Valkyrie85: A new idea came to me recently and I decided to start this new story immediately before the idea ran out! Thank you for reading!
Twelve O'Clock
~Prologue~
A woman dressed in a blue floral kimono slid open the paper door and bowed to a man in an expensive black suit. He was seated on one of the four tatami seats in the room. On the table before him sat a teacup filled with hot, steaming tea for himself. Across from him was another cup for the guest that he was waiting for.
As the woman crawled away in miniature movements after her greeting, another man dressed in ripped jeans, a white v-neck t-shirt, and aviator shades strolled into the small, dim-lit dining room.
"Sorry, I'm late," the man, with messy chocolate-brown hair, apologized as he took a seat across from the man in the suit. Without asking, he picked up the cup in front of him and took a loud but cautious sip.
"Ah, Japanese tea is the best," he commented, as he immersed himself in the taste of the tea.
The man in suit did not say anything. He was utterly surprised by the rugged manner that this infamous "seducer" had just shown him, and he didn't bother hiding his opinion of the guest.
"Are you sure you can do this job, Li-san?" the man questioned with a raised eyebrow. He wore a pair of black-framed glasses over his dark-brown eyes and his black hair was gelled back elegantly for a CEO of a hotel chain like himself.
Upon hearing his client's doubt, the guest put down his cup of tea and took off his sunglasses so that his amber orbs pierced right through his client's as he spoke. "Inoue Kou-san, you like to get straight to the point just like I do. I like that."
The man in suit, by the name of Inoue Kou, leaned back on his tatami and crossed his arms over his chest. "Even though I am told by a friend that you are extremely good at what you do, Li Syaoran-kun, I still have some doubts. Could you tell me why I should entrust you with this job?"
The guest, by the name of Li Syaoran, leaned forward and half-crookedly smiled at his client. "Two reasons." He raised his index finger. "One, I need money so I'll do whatever it takes to get my payment."
Then, he raised another.
"And two, I love to accept challenges, especially ones that involve complicated cases such as your wife's."
Still, Kou did not think Li Syaoran was too reliable, although his handsome face was definitely a plus.
He seemed to be all words but no action, but he knew that the 22-year-old "relationship counselor" was nothing but that, all due to the stories he'd heard from close friends who knew of acquaintances that were in similar situations as him.
"So how should I pay you? All at once or in installments?" Kou asked.
"Usually, to make my clients feel more secure, I have them pay in three installments. Once at the very beginning, once at the middle, then once at the very end."
"Sounds good to me." Kou pulled out a chequebook and a pen from his pocket, ready to write down the first cheque to Syaoran.
Once the cheque was written, Kou handed it to Syaoran.
"Once I cash in the cheque, I will meet up with you again to discuss the fine details of this contract. Meanwhile, please prepare an admission letter to Tokyo University for me as soon as possible, so that I can join your wife at the campus."
Kou nodded, feeling somewhat reluctant. Despite telling himself over and over again during the past few weeks that he must divorce her, he was still having some uncontrollable feelings lingering on the edge…
Syaoran grinned and stretched out his hand for a handshake. "Thank you for doing business with me, Inoue-san. In 6 months, I will guarantee you a divorce from Inoue Sakura."
Valkyrie85: So, how was it? Whether you're a new or old reader of mine, shoot me a review and tell me your thoughts! P.S. I am NOT abandoning It's Always Been You. I am just going to work simultaneously on both of them.
Thanks for reading! Until next time...