Okay this is the new story I was telling everyone about. I hope you all enjoy it. It is different from the normal fanfic I write but its been bouncing around in my head for two years off and on. Mind you the title is self-explanatory. Just means everything is not stamped in concrete nor in strictly black and white. There are grey areas that are in everything.
Read and review!
It's a grey, grey world ch.1
She checked off the things she had to get done at the beginning of the day with her favorite color pen, blue, as she did the legal paper work at her company. It was like any other day for Usagi Mizuno. Adopted by her late father's step brother whom kept his original last name she was sisters with her best friend Ami. Though the two were actually cousins and could easily be told apart the two had one another's backs.
But Usagi was very family oriented. She loved her adopted father very much and regardless of him being her uncle as well she always called Hatori – san, Hatori – papa. She would once a month go and visit him at work for lunch break. Something they did traditionally as a family since her own parents died. Her mother via a drunk driver when she was eight and her father when she was ten of cancer.
So every month she would go to see him at work as a bonding process they had started when she was fifteen. Her high school at that time being only a few blocks from his office. Now her work was granted a few miles but with the bus she took she got there in plenty of time for a nice little luncheon. This month however would be different. She didn't know why but she knew it would be, "What is up?" she mused, she just couldn't figure the feeling out.
Her co-worker Minako responded, "With what?" Usagi shook her head, "I've got a strange feeling about today. Something's gonna happen but I can't figure it out. Maybe Hatori – papa can help." She looked at the clock, "I'm leaving for lunch. Can you text me when I need to be back ten minutes prior?" She asked her blonde friend. "Hai. You do have a bad sense of timing when visiting your father." Minako murmured, offer her an amused smile. Usagi nodded knowing she was right.
Clocking out she took the bus to Hatori's work place in record time. Getting to the building at one o'clock sharp. She knew she had a 30 second elevator ride before they got to the nearby bistro in five minutes. Only having a 30 minute lunch break she learned back when she first got the job how to schedule her time. She just needed the reminder from Minako to get back. "Mr. Mizuno will see you now."
The receptionist had called ahead for her though she already knew the sweet young blonde. It was well known for Mr. Mizuno to have lunch with his blonde daughter once a month. Whereas with Ami his daughter by birth they had a regularly scheduled dinner once a month. It started out to avoid any conflicts between them and turned into a monthly tradition. Getting up to the eight floor Usagi walked in to find Hatori speaking with a few associates.
More than likely just getting out of a meeting. Standing where she was for a moment she knew the elevator door behind her would ding as it closed signaling its arrived guest was safely there, "Ah Usagi – chan. Come here." She went forward as Hatori invited her in. She tried to avoid interrupting any business that he had knowing he was a very busy man. "Gentleman this is my daughter Mizuno, Usagi." she bowed out of politeness to the men there. But one man eyes seemed to linger a little bit longer.
"Pleasure." He remarked. The peculiar sensation she had earlier came back again. Being courteous she replied, "Arigato. Nice to meet you gentleman." The man spoke to her father, "Why have you not brought her here before?" she had to prevent herself from arching a brow at the question and bit her lip to avoid automatically talking about their lunch events. She didn't want these men to see her father as weak for caring for his daughters the way he did. After his brother's death he made sure to take his responsibility as a father more seriously.
He stopped going on multiple business trips in favor of staying in one city with his family. His wife was only out of town on 'pro-Bono' work. "She comes to see me here once a month for our annual luncheon – which we should be getting to." he looked to his phone. "I see. Perhaps we could join you, I am famished myself." The man asked in a sense of 'Are you going to refuse a top boss to lunch?' Hatori wanted to protest she knew but saw the other business men and their 'let us come with' looks. Her father gave in.
"Hai, the more the merrier right." Usagi smiled out of politeness but secretly wished it was just only them. Once at the bistro she noticed that the gentleman who looked to her earlier was still giving her subtle, side long looks. Trying to ignore it politely she tried to engage everyone equally in conversation only to find herself looped into a business meeting between them all. Looking at the clock she got the text from Minako.
"Gomen, but I have to get back to work." her father knew he was at fault for not trying to argue but she understood and let it go. "I'll see you at home papa." She didn't dare give him a kiss on the cheek or a hug to avoid him looking sentimental or unprofessional in front of his bosses, "Till next time." the man remarked. She nodded before walking towards the bus station. Unknown to her the business man had seen everything he felt he needed to in order for the next statement to be made. He was after all a man of means.
"Mizuno – san." He spoke up, "Hai?" Hatori replied, "You have a beautiful daughter." Hatori smiled at the compliment. Usagi was a mirror image of her late mother Serenity. Only Serenity had more silver tones to her hair than Usagi does. "I see from your desktop photo's that she's easier on the eyes than the blunette one is." His comment had the other gentleman there pursing their lips in distain for the negativity but otherwise stated nothing.
The beloved father knew he had to choose his words carefully. He was not a fan of either of his girls being made fun of in any sense, "While I understand that Usagi – chan is a beautiful girl my Ami – chan has her own beauty." The man shrugged, not bothering to act as if the words made a difference to him. "I don't think you understand what I'm getting at Mr. Mizuno." He smiled indulgently, not willing to allow Hatori to play obtuse to his intentions. The father of two frowned feeling like he was in the dark, "What do you mean?"
"I explained earlier that I come from a multi-billion dollar company. The merge and partnership that your firm is looking for could use my help to keep you out of shark waters for at least 10 years to come." Hatori's bosses knew the truth of it but said nothing. "I right now am at a point where online or speed dating is ridiculous. I don't have time to go out and try to find a potential match from someone whose not a, to be a frank a 'money grubbing whore'."
Everyone at the table was uncomfortable with his wording but said nothing, "What are you asking?" Hatori asked. "It's quite simple. I want to test the waters with Usagi – chan. A date tonight. If she fits my quota for what I'm looking for then I'll propose a 'marriage' to merge the companies. If she does not then we will look into other strategies. But honestly I have no major interests in merging with a company ready to file for bankruptcy."
The bosses looked to him in shock while Mizuno darted a look to his bosses. He'd heard it himself via the secretaries up top sworn to secrecy but he'd hoped it was merely speculation. "I research everything gentleman." He stated disgruntled.
"So if she's a good date we will merge with the company's through a marriage of sorts?" one boss asked, "Not just that. IF she fills my 'quota' she will be giving a contract to sign as well. I would require a pre-nup of course."
Hatori spoke up, grasping for a means of escape for his daughter. He wanted her to marry alright but for the right reasons. He'd drilled it into both girls heads from young girls to the young women they were today. "What if she's seeing someone?" he looked pointedly at him, "I did a study of her body language. Everything about her reads single. But if she is seeing someone I will accept it with proof." He offered, with a terse nod.
The gentleman were not to happy but accepted his terms. "There is one last thing." he said. "Hai, Mr. Lemont?" Hatori asked, "I don't want her to know of this talk. I want her to be there as herself and not out trying to impress me. If I feel she has in anyway been told it's done with. I'll send the time, date to you via email. A limo will pick her up at her place when it's texted to me. Are we clear?" With his business concluded to his satisfaction, he merely rose from the table, passing each man a curt nod before taking his leave.
They nodded as he walked out, "I think I speak for all of us at this table when I saw 'we're fucked'." Hatori's one boss said. He was grumbling as his father had been the founding CEO of the company. "As much as I hate to admit to it your right." They were beyond caring about looks or subtlety now as no underlings were around to hear them speak. "Besides Mizuno your Usagi – chan is sweet but she's to sweet for him."
Hatori sighed knowing the truth of it but also knowing of Usagi's temper. It was fierce when she felt slighted, "How am I supposed to get her to go out with him?" He lamented. They didn't know how to respond, "Can't tell you. I don't have any kids." One said, "No girls. Just boys and their getting out of boarding school." The other said, with a shrug. "That helps." He tried hard to keep the sarcasm from his voice as he tried to come up with a solution.
"She will not like this." His bosses left shortly after as he contemplated what to do. He knew his daughter put up a sweet, polite pretense in front of them all due to his work but could she keep it up if Diamond Lemont came in and started in on her? If he tried to pry into her personal life he knew she'd clam up. She was a private person when it came to her love life. The few boyfriends she'd had over the years weren't to much and didn't last that long.
Later on that night he was a near wreck trying to figure it out. Ami was in her room reading another book while Usagi, he found placing a massager on her shoulders. Sitting at a computer half the day without the right support could tend to cause back aches. "Usagi – chan…" he came in after knocking, "Hai?" she asked. "Could you do me a huge favor? One time only and afterwards regardless, I'll take you to your favorite ice cream shop." Even at the age of 20 Usagi had a sweet tooth.
"Wow it must be something big for you to offer my favorite ice cream." She stopped the massager. "IneedyoutogooutwithLemont!" he rushed out. Usagi quirked an amused brow then laughed, "Very funny Hatori - papa. I just swore I heard you say… - your serious?!" she near snapped in shock as he huffed, "He wants to get to know you better. He liked you today. It would mean the world to me and my bosses. Just humor him." Hatori practically begged.
"I…papa he wasn't really my type. And I was only being polite trust me there were some things talked about that I had a word or two on but didn't." he nodded, "Hai, I know. Just one dinner date." She sighed, "Your lucky I love you Hatori – papa." She hugged him. "I'll send you the information on where and when." While she was in the transition to move out of her father's place he had been avidly trying to keep both daughters there for a little while longer.
He loved both girls but until his wife returned back from her overseas 'doctors aid' in a month he was a little reluctant to aid the girls in moving out. Or in finding a place just yet. He just needed to still feel his wife's presence in the form of their loving daughters even if one wasn't his by his own blood. Going downstairs he took out the brandy and poured himself a finger before taking a small sip, "Kami please let the evening for them go well."
But things would not go as planned. Usagi were very polite and courteous to Diamond but otherwise showed no signs of wanting anything more. He if anything seemed to be examining her from the time when she stepped outside the house to the moment she left his presence. As if judging everything about her. For Usagi she felt as if under a microscope. She didn't like it. It was as if she was his specimen to dissect.
She tried her hardest to engage him into conversation, politely of course. It wasn't until his phone went off that he looked to it immediately. "No I'm not busy what's going on?" was his response. She balked in shock and sat back in her seat. Excuse me? He not only had his phone out but even pulled out a tablet from his coat pocket. "Didn't realize they made such expensive coats with that big of pockets." Her comment went unnoticed as he began to work on some diagram for work.
Looking around she found that there were several couples enjoying one another's times. She may not have been interested in the guy but he could at least be polite when on a dinner that that HE insisted she come on. "What was the point of me being here?" she grumbled. When the waitress came by he waived her off, "Could you please I'm trying to get some work done." The waitress put her hands up in warding him off and walked away. Usagi was digging her nails into her palm to resist yelling at him for his rudeness.
"Be calm….be calm…" she tried to talk to herself to calm herself down. "Mr. Lemont…" she tried. No words just a waive of his hands to indicate he was busy, "No its fine this is important." He looked to her as if she was a nuisance. "I don't need this." Getting up she decided on getting some fresh air but decided instead on going to the bathroom. Finding the waitress on the way she stopped her, "Gomen, for his rudeness, but for our table can I get a chicken salad and a wine spritzer?" the waitress nodded as she walked away.
She went into the bathroom and splashed some water over her face to cool her temper down, "Maybe he'll be done by the time I get back." She tried. With nothing much to fix up she walked back outside to find his eyes hadn't left his tablet and his ear was still on his phone, "Does he even know I left the table?" she questioned in curious frustration, walking back. True to form he didn't even notice.
"I could have done this at home with more important things to do." She stated having had enough. He barely passed her a glance as the call was finally ended on his end, "Business I have found that trumps many things in life." She resisted the urge to snort, "Yeah I see that. You invite me out here, insist on it only to conduct business for…" she looks to her own phone, "Oh I say 85% of it." The waitress came by and gave Usagi her order, "Where is my order? Did you not tell Chef Mador I was here?"
She looked back and forth and even Usagi was clueless, "Gomen I - " Usagi stood up, "Don't apologize, my 'date' tonight is just being exceptionally rude and needs some lessons in manners." The waitress thanked her and walked away, "And what was that?" he demanded. By this point Usagi had had enough. She dabbled a bit into waiting on tables when she was younger and that was just rude of him.
She felt for the girl and had been unable to hold her tongue. Her statement of, "Considering how rude you were to not only me but her as well I don't think she should have to apologize to you." He balked at her, "Yeah. You invite me out here for a date, don't pay me any attention, even the simple common courtesy of small talk or acknowledging I've been here this whole time waiting on you." She quirked her head to the side, "Or is it that your so used to being waited on that the slightest bit that you wait on someone else is a foreign concept."
Not bothering to wait for a response she grabbed her purse, "And FYI, she did come out and try to take your order but you 'waived' her off as if she was interrupting your business while you are on a 'date' with me. You really need to learn how to not be so focused on business that you loose out on other important events in life. But you know what just do me a favor, drop the idea of you and me cause there is none."
She had nearly stomped out and placed her bills for the food gently on the table before excusing herself. She refused to leave out of there with him under the impression that since he bought her anything she owed him anything. She didn't care that the restaurant was a third of her paycheck, her pride was worth more. Plus in that moment she felt higher and better than him. However she failed to see his growing smirk at her words as she left.
As she walked out of the expensive restaurant she avoided the limo and after walking around the corner she pulled her phone out and called Minako for a ride home. It took 20 minutes and ducking Diamond once he left to get Minako around the corner where she was. Getting into the car she indicated where to go for home to avoid the limo spotting her. She didn't want Diamond inside to spot her inside of Minako's car.
Once away from the restaurant she explained what happened through the dinner to Minako. Her blonde friend cheered her on after her 15 minute overview and gave her a 'power to the working class girl' high five. When they got to her father's place she felt the weight of her words on her shoulders. "Crap. Hatori - papa still needs to deal with him. Maybe I shouldn't have said what I did and kept my mouth shut." Usagi stated.
Now she sighed as she thought of how her words might affect her father's work. "He was just so irritating and had a higher than thou attitude of superiority. I just...!" She defended. "Usagi – chan he's a grown man. Both of them are. This isn't two kids fighting on the playground. They'll be adults about it. So you let your temper get the better of you. Be glad it was you and not me." Minako began. "That wine would have been in his face for his comment." Usagi laughed and bid Minako a good night.
Going into the house she slipped her moderately sized heels off and found her father in front of the t.v. his attention now on her. "So how was the night?" he asked when she got inside. "It was an experience…that won't be happening again." she said the last part specifically so that he wouldn't think he'd be able to talk her into it again, "Hai. Arigato, Usagi – chan. You really did me a favor tonight." He said. She went to her room for the night.
The next day at work Hatori felt like he was sweating bullets when he went into the meeting room. It was only Diamond Lemont in there at the moment. Sipping on a cup of coffee as the secretary left a coffee pot with several mugs next to it on a small table against the door. Hatori already had his own preferred coffee from home so he never bothered. "I must say your daughter was a charming person." Diamond told him.
"Arigato." Hatori said. His bosses came in before shutting the door. "So how did things go?" the question was asked after a few moments of silence. "I like her. Plain and simple. And judging from our conversation last night I would even say she's not afraid to speak her mind. I'd like to test her out in a social setting. At my place tomorrow I'm having a party. She's to be there. If I like how she is consider this merger in effect. If not…" he left it in the wind.
"I…I think she might be busy that night." Hatori tried, "She'll be free that night." Diamond politely insisted. His tone indicating not to argue. But the bosses, sans Diamond, knew Mizuno was no pushover especially when it came to his daughters, "Gomen, sir, but I cannot make her go out. She's expressed no interest in seeing anyone right now. Busy with work." Hatori tried, "She has a nine to five, yes?" Diamond asked. "Hai." He responded.
"Then I don't see the problem. She has no extracurricular activities that would take her away so unless she declines my offer herself then I will have to insist she comes." Hatori saw the warning in his eyes. "I will present the offer to her but like I said I cannot force her to go." Diamond only smiled, "I'm sure you'll figure it out." Diamond merely smiled before going onto the next subject matter. "Oh by the way, I'll leave a dress for her to wear. It's a high profile event." Hatori had no choice but to accept it.
Usagi was now pacing her room as Hatori told her what happened. "Okay so when he gets here I will politely decline." But things are never that easy. Diamond arrived there even as Usagi and Ami were in the living room watching a movie. Hatori let him in as a curtesy. Usagi saw him but didn't let his presence affect her. "Mr. Lemont, pleasure to see you. I see my father has given you my response of deciding not to go." Diamond caught the hint, "Hai, he has. However I have a counter offer for you." He indicated to follow him outside.
She acknowledged and walked outside with him. Closing the outside door he asked her, "What will it take to get you to go?" she folded her arms across her chest. "What will it take to get you to let it go?" she answered. He smiled, "You may act sweet but you're a viper aren't you?" she merely smiled, "Let's try this again…" he got into her personal space. She straightened up and refused to back down or move.
As an act of intimidation he placed his hand on her left side, against the door. She merely smiled at it. She wasn't easily intimidated. In her line of work she had clients try to get in her face verbally all the time. This was a piece of cake to her. Not to mention she had no reason to pull back on her words. She didn't work for him. Plus he couldn't fault her father for her words. She was a grown woman. Despite her earlier thoughts.
"I need a lovely piece of arm candy tonight, someone whose not a rich stuck up snob. Someone who can go for longer than 15 minutes without looking at her own reflection, and someone who knows what a 'Bicentennial' is." The last part was nearly snipped out recalling a date of his that thought it was a movie reference. She made him look ridiculous at the event and made her herself out to be a true 'two brain-celled organism'. The sex was her own redeeming feature and the next morning he had ensured she knew she wouldn't be staying.
"The company has been around for two hundred years?" She asked without thought. "Not your fathers but mine has. A family run company for that long. I'm the last heir to run it…well until I find a woman who can provide an heir for me and my empire." The way he looked at her had her arching a brow before laughing, "You might as well stop right there. I'm not interested in being your 'baby momma'. I'm not some debutant that's looking for an island sized ring nor someone who's going to make moon eyes at you. Not my style."
He smiled, "Good." She internally stumbled at that, "Excuse me?" she asked, "Scratch that good but there is one thing you would get regardless. The island sized diamond ring." She looked at him with bored eyes. "Nice try. But all you're looking for is a preening rich bimbette and I don't fit your profile. At my job I actually get my hands dirty. I like to hang out with my friends, I like to take martial arts and I like to be with my family. And if I were to have my own family someday it would be with someone I love."
He smiled, "I love it." She frowned, "Listen if you go out tonight with me, I will ensure your father is given a very nice bonus at work. Christmas is in a few months right?" she lowered her gaze. She knew he was bribing her. "So he gets that and you get me out for an event for the night. Nothing else?!" she demanded. "Only if you want to." she rolled her eyes, "Give me ten." She went back inside as he smirked, "Another win." he whispered smugly.
He pushed the dress box he had in the other hand into her arms for her to put on. She took it but went inside. When she came back out it wasn't in his dress. She handed it to him, "If I'm going to this thing it will be as me, not some eye candy on your arm." It was a stunning black dress. It had barely two inch straps held it up with her chest held in a form fitting built in bra in a cross design that highlighted her form. The length of it went to just above her knees. He was sure if she sat down another five inches would rise up due to the fabric's bunching design.
That paired with four inch zip up pumps that were a color shading of blue that made the dress pop. Diamond was wondering why he shouldn't make the journey to the party extra long…oh right it was at his house…where he had multiple rooms. Shaking his head of those thoughts he reminded himself of his work. This was all business for them and he would keep it that way. It was easy for him to now look at it from a professional stand point.
Work was his life. She was a means to an end just as his own mother was to his father. Now with that in mind he held no problem with his next words, "It'll do." Usagi smirked as she walked with him to his car. Having only tossed a comb through her long hair and a borrowed blue hair clip from Ami she completed her look. With her phone tucked away in the small purse next the necessary credit cards she was riding in style to his place.
"So this is where tax payer's money goes to." she grumbled at seeing the estate. "It's a nice little home for me. But it is nice when I have the help around. They keep it lively. Maybe if I can get the right woman it can get noisier." She looked to him, "You can do that yourself." She got out of the car before he could get out. Walking up she didn't care she had people looking at her. She knew she had lookers. Some in disgust over her choice of her short dress and others in curiosity on who she was.
When Diamond came around her he escorted her inside. She was in awe of the size of the place, "Okay wow!" she had to admit. She avoided touching anything as it looked to expensive. He greeted her to a few people and in no time she put on her charm. Finding that maybe if she made him look more charming he could get more business and therefore a possible bigger bonus for her father.
Her sales structure worked over the higher class of gentleman and ladies. She somehow knew exactly what to say. A few times Diamond came in and she made him out to be a great man when internally she felt she was to sickeningly sweet. But everyone ate it up. She even went as far as picking things out on the ladies to compliment and open up conversations so that when Diamond came in the lady would introduce her husband.
On one particular case she got an oil heiress to speak with Diamond about expanding interests in foreign markets. "I don't know how you do it." Diamond stated, truly stunned. The oil heiress always gave off an air of being unapproachable. "You have to find something to compliment them about. Plus you have to be sincere. If you're not then they will see it and hear it. If they feel it's fake they'll kindly walk away." He nodded. "Your father's bonus has been approved." She smiled, "Arigato."
"Now for my proposal." She looked to him now, "Say what?"
"I could use a woman of your skills at these events." She smiled politely, "So what you want me to attend all of these events with you? That's a LOT of bonus money." She giggled as if knowing he wouldn't do such a thing. "Your right…but what about a company move so drastic it would keep your fathers company out of bankruptcy?" Her smile falter, as she turned serious.
"What are you talking about?" She asked, her tone showing a hint of worry. "Your fathers company is months away from going bankrupt. Everyone there will be without jobs within a year. Without my company coming in and merging with it." She looked to him, "And you're going to base this off of me?" she kept up a smile on her face but her voice was clearly with some distain. "Not entirely. This event tonight provide to me that you can aid in making me money." She felt her stomach turning.
"This was a test." She stated. "Hai." She almost dropped her smile, her throat starting to constrict as she grabbed a glass of wine from a passing waiter and gulped it down. "You tricked me." she told him with distain. "Nothing of the sort. I bribed you here." She resisted the urge to roll her eyes as he smiled charmingly. "So because I have a good salesmanship you're going to go with me. Tonight could have been a fluke." She tried. "I'd believe that better if I hadn't seen you out there for my own eyes."
He turned to her, "You're good at your job. More importantly I need your skills and truthfully I do find you attractive enough to tolerate you for more than a few nights." She rolled her eyes on that one, "Yeah but can I?" She asked. "Perhaps…or perhaps this company your father works for can survive on its own. Or perhaps your sales skills really are a fluke. Or perhaps you have a talent for charming people. Or perhaps you care about your fathers company and would want to help in saving it."
She pursed her lips, "So it's just my skills you need?" She wanted to clarify. "Skills yes but also your charm. I'm afraid I don't possess the skill set you do." He looked almost miffed. "People feel as if I'm to cold, calculating…unapproachable." He nearly scoffed. "But you, you're not like me and that personality trait is what I need by my side. Take my offer and not only will I guarantee your father his job for the next ten years and a nice salary but also guarantee you the satisfaction of knowing thousands of people kept their jobs."
She hated to admit to it but he was right. "IF and I'm not saying for a second that I am but IF I take your offer I presume you want more than an eye candy on your arm." He smiled, "True. I require an heir. To at least be pregnant within the first year of marriage. Oh and ah…" he smiled, "There is to be NO outside aid in that department." He took her chin in his hand in a gently manner, "I don't cheat. Not how I was raised." She stiffly stated.
"I was told a few years back that I have to have the right caliber of woman in the bedroom to produce a child. It wasn't hard to get a hold of your medical records." She looked to him with righteous anger, "How dare you!" she seethed lowly. He pulled her in closer, "Now darling don't frown so darkly." She wanted to smash her fist into his face, "You went through my personal information how can I not want to ram my stiletto up your high and mighty ass?" she stated low but sickeningly sweet, a smile on her pretty face.
He smiled but internally knew if given the chance, party or no party she would. Ignoring it he went on, "You have a very fertile body. It will aid well in me being a father within the year. And with that even more of a client list for partnerships. After all good, honest family values sell like hotcakes." She had a chuckle on her face, "Good, honest family? God you're so full of it." He released her face.
"Let me have the next 24 hours to think it over. It's not every day I get a proposal in the form of a business contract." She bargained sarcastically needing to wrap her head around it. He motioned an acceptance of her question in before stating, "You've got till noon tomorrow. No longer." With that he took her hand, brought it up and kissed it, "I'll have the limo waiting outside for you." She looked around.
"As far as people will think you had to leave early due to work in the morning. Think wisely on your decision." She agreed and left. She still was sorely tempted to take off her heel and ram it either down his throat up or his ass anyways but wanted to leave with her head high and hands not in cuffs. "Pompous prick." She muttered under her breath, ensuring no one heard her as she left the estate. She took a parting look at the gargantuan monster of a house before getting into the limo.
It was the conversation she had with her father upon arrival that had her wanting to hit things, "So it's true?" She demanded. "The company is facing bankruptcy. Why didn't you tell us? Ami and I could have moved out sooner or have been paying you more rent." Ami came down stairs on this one, "Nani?" She asked. "Papa's company is in the dog house." The bluenette knew it was serious when Usagi didn't say 'Hatori – papa'.
"It was my problem not yours." He defended. He would not get yelled at like a child by his own kids, no matter how right they were. "Your family. That makes it our problem." Usagi snapped, "Does mama know?" Ami asked.
"I haven't had the chance to tell her. We were banking on this merger to take care of everything and ensure our future for the next ten years." Hatori confessed.
"So the lives of thousands of people rely on my next decision." Usagi snapped louder.
"Nani?" Ami asked. Hatori looked down, "You knew didn't you." It was more statement than question.
"I…he told me not to say anything." He stated deflated. "I get that he's your boss but I'm your daughter. Stuff like this you're supposed to be honest with me first." He nodded knowing she was right, "Gomen." He answered. "What does he want from you?" Ami asked, "My partnership in the form of a wife." Usagi nearly chocked out. Ami's eyes widened, "You can't…he can't make you do that!" Ami may not have been the type to be romantic but she still believed in marrying for love as their parents did.
"No he can't but he can make Hatori – papa's life hell and Maria – mama's life difficult to." Usagi groused. Ami didn't want to agree but knew the truth of it, "If papa looses his job then mama will have to pick up the slack." Usagi nodded her head, "Did the company have any other back up plans?" The golden blonde asked. "No I'm afraid not. The bosses there were trying to avoid even admitting to needing help in the last few years. Their pride got in the way of getting alternatives that could have helped sooner." She nodded.
"So I'm it." He nodded solemnly at her increasing look. "I need to think on this." She walked to her room upstairs and locked the door. She needed to mull things over before going to bed. Life still went on tomorrow morning, work still happened and she had to make a call. "Usagi – chan." Ami asked, knocking on her door. "Hai." She opened it. "Listen I know this is a bad situation but you do have a different perspective to see things from." The blonde looked to her sister.
"Such as?" Ami sat on the bed with her, "You know papa has been trying to turn the company around for the last few years. You know of his ideas. If you went through with this you could have this Lemont guy place him in a higher position to get these things done in. No more grey area. He could make it happen and in the process give more people new jobs." Understanding her sister she nodded, "I guess I just thought I'd get to meet the man of my dreams before I got married." She laughed.
"Who knows maybe through Lemont you will." Ami joked, "I can't." Usagi cried in dismay. Ami looked at her in question, "Lemont already made it obvious that he's the only guy I'm to be with. I guess he doesn't want anything to sour things up. Or maybe it's to avoid 'polluting' the gene pool." Usagi stated in distain. "Either way if I do this I pick business over love." Ami took her hand, "No you pick saving the lives of over thousands of people to be become jobless, it's noble." Usagi couldn't keep the happy smile on.
"I know but why doesn't it feel like that? Why doesn't it feel even a little bit like that?" Ami had no words. She could only pull her sister into her arms as Usagi began breaking down. The stress and emotions coming to the forefront begging to be released. "You're going to make the right decision Usagi." she nodded, "In some ways I feel like I owe it to Hatori – papa. He took me in as a kid and never looked back. He never treated me as adopted." Ami felt her move up. "You don't owe anything to papa." The bluenette sister replied adamantly.
"I know…but I feel like if I do this I can save his future the way he saved mine." Even though it had only been a possibility Usagi knew that if Hatori had said no she would have been in the foster care system. Lost for good from her remaining family. "So it's not for the riches?" Ami asked in a joking manner. Usagi laughed, "No but his place was huge." Ami laughed, "Really?" Usagi nodded and began describing the place.
"Wow…and you'll be living there…" the blonde nodded, "It will suck though. The commutes further away from work by a half an hour." Her sister smiled, "Maybe he'll buy you a new car." Usagi was against that. "No. I'm don't want to owe Diamond anything. Anything he gives me money wise I'll put it into savings so that way when this marriage is over with…whenever that is I can give it all back. I don't want him to use anything against me." Ami smiled proudly at her sister, "Good. Not going to give Diamond any ammo."
Usagi agreed as they both chatted the night away before going to bed. The next day rose different issues as her boss was there at work. He only came for two visits a month but when he did more than that it made her nervous. He made himself seem lively but push come to shove if you did something to piss him off or upset him he'd lose his cool fast. She'd been on the receiving end of his verbal warfare on more than one account. Of course it didn't help that he pushed her buttons and she couldn't help but have sarcastic remarks to him.
Today however she didn't need it and already felt the pressure of Diamond's visit today. She had since the start refused to give him her phone number so he'd communicated to her via her father's. However she had recalled giving him her work information not thinking anything of it at the time. "Good Usagi – chan I need - " she hadn't even clocked in yet and already her boss was asking things of her to do.
Her mood today was not into simply keeping her mouth shut, "Can I clock in first?" the sarcasm coming out. He waived it off as he sometimes did as she went to the computer. However before she could a white haired man came in and she froze. She thought she'd have more time. "Mr. Lemont." She answered. Her boss looked up and inserted himself into the situation without pause, "I came here to see her." Diamond ignored the proffered hand and kept his eyes on Usagi, "Of course she'll be happy to help you."
Usagi pursed her lips at the wording as Diamond smiled. She knew what he wanted to know, "May I speak with you outside the office." Her boss jumped back in, "Whoa what's going on?" she needed him gone. This wasn't work related. "I will only be taking up a few moments of her time so if you could give her five that would be great." Diamond walked out the door before her boss could say anything. Usagi followed him, avoiding her bosses questions.
"So what's your answer?" he asked. She gathered her nerves, "Last I checked I was given till noon but since you're insisting I'll do it on two conditions, one since this is a sham I will share it with close people and have them keep it secret but I need some people to talk to about it." He nodded but not in agreement, more as in 'I'm listening', "I'm being serious." He rolled his eyes but indicated for her to continue.
"Secondly I want my father in a higher position to get things pushed through that have otherwise been put aside. He has good ideas and I know that he can make the company more money." Diamond pretended to think on it before smiling, "I can work with that. Here are your conditions." Usagi stood tall.
"During our partnership, you will share your body with no one else, for no other reason. I can't risk anyone seeing anything and having it ruin my reputation or my company. Lastly if your father's ideas don't pan out within a year he will be demoted back to where he is now." She agreed as much as she wanted to deny it. "Deal." He smiled before extending his hand. Shocked but grateful he didn't try to kiss her, she took his hand. "This is a business venture Miss. Mizuno. I will make preparations for the wedding in a month."
She nodded her head as he left for his car. Her mind in shock over the agreement that just took place. She stayed outside for a moment letting the cool air surround her giving her breathing room. It was so much to deal with in such a short amount of time. Taking a few deep breathes she walk back inside, greeted her boss again only to look up after clocking in and slap her forehead in shock, "A MONTH?!"