My Vampire Harem Will Dominate Everything

Chapter 248: Madame Athena

Ezra sat at the head of the large wooden table of the office, his fingers drumming lightly against the surface. The high tech daylight creation lights illuminated the room, giving the illusion that it was noon.

If not for the lack of windows and the soft hum of the generators working to power the facility, one would never know that they were underground.

Elliot walked into the tastefully decorated office, holding a thick folder of documents in his hands. His face was covered by the same black mask he wore when the occasion demanded it.

He and Ezra already knew each other's faces but this time, they were expecting an outsider inside the facility.

"Mr. M," Elliot began as he handed the folder over, "here's the latest report on the farmer's market."

Ezra took the folder without a word, flipping it open and scanning the contents. His keen eyes flicked over the numbers and summaries.

Profits were up, business was booming, and the underground auctions were doing their usual job of attracting the most powerful and wealthy criminals of various cities. The network was expanding, and the money was flowing in faster than even he had anticipated.

"Any issues I should be aware of?" Ezra asked, his voice low but commanding as he continued to read.

Elliot shook his head. "No, sir. Everything's running smoothly. We found a few attempts to run a competing market but we found the people behind it and stamped it out. We found their plants and after a bit of housekeeping, we've maintained full control of the market."

"The underground auctions remain our main selling point and have brought in the most significant revenue among all operations."

Ezra nodded, satisfied. "Good. Keep things moving as they are. The more we monopolize the market, the more we'll draw in the money."

Elliot bowed slightly. "Of course, Mr. M. Thank you." He hesitated for a moment before glancing at his phone. "Your appointment is here, sir."

"Of course." Ezra closed the folder, his expression unreadable behind his own silver mask. "Show her in."

Elliot nodded, moving to the door and pulling it open with a quiet creak. Standing just outside, wearing a light blue gown that clung to her skin and enhanced her natural beauty, was Madame Athena.

She stepped into the room, her movements fluid and graceful, her presence commanding as if she owned every space she walked into. She wasn't a vampire but she had the aura to pull off being one.

She wore a beautifully designed mask of the same color of her gown. Like all masks worn in the farmer's market, it only covered the upper face but even with the mask on, her beauty was undeniable.

Her lips curved into a playful smile as she entered, her posture exuding confidence. The elegant yet provocative cut of her dress clung to her form in a way that drew the eye, most prominently to her breasts.

As the foremost criminal lord of Faewall, her reputation preceded her.

Elliot bowed slightly to her before slipping out of the room, leaving them in privacy.

"Madame Athena." Ezra greeted with a smile, his tone calm and collected. He remained seated, watching her with a measured gaze as she approached.

"Overseer." She purred, her voice smooth as velvet. She gave a slight smile as she took a seat across from him, crossing her legs slowly as if savoring the moment. "I must admit, I was… intrigued when I received your invitation."

Ezra smiled at her, leaning back in his chair. "I'm sure you were. When I heard that Faewall's most powerful criminal lady was in the city and at my market no less, I knew I had to meet her in person. You must get many invitations, but I assure you, this one will be worth your time."

Athena raised an eyebrow, her beautiful blue eyes glinting behind the mask. "I'm listening."

"I plan on expanding my operations to Faewall." Ezra said, getting straight to the point. "And I want you to be my point of contact. You know the city better than anyone, and I believe we can both benefit from each other's expertise."

Athena's smile widened, her lips curling upward in amusement. "You flatter me, Overseer. But what's in it for me? Why should I take an interest in your little… expansion? Wouldn't you be encroaching on my business?"

"Of course not." Ezra chuckled softly, the sound low and deliberate. "You do a lot of business. All I am, is a glorified delivery man. I make sure the business you do gets to the person you want it to without any issues. Isn't that beneficial for you?"

He leaned forward, his gaze never wavering from hers. "We want the same thing, Athena. To make sure whatever city we do business in remains… profitable for both of us."

Athena tilted her head at his words. He was speaking with such intensity that she took notice of everything he said. Discover the saga at m-vl-em-pyr

"You're offering me a partnership." She said, leaning forward slightly, her voice dropping to a near whisper. "But partnerships can be risky, especially when trust is involved. We're not exactly saints, Overseer. How do I know you won't stab me in the back the moment I give you what you want?"

Ezra matched her movement, leaning forward just enough to close the distance between them, their faces very close to each other.

"If I wanted to stab you in the back, Athena, I wouldn't have invited you here. I'm offering you a chance to expand your reach, to tap into new resources. We both know how valuable that could be."

Her lips curled into a smirk, even as she glanced down at his lips. "So serious, Overseer. It's almost as if you're trying to seduce me with your words."

Ezra's grin grew, his words playful. "I wouldn't dare."

"Is that so?" Athena bit her lip, eyeing him. Ezra stared at her, a grin on his face as they slowly inched closer. Just before their nose touched, they both pulled back simultaneously.

Athena winked, leaning back to consider his offer. Her fingers trailed along the edge of the table as if thinking on the balance of power between them. "You're a clever man, Overseer. I can see why you've risen so quickly in the city. But I'll need more than pretty words to convince me."

Ezra leaned back in his chair, his voice lowering. "How about access to the market's network? Information, resources, protection. The market has a lot to give. But rest assured, Athena, I expect the same from you."

"I see." Athena stood slowly, her eyes never leaving Ezra's. "I'll think about your offer." She said, her voice carrying a teasing edge. "But don't think you can control me, Overseer. I always make my own decisions."

She moved toward the door, pausing to give him one last glance over her shoulder. "Next time, let's see if your words are as sharp as you think they are."