Chapter 24: Business machinations

Sarael appeared on a blue magic circle in Tom's office with his arms spread out as he dramatically exclaimed, "I have arrived!"

When he heard no applause, he furrowed his eyebrows and looked around, only to spot the unamused Tom staring at him in mild irritation... which instantly made his day... but there was also a new pair of flabbergasted emerald eyes in the room.

Sarael's attention was drawn to the owner of these enchanting eyes and he curiously tilted his head while giving her a once over as he was about to speak...

Only for Tom to start faster, "Hello, Sarael. This is my new assistant, Natalia Romanova. Natalia, this is Sarael Sitri. Lord of House Sitri and my business associate." He introduced her.

'This... is a devil?' Natasha looked at the jovial man in apprehension, from time to time throwing Tom subtle questioning glances.

"Mhm." Sarael slowly and absentmindedly nodded, his eyes appraising Natasha, making her inwardly uncomfortable but it was mostly because of the identity of this person rather than his gaze. She was used to being stared at in a variety of ways, most of them not so pleasant, but never once was the one doing so a devil.

"Enchanting specimen." Sarael spoke but despite his feigned interest, Tom could see the indifference in his eyes. But Tom was still wary. It wouldn't be Sarael if he didn't... "So? When are you going to fuck?" Sarael curiously asked in an innocent tone.

'Of course.' Tom's lips twitched, 'What did I even expect?'

At least, Tom was used to his behavior and unlike Natasha who was incredulously staring at him like a deer in headlights, he was fairly composed.

"We don't have that kind of relationship." Tom dryly spoke.

"Yet." Sarael smartly added. "It's pretty obvious the woman is drawn to you. Look at how her eyes occasionally sneak a peek at you." He knowingly smirked at Natasha, causing her to blush a bit. His victory on that front assured, Sarael turned towards Tom, "And you would have never let her this close to you if you weren't interested. An assistant? Really?" He gave Tom a mock-dubious look, "Man up, boy, and mount her like-"

Tom's overly loud groan interrupted him, causing his shrewd smile to turn Cheshire. Tom then turned to Natasha and smiled at her, "Could you give us a bit of privacy, please?"

The slightly embarrassed woman mutely nodded and walked out of the room, a bit quicker than she should.

Sarael instantly picked up on that and grinned at Tom, "She is a keeper." He showed him a thumbs-up.

"Do you always have to be such a prick?" Tom asked in exasperation.

He could see Natasha was completely caught off guard and it would take her a few seconds to compose herself so Tom had sent her away. There was no need for her to waste her free time with him in these talks either. After all, Sarael was an acquired taste most hated right from the get-go.

"Pretty much, yeah. It's my default setting around friends." Sarael happily stated as he flopped down into the chair in front of Tom's desk.

"Sucks to be me. I liked you better when you were formal." Tom grumbled under his nose, making Sarael snicker.

Both of them knew Sareal was aware of that and that's why he was no longer formal with Tom, much to his chagrin.

After a moment of companionable silence, Sarael decided to break it. The woe was him, having to interrupt Tom's brooding but there was really something he wanted to say. "You should keep her away from the eyes of young devils, Tom." He cautioned in a serious manner.

That came out of nowhere and Tom was actually taken aback by Sarael's sudden change in attitude. Or the fact the man actually cared enough to point it out.

Seeing that Tom was listening, if his surprised expression was any indication, Sarael continued, "Her facial features are wrong and she is lacking certain curves but her hair color is quite similar to that of Gremory devils." He wryly smiled with a shrug, "For some, she would be a nice collectible sex toy."

It was just friendly advice since Tom had dealings with him and there was a possibility of one day being invited to some event. Sarael would defend Tom as he was his business partner but protecting Tom's 'assistant' who would be like a sweet bait to some lazy perverted noble bastards... that was too much of a trouble.

No devil like that would be motivated enough to actually stand up from their ass and go look for somebody looking similar to the Gremory women but if one delivered herself in front of them?

Sarael didn't need to be a genius to know how that would go. He didn't need that kind of headache and Tom didn't have enough strength to deal with it right now.

"The more I hear about your race, the less inclined I am to become one of you." Tom said in a deadpan apprehension.

Honestly, he didn't think about this angle and was happy that Sarael reminded him. The old devil definitely didn't mean it as such but this was a wake-up call for Tom, telling him he should once again focus on progressing his actual power rather than making influential friends and growing his businesses.

He was starting to procrastinate in power development and it wasn't a good thing.

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Sarael just cheekily smiled at Tom when he heard his remark, not bothered at all. Human lifespan was short. He fully believed Tom would eventually come around. It was just a matter of time and getting old.

After all, not many human mages managed to defeat the cruel clutches of time. And even fewer achieved a victory that didn't cost them dearly.

"Anyway, why did you call me this nice," Sarael exaggeratedly looked at his wristwatch, "morning?"

The second he finished speaking, he gave Tom a meaningful look and raised his eyebrow. He hated being called in the morning and Tom should have been aware of that fact! The last time, Sarael made sure to whine for hours just so Tom got it into his head.

Apparently, it was not enough.

"Recently, I was at a party. It was a nice one, actually. I met Natalia there." Tom casually started, ignoring Sarael's fake yawn that was supposed to tell him to get to the point. "Imagine my surprise when I got a drink made from my fruits, sold by my business partners, without actually giving me my rightful part of the profits from it because of some stupid loophole." He leaned back into his chair and narrowed his eyes in a glare at the paper on his desk. It was a financial report. One that Tom didn't like.

"Ah, so they found a way around the business contract, huh?" Sarael quipped in amusement. "So? I still don't understand what that has to do with me." He raised his eyebrow at Tom.

"I want to sell you the sale rights and alchemical circle for the creation of the same kind of fruits as the Magician House that tried to screw me over." Tom vindictively said, knowing Sarael would not say no to such a sweet offer.

The devil's eyes widened a bit in surprise before they narrowed in glee, "I'll say! If you continue to be so good to my House I will have no other way than to marry my cute Sona to you." He joked and laughed to himself, already seeing the profits rolling in.

Unlike Magician Houses in England, Lord Sitri had much bigger connections and reach. Not only was there an entire Underworld, an entirely new market, but devils usually had connections to a select few big companies in the human world.

The only reason why a Magician House could establish its domination in the market with these fruits was that they were the only supplier. It was obvious what would happen if a stronger company got the means of acquiring said product too.

There was no way the Magician House could keep up in that kind of competition. Not even the strongest of them had the necessary capital for that.

"But this is quite the devilish way of dealing with unruly elements." Sarael laughed, "British Magician House tried to screw you over so you went around them and outsourced their business with you to a more powerful party. I doubt the people won't get the hint after this."

"That's the whole point." Tom exasperatedly shrugged, "To ensure they get the hint. I don't need more of my business partners thinking they can exploit me whenever it pleases them."

Tom was extremely petty in this matter. He already gave them a lot of leeway by asking for only a measly ten percent of the profits. He didn't ask for ten percent of the full cost. Only pure profit. And in exchange, every product made from his fruits was included in the deal.

Naturally, the old Houses had many means and a lot of experienced magicians. There was bound to be someone capable of going around the contract sooner or later. That was inevitable.

That's why it was important to show them Tom would not tolerate it. Just because they could do it, it didn't mean they should!

"Okay, let's talk business." Sarael remarked in elation, his prior irritated attitude at being summoned in the morning already gone. He had a few long hours of a very... enjoyable negotiation in front of him!

"God help me." Tom grumbled when he saw Sarael's giddiness and took pleasure in how the old devil winced at the name of God before throwing a glare at him. Tom knew these upcoming hours would be not easy on him but he intended to fight for every scrap of profit.

Every little tiny bit of it.

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