... mess. With quick change of scandal, we should be able to divert crowd's attention..." She paused. "Do we have anything else, to discuss or plan?"
Jacob looks at the woman quietly for a moment, before he shakes his head. "No, not unless you have a suggestion. I'll be attending the ball - Our family always gets an invitation." Unless the woman and his father's servant stop him, Jacob exits.
"Not at this time." Talia said... then paused. "Well, there might be two things... but for now only one is of importance. We might be able to soften the blow, if we show that you were being shot at... we might even issue a bounty on the woman who shot you, make her an enemy and do something making to tv show, centered around hunting her down..."
"That sounds...tacky...but if you think it'll work, sure. I made her an offer to come to my office and turn herself in. I doubt she'd take it, but if she does, we could offer her forgiveness in return for denouncing the other rioters - to show off my mercy and make them look even worse." He doesn't know why it sounds so fake as he says it. He really is willing to offer the woman mercy - so why does it bother him that it also provides him with some benefit?
"I get a feeling that you matured a little today... how curious, that change in you. I guess we are finished for today." Talia said as she straightened and walked out of the room, leaving Jacob alone with the maid.
"Maturation is a strange word for it, but whatever." He sighs and doesn't stop her from leaving. Eventually, Jacob looks up at Alessa. "So... What do you think? Am I doing the right thing - setting someone up to take a fall?"
Alessa shrugged. "Is it a matter of right and wrong, or a matter of be or not to be?" The maid asked. "You do what you think needs to be done, to save yourself. Is it a wrong thing to do?"
"I don't know - that's the problem." He sighs. "Is my life and career so precious that it's worth more than honor?" Jacob looks at the maid who practically raised him, seeking guidance, before walking away. "Did dad tell you to follow me around all day, or just for this meeting? 'Cause I'd like to be alone right now."
"Of course, young master." the maid bowed her head, and started leaving, before she stopped. "I heard once a phrace - ask the dead, what is an honour worth - silence, will be your answer." With those words, Alessa left, leaving Jacob alone.
Jacob walks to the balcony, looking out over his city, hands clenching the railing tightly, before finally he exits the room. Pulling out his comms device, he calls Chloe, as he heads to his apartment.
After a moment, the comm came to life. "Yes?" Came tired voice of Chloe from the other side. He could not see her, but Jacob would imagine she was tired and miserable.
"Hey, could we meet up? I... What happened earlier was wrong... What he said to you, taking your job..." Jacob pauses, and realises that he's blushing. "I want to make things right."
There was a silence on the other side, then after a moment- "And can you make things right?" there was no hope in her voice, as she expected a negative answer. It was a rethoring question.
"I can't - but I can help you out. Get you a new job, the same as the old one, out of town where no one will recognise you." He leans against his wall. "Please?"
There was another paused. "Your father made it clear that I am to leave the planet." She said shortly, but there was no rebuff of the idea.
"You might have to, for a little while, in case someone here wants to come after you, but I'll make sure you've got a job to support yourself until you can come back. You saved my life - I owe it to you to make sure you're at least comfortable." He stands quietly, thinking. "Besides, I loaned you five credits last week. Don't think I'm going to just walk out on your debt." He chuckles. "Will you come over?"
There is pause... for some time, if not for her breathing, Jacob would think she disconnected. "I don't know." She finally answered. "Maybe I will find a place somewhere else, maybe- I really don't know." She said, but now, her voice was less miserable.
