Chapter Text
The Targaryens. Formerly one of the biggest families in the dog show world. With dozens of titles under their belts, and prize winning dogs belonging to each member of the family, the competition world was shocked when the patriarch Viserys Targaryen announced his family would no longer compete.
Following the death of his beloved wife Aemma, Viserys withdrew from the paw shaped spotlight and teamed up with an old friend, one Otto Hightower, to form Targaryen Incorporated and its foundation the Aemma Arryn Fund. The Aemma Arryn Fund focused on underfunded shelters and fighting for the rights of animals.
(The Hightower family has long been involved with the Stock Market, consulting, and Otto Hightower himself had made quite the fortune. Only to be outdone by his daughter Alicent, who after the death of her husband became a force to be reckoned with, starting her own Fortune 500 company that launched the Hightower name into the stratosphere.)
Targaryen Inc, a company focused on all things dog related took off overnight, and The Aemma Fund as it was commonly referred to, became one of the biggest names in supporting animal shelters, clinics, and rehabilitation programs. Viserys and Otto could not run the business on their own and brought their daughters Rhaenyra and Alicent in. The two women through determination and hard work made their way up the ranks and now stand as co-chairs of the company. “It’s a family business,” CEO Viserys Targaryen said in an interview, “we enjoy having the girls. Not only are they excellent employees, but they brighten our day every time we see them. I know Aemma would be happy to see the Hightowers and us working so closely together.”
But unfortunately, the company began to decline, and a scandal rocked Targaryen Inc, resulting in Otto Hightower being booted from the company. Not much is known about said scandal, seeing as the employees of Targaryen Inc are tightlipped. We at Westeros Daily reached out to Head of the PR and Marketing, Daemon Targaryen for comment to which he replied “f***k off.”
Now, with the firing of Otto Hightower, it seems the old guard is shifting. The children of Rhaenyra Targaryen-Strong and a cousin from the Strong family have been placed into prominent positions, with the children of Alicent Hightower also filling in newly vacant roles. Only time will tell if this transplant of new blood will revitalize the aging company or drag it into the mud where Otto Hightower currently resides.
“It’s not too terrible. It ends optimistically, in a way.” Heleana said, her voice pitched up as she gave Alyra a sympathetic smile.
“Ms. Rhaenyra, it’s only my second week, I don’t know if I can spin this. Daemon told the Westeros Daily to fuck off. They’re one of the realm’s most trusted sources of information, and they don’t forgive easily.” Alyra groaned, still highlighting sections of the article and jotting notes down in the margin.
“Maybe you can reach out and apologize on Daemon’s behalf? Send the editor, and whoever Daemon spoke to a bouquet, and order pizza for their office.” Rhaenyra said, looking up from her computer at the two women standing before her desk.
“I’ll have to run it by finance and let them see if we have the budget for it.” Alyra said, googling how many employees currently worked at Westeros Daily. “But, I agree, at least the bouquets and I can go in person to deliver them, I really don’t want to start off on the wrong foot with WD.”
Rhaenyra nodded, “good idea. Run it by Aemond, then go over there and apologize.”
Alyra and Heleana left Rhaenyra’s office once she dismissed them, and Heleana squeezed Alyra’s shoulder before drifting back to her office.
Alyra made her way down the hall to Aemond’s office, waving at her cousin Jacaerys through his office windows as she did. Jacaerys gave her a quick wave, his office phone pressed between his shoulder and his head.
She knocked on Aemond’s door before slowly opening it. “Hey Aemond, are you busy?”
Aemond’s office was the most organized office she’d ever seen in her life, besides Alicent’s. His desk and the bookcases behind it were a dark wood almost black, with old but pristine leather chairs and a faux gold statuette of a Great Dane sat on the corner of his large desk. The bookshelves were filled with books that ranged in topic from world history to modern banking habits.
Aemond looked up from his dual monitors at her question. His long hair was pulled back, and he’d shrugged his coat off, leaving him in a black turtleneck, that clung to his surprisingly well-defined biceps. His eyes, one violet, the other a sapphire blue prosthetic, focused on her. “Not too busy, why?”
“Can I sit?” She motioned to one of the two leather chairs positioned in front of his desk.
“Of course.”
Alyra sat, and crossed her legs, smoothing out taupe colored slacks. “As I’m sure you’re aware, the Westeros Daily published an article about the company yesterday. And Rhaenyra and I think that it would be best if I went and apologized to the author of the article, and the chief editor for Daemon’s comment to them.”
Aemond hummed lowly and typed something into his computer, his lithe fingers flying over the keys of his keyboard before she could hand him the article on her tablet. “I see, and you came to me with this information because?”
“We wanted to bring apology bouquets to the author, and the chief editors, and maybe buy pizza for the other employees?” She said, giving him a hesitant smile.
Aemond typed something else into his computer, scanned the results, then looked off to the side for a moment before saying, “flowers yes, pizza no.”
Alyra stood and clasped her tablet to her chest, smiling brightly at him. “Okay, just flowers, got it.” She moved to leave his office when his voice stopped her.
“Alyra, average price flowers if you can, nothing too expensive, we’re not trying to woo them.”
She glanced back at the slight smirk on his face. “Was that a joke, I hear? From the lips of Aemond Hightower? Did hell freeze over?”
Aemond raised an eyebrow, “I’m perfectly capable of making jokes, Alyra. Perhaps you’ve just never caught them before.”
Was he calling her dumb? She knew Aemond and her weren’t the closest, but she’d only meant to joke with him a little, it had all been in good fun.
“I guess not.” She said lightly, keeping the smile on her face, even though her pride had taken a hit. She turned and exited his office, feeling a little put out by his words. Maybe he didn’t mean it that way, I don’t know him that well, maybe it’s just the way he jokes, and I’m taking it too personally.
Alyra shook off her thoughts and walked into her office, shutting the door, something she rarely did, behind her. She’d put a lot of work into making her office feel like an extension of herself. She’d gone for a light and airy color scheme, contrary to Aemond’s dark and modern scheme.
Her favorite thing in her office was her cream-colored desk that held her picture frames, a vase of fake roses, her computer, and had more drawers than she knew what to do with. Mr. Strong, Rhaenyra’s husband, and head of her security even built a mini shelf underneath for her space heater.
She sat in her plush, baby blue desk chair, and shook her mouse, waking her computer. She’d order the flowers, then pick them up and deliver them to Westeros Daily. As she scrolled through the arrangements, a chat bubble popped up in the bottom right corner of her screen.
Lucerys: Hey I know you talked to my mom earlier, did you tell her about my idea for pet day?
Alyra groaned, she’d forgotten all about her promise to her cousin, about pet day.
Alyra: Shit, no I forgot, I’ll bring it up next time I promise.
Lucerys: You’re not my favorite cousin anymore :(
Alyra rolled her eyes.
Alyra: I’m your only cousin, dumbass.
Lucerys sent a GIF of a sad looking puppy dog, and she rolled her eyes again, breathing out a laugh before closing the chat and returning to the task at hand.
A knock at her door startled her, and she glanced up to see Aemond.
She motioned for him to come in, and he opened the door slowly before closing it, his arms clasped behind his back.
“Don’t tell me you changed your mind about the flowers, I literally just ordered them.” She said apologetically.
Aemond shook his head. “No, the flowers are fine. I wanted to apologize.”
Alyra tilted her head in confusion. “Apologize? For what?”
He nodded. “My comment to you earlier, I realized it may have come off as rude. I forget that we don’t know each other very well yet, and you might not be aware of my…what does Aegon call it? Oh, yes. Biting humor.”
I was right! He doesn’t hate me.
Alyra adjusted the sleeves of her long sleeve shirt, pulling them forward to further cover her hands, a nervous habit she really did need to break. “I assumed that might be the case. I’m so familiar with Heleana considering we lived together, and Aegon’s humor was so easy to figure out, that I also forgot that my jokes might not land with you until we get to know each other better.”
“I’m glad we seem to be on the same page then.” Aemond said, his shoulders relaxing ever so slightly.
“Of course, no hard feelings.” Alyra reassured him.
Aemond turned to leave but stopped, hand frozen on her doorknob. “Just for the record, I have no doubt that you’ll be able to catch my jokes for here on out. Heleana spoke highly of you all throughout college, and I’ve seen your capabilities just in these first two weeks. I have a feeling we’ll get along quite well.”
Then he left, shutting her door softly behind him.
Alyra waited until he’d passed her window and placed her hand over her heart, willing it to slow. All he did was apologize and compliment your work ethic, why are you freaking out? She scolded herself, before grabbing her car keys. She had a job to do.