Engaged to Squall Leonhart

I am to be congratulated; this is the first "new" chapter I've written for this fiction :P ((yes .. the original never got quite up off the ground)) so for those of you that have seen this story before – yay for you!

And also, ((I can't work my e-mail right now , )) thank you Emerald-Latias on helping shape Squally-poo up a little more :p And also a hearty thank you to everyone who has reviewed

Rinoa's lunch break started at 12:30, but being deliberately difficult, there she sat at 12:43 with her arms crossed firmly across her chest and her legs pinched together. Her cheeks were still flushed with the bitterness she had felt earlier. Had to make some calls? Ha! Oh yes, he certainly had to make one… The spitefulness rose up in her blood again. The exact same feeling had kept her from meeting her boss outside the building thirteen minutes ago on time.

Another minute passed.

Glancing at the clock on the wall, she checked her emotions. Why did it matter to her what her boss has done, and is still (apparently) still doing? Selphie had already left about ten minutes ago… She shook her head. Focus.

Another minute passed.

She impatiently flicked her hair over her shoulder. I wonder if he's out there waiting for me…

Another minute…

He better not had forgotten about me! She thought irritably. Somewhere in the back of her mind she knew she was behaving childish. All she wanted was the satisfaction of getting him angry, but she was beginning to get worried about what the consequences of such actions would be. It was obvious her job was on the line, and God knows what-

"Hn."

His voice snapped her out of her thoughts, and she abruptly turned around to see him standing right behind her. His eyes rested on her computer screen which had long been turned off.

Excuses began to bubble up in her mind, and not a single of them were plausible. When his gaze turned to her, she could feel the annoyance radiating from him. Words weren't exactly needed, he could tell what she had been doing – although he was probably unaware of the reason why.

"I expect you to be on time next time." His words were soft and pleasant enough for other ears, but to hers they sent the hairs on the back of her neck erect.

"Next time?" She gave a confused blink.

"Later," he said, motioning for her to stand up. "Later" obviously meant lunch and she was quite sure at that moment that she didn't want to hear what his decision was.

He began walking towards the exit, but Rinoa's feet were still planted firmly in the ground and unable to move. She spoke before thinking and as a result her voice was louder than Squall's preference.

"But I don't want there to be a 'next time!'"

Several people turned around and stared at the receptionist with odd looks. No doubt they were listening in on them anyways, but now they were openly giving them attention. That familiar flush crept up to her cheeks, especially when she saw Squall's entire body tense up. Squall, however, was a business man – and as per his job, he was accustomed to awkward moments.

He walked back towards her and placed an arm around her back. Completely caught unaware, Rinoa found her self being led out the doors like an obedient lamb. She never heard the fake laugh or the lines meant for others to hear. What she did hear was a low murmuring meant for her ears only. "Never make a display like that again in the work place." As soon as they were out of sight, Squall immediately let go of her as if she were unclean and led her to his car.

Rinoa and Squall sat opposite of each other in a booth. Squall had made the order – two cups of coffee and two identical sandwiches. The waitress had smiled and "Aww'd" at the order, and made some comment along the lines of, "Well, aren't you just two peas in a pod?"

Rinoa felt as if the woman could not have made a more incorrect statement.

Squall looked composed, stoic, in control… and she felt like a little flimsy sheet of fabric being tugged on in every direction. Unfortunately her previous assumption that things would become less complicated out of the business area had proved incorrect. He was still devilishly handsome boss, while she was the little- Just breathe, Rinoa. This time it would be different, she told herself. She would put an end to this. He just has to start it, she thought miserably, unable to bring herself to say anything.

After they ate – in silence – Squall initiated the conversation. "After much consideration…" he hesitated for a moment, "I have decided on the best course of action."

"Oh." She felt dumb, her mind going completely blank.

Perhaps feeling her consent in his choice, he continued. "Don't worry, it more than benefits you."

"Benefits me?" Her question was asked innocently enough, but her tone was flat.

He leaned forward and narrowed his eyes. "Hn."

"Mr. Leonhart, I only did this out of pure revenge. Nothing else."

"Blackmail held no part of it."

"None at all," she bit her words off.

He didn't respond, but merely placed a gloved hand in his pocket and pulled out a small black box with leather like texture. Rinoa's eyes grew wide, and she felt her chord of fear being strummed delicately. Perhaps fear wasn't the best way to describe the feeling, but rather a rush of adrenaline as she felt a numbing apprehension. Her large eyes followed the box until he firmly plunked it down right in front of her. He had a grim expression on his face as he pulled back and crossed his arms over his chest.

"What is it…" She didn't have to ask, but she felt the need to clarify what she was seeing. Squall didn't bother answering. Slowly she reached out towards it and felt its smooth surface under her fingertips. Without picking it up, she carefully opened the lid and stared.

No, no, no, this isn't right!

"I don't want it!" She closed the lid and thrust it back at Squall.

The world seemed dim out, and all she could see was the bridge of her nose and the blurry white table as a background. She clamped all of her body limbs together and bit her bottom lip.

Squall looked down at the toppled over ring box. Setting it up right, he stared at the girl until she felt the courage to look back up at him again. When she finally did, she gave a final plea.

"Please Mr. Leonhart, can't we just call this off? I will leave your employ and I can tell everyone it was all a mistake, I…" Her voice trailed off.

"Five months, that is all that's needed." He shoved the box back towards her. "Five months of pretending to be my fiancé , four at minimum." He sighed and sat up straight. "We can keep this professional and you will be well compensated."

Just like every other woman you've had… she thought bitterly, and met him eye to eye. "Oh really, and how is that?"

He gave a perplexed look, and scratched his chin. "You have the ring, and I have – " he removed yet another box from his coat and placed it beside engagement ring, " – another gift for your cooperation –"

"I can't accept that!" She firmly stated, without even looking. "You might as well shove dollars down my shirt if you-"

"Don't be foolish. You'll have to look the part anyways in public."

"What?" Feeling angry again, her voice began to rise slightly in pitch. "I suppose I could subjugate myself to playing the love sick fiancé in the office, but I am NOT going to go around to impress your high class business friends, just for them to laugh-"

"They will not laugh at you but they will find it odd if they do not see you wearing my ring and my jewelry."

"And let me guess, all of your other women have worn them gladly?" She sneered triumphantly.

He challenged her back. "Does it matter?"

She sniffed, and raised her head up high. "Doesn't it?"

"Whatever," he shot back irritably, "you will wear it and you will find something suitable to wear tomorrow night; something worthy of Squall Leonhart's fiancé."

"No!" She crossed her arms over chest and gave him a steely glare.

"What in the hell is the matter with you," he growled out after a moment of silent.

"You're a meanie! And you haven't even asked me if I liked my ring yet!"

All she got back was a blank look in reply, yet she saw just a flicker of a smile play across his face. She opened the ring box again, and saw the diamond nestled right into the tiny gold band.

"The contrast against your onyx colored eyes," he stated dully. She looked up at him and raised a quizzical eyebrow. "It was in your profile," he inserted as a reply to the unspoken question.

Rinoa was sure that the color of her eyes wasn't in her profile, but she ignored that tiny little detail. She opened the box and a matching set of earrings and a necklace were beautifully displayed.

Feeling slightly awkward, she mumbled a thank you, and cautiously placed the ring on her finger as if it might hurt her. Squall made a movement as if he wasn't sure if he should help her or not, but decided against it and held on to the edges of the table.

"Well, now that that little bit of business is taken care off, what time shall I pick you up tomorrow?"

Well, I'll leave that off for now. Next chapter: A party! O.O And the hooker makes a re-appearance! And perhaps Squall's own reasons for wanting to go on through this engagement revealed:3 ((no no no. Stop thinking Harlequin romance novel, it's nothing as corny as that XD))