"You have the job, Jay." The male voice said simply.
The fox girl looked curiously at the director. It was rare to get a meeting from him. Yohan Bernardelli was his name... exceedingly wealthy, and his parent company owned their network. He mostly let them get on with things casting direction to Anderson from above... that is what concerned Jay.
"Just like that?" She asked, her three tails twitching.
"It's now your business. Toby didn't want it citing family issues. So it goes to you."
"So... let me get this straight.. I now have Anderson's old job?"
"With full pay, and privileges."
The fox girl didn't realise the meeting would go quite like this. She noted that everyone in the room were unchanged and human, while she was the only transformed person. They were probably all high executives working with Bernardelli. He did all the talking.
"What exactly do you get out of this?" Jay asked with a hint of suspicion.
"Frankly... Anderson has been an embarrassment. We are cutting all ties with him. We also need to improve the perceptions of our company- which have been hit, after all this.. fiasco. We need someone who is changed, and can do a decent job without running it into the ground. Someone the public will trust... Toby doesn't have the same connection to people you do- and he had no interest. Frankly, I don't even like him. Or her as she is now. You seem... smarter."
The fox girl thought about it. "Twenty percent more then whatever Anderson was getting... and I'll do it."
"Ten percent."
"Fifteen."
"Very well... Fifteen." the man agreed.
Jay leaned forward slightly. "I also want some assurances. I run it the way I want... no interference."
"Hm... I am majority share holder... by 54%..."
"Then... give me a 5% stake with it. Or I walk out." It was clear they needed her... but she was going to make sure, she could actually do this if she was going to do it.
The man chuckled. This was working out...interestingly. It would allow him to wash his hands of this company while still retaining financial gain. "Done" Mister Bernardelli smiled. He was already liking this fox... she had balls. Metaphorically. "Do a good job, and you will get a return... do badly and I'll have your tails on the wall."
The fox girl tilted her head wondering if he was joking. "Out of curiosity... how much money are we talking about here?"
Mr Bernardelli handed a piece of paper as if ready for that question, making a slight adjustment to it to add the extra fifteen percent.
Jay's tails froze in mid air as she looked at it. "Hm..."
"Yes... as I said... you seem smarter" Bernardelli shrugged. He didn't want to be Toby's husband to explain that one to...
Jay gave a careful nod. She was effectively now... Toby's boss? They skipped her and jumped straight to herself? But wait... what if this was another trick to take her off the front? "Do I still get to report?"
"If you can make the time... yes. You are now the senior manager. Run things as you wish. I want you to be our public face. Consider this an interim measure... if it does not work out for you, you can of course go back... but don't expect another shot from me. If it works well for you, stay."
It did seem a fair business deal... "I accept."
"Then get to work."
Jay gave a little smirk as she turned to the doors.
Bernardelli leaned back in his chair. 49% in that company was still a great deal. Without majority he had no control on it any more. but this could work out to his advantage anyway. If they do screw up, it will no longer reflect on his other companies. Reputation was worth more then control or money at times. Still... he suspected if anyone could fix up that place, it would be Jay.
If that little fox did a good job, he will let her keep control.. if not, he will simply buy up Anderson's share, among a few others, fire the managers and send in his people.
A plan for every contingency, and an adequate business stance. He did not want to see hundreds unemployed over this fiasco- or lose the investment.
David shivered wondering why she had to say hungry like that.
They walked a couple of streets down when Rachel started to sniff the air. "Hm... something smells good." she started to walk a bit faster.
The angel girl noticed an unusual gleam in her eye... this was a little worrying. Was it devil instinct? Like.. the time she had her 'angel' instinct take over?
"This way," said Rachel.
They weaved in and out of the streets... David was a little worried. This looked like a bad neighbourhood. But she couldn't pin down quite what was wrong... then she realised, there were not many people here. Businesses looked closed... people seemed to walk that much faster. There was an aura of fear... but why?
Rachel took David's hand, as they went into a small side street. There was a restaurant there, with music playing... and the smell of fresh meat.
The two entered curiously.
David's... jaw dropped. The whole room had transformed demons and devils. It looked like the menu was meat, meat, and even more meat... and with the way they all looked at her, it looked like they had found desert.
"Welcome to Hell's Kitchen," said a worker. He appeared to be a kind of... small imp? He had little wings that didn't look like they could possibly let him fly... and a small pointy tail.
"Rachel how did you find this place?" David said taking a slight step back despite herself. She was suddenly extremely conscientious of her wings and halo here... she could get lynched!
"I'm... not sure..." the devil girl said very surprised at herself.
"New here?" asked the imp. "Don't be too surprised... seems all of us of a certain change end up here at some point... the meat we make here is that good. Though... I've never seen an angel come here before..."
More of the demons and devil changed were starting to take notice of David. She stood out.. like a sore thumb. Actually, make that more like a blazing sun in the dead of night.
Rachel was grinning. "Ha! I knew we would find a cool place. Okay I want three pork chops, with gravy."
"And what can I get you miss?" The imp asked David.
"S-S-Some Coffee?"
Tim directed them to a place they could park the car... and showed them inside the house.
"Home sweet home," said the drow boy.
Jon and Karyn glanced around. It certainly looked like a nice place.
"I bet you want to meet my dad," he said.
The two had to admit they were very curious. Tim lead them outside, to the back area of the house.
Jon thought Tim was very lucky to have such a nice outdoor area to themselves. The grass here felt good on her mucus foot. There was a tree as well, and the sound of the trickling creek just added to the whole picturesque area. She also saw barbecue equipment on the side for warm summer days...
Karyn glanced around. "Er... I hope this isn't a dumb question, but what is a naiad?" She hated to admit that she didn't know it exactly.
Max pointed to the spring. "naiads are a kind of.. water spirit. She is tied to that creek. It's like her life blood now."
"So if the creek... dried out..." Jon had to swallow at that thought. I mean dear God!
"...I think she would go into hibernation of some sort. I don't know. Not something I want to think about," Said Tim shaking his head. "Dad? Are you there?"
The waters of the creek started to twist and turn, forming themselves into the shape of a young naked woman. "Hello Tim, I see you have brought friends." her voice sounded ethereal. It was hard to pinpoint how it formed.
Jon realised her lips were not quite synced to her speaking. He was... quietly surprised how the sight didn't faze her as much as she thought it should. Was it... evidence that she was really starting to get mentally affected?
"How are you?" Asked Tim.
"It's pleasant today... I feel good." The naiad explained. "The rain yesterday really refreshed me."
Jon tilted her head.
"Goodness.. I can sense a lot of water in you dear," She smiled.
Jon blinked and blushed. "My er- slug part you mean?"
"Yes... I can sense water in my immediate area... It is quite... strange." She explained. "My waters are yours if you have need of them."
Jon swallowed. Drink her water? Why did that sound so... weird? I mean these were her waters, but they weren't part of her.. even if she came from them? What could she say to that! "T-thanks.." the slug girl said.
"You look like you could use a little refreshment too," said the naiad to Karyn. A splash of water came from her hands, trickling itself all over the Cecilia girl.
Karyn blinked as the life giving waters made her tentacles feel.. good. "Um. thank you," She said. "I have been out of the water all day."
"Where is my sister?" Asked Tim curiously.
"Um... she is having a... dragon issue," the water spirit tried to explain.
"A dragon issue?" asked Jon.
"Yes.. a big one." she said a little cryptically.
Jon raised an eye brow... but then immediately thought of Sarah and her harpy issue. "Is she.. um..."
"I... would leave her be for a while," explained the spirit.
Jenny smiled as she brushed the remainder of mud away. She used a clean wet cloth to remove the stubborn dirt from her new friend's fur. Billy was a little reluctant at first but with some gently persuasion was doing it herself in the end too.
"See? It's not so hard to clean. You don't need to get all wet," Jenny explained. "An' I think you got to. Cause your tails look nice. Shouldn't be dirty." She had never met anyone with two tails before... she didn't even think it was possible. It was certainly very unique, and in her opinion did make Billy more special then she realised.
Billy had to admit she did feel better. She just never had to clean fur before and wasn't inclined to start licking herself like an animal (though the urge was there at times). "T-thank.. you.. Jenny," the girl said.
Billy looked down at her body.. a little vacantly. She was a girl, but she was also an animal hybrid of some kind. That should make it difficult to tell she was a girl... shouldn't it? After all most couldn't tell what the gender was of other animals just by looking at them.
Yet, there was something about her face, and the delicate nature of her body that gave it a very feminine undertone. She wasn't sure quite what it was that made her feminine in appearance. (Although she had a very good idea of what would make her look feminine when grown up.)
But it was so obvious she was a girl-animal that nobody had to ask. It made her a bit upset knowing there was something she gave away like that. Her long T-shirt and pants didn't hide it. Maybe Jenny would know?
"Um- Jenny? I gots.. a silly question.. but um.. how'd you know I'm a .. you know. A... girl."
Jenny tilted her head. "Er... cause you are?" She asked hoping that was not some kind of trick question.
"But.. I'm an animal too."
"Oh.. well um.. I dunno. Your face I guess?" Jenny said. What a strange question. She hoped she said the right answer. "It's a nice face," She ventured quickly.
Billy looked down a bit... still not really satisfied with the answer, but nodded. "Yeah- I guess."
"You wanna play now?" asked the white haired girl.
"Um- What do we play?" the squirrel girl asked a bit unsure.
Jenny smiled. "Tag your it!" She said tapping the squirrel girl and then running.
"H-uh no fair!" the squirrel girl said trying to run after her, still holding her tattered pants up.
