Lali here! I thought I'd try my hand at a fic with Quatre and an O.C. This could become rather entertaining, at least I like to think so, Ryu has been helping me with this and has decided that he will be partaking in the writing of the fic. Please read and review! Thank you!
Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing. I DO, however, own Lalita Ganesh and Parvati Singh and possibly other characters as well.
Love Game
By: Ryu and Lali
Chapter One:
Makes Me Wonder
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He stared at the girl who had just come from Une's office intensely, taking in every inch that he could as she strutted across the room. If he were being truthful with himself, instead of trying to convince himself that he was wrong, he would have admitted that she was the most gorgeous thing on two legs he had ever come across. Her long, wavy, black hair hung loose around her shoulders, flitting gracefully as she made her way past the cubicles, her large bronze eyes intently watching him as she approached.
Alas, it was not meant to be...
Upon reaching him she stopped dead in her tracks, and stared at him , bronze staring into aquamarine.
"Winner." His name came out harsh, bitter even, but her eyes remained soft.
This was something he had always noticed about her. While her stare remained cold and unwavering, her eyes were never cruel and judging. It was something he figured she had mastered over the years, a very useful tool in a stressful board room situation, where callousness was needed, but kindness earned compliance instead of fear.
"Ganesh." He responded curtly, as he repressed his usual smile.
Was it just him, or had the temperature in the room suddenly dropped several degrees?
"I see you are working for the Preventors, how interesting... Has the Winner Corporation finally come to their senses and ousted their CEO?" She asked, a smug grin slipping onto her face.
It was not the most original thing she could have asked him, but what could he possibly come back with?
"Funny, seeing as you are here yourself, in our uniform. Have the flying monkeys of Ganesh Enterprises finally come to their senses and killed the witch, or did the water refuse to take?" he laughed mentally, forcing his face to remain neutral as crimson rushed to her cheeks.
Whether it was due to her embarrassment or anger, he could only guess.
Unfortunately, keeping a straight face was far easier than controlling other areas of his anatomy, much to his displeasure.
"Oh, how original, Mr. Winner." She huffed, leaning back on her right foot and rested her right elbow on her left hand and placing the knuckles under her chin and was clearly amused. She raked her eyes over his body a moment and then chuckled. "My, I seem to be having rather a pleasant effect over you. Pity that I have no interest in taking advantage of that..." She raised an eyebrow, her gaze focused on his crotch.
She watched the blonde's eyes widen briefly before she continued to laugh, and walked away.
Quatre paused, and looked down for a brief moment in horror, before looking back up, his face flushing deeply. In an effort to spare himself more embarrassment, he immediately sat down at his desk and forced himself to think of other, less compromising things.
Unfortunately, one Lalita Ganesh had been doing this to him for years... and every single time they had come face to face, she would always get under his skin... and with time, things had progressively grown worse.
He stared at the computer screen in deep thought, and drummed his fingers on the desk.
It was then that Duo walked past, and eyed the agitated blonde curiously. He had seen the whole situation play out, but then again, so had most of the office...
It wasn't hard for others to see really... not with it happening right outside his rarely occupied office just off the cubicle farm... and to think, it had simply all gone down just because he'd wanted to watch the object of his affections make her way to his side of the room...
Where she had humiliated him in front of everyone he knew...
What the hell was wrong with him?
It wasn't as though he was consciously admitting that he was infatuated with the woman, his rival, but anyone with a brain could see that he did in fact hold an honest interest in her. Even his best friend, Trowa, could see the connection between him and the Indian woman. In fact, it had been Trowa who had brought it to his attention for the first time, a couple of years ago.
Two years to be exact... in fact, it had been on his eighteenth birthday, when he had held a huge benefit, and the woman had been invited. All of the Elite families of L4 had been there, along with several close friends.
"Aww, I'm happy to see you too buddy, but not that happy..." Duo chuckled, watching as the blonde moved a small stack of papers into his lap.
"Wait… NO!" The blonde sputtered. "That damned femme fatale, Lalita Ganesh! She has been a thorn in my side since… since... well, no matter." He huffed, scrambling to his feet, knocking the aforementioned papers to the floor. "I think I need to take shower, please excuse me Duo..." And with that, Quatre gave the braided man a curt nod before he pushed past him and sprinted out of the office.
Duo sighed, a quirky grin spreading across his face, as he knelt down to gather up the forgotten papers.
"Man, he just gets weirder and weirder with every passing year..." Duo chuckled, placing the papers back on the man's desk.
He paused, looking at the blonde's computer, and smirked. Quatre had not only forgotten to shut down the computer in his effort to get away, but had also neglected to exit out of a chat window, much to Duo's pleasure.
BartonBloomT:
It is no business of mine, but why the hostility?
WinnerQR:
Competition. She is the head of Ganesh Enterprises.
BartonBloomT:
She's pretty though.
WinnerQR:
You think I don't know that already? Believe me… I do. I've been dealing with this for years...
BartonBloomT:
Then why fight it? This is one battle that doesn't NEED to be fought.
WinnerQR:
How would that look on me… on the company?
BartonBloomT:
The public would view it as a business merger.
'So, they aren't lovers after all, and all this time I thought Trowa and Quatre were together.' Duo chuckled to himself, shaking his head.
He had figured that with the way those two acted around one another, that they could have possibly been item. But then again, the only one who acted feminine in any way was Quatre, and as the fates would have it, it was due to him having so many sisters...
Suddenly, the computer beeped, and Duo glanced up at the monitor.
BartonBloomT:
Mind your own business Maxwell...
Duo only laughed at the message and peered out the open door, across the cubicles at Trowa's office.
"Still seems suspicious between those two, despite this new development..." He chuckled, before turning the monitor off and going on his way.
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Ganesh Limo
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"We'll be arriving at the shuttle port in one hour, Ms. Ganesh." The woman, Parvati Singh, beside her stated, her thick Indian accent apparent but understandable. "How was your meeting with Ms. Une?"
Lalita sighed, and pressed her back against the cool leather seat.
"As it always is, Parvati." She smiled. "Although, it would have been better if Jay had not hit that bump earlier, and sent my coffee all over me." She muttered, glaring up at the closed tinted window that concealed said driver. "No matter, Lady Une was kind enough to give me a uniform of theirs to wear in place of my ruined suit. Not that I plan to ever touch the thing again once we return." she huffed, examining the small embroidery around the cuffs.
"Did you happen to see Mr. Winner today?" The woman asked, a smirk slipping onto her face.
She knew EXACTLY why this little mishap was bothering her employer. She could always tell. Lalita Ganesh always seemed to become flustered when it came to the blonde Winner Heir. She could even recall one business meeting in particular with the man, that Lalita spent several hours getting ready for. She had torn apart her closet searching for something that would impress. In the end, she came out more angered and worked up than she had thought it humanly possible.
"Yes. Yes I did..." She grumbled. "It was a surprise really. I did not think the Gundam Pilot would be working two jobs." She huffed, crossing her arms.
"I highly doubt that the man is working two jobs, ma'am." The girl sighed and looked at her employer. "He could simply just be volunteering his time. He isn't a pilot any longer. I'm sure working with the Preventers gives him some form of nostalgia from those days. His comrades do work there as well."
Lalita raised an eyebrow at the woman, and a small smile played across her lips.
"That was a bit bold, even for you, Parvati." She chuckled, resting her chin upon her knuckles as she stared out the tinted windows. "His company will surrender to mine, eventually. That's all that truly matters though."
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Preventer Headquarters Cafeteria
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"Anyone see Winner rush out of the office today?" Wufei asked, slipping down into he seat. "Why do I think it had something to do with that woman Une met with earlier?"
"Ms. Ganesh's company is a rival of the Winner Corporation." Trowa stated. "That alone is enough to frazzle Quatre's nerves, but the physical attraction is quite apparent as well, at least on his end."
"I noticed." Duo chuckled. "The guy had a circus tent in his pants. " He paused, watching as Trowa choked on his coffee, and then continued with a chuckle. "He left over an hour ago, I thought he went to shower... but MAYBE, just maybe, he tracked down this Ganesh girl and …" He paused, taking in the odd expressions his comrades were giving him, each having raised their eyebrows at him. "What? What's wrong with a little nookie in the elevator?"
"Don't you know him at all by now?" Trowa asked, sighing as he leaned forward in his chair, resting his chin on his knuckles. "Quatre is not that sort of man. He'd never insult someone so much as to come onto them in such a dingy, cramped, public location."
Duo only rolled his eyes, and propped himself up against the wall.
"And you wonder why people think you two are gay for each other. You two know each other so well, it's unnatural." he chuckled.
Trowa chose to ignore this comment, and proceeded with the conversation.
"Quatre clearly needs to pursue her." Trowa murmured. "He's obviously infatuated, why not take a chance? Better to have tried and failed, then do nothing and regret it."
"But the hostility between them?" Heero asked, joining in on the group discussion.
"I believe it to be more of a sexual tension situation than simply just hostility..." Trowa answered. "And rivalry of course. I'm not as good with reading people as you, why don't you tell me? I'm sure you've assessed the situation, far prior to now." He chuckled, smiling at the man.
"Then Operation Mr. Winner and Ms. Ganesh shall commence." Came the chipper, if not heavily accented, voice of Parvati.
"How did you get pass security?" Heero asked, standing between her and the others.
"I have clearance, Mr. Yuy. I am here on business for Ms. Ganesh." The group of men only stared. "I was picking up some papers from Ms. Une. Ms. Ganesh left them on Ms. Une's desk, so I was let off a few blocks away so that I may retrieve them. I feel bad for sending her back off to L4 without me, but alas I must do my job, and not worry too immensely for my employer's well-being." She sighed, slumping her shoulders.
"Right..." Trowa stated, still unsure about the woman.
"I happen to know that Ms. Ganesh is going to the Preventers' Holiday Ball, alone. How about Mr. Winner?" She asked, smiling in Trowa's direction.
Clearly she had managed to hear their entire conversation, and had pegged him as the best person to talk to on that matter.
"I believe he is, but then again, he doesn't tell me everything." Trowa replied, standing from the table. "If you will excuse me."
"That's not what your long haired friend has implied. However, if it is any consolation to you, Mr. Barton, I am also attending, alone." Parvati called after him, returning his shocked gaze with a warm smile. "All I ask for is a dance, nothing more." She chuckled, watching the man walk out the door. "Well, if you will excuse me Mr. Yuy, Mr. Chang, Mr. Maxwell." She nodded in their direction and then walked out the door herself.
"Are all the inhabitants of L4 like that?" Duo asked. "Or is it just the rich ones?"
Heero only sighed and shook his head sadly
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Peace Manor Sanc Kingdom
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He had been pacing the length of the first floor sitting room for over an hour. This was not the first run in at Preventor Headquarters he'd had with the woman, but that didn't seem to matter... Why did she have such an effect over him? What was she playing at? Why was she able to torment him so?
She'd been tormenting him for years. Their father's had been friends throughout their college days, and had been prime business rivals, but had never let that get in the way of their friendship. They had been thrown together as playmates as soon as they had been able to crawl, and even then she had always seemed to have the upper hand.
He remembered the onetime, years ago, that she had tackled him to the floor, wrestling with him over some stupid comment he had made that made her upset. It had happened just before he had run away starting his life as a mobile suit pilot. That day had made him realize exactly what hold she had over him... when the same event as earlier had occurred...
"Why me?" He groaned, throwing himself down on the sofa, hanging his head in his hands. "What is this hold she has over me? I don't need this... I've never needed it..." He sighed, and leaned back into the cushions, staring at the cup of tea he had let grow cold.
He picked it up and took a sip of it, frowning.
His thoughts were interrupted by the sounds of Mozart floating into the air. He pulled the phone out of his pocket and looked at the number.
He let loose a soft whine.
"What does she want?" He muttered flipping the phone open to glare at the screen. "Winner speaking."
"Amazing! You actually answered..." Came the high lilting voice of Lalita.
"What do you want, Ganesh?" Quatre snipped.
The phone beeped, and suddenly the screen lit up, the smug face of Lalita smiling up at him.
He honestly wished she had not done so, for his heart jumped into overdrive as he gazed down at her.
"My, mighty hostile, I hope it was nothing that I did." She snickered, and he watched her as she sat back in her seat, crossing her arms. "I was just calling to find out exactly why you were at the Preventers headquarters this fine afternoon?"
The blonde frowned.
"That is really none of your concern." He stated standing up and taking another sip of tea. "Or shall I ask you the same question?"
"I had business with Lady Une." She stated with a smirk on her face. "Your turn." She extended one of her left hand to signal this, and then returned it to the cradle of her right elbow.
"I happen volunteer my time, and regardless, I also happen to back the organization." He said. "I really do not see why this is relevant, Lalita, please get to the point of this call."
"Do I truly need a reason to call you?" She dropped her hands into her lap and then leaned forward with a pout. "I thought we were friends."
"I honestly do not understand you!" He growled in a tight, controlled voice. "What are you playing at, Lalita?"
"Oh, come now, Quatre, you know very well what I'm playing at, and I don't intend to back down easily." She chuckled staring at him through the screen. "Now what will I have to do to convince you to hand it over willingly?"
"I will never give you my company, that is not what either of our fathers had wanted. They wanted a merger by marriage." Quatre said exasperatedly. "I have told you countless times that it will not happen, I will not sell, and I will not marry you. I'm apposed to a loveless marriage." He huffed.
"I wouldn't want you." She stated, her face becoming more serious and less playful. "I don't even want the entire company, just the branch that is located in my district."
Quatre glared at the woman on screen.
"Lalita, I've already told you my answer, and I believe that it was no. I will not sell out my employees. This is not a matter up for discussion." His grip on the delicate tea cup tightened.
"For now it may not be," She leaned back, "But this is not over." She tilted her head, and at once, the screen went black.
Quatre sighed in frustration... and it was the tea cup that took the punishment, as it collided with the wall, and smashed into a million pieces.
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