Chapter four
No worries they will be getting a case this chapter since it wouldn't be ghost hunt without an evil spirit tormenting our favourite team of ghost hunting misfits.
I stood waiting for the pot too boil fuming at the stupid Narcissist. I came back only cause I needed the money I was set on moving on from him. I had decided on my way over that I would call him by his last name and that was it. He was no longer Naru to me and I was no longer Mai to him I would be called Miss Taniyama and I was going to tell him that.
The teapot shrieked demanding my attention as I began preparing the tea. Making my way over to his office I walked inside noting the open door which was unusual.
"Here you are Mr. Davis." I said setting the tea down in front of him before turning to leave.
"Thank you Mai." He said catching me off guard momentarily causing me to pause. My heart jumped but, without turning around I said as cold as I could managed. "It's Taniyama."
I didn't stop to see his reaction before walking out the door and sitting down at my desk and began sorting through some paperwork.
I was stunned and Oliver Davis wasn't one to be shocked speechless but, what she said had hurt. She had called me by my last name. When she had said it the kitchen I wasn't surprised since she was mad at me but, then she did it again. I hate to admit but, I don't understand why she said it and yes, it was my name and even though I hated the nickname she had given me I found myself missing it. I took a sip of the tea she had made it and felt like I was taking my first breath in years. I know it was just tea but, there was something about it that sang to me. I realized a little too late that I finished my cup and was about to call out for more but, I bit my tongue. I didn't want to see her force a smile I wanted the old Mai, my Mai. Wait she wasn't my Mai I would never love someone like her she was clumsy and lazy. Her emotions were all over the place. She was a danger magnet. As if to prove my point I heard a thump and a quiet curse from said girl.
I stood up fighting back a chuckle as I walked over to the door the empty cup in my hand.
"Ma…Taniyama." I said catching myself her last name felt odd on my tongue but, I didn't have time to think about as the thought of her almost made me laugh. She looked almost childlike her face was red with embarrassment her skirt was all twisted as she lay on the floor paper strewn and falling like soft snow.
"I ummm." She stammered her lips pouting as she sat up straightening her clothes.
"You tripped." I stated more than asked my eyes on her lips.
"Yes." She said biting her lip I had to pull my eyes away from her before I kissed her, I wasn't beyond admitting to myself anyways that it would be fun to watch her face heat up and see what she would do.
I was about to lean down and help her when the bell rang singling we were no longer alone.
"Mai are you ok?" Madoko asked as she and Lin now stood in the office. As I took this opportunity to escape I headed toward the kitchen feeling hurt as she didn't correct him so it was just me but, then again I was the one to hurt her not Lin. I shook my head man I was hopeless. I thought as I set my cup in the sink.
Maybe Gene was right I must have fallen in love with this girl but, I still wasn't sure she felt the same way I did. Though I wasn't even sure how to go about acting out my feelings that was Gene's department not mine. I sighed again I seemed to be doing that an awful lot lately. I quickly dismissed all my thoughts as I made my way back into the main room. Mai and Madoko were cleaning up the files and Lin was nowhere to be seen I didn't doubt that he had probably retreated to his office just like I was about too.
"Noll." Madoko said standing up with her hands on her hips staring me down.
I raised a brow at her signaling for her to continue already guessing what she was about to say.
"You didn't even help her, did we not raise you better than that?" She asked shaking her head.
"Taniyama dropped the papers she can clean them up." I stated as I turned and walked back into my office closing the door I didn't expect to see Lin sitting in my chair. I raised my eyebrow as he stared at me.
"You know why I am here Noll." He said as I folded my arms looking at him.
"Do I?" I asked already guessing that it had something to do with a certain female in the other room.
"Mai came back." He stated and I had to fight an eye roll.
"I see that."
"She won't put up with this for long you know."
Now I was confused and I wasn't someone easily confused.
"Someone will come take her from you if you don't grow up and admit you lo…"
"That's enough." I snapped a normal person would have flinched but, not Lin he was as emotionless as myself for the most part.
"You can deny it all you want but, the rest us see right through you." He said standing to leave.
I watched him go as he left the room closing the door behind him.
I sat in the now empty chair and turned to face the black monitor screen.
I thought over his words for a few minutes before I heard the doorbell it was almost closing time so I was a little surprised that someone would be here but, I was happy non the less for the distraction sweeping my pervious thought to the back of my mind for reflection later I waited for Mai to call me out.
A few seconds later there was a knock at the door. "Come in." I said forcing
"Mr. Shibuya a client is here to see you." She said causing me to repress a shiver at her tone.
I nodded as I stood making my way toward her. I looked down at her as she avoided my gaze.
"This is Mr. Hiroyama, Oki." Mai said as she rushed off to make tea.
I sat on the black couch across from him as Lin came out with his forever present laptop.
"Begin." I said as Mai came back into the room carrying four cups of tea. I raised my eyebrow as she gave the client Tea along with Lin and finally she set mine down in front of me on the small wooden table. I leaned forward picking up my cup watching her out of the corner of my eye as she chose to go stand beside Lin.
I inwardly frowned but, I didn't comment as I looked at the client he looked like a typical Japanese business man with his perfectly pressed grey suit. His short black hair was slicked back as his tired grey eyes looked around the room.
"I run a moderately successful Inn just outside of town or at least I did." He said looking down at his hands. I noticed they were shaking ever so slightly as the tea sloshed around.
I felt annoyed as he paused to take a sip of the tea before sighing Mai's tea seemed to have that calming effect on people. It was as most would say my addiction though I would never truly admit it.
"Until a month ago when people stopped coming to the Inn after complaining of strange occurrences, at first small things started like footsteps could be heard walking up and down the hall on the floor that was closed for renovations so no one was supposed to be up there after hours.
I began to tune out having faith that Lin would at least get all the info so far this case seemed boring the more I thought about it.
"Then young single woman started disappearing from locked rooms." That caught my attention and pulled me back in.
"They didn't just wander off?" I asked interested now.
He shook his head the cameras in the halls picked up no one leaving the rooms after they retired for the night." He said looking at me with pleading eyes. "My business has really been suffering and the missing woman have yet to be found the police have searched the whole property and found no trace of them."
"We will be there tomorrow afternoon give the information to Miss Taniyama." I said standing up to retreat back into my office.
"Thank you Mr. Shibuya." He said bowing as Oliver retreated.
"We will need three rooms one for base and another for the girls and boys…"
"Make it three rooms for sleeping." Oliver said heading into his office before I could question him.
"Thank you." He said handing me a piece of paper with the address on it."
I bowed and watched him leave the office before heading into the kitchen with the dirty cups.
"Well there goes my date." I thought as I pulled out my phone dialing Susuki's phone number.
"Hey." He answered on the first ring.
"Hey I'm sorry Susuki I won't be able to make our date tomorrow night please forgive me." I said feeling bad he really was a sweet guy.
"A case." He guessed sighing.
"Ya I have to leave tomorrow morning." I answered.
"Well you need the job right so I understand." He said sounding dejected.
"I'll message you when I get home." I promised.
"Alright bye." He said hanging up.
"Who was that?" Oliver's voice came from the doorway.
"No one." I lied as I began filling the sink.
"Mai." He raised an eyebrow.
"Taniyama." I corrected as I began washing the dishes.
"Tell me." He demanded I swear I felt the temperature in the room drop.
"It doesn't concern you." I said setting the last cup in the dish rack and drying my hand turning to leave when I hit something hard but, warm.
I took me a moment to realize what it was. I could smell the strong sent of tea. He really was a tea addicted I inwardly laughed as I breathed in his sent again, my heart fluttered my mind screamed at me to wrap my arms around him to hold him close but, I pulled away ignoring my feelings my face was no doubt as red as a tomato.
"If you are within working hours than yes, it does concern me." He said folding his arms as I stepped away.
I was over him or at least that is what I kept telling myself or should I say trying to tell myself. Somewhere in my mind screamed that if you were over him you should be able to tell him about your date I steeled my nerves prepared to tell him when the front door bell rang.
"I should get that." I said nervously as I began to walk around him.
"We aren't finished." He said his fingers wrapped around my wrist. I could have sworn he could hear my heart beating hard in my chest my skin felt electrified from where his hand met my arm.
He dropped my arm and I took a moment to collect myself pulling my hand to my chest as he exited the room to see who was here so late.
"And who are you?" I heard Oliver ask in an icier tone than usual.
"Oh no." I thought rushing into the room.
"I'm here to see Mai." I said looking at the strange young man in front of me. He was about the same height as me.
He must be the other assistant Mai had mentioned.
"You didn't answer my question." His icy tone almost caused me to shiver or was it just colder in here all of a sudden.
"Susuki!" Mai called his eyes never leaving me.
"Mai I thought that since you had to cancel our date…"
"Date." Oliver all but spat out.
"Am I missing something?" I asked looking between the two He was pissed while Mai looked almost guilty.
When no one asked I asked the next question that came into my mind and I really prayed the answer was a no. "Mai is your ex-boyfriend." I asked watching the girl blush as an older man came out from one of the rooms.
"No he's…"
"Her boss." The icy statue answered.
"He's your boss?" I asked shocked he looked to be only a year older than Mai and myself.
"Yes." Mai said I knew she wasn't lying but, I was still shocked.
"Well I thought you would want to grab a bite to eat before you went home for the night." I said feeling the temperature drop a few more degrees.
"That's sweet but, I…"
"She can't." The boss said folding his arms across his chest.
"Noll." The older man said sounding like a warning.
"I was going to say that I have to pack." Mai said eyeing the kid called Noll.
"Oh well can I at least walk you home?"
"I guess so." I said turning to grab my bag off of my desk.
"Taniyama don't be late tomorrow or we will leave without you and you will not be paid." Noll said storming off into what I assumed was the asses' office.
"I won't you Narcissist." She called as we walked out of the building.
I watched out the window of my office and her and that guy walked down the street heading for her apartment. This made my blood run cold as he slipped his arm around her shoulders.
"I tried to warn you." Lin said as he entered the room.
"She can't love him." I said turning to stare at the older man.
"She could remember you didn't want her." He said another crack could be heard sounding somewhere in the office.
"You need to get your feelings under control." He sighed his usual emotionless face showing a small hint of anger.
"I'm going home." I said grabbing my coat and heading toward the door.
"Noll." I heard his warning without him saying it.
I was just going to make sure that kid didn't try anything and that he left nothing more call it taking care of my assistant I thought convincing myself as I left the building walking down the street toward Mai's apartment.
_There you have it chapter four
The case will begin next chapter which should be up soon
Please read and review and thank to those who have favorited and followed the story I will continue writing this.