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Several Days Later.
Janelle has spent her time working hard, arriving first thing in the morning via the elevator, entering the meager office she set up herself, and sorting through Liseth's mail, her computer messages, viewing her reports, and getting everything that needs to be brought to the dragon's attention together for their afternoon meeting.
Today was particularly uneventful, thankfully, and finally feeling comfortable with the pace of things, she can finally start on getting together the next steps.
She holds the legal pad she took this morning's notes on in front of as she checks off each item, "And that's the last of the messages that were marked urgent. I can respond to them however you see fit of course... but now that I've gotten used to the incoming messages, I'd like to start getting things sorted into your system."
Liseth'erend'oreana lands onto the balcony with the usual lack of subtlety, having done her rounds at the few places she nominally oversees. Though everyone but those in charge seem to vanish right after she lands, she's not sure what to think about that.
She snorts in mild annoyance at some birds that have taken to perching on her balcony, scaring them off, then sighs and attempts to gather herself. One more meeting for today, and at least it's just with one person.
As she listens to Janelle very thoroughly but intelligently explaining the notes to her, at least her mood seems to slightly improve. Until that last question.
"My... system?"
Janelle glances up from her notes, "Well, I'm getting a small stack of things at my desk now, and most of it can wait to be filed until the invoices clear, but other things are just receipts or investment reports. Those can be filed with the rest wherever you keep them."
Liseth pauses for a considerable moment.
"I... I do not really keep a system. As such. I expect... people who work for me, keep their own systems in check."
Janelle stares at Liseth almost in disbelief. "Meaning... the companies systems, I hope? With some level of accountability in place? But what about your own finances?"
Liseth considers, then glances towards another part of the penthouse. "It's... covered."
The dragon has a literal bank vault of a hoard in one of the rooms, the one behind a safety door too heavy for a human to open. She considers it plenty.
Janelle hums. "Then... you will not object if I order some filing cabinets and create a more... friendly method for myself to handle, yes? I'm sure you can keep perfect track of all incoming and outgoing income, but these are numerical figures that could literally pay my rent for years being thrown around here. I want to be sure I don't miss a single cent."
Liseth pauses, then eventually nods. "I think... Yes. You have my go-ahead for this. If nothing else, I am curious what you might be able to accomplish."
She then leans over Janelle, purposefully being more menacing: "However, I warn you. We have only known for a short time, and if you cheat on me this, I will know, and I will hunt you down."
Janelle, having no intention of cheating her employer, meets Liseth's glare without fear, but instead straightening her posture, and felt her determination fill her as if rising to Liseth's challenge, "I will not disappoint you, Ma'am."
Liseth blinks, clearly taken aback. "Well. I have to respect that."
Her tail swishes behind her, and she then nods after just a moment of quiet thinking. "Come. I will show you something."
Janelle takes her turn to blink in surprise, then takes a deep breath through the adrenaline rush that is coursing through her and nods, "As you wish, of course."
She stows her notepad and follows after the Dragon.
Liseth walks slowly towards the back of the huge apartment, turning at couple of hallways before coming to a clearly less-used part of it near the top. A set of closed wooden doors, although much less fancy than those in her bedroom-lair. Notably, the doors lack any kind of handles.
She rests her paw on a wooden statue of a dragon next to the doorway and turns to Janelle: "What I will show to you, I am entrusting only to you. Do not speak to anyone of this."
Janelle follows at her usual brisk pace to keep up with the massive dragon, stopping when Liseth does. She stares at the door, and at Liseth's words she straightens once again and nods. "You have my word."
Liseth'erend'oreana nods slowly, then twists the tail of the dragon statue, causing the doors to open in front of Janelle.
Behind the door is a normal looking room... Except for the wall-sized safety vault made into the wall, seemingly straight out of a comic book. A complicated combination lock surrounded by a beautiful and almost surreal set of murals painted onto the door, making it look more like a piece of art than a vault.
"Behind that door is where I keep most of my 'system' of finances. Only I know the combination, and the door is too heavy for a human." She turns to Janelle: "I tell you this, because you'd wonder about it eventually anyway, and curiosity is best sated beforehand."
Janelle stares, impressed at the measures in place, which in fact makes her feel a fair bit more at ease after her fears of Liseth's apparent lack of records, "Thank goodness. I thought that perhaps you were concealing your means of record keeping... but I am glad you are taking this more seriously than even I had assumed."
Liseth: "It is not exactly a secret that most dragons have come to considerable amount of wealth." Liseth hums: "I have to be careful, even if I rarely entertain anyone and don't allow anyone up here if I do."
Janelle nods, "No, it is not exactly secret, not with business deals you conduct regularly. My concern is with knowing where it all goes, and that what is due to you is properly paid. Filing. Paperwork. Accountability. Do you know the weight of your hoard to the coin? Would you know if someone stole from it?"
She pauses, the more important question in her case, "Would you know if someone were cheating you on paper?"
Liseth pauses, the question taking her by surprise. "... You continue to impress me. Most at this point have asked to see the inside of the vault."
The dragon's tail swishes slightly: "To answer your question... Probably. I..." She actually hesitates: "... Maybe not."
Janelle bows her head to acknowledge the praise, "I don't need to see. What's inside the vault is pointless if you don't have records. Valuable, yes. Unless you want me to count it all out so you have an exact statement of worth." She removes her notepad once again, waving it like a weapon, "This is what I want to do for you. I want to build you a record system that will be as impregnable as that vault is."
She looks back to her meager office, "You have practically given me carte blanche with 'the family money' to do what I please with that office. You get invoice requests that I can only assume you once paid without a thought. Humans are easily cowed in person, but there are always those who seek loopholes or fast money. This isn't to say they are all out to steal from you, but many see the massive influx of wealth as an opportunity to be certain."
She pauses to take a breath, and to open herself up a little to her employer, "Let us be fair, ma'am, when you really get right down to it, this includes me. Though I hope to offer you as much in return as I intend to take."
Liseth sits down, blinking. "Well. I can certainly see why your presence might be useful for me. You have done your homework, for certain."
Janelle lets out a sigh that turns into a faint laugh, "Thank you... Forgive the speech, if you will. I feel like my whole life led me to this moment, and to this job. Besides, what child didn't dream of serving a powerful, beautiful dragon?" She bows her head to Liseth again.
Liseth pauses, then chuckles a soft rumble. "Well, then... I guess you are in the right place."
She mentally pauses at the word 'beautiful', but her expression remains mostly neutral.
"... Do tell me if there is anything you need, then, or you think I should know."
Janelle nods, "I'll... get back to work then. I have a lot to do, but I shall reach out if any need arises, and continue to keep you updated during our meetings."
Liseth nods, satisfied (if also mildly confused). "You know where to find me."
With that, she turns around and downstairs, heading to fill herself a short bath, probably just rest of the evening or so.
Janelle bows professionally and calls out "Yes, ma'am!" before heading back to her office, invigorated and excited to be doing something that she hopes will indeed be impactful to Liseth'erend'oreana. There is a spark of desire to prove herself.
...and just a bit of a spark to impress the dragon again as well.
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