Chapter Text
You were on your way home, when you first got the call.
You didn't answer it. You usually don't answer calls from unknown numbers. And you really weren’t in the mood to talk to some stranger who probably typed the wrong number.
Your day has been long and stressful. All you longed for was your bed and an episode of that series you recently watched. Not to answer a call for a girl named Clarisse just to explain that you were neither Clarisse nor a girl and that that fool must have got the wrong number.
But actually, that would be hell of a business idea you got there. A number one could give people one would not like to get to know further while drinking a coffee. And then you would quite politely explain that person that they got dumped. Wouldn't that be a nice job? Tell people they're unloved.
~*~
The second time the ringtone woke you. You had read that book your friend had recommended you till the middle of the night and fell asleep on top of it. Being drowsy from your lack of sleep you hit the wrong button on your phone and hang up on that anonymous call.
~*~
The third time you sat in a never ending meeting. It wasn't a call but a message. Schoolboy-like you tried to look at your phone without raising attention.
I have an offer you won't be able to resist.
A black car is waiting for you outside.
V.K .
The message piqued your interest, but nonetheless, it was what people with quite the right amount of common sense would call alarming.
You answered.
A black car is waiting outside? What is this?
Some old-fashioned spy movie?
It didn't take long till a response came.
You will never know unless you get in that car and meet me.
You rang with yourself for the rest of the meeting. It was intriguing. You liked the sense of adventure in it. But, it would be a completely foolish thing to do. Getting in an unknown car, meeting a total stranger who got your number out of nowhere with a mysterious offer to make.
You had to be insane, totally mental, as you got into the car. Actually it was that kind of classic black car every good spy movie had. Kind of a limousine. You didn't had any further knowledge about cars. You googled it on your way. The driver didn't talk to you so what else should you do?
You learned that quite every car that wasn't a cabriolet was a limousine. You always thought only the fancy cars were called that. You really should work for the MythBusters.
~*~
The car came to a hold in front of a seemingly normal house. More high end but in this Parisian style of architecture. Unnoticeable in between all those other townhouses. Maybe you were a little disappointed. At least until you got to see the inside.
Whomever this house belonged to, they had style. Old, dark wooden furniture. All kinds and expressions of art. The right balance of stylish and eccentric. You loved it.
It all came together in a dark bureau. The ornate fireplace sending out warm light. A prominent desk with a massive leather armchair occupying most of the space. The walls full of artwork, while a great bookshelf covered nearly one whole side.
As you were alone in there and told to wait, you inspected the books. You found quite a variety. Clearly antiquarian books beside new editions. Classics and modern bestsellers. Novels and scientific periodicals.
You heard the door open just as you flipped through a copy of "Grimm's Fairy Tales". You looked over your shoulder to see a dark figure standing in the door.
"You have a very impressive collection." While you spoke you carefully closed the book and put it back on the shelf. Then you turned around to see your mysterious stranger.
The figure had stepped into the room. It was a tall man in a dark suit. Hair and suit in a strong contrast to his pale looking face. He stood with his arms behind his back. A relaxed posture of a powerful man. You could read in his face, that he was proud of it.
"Thank you, Mr. y/l/n. I'm delighted to hear that from a man of your profession." His voice was deep.
You took a few step in his direction. "I hope I'm not just here to compliment your taste in books, Mr.-" You paused, waiting for his name, raising an eyebrow in anticipation.
"Vincent. Vincent Karm." He reached out his hand. You took it. His handshake was firm. You looked him in the eyes. They were of a vibrant green. Intense. Piercing.
You looked away as soon as the handshake ended, gazing through the room. Trying to think of why you were here. Trying to avoid further eye contact. Countenance, you called at yourself.
"So, Mr. Karm. Why-"
"Call me Vincent."
You turned your head to him as he interrupted you. You stood still for a moment. Probably a dazed impression on your face till your brain began to work again. A teasing smirk appeared on your face.
"You sure like to hear your name, don't you, Vincent?"
He must have got closer to you or you didn't noticed till now, how close you two were. He leaned in a bit.
"Even more if it's from the mouth of a talented young man.", he said in a low voice. You were caught in his gaze again. You took in his clear-cut face, a smile playing around his mouth.
Maybe your breath deepened. Maybe that's why all of a sudden you could smell his aftershave.
You backed away. "Mr.-- Vincent, why am I here?"
He straightened his figure and adjusted his tie.
"I have an offer to make."
"Yeah, you already texted me that one. What kind of offer?"
Slowly you wanted to get to the bottom of all this. It wasn't fear you felt but a kind of distress to be in the same room with a man like Karm.
"A job. I need your expertise.", he said.
"If this is just about a commission you could have send an email to my office. No need to enact any of this." Probably he was just a drama queen. You were pissed. This was a waste of time.
"It's not a normal commission, Mr. y/l/n. It's a more delicate job I offer you."
"You know, you have quite a reputation.", you said. It seemed you had piqued his curiosity about what you heard about him.
"I know of your deals. The fulfilling of a dream after one finishes a little job for you. You're like ... Rumpelstiltskin." He flinched at that one for a second. "'All magic comes with a price.' So, of course I'm asking myself what's in it for me."
Now he seemed a little taken aback.
"You don't even know what I want from you."
You liked that look of surprise in his eyes.
"Actually I'm only interested in what you think my big dream would be.", you said shrugging.
He chuckled. After a moment he got serious again.
"If you work with me your shop will get a promotion. I want you to get me the letters of Pierre and Héloïse."
A promotion from Vincent Karm sounded like something what could boost your business. He was a well known and influential man.
"And if I don't work with you? Will you shut down my shop?" Did you have an option or was there no other way out than to oblige?
"I may be a businessman, but I'm fair, not cruel." It sounded like the truth. Why did you trust a man like him? All you knew of him spoke against that.
"Okay. I know Raphael Laurent bought them at the auction. How do you think I can get a hold on them?"
"You're an expert in the restoration of books. It wouldn't be unusual for you to ask him about them." It was unusual. Did he even thought that through?
"So you think I just call him? A little chit-chat, maybe a coffee or two and he will let me see these letters? I really hope you didn't plan a date for him and me."
"That's something I wouldn't wish my worst enemy."
"Which I heard was him?"
"You forget why you're here"
"Right. 'cause you can't write an email."