Since Takaba moved in to Asami's penthouse, he made sure the security was even tighter than before. Even though Asami felt a bit more at ease to have Takaba close to him, the fear of his Akihito being abducted by his business rivals again never really subsided. For that reason, Asami arranged to have a private elevator made just for him, Takaba and his subordinates' use. This elevator only had three possible destinations, Asami's floor, the lobby and the underground parking lot. He had one bodyguard stationed outside each elevator door on the three floors, making sure only people with clearance could go up and down the private lift.

Another thing that busied Asami aside from taking over businesses and his underground dealings was Takaba Akihito. Before the Baishe incident, he'd only go after Takaba if they happened to meet each other accidentally or if he felt like having a good night filled with Akihito's sugar-coated moans and mind-blowing-sex after a hard day's work. After Takaba moved in, Asami seemed to have found a new hobby that involved putting the boy in situations that cornered him making him flustered, embarrassed, speechless, shocked, shy and even angry. After all, it's these expressions that fire the lust in Asami's cold veins. And one of those master plans was about to take place right in front of his private elevator.

Asami's phone rang. It was the bodyguard he hired to shadow Akihito wherever he went.

"Asami-sama, Takaba has entered the lobby and is headed to the private lift. The new bodyguard has been instructed on what to do and how to respond."

"Good. Keep yourself hidden until it's over and Takaba has entered the lift."

"Understood. Asami-sama."

Kirishima attentive to the boss just-finished conversation hurriedly set up the laptop on the desk where Asami could see the live footage in front of the elevator. He never really understood the goal of this plan, a loud, and flustered and pissed off Takaba Akihito was never a soothing experience. But he knew questioning his boss was impossible, so he settled with the thought that as long as it made his boss happy and in a good mood, the plan already underway was not a waste of time.

Asami saw Takaba enter the live-screen footage. He smirked. He could feel his excitement growing with every second. Let's see how you're going to face this, my kawaii Akihito. Asami thought in silent anticipation.

It had been a long day for Akihito. The thrill he got from exposing two politicians meeting up with a somewhat well-known drug-dealer was overwhelming. Of course he brought up the assignment over dinner last night with Asami. Making sure he wasn't going to cause trouble to his lov-benefactor, it was Asami's place he was freeloading at after all. Asami to his surprise encouraged him to pursue the assignment, mentioning that it was finally time for that pathetic drug-dealer to fall; he could secure his territory once again without lifting a finger. Then as always, he gave warning to Akihito to take care of himself and to stay away from trouble which earned him a pout and his unwavering line of "Don't treat me like a kid! I can take care of my own ass."

Akihito not realizing the possible double meaning of what he said, with which Asami obviously did and took advantage of. "You're right. You're not a kid anymore. We're both adults and we need to look out for each other." Akihito nodded in agreement, satisfied that his point got through to the other man.

"That's why..." Asami leaned closer to Akihito, mouth inches apart; his right hand sliding down Akihito's backside to cup his bottom firmly. "You should let me take care of this ass too. I'll massage it in and out thoroughly for hours. I'm sure you'll enjoy it as well." That oh-so-talented hand he knew so well felt like fire on Akihito's skin that left a tingling sensation which intensified even more when Asami whispered lusciously to his ear. "I'll even use some lotion to release the tightness of your muscles. I'll start slowly so you'll be ready for me when I do it hard."

Akihito was trembling with his eyes closed. He wasn't sure anymore what Asami was talking about but it sounded really good. The older man was just going to give him a massage, that's what he heard. But the images that popped up on his head, were far more vigorous, energy-depleting and pleasurable and certainly not relaxing. Getting carried away with his thoughts, Akihito's needy moan escaped his lips before he even registered the sound. And with that Asami massaged him there on the table to lustful heights all night long...

Akihito turned crimson red to his very toes upon remembering the events of last night. Oh how naive he was. He covered his face with his hands and began to shake his head right-to-left as if it could toss away the embarrassment he felt from his very core.

After he regained some sort of composure, he strode towards the private elevator. Not only did he need to develop the photographs to be sent out tomorrow, he was eager to get some rest as well.

Akihito was about to reach the elevator up button with his hand when his wrist was grabbed and held in place. He looked at the man, who was obviously one of Asami's hired bodyguards, who else would parade them in the open like this, none other than Asami, the proud. What he hadn't anticipated was that he would be stopped. He had been using the elevator for a week now with no problems since Asami told him to use it. As he looked closely at the taller man, he noticed that it was a different bodyguard from yesterday.

Akihito grabbed his hand back. "Why did you stop me?"

"This is a private elevator. Only people with clearance are able to use it. If you wish to go up the floors, please use the other elevators on your right."

Akihito didn't put up a fight because he was just too tired to talk back. He would rather save that energy to develop the photos for his scoop. Without another look at the man, he walked to the closest elevator and pushed the up button. After a few seconds, the lift arrived and he stepped in not wasting a second. Akihito pushed the button with the number 20 on it and waited till he heard the 'ding' sound that signaled that he had arrived. As the doors opened and he went out the elevator, he quickly froze in his steps as he realized that he was on the wrong floor. This was the 19th floor! Asami owned the 20th floor just above this one. Akihito realized to himself. Before the elevator could fully close, he slipped back in with ease. Thinking it was just a mistake that he pushed the 19 instead of 20. This time for sure he pressed the 20 button. And two seconds later, the door opened. He didn't even feel the lift move. Maybe someone was coming in. He waited and waited but no one came. He peeked outside the door and for sure it was still the 19th floor. So the door closed and Akihito pressed 20 again and the door just opened as quickly.

Thinking it was just a machine malfunction, Akihito tried the two other elevators but none of them seem to reach the 20th floor. He sighed and finally resigned that the only way to go back home was to use the private elevator he'd been using the past week. For sure this was one of Asami's paranoid measures. Akihito thought to himself as the elevator he was in went down to the lobby floor.

"Hey! I really need to use that elevator." Akihito said impatiently.

The new bodyguard just stood like a statue. "You can't. You don't have clearance."

"Duuuuh. Yes I do. I live with your- I mean I'm staying at Asami's place in the meantime. My name is Takaba Akihito. Kirishima should at least have briefed you about me."

"Kirishima-san did not leave any instructions about any guests." He said with confidence.

"But I'm not a guest! I live here! HELL! I WAS FORCED TO LIVE HERE! I'M HIS LOV-" Akihito couldn't finish it. His patience was quickly wearing thin.

"I don't know how you know Asami-sama lives here," The taller man looked at Takaba from head to toe. "..But since you're a photographer, you must have sources that led you here. Still, No clearance, No entry."

Akihito was growing annoyed at the constant rejection. He then thought of an idea, it was so simple yet would surely be effective. I'll show him what happens when he messes with a tired me. He'll be so embarrassed! Akihito thought with an evil grin.

"Fine if you don't believe me I'll just bring the guy hired by Asami to tail me to tell you who I really am." Akihito turned around and searched the premises for a man wearing the same suit as the one near the elevator. Asami probably forced them to wear that whenever wherever they go. Akihito thought to himself. "Seriously! Where the hell did that bodyguard go?! Just when you need him, he's not there. And when you don't, you can barely shake him off." Akihito said aloud to voice out his frustration.

After searching for another 15 minutes, Akihito gave up, exhausted and drained and went back to the private elevator. "What do I need to do for you to believe me?" Akihito said in a resigned tone.

The taller man looked at him briefly and went back to look at the front. "How did you meet Asami-sama personally?"

The question took him off-guard. "What? Oh well... It was like..." Shit! If I told him how it really went down, that I tried to ruin his boss' image and ended up being kidnapped and raped, he'd never believe me. He'll just get even more suspicious. "Well, I took pictures of your boss but he didn't like how it turned out. I think he said it was the lighting or something about how it wasn't his camera angle." Akihito tried to sound calm and composed as he continued. "He then coached me on some new services that I could offer. There were bumps along the way, competitors in the business. But in the end he was really pleased with the results and decided that he would exclusively own the rights to those services."

It wasn't a lie. Asami had exclusive rights to him and Asami only. Asami held his heart to own, to pleasure, to inflict pain. He was Asami's. He knew, though he would never admit all that to anyone except Asami. Akihito's cheeks stained a soft pink as he pondered on the honest reflection he just had; a small smile escaping his lips.

A few minutes went by before the taller guard spoke again. "And you're fine with it? Asami-sama owning exclusive rights? It's not my business but your contract with him, is it a fair deal? You know, we are an organization of many sorts."

Now this question was deeper than implied. "Will you tell Asami what I said? Or is this just a test of character to see who I really am?"
"It depends on your answers. I may not tell him if deemed unnecessary."

"Don't tell him and I will tell you." The guard just stayed silent. Akihito took this as an agreement. He looked around to make sure no one was listening and then he continued.

"To be honest, it was never fair to begin with. That first shoot we had, I was just an amateur. I was new to the business, yet he didn't even give me a second chance. I was punished. I then later found out that mercy and failures were not part of his business contract. I really thought he had no emotions. I'm sure you've witnessed some of what I'm talking about." The guard furrowed his brow as if to remember something of the past.

"But.. I don't know when or where or how but things did change. He changed. I'm not sure if he's even aware of it. And I changed too. For better or for worse we managed to slowly accept each other's flaws and faults. And I think that's what we both really needed. Him, someone I could anchor to. Me, someone to set him free." Akihito looked up at the numbers on top of the elevator door, trying desperately to hold back his tears. But it was not tears of sorrow or pain. It was tears of gratefulness and happiness. Akihito smiled softly, closing both eyes and letting one single tear drop.

He quickly wiped it away and turned to the guard. "You know what's really unfair? It's that he doesn't know how much I love him. I act rashly and talk harshly to him; I doubt he sees what I'm truly feeling anymore. He's the same way, cold and calculating. But I love him and that's all that really matters to me." Akihito gave a genuine smile from the heart; forgetting everything that happened 30 minutes ago.

"If you said you were his lover from the start, I would have let you pass easily." The 'ding' on the elevator was heard and the door opened. The guard held it open for Akihito as he stepped in. "Thanks."

The guard still held the door open and looked like he was about to say something. He then leaned his head inside the elevator and said in a soft tone. "You know Takaba-sama, has it ever occured to you that maybe Asami-sama feels the same way?" He then leaned back and let go of the door. Letting the question hang in the air as it traveled with Akihito to the 20th floor.

The 'ding' of the elevator was heard from the laptop. "Thanks." He heard Akihito say.
Asami sipped his glass of whiskey. One question floating in his mind. Who was it really that got cornered this time?