Lion's Blood

"I sat watching a flower as it was withering. I was embarrassed by its honesty"      Queen Katharina Lena Baumgartner of Austria 

[crownglvry-blog]

crvnprnc:

He could live solely for her smile, for the laugh that filled him with happiness every time his ears were graced by the sound. Deep down, he knew he was being strung along. He was more than aware that no matter how many times he begged her for them to be something more, she would refuse. While he knew her reasons, the pang in his heart would never fade. Yet still he kept coming back for more, because he could never have enough of her. “I am afraid you don’t have much of a choice.” And while he pulled her ever closer to him, inhaling the scent of roses and vanilla that was so typical of her, he allowed himself to be immersed in her world, or rather in theirs.  For only the two of them existed at this moment, and no one else could ever matter more. It pained him to know that what she had to do in her life was so far from what she wanted, and he wondered when was the last time she did something she enjoyed. “Kat, there are ways you can go about it. Tell them that this project is too important for the company, that you would like to be present to ensure that everything goes as planned. They already dislike you, so it’s not like they will dislike you more if you go do something you wish to do.” While their lips met, soft skin gently running against his own, the soothing hand in his hair made all his worries and doubts go away. “Not everyone is as special as you are either,” he assured her before shaking his head at her next words. “I’d hate to shut you up. You rambling is quite adorable.”

she had pushed away her feelings for so long she had lived in a constant blur of wanting to feel his touch every morning when she woke up and not wanting to deal with the guilt that came with every touch. katharina knew how selfish she was being, but after everything that she had been through she didn’t know any other way to survive. that didn’t stop her from feeling like richard was the only peace she had felt in a long time. the very peace that she felt the first time she had kissed him, in a time she needed to seek solace in someone without ever thinking that she would be in the position that she was now in. katharina was in too deep to get out and deep down she hoped that richard felt the same way as well. “i wish it was that simple,” she sighed, brushing his hair from his face, her head shaking slightly. “knowing the people on the board they would use this month to run the company themselves and make decisions that i would never approve of.” she let out a warm smile that she hoped would linger on his skin even when they were apart. kat pressed a light kiss on his lips as her hands moved to cup his face in her hands, her soft fingers grazing against the rough stumble across his skin. she couldn’t help but breathe in this moment. “hmm... that’s never stopped you before,” her lips curling into a smirk before connecting their lips once more. she needed to pull him closer to her, feel his skin against her own, to allow him to engulf her. 

[crownglvry-blog]

pandaemonius:

usually when he took on cases, they tended to end in some form of disappointment: refugees who weren’t granted asylum, environmental activists who couldn’t ever hope to defeat big name corporations, discrimination that couldn’t be proven and insurance that was never paid out. but then there were some clients demetrios enjoyed meeting with because their work was simple and standard and never prone to going awry. well, rarely. and while he’d met with enough of katharina’s board members to understand the dynamics of her company, it was always nicer to meet with the woman herself. “yeah, she got me up to speed; no worries there.” and she had: he’d been running late like an absolute fool, but she’d had the foresight to mail all the particulars to him beforehand. flipping through the file in front of him, the greek listened to her speak, nodding in agreement. “we’ll have to have three different ones drawn up - for the patients, for your employees and then another one for the board itself. it’s better to cover all bases, isn’t it?” flashing katharina a smile, demetrios made a few quick notes on a legal pad, his scrawl almost indecipherable. “have you thought about doing any PR for the department?”

she looked down at the details of what needed to be done. katharina had always been a thorough person, with all details accounted for. but she had become even more paranoid now that if she wasn’t then something could go seriously wrong. the woman nodded at demetrios’s words as he spoke. she was grateful that she had him on her side to help elevate some of the stress that came with all of this. “i couldn’t agree more. i know that what we’re doing here is innovative to say the least. i need these contracts to be honest. i don’t want to trick any of these people demetrios. i don’t know exactly if my board has spoken to you and i could guess what they would have advised you to do, but i don’t care what they say. we need transparency.” her voice light but stern before flashing him a soft smile. it was exhausting to put up a front everyday and she could feel some relief knowing that the man in front of her had no malicious intent towards her. “i feel like i’ve been doing PR for the company since i’ve gotten here,” her eyes rolling slightly. “i have a couple of press conferences next week and i will formally address the company at the end of the week. we’ve invited the press so i’m sure there will be plenty of public exposure.” 

[crownglvry-blog]

forbothkingandcountry: 

“Yes. It is what we do to overcome our pasts that show our true colors,” The man mused. “You wouldn’t be the smart business woman that you are if you didn’t. No intelligent person takes the first or even second offer they hear. You listen to everyone and all their ass kissing, because there is a lot of ass kissing, and you weed out the deals that don’t make sense to you and your company. I wouldn’t want to invest money into a company that went with whatever way the wind was blowing today,” he told her. “I wouldn’t expect anything less of those American investors and I am sure they are solely thinking of themselves. Americans are individualistic and are only thinking of themselves and no one else. They could care less about you and your company. Us, European based countries, are collectivistic. We emphasize the needs and goals of everyone rather than purely ourselves. My family, and I, are very interesting in making a deal that works for both of us. We are willing to negotiate more than those American investor will be which you and I both know. Tell me what you want and I will show you my cards,” he offered. “You live up it every word written about you and even exceed it. I am not joking when I say it is an honor that you took my meeting.”   

“and how do i know that this isn’t all just a long winded ass kissing?” she smirked, her brow raising slightly. he was good with words, she could give him that, but this was far too important to be swayed by a charming pitch and a nice smile. “i want stability, Otávio. i need to know that my investors will be consistent and loyal to the company no matter how the tides turn. how do i know that you won’t drop gartner and follow the next popular company with a compelling mission statement?” she shrugged and leaned back slightly in her chair. she was never the type to make negotiating and the words coming from her mouth still felt foreign and forced, but she was learning. katharina had invested far too much energy into this company to have all of it’s plans exposed to a rich boy in what she believed to be a sort of phase. “i need to know that you’re serious about this.” 

[crownglvry-blog]

crvnprnc:

He would have never thought that someone he had always considered to be his sister’s friend would turn out to be so important to him. He would have never believed that no other girl, or guy for the matter, could ever hold his attention the way the red-head did. And he would have never imagined that she would be the one who makes his heart beat a little faster, his breath catch in his throat every time she smiled, and the one who never truly leaves his mind. He’d long to take her out, to show the world what she meant to him, to take what they had to another level. The resistance hurt, but he understood why she was so hesitant. Katharina had too much to deal with already, and he had to accept that. “You won’t be able to go a day without seeing my face, darling. At least I hope you won’t get annoyed by it,” he added with a wink. She was always on the forefront, supporting him every time he announced some new work opportunity. While her work was constant, his work dynamics were completely different. Still she took an active interest and tried to understand, and for that he was eternally grateful. His hand reached out for hers, a gentle squeeze to show his support. He hated the fact that they failed to treat her with respect, but still she never gave up. “That’s amazing, Kat!” He explained, a soft chuckle leaving his lips as she clutched his shirt, almost as excited as a young child. “Why don’t you go? I know you would have to leave the company behind for a few weeks but you should be able to do something for yourself some time. This is what you love doing, Kat, not sitting down in an office all day.” At her change in mannerisms, he shook his head, hands reaching up to cup her cheeks before leaning forward to gently press a soft kiss to her lips. “Hey, no. No need to apologise, you know that beautiful.”

her smile came easier when she was around him, the laugh a little easier to come by in these moments. “i’m sure i’ll learn to deal with it,” katharina teased knowing that she could never hide her smile when she saw his face plastered all across london. it was a secret that seemed so easy theoretically but she knew how complicated things could get. she had become afraid of her own heart over the years and what would happen if she learned to listen to it. it had suffered too much pain to risk it all over again. she couldn’t lose richard, she knew that as a fact and if that meant stringing him along for as long as she could in order to have him under her like this then so be it. kat knew that he deserved better, that he should be with someone that wasn’t afraid to give their heart to him. he deserved someone that loved him uncontrollably and stand by him no matter what, and yet he was here stuck on her couch with a woman too scared to let herself take a leap. kat had nothing to offer him, but herself. she let out a deep breath at his words because he was right. she always thought that she would have traveled across the world by now and let her brothers run the company. for years she thought that her family’s name and money would be enough to buy her freedom, but instead it only tightened her shackles. “i can’t richard. what would everyone say if i left for a month? they already dislike me as is and i can’t give them anymore reason to think that i’m unqualified to do this.” she melted into his touch, her eyes closing for a moment to take it all in. her lips grazed his own as she reached her hands up to comb through his hair, deepening the kiss. she was always a rational person, perhaps a little overly trusting at times, but with his lips on her own she allowed herself to lose control for a little while. “i forget that not everyone cares about plant biology like i do,” her words only a little louder than a whisper. “just shut me up next time i get carried away,” her lips smiling along his own. 

[crownglvry-blog]

spiritus-lumen:

both have been rather busy with their own lives, while she is perfectly okay with the independent life – she did indulge in her sister’s company here and there. Once in a blue moon when both don’t have their hands tied in obligations. Stabbing at her sesame seed chicken dish, she took a big bite just when Katharina began to speak. Covering her mouth for a moment to turn away slightly, almost responding carelessly. The subject of Pietro had taken her a little bit off guard. When she finally chewed and swallowed the food down, “are you trying to kill me?” she asked, though the question came out with a playful note. “His name is Pietro, you and mom have always been terrible  with names.” Callista pointed out teasingly.

she rolled her eyes at her comment. callista was right, but she was still annoyed that she had to point it out. “oh please you don’t have to remind me. remember how mom called my last boyfriend the wrong name for five months. oh god. dad and the boys even joined in,” katharina shook her head, rubbing her fingers along her temple, the mere memory of it giving her an instant headache. it was always bittersweet to think of the past in such a light-hearted way, but she knew that she had to move on at some point. neither of them could grieve forever no matter how great the pain. “what? i’m just curious about him. you never talk about him and i think i should be able to know about my own sister’s boyfriend,” katharina teased. she wanted to be a part of her sister’s life and with their busy schedules she was scared that if she didn’t talk to her then they would fade out, only to be close strangers after some time. 

[crownglvry-blog]

forbothkingandcountry:

“I had read about his passing and I’m sorry about your loss. But many other people will be thankful for your initiative when they don’t have to face what you had,” Otávio agreed. “That is very kind of you to say. I will admit that I was lost for a time and I am not proud of everything that I have done but I believe that this is what I was meant to be doing. I just wish I had found it earlier in my life so I could have helped sooner.” The man knew he would have to address his past because if he didn’t then she would, surely, because he had certainly made a name for himself before he turned his life around. “I understand, completely. I would be confused if others weren’t interested in investing so I understand. I know my family is interested and I’m sure you have heard the same thing over and over again when you met with people. I asked my father if I could come talk to your personally rather than send some lawyer to come talk to you. I wanted to know more about you and your company from you rather than something I’ve read  on some article.”

“we’ve all done things in our past that we’re not proud of,” she shrugged. she had heard things about the man in front of her. it was all in the file, every public decision that he had made, every tabloid article written about him. she had seen almost all of it. katharina was hardly the type to judge others on their past and that did not concern her. she wanted to surround herself with people she could trust and she admired his ability to admit his faults. all her life she lived with men with too much hubris for their good and it ended in their demise. “you came all this way and guess it’s only fair to tell you that we are considering several american investors. they’re very... well.. persistent. i don’t want to disappoint you otávio, but we have to consider every possible option ” her voice calm and so overly rehearsed it made her sick. there was little room to act with spontaneity anymore and when she did she would be reminded of it constantly by her board. “and i appreciate you coming to speak with me. i hope my company in person lives up to everything that is said and written about me,” her lips spreading into a smile, a slight laugh escaping from her. 

[crownglvry-blog]

forbothkingandcountry:

“If you insist then I must request you call me, Otávio,” the Portuguese man grinned as he sat back in the seat he had occupying before. “I have.. I have spent a lot of time researching about Gartner Inc. and your time as CEO. It is very impressive and I am happy you excepted my offer to meet,” the man began. “With my research I was overjoyed that a new cancer research department was founded. I spend a lot of time work as a charitable investment advisor and always interested to learn about new charities that can help impact a lot of lives. Was that your idea?” 

she listened as he pitched his speech, the very speech that so many other investors had presented before. there were people in this industry who truly cared to try and make a change, but there were others who liked the idea of plastering their name on their donations and claiming that they did all the work themselves. she was still trying to figure out which type of person otaávio was. “thank you i’m flattered, but unfortunately the reasoning behind our new cancer research wing hits a bit closer to home. my father passed away from cancer and once i became ceo i wanted to ensure that no one had to endure he had to go through,” she admitted. it still  stung every time she had to explain the new research to investors or the press. it wasn’t easy to have him as a constant reminder everyday she went into work, but she wouldn’t be able to live with herself if she hadn’t started it. “but you have committed yourself to a very valiant career otávo and i’m sure garnter would be more than happy to work with you. Unfortunately since we’ve opened this new research center we have had a spike in investors that have the interest as you. we’ve had to be very selective with the people we choose here.” 

[crownglvry-blog]

forbothkingandcountry:

@crownglvry​

“Hello, Ms. Baumgartner.” Otávio smiled, rising from the seat he had taken to meet Katharina as she entered her office. “I was a little early getting here and your lovely assistant let me in. I hope that is okay with you,” he continued as he out stretched his hand to shake hers. “I may have mentioned wanting to meet you in your office rather than the waiting room. Felt impersonal for my tastes.” he grinned. 

katharina’s eyes scanned the folder with all details of the new investor she had heard so much about. he was portuguese, rich by blood, but from what she knew about rich boys they either wanted nothing to do with their family’s money or they wanted to get richer. she could probably guess which category he fell under. her hand reached out to open her office door as her head raised at the sound of a voice. a voice laced with an undeniable portuguese accent. “mr. vargas?” she asked, her brow raising a the unexpected sight in front of her. she gave him a warm smile to make up for the noticeable shock in her face. “yes of course please sit,” she said motioning to the seat across from her own behind the desk. “and please call me katharina. ms. baumgartner feels a bit impersonal for my tastes as well.” she sat herself behind her desk, folding her hands neatly on table. “now i’ve heard you’ve taken quite the interest in our company as of late.” 

[crownglvry-blog]

crvnprnc:

Her words, ever so gentle and yet so honest, would never fail to make his heart flutter in his chest. Knowing that their feelings were mutual, despite the complications and restrictions on their relationship,Maybe there were words that had to be left unspoken between them, but he was fine with that. Letting those words remain unstated meant things would be less complicated, and he could not afford to complicate what he had with Katharina. Despite the longing to have her by his side during every event, to have her in his bed every night he spent alone, all he had in those situations was the faint memory of her touch, He desperately tried hard not to show his disappointment when she pulled away from him, only taking his glass as she offered it. “Well, Richard Windsor might be starting filming a new commercial tomorrow. And his photoshoot campaigns keep increasing every day, Plus, his agent keeps getting him more interviews than he can handle. But of course, who is he to say no?” He chuckled, taking a swig of bourbon. “What about the powerful Ms Katharina? Are they still giving you a hard time?”

she took another sip from her glass she listened to him speak. she wanted to know about his day, what he did, what he’s excited about. katharina cared about him far more than she ever expected. she knew how he liked his coffee, what side of the bed he slept on, what movies he liked to watch when he was sad. katharina knew more than she probably should have, but that never stopped her from wanting to know more. “richard that’s amazing. i guess that means i’ll have to see more of your smug face when i turn on the tv,” she lips curling into a wide smile. she wanted him to be successful, but with more fame came more cameras and more recognition. the thought that they could go out in public without being seen and pointed out seemed more like a distant dream at this point. “of course they are and i doubt they’re going to stop anytime soon,” she sighed and finished the rest of what was in her glass placing it down once again. “but a handful of our botanists are taking a trip to india for a month to take samples of the soil there to help develop a stronger breed of rice,” she explained, feeling the excitement grow in her with every words she spoke. there was a long list of things that she didn’t like about her job, but she could deal with all of it if that meant she could be close to her true passions. “this crop could help increase the harvest by almost two hundred percent. it could feed billions richard.” her hands gripping at his shirt, barely able to contain herself. “god i would kill to be able to with them.” she was always someone who threw themselves into their work no matter the consequences. her grip loosened as she came back to reality, her hands smoothing out the fabric. “sorry, i know i was rambling again,” her voice calming, a nervous smile plastered on her face. 

[serpvntsarchive]

thecrownshq future au + tabloids

ft. @ofaphrcdite, @honovrs, @overtvrres, @hvpelesskingdoms, @thcrnsrose, @rebclhearts, @rcyalfamily, @crvnprnc, @filipevargx, @ofdvnamis, @ofconvicticns, @faustinadinaples, @crownglvry, @spiritus-lumen, @eideardtheprince, @dutyngrace ( i think that’s everyone ? )

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[crownglvry-blog]

crvnprnc:

It was always too easy to make himself feel at home in Katharina’s presence. Despite their busy lives, the rare moments they got to share together were ones he greatly cherished, even if their time together was limited. His eyebrows raised slightly at her remark, but the smile on his lips never vanished. “I make lots of demands, Ms Katharina. You should know that by now,” he continued with a wink, before reaching out to take the glass in his own hands. She barely allowed him time to take a sip of the burning liquor before she made her way on top of him. His free hand moved up and down her back over her shirt, as he struggled to set the glass that occupied the other down on the table. The touch of her lips on his skin was like fire, a gentle touch that made all his senses heighten more than he was willing to admit. “I missed you,” he repeated, hand trailing underneath the fabric of her shirt to touch the bare skin of her back, bringing her even more closer to him as he did so. 

she smiled against his skin at his words and finally felt at peace in his arms. nothing about this moment made her stressed or worried. it was just simple. she missed simple. “i missed you too,” katharina mumbled as she lifted her head to rest her forehead against his. she didn’t try and over complicate the weight of their words no matter the meaning that they held. his touch on her skin, the smell of bourbon and his cologne, all of it intoxicating her. she wanted to stay in this moment forever and be at peace for longer than one night at a time. she had more money than god himself, but she knew she couldn’t buy her this feeling no matter how much money she spent. katharina pulled away from him, grabbing the two drinks and handed him his as she took a sip from her own. “now tell me how the riveting life of social media icon richard windsor has been,” the red head chuckled as she ran her free hand to run down his chest and rested her palm on him. they lived very different lives and she knew she would never understand the things he would have to put up with, but she wasn’t opposed to try and understand. 

[crownglvry-blog]

@spiritus-lumen

katharina’s fingers tied her hair in a bun on the top of her head as she propped her feet on the coffee table. her chinese takeaway resting on her lap as she looked over at her sister. she had always tried to spend time with her when she could even if that meant ordering in and eating in her living room. callista was all she had left and no matter how busy she was with work she knew her little sister always took priority. it always felt good to not have to put up a front like she had to at work. she had to be perfect at all times or someone would have even more reasons to scrutinize her. “so how are things going with that boy? what’s his name again?” katharina asked before shoving a piece of tofu in her face. she could barely believe that she sounded more like her mother than her sister, a reality that she never thought she would have to face

[crownglvry-blog]

ofdvnamis:

Before she had arrived, Victor had his mind focused on his own company’s endeavours, followed by swigs from his glass as he reminded himself that he had meant this time to be a time to relax. But now he’d turned his full attention to Katharina –– it was the least he could do for his stressed out friend –– listening as she talked about her executive board. “Of course, of course. Expert opinions and all,” he nodded, knowing full well that the situation wasn’t so simple. “At the very least, you seem to be keeping it together –– which is good. Let them respect you.” He paused, taking a sip of his whisky. “But enough about work. I’ve been told more than a few times that I should have a better balance, take a break, talk about other things. I’m guessing the same goes for you.”

respect. she had craved it so desperately from the people she worked with. no matter how hard she worked she would never receive such a thing. they respected her grandfather, her father, her brothers, but they saw her as a child trying to tackling something that was way over her head. she was fighting a losing battling and was in desperate need of reinforcements. katharina took a deep breath and nodded slightly. “you’re right. i need to relax. we both do. maybe i should go back to austria for a little bit and get away from all this bullshit,” she shrugged and took another long swig from her drink. “fuck. when did we get so old?” katharina chuckled in disbelief. if someone had told her she would be like this when she first started uni she would probably laugh in their face. oh how she changed, but she was still trying to figure out if it was for better or for worse. 

[crownglvry-blog]

crvnprnc:

The feel of her lips on his own never ceased to elate him, despite knowing the fact that the euphoria that followed after spending time with her would not last too long. It would eventually remind him of his failure to mean something to her more than just a friend with benefits. He knew that it would complicate things between her and his sister,and he was more than aware that the responsibilities that Katharina shouldered left her no time for something else that resembled a relationship. He had told himself not to think wishfully, but she made him weak. “We can blame being late on my publicist,” he added with a chuckle, lips meeting hers just briefly before following her into her apartment, “You’re always so kind to me,” he is quick to add at her offer, nodding at the mention of bourbon. And maybe she knew him all too well too. Richard sat down on her couch, motioning for her to join him as she approached with their drinks. “Come here now. I’ve missed you.”

she let out a small chuckle at his words and rolled her eyes at his comment, hoping he didn’t catch his gesture. katharina poured the amber liquid into his glass, her eyes flickering up to meet his own across the room. she couldn’t deny that she could get used to this everyday, or as much as their schedules would permit. but she also knew that waiting for time to free up was less likely than waiting for rain in a year long drought. nothing about the situation made any relationship plausible. “oh so first you’re late and now you’re trying to make demands. you’ve got a lot of nerve richard windsor,” katharina teased as she walked closer to him, both drinks in hand. she handed him his glass and set her own on the end table. she raised an eyebrow at him before climbing on top of him. her legs straddling his waist, her arms snaking around his neck. “but it does have a nice ring to it,” kat smiled as she pressed a soft kiss on his cheek. her lips trailing down to his jawline tenderly, perhaps too tender for her own good and his own good. “say it again,” she hummed against his skin, well aware of the power she held over him. 

[crownglvry-blog]

pandaemonius:

@crownglvry​

there were always some clients that he preferred more than others; clients who didn’t send him into a tailspin or deliberately try to make his job ten times harder than it needed to be. ( really, there were only about three of them, but beggars couldn’t be choosers. no, really. he’d already tried begging out of enough cases, but they just seemed to stick. ) katharina was much better than most of them, though. meetings with her never ended in yelling or headaches. or early drinking. 

“afternoon - afternoon,” demetrios greeted with a wide smile, fussing with his bag as he took a seat. “haven’t kept you waiting too long, have i?”

katharina always knew what her position entailed, the responsibilities that it held even if her board wished for her to only be a figure head for the company. she had more power than any one could even imagine. it had it’s perks, but it also forced to deal with the legal aspects of the company, a field she never had to deal with until now. but her company had hired a team of lawyers to ensure that everything that her family worked for was not done in vain. she smoothed out her skirt as she saw demetrios enter the room, a warm smile spreading across her lips. “no not at all,” she said and folded her hands on the table. she had worked with demetrios in the past and she much preferred him over all the other lawyers that treated her more like a child than a CEO. “now i’m sure your secretary briefed you on why you’re here today. but since my father’s passing we have extended our cancer research department and we’re finally ready for human trials. we’ll need you to draw up some contracts to ensure the safety of the company if god forbid anything were to happen.” 

[crownglvry-blog]

lionheart-of-england:

“Oh thank you!” Evelyn replied with a chuckle as she looked at her friend. Her cheeks flushed slightly due to embarrassment. “I really enjoy what I do. I never really think of vacations.”

“well maybe you should. c’mon ev imagine it. you, me, a beach, nothing to worry about for a week,” she pleaded. katharina knew how busy both of them were, but she also knew that a little break would do both of them some good. “we could go to ibiza or bali and finally get to act our age for once.” 

[crownglvry-blog]

ofaphrcdite:

“Have a feeling all of that would go straight over my head, my attention span wouldn’t last a minute. Though perhaps I’d fare a little better with alcohol, can’t hurt to introduce it.” The Russian half teased. She herself was partial to a dash of whiskey in her coffee for a particularly difficult 10 o’clock meeting. Anastasia rolled her eyes then, making a mental note to have a word with her assistant when she got back to the office, she really didn’t have the time to find another at the moment. “Well I suppose that is the gist of it, but there’s a little more to it. We’re doing a series of covers, of which you will feature on among a few other selected inspirational women. No need to be nervous, just need you to smize and tell us about how important it is for you to be a role model or something equally mushy. Girl power’s big right now.”

“it goes over everyone’s heads to be frank.” she smiled and took another sip. “but this is quite a nice break from having to badger with middle aged men about finances.” she was never made for the political side of the company. if she had the choice she would spend all her day in the nursery, studying all the plants she wanted to. or she would lock herself in the lab with no outside distraction, working to try and make some sort of change to the world. instead she was stuck negotiating deals with the board of trustees and working with her legal team to ensure she wouldn’t spend the rest of her life in prison. “i’ll see what i can do. i never considered myself the model type, but i’m sure your team could work a little magic on me.”