It took a while but the fourth chapter has arrived :3

Official Disclaimer: I do not own La Corda D'Oro or any of its characters. The story that you're about to read is in no way connected to the original plot, which I also DO NOT OWN.

*AU setting just to bring things out of high school for a bit ;)*

Title: Red Lace

Chapter 4: Weighing Out Bargains

[O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O]

She couldn't believe her stupidity.

It was 9:50 in the morning and she was sitting alone in some posh log-cabin type of café waiting for that long hand to hit 12. Armed with only her alligator-skinned handbag (face powder, lip gloss, hairbrush, half-filled planner, and a cologne that also acts as her mace at some occasions), her bottom warmed up the soft velvet cushion of the pricey arm chair. The crowd around her was mostly made up of young people and workaholic businessmen that blended well along with seemingly preoccupied slender women. She looked lost in her deep-brown wool sweater, paired with white pants and cozy loafers. How she convinced herself that the loafers would look good with this getup was unthinkable but she was already too far away from her apartment to even deal with it.

Manami re-clicked her phone's home button and stretched when she found no pending messages waiting for her. Last night, she and Mr. HC Corp had agreed to meet-up at the very café she was in at exactly 10AM. All was well, thinking that she really was going to get this deal done and enjoy her part of the bargain in a month's time or so. What she didn't think through (or what she didn't really think about until she realized it just before the taxi stopped in front of the café) was that she didn't have his number. They had no means of communication. The guy was drunk and he could've easily forgotten about what they talked about last night. How on earth was she going to remind him of it now?

Clunk.

The resounding knock coming from her left side scared her more than she had ever felt. She froze and pretended to be busy calculating her time when the knock reoccurred. She could slightly make up the figure of a man but she was afraid to turn and find out who it was. The café was just a block away from Aoi's apartment and it was new. Aoi had a thing for going to new places and establishing hangouts near his place. The man knocking on the glass window could be Aoi. There was a big chance.

PONG!

Now that angry knock couldn't have been Aoi's. He at least had the decency to know when he was being ignored; or at least not to get caught looking dumb ignored. Manami turned her head, knowing that it was all safe now, and was relieved to see Mr. HC Corp outside. His brows crossed and made a little crease just above his bridge as he gestured her to step outside. She gladly threw her phone inside her bag and practically ran outside to meet him.

"What the hell were you ignoring me for?" he said, irritated. He kicked a chair slightly away from its table and settled down, undoing his scarf.

"I'm sorry. I'm not fond of answering knocks from glass windows," she answered as she sat on the chair across him. She felt him staring at her before he retrieved a box from his coat. Ryou was a dashing figure in black with his frame owning up to the black trench coat he was wearing. His hair was naturally pointed at different directions; messy, but handsome nonetheless. His facial features were strong, especially his jaw, and his eyes weren't any subtler than steel. He was the very image of an entrepreneur; abrasive features and a stare you just can't say no to.

Until, of course, he lights that cigarette in front of your face.

Manami swept a hand in the air to prevent the smoke from reaching her. Honestly, how could a professional smoke loads of cancer daily? She had recently read at a magazine that cigarette doesn't only cut your years short but it also interferes with your diet plans. If he keeps smoking packs like oxygen, he's going to lose that good physique really fast. Such a shame for it to go to waste, too.

Ryou watched as the blonde before him grabbed a perfume bottle and sprayed away the foul smell of his cigarette. It was almost comical to watch how she avoided invisible traces of smoke. In all her poise, she'd managed to look less of a lady in seconds in the presence of a cigarette. He eyed her from top to bottom as she placed her perfume on the table with disgust strewn all over her face.

"Why are you so against smoking?" Ryou asked as he unloaded his wallet form his pocket and placed it on the table before leaning forward to display his curiosity. As he expected, Manami recoiled the moment he tapped his stick on the side. "Past experience? High school advocacy? A college thesis that turned you about?" Manami watched as he inhaled the thick smoke into his body. I give it five years, she thought, your body's going to lose those firm muscles in five years.

He looked into those teal eyes and found out that they were deeper than they seemed. He'd stared into them last night. They still had the same depth. Not that he's measured. He never reached the bottom. Whenever she stared, her eyes seemed to pull his into a drowning predicament in which he could die in them and still feel ecstasy. He's never seen such eyes before. They were the color of the Pacific, waves rolling continuously, mesmerizing others at first sight. Those long eyelashes weren't exempted from the beauty of it all. They provided shadows that hid her innocence in as she looked back at him. He could die never knowing the meaning of life just by staring into those teal orbs. They were…

"Dangerous." His eyes fluttered at the sound of her voice. What the hell. "People die from it. It wasn't an advocacy or a thesis result that made me turn," she explained as he leaned back on his seat. What on earth was he thinking staring at her that intently? "It's more of my concern towards those who do and don't smoke alike. We all deserve a chance to breathe clean air, don't you think?"

She stared at him, the Pacific waves roaring wildly this time. Ryou straightened up under her gaze and composed himself. He was out of his element just like that. He threw his stick to the side and rubbed his hands together. Her teal eyes followed the cigarette's trail, making sure it lands somewhere safe and far from things that could catch fire. She was watching the light die down on the end as the cold breeze swept by to take its life.

"Tell you what," Ryou started, hiding his box of cigarettes, "seeing as though we're going to be together for quite some time, I'm going to quit smoking in your presence just to make you feel comfortable."

He smiled for the first time, a real stunner, and Manami thought she might just cease living if he ever stopped. "What makes you think we're going to be together for long?" she managed to blurt out, making him hold onto his breath for a while. She wondered how those words fixed themselves and managed to exit her lips. There he was trying to make her feel comfortable and she just had to oppose it with her words. Maybe if he hadn't smiled, she would've had something better to say.

"The deal," he said, slightly ignoring the urge to walk out on her. She remained still in her seat. He knew she regretted being rude and that was enough to reject the idea of walking out. He pulled her perfume near his side of the table and examined the back label. It smelled really old; the kind that his mother wears on his parents' dinner dates. "You handed me an offer last night that you were going to help me get to Kahoko if I bring Aoi Kaji down from his spot on the market," he reminded her just when a waitress from inside the cozy walls of the café walked out with a couple of menus for them.

The waitress grinned at them both, Ryoutaro grinning back as he placed the perfume back on the table. He seemed happy to see her. The waitress handed out the menus and Manami gracefully accepted one from her. She started scanning the contents, searching for the right meal. "Not to take him down from his spot, sir," she corrected him before placing the menu on the table. The prices were reasonable but she only had enough money for commute. Being jobless sucked. "I can only get my friend in your arms if you take him off the market."

Ryou skimmed through the menu and contemplated on his meal. The young waitress behaved behind Manami, giving them the right amount of space for a talk. Off the market, eh? Ryou coughed as he thought his decision through. Would she do her end of the bargain if he does his? Kicking Aoi off the top spot is one thing but completely cleaning him off the list is another. "Macchiato and English muffins, Fuyuumi," he announced to the young waitress.

Manami arched her brow as she heard him call the young waitress by name. How on earth did he know her name? "Are you a regular here?" she asked Ryou casually, the latter ignoring her question. The waitress laughed and bowed gracefully, being noticed for the first time. A stream of shame shot up Manami's body after realizing that she'd managed to ignore such a divine creature earlier. She felt less of a woman in her presence. "I'm Fuyuumi Tsuchiura," the waitress introduced herself, sweetness and all light. "I'm his sister."

Manami was struck by a sudden realization as if all sense left her body. She looked around her and tried to spot obvious signs. "Is this your family café?" she asked in awe. She suddenly felt foreign. Ryou smirked at her amusement and watched as her cheeks turned red. "I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have…"

"Shouldn't have what?" Ryou asked; a chuckle already on its way to his mouth. "I was the one who asked to meet you here. There's nothing to be ashamed of," he nodded at Fuyuumi, who took that moment to excuse herself and reenter the café. "It started out as a silly idea between my sister and I. I wasn't really into the whole coffee frenzy. She thought it'd be a good business opportunity. This café saved my butt from dropping out of college so now I'm saving hers." He looked over his shoulder, checking to see if anyone was there to hear him unfold the foundation of his achievements. They were the only ones outside. "This café now has sixty branches all over Japan. We're going international next year."

It's been a while since he'd talked about it. He laughed. Manami looked confused. Silence prevailed for a good two seconds before he started talking again. "About your deal," ah yes, the deal, Manami mentally took herself back from all the shock, "how do you want this done? Do I do my end of the bargain first or do you?"

She had so many things to ask him about how they started the café and how it all grew from there but she knew that she'd be way out of line. "We do it together," she answered just as Fuyuumi stepped out of the café with a tray carrying a meal for two. "Oh no," Manami held her hands up slightly, as if sheltering herself from falling debris. "I didn't order any. It was just his." Fuyuumi stopped to look at her brother, her eyes wide with confusion. Ryou grabbed the tray and placed the crystal glass and plate before her.

"I can't pay for this," Manami sheepishly said, fighting the urge to fumble with her fingers. His sister smiled at her, making the moment all the more awkward. She excused herself once more and resumed business inside the café.

Ryou stopped to look at her before smiling again. That smile. I should see to it that I get his dentist. "Don't be silly, it's on the house," he said, hospitality oozing out from every syllable. She focused her eyes on the muffins for distraction. Ryou retrieved his hand from the plate slowly, as if feeding a tiger. Any further detection of movement may result to a rampage. Manami wondered just how many times he's used that charming smile to reel women in.

"Y-You should smile often," she managed to say before grabbing her eating utensils. Ryou was caught dumbfounded halfway through slicing his bread. He stayed still as he contemplated quickly on what she said, elbow flexed up holding his knife in position. "I mean, you know…" Manami tried to explain further, gulping audibly to control her nervousness. "As far as I could tell, Kahoko's charmed by smiles. You should totally smile more around her." Ryou resumed eating, chuckling. She thought she heard a faint "Oh" there as he chewed his bread happily. She managed to survive that minor hitch.

They both dug into their late breakfast. Ryou watched as Manami cut into the bread, holding her utensils like a princess. Her back was straightened against the backrest, arms off the table, silverware and plate making minor contact. How her pink lips parted in allowing her to partake of the same meal he had made him rethink his training as a child. Was that really how women were supposed to eat or were men obliged to be as graceful as that? She slowly chewed with her mouth closed. Like a porcelain doll truly brought up by a French maid. And yet this was the woman plotting revenge against her ex-boyfriend.

Ryou looked down on what's left of his bread in the effort of distracting himself from over-assessing. He barely knew the woman in front of him. All he knew was that she offered her help in exchange for kickback on her ex-boyfriend. She could be as deceiving as a silk-skinned serpent. How was he to trust?

"How about we set an end date to this deal?" he uttered as more of a statement than a question, finishing off his bread and dusting his hands away from the table. She was only halfway through her muffins when she looked up confused. "End date?" she asked, covering her mouth with a napkin. How the hell are you supposed to put a limit on hooking two people up? That could take months; a year and a half, at the most. The man in front of her seemed to be insisting his 'suggestion', his gaze unwavering. He must be taking this a little more serious than she thought. Businessmen.

"Fine. You give it then," Manami said, leaning a little forward to inspect her bread of its contents. It tasted mighty good. She should try making English muffins one time.

"Three months."

Her fork slipped out of her hand and landed loudly on the plate. She looked up, teal eyes wide with astonishment. What the hell?! Who falls in love in three months?! To Manami, Mr. HC Corp seemed to be out of his mind. In Ryou's eyes, however, Little Miss Charity seemed to have underestimated his capabilities in bringing Aoi Kaji down that fast. He checked his phone while she stared at him with disbelief.

"T-Three months?" the blonde stammered as she grappled her purse on her lap. She tried to stay intact. She felt like her plan was going to fail miserably and she might just owe Mr. HC Corp more than she owes Aoi. She took a gulp from her glass and reassessed the situation. Maybe this wasn't such a good bid after all. Maybe she'd bitten off more than she could chew.

Ryou stared at her before pretending to place a call. He examined her movement; how her eyes rattled from left to right. She was obviously thinking the whole deal through. She wasn't as smart as she looked like and it was showing through her movement. She should know better than to doubt her plans in front of a businessman. An inexperienced dealer, that was what she was. And a confident one, too. But he needed a way to Kahoko. What better way in than her? Sure, he could be using her for all the wrong reasons but she started the deal. If she was going to back out now, he'd have to give her more than what he was asked to do.

Okay, new plan. Manami had already thought of her next move. Instead of sweating like sinner in front of him until noon, she was going to thank him for the breakfast and scurry off while she still could. Yes, that would work. That would definitely work.

"Hey there, love."

Crap.

Manami looked up and found Ryou's eyes focused behind her. She suddenly knew the horror she was going to face. There was a shadow that cast upon them, mainly composed of two big men rather than one ratty male. As soon as she turned her head, Manami knew she should've left when she had the chance. Right there behind her was Aoi Kaji with his two bodyguards: trouble just waiting to happen.

Aoi skimmed his eyes on Ryou, jaw locking with spite. "Moving on quickly, aren't we?" He let his eyes linger on the man's face before looking at Manami, shrinking in her seat. My god, what was she thinking meeting up with Ryou here at the first place? The place was near his apartment; of course they were going to run into him sooner or later. Her stupidity knew no bounds today. First, forgetting to get Ryou's number then the loafers, and now staying for more than five minutes within her ex-boyfriend's territory. Stupid, stupid, stupid!

"Aoi, this is…" Manami tried to mutter an introduction. She was silenced by how Ryou sat up straight and placed his phone in his pockets. His cool expression seemed to anger Aoi all the more, but the latter kept his smile on nonetheless. "We're just two friends having breakfast, that's all," Ryou defended their current position and grabbed his plate of crumbs. The plate met Aoi's face just as he lifted it and smirked. "Would you like some bread?" Ryou asked, intimidating his opponent.

"I'm quite fine, actually. Do keep those scraps for yourself. You'll be needing those to survive after you take that hard fall that all new businessmen do," Aoi grinned, feeling victorious over his first chat with Ryou face to face. There was no way he was going to be humiliated in front of Manami and he knew how that was going to happen. His eyes met with Ryou's. He seemed calmer than earlier, even after that insult. What the hell was wrong with this man? Was he bonkers?

Ryou laid the plate down in front of him again and grabbed his belongings from the table. "I was only trying to be nice. After all, what could possibly fall harder than a new businessman's business gone bad?" Ryou smirked at Manami before leaving a tip on the table. Manami knew in an instant that it was their cue to go as he stood up from his seat and met Aoi's eyes. "Heirs that get beaten down by new businessmen. You better watch your back."

Ryou grabbed the blonde's hand and pulled her away with him to help her pick up some speed. Manami tripped behind him, tempted to look back and see the kind of damage he has done. What kind of lunatic does that to a man with two big guys beside him, ready to pound him down like dough? The green-haired man beside her didn't seem to worry. He was smiling as he turned and walked backwards, pointing at the table.

"Try not to take the tip for when you go poor!" he shouted back before turning the right way around, leaving Aoi Kaji practically finding his happy place. That should occupy his mind for the next day or so.

They've already walked down a few blocks south before he looked down at the blonde beside him. She was scrolling down her phone vigorously. "What are you doing?" he asked her, the ends of his lips still hanging on his cheeks with just a hint of inquisitiveness. He couldn't believe he stumped Aoi Kaji himself. That took his pride up to another level. It felt good.

"I'm uh… checking messages from a friend," Manami lied. She wasn't checking messages. She was actually deleting them. Seeing Aoi so early in the morning didn't do her any good and to top it off, her friend had probably just woken up and started ringing her phone off with messages again. And as if matters couldn't get any worse, Aoi mistook Ryou as her boyfriend. God knows what kind of crap the press was going to write about that.

Ryou scratched the tip of his nose lightly and spotted a nearby stall selling a magazine with his face on it. The joy of being young and famous is that you wouldn't have to worry so much about how your face is going to look like on the front page of a magazine. A couple of people were reading his spread while a woman obviously hurrying clutched onto the magazine and paid for it right away. His eyes ignored her red coat and focused on his stance on the picture. He remembered being just a little nervous before the shot was taken. Thank goodness it didn't show.

Enough narcissism for one day, he thought, suddenly remembering the flustering blonde beside him. "So… where should I take you?" he asked her with the attempt to sound courteous. If she was busy texting Kahoko right now, she might just remember to put in a good word. The blonde behind him kept her pink cheeks buried under her thin scarf, eyes watery and brows crossing as she tried to concentrate on her phone. Ignorance was a habit that she badly possessed; a habit he seemed obliged to fix.

He clapped his hands loudly in front of her and it shook her like thunder. She quickly recovered from the shock and looked at Mr. HC Corporations, his disappointed golden orbs looking back at her. "Is this a habit of yours?" He said, gesturing to all of her. "Because if it is, it's a nasty habit and you need to change that," he placed a hand on her back and lightly pushed her forward to walk.

"What habit?" She asked as she resumed deleting messages. She couldn't care less about what he was going to say but that question should keep the dead air between them away. "Ignoring people," he muttered as he cautiously looked to his right. They just passed by a sports shop he owned. He made a quick check of the employees. They looked diligent and well-mannered. Well-groomed; that's important. He reverted to look at the female beside him, still occupied with her phone. Ahead, Ryou fixed his eyes on the chauffer and his town car sedan that was waiting for them.

Manami's phone slipped off of her hand and was swept away by the green-haired lad running towards the black car. Ryou slid his finger over the screen and quickly scanned the details, coming up with a gist of the conversation just before Manami snatched it back. "Is that a habit of yours?" she asked him back what he had said earlier, her brows crossed below him. "Stealing from people?" Oh, snappy. "Because if it is, it's a nasty habit and you need to change that."

"Very witty of you to use the same phrase thrown at you back at the same person who said it," he acknowledged her just as the chauffer opened the door. He gestured her to enter first, receiving only a silent huff before she turned around. "See you next time," she waved as she walked down the opposite direction. He took a minute to take in her image.

The last thing he saw of her was her frail frame and golden curls bouncing out of her coat, completely unaware of the obnoxious head they belonged to. He got in his car with a smirk. There wasn't a question enough to put that one fact into consideration: Manami Mori would be the last person he'd offer a ring to.

R&R :D