<div class="floatleft">(http://www.readthesmiths.com/articles/Images/Entertainment/Idol/Katharine.jpg)</div><br/><strong>Character:</strong><br/>Lola<br/><strong>Location:</strong><br/>At the bar<br/><strong>Time of day:</strong><br/>Evening<br/><strong>Tagging:</strong><br/>Desmond<br/><br/><hr/><br/><em>"Desmond King."</em>Lola was sure she had never laid eyes on him before - in her line of business remembering faces was a highly useful skill - but the name sounded vaguely familiar.  She searched her memory, but couldn't find any connection between the man in front of her and the name he gave, nor could she conjure up a face to match the moniker.<br/><br/><em>"And you might be surprised at the amount of silver I have."</em>Lola was about to verbally scoff at the suggestion that Desmond could ever afford to get her into bed, when his large hand reached around her waist and pulled her close to him. Close enough that she could feel the hardness of his body beneath his expensively tailored clothes, and smell the liquor on his breath.  She looked up at him, both incensed that he had the audacity to lay his hands on her the first time they met, and powerfully attracted to the sheer manliness oozing from every pore.<br/><br/>Relief flooded through her when Desmond let her go, and she took a half step backwards as he turned toward the bar, putting some subtle distance between them.  She wasn't afraid of Desmond King, despite his self confidence.  Lola had been through more than most, and more than anyone in this room knew, or could imagine.  However, it had been a very long time since a man had elicited such a sudden reaction in her, and that surprised and scared her.  She learned a long time ago that to show any sort of weakness, especially of the womanly kind, only begot trouble.  And she'd had more than her fair share of that!<br/><br/>Only half listening as Mr King spoke, Lola saw out of the corner of her eye that Babydoll had ventrued onto the saloon floor.  It was somewhat against the woman's better judgment to start the girl working so soon after her arrival, but several recent resignations had left them a little short handed, and the extra lady in the room, even if she was unable to deliver drinks, would keep the men happy.  And they always loved when a new girl started. They clamoured over each other to be the first one to buy her a drink!<br/><br/>It wasn't until Mr King raised his voice and placed a large wad of hundred dollar bills on the bar that Lola's focus came fully back to the big man.  It not only got her attention, but the attention of all those in earshot.  Heads turned toward them in unisen as Desmond announced loudly his intention to buy her out.<br/><br/>Lola stared at him in genuine surprise as he declared he would pay her in excess of ten thousand dollars for her saloon.  That was a lot of money, and Lola's intention was certainly to sell the saloon and retire at some point.  But that point was not now, and she could not see any benefit in working as hard as she did only to line someone else's pockets.  And besides, what was he playing at, making such an offer in front of half the town?  That's not how good business was conducted in her opinion.<br/><br/>All these thoughts flashed through Lola's head almost simultaneously.  Her first instinct was to tell him he could deposit his money where the sun don't shine, but good manners prevented her from suggesting something so crude in front of her customers.  Instead, she smiled sweetly, and joined Desmond at the bar, flicking Hank a look he knew well.  Almost instantly a glass of applejack appeared in front of her, and she lifted it to her lips, taking a small sip of the apple flavoured liquor.<br/><br/>"Well now, Mr King," she started, injecting as many airs and graces into her voice as she could manage.  "That's a very generous offer. One that certainly deserves careful consideration."  Lola was choosing her words carefully.  Something told her it would be to her detriment to get Desmond King off side at the their very first meeting.  "However, I can't imagine what would give you the impression that my establishment was up for sale."  She took another sip of her drink, watching the newcomer for any visible reactions to her words.  "Truth is, I'm very happy with the way things are now.  Why would I want that to change?"<br/><br/>Despite being very money focused, Lola believed deep down that money wasn't everything.  Mr King would need to offer her an incentive over and above the cash he just laid out on the bar if he wanted her to even begin to consider selling the saloon.