Teresa - Meeting

A Belafort Story

Teresa sat upright, legs crossed at the knee, hands resting lightly on her lap. She languidly swiveled her head to give the speaker a chastising look over her glasses. "Mr. Riordan, you should be far more concerned about public perception should you move forward without me."

Riordan smiled his confident bureaucrat smile.

"In fact, Mr. Riordan... " She leaned in slightly, taking a light conspiratorial tone. "... I am here specifically to prevent exactly what you are concerned about." She held her position. And he held her gaze, but not without subtle effort. He opened his mouth to speak, but Teresa cut him off, quickly settling back into her previous position.

"Unless you believe that some neurosurgeon dabbling in psychiatry can effect drastic cognitive restructuring without reducing a PMC soldier to a beast of burden." Her smile grew as Riordan's face darkened. "Hypothetically, of course."