Narrator
Project Ice Heart… S.E.O. Office of Lothrin-Tower in the Olympios District of New Alexandria on Earth #8193, in the year 1988 A.D… Over the month of recuperation from her explosive run-in with the Woodsman, Anya chooses to focus on getting caught up on some pressing corpo-work shit she has been putting off. She takes a seat at her desk in Lothrin-Tower and begins reviewing the stack of various reports, forms and files that have built up over the past few weeks.
Anya Lothrin
"Let's see what we have first for my review. Oh, listed as both urgent and Tier 4 classified, fun. Arctic Research Team Report on recovery of an unknown meta-reactive crystalline sphere found at the heart of an ancient temple complex located deep beneath the Arctic ice. Preliminary tests reveal the sphere to be possibly exo-biological in nature… Well, that is very interesting indeed."
Tenjin, please activate C.R. Lab N.A. 3 and have Arctic Research Team 7 and all their findings and research relocated to it, and create a new Tier 4 Classified Research department there to encompass and facilitate all their future work dealing with the unknown sphere they discovered. Let's call the whole thing, and call it Project Ice-Heart."
Tenjin
"Of course, Anya… might I suggest putting Dr. Lebenstocher in charge of the project?"
Anya Lothrin
"Perfect, I could not have picked a better Project Head, this does fall squarely within her field after all."
Tenjin
"Very good, sir, will that be all?"
Anya Lothrin
"You bet, buddy, go have some fun, crunch some numbers."
The Narrator:
The door to Anya's office opens as Sophia enters the room, carrying a tray of delicious-looking muffins and some nice hot afternoon coffee for Anya.
Anya Lothrin
Oh, thank you so much, Sophia, you're a saint. I am famished. You are always such a lifesaver.
Sophia Argyris:
Well, you know me. I aim to please. [friendly tone]
The Narrator:
Sophia places the tray down on the side of Anya's desk with a delightful smile and a wink at her boss.
Anya Lothrin
And oh my how you excel at it, dear. Hiring you has been one of the best hires of my life.
The Narrator:
Anya picks up her cup of the delicious coffee and takes a gentle whiff of it, letting its sweet, soothing aroma wash over her.
Sophia Argyris:
Well, thank you, Anya, and for what it's worth, this is the best job and you're the best employer I have ever had.
Anya Lothrin
Oh, you have no idea how good it is to hear that. So, any more problems with that disgusting fiend Jacob from accounting?
The Narrator:
Anya smirks and chuckles, taking a satisfying swig of her coffee. She places her cup down on the desk as she shoots Sophia a look that says 'omg that's some damn good coffee'.
Sophia Argyris:
Nope, it seems that the stern talking to and heavy pay-cut you gave him really whipped him into line.
The Narrator:
Sophia undoes the buttons of her blouse as she exhales away the stress of the day before taking a seat on the nearby couch and starting to nibble on one of the many muffins she brought in.
Anya Lothrin
Fantastic, happy I could help. So, how is the wife? [playful prying tone]
Sophia Argyris
Zahrell? She's good, we're good. She brought home a stray after her band's concert in the Narrows last weekend, though, which has been interesting to deal with, but it's all good; the girl needs us, you know? The kid needs a family…
Anya Lothrin
"Yeah, sounds like something our Zahrell would do? I'll have a doctored I.D. Chip sent to you for her as I assume a lower quality fake was how Zahrell got her out of the Narrows."
Sophia Argyris
By the gods, thank you. Thank you so much.
The Narrator:
Anya just nods as she takes another gulp of her coffee. She lets her eyes wander over Sophia's exposed breasts. Hmm, braless again and no fucks given. Oh, Sophia, never change.
Sophia Argyris
I mean, it really isn't a bad thing… Zahrell and I have been discussing having kids, and well, fate just decided to answer the question for us, I guess.
Anya Lothrin
What's the girl's name?
The Narrator:
Anya takes one last gulp of her coffee before placing the cup back down on the desk.
Sophia Argyris
Jessie, Jessie Talbot. It seems her parents died 8 years ago in an ACE accident on her 10th birthday, and she has been basically living as a street orphan since then. She really is wonderful though, with some understandable trust issues. However, given mine and Zahrell's current economic situation, taking care of a child presents more than a few challenges, but what can I say, the girl's worth it.
Anya Lothrin
I'm sure she is, and don't worry about the expenses. Starting next week, you can expect a 25% Familial Empowerment Raise. Submit to me a comprehensive report on the girl's needs from schooling, to medical, to whatever else she may need, and we will deal with it together.
Sophia Argyris
"Really, thank you. This means so much. This is wonderful, Zahrell, and I cannot thank you enough for all your continued generosity. You really are the best sugar mommy ever. [joking tone on this last sentence]"
Anya Lothrin
"[start with a quick laugh and then use an amused tone for the next two sentences] You bet I am but please think nothing of it. Really, it is my pleasure… I look forward to seeing our dear Jessie at the Lothrin Industries Charity Gala next weekend."
Sophia Argyris
"Of course, Zahrell and I are looking forward to sneaking off from the gala and fucking in all your mansions' fancy unattended rooms and drinking all your most fancy booze like always." [muses Sophia sarcastically]
The Narrator:
Sophia climbs back to her feet and stretches before rebuttoning her blouse and preparing to leave. Anya rubs her forehead briefly at the sudden bout of extreme pain, which she quickly suppresses so that Sophia does not notice.
Anya Lothrin
"Oh, so that's what happens to all my private booze every time we hold a gala at my place." [amused and ending with a laugh]
The Narrator:
Jokes, Anya, to further hide the current extreme agony tearing through her skull.
Anya Lothrin
"Well, I'm about to head home, so why don't you do the same. Give my love to Zarhell and little Jessie."
The Narrator:
Suggests Anya as the pain subsides just enough for her to climb nonchalantly from her desk and gesture politely for Sophia to leave.
Sophia Argyris
"Oh, okay, of course. Thank you, Anya"
The Narrator:
Sophia bows low to Anya before walking over and placing a goodbye kiss on her cheek and heading out of the office.
Sophia Argyris
"Goodnight and give my best wishes to Emma."
The Narrator:
Continues Sophia with one last warm smile at Anya before leaving, shutting the office door behind her.