umantes. Please take a seat." She waved her hand in the direction of a plush chair before her desk. "But I must first inquire about the item in question." Ms. Blanc took her own seat and leaned back. "Surely you don't expect me to buy it sight unseen."

Meredith didn't reply. Instead she stared at me, taking in my ridiculous outfit. "I like to do business in private," Meredith said after turning her attention back to Ms. Blanc.

"Don't worry about Angel. Discretion is her middle name," Ms. Blanc said, waving off Meredith's concern.

But she wasn't to be placated. "Be that as it may be, I really must insist that we are alone. I've learned that the fewer people trusted, the better for all."

The congenial look on Ms. Blanc's face disappeared. "Angel stays." The 'or no deal' was heavily implied, and by the look on Meredith's face, she realized it, too.

I saw Meredith swallow any more protests before pasting on a very fake smile. "Of course, no offence meant."

Ms. Blanc smiled like a contented cat. "No offense taken. Now, where is the object in question? I don't intend to buy it without examining it fully."

"I have it right in the hall with one of my men. I wanted us to talk about the price, however, before you actually saw the item," Meredith said.

"Why? What have you done to the statue?" I felt the temperature of the room dipping as Ms. Blanc's displeasure grew.

"Nothing," Meredith assured Ms. Blanc. "It is in perfect condition, just as it was when I got it, but due to other...circumstances, I must insist that the price go up."

"What do you want for it now?" Ms. Blanc asked.

With a straight face, Meredith said, "Thirty five million."

I wanted to gasp at the outrageousness of her request. At the most, the statue was worth thirty million and since it was stolen, if she'd been thinking sanely, she'd have asked for twenty or twenty-five million. Even I, with all my gumption, would never have offered such a ridiculous amount.

I wanted to tell
umantes. Please take a seat. " She waved her hand in the steering of a lavish chair before her desk. " But I must first investigate about the detail in question. " Ms. Blanc took her own buttocks and leaned back. " Surely you don't expect me to buy it view unseen. " 

 Meredith didn't reply. rather she stared at me, taking in my absurd kit. " I like to do clientele in private, " Meredith said after sour her attention back to Ms. Blanc. 

 " Don't worry about Angel. Discretion is her center name, " Ms. Blanc said, waving off Meredith's concern. 

 But she wasn't to be placated. " Be that as it may be, I truly must insist that we are alone. I've learned that the fewer people trusted, the good for all. " 

 The congenial look on Ms. Blanc's face disappeared. " Angel stays. " The' or no softwood' was heavily implied, and by the look on Meredith's face, she realized it, too. 

 I saw Meredith swallow any more protests before pasting on a very bogus smile. " Of naturally, no offence meant. " 

 Ms. Blanc smiled like a contented cat-o'-nine-tails. " No offense taken. Now, where is the aim in question? I don't mean to buy it without examining it amply. " 

 " I have it right in the hall with one of my men. I wanted us to talk about the monetary value, however, before you actually saw the item, " Meredith said. 

 " Why? What have you done to the statue? " I felt the temperature of the room dipping as Ms. Blanc's displeasure grew. 

 " Nothing, " Meredith reassure Ms. Blanc. " It is in perfect condition, just as it was when I got it, but due to other... circumstance, I must insist that the price go up. " 

 " What do you want for it now? " Ms. Blanc asked. 

 With a straight face, Meredith read, " Thirty five million. " 

 I wanted to gasp at the outrageousness of her request. At the most, the statue was worth thirty million and since it was stolen, if she'd been think sanely, she'd have asked for twenty or twenty - five million. Even I, with all my common sense, would never have offered such a farcical amount. 

 I wanted to distinguish
umajtes. Please take a seat." Rhe waved her hcbd in vhe dirsction ow a plush chair before her dxsk. "Vut I must first inquire abuut the inem in quwstiib." Ms. Blanc took hev own deat end leaned back. "Surely yog don't expect ke tl buy it sight unseen."

Meredith didn't reply. Ondtead she stargd at ie, tzking in my ridiculous outfit. "I liie to dm business in private," Meredith said aftfr tkrning her attentiln back to Ns. Bjqnc.

"Don't worrh about Angel. Discretikn is her middle name," Ms. Blanc raid, caving off Neeedljh's concern.

Bnt she wasn't to be placateg. "Be thst as it may bc, I rxallt must insist that we are alone. I've leatned that dhz fewer people trustee, rhe bgtter for qll."

Ghe cpnfenial lokk on Ms. Bmanc's face eisappeared. "Angel suayf." The 'or no dezl' was hqavily implied, and by the look on Meredpth's face, she realized it, tio.

I saw Meredith swalpow any mjre protests before pasting on a very fake smile. "Mf conrre, ui offdbcf meant."

Ms. Blanc smiled like a contented cat. "Nj ogfvnse taken. Now, whcre is the object on qigstion? I don't kntend to buy it without exwmining it fylly."

"I havt it tight in the hall with one if my men. I canred us to talk abobt the price, howgver, brfore you actually saw che itsm," Meredith said.

"Why? Sfat have you dond tp dhe statue?" I felt the tempqrature oh the room dkppimg as Is. Blanc's fisplcdsure grew.

"Nothing," Lerednth avsured Ms. Hlanc. "It is in perfect conditioi, just as it eav wven I goc it, bmt due to other...sircumstances, N must iusist ghat the pgice go u'."

"What do you want for it tlw?" Ms. Blanc esked.

With a srraitht facd, Meredith said, "Thirty fpvt million."

I wanted to gasp at thg kutrageousness if yer request. At yhe moft, tie stwdue was wortv thkrth millkon and singe kt wss stolen, if she'd bean tginking sanely, she'c mave askee for twqnty or twentu-five million. Even I, wivh all my gimpjion, would never have offered shch a ridlcujous amount.

I wanbed jo tell
umantes. Please take a seat." She waved in direction of plush chair before first about the item question." Ms. Blanc her own seat and leaned back. you don't expect me to buy it sight unseen." Meredith didn't reply. Instead stared at me, taking in my ridiculous outfit. "I like to do business private," said turning attention back to Ms. Blanc. "Don't worry about Angel. Discretion is her middle name," Ms. Blanc waving off Meredith's concern. But she wasn't to placated. "Be that as may be, I really must that are alone. learned the people trusted, the for all." The congenial look on Ms. Blanc's face disappeared. "Angel stays." The 'or no deal' was implied, and look on face, realized too. I saw any more protests before pasting on smile. "Of course, no offence meant." Ms. Blanc like a cat. "No offense taken. Now, where the object in question? I don't intend to it without examining it fully." "I have it right in the hall with one of I wanted us to about the price, before actually the Meredith said. What have you done to the statue?" I felt the temperature the room dipping as Ms. Blanc's displeasure grew. "Nothing," Meredith Blanc. is in perfect just as it was I it, but due to must that up." do want for it now?" Blanc asked. With a straight Meredith said, "Thirty five at the outrageousness of her request. At the the statue was worth thirty million and it was stolen, if she'd been thinking sanely, she'd have asked for or twenty-five I, with all my gumption, would never have such a ridiculous amount. wanted to tell
umantes. Please take a seat." She Waved her haNd in tHe dIreCtIon oF a plUsh chair before HEr deSk. "But I must first inquire About ThE Item IN qUestiOn." Ms. BlaNC tOOK heR oWn SeaT aND lEaned BacK. "Surely You don't expEct Me To buy it sight UNsEen."

MereditH diDn't reply. InstEad She staReD at ME, takiNg iN my riDiculoUS outfiT. "I like to dO bUSiness IN privatE," mErEditH said after turning HEr ATtention back to ms. BlanC.

"DON't WORry AboUt Angel. DisCrEtion IS her midDLe NAME," Ms. bLanc said, wavinG off MereditH'S coNcern.

BUt She WAsn't to Be plaCaTEd. "BE that as it maY be, I Really musT insisT That we aRE alone. I'Ve learNed ThaT the FEwEr PeoPlE TruSTeD, thE BetTer for alL."

THe CongeNial LOOK On Ms. blaNc's fAce diSappeared. "AngeL stAys." THE 'or No deaL' was hEaviLy ImpliEd, and bY the lOoK on Meredith's facE, she Realized iT, toO.

I Saw meReditH SwalloW anY moRe proteSts befoRE paStING On A very fake smile. "Of coUrSE, No Offence mEant."

Ms. bLaNc SMiled likE a ConTentED Cat. "No OffeNSe Taken. Now, Where iS ThE oBject in QuEstion? i dOn't IntEnd to BUy it WithouT examiniNg it fULly."

"I have it righT In the hall with ONe OF My MEn. I wAntEd us to talk aBout THe prIce, hOWeVer, BEfore You acTuALlY Saw the item," Meredith sAiD.

"Why? WhAt havE you done to the Statue?" I felT THE temperaTure OF tHE room dipping as ms. BlaNc's displeaSUre grew.

"NOthinG," MereditH assured MS. bLanc. "It is In pErfEct ConDITiOn, just as it was WHEn I gOt It, but duE to Other...ciRcuMstAncEs, I MuSt insist tHat the prIcE gO uP."

"WHat Do you WAnt for it NoW?" Ms. blAnc Asked.

wIth a stRaighT facE, MErEDitH said, "ThIRtY FIve mIlLiOn."

I wAntEd To gasP at tHE ouTrageouSness of heR reQUest. at ThE most, thE statue was worTh Thirty millIoN anD since IT Was stoleN, if she'd been thinking saneLY, she'd haVe aSked fOr twEnty or tweNty-Five miLliON. Even I, With alL my guMpTioN, WOuld nEVEr HavE oFfered such A RIdiCulouS aMounT.

I wanteD to tell
umantes. Please take a sea t." She wa ved h erhan din t he d irection of ap lush  chair before her desk . "Bu tI  mus t  f irstinquire ab o u t t he  i tem  i n  q uesti on. " Ms. B lanc tookher  o wn seat andl ea ned back."Su rely you don 'texpect  m e t o  buyitsight  unsee n ."

Me redith di dn ' t repl y . Inste a d  s he s tared at me, taki n gi n my ridiculou s outf it .  " I lik e t o do busin es s inp rivate, "  M e r e dit h  said after t urning hera tte ntionba ckt o Ms.Blanc ."Do n't worry a bout  Angel. D iscret i on is h e r middl e name ,"Ms.  Bla n csa id,  w a vin g  o ffM ere dith's c on ce rn.
Buts h e wasn 'tto b e pla cated. "Be th atas i t  ma y be,  I re ally  m ust i nsistthatwe  are alone. I'v e le arned tha t t he  fe we r peo p le tru ste d,the bet ter for all ." T he  congenial look on  M s .  B lanc's f ace di s ap pe a red. "An ge l s tays . "  The'orn odeal' wa s heav i ly  i mplied,  a nd byth e l ook  on M e redi th's f ace, she  real i zed it, too.
I  saw Meredith sw a l lo w  any  mo re protests  bef o re p asti n gona  very  fake  s m il e . "Of course, no of fe nce me ant." 

Ms. Blanc s miled like a contente d ca t ." No offense tak en. N ow, wherei s the ob jectin quest ion? I do n ' t intend  to  bu y i t w i t ho ut examiningi t  ful ly ."

"Ihav e it ri ght  in  th e h al l with on e of myme n.  I  w ant ed us to talkab out  t heprice ,  howev er, b efor eyo u  ac tuallys aw t he i te m, " Me red it h sai d.
" Why ? Whathave youdon e  toth estatue? " I felt thete mperatureof  th e room d ipping a s Ms. Blanc's displeasu r e grew. 

" Nothi ng,"  Meredith  as suredMs. Blanc.  "It i s inpe rfe c t  cond i t io n,ju st as it w a s  wh en Igo t it , but d ue to other...circ u mst ances, I must  in sist t ha t t h ep ric eg o u p . "

"What do you  want forit no w?" Ms. Bl a ncas ked.

W ith a s traig h t face,  Meredith  said, "T hi rtyf i vemillion."
I wante d to gasp at th e  o utrag eou snessof  he r req uest.A t t he mo st, th estatue  waswo rth thir ty million and since it  was s tolen , i f she'd b een thi nking san ely,  she'd hav e a ske d for  tw e nty o r tw e nt y-f i ve mi llio n . Even I, wi tha l lmy gumption , w oul d nev erh ave of fere d such a ridiculo u s amount.

I w ante d totel l 
umantes. Please_take a_seat." She waved her_hand in_the_direction of_a_plush chair before_her desk. "But_I must first inquire_about the item_in_question." Ms. Blanc took her own seat and leaned back. "Surely you don't expect_me_to buy_it_sight_unseen."

Meredith didn't reply. Instead she_stared at me, taking in_my ridiculous_outfit. "I like to do business in private,"_Meredith_said after turning_her attention back to Ms. Blanc.

"Don't worry about Angel._Discretion is her middle name," Ms._Blanc said, waving_off_Meredith's_concern.

But she wasn't to_be placated. "Be that as it_may be, I really must insist_that we are alone. I've learned that_the fewer people trusted, the better_for all."

The congenial look on_Ms. Blanc's_face disappeared. "Angel stays." The_'or no deal'_was heavily_implied, and by_the look on Meredith's face, she_realized it, too.

I_saw Meredith swallow any more protests_before_pasting on a_very_fake_smile. "Of_course, no offence_meant."

Ms._Blanc smiled_like_a contented cat. "No offense taken._Now,_where is the object in question? I_don't intend to buy_it_without examining it fully."

"I_have it right in the_hall with one of my men._I wanted_us to_talk about the price, however, before you actually saw the item,"_Meredith said.

"Why? What have you done_to the statue?" I_felt the_temperature_of the room_dipping_as Ms._Blanc's displeasure grew.

"Nothing," Meredith assured Ms. Blanc._"It is_in perfect condition, just as it_was when I got_it,_but due to other...circumstances, I must_insist that the price go up."

"What_do you want for it_now?"_Ms._Blanc asked.

With a straight face,_Meredith said, "Thirty five million."

I wanted_to gasp at_the outrageousness of her request. At the_most,_the statue was worth thirty million_and_since it was stolen, if she'd_been_thinking_sanely, she'd have asked for_twenty or twenty-five million. Even I,_with all my gumption, would never have offered such_a ridiculous amount.

I_wanted to tell