GREY MADDOX
Darach
Posts: 170
Age:
29
Occupation:
Owner of Grey Haven Hotel
Status:
Engaged
Partner:
Destiny Baccari
Played by:
Ange
Last seen Nov 19, 2024 20:19:32 GMT
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Post by GREY MADDOX on May 2, 2020 15:12:21 GMT
Business in his world was typically 24/7. Guests coming and going at all hours, his own ‘work’ taking him out of the hotel in the middle of the night, his returning coming mid-afternoon or a week later, all depending on what it was he was out to find or do. Before coming to Mystic Falls that constant to and fro was easier. People in bigger towns and cities tending to keep to themselves for the most part, keeping their beaks out of what he was up to. It was what had allowed him to build his last hotel up from the ground as he had done … and what had allowed him to utilize his guests in a way that had left him all the stronger by the time they officially checked out. Officially being the operative word of course, they hadn’t returned to stay again, in fact, they’d never left. Parts were still with him, in him now, others, well, they had a decent burial at least.
Grey’s gaze ticked from the book he was working his way through to the large picture windows that looked out towards the rear of the property and the thick woods beyond. He was still finding his feet in Mystic Falls, negotiating the local busy bodies to get things set up to his satisfaction here. Guests were already occupying half of his rooms and as word spread through this Podunk little town, more were arriving on a daily basis. It was a little more discrete than it had been in Richmond but in his experience that was Mystic Falls all over. That had been a problem with what he was doing here in the first place. Letting out a sigh, Grey shifted in the chair, trying to get back into the druid’s ‘memoirs’ that had come home from the library with him. Technically not on a card but why let someone have something they didn’t understand at all? Especially when another had a need for it. That had practically been his mantra since he’d first realized that he could do something more than bow to alphas and play herbalist for the pack. Blue eyes rose to look at the glass of wine he’d poured himself a half hour ago. Grey flexed his fingers towards it, one corner of his mouth curling as the glass shot across the glossy surface of the table towards him. So much power at his fingertips and so much still to find before he went up against those who’d damned his family.
Deft fingers closed around the stem, stopping its motion as he heard the front door of the hotel open. It was late, perhaps too late for fresh guests around here but he did offer twenty four hour check ins. Grey shifted in his seat, peering over the back of it to see two women entering, one shorter, blonde, definitely in charge of the taller, willowy brunette. He watched as the brunette peeled off, heading towards the elevator ahead of the blonde. Closing the book, Grey got to his feet, clearing his throat as he approached. The dragon and her werewolf major domo had taken over the largest suite he had for rent, apparently for business, although he still had to get to the bottom of that. ”Late finish,” he drawled softly, the burr of his home counties accent still evident despite the near decade he’d spent on this side of the pond. ”I was hoping you’d be back tonight though. I was hoping for a few minutes of your time, if you were willing to indulge me in some business talk at this time of night. Do you have a few for me Ms Nilsen?” Ever polite, Grey gestured back towards the corner of the reception area where he’d been sitting. A couple of candles burned low on the table, catching the gleam of red wine in his glass and the open bottle sitting next to the druid’s book.
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INGRID NILSEN
Dragon
Posts: 47
Age:
Two Hundred & Eighty Nine
Occupation:
CEO Valkyrie Vali
Status:
Single
Partner:
Future: Luc Fornier
Played by:
Lissa
Last seen Nov 13, 2024 15:45:02 GMT
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Post by INGRID NILSEN on May 16, 2020 15:21:29 GMT
| Ingrid had just returned from Washington after sorting out everything back home. When she had come here, she had expected it only to be for a few. After a few days of travel and with only the sleep that she had managed to get during the flights itself the fearsome dragon was quite tired and was looking forward to getting back to her room and getting some decent rest. Rowan along with a few others had arrived to pick her up from the private jet and she remained silent for the majority of the drive home.
When they arrived, they pulled into the hotel car park. The best hotel in Mystic Falls… however even then there still wasn’t a huge choice. It wasn’t the first time she had stayed in this chain of hotels. She had an account with them since paying daily was just no way to do business, and since she stayed in multiple different hotels, it was easier this way. Rowan walking ahead of her and Ingrid following closely behind. As she entered Ingrid was in a phone call back in Washington and she didn’t look best pleased, ” You have achieved this position, but I do not expect daily phone calls about decisions you can easily make. Do what you think is best and handle it.” Ingrid growled down the phone before hanging up and slipping the phone into her pocket, as she heard someone speak from behind her.
Pausing she turned to face the owner of who had spoke to her. She answered his statement, ” That is one way of looking at it.” Ingrid stated. Though she had to wonder what this was all about. Talking business right now was the last thing that she wanted however she had been a long time customer of his and so on this occasion she would indulge him in a little business talk, ” Very well…” Ingrid answered his request despite being quite tired. She nodded indicating she will be along in a moment and then followed the hotel owner to the table in which he gestured to.
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GREY MADDOX
Darach
Posts: 170
Age:
29
Occupation:
Owner of Grey Haven Hotel
Status:
Engaged
Partner:
Destiny Baccari
Played by:
Ange
Last seen Nov 19, 2024 20:19:32 GMT
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Post by GREY MADDOX on May 26, 2020 17:16:39 GMT
Blunt was the way most would’ve put it. The woman spoke like every word was a weapon, even if it wasn’t intentional, the cutting edge to her voice seemed to work like a scalpel on those that worked under her. Blue eyes watched her major domo disappear back towards the elevators, waiting for Ingrid to hang up her call. He imagined there was plenty of grumbling and cursing on the other end, the sort that might bring on dismemberment if Ingrid happened to hear it. She hadn’t seemed like a woman to get on the wrong side of, not at any time she’d stayed in one of his hotels. Grey’s lips twitched faintly as he watched her slip her phone away. A formidable woman to say the least.
It meant that he probably shouldn’t have stopped her but this was his first opportunity to speak to her in days. He wouldn’t have known she was returning tonight but Rowan had told him on her way out that they were going to pick Ingrid up at the airport. A private plane, a chauffeur driven vehicle undoubtedly. Ingrid was a shrewd business woman, which meant she would be perfect to pry into matters in this town for him. He didn’t need her protective services, or her private army really, he needed what was in that head of hers, that pretty head.
Grey saw her turn towards him, those green eyes settling on him, glinting a jade green in the dim light of the room. Their discussion could perhaps have waited until morning but chances of catching Ingrid to speak even a few words in passing felt incredibly low. His lips curled in empathy at her words. ”I’ll try not to make it much longer,” he promised. ”I tried to arrange a meeting through Ms. Bishop a few days ago but she informed me you were out of town.” The fact that Ingrid’s calendar was also supposedly packed once she got back had been a little eye raising but he imagined that was something most were told as a rote response. Better to stuff out those who weren’t serious or whose business wouldn’t exactly align with Ingrid’s in the first place. Some just saw that pool of power and wanted to dip a toe in it. He wasn’t that foolish.
Rounding the table, Grey drew Ingrid’s chair out for her before he inched back around to his own. He lifted the wine bottle in offer to her. ”Can I get you a glass? It’s a decent vintage, quite palatable.” Not that he would’ve known the good stuff from the locally brewed gut rot that his dad had been downing by the pint towards the end a handful of years ago. Dragging himself up by his fingernails had included educating himself on the sort of thing that his clients indulged in. People didn’t continue coming to you if what they saw at your establishment wasn’t even the sort of thing they’d usually scrape off of one of their handmade shoes. ”Ms. Bishop told me you were setting up an office here in town. Is that handling just private security or are you a woman of many talents Ms. Nilsen?” If there was one thing that people of a center caliber seemed to respond to in his experience it was flattery. Grey was willing to give compliments, especially if they meant he’d get what he wanted later.
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INGRID NILSEN
Dragon
Posts: 47
Age:
Two Hundred & Eighty Nine
Occupation:
CEO Valkyrie Vali
Status:
Single
Partner:
Future: Luc Fornier
Played by:
Lissa
Last seen Nov 13, 2024 15:45:02 GMT
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Post by INGRID NILSEN on Aug 23, 2020 14:07:45 GMT
| The last thing Ingrid wanted to do right now was discuss business. She felt as though she needed to sleep for a week. Now that she was going to be based here, she had flown back to her main base of operations to run things in her absence. Though he was still consulting her on decisions, ones that she trusted him to make. As she hung up after losing her patience, she decided she would let him stew in her disappointment for a while. When she called back later, she knew he would have finally found it in him to do what she needed him to do.
As she arrived at the hotel and the owner wanting to discuss business she considered saying no for a moment. That she would arrange another time to talk to him. Though in all the years that she had been a customer of his, he had never really stopped to ask her for anything. So, on this occasion she would indulge some business talk. When he said he would keep it short, she nodded in her agreement.
She followed him gracefully toward the table he gestured and sat down at the chair he drew out for her. She smirked a little at all the flattery but said nothing to it. She flicked her eyes toward the bottle, ” Please…” Ingrid said politely and watched as the crimson liquid filled her clear crystal glass. She lifted her hand and moved the glass closer to her as she waited for him to deliver his proposal, or whatever it was that he wished to speak to her about.
She listened to his words but her face for the most part remained impassive. Her company tended to revolve around private security. Though that was just what it had evolved into. Though in truth she did have her private army… it just wasn’t something that she advertised, ” This is to become a topic of my talents now?” Ingrid inquired curiously, ” Well now you should know Mr Maddox I don’t get my hands dirty…” Ingrid told him. She had a breadth of talent with those at her disposal.
She sipped her wine savouring the crisp fruity flavours as she lowered the glass back to her table as she looked at him, with a look that would make most others work for stop and think before they spoke, ” Now why don’t you stop with the flattery, and ask what you would really like to know…” Ingrid spoke a cutting edge to her voice indicating her patience was wearing thin, and if this was just going to be a fluff to her ego she would rather not hear it.
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GREY MADDOX
Darach
Posts: 170
Age:
29
Occupation:
Owner of Grey Haven Hotel
Status:
Engaged
Partner:
Destiny Baccari
Played by:
Ange
Last seen Nov 19, 2024 20:19:32 GMT
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Post by GREY MADDOX on Sept 18, 2020 16:18:39 GMT
He took care of his clients. In more ways than one sometimes, a few having their stays cut short as they simply vanished into thing air, but he did take care of them. Watchful blue eyes took in how they were feeling, what they needed and he provided, often without a word. The perfect hotel owner, quiet, discrete and just omniscient enough to stay on the right side of being creepy with it. Grey doubted that business was what Ingrid had wanted to deal with tonight but how she would’ve dealt with a suggestion of a friendly little chat was far more nebulous. Either way it likely would’ve been a polite brush off and her heels clicking their way after her second in command.
She hadn’t turned him down though. Instead those heels were following him over to the table where he’d been sitting. There was no rapping his knuckles for puling her seat for her, just a faint curve of her lips as he tucked the chair back under. Grey’s own lips were curved politely as he headed back around to his own chair. He poured a glass for her, nudging it across the table before he settled back with his own.
Rue should’ve coloured his cheeks slightly given that he was intruding on her time but he was well beyond that these days. He cut to the chase, well, the chase overlying his real intention here. Blue eyes fixed on her impassive expression as he enquired about what her firm would be handling here. Grey let out a low chuckle as she called him on it. He dipped his chin slightly, those eyes taking on a glint as he shook his head. ”That wasn’t entirely my intention, especially I’ve seen for myself that you’ve got a fair few.” Clucking his tongue slightly, Grey peeled his hand off of the glass to hold it up in surrender. ”I’m quite aware,” he promised, dropping his gaze to her hands for a moment. ”I’ve seen you arrange for others to do that.” Had listened to her barking at one of them tonight to get him in line.
Grey shook his head slightly, watching her sip at her wine as he took a mouthful of his own. He kept his fingertips on the stem of the wine glass as he set it down, tracing them up and down the smooth, cool glass. As Ingrid cut through that first layer of civility, he paused, his eyes narrowing faintly. Settling back again, he drew his glass with him, setting it on his thigh as his smile returned. ”And there’s a fine example of one of your many talents,” he told her honestly. It should’ve been obvious that she’d have little patience or tolerance for him just making conversation.
Tapping his finger on the side of the glass, Grey paused then just gestured back and forth between them with his finger. He let out a faint sigh as he dropped it. ”How many years have you stayed in my hotels now?” he asked, paring down the conversation but not exposing it entirely. ”It is years. In all that time we’ve never sat and just talked. I don’t do that much with my clients, I know that they don’t expect me too. You’ve been different from the start though. I guessed you were going to need something like this when you walked in ….” He tapped the side of the glass again, his eyes remaining on her face. A way to cut loose. He doubted she’d ever admit that to anybody but even the toughest cracked enough to need that release sometimes. Better indulged in tiny measures than stoppering everything up until that dam blew wide open.
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INGRID NILSEN
Dragon
Posts: 47
Age:
Two Hundred & Eighty Nine
Occupation:
CEO Valkyrie Vali
Status:
Single
Partner:
Future: Luc Fornier
Played by:
Lissa
Last seen Nov 13, 2024 15:45:02 GMT
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Post by INGRID NILSEN on Feb 19, 2021 18:26:58 GMT
| Ingrid had worked hard to get to the position she was in today. As a child she had been quite sheltered, meek. When her family lost power she had seen the truth. The ruthless side to people. She had been punished for her father’s mistakes in a brutal way that no one should ever have to experience. Since that day she was determined not to feel that weak, ever again. With no one to offer her help, she found her own way to rise in this world.
She now lived a life of comfort where she was virtually untouchable. She kept almost everyone at arm’s length. Only a few people got to see her actually smile at times and they were people who had been at her side and proved their loyalty many times over. One of those being her second in command who followed behind her as they headed up to her room after her flight from Washington. She was beyond tired and intended just to simply get some sleep before work again in the morning when she had been stopped by none other than the man who owned the hotel chain.
She could have turned him down but instead opted to at least hear him out. She gestured for Rowan to go upstairs… no point in both of them losing sleep. She changed her direction and followed Grey over to the table where he evidently set up their meeting. Sitting in the chair he had pulled out for her and she accepted the drink that was offered. When he inquired to her talents, she simply said that she didn’t get her hands dirty.
Eventually the flattery grated on her thinning patience. Having a business meeting right now wasn’t entirely what she had in mind. So, she cut through the civility and the flattery and told him to get to the point, ” Don’t get me wrong, any other time of the day I might even entertain it… However right now I’m not in the mood for small talk. Let’s hear your proposition. Then you can flirt out the details at a more appropriate time and place.” Ingrid told him flatly as watching his flattery would be entertaining at any other time.
Ingrid leaned back in her chair curling a leg over another and rested one arm across her lap and the other held her glass on her knee as she waited. When he inquired how many years, she had stayed at his hotels she thought about the answer for only a moment. She liked luxury and well after trying many… she found she liked this one. Given her job she travelled a lot, and if she could stay in this chain. He answered the question before she could. Her eyes narrowed a little not entirely getting at what he was getting at, ” That we haven’t. I wasn’t aware that you liked to talk much with your customers, your best paying or otherwise.” Ingrid stated sipping her wine a little more when he guessed that she could have used something like this, ” Whatever gave that away? My phone call?” She smiled a little.
She sighed a little as she rotated the glass in her hand, ” Is there something wrong? Have you not received payment?” Ingrid inquired. Given her tendency to stay in this chain she no longer paid on departure, it was settled monthly through invoices.
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GREY MADDOX
Darach
Posts: 170
Age:
29
Occupation:
Owner of Grey Haven Hotel
Status:
Engaged
Partner:
Destiny Baccari
Played by:
Ange
Last seen Nov 19, 2024 20:19:32 GMT
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Post by GREY MADDOX on Mar 9, 2021 19:44:29 GMT
Having clients who didn’t want questions asked about their business had worked as well for him as clients who didn’t ask about his own had. He didn’t want people poking around his places, trying to get themselves some sort of ‘picture’ of the man renting them a discrete and comfortable spot in places you didn’t always find that sort of luxury in. People who poked only learned enough about you to turn it back on you eventually. Grey knew he’d taken advantage of that himself on occasions but each one had been necessary, the people who’d come to stay at his version of the Hotel California and hadn’t left provided him with what he’d needed. In a way he’d done them all a favour, sooner or later they would’ve come to the same end, just with no benefit to anybody in the end. This way they lived on in him and he … he gained that little more power. He was going to need it if the pack came calling again too.
Maybe he would need her too.
Grey’s eyes flicked up from the glass he held, his thumb stilling on the sharp edge of the cut glass design. He could’ve laid it on thick all night, not been bothered about it at all if it got him what he needed in the end but Ingrid was blunt, cutting through it all in a way he half appreciated. She didn’t cut him off at the ankles with it either, maintaining at least a little civility. ”I waylaid you after a long flight,” he admitted, his lips curling at the corners as she told him he could flirt the details out later. ”Sorry. I’ll try and be a little more succinct.” He lifted his hands, fingers spread in the air to ward it off. She hadn’t told him he couldn’t flirt later, which added a layer of appeal to the business dealing he’d been hoping to talk her into.
Leaning forward he propped his elbows on the edge of the table, releasing the glass to lace his hands in front of himself. He drew his lower lip between his teeth, raked it as she considered what he said, those green eyes narrowing at him as though she wasn’t keen on the question he’d dropped in her lap. He’d wanted to make it clear that he’d always given her and her people their space but was looking to make a change to that with her now. Grey half smiled, shaking his head as he eased upright, reaching for his glass again. ”I don’t. I make very few exceptions to what I consider one of my most sacred rules.” He chuckled low, the sound cutting off only when he took a sip from his own glass. ”The phone call, the calls your right hand was putting in while you were gone. Sometimes it’s necessary to just cut a little loose.” To drown out the crap others brought to your place with something that left that faint hum under your skin.
It looked like the wine was doing that for Ingrid, her demeanour a little softer now that than cactus like mood she’d been in when she’d walked through the door. Grey settled back in his chair, shaking his head firmly. ”If it was something like that I would’ve just spoken to Ms. Bishop. I know she’s quite capable of handling billing issues. I wanted to speak to you about something closer to your business than mine. Your people handle personal security as well as the … bigger jobs, don’t they? One to one if necessary.” Oh he knew she had the means for that. He didn’t allow people to stay in his hotels without an idea of who they were and what they did. Not only did it guarantee a certain sort of clientele but it let him know just who needed his ‘special treatment’ too.
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