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It was a normal, quiet evening at home; sitting in his study with a fire in the hearth, wine in his hand, his mother away in London and Poppy off on errands. His mother's poodle was snoring loudly by his feet, and that was the only thing that was distracting him from his paperwork. He tried to  nudge her awake with his foot, but she just rolled over and started snoring louder.

One of the maids was in the room, cleaning carefully and taking the trash away. Vedir smiled sweetly at her and got a shy smile in return. His household employed elves, yes; he just didn't like to see the dirty things. Much more fun to have young ladies about, especially when he got to dictate the uniforms..

When she had left and shut the door, he kicked the dog hard in the ribs.

As the dog yipped and then sulked off to the far corner of the room, he looked back down at his papers. Storm had definitely done a good job on the translations so far; the boy worked hard. He was beginning to feel ready to test him properly, and thankfully the Ministry had thrown that opportunity into his lap...

"Sir? A Mister Storm is here to see you." The butler had appeared, as was his habit, from seemingly nowhere. Vedir nodded, putting a few of the papers away as Johann was shown in.

"Good evening, Johann. I trust you are well?" He asked politely, giving the younger man a brief smile.

Maarten Bergen was an altogether entertaining and enlightening man, Johann decided, as he bid the businessman a good evening with the hospitality of The Leaky Cauldron. Bergen was keen to enjoy a little of the London wizarding night life on his own, with old acquaintances to meet. He had given Johann leave kindly now that he was settled in his rooms. Johann suspected it was the fact the owl had arrived from Vedir in Bergen's presence and since then, Johann had distractedly glanced at the time at regular intervals, knowing his presence had been requested.

He didn't often work on a Sunday for the Ministry, which made it a little more inconvenient to meet with Vedir, who was already giving him paperwork by the box to review. Not that Johann wanted to complain, quite the opposite, as long as the financial situation continued to be favourable. The Ministry were keeping him occupied, just, though he was sure his constant thorn in his side, Kaydn Hamilton was ensuring the worst, most uninteresting and trivial reports were put on Johann's desk from magical trading standards. The bugger. Vedir's work was a welcome escape.

Show in by Vedir's butler, Johann finished a drying charm to his hair, the butler having already taken his coat and umbrella which had covered him from a March shower late afternoon.

"Good evening, Johann. I trust you are well?" Vedir greeted him with a hint of a smile. Johann mirrored it politely and lowered his head respectfully in a half bow.
"Good evening, Sir. Yes I am well, though I must apologise for the delay in getting here this evening. The Ministry of Magic has me working Sundays receiving foreign investors very keen to pick my brains too." He stood straight again, pausing, knowing he should wait to be invited to sit.
"How can I assist you this evening?" He asked, pressing the palms of his hands together as if in prayer.

He gestured casually towards one of the small couches next to his desk, indicating Johann should sit down. "No need to apologize! It's been a slow evening here, so you did not cause any issues with my schedule."

Tucking some papers away, he put the papers he'd reserved for Johann on the side of desk nearest him, turning the papers so Johann could read them. Then he placed a second set on top of them. "This is the next set - they were translated before, but I suspect they are...incorrect in several critical areas, and would like you to do them properly." There was a slight hint i his voice that indicated the errors were in the money itself.

"Do allow me to apologize for calling on you so often, Johann; I simply appreciate quick and thorough work. From what you say, though, the Ministry seems to feel the same way," he added, with a light chuckle. He stood, retrieving a fresh wine bottle from the rack.

"Would you like anything to eat or drink?"

Johann took the proffered seat on the couch near to Vedir's desk, and his eyes wandered ever so slightly at the room.

"...suspect they are...incorrect in several critical areas, and would like you to do them properly." Vedir instructed, and Johann nodded once in response.
"I understand your concerns, Sir, signing that particular piece of paperwork this week would have proved monumentally poor business acumen. I fully understand why you parted company with my predecessor." The particular contract had rather been in the favour of the recipients, and had not matched the outline English translation at all. Translator had either been drinking, or was due a cut from the other side. Either way, doing Vedir over.

"Do allow me to apologize for calling on you so often, Johann; I simply appreciate quick and thorough work. From what you say, though, the Ministry seems to feel the same way. Would you like anything to eat or drink?"

Johann's eyes followed his employer's movements and he leaned forwards to rest his elbows on his knees.
"Not at all, Sir, I am glad you feel able to." He gave a light smile on his features in gratitude. "The Ministry wraps red tape around most of its dealings, unless it is in particular favour to the Ministry." Johann explained and shook his head.
"Oh, not unless you will be opening that for yourself also. Much as I appreciate your hospitality, Mister Maarten Bergen requested my company at dinner this evening, so I have already eaten." Johann smiled respectfully.

It was no secret that Maarten Bergen was in the country, actually, it had been reported in the Daily Prophet in a narrow column near the bottom of page six the previous day in passing. Not enough publicity to make the Dutchman think he was a celebrity, and not too little to make him feel insignificant.

"Do you mind me taking a brief look, at the papers, and I can give you a better estimate on when I could have them back to you?" Johann asked, gesturing to the pile on the edge of Vedir's desk with a hand.

Collecting them from the employer's desk, he couldn't help but notice a map of a plot of land beside them, which looked incredibly familiar. His mind put two and two together, lifted the pile of papers, and returned to the couch placing them beside him to examine.

"Forgive me, I couldn't help but notice you had the paperwork from the Ministry on the land at the far end of Diagon Alley on your desk there." He began to leaf through the papers, his eyes busy while his mouth continued. "Excellent location with potential to really improve that end of the Alley, return it to its former glory." Johann explained. "Going there tomorrow actually, Ministry are quite keen to sell it..." He scratched his chin, frowning at a dubious looking document in the pile with concern.
"I never pictured myself as an estate agent... Dear me, you're right to be concerned, this one isn't even in the correct format..."

"Ah, Mister Bergen is back, is he?" Vedir asked with an amused tone as he uncorked the wine and picked up an extra glass.

"Last time I saw him was when I worked at the Ministry - he spoke English quite brokenly then, as I recall," he said in the casual tones of an older man who was reminiscing. "Couldn't understand half of what he said - made working with the poor man quite difficult. He's improved his English since then, I hope." He smiled again. "Oh dear, that was over 25 years ago - now I'm feeling old, haha."

He poured Johann a half-glass of the wine and gave himself a full glass before he stopped the bottle and sat.

"Forgive me, I couldn't help but notice you had the paperwork from the Ministry on the land at the far end of Diagon Alley on your desk there..."

And lightning-quick smile, this one seemingly in self-directed amusement. "Ah, yes, that. Extremely annoying case, that - had an agreement with the old owner that he'd will me the property. Old business partner, you see. But he sadly passed away before he could make good on his promise." He sighed. "Now I have only my word to go on, and the Ministry considers the land more valuable than my word."

He picked up one of the contract's papers and grunted, having settled himself into his desk chair again. "Do let me know how the place is holding up, if you see it - last time I was there, the house was...well. I suspect the Ministry's estimate has more to do with the land it's on as opposed to the house, if you catch my drift. It's rather past the point of 'charmingly antique.'" Somewhat a lie; the house was simply old and out of fashion rather than a wreck, but he'd intended to rip it down in any case. Largely for what he knew was under the floorboards.

The poodle emerged from the shadows and hopped up on the couch next to Johann, licking one of his hands hopefully. Vedir frowned at her.

"Don't mind her - she won't bite. Just push her off and she'll get the message if you don't want her to bother you." He put the paper down with a flip of his hand - letting it drift to the far edge of the desk.

Johann was curious to hear that Vedir knew of Maarten Bergen, but realised he should not be surprised. After all, Vedir knew very much about his markets and his competitors, and Johann should not under estimate him.

"Ah, yes, that. Extremely annoying case, that - had an agreement with the old owner that he'd will me the property. Old business partner, you see. But he sadly passed away before he could make good on his promise." Vedir sighed. "Now I have only my word to go on, and the Ministry considers the land more valuable than my word."

"Ah, unfortunate." Johann replied respectfully. He found himself momentarily captivated by his new employer's expression.

Vedir settled back in his chair opposite and Johann smiled faintly, still looking through the pile of work he'd been given.
"Do let me know how the place is holding up, if you see it - last time I was there, the house was...well. I suspect the Ministry's estimate has more to do with the land it's on as opposed to the house, if you catch my drift. It's rather past the point of 'charmingly antique.'"

Johann nodded, having seen the place already from the outside, and read the report.

A poodle appeared quite suddenly beside him on the couch, Johann's eyes turning to it swiftly, his hands full of papers, and the dog licked at his nearest hand as if to tell him she was no harm. Johann wasn't so keen to be drooled upon with paperwork in his hands, and gave the dog a momentary frown.

"Don't mind her - she won't bite. Just push her off and she'll get the message if you don't want her to bother you." Vedir told him. Johann turned back to catch sight of Vedir flipping a sheet back onto his desk, and placed back the things he'd been reading.

"Wednesday evening?" He asked Vedir, a little suddenly, his free and previously licked hand absent mindedly scratched the poodle's head beside him on the couch, though keeping it generally at half arm's length, unsure whether it would scurry for his lap now that he'd shown it some interest.

"For the translations. I should be free of Bergen by end of Tuesday, unless there are complications. I'll make arrangement with Poppy by owl to deliver them." He nodded to himself as if to confirm what he'd just said to himself, looking to the poodle. Consciously realising the fact he was scratching its head affectionately, he recoiled and leaned forwards, resting his elbows on his knees again, gathering the paperwork together to keep his hands busy, and noted his half glass of wine.

"That place in Diagon is a bit of a wreck, you're right. I haven't looked inside, got to pick up the keys tomorrow from the Ministry before I meet Bergen. The Ministry would love it if he bought it, just got to convince him of the price." He smiled and shook his head. "From the sound of it, I may have a hard job. Luckily, I've got three other ones to show him, though that's the only one in the Alley." He raised his eyes to watch Vedir's face with strange interest. Something kept drawing his eyes back to him.

Picking up the glass of wine, and raising it in a gesture of thanks, he posed a question to Vedir,
"The Ministry want one hundred and forty thousand galleons for that property, what would you offer, or is even Bergen going to laugh?" Johann asked, before taking a sip of the wine and admiring its flavour. His gaze still lingered on his new employer's expression with its usual intensity, sustained a little longer than might be polite.

"Wednesday evening would be lovely - they're somewhat urgent." He sipped his wine as Johann spoke, eying the fire and raising his glass to absently eye the flames through the glass. He grunted at the mention of the house and shook his head.

"Poor man; he really did love that house. Sadly, unless he fixed it - watch the stairs, when you're there. The charm on them is quite temperamental. They like to flatten out t when you're not paying attention. Sent poor Poppy right through the front door, last time she visited. Embarrassed the poor thing to no end." He caught Johann's look. "He put an experimental charm on them, you see. They're supposed to move on their own so you can just stand on one stair and it'll carry you upwards. It worked for him, but others, well..."

He was pretending to ignore Johann's glances and long gazes, continuing to go through his papers. He looked up at Johann in surprise at the mention of the price. "One hundred and forty for that place? Hmph! They've raised it. They must be sure Bergen'll buy it." He looked disappointed. "I suppose they've dismissed my bid entirely, then. How bothersome."

He scowled, the scowl of a man who knew a bad deal when he saw one. "Poor Bergen, if that's the case. The house is basically worthless - any new shop owner will have to tear it down. The moment you factor that into the cost...hah. It's worth about Eight thousand on the low end, and a Hundred thousand, tops. Location is really its main attraction."

His tone was truthful, for once; he'd been selling real estate for years. Technically however, the Ministry was doing it right - find a gullible buyer and rack the price up.

"I apologize for my tone. The Ministry is not usually a business rival, you see - they're quite difficult to barter with, especially since they have their hearts set on Bergen buying the place, it'd seem."

Vedir's mention of the urgency caught in the back of Johann's mind and a small part of him sighed that he'd now be obliged to turn things around more swiftly. Still, if he could, it would please Vedir, which meant more business, and better position to negotiate his own terms in the future.

"One hundred and forty for that place? Hmph! They've raised it. They must be sure Bergen'll buy it. I suppose they've dismissed my bid entirely, then. How bothersome."

Johann's ears pricked up further, and he paused mid sip of the wine. He hadn't realised Vedir had put an offer in already, then again, it wasn't his department who was in charge of dealing with the offers and payments, he was just a glorified lingual estate agent who could help ease Bergen's distrust of his broken English and make him feel confident about the deal.

"Poor Bergen, if that's the case. The house is basically worthless - any new shop owner will have to tear it down. The moment you factor that into the cost...hah. It's worth about Eighty thousand on the low end, and a Hundred thousand, tops. Location is really its main attraction."

"Yes, it is quite." Johann replied swiftly, agreeing that the location was a great attraction.

"I apologize for my tone. The Ministry is not usually a business rival, you see - they're quite difficult to barter with, especially since they have their hearts set on Bergen buying the place, it'd seem."

"Its quite alright." Johann replied smoothly. "Its not an element of business I have particular knowledge of at all. I've never bought property in my life, too busy moving about. The place I lived in for the while I settled in Hannover belongs to extended family and I rented it from them." He explained, examining the colour of the wine in the light from the fire.
"Perhaps I should take more of an interest, it seems to be working out well for you?" He gestured to the room with both arms.

"And yes, you're quite correct. The Ministry are keen for Bergen to invest, but they're greedy to milk him for it in the meantime. We're visiting four places tomorrow, two in London, two outside, and they're keen for him to buy that one. I'm afraid its my job to convince him its the right fit for his needs, while making pleasant small talk about his twin daughters and their education at Beauxbatons. I heard his wife is Veela, but he's travelled alone, so I suppose that's why its fallen to me." He shrugged.

"What did you offer for it... out of curiosity?" He asked quietly.

"Perhaps I should take more of an interest, it seems to be working out well for you?"

Vedir chuckled. "It's an interesting job, if you enjoy the delicate push and pull politics of bartering. Difficult to break in to, however - and the bartering only gets interesting over three-figure sums, usually."

He sipped his wine, looking thoughtful as Johann spoke. He was quietly addiing up figures in his head, but out of the corner of his eye he watched Johann. The boy was interesting, to be sure. Intelligent, but not so much he wasn't fun to play with...

"What did you offer for it... out of curiosity?" Johann asked quietly.

A grunt. "I took a gamble - one hundred tthousand. It's at the peak range of what the place is worth, and wth the construction costs..." he waved a hand vaguely. "But build a nice shop on that, lease or sell it, and I can make it back and then some. Too low for the Ministry, it'd seem, but at their price the odds of making money are..." he smiled, with just a hint of nastiness to it, "Low."

"I took a gamble - one hundred thousand. It's at the peak range of what the place is worth, and with the construction costs... But build a nice shop on that, lease or sell it, and I can make it back and then some. Too low for the Ministry, it'd seem, but at their price the odds of making money are... low."

Johann leaned back, resting his shoulder blades, and smiled.
"Now Sir, one shouldn't present me with such delicious challenges." He warned. Any other time he'd have taken a comment like that and interpreted it as a direct challenge to sell the land for the price, whatever he did. Arrogant determination would prevail. "Under normal circumstances I tend to accept."

The poodle wagged its tail beside him at the prospect of him leaning back meaning it was going to get some further attention. Johann's eyes were instead lingering on Vedir, before glancing down to finish his wine, his mind already busy working out what he should do tomorrow with regards to the house. It would be a moral dilemma to try and force Bergen to buy an overpriced plot, wouldn't it? Especially if Vedir was already happy to buy it at the realistic value. Bergen would probably like one of the other three better, that one in Diagon Alley was inflated.

Johann's eyes had drifted silently to stare at the dog, whom stared back at him hopefully. His fingers twisted around the stem of the wine glass in his hands, while his mind whirred.

Realising he'd fallen entirely silent and trickled into his own little world of thoughts, staring at his employer's dog, Johann took a sudden intake of breath and placed the glass down onto the nearby table neatly.
"Were there any other matters you needed to consult me on?" He asked Vedir, feeling his cheeks colour ever so slightly given his momentary lapse into deep thought without verbal explanation.

Vedir laughed again, lightly. "These are hardly normal circumstances, Johann, and I am quite glad you know constraint and loyalty."

Johann's somewhat sudden silent lapse drew his eye; it was at times like this he wished he'd learned Legimency. Ah, but that would have made life far less interesting the other 99% of the time. What kind of sportsman had to cheat at his own game, after all?

He finished off his glass of wine and set it aside, standing and absently straightening his clothing. "No, Johann, I believe everything is in order-" he glanced at the clock on the mantle and his tone swiftly became an apologetic one. "I do ask your forgiveness, Johann - it has been a long day for you and I've imposed on your time long enough, I should think. You've got a long day tomorrow - you should hurry home and rest."

He offered Johann a kind smile.

"... You've got a long day tomorrow - you should hurry home and rest."

Johann blinked and mirrored Vedir's smile politely, getting to his feet.

"Thank you, for both the wine and the work, and not an inconvenience at all." He scooped the papers up into his left arm and reached his right to shake hands with Vedir politely again.
"I'll let you know how things go with Bergen before the papers get it." He smile broadly and gave a respectable nod. "Goodnight to you Sir."

Formalities finished, Johann headed towards the door, met by the butler again, who had a knack for knowing when things had just finished. Mind already preoccupied, he thanked the other man for his coat in a vague murmur, before heading out the front of the house, paperwork still under one arm, and head full of thoughts.

Vedir was right, tomorrow was going to be a long day.