Catherine had arrived early at school under the guise of extracurricular activities –though her true intentions were to initiate a business meeting with Silas.
He conducted his operations at the back of the school, the low foot traffic and relative seclusion made it the ideal spot to conduct more "bespoke" business.
Honestly, getting to the location was a bit of a pain in the ass. There were no proper paths on the grounds, and the nearest set of doors leading there from inside were designated for staff only.
Catherine, who wasn't too keen on authority at the best of times, paid no heed to the arbitration. Unfortunately, the school was more than aware of people with her disposition, and the doors were kept locked at all times.
After an inordinate amount of time was wasted backtracking to find an open path to the damn spot, she eventually prevailed, rewarded with the visage of the man in question.
The rear of the school had an outcropping held up by pillars used to protect the scant entrances from the elements, but it doubled as a nice bit of shade for troublesome nobles.
"Silas Carter I presume?" Catherine said, announcing her presence.
Silas had been leaning against one of the supporting pillars lost in thought, business wasn't booming, and most of his mornings were spent digging through his delusions of grandeur.
You wouldn't know it by his actions, as he was immediately attentive to the potential customer.
"Ah–Lady Blackwood, to what do I owe the pleasure?"
Truth be told the noble girl's presence had caught him quite off guard, she was a rather high-profile figure, coming to him–presumably to take advantage of his services was rather strange. To say his operation was a humble one would be putting it nicely.
Catherine strode up to Silas, talking to each other from ten feet away would've been quite the awkward exchange.
On closure inspection, Carter was rather handsome. He was tall by most standards, but given her own height, the difference was not considerable. She surmised it was only about an inch and a half at the most.
His hair was shoulder length and dark brown, very dark–it almost looked black in the current lighting, and the waviness made it look like he could have been in a shampoo commercial.
Looking down, Catherine noted that he was in the standard uniform. This was in line with what she knew about him, it was a given that his family couldn't afford the outrageous stipend.
Still, it was clear he took pride in his dress. The outfit was impeccably clean and without a wrinkle in sight. It was a similar story with the man's hygiene, it was obvious his routine was an extensive one.
Pair all this with an extremely trustworthy-looking face, and it's doubtful that anyone would suspect him to be a "criminal enterpriser" without prior knowledge.
"I've heard you offer specialty 'services'," Said Catherine.
"Perhaps," responded Silas coyly. "It depends on whose asking–and why."
"Am I not worthy enough of a customer?" Catherine glanced about. "I don't exactly see anyone lining up for your 'business'–I have the sneaking suspicion that you're not in the position to be picky about your clientele."
Normally Silas took insults in stride, but the fact that she was correct made it sting–despite the accuracy of the statement he still tried to save face.
"I'm not running a store here, the requests are handled in the utmost secrecy and not to mention on an individual level."
"Oh come off it," Catherine scoffed. "Your 'enterprise'–is little more than a small gang of miscreants–I hate braggarts, especiallyones that boast about things they don't have. So I suggest you stop playing coy and get to the point."
Carter's ego was severely wounded at this point, the cock sure grin he was sporting earlier had all but disappeared.
"Ahem–regardless, the scale of the operation doesn't matter. I can't have every Tom, Dick, and Harry knowing about my business. If word gets out to the wrong people I can kiss the whole thing goodbye, not to mention expulsion and maybe even jail time. So excuse me, but I need to be satisfied before I trust just about anyone."
Catherine put a finger up to her chin, all the while sporting her telltale devilish grin.
"A bit of paranoia is healthy in this line of work I suppose–fine, what do you need to know?"
"First of all, Lady Blackwood–I happen to know your family is a powerful one, and by extension, you should also hold a great influence."
Catherine rolled her eyes.
"Wow–what a deduction, did your vast network of spies figure that out for you, or was it your own genius intellect?"
Silas ignored the insult and continued his line of questioning.
"I need to know why you can't just rely on your own family for your little problems–it's not like they haven't bailed you out before."
Apparently, Mr.Carter was unaware that Catherine was on bad terms with the rest of her kin, and cover-ups of the young lady's blunders were only done to preserve the family name, and not for Miss. Blackwood's benefit.
On the other hand, Silas' general ignorance on the matter was somewhat of a boon for negotiation–Catherine would eventually be forced to tell him that she had no real ability to wield her family's influence, he didn't need to know that for now though.
"You know as well as I do that there are certain…matters that cannot be handled by one's family." Said Catherine
"Oh, now this is getting interesting," Silas put a hand through his long hair. "Still, I should put up this upfront–we're not in the business of cold-blooded murder. If that's something you need taken care of you'll have to go someplace else."
"Ugh–just listen to yourself. First off no–I don't need anyone killed. If you're under the impression that I'm that bloodthirsty, your peons are feeding you bad intel, but even If I was–do you think I'd be that stupid to trust yourlow-rent operation with a task so grave?"
This was all more than a little ironic considering both of them ended up in prison in the game because Catherine did trust Carter with carrying out an attempt on someone's life, but to be somewhat fair, at that point, the pair were at their wit's end.
"Well if my services are so lowlyin your eyes, why come to me in the first place?" Silas asked with frustration.
"If you'd shut up and let me finish, I could explain why you're perfectly positioned to accomplish my requests."
Silas didn't say a word in response, but he gestured for Catherine to continue her explanation.
"Good, now–my request is particularly sensitive, as it directly involves my family. I'm sure you're aware of my engagement to the prince?"
Silas nodded
"You understand then, rocking the boat when it comes to a marriage as high profile as this one is something that I'd like to avoid, at least at this point–this is the main reason that I need a third party to be involved."
Silas nodded at this, his weariness of Lady Blackwood's lack of sincerity was beginning to fade.
"I can understand wanting to keep something like that under wraps," Silas responded earnestly. "I'm presuming the engagement has gone awry in some fashion?."
"I'd say it connects to the engagement in a more…roundabout way."
Silas looked a little confused.
"All right, let's cut to the chase–you seem earnest, so go ahead and tell me what you specifically need my help with."
Catherine hesitated for a moment.
"Are you aware of the girl named Alice Moore?"
"The commoner that passed the exam? Of course."
"Well, I'm going to need you to keep an eye on her."
Silas' face lit up with understanding.
"Ah, I see, the lowly commoners getting a little too close to your future hubby. Understandably you want to put a stop to that–can't say I blame you, it's the sensible thing to do."
Catherine shot him a glance of total disgust.
"Are you completely stupid, or just mostly stupid, I don't think this arrangement is going to work if you're completely stupid.
The vitriolic response caught the scheming noble completely off guard.
"Well, what the hell do you want then!?" He asked flustered. "It's a natural enough conclusion–anyone would come to it!"
Catherine quickly glanced around her, ensuring there were no eavesdroppers in the general vicinity.
"Do I have your word that anything we talk about here won't leave your lips?"
"Of course, you have my word."
Catherine pulled out her case, Silas watched as she lit up a cigarette, the noblewoman saying nothing as she did so. Taking a drag, she blew the smoke into the man's face–he was barely able to suppress a cough before wafting it away.
The stunt clearly illustrated that Lady Blackwood was not at all satisfied with Mr.Carter's answer.
"I'm deadly serious when I say blabbing about this is the difference between a lucrative business partnership and the ruination of not only you but your entire family, I'm also very much willing to make an exception to my stance on murder if it means keeping things under wraps."
Silas' normally flush face drained in color a little at the proposed methods of silencing him…she could just be bluffing, but then again maybe she wasn't.
"Answer the question or this meeting is over," Catherine demanded.
If he wanted to make this work he would have to decide now. Whatever it was this wasn't a petty request–would screwing up spell doom for him? Perhaps…but it seemed like Catherine Blackwood already had a decent grasp on what his scope was capable of.
Lady Blackwood wasn't expecting the world of his limited operation, but she was definitely concerned with utmost secrecy. Silas could provide that, he prided himself on it.
If he fled at the mere mention of risk he would never grow his influence, and letting someone as influential as Catherine Blackwood slip through his fingers would be a grave mistake.
"I understand the risk–I give you my word that you have the utmost confidentiality concerning your requests. This is on my honor not only as a gentleman but as a businessman. So, go ahead– tell me the situation."
"I'm not too worried about Alice getting close to the prince, as I am the inverse."
Silas nodded gravely. He now understood the instance of utter secrecy–the situation far more complicated if the prince was the perpetrator.
"Not only that there are two others that are potentially after her–Oscar Wraith I can deal with, but Emil Fairfax might prove to be troublesome."
Silas stopped nodding, confusion overcoming him once more.
"Uh–the prince I understand, Infidelity can be a nasty piece of business, especially when royalty is involved–but why do you care if other people court her? In fact, couldn't that potentially solve the problem entirely?"
"You still don't get it do you?" Catherine said, rolling her eyes.
"Get what? Don't you want to stop the prince from getting with this Alice girl?"
"Yes–but you're obviously mistaken as to the reason why."
"Well, then you best state it plainly then–because I don't see how I could possibly be mistaken."
"I want the 'Alice Girl' for myself."
Silas' eyes went as wide as dinner plates.
"For yourself? You don't mean-"
"Yes-I'm in love with her." Catherine crossed her arms defiantly. "Quite madly apparently–at least according to my piano teacher."
Carter was utterly flabbergasted, he couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"You told your piano teacher!?" Silas exclaimed with a raised voice.
Catherine cringed at the sudden outburst. Quickly, she glanced in every direction in case Silas' exclamation garnered attention.
"For God's sake lower your voice and calm your nerves–I didn't tell her the person in question was a woman, I'm not stupid."
Catherine stared at Silas for a moment, fortunately, he seemingly had gotten a hold of himself.
"Now–can you help me or not?" Catherine asked.
"The circumstances are on the…unusual side, but I wouldn't get anywhere if I questioned all of my client's tastes.
"Well I'm glad to hear that–it will make the proceedings a lot easier. I'd also appreciate it if you don't ask unnecessary questions, I find them rather bothersome."
The last request was a proverbial rain on Silas' parade. He had several burning questions about the relationship between Lady Blackwood and the commoner, but he knew respecting a client's wishes was far more important than satisfying his curiosity.
"Alright, I'll ask only what's necessary."
Catherine narrowed her eyes.
"I hope you know I'll deem what's necessary."
Silas raised his hands in a gesture to disarm some of the mist-trust.
"You must understand that if I'm to work out plans with any certainty, there'll be things I need to know. This relationship needs to be based on mutual trust."
Silas saw that Catherine's face was still as distrusting as it was before.
"Hey–lighten up a bit! Look if you feel like I'm overstepping my boundaries just let me know. I can reign it in, and we can come to a compromise."
Catherine could see that Silas' was doing his best to extend an olive branch, and she lightened up on her demeanor.
"Alright then, let's shake on it."
The two parties grasped each other's hands, cementing the business relationship.