“So you keep telling me,” Avarice spoke into his glass as he took a long drink of scotch, sitting in his favorite leather chair. “but here we are, talking business. I would like you to meet my associate, Valerian Nova.”

“I’ve heard so much about you,” Valerian extended his hand to Phlox. 

New money, Phlox thought as he shook his hand, he could tell from the suit from the current “in” designer and the way he combed his hair in an attempt to make him look older and more experienced than he was. What really gave him away was the air around him. He didn’t exude the same type of confidence that a man that grew up in this world such as Avarice did. “Pleasure to me you.”

“Valerian here,” Avarice motioned his glass in Valerian’s direction to accentuate his point, “is going to change how the world exchanges information.“

“You speak too highly of me. There are still many kinks to work out.”