I was retying my dress when Ota and Baba came in to show me around the penthouse. I had no wish to go with them after I just was made to strip in front of a stranger. Not even a stranger, my boss of all people. I was still in a state of shock, but I wasn't going to let them figure that out.
"Re-doing your dress, eh? Eisuke already have his way with you?" Ota snickered as I finished smoothing out my dress. I just shot him a glare and tried to ignore them.
"That's just moving far too fast. In more ways than one, no normal man would do that." Baba speculated as he eyed for my response.
"That man wishes a woman like me would consent to him," I retorted back turning to face them. Their faces showed pure amusement as I crossed my arms and peered at them expectantly. "Now what do you want Mr. Kisaki and Mr. …what was it, Bags? Bates?"
"She forgot your name again, Baba! She really is immune to your charms!" Ota was laughing at the older man. He looked as though this was the first time anyone has ever forgotten Baba's name and I just didn't get it. It's not abnormal for someone to forget a name or two when you just met the people.
"Well, it's not like I would know your name, Mr. Kisaki, if you weren't a famous artist. I would be just as clueless if that were the case," I stated matter-of-factly. I wasn't really in the mood to be dealing with people, but I continued to go along with their banter. Ota seemed a little surprised at the fact that I would even think about the fact that he could have ended up as a regular person. "What do you two want? I would very much like to go to sleep."
"Well, we were going to show you around the penthouse floors! This is going to be your new home, after all," Baba started. My new home…you mean I won't be going back to the employee dorms? I furrowed my brow at that sentence. "Besides, Miss…Miss…"
Ota looked at Baba in surprise, "You actually forgot a woman's name? That even more amazing then her not knowing yours!"
"Hm, it would seem we have ended up in the same boat, Mr. Baba. I didn't know your name and you don't know mine. Now you see why I didn't think it was as funny the first time," I huffed at the men. Of course, the King was the only one I had actually told my name to, but I enjoyed watching the long-hair man squirm. He obviously seemed bother by the idea that he should know my name but didn't, and it made me smile ever so slightly. "Messieurs Kisaki and Baba, my name is Kai."
"Well either way you should just call me Ota. Everyone does and it will help you adjust to life here."
"I'll just stick with Mr. Kisaki, thank you. I would rather not get too comfortable with any of you," I say evenly. It's true, I don't want to get close to any of the men who helped buy me. I would think that's a reasonable reaction to the situation but the look of absolute astonishment that crossed their faces confused me. Why was that such a big deal? I would figure they both had normal women gawking and trying to hang around them enough and having me do it would just be more trouble. "So, are we doing this tour thing or just standing here in this room?"
After the two men showed me around the top two floors, I went back into the double bedroom. I suppose I'll be claiming this space as my own. Sighing, I found a quite large button-down shirt, probably Eisuke's, in the changing area of the bathroom and decided it was going to have to do for pajamas. After showering and flopping down on the overly-plush bed, the day's events started to sink in. I was no longer a free woman. I tried for so long to escape from my parents as they tried to raise the "prefect" children and had finally done it at twenty-one. Escaping meant being disowned publicly for being too rebellious, but I could live with that. Most people in Japan don't worry about what the old blood lines do anymore, these families don't hold much power without a monarch, so I basically got off easy.
Yet now, I'm back in a cage after two years of freedom. And I don't think I can get out as easily as I did before. The Ichinomiya Group is one of the old blood lines that still had a lot of power due to the company expanding into all trades. If I want to stay under the allusion of a normal maid, that doesn't have a groomed bone in her body, I would have to watch my every move. Eisuke will be able to spot someone with a "pedigree" name, even without knowing my given surname. And as much as I disliked my family, I didn't want to get them involved in this mess.
The night went by quickly as I thought about the situation I was in more thoroughly. It was already around five in the morning when I finally decided I wasn't getting any sleep. I found my way into the kitchen, thankful that the King seemed to sleep later then I did, and brewed myself some coffee. Normally, I would add milk to it, but today was a black coffee kind of day. I took my mug and walked into the living area and gazed out the window. The view was the most beautiful sight my eyes had ever seen.
Not being able to watch the sunrise over the skyscrapers in silence, I began to mutter to myself everything I needed to do today. "Okay, he'll probably get mad if I leave before he sees me today. So I won't be able to swing by my dorm before work, and I'm guessing delaying me coming up late after work is a big ol' no as well. So maybe if I skip lunch today I can grab a backpack as put the essentials in it and leave it in my locker for the end of the day. Then I'll have everything I absolutely need until I can claim the rest of my stuff. I can't afford to buy lunch every day and I doubt I'll be able to go get ingredients for his kitchen. So I'll need to make a plan of which ones I'll skip. I don't eat breakfast, so I'll have to eat lunch most days, so dinner will have to go on certain days." I began plotting the way I would handle my finances, as I couldn't cut into the amount I set aside for doctors' visits and medications.
Not really caring about the fact that I could feel the King's eyes glaring into me from across the room, I just shook my head as I watched to sun move over the horizon. I also didn't care that I was standing in a strange man's living area in his button up shirt, that only went passed mid-thigh on me, while the same man watched my every movement.
Noting the fact he was now awake at six a.m. I slowly made my way back to my room to put the dress back on, as I couldn't travel to the locker room like this, I might give a guest a heart attack. After fixing my hair and putting the dress on, I made my way back into the kitchen to wash out my empty cup. After that, I went to the door leading to the lounge area and elevators.
"Where do you think you're going, woman?" Eisuke growled from his place on the couch. He was obviously not a morning person. He sounded more like a grumpy old man telling children to get off his lawn then a CEO of a major business.
"To go clean your hotel and serve your guests and make sure your ass doesn't get chewed out by a VIP." I snipped back. I just wanted to get down to the locker room before meeting with any of the other maids. "I'll come right back up here after my shift like a good little maid."
"You're too loud in the mornings. Wait right there until I say you can go," he stated in a cold tone of voice. Damn, does this guy have a soul or any bit of warmth in his body? I bet he's cold blooded, too. Soon after taking quietly on the phone with someone, my very own manager showed up holding two objects I wanted nothing to do with. A key card with distinct gold markings and a pager.
"Here are the items you requested, sir," Kenzaki said far too cheerily as he sets them on the table before bowing deeply. "Is there anything else I can help you with?" Oh, so the King has loyal dogs, too? I guess this is why I was always such a cat person.
"No, thank you, Kenzaki." And with a wave of the King's hand the dog scampered away down stairs. "This card is how you will be able to use the elevators to and from this level. This pager is going to only be used by me, so when I call you best be up in my sights within five minutes."
"Five minutes? Ah, right. Because not only am I a hotel maid, I'm also an Olympic runner!" I sighed as I grabbed the items from the desk. This is going to suck. I turned on my, still barefoot, heel and left the room in a huff. As I closed the door I could have sworn Eisuke muttered, "I'll find a good use for her."
By the time I made it to the dressing room I was already starting to panic, a good use for me? Like what, shark bait? I guess I did own him twenty million dollars, which is never going to be paid back monetarily. I think I would have preferred bidder #5, he was so gross I could probably slip out of his greasy grasp. Sighing I changed into my uniform and put some simple make-up on. Nothing fancy as I would prefer to blend in now that I have the attention of five very important men.
"KAI! What happened? AreyouokayChasitoandIhavebeensoworried," A young girl, no more than twenty one, burst into a full run when she saw me. After enveloping me in a choking hug she pulled away scanning my face with a look of pure worry.
"Sakiko, I see you're still a bundle of energy as always. I'm fine," I had no idea what this girl was talking about, but she was one of my good friends along with the older woman standing behind her. Sakiko always acted as if she straight-lined a five hour energy, while Chasito was calm and rational at all times.
"We were told that you had a medical emergency and had to leave right after lunch yesterday," Chasito said as she peeled the younger casino worker off of me. "Are you sure you should be working right now?"
Ah, so that's what the story was. I left due to health complications. Which wasn't all false, I was whacked over the head with something metal, and I would say being unconscious is a complication. After clearing my throat I spoke up to the girls, "I'm fine. I just ended up having some boxes fall on me in the storage room. I told Mr. Kenzaki not to worry about it but he sent me to the hospital anyways."
After brushing off all the girl's questions and daydreaming through the morning meeting I was finally at my best as I made beds. I felt focused and energized as I didn't have any eyes on me as I worked. While moving to the next room a woman, who I knew to be a famous French politician's wife, approached me. As I was talking to the woman, the pager buzzed in my pocket. Ignoring it I continued leading the woman to her room. It took about ten minutes as she didn't know much Japanese, so instead I had to switch to French, but once she was inside I finally got to look at the pager.
"Be up here in five minutes." Well, that wasn't happening. Instead of rushing up there, I figured I wouldn't alarm any guests or employees by full on sprinting to the main elevators. I slowly made my way up to the penthouse lounge a good twenty minutes after the pager went off. If you were going to be late, better to be really late.
"What did you call me up here for?" I said, obviously annoyed that I was missing my very important lunch break for this. I was supposed to be getting my stuff for bring up here.
"You're late," the King looked at me with a glare that could make the devil run with his tail between his legs. Well, maybe you should have called when I wasn't working. That would have made things easier on the both of us.
"I didn't think the wife of Perrineau would have appreciated it if I just ran away after she asked for help. The French don't take kindly to disrespect," I said as I tried not to show the shiver that went down my spine as the King's gaze settled on me. "The VIP guests always come first," I finished as I looked back into his brown eyes. How come he got to be rich and gorgeous? It was simply not fair to the rest of us.
"No, I come first. Are you forgetting that I own this hotel and you?" he growled back at me. That wasn't right, the guests always come first, and that's the whole thing about working at a hotel. Make sure everyone who is paying to be here gets the best treatment possible. I furrowed my brow at the statement, but I don't think this man has ever considered anyone else's happiness but his own. He might be pretty, but looks weren't enough to cover the fact he was vile. "The reason I called you up here is because I finally found a use for you. You're going to be my girlfriend from now on."
I chewed those words over in my head. The other men, who I had just now noticed were in here as well, turned towards the King and voiced their concerns about this decision. I wasn't really paying attention to all of this, as I was mulling over the effects of this on my life. Just thinking about this man, no this overly rich child, linking arms with me as we attended parties was just hysterical to me. Before I know it I was on the ground clutching my stomach with tears streaming down my face laughing.
"You want me, just think about it, me to be your girlfriend? Are you trying to ruin everything you've built up, 'cause this plan will certainly do that. Me, a smart-mouthed maid at your very own hotel, as the CEO and heir to the Ichinomiya Group's girlfriend. Oh, the press would get a kick out of it!" I just continued laughing as the almighty King etched a disapproving frown at my reaction. Was he expecting me to be afraid or upset? But this idea was far too ridiculous. Whipping away my tears I stood up while a goofy grin played on my face. This guy was insane.
"You will behave as my woman. You will not go making any scenes while on my arm, do you hear me?" he aggressively stated, pushing his way off the couch and over to me.
"You're gonna have a hand full with that one, 'suke." I didn't recognize that gruff voice, so I whipped my head around to see the bum-in-a-suit smirking over at us as he read something in his lap. Looking closely at all the men, they were all really pretty, like princes in a fairytale. Princes with twisted ideas of fun.
"And who exactly are you? I don't think we've been introduced, Mr. Mime." I said walking over to him. As I looked the man over I took in his shaggy hair that covered the tops of his grey eyes, and what had captivated those eyes were a police file. "Oh, does the bum have a job as a cop? Or does he just like to play pretend?"
This gained a laugh from Baba and Ota and a smirk from the mobster. Eisuke was still very displeased with me, it would seem. I just couldn't help the fact I got distracted easily. Like a third grader with art supplies.
"Awh, look Mamo! Even Kai knows you aren't a real detective!" Baba snorted out as he laughed with the young artist.
"Looks like she is very perceptive, then again a slacker like Kishi doesn't do much to hide it," Soryu said as he smirked at the cop.
"Enough, woman you should only focus on me, it's important that you do not screw this up." The King was in such a bad mood. I wonder if the jester could do anything to brighten his mood up. I just happen to be the best jester I know.
Sighing, I turned to look back at the increasingly annoyed CEO, "If it was that important for your girlfriend to not screw up you should have picked a better person to force into being your little snookums. I wouldn't think a man as rich as you would be so desperate that he had to spend twenty million just for a girlfriend." I smirked as he growled at my response.
"Who do you think you are? You do not have room to defy me."
I pretended to look hurt as the other men laughed at how unafraid I was to talk back. "I'm just the poor jester working for her King. Besides, it's the jester's job to make the kingdom," as I talked I gestured to the other four men as I said kingdom, "Laugh at the expense of one." I rolled my wrist and bowed towards Eisuke as the words came out of my mouth. Eisuke looked as though he could tear my head off at any moment, but as I heard the chuckling coming even from Kishi and Soryu I straightened up. "It would appear my job here is done. Jester Kai is forever at the King's service," I said as I left the room to return to my actual job.
After working the rest of my shift I was about to slip into the dorms to grab my things, only to be stopped by the King forcefully dragging me to the shopping floor of the hotel. After trying on about twenty dresses and receiving nothing but insults, he decided for a black bustier top dress. It was agonizing, especially since I wasn't allowed to give my opinion at all. Apparently this man had a very specific style of dress he wanted me to be seen it, which was fine except he didn't know what it was until he saw it. After that I was again put into multiple types of heels and then given to make-up artists to work on.
It's not like I couldn't do all of this by myself, and more quickly, but he was having none of it. Finally, he took me to the jewelers and picked out nothing but diamond jewelry. The one colorful stone I was adorned with was an emerald on my ring, which seemed a little out of place among the clear jewels. I looked around the shop and noticed a beautiful sapphire necklace.
"It's gorgeous, and so expertly cut," I muttered to myself as I admired the dark blue gem. If my dress wasn't a black, I would have lobbied to have the sapphire instead of the emerald.
"You have awful taste. That would look terrible with your dress," the King shot at me. "Just let me handle this."
I shot him a look of annoyance, "Obviously I know the dark blue would not go with the black dress- that would be too dark of an accent for this. Green is much better suited for this situation. I was merely noting on the fact that the briolette cut on the sapphire was astonishingly well-done. Also, it's a flawless gem, which you don't see often, especially with such a common gemstone. Sapphires aren't normally praised for their clarity, rather usually being recognized for their abundance of colors. Thought, most commonly known for a middle shade of blue." I ended my small rant as I eyed the necklace, not caring to watch the look of displeasure cross his face.
"Just be quiet and attend to me. All I'll make sure you get more attention tonight at the party then you've had in your entire life." He snarled at me.
Later that night as he led me around the I.V.C party, mingling with business partners and envious ex-girlfriends, and I grew increasingly bored. It was the type of boredom a student gets as the teacher drones on in monotone, where you're semi-interested in what's happening around you but not what matters. I started looking around and partaking in people watching, and boy, where there some interesting people here. The five bidders being among them. Baba flirted with at least ten women in succession, Ota went between overly friendly mode to bored as all hell multiple times, Soryu was glaring at people and talking in hushed tones to those brave enough to approach him, and Kishi was smoking in the corner of the room looking as if he was going to pass out from exhaustion. Though, this activity only managed to get me scolded as Eisuke took me over to an elderly looking man who was tending the bar.
"Rabbit." The King said to the man nonchalantly. Huh? What, was Bugs Bunny let loose in here or something? He would be famous enough, though.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Ichinomiya. What can I get you this evening?" The bartender said in a monotone voice. He looked utterly disinterested in the conversation.
"Due & Proper." I gave him a look of pure confusion. This had to be the most confused I had been during this whole string of events that has been my life these past few days.
"I would have pegged you as a wine drinker, not someone who enjoys carrot juice strung up with whiskey," I peered at the man, looking at his face for a response. All I got was his stony face with a throaty grunt. While I was preoccupied with judging the man's drink choice, the bartender was busy opening up a locked door.
"Welcome to the Mad Hatter's Tea Party." So now I'm in a children's story book. Great. Shaking my head, I followed behind the King as he walked into the room, which was adorned solely with mirrors on every wall.
"Awh, a room made especially for you to admire yourself," I said as I eyed the glorified dressing room. Either my remark landed of deaf ears, or he was finally ignoring me, Eisuke pushed down a panel that opened up a secret elevator in the room. "Ooooh, secret passage ways. I didn't know this hotel doubled as a haunted mansion!"
"Be quiet and get in," Eisuke was not dealing with me at all tonight. Maybe he blew a fuse after what happened in the lounge today. As we descended onto floor B10, I could feel the chill in the air. As the elevator doors opened, the King pushed a silver mask into my hands. Realizing that it was the same type of mask Baba and Ota had on last night made me visibly shiver. I'm going back there? Did I actually push him into re-selling me?
Putting on the mask I stepped out behind him and followed up into a high booth. From this area, you could see the stage and the auctioneer clearly. "Why did you bring me here?" My voice was quiet. There were too many people in here and the balcony was surprisingly small for the five adults, and knowing that if I had to leave I would have to wade through masked strangers made my chest tighten considerably.
"You ask too many questions. Use your brain, if you have one." Wow, such a help. I ended up having to close my eyes as the room grew dizzy. It was such a large room, so why was it hard to breathe? Unconsciously, I gripped my left wrist tightly, as if to reassure myself that I was still awake. I could feel my body shaking violently.
"Boss, you sure it was smart bring Kai down here?" Baba asked cautiously. No, don't listen to them. Just focus on yourself. Focus your breathing. Count. Make a list.
"Your puppy looks sick." Ota added in, poking my back.
"I'm not a damn dog." I growled to the man. My brows were furrowed and a look of great distress was etched on my face. I would rather be up on stage again, at least there lights blocked out most of the people from my sight. "And I would advise against you touching me unless you wish for bidder #100 to get thrown over the edge."
After that mostly empty threat I could hear a click of a tongue. As the voice sighed I heard, "You all talk too much, just focus on the auction and not the woman." Apparently, Soryu could not care less about how I was reacting. Thank god, someone with their priorities straight: business first, random women having panic attacks second.
After ten more items went by, the majority being organs, I heard Eisuke speak up. "Tsk, nothing special. It seems the auction is running smoothly, let's get back up to the lounge." Standing up quickly, I walked to the back of the box at a brisk pace. I didn't even look at the men, just kept my eyes on the ground as I walked. I stayed like this all the way up to the lobby.
"Follow close behind me." I heard after getting out of the elevator. I nodded and gave out a barely audible "okay" before making myself inseparable from Eisuke's back. Before long there's a crowd surrounding us and a local finance manager approached us.
"Mr. Ichinomiya! It's lovely to see you again. I don't think I've been made acquaintance to this beautiful woman. Please, introduce us!"
"Ah, Mr. Saionji, the pleasure is all mine," the business smile was back in full force and I watched the King's face as he talked. I could sense what was about to happen, so I tried to angle myself so that none of the prying hotel staff could see my full face. The only two people who could have seen me was Kenzaki and Takahiro. "This is my girlfriend."
I couldn't have heard the sentence leave his lips before a chorus of shrieks erupted from the women who were grasping at his arm. "Eisuke's girlfriend?!" rang out as the sopranos from what seemed like the entirety of Japan screamed in disbelief. Gasps could be heard all around the lobby, myself drawing in a sharp breathe as well.
I was far from alright, with breathing still being hard after being around so many people in the auction hall, it felt like I was drowning when the same amount of people had their eyes dancing all over me. I held my head up, as I would have thought to be appropriate, and gently put pressure on his arm. If I stayed here for a minute longer I was sure I would be in a spell of sobs on the floor.
Either taking the tug as a hint or feeling me trembling, Eisuke wrapped up his conversation with Saionji and got us to the elevator. After the doors closed I backed myself into the corner and shut my eyes. My breathing was ragged and getting worse as time went on. As the door opened I rushed past the King muttering a string of "I'm sorry"-s to the room, paying no mind to the strange looks the men were giving me.
When I finally got into my room I fell to the floor in a pile of sobs. I knew in that moment that I needed to get to my dorm tomorrow, so that I could get my medication before making a fool out of myself and the King.