"A 'Talisman of Credibility?' I like that. Maybe I'll wear a tie the next time I decide to convince you of something." He flashed a grin and then laughed about her stubbornness. "That's good. It's better than being a pushover."

He nodded about the idea of the doomsday machine and took a moment to consider the imagery she had provided, making a face that suggested he wasn't fond of that kind of pressure. Eddie shook his head and gave her an admiring smile. "That's admirable. It's good that you can really push yourself like that when you need to."

"You could always work freelance and just get paid for doing sponsorships, if you wanted." He shrugged and then readjusted his stance, planting a hand near her to lean toward her in a subtle gesture of intimacy. "I was a writer for awhile.. That's what I went to school for. When I was depressed and I wasn't doing shit with my life, I ran into an old friend and he turned things around. I realized I could do a hell of a lot more than what I was doing, so I started working harder. I got into trading, then business. Shortly before I got here, I helped to broker one of the largest mergers in America's history."