Card Apprentice Daily Log

Date- 12 Oct 22XX

Time- 18:03

Location- Central Region, Capital city, Duskborn Mansion

“How about this, the buy-in amount for your husband to become a partner will be the same as when he starts working with us but that will only be valid for the next two years. If he is not able to come up with the agreed-upon buy-in amount within the next two years then the buy-in amount he will have to pay be increased to the market valve. This two years grace period is all I can give him, but this is the last time you can use this comrade card,” Even though Sansa’s father proposed this he did not know how he will explain this to the other partners and persuade them.

“Increase it to three years and we have a deal,” Ellen’s mother bargained to make the most of Sansa’s father’s comrade sentiment, she did not care about how he will get the others to agree with these terms as it was not her problem.

“Three years is too much, the other partners will never agree to it,” Sansa’s father spoke the truth, he and his partners built the firm with their blood and sweat, and they would not just hand a part of it to anybody no matter how much value their presence added to the firm. It was no longer about thinking realistically. Most of the current partners have earned their way in, the seer envy that would surface because of such favorable terms offered to Ellen’s father, alone was enough to engulf what they had built.

When it comes to money one has to be realistic but you would be making a big mistake if you were to take out human emotions entirely out of the equation. For good or worse, human emotion can create miracles and disasters alike, so a person needs to know which emotions are to be celebrated and which to be guarded against.

Sansa’s father knows that Ellen’s father’s skill set and reputation in this field would work wonders for their market value but the firm no longer belonged just him alone, though he had the bigger voice, it was not the same as a decade ago when he had founded the firm.

“Fine, but you have to give me your word that you will keep fair so that my husband does stand a chance to gather such a huge amount of money in the limited time,” Ellen’s mother was not born yesterday, she knew money makes people do unthinkable things. Yes, her husband was skilled but if the people who were to stand behind him and support him were to work against him then no matter how skilled he was it would be impossible for him to gather the agreed buy-in amount in the given time limit despite the favorable contract offered to him.

“Isn’t that given?” Sansa’s father answered with great confidence. Even though he might have left the army but as a commander, he has and will continue to look out for and help his men with everything in his power.

“No, that is not enough you have to promise me with the world as a witness,” Ellen’s mother knew Sansa’s father was a good man, but the same could not be said for other partners who would rather prefer her husband working for them than working with them.

“…” Sansa’s father did not immediately answer because he knew the gravity of making a promise in presence of the world. Yes, he valued Ellen’s father as a comrade and for his skill set but this was more than what he bargained for. Then framing his will, he looked into his comrade’s wife’s eyes and said, “I can’t make that promise but you have my word that I will make sure that your husband has a fair chance at becoming a partner within the next two years and will not be targeted by other partners.”

“…” Hearing Sansa’s father not make the promise Ellen’s mother was disappointed but she knew without the risk involved the offer made by Sansa’s father would be too good to be true so after contemplating it for a while she nodded and confidently said, ” we have a deal, give me a weak, he will contact you for the contract.”

“Your daughter’s sake, I hope you can pull this off,” Sansa’s father did not have total confidence in Ellen’s mother that she would be able to convince her husband to go against the Duskborn family rules, after all, he knew his comrade’s stubbornness better.

“Don’t worry, leave it to me,” Ellen’s mother assured Sansa’s gather and then handed the cart of refreshments to him she said, “Could you help me distribute the refreshments to the kids?”

“Huh? Sure,” Sansa’s father did not expect this but soon got on board as this way he could check on his little angel and the little demon bothering her without coming off as eavesdropping pedophilia.

“Thank you, I will leave it in your care,” Ellen’s mother said politely as she turned to leave.

“Wait, aren’t you coming in? Who is going to look after the kids, if you leave? Wait, who is watching the kids right now?” Sansa’s father asked feeling Ellen’s mother was irresponsible.

“They are kids, the creativity takes shape in absence of adults,” Ellen’s mother replied as she turned down the lobby without a care for what Sansa’s father thought of her and her parenting style.

“So nobody,” Sansa’s father mumbled before preparing to walk into a hall field with kids. To be frank, Sansa’s father except for his little angel hated every other kid on the planet. He thought he would understand what appeal others find in kids to like them once he had one of his own but for some weird reason, his dislike for other’s kids increased after the birth of his little angel.

Taking in a deep breath Sansa’s father opened the door of the hall, and pushed in the refreshment cart yelling, “Who wants candies?”

Seeing an unknown man enter the hall, yelling, ‘who wants candies?’ the kids went silent recalling their parent’s warning.