Open Finished And it started with a party

Zora

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"Thank you," Zora replied to Levina's comment, glancing at Stefan and winking at him while taking her observation at face value since the witch was quite used to people being interested in some way to Stefan.

"Woodland and DB Holdings strive to give back to the community, and I personally enjoy helping out others or investing in new ventures," she explained as she looked at and focused on Mathos Sandoval.

"Your brewery idea is so innovative, Mr. Sandoval," she started as she engaged the host. "Bringing back a centuries-old brewing process such as this. Can I ask where you got the idea?"

"Please call me, Mathos," Tomas corrected his sister with a charming smile as he disengaged himself from his assistant.

"And the idea is one I've had for years. I used to live in Antwerp, and there whiskey beer is really quite popular," he explained as sipped his drink. "But I could not find an investor who I was comfortable with or shared my vision," he admitted.

"Until now that is," he added purposefully as he smiled at Zora.

"Would you like a tour of the distillery?" he asked politely.
 

Stefan

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Levina felt Mathos pull away from her, and naturally unhooked her arm from his. Her eyes nervously glanced over to him before the small smile returned. Her heart sank when he asked Zoraida to call him Mathos. Levina had never gotten that courtesy from. It just meant she needed to do better.
The boy. That's how she could do better. Get him out of the picture so things could go uninterrupted. Levina turned her gaze back to Stefan and put on a playful grin.
"So Mr. Jogstad... you've been enjoying the drinks?"
Her voice was low allowing Zora and Mathos to talk, but Levina hoped Zora wouldn't hear them and just continue on.
Stefan started off listening to Mathos and where the idea for the brewery came from. After a moment, he noticed his assistant, Levina had separated from him and had returned her gaze to him once more.
"Yea. I have been. Thank you."
The smile she had on he had seen plenty before. He knew how to navigate carefully so as to remain kind and courteous, but not let on the wrong impression. That was the last thing he wanted, especially for Zora to get the wrong impression.
"Excuse me if this is a little forward but are you two..."
Stefan indicated to Mathos with a slight head nod. He was hoping they were and could solve the interest issue quick.
 

Zora

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"Antwerp is a fascinating city," Zoraida commented as she turned her body a little more towards Mathos as a guest walked past them, an action that made her shudder involuntarily. The vibes she was getting of her host were strong, and almost too hard to ignore.

"Miss Del Bosque?" Mathos enquired with polite - and feigned- concern. He had seen the shiver and recognised it for what it probably was. Cursing silently, he took a small step back from his sister.

"Are you alright? It's not too cold in here, is it? " he asked, laying on the gentlemanly concern, trying to distract and mislead. "We must keep the aircon quite high, I'm afraid. These modern buildings can also be quite draughty place at times," he explained.

"In fact, I often find it too cold at times. I am constantly telling Levina to turn up the heat in my office," he assured her with a smile.

"Oh, oh... no, no...I am good. I am sure it was just the draught," Zora explained, quick to reassure Mr. Sandoval that she was fine. And wondering if, at the same time, it had not partly her imagination now. The room was on the coolish side.

"And, yes, I'd love a tour of the brewery," she added quickly, wanting to bring the conversation around back from any weirdness on her part.

"Wonderful," Mathos smiled. "Come right this way," he indicated, gesturing with a hand that she should go first.
 

Stefan

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Levina naturally kept an ear on her boss. It was habit from her job to make sure he had everything he needed. It was also slightly from her infatuation to try to win his attention. Things had started going well between brother and sister before the shiver. She needed to keep Stefan's attention.
"That's wonderful. Mr. Sandoval has worked extremely hard to not only have a successful business, but also preserve a small slice of history."
Then the question came. Eyes nervously glanced over to Mathos and then quickly back to Stefan before a forced smile came over her.
"Oh no. He's my boss. I'm a personal assistant and the best one on the island."
A playful wink followed her statement as she picked up on Mathos trying to take Zoraida on the tour. She slowly moved so that Stefan's back would be to the pair.



Stefan had a smile on as Levina began to explain the work Mathos had put in and why. He hadn't even noticed the subtle movement as he continued to face Levina though his back was now to Mathos and Zora.

"It is extremely well done. Not just the drinks themselves, but the atmosphere as well."

It seemed Stefan was a natural socialite the way he picked up on how conversations went at these events. Problem was he still had to think about it, and that concentration made him miss her eyes cutting over to Mathos and back.

The explanation made sense. If she was as good as she lead on. She would have stayed by his side even during a party as she had done. It also meant that Mathos was here alone as well as any taken man wouldn't allow their assistant to hang off them as she had.

"Ah. Forgive me then. "
 

PixelatedGlory

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Felen wasn't a huge fan of seeing his boss be led off alone. Even less so as her date appeared to have been creatively diverted and separated from her by this 'assistant' lady. Who wasn't following with the former pair as they began to head somewhere.

So he boldly strode up with a pleasant smile on his face. "Ah, Mrs. Del Bosque. It's lovely to see you ... and your date. What a charming pair you two make together."
 

Zora

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The sudden interruption by the elf caught Mathos completely off guard. So much so that his gentlemanly act was dropped for a split second as a scowl of irritation crossed his handsome features.

"Felen?" Zoraida greeted her bodyguard, a look of real confusion on her face as she looked at him first, then around her and noticed that Stefan wasn't with her anymore. Glancing back, she saw he was still talking to Mathos' assistant.

"Can you excuse me for a moment?" she said to Mathos.

"Of course," Mathos smiled, although this time the smile did not reach his eyes as he glanced coolly at Felen, and then over to Levina and his sister's boy-toy. He had not realized his sister had brought her bodyguard, nor had Levina noticed that detail he mused sourly.

"Stefan?" Zora said questioning as she slipped her arm through his. "Want to join us?" she asked him. "Mathos is giving us a tour of the brewery," she explained as she gestured toward where Mathos and Felen were standing.
 

Stefan

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To be honest, Stefan hadn't even noticed how far apart the two groups had gotten until he felt an arm slide through his. He naturally hooked his arm as icy blue eyes looked over and saw his date there, a smile returning to his face.
"Oh. Yea. Guess I just got caught up in conversation. Sorry hun."
When he turned to follow her back, that was when he noticed Felen standing with Mathos. Something couldn't have been right if he had stepped in. Or perhaps Felen was just that diligent.
Glancing just past her new conversation partner, Levina spied the bane of her existence walking towards them. Just past Zora she saw the witch's elven bodyguard. She mentally cursed herself that she missed him arriving. She also took note that she had not been informed of his arrival like she had instructed. She quickly threw on a smile when Zora slipped an arm through Stefan's.
"Oh my apologies. I guess we just got caught up in conversation. He's so easy to talk to."
Levina waited for a moment and allowed the pair to move back towards Mathos before she fell in behind them. This wasn't good. She had missed a major detail. One she knew was a possibility. Fleeting eyes looked over to Mathos apologetically.
 

Zora

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Mathos caught Levina's apologetic look and just scowled. Logically, he knew that things like this could happen at parties. However, the less rational part of his psyche was raging. This put a damper on things. Tonight's plans were basically ruined, and in a way, he blamed Levina's carelessness and poor attention to detail for what had just happened. She should have known his sister's bodyguard would be here.

"It's fine," Zora reassured Stefan with a warm and understanding smile. "It's easy to get caught up in conversations. And I am sure Mr. Sandoval's assistant is an engaging host," she said as she looked at Levina and smiled politely and in agreement with her comment about her boyfriend.
 

Stefan

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The scowl came and hit her deep. She knew she screwed up. Levina was mentally berating herself while keeping a calm and composed exterior. She was already desperately looking for how she could fix the situation and make it up to Mathos.
The smile and comment came from Zora and her first instinct was to chuckle and smile back, showing no signs of anything amiss. Inside, however, her skin crawled. Prying Stefan away was going to be harder now.
"It's very easy to be engaging when your company is..." She gives Stefan a quick once over with a smile and an eyebrow raise, "...that. If you ever want to get rid of him..."
Stefan mostly tried to ignore Levina's comment except for a small chuckle and glance he gave her. Zora did warn him that someone might proposition them. His attention turned back to Mathos as he put on a professional smile.
"Apologies sir. Your assistant and I got wrapped up talking."
There was a certain feel to the air, a certain tension, that Stefan only assumed was because Mathos had been interrupted. These things might not normally happen in parties such as this.
"Please continue. I'm very interested in your brewery. Especially with where hone is for me."
Icy blue eyes shot Felen a 'Thank you' look. Felen only would have stepped in if he noticed something. Zora told Stefan before that Felen stayed out of the way fire the most part until he was needed.
 

PixelatedGlory

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Felen continued to smile slightly and nodded at Zoraida and Stefan in turn, opting to simply make eye contact with Mathos and Levina rather than nodding at them as well. "Apologies for having interrupted your conversations. I think I should avoid sampling too many more of your fine wares or I might make a further fool of myself."

He made a point of setting the glass he was holding in his hand down on a passing waiter's tray. "I wouldn't want to impose or interfere with any of your evenings but would you care for me to join you and your party Ms. Del Bosque? Unless you'd prefer me to stay here and chat with the gentleman's guest, assistant? I do regret that I am not entirely sure which title would be more appropriate."
 
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