A Little Mouse, In Over Its Head [Claudia/Arlette/Eliane, Alastair]

Raising herself up from the water, just enough to now be more or less at eye level with Alastair, Claudia met his gaze with a measured, almost playful intensity. Naturally, she could have simply looked into his eyes with all the fullness of her bitterness and spite, but that would have been counterproductive. And, besides, she did find this little puppy rather endearing.

"A toast, hm? How spirited of you. Shall I have Arlette fetch us something with which to toast?"

Of course, she would likely have something sent out either way, if only for herself. But, then again, perhaps Alastair would partake simply to avoid insulting her. That did sound quite amusing.

"Ah, or ought I send Eliane instead? She did say the two of you were getting along quite well."

The small, coy smile that spread across Claudia's lips made it quite clear that she had at least some knowledge of what had occurred between those two. She knew Eliane would likely have painted the picture a bit differently from how it all happened, but that in itself made it rather easy to discern the truth. Of course, she wouldn't be sharing the full extent of what she had been told, if only to see how Alastair responded.

"Oh~?"

Well, he was either lying, or simply a man with quite the peculiar taste. But his smile was certainly not the same that it had been, and given his personality, and what Eliane had told to her, Claudia somehow doubted that he would in fact have wished for her presence. But he had put himself into quite the position now, hadn't he?

The catlike grin on her face only widening the faintest bit, Claudia moved to leave the pool, her strokes casual and slow as she had no intention of speeding this process along. Better to make him squirm.

"Then perhaps I will simply have them both attend to you, hm? Though I am certain neither of them would be too pleased to know they have failed to earn your preference, you know."

"How very bold of you, Alastair, to ask such a personal favor of me. But I suppose I could do so, certainly. I think you would owe me one in turn, hm~?"

This was certainly enjoyable now, enough so that Claudia would even let Eliane know later to keep her hands off of Alastair. No sense in scaring him away when there was far more entertainment to be found in keeping him around, after all. Summoning both of her guards with a quick message indoors, Claudia took a seat at the edge of the pool and simply watched her guest.

"But I, of course, would be an ungracious host to hold you to account in such a way as that. Call it nothing more than my hospitality."

It would take a little more time before said guards actually arrived, of course. Claudia did naturally inform them to dress properly for the pool.

"No? And how might you wish to repay me then, hm? I had thought we were enjoying this pleasant time together here as more than mere business partners, Alastair."

Claudia allowed the natural allure of her accent to slip through just a touch more than she had been at that last bit, not exactly putting forward her best charms by any stretch of the imagination, but merely seeing if he would take the bait. She knew, of course, that he was a taken man, given what Eliane had told her, but that hardly meant anything to her. If anything, it only made this whole situation that much more entertaining to her.

After all, what would a young lady think of her lover in this sort of situation? She was already quite certain that this sort of thing would turn up in any of the tabloids if she allowed it to do so. Oh, that did sound like quite an entertaining little ploy, didn't it...

"I would not think to bring up debts or business in such a pleasant little moment, but if you insist, then I am always willing to discuss it."

Of course, no sooner had she said as much than Eliane and Arlette arrived on the patio, one carrying a bottle of wine and the other with two glasses. Naturally, they were both dressed appropriately for the pool, and while Arlette simply looked as though it was her job to be here and nothing more, Eliane seemed all too pleased with herself as she poured the wine, bending over in such a way that was quite transparently intended to be provocative.

"Well?" Claudia's tone was not exactly expectant, but it was quite obvious that the ball was now firmly in her guest's court when it came to the conversation. "It is up to you. I am content to take this evening in whatever way you desire, Alastair."

Claudia could not hardly say that she was disappointed by the answer that Alastair had given her. If anything, there was something amusing about it in its own right. Had he only now realized what it was that she had been implying? Now she could hardly help but muse on whether or not the man had even been aware of what a lion's den he had walked so willingly into.

"To being peculiar. Quite a toast, Alastair, but I will gladly accept it as the beginning of such a lovely friendship."

Touching her glass to his, Claudia allowed herself a long sip of the rich red wine, a vintage now lost to time outside the handful of bottles in her personal stock. Of course, she certainly could have sent her guards away now, given their purpose for being here was finished, but she always found it quite entertaining to see the tension build between those two.