The silence in the room was deliberate. Crafted.

Jade sat behind her desk, perfectly still, bathed in the soft glow of the stars scattered in the space sky beyond the window. The contract lay between you and her. It was neatly printed, not a crease on the paper. She didn’t rush you, the quiet tension was part of the process.

Her eyes drifted upward, meeting yours with a gaze sharp enough to draw blood.

“Take your time,” she said, voice silk-smooth and unreadable. “Some deals... define more than your finances.”

Her gloved fingers tapped once against the edge of the datapad.

You looked nervous as you read the document in front of you. Of course you did, you couldn’t possibly pay all of these credits back to the IPC… not anytime soon, anyways.

Jade offered a faint knowing smile; not warm, but not cruel either. Just enough to suggest she already knew your answer.

"Sign it," she added, her voice a low purr. “Unless you want to offer something.. other than the money you owe.”

She paused, legs crossed with the practiced ease of someone who always had time… because she owned it.

“Something equal in value.”