<div class="floatright">(http://www.elfpack.com/stuff/blonde-girl.jpg?jpg=y)</div>Lace's eyes widened at the figures being thrown around.<em>Oh, we should grab this job fast.  I'm used to risking my neck for half that!</em><br/><br/>But the other's didn't seem satisfied and pushed the offer quickly.  Lace's eyes grew wider as she worried what they were getting into if Miss Johnson was willing to even entertain the kind of figures they were suggesting.<br/><br/>Akiko stepped in with similarly outrageous counteroffer but settled into professional negotiation.  Lace found herself smiling, leaning back in her chair, and reaching out to rest her own hand's on Sonya's and Billy's thighs.<br/><br/>Miss Johnson began with an amused chuckle with a sweet voice that offered sweetness but implied that she was indulging an amateur.  "My dear, what sort of fool do you take me for that I might offer a blank check for your ammunition fund.  I offered the 3,000 for precisely that reason.  The people I represent cannot be bothered to pay any of us for anything less than results."<br/><br/>Lace watched as Akiko handled the barb like the consummate professional she was and the two settled down to a serious round of hagling.  Miss Johnson was adamant that they would get nothing more than 3,000 and a case of bacon up front, but was prepared to negotiate on the results.  By the time their dinners were ready, Akiko had scored them a 15 percent increase on the 7,000, for 9,150.