Chapter2: The Meeting

"Name?" A man in red asked.

"Walker" Takumi replied.

The man's smile widened. "Please allow me to lead you." He gestures the soon to be married couple to follow him.

They were led down a wide hallway lit by a golden light. "This is your room." The man said, opening the door for them.

Takumi nodded and entered the room with Misaki.

There were two men who sat at a large elegant table. There was a young man, with dark hair and the same emerald eyes as Takumi, and an older man who had a cane in hand and emitting a slight dark aura.

"Ah~! They're here~~!" said a familiar, yet annoying, voice.

"Gerard." Takumi said with a small nod. Misaki gave him a small smile and nod. "Grandfather," Takumi greeted. "This is Misaki Ayuzawa, my fiancé."

"No need for the introduction." His gruff voice stated. He looks at Misaki up and down. After a slight pause, he motioned them to take a seat. "Sit."

As the couple sat down, Cedric, Gerard's personal butler, poured some wine for them. He glanced at Misaki for a split second. As he went and stand in the corner beside his father, Gilbert, the Grand Duke's butler, he couldn't help but think, I can't believe that this woman is that high school girl I used to despise so very much. He sighed and shook his head slightly.

"I know what you're thinking." Gilbert whispered to him.

Cedric looks at his father with a straight face, but shocked to see his father's lip lift upwards into a small smile. "P-Pardon?"

"I know what you're thinking, Cedric." He repeated. "That girl," he shakes his head, "is one of a kind." Cedric blinked a few times. It was the first time that his father ever made such a tender face and said these words. "I used to hate her for interfering with the Walker family." He said, his gaze not leaving the young couple. "But it seems that even the young master Gerard's mood lifts when she's around." He chuckled. "I don't know what that girl is capable of."

Cedric looks at the table where his young master, the grand duke, and the two soon to be married couple ate. They only made small conversations here and there regarding only to business. The old man barely acknowledged the poor girl. But she showed no signs of discomfort but just smiled as the men spoke.

"So tell me," The grand duke said, whipping his mouth with a napkin. "when is the wedding?" He looks at Misaki expecting her to reply.

"Ah- Well." She began.

"The ceremony will be held at the Grand Chapel." Takumi cut in. It was he who planned the wedding. He barely discussed it with Misaki.

"I didn't ask you." The old man glared at the blonde. He turned his head towards Misaki. "If you don't know anything it must mean that you didn't even worry the slights of your wedding and that you expect everything to be done for you?"

Misaki blinked a few times as the Grand Duke spat out such a brusque statement. "Actually no, sir." She smiled at him. "If you want I could tell you the time, place, and events that we are holding on the day of our wedding."

Takumi widened his eyes. She know everything that I planned? Even the surprise events?

"No need." The old man said, waving a hand. "So I heard that you are from a very low leveled family and that your father ran away because of a large amount of debt?"

"Actually my father returned and paid back the rest of our debt." She was getting a bit impatient with the old man's questions, that was obviously directed to insult her and her family.

"And you worked as a maid?"

This question made her snap. A small vein popped onto her forehead. This is bad. Takumi thought. She'll snap any moment now.

"Grandfather-" Gerard started.

"Miss Ayuzawa." The old man said, with a more superior tone. "You worked as a maid before, is it not?"

Misaki took a deep breath. "Mister Walker." Her amber eyes firmly stared into his eyes. "It seems that even though you had a Japanese wife, and you learned Japanese, you might have forgotten what a part time job means. "Patotaimu no shigoto" is Part Time Job in English. I was in high school and had a debt and my studies to worry about. That café had a very nice atmosphere and I worked with very nice people who care for me. And not to mention that it had a high salary. It was the best choice I had in the situation at that time."

When she finished her sentence, the room was pitching quiet. The two butlers, the two brothers, and even the Grand Duke, were aghast with Misaki's comeback. Gerard looks at his half-brother and mouthed "She did NOT just say that."

Takumi bit his bottom lip, as he was suppressing a smile. That's my Misa-Chan.

Suddenly, out of nowhere, the Grand Duke's laughter bounced off the walls in the room. "I'm impressed, Miss Ayuzawa." He chuckled. "It's been years since anyone had spoken to me like that!" his eyes softened. "You're have that fighting spirit in you just likes my late wife and daughter."

"And there he goes comparing me to dead people…" She mutters under her breath.

"I heard that, Miss Ayuzawa."

She straightened immediately. "I-I'm sorry!"

The old man shakes his in dismissal. "You're truly like my daughter."

The rest of the dinner appointment was filled with laughter and merry conversations.

One thought went through everyone's minds, except Misaki. This girl, is one of a kind.

~Time Skip: In the car~

"Nee, Misaki." Takumi said, while steering the wheel.

"Hm?"

"Do you really know all the plans regarding to our wedding?"

Misaki let out a small giggle.

"What's wrong?" Takumi asked, confused.

"I don't know anything." Misaki replied. "All I know is that I have to do dress fitting and make sure I don't run away from the wedding because of nervousness."

"But you said-"

"I was bluffing~!" Misaki laughed. "You're doing all the planning and you barely tell me anything!"

"But what if Grandfather pries deeper into the wedding plans? How will you respond?"

Misaki shook her head. "I was certain he wouldn't."

"Oh?"

Her amber eyes sparkled. "I knew he was going to insult me." She smirked. "Maybe you could say that I fought fire with fire."