Rapport within Work [Rowdy]

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Selina had done her homework. While the location was not new to her, the patron of the...bar? Eatery? Musical locale? Was. Rowdy Yates, a multi-talented man in the entertainment business was now seeking her out to prevent the quite literal melt-down that occurred at the Iceberg. So after she did a bit of 'research' as she likes to call it, she now has city blueprints, a few more recent public photos she was able to glean off the internet, and a few tidbits on this Mr. Yates. He'd been kind enough to send and inquiry, and well, she was going to follow up like she always did. So after drawing up a flexible plan, complete with security hired, she padded off to the kitchen for a cup of coffee, before settling back in before the view that was mid-morning Gotham. Fitting her earpiece wasn't difficult, nor was calling him.

It was only waiting for the other end to pick up, her voice rather cheery on the other end in a greeting. "Hello! Is Mr. Yates available?" And if need be, identifying herself; "Please tell him it's Selina Kyle returning his call."

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The nightclub known as Rowdy’s was buzzing with activity.  Even the owner, Rowdy Yates, was surprised at how good business was during the mid-morning rush hour.  He was experimenting with being open with a breakfast bar - - non-alcoholic, of course! - -  and from the looks of the crowd, word was definitely getting around town about the great food and fun at his place.  The club was packed with people, and Rowdy wasn’t about to complain about the free advertising!

His business partner, James “Jimbo” Flemmons, was the one who picked up the phone when it rang.  “Hey, Rowdy!  It’s for you!” he bellowed over the noise of busy conversations around him, after putting the caller on hold.

Excusing himself from his own personal conversation with patrons, Rowdy walked over to the bar.  “Who is it?”

“Some lady named Selina Kyle with Black Cat Securities,” Jimbo informed him.  “Line one.  She sounds hot!”

“Every woman sounds hot to you!” Rowdy laughed, rolling his eyes.  Then he composed himself and answered the phone in a professional manner.  “Hello, Miss Kyle.  Rowdy Yates here.  I’m so glad you returned my call.  I’ve been expecting yours.”

He covered his free ear with the palm of his free hand, but he still couldn’t hear very well.

“I’m sorry!  It’s kinda busy right now, but that’s a great problem to have, isn't it?!!” he said loudly into the receiver.  “Is there a way I could call you back?  Better yet, I could drop by your office later this afternoon, if that sounds like a feasible plan.  I'll be out and about anyway.  Where are you located?”

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The noise that met her ear more than the voice that answered the phone was loud. Especially for-she glanced at the nearest clock- 10:37am. Raising her brows and shrugging, she was put on hold while some other sort of music filled the line. It wasn't a few seconds later before she heard the owner respond; Rowdy, and rather boldly, at that.

"It is, Mr. Yates. Is there a time that would be good that we could go over your place of business, to figure out where we could update the facility?" Glancing down at her own schedule for the day, she noted there was a block of time in the later afternoon. And she was thankful for that, considering she'd barely touched her coffee thus far, and was still in her lounge clothing, her hair tied up.

"How about we meet at the cafe at 42nd and Gale, this afternoon at about 3:15?" She had debated telling him she'd be at her office in Wayne Towers, considering she did have another appointment in the late afternoon, but that was, well, not how she functioned. Her work was her work. "I'm in the Gale Tower, 7th floor. Black Cat Securities," she added. It did make her wonder how he had heard about her company, but not found it's brick and mortar location.

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Grabbing a pen and pad, Rowdy jotted down the location.  He was still new to Gotham City and didn’t know his way around town very well, but he figured he had a few hours to do a test drive and find the place before the actual meeting time.

“Café at 42nd and Gale, 3:15 - - got it!” Rowdy shouted into the phone.  Then he wrote down where she worked.  “Gale Tower, 7th floor, Black Cat Securities . . . Say, isn’t that a part of Wayne Towers?” he asked rhetorically.  “I know where that is.  It has those gargoyles across the top of it, keeping watch over the city.  They’re creepy - - like Batman!”

Rowdy laughed into the phone, disguising his nervousness.  He hoped he wasn’t giving Selina a bad first impression of himself, but he was at the mercy of the crowd all around him.

“Thank you for calling, Miss Kyle!” he concluded, ending the phone conversation.  "I can't wait to put a face with a name!  See you this afternoon!  Bye!”

With that, Rowdy handed Jimbo back the phone.  “You’re right, buddy.  I have to agree with you.  She does sound hot . . . .”

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That afternoon, Rowdy got to the café promptly at 3 p.m., dressed in a light-blue open-necked dress shirt with gray slacks, black boots, and a gray Levis corduroy jacket.  Making himself comfortable at one of the tables, he waited for Selina to arrive.  He knew what she looked like because he had researched her on the Internet.  He imagined she was more beautiful in person than the pics he'd found.  He had a feeling they didn't do her justice.

Suddenly, Rowdy's breath caught in his throat when he thought he saw Selina approaching in the distance.

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"Not exactly, but I do have an office in Wayne Towers as well. This one is about two blocks south," She added with a smile, a bit unsure of ...his yelling through the phone. Hopefully a face-to-face meeting would be a bit easier than dealing with the background noise of his establishment.

"I'll see you there, and of course! Until then!" She's barely able to get in over the crowd noise filtering into her ear, before he hangs up. Shrugging, she has to laugh, jotting down the info so she doesn't double-book herself for later in the day.


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Considering it's more a consulting meeting that strict business, she choses her outfit with that in mind. A pair of leather leggings, knee-high black boots, and a green tunic, and she's ready. Over that is thrown a wool and leather jacket, her purse slung over a shoulder that has most things she'd need in it. Making the short walk from her own office, to she's able to stay warm, and arrive on time; a few minutes past 3pm. She raises a brow when she spots Rowdy already there. A prompt customer. Good to know. Wriggling a few fingers at him, she heads to the counter, and orders an espresso before walking back to him, and offering her hand after she puts down her coffee.

"Mr. Yates, pleasure to meet you. I'm Selina Kyle, we spoke over the phone earlier?" Sitting down after they exchange pleasantries, she pulls her mid-back length hair over her shoulder. She's been wanting a cut for a while, but has ...grand plans for the Gala, so needs it longer. Extensions just aren't her thing.

Reaching down to her purse, she pulls out a manila folder, and a small thumb drive.

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When Selina wriggled her fingers at Rowdy, he grinned like a high-school freshman on his first date.  He so enjoyed the company of women - - especially beautiful ones - - and Miss Selina Kyle certainly didn’t disappoint him.  He loved her outfit.

As she approached the table with her expresso, Rowdy stood to his feet and pulled her chair out for her.  After she got situated, they shook hands and exchanged greetings.  Then, after some small talk, Selina sat down and began fidgeting with her hair and unpacking items from her purse.

Seizing the opportunity, Rowdy excused himself for a moment.  “I’ll be right back,” he told her.  “I’m going to get myself a beverage, too.  I don’t know about you, but I dread drinking alone.”

Walking to the counter, Rowdy placed his order and flirted with the female salesclerk on duty.  From the sound of the conversation, he was definitely a people-person, and it wasn't long before he had the college girl giggling about something cute and clever he had said.  Handing her a business card, he smiled as he sauntered back to the table, his Concord grape soda in hand.

Sliding into his chair, Rowdy noticed that Selina was ready to begin their meeting.  Making himself as comfortable as possible, he flashed a charming, sexy smile and told her, “I’m all yours.”

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Perhaps she should have invited him to get something to drink at the same time, but then again, they may have lost their table. Shrugging it off, Selina watches the club owner, her eyes narrowing slightly at his demeanor, as well as his wording. It must be a business thing; but clearly, not part of the business she's in.

So while her eyes follow him to the counter, she observes for a minute or two before turning back to her paperwork. She'd done the legwork to pull blueprints, and find out what he did have on his property, but she wouldn't be able to make a firm bid until she saw it in it's entirety.

"Perfect! Well, why don't we start with you telling me what you're looking for in security for your club. Or, starting with telling me about the setup, since we're not there quite yet," she starts warmly, taking a sip of her own beverage, all ears.

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To say the least, Rowdy was impressed with Selina’s preparation for their meeting.  Seeing all the materials spread out before them, he knew immediately that he was dealing with an astute professional, which put his mind at ease.  He made a mental note to e-mail Vicki Vale later and thank her for giving him Selina’s business contact information.

As Selina started the meeting with a simple introduction, Rowdy took a swig of his grape soda.  When Selina invited him to converse, he sat up and swallowed hard, the movement of his Adam’s apple only adding to his already-obvious sex appeal.  His manly charm radiated as a pearly-white smile appeared on his handsomely-rugged face.

“What am I looking for?” he began, his opening statement a rhetorical question, followed by a playful sigh.  He sat back and got comfortable in his chair again.  “I guess the bottom line is, I want peace of mind.  Ever since I heard about the devastation of Oswald Cobblepot’s Iceberg Lounge, I’ve been concerned about the safety of my own establishment - - not only for me and my employees, but for my customers and patrons, as well.  I want myself and others to feel safe and secure in my business environment, and I’m willing to pay whatever amount is necessary to achieve and maintain that goal.  Money is no object. ”

At that moment, Rowdy fought the urge to feed on Selina’s emotions with his empathy to see how she felt about his comments concerning his wealth.  There was no doubt that Rowdy was proud of the fact that he was a self-made millionaire.  Thanks to wise stock market purchases over the past decade - - and the inheritance he had received from his dearly departed grandmother - - he had accumulated enough wealth to buy the building of his nightclub, a capital investment that would afford him to live comfortably for the rest of his life.

“The building I bought was old to begin with,” Rowdy explained.  “I ended up gutting the place and remodeling the entire interior.  I’m talking new electrical wiring, stage area and dance floor, sound system, bar and kitchen, lounge area, new bathrooms, upstairs offices, neon signage, furniture - - the whole nine yards.  I even did some cosmetic changes to the outside of the building.  It cost a bundle, but it was worth it to me in the long run.  It needed to be done, especially if newer buildings ever start being constructed in this section of town.  I truly believe leading by example is the only way I can stay ahead of my competition.  That means I need my building to have the latest security and surveillance technology . . . which I don’t have at the moment and would like to acquire.  From you.”

He flashed a boyish grin.

“I think I’m done.  How did I do?”

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Taking notes as he expresses his concern; she's careful to realize his face is a lot more expressive than he possible realizes. When he mentions The Iceberg lounge, she cringes. It was a mess, and thankfully she wasn't there when the whole thing went down as well. "That's noble, that you're looking out for ore than just your bottom line. I usually work with more fiscally conservative clients. Then again, you can't really put a price on a life, or security of such."

Nodding again, if he's going to venture into her mind, he'll note nothing more than her blase opinion of money. It's something used to barter for goods, and doesn't impress her in the highest. Especially considering most, that most including men, usually see throwing funds at her as a way to get in her good graces. But at this point, she's highly focused on drawing up a plan that will suit his needs; and achieve his goals in safety for his property and business.

Tapping the pen against her lower lip, Selina is deep in thought for several moments. An older building may be a bit more difficult, but there are also boons to such a set-up, as well. "That's a hefty overtake, but I can see it's treated you well, Rowdy." Even though it is a pity that he didn't talk to her while he was remodeling; some of her suggestions may have been easier to do prior to the remodel. As she brings up her phone to tap at a few things on it' screen, she is then able to pull out several pieces of paper, detailing more of an idea of what he is looking for, security wise.

Mirroring his playful smile on her own lips, she nods again. "Quite well. I'd still love to see your club, but from the picture you've painted thus far, I think I am able to at least help you out with an estimate of what you're wanting. Heightened security, more cameras. A main area where you are able to supervise, well, all the supervision. I should be able to get all of those things for you, and installed, rather quickly. But it's better to settle on what you need from seeing the physical space. What I have in mind might not be as feasible, pending decoration, or what goes on. If that does make sense."

The papers she hands him outline several top of the line cameras, and the sort of security team she could offer; different options with different sorts of variables; men with different background training, cameras with more sensitive equipment. Considering money is no option, she is guessing he will go with nothing less than the best.

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Rowdy watched Selina cringe at the mention of The Iceberg Lounge and knew he had struck a chord with her.  He couldn’t help but wonder if she had more insight into that fiasco than what had actually been reported by the media.  He was glad she was listening to him and taking his concerns seriously.

Rowdy smiled at Selina’s mention of the word “noble” used to describe him.  “I agree with you wholeheartedly,” he told her.  “No one can put a price on life itself.  I don’t care how much life insurance you have, it’s never enough.  No amount of money can ever replace the individual.  Eventually, I think we all learn that life is a precious gift that shouldn’t be taken for granted.  Personally, I’ve learned to enjoy the moment, and, I must admit, I’m enjoying this moment very much, Miss Kyle.”

Although Rowdy was fighting the urge to read Selina’s mind with his telepathy, he was definitely enjoying the vibe she was giving off.  She was coming across so professional . . . so business-like, with only his best interest at heart.  He knew he could trust her.

It was moments like this that he appreciated being empathic.

When Selina began tapping her pen on her chin and went into deep thought for a moment, Rowdy remained silent and continued enjoying his beverage.  Then, when she began doing something with her phone, he shifted to a more comfortable position in his seat.  The next thing he knew, she was pulling out several pieces of paper to show him.

Rowdy nodded as Selina informed him that she wanted to take a tour of the building itself.  Then he looked over the papers she had given to him and quickly handed them back to her.  “I don’t want to get bogged down in the details, Miss Kyle.  I don’t know anything about cameras and surveillance equipment, and, quite frankly, I don’t want to learn.  That’s why I’m hiring you -- to take care of all this for me.  I want the best . . . from the best in the business.  Do what you need to do.  Just let me know how much you need up front, and I’ll write you the check right now.  Or would you prefer that I use my debit card?”

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He certainly was effervescent. Smiling at his words, she found there was little she could add that would express her feelings on the topic. "I agree with you wholeheartedly. It's a pity that not more of our city understand that unspoken rule." And while he was quite open, it had been a while since she'd been flirted with this unabashedly. So while she took down a few notes, it was clear that her cheeks flushed slightly at their interactions. It was a pity that she technically, was with someone, but not exactly public about it.

Either way, most knew her as bubbly, professional, be it in work, or play, so if she was friendly? That was her normal. And if he did try to delve into her mind? He'd find nothing out of the ordinary, but considering who she kept about her, he'd also find a wall slamming shut on her innermost thoughts, as well.

Raising a brow as she was more than shocked that he didn't need the details, she quietly arranged the papers back into her folio, and nodded. "Well, you'll get the best, Rowdy, trust me on that. And either way, works. I know you'll be good on a check, but to be honest, considering I haven't seen the space you want to revamp, I don't know an exact price yet. So it may be easier for me to charge your card, and then bill as necessary. If that fits within your schedule."

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Rowdy smiled as he watched Selina blush.  He hoped he hadn’t embarrassed her with his comment about enjoying the moment.  He’d meant it as a compliment.  Selina was the first woman he’d met in Gotham City that he was attracted to, and there was no doubt in his mind that if he was attracted to her, other hot-blooded males were, too.  He assumed that someone so gorgeous was already seeing someone, and so he bit his tongue, keeping himself from saying anything that would make him look desperate or foolish.  Instead, he studied Selina’s face as she made her notes, committing her beauty to memory for recollection later in his private moments.

Rowdy nodded when Selina assured him he would get the best his money could buy.  “I have no doubt,” he replied, standing and fumbling for his brown leather wallet that was nestled in his back pants pocket.  When he had the wallet in hand, he sat back down, pulled out his VISA gold card, and handed it to her.  “Jot the number down or make a scan or whatever you do,” he told her.  “If you don’t mind, I’d like for you to pay as you go.  That way there’s no surprises for either one of us, once we reach the end of this venture.  When you use the card, just remember to send me the paid invoice via e-mail.  I’ll need it for tax purposes, as I’m sure you well know.”

For a brief moment, his eyes met hers, and he knew she sensed his attraction to her.  Feeling awkward, he broke eye contact,  lowered his gaze, got quiet, and finished off the rest of his beverage.  Instead of his lips nursing on a bottle though, he wished they were kissing Selina’s.

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Taking his card, their fingertips brushed each other for a moment. Smiling, she swiped the card through a small scanner on her phone, glancing at the back of it for his signature before offering it back to him. A few things tapped into the screen, and she had the information she needed.

"Oh, of course! I will make sure that each charge will have a detailed invoice accompanying it. Now all we have to do is set up a time for the walk-through, and then hopefully sit down so I can show you all the specifics, now that I know your vision for the venue." Pursing her lips together, she glanced up from her phone, and spotted him watching her. Not just with curiosity, but in that way she had been all too accustomed to in her years, but always took her by surprise.

Smiling almost shyly, her eyes broke from his, as she resumed sipping at her own coffee. "Is there a time that would be best for me to stop by, Rowdy?" She asked.

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Rowdy smirked when Selina mentioned wanting to show him “all the specifics.”  Of course, he took that another way, too, but he didn’t tell her that!  The look on Selina’s face was priceless as her eyes met his and she caught him oogling her.  Mesmerized, he read her mind -- literally -- and commented without considering his actions.

“Come now,” Rowdy laughed, scoffing playfully.  “Don’t act surprised.  Surely, a beautiful woman like you is used to being adored, right?”

After the words had rolled off his tongue, he caught himself.  Realizing what he had done and said, he shook his head and tried back-pedaling, even though both his feet were in his mouth!

“Um, sorry.  I mean, it’s not like I can read your mind or anything.  I’m just pretty good at deciphering body language, and you have one heck of a body, that’s for sure!”

Rowdy’s eyes widened when he realized what he had just said out of nervousness.  He didn’t know who he had embarrassed more, Selina or himself.

“Um . . . how about you meet me at midnight?” Rowdy suggested playfully, trying to redeem himself yet a third time.  “After the tour, we could close the place and share a nightcap.  You could sleep over.  I’d enjoy the company.”

He watched Selina’s reaction and grimaced.  He had done it again!

“Separate rooms, of course,” he added sheepishly.

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He certainly was cheeky. And keenly schooled on non-verbal cues. Blushing slightly, Selina chuckled as well. "True, but most men are only after one thing. And a girl can get tired of money being thrown at her time and time again, can't she?" Winking at him, she set her phone to the side to focus on him.

"Oh, no worries. And with your business, no doubt you have discerning tastes." Her eyes casually dipped down, taking in his outfit once more. "I know you take good care of yourself as well. It shows." Reaching across the table, her fingers closed over his. "Nerves happen. Remember to breathe. It was one of the best pieces of advice I have been given." Giving his hand a squeeze she let it go, reaching into her purse for her lipstick, mid-into a reapplication as he spoke.

"Any theme tonight I need to be aware of?" She didn't flat out give a yes, or no, but her question replied for her. For such an attractive man, he certainly was twitchy about speaking.