RP: Barcelona
Date: 20 April 2005
Characters: Roger Davies, Hermione Granger
Location: Barcelona, Spain
Status: Private
Summary: Hermione & Roger go to Barcelona for business & exploring
Completion: Complete
It was odd to have been in Barcelona for three hours and not have seen anything except a posh office. The portkey had taken Hermione and Roger directly to Deziana Publishing from Stoatshead Hill, so there hadn't been an opportunity to even browse the city on the way to the meeting. Santiago Deziana and his partner (and brother), Diego, had proven to be harmless, which made her feel slightly guilty for being so suspicious. The owls they'd exchanged had just been so friendly that she'd automatically worried that they must be up to something bad.
After they'd introduced themselves, she'd given Roger a sheepish smile. They'd originally discussed him joining her back on New Year's Eve when she'd admitted her concerns, so finding two older friendly men instead of twisted psychopaths was cause for a little embarrassment. Fortunately, he didn't seem to mind, though he did look surprised when Santiago overtly flirted with him before flirting with her.
The man was very friendly, possibly too much so judging by the way he hugged his staff and generally bounced around with an annoying smile all the time. It wasn't a threatening sort of touching, fortunately, but she wasn't fond of strangers being that friendly. It was disturbing. No one else seemed to mind, though, so maybe she was just standoffish. She’d been called far worse, after all.
The meeting had gone well, though, and the contracts proposed were more than generous. Once they were signed, she'd not have to worry too much about daily operations at the press or shop for over a year after this was combined with the German contracts. Eleanor, Lee, and Darla could be paid properly, and Ron would have enough to be comfortable.
She wouldn't know for certain until she'd spent time crunching numbers and examining things more in depth, of course, but the German funds would last for six months, roughly, based on her estimates, so she assumed the higher amount from this contract would go longer, plus there was the added benefit that there were still three of the six books to discuss in the future. She'd also be able to pay Roger his percentage, since it was his parents' book rights they were negotiating.
Still, the meeting had run longer than expected, which caused her to stare at the window and wonder what was outside. There was a large window in the office, but the drapes were pulled close because it was too sunny. Personally, she didn't understand why they'd not want natural light, but people were odd. Regardless, it meant she'd not been able to get a look at the city yet. Whenever the Deziana brothers went into stories of their childhood or any number of personal experiences they felt it proper to share with strangers and business associates, she half listened and reviewed the notes she'd made during the meeting.
And she might have exchanged smiles with Roger a time or two, though nothing intimate to indicate they were involved because that wouldn't be very professional at all. They were amusing stories, thankfully, so she was able to smile and laugh at appropriate times. She wasn't the type to fake such things, and she'd hate to have the contract cancelled because she didn't enjoy their friendliness.
Now that it was over, they were in the main office waiting for the receptionist to give them the address of the hotel where they'd be staying. There was a dinner with the Deziana family later that evening, an invitation she'd accepted in exchange for the use of the hotel room, but their afternoon was their own to get settled into their rooms and rest.
She didn't plan to rest, of course, as they only had a day and a half, and she wanted to explore the city with Roger. She took the card that listed the hotel's address, a Muggle one on the beach, she was told, and thanked the young woman before she led Roger out of the offices and into the hallway.
"Well, that was certainly a different type of business meeting," she murmured, smiling slightly as they walked to the lift.
Characters: Roger Davies, Hermione Granger
Location: Barcelona, Spain
Status: Private
Summary: Hermione & Roger go to Barcelona for business & exploring
Completion: Complete
It was odd to have been in Barcelona for three hours and not have seen anything except a posh office. The portkey had taken Hermione and Roger directly to Deziana Publishing from Stoatshead Hill, so there hadn't been an opportunity to even browse the city on the way to the meeting. Santiago Deziana and his partner (and brother), Diego, had proven to be harmless, which made her feel slightly guilty for being so suspicious. The owls they'd exchanged had just been so friendly that she'd automatically worried that they must be up to something bad.
After they'd introduced themselves, she'd given Roger a sheepish smile. They'd originally discussed him joining her back on New Year's Eve when she'd admitted her concerns, so finding two older friendly men instead of twisted psychopaths was cause for a little embarrassment. Fortunately, he didn't seem to mind, though he did look surprised when Santiago overtly flirted with him before flirting with her.
The man was very friendly, possibly too much so judging by the way he hugged his staff and generally bounced around with an annoying smile all the time. It wasn't a threatening sort of touching, fortunately, but she wasn't fond of strangers being that friendly. It was disturbing. No one else seemed to mind, though, so maybe she was just standoffish. She’d been called far worse, after all.
The meeting had gone well, though, and the contracts proposed were more than generous. Once they were signed, she'd not have to worry too much about daily operations at the press or shop for over a year after this was combined with the German contracts. Eleanor, Lee, and Darla could be paid properly, and Ron would have enough to be comfortable.
She wouldn't know for certain until she'd spent time crunching numbers and examining things more in depth, of course, but the German funds would last for six months, roughly, based on her estimates, so she assumed the higher amount from this contract would go longer, plus there was the added benefit that there were still three of the six books to discuss in the future. She'd also be able to pay Roger his percentage, since it was his parents' book rights they were negotiating.
Still, the meeting had run longer than expected, which caused her to stare at the window and wonder what was outside. There was a large window in the office, but the drapes were pulled close because it was too sunny. Personally, she didn't understand why they'd not want natural light, but people were odd. Regardless, it meant she'd not been able to get a look at the city yet. Whenever the Deziana brothers went into stories of their childhood or any number of personal experiences they felt it proper to share with strangers and business associates, she half listened and reviewed the notes she'd made during the meeting.
And she might have exchanged smiles with Roger a time or two, though nothing intimate to indicate they were involved because that wouldn't be very professional at all. They were amusing stories, thankfully, so she was able to smile and laugh at appropriate times. She wasn't the type to fake such things, and she'd hate to have the contract cancelled because she didn't enjoy their friendliness.
Now that it was over, they were in the main office waiting for the receptionist to give them the address of the hotel where they'd be staying. There was a dinner with the Deziana family later that evening, an invitation she'd accepted in exchange for the use of the hotel room, but their afternoon was their own to get settled into their rooms and rest.
She didn't plan to rest, of course, as they only had a day and a half, and she wanted to explore the city with Roger. She took the card that listed the hotel's address, a Muggle one on the beach, she was told, and thanked the young woman before she led Roger out of the offices and into the hallway.
"Well, that was certainly a different type of business meeting," she murmured, smiling slightly as they walked to the lift.