Well, there's a million other girls who do it just like you
Looking as innocent as possible to get to who
They want and what they like, it's easy if you do it right
Well I refuse, I refuse, I refuse

EISUKE

I hear Alice taking a deep breath as we wait for Carolina to arrive at the Narita airport. She does silly little facials and jumps on her toes as if she's get ready to go out on stage but before I can chide her, a loud shrill comes towards us.

"Eisuke! Oh my, how I've missed you!" Alice's face immediately changes to the one I know as her game face as Carolina runs towards us.

"Hmph, that's her I assume?" She whispers, a slight twinkle in her eye, Alice is quite amused. I nod.

"Carolina can be quite an intense woman."

"No kidding." She snorts as Carolina runs towards me with her arms outstretched, high heels clacking on the pavement. This whole ordeal will give me a headache.

"Do your feet hurt, Alice?" She wears a questioning gaze but give a slight nod so I bend down to look at her feet, causing Carolina to hug the column I was leaning against.

"Argh, Eisuke!" Her high pitched voice calls my name, she's not happy about missing a hug but I know she will cheer up with me just being around her.

"Welcome to Japan, Carolina." I smile at her, a polite smile that I reserve for these specific occasions. I pretend not to notice her disappointment about me bending over, even though it was my plan to avoid it. Alice throws a look in my direction. Playing it cool much? I can read it on her face.

"Oh, Eisuke. I just love how cold you are." Carolina touches my arm. "It's been so long since I seen you last." She continues to keep her hand on my bicep, giving it a slight squeeze; I can see Alice trying to hide a smile.

"Yes, it has been. You're looking well." I move slightly so her hand drops off my arm. I have no intention in allowing her to keep touching me, even if it is for this business deal to succeed. She claps her hands to her face.

"Oh yes, Fang and I are doing so well!" I look at her, surprised.

"Fang?" Please don't let Fang be a pet. Carolina just about jumps up and down in front of me.

"That's right. This is Fang, he's my darling Chihuahua." She grabs a bag carrying a small, rat looking dog from a man in a black suit behind her. I instinctively go to pat him, but instead he barks and takes a nip at my hand. I pull my hand away, upset.

"Don't bark at Eisuke, Fang!" Carolina pulls the bag against her chest, gently telling off the dog. "Bark at that bitch instead." She shoves the bag towards Alice, who steps forward, unfolding her arms.

"Aw, now that's no way to talk to a fellow dog lover." Alice scratches Fang behind the ears, he immediately changes to a happy dog. "Or are you just jealous that he likes me instead?" She laughs softly at her own question, the dog is over joyed at her gentle scratches. Who does she mean by that? Carolina glares at her, pulling Fang back and Alice glares back, with a smile plastered on her face, obviously getting the response she wanted. "He's very well trained, not many Chihuahuas are as relaxed as he is." Alice relents a little, knowing that she has to keep Carolina happy for either of us to get what we want. I look away from them.

"This is Soryu Oh, an associate of mine. Currently second in charge of the Ice Dragons." I say, Soryu just nods.

"I'm Alice Wallace." Alice extends her hand to Carolina, who ignores her.

"Oh, are you a friend of Eisuke's? It's a pleasure to meet you." She winks at Soryu, who looks away from her. I smile to myself, Soryu hates women and Carolina is the type he hates the most. Alice looks at me, feeling dejected by being ignored so I put an arm over her shoulder and start walking.

"Let's go to the car." I lead Alice away, who is still moping.

"Wait for me!" Carolina chases us with Soryu behind her, I can almost hear him muttering to himself. Once we get inside the limo, I instruct the driver to head to the hotel, Carolina needs to get rid of all the baggage she brought with her as well as the dog. Despite the rush of emotions from earlier, Alice relaxes into the seat and she continues to pat Fang, much to Carolina's dissatisfaction. Carolina wanted to sit next to me and talk but her dog kept growling so in order for that, the dog had to go away so Soryu begrudingly took it. Alice quietly teases Soryu over the dog wanting to be close to him, despite him not wanting to be near it. I feel strange watching them bond over the dog.

"Fang never warms up to people so quickly." Carolina stops talking about the flight to glare at Alice and cut her off from Soryu as well. "He has a great taste in men like me."

"Lucky Fang is fond of you, Soryu." I tease him, feeling amused with myself.

"I don't like dogs." Alice laughs at him.

"Sure, that's why your eyes are crinkled." Soryu does look like he is smiling at the dog. Alice goes to pat Fang again but Carolina pulls him away.

"Only reason he likes you is because you must smell like a bitch on heat!" Alice's good mood disappears just like that.

ALICE

That large, voluptuous woman with her high pitch voice is really starting to get on my nerves. Everything from her blonde curly hair to her cankles make me want to break character and punch her right in her fat Italian nose, mob daughter or not.

"I can't believe you have a girlfriend, when you could of had a chance with me. Oh, Eisuke! You are just so mean." Carolina places a hand on her face in fake shock. I glare at her, trying to set her hair on fire with my anger.

"He will do everything he can to get what he wants, except date her." Soryu whispers in my ear. I smile at him, he is a very kind man despite his normal attitude. He comes off super serious and doesn't talk much but today he's being kind to me. I stay silent while I watch the exchange between Eisuke and Carolina.

"I'm sorry." Eisuke doesn't look sorry at all.

"Don't be sorry, it's not your fault." She glares in my direction. "That stupid bitch tricked you." I groan and roll my eyes, every second with her is hard to keep up appearances but as long as I pretend to be his girlfriend then I guess I can still be myself.

"My God, get over yourself. Eisuke is the one who wanted me." She is slightly taken aback by my outburst and her eyes go cold.

"Yeah, right. He was probably just being polite and you are the one who got the wrong idea." I feel my blood boil and go to snap back when I see both Eisuke and Soryu shaking their heads at me.

"Let me explain." Eisuke smiles at me, that fake meaningless smile that he puts on for everyone. "I saw Alice working hard at the hotel and she's right, I did fall for her first. Right?" He puts an arm around my shoulder, pulls me closer and gives me a kiss on the cheek.

"Yeah, he's very demanding." I place a hand on his chest and smile. "When Eisuke Ichinomiya wants something, it is very hard to resist." I cuddle into his side while Carolina's mouth twists.

"Then why does she make googly eyes at Soryu?" Shit, how can you not though.

"He's the closest thing I have to a brother over here, he's very protective and he's Eisuke's friend. Am I meant to just ignore him?" Eisuke's arm goes tight for a split second and Carolina's eyes go narrower. If she keeps glaring at me like that, her eyes are going to stay like that, permanently.

"Ugh. What's so great about that little brat anyway?" Carolina pouts. Eisuke thinks for a minute.

"She is very serious about her job and gives everything her all. She's very proud of what she does, it makes me want to protect." He links his fingers with mine and gives me a tender gaze, I smile back him. If this whole thing was real, he just paid me a massive compliment but whether it's real or not, he is very observant.

"I'm pretty weak, too." Carolina puts her hands on her cheeks. "I just don't look it. I need someone to protect me." Her high pitch shrill makes my ears ring every time she opens her mouth.

"I do want you to enjoy your time here, I will do whatever I can to make that happen." Eisuke doesn't look at her, he stares out the window which elects a high pitch giggle from her.

"You are so sweet, Eisuke. I will have to make you fall in love with me, I won't give up until that happens!" The determination in her eyes is almost commendable if she wasn't a pain in the ass. Soryu chuckles.

"You're very popular, Eisuke." Eisuke glares at him.

"Shut up." He growls while the car slows down and we park at the entrance to the hotel. Carolina's men followed us in a black car and we wait in the limo while they collect her luggage and Fang to drop off at her hotel room. When all that was finished, we head to the boutiques in Ginza which Carolina wanted to visit and even walking around the stores, she does not relent from her hounding of Eisuke.

"What dress would look better on me? The dark red dress or the black lace?" She switches between the two in front of a mirror and I stand away from her and Eisuke with Soryu.

"Black is more slimming so wouldn't that be the better choice?" I smirk as I peer up at Soryu, both of the men look stoic but neither of them have a choice. Soryu has his signature look: arms folded, expressionless face and Eisuke just looks bored.

"If you like the black then I will get the black." She shrieks happily and Eisuke steals a glance in my direction, I shrug at him. Despite him always dragging me to shops, he may finally appreciate the fact that I hate shopping. Carolina and I are the complete opposites and I can't help but think that even though I am not his type, neither is she. She's so needy for attention, overly clingy, always asks for his opinion even when his responses are harsh and cold. He grabs a dress and shoves it towards me.

"Try this blue lace dress on." I blink at him and look at it, the blue is a few shades darker than my eyes and for some strange reason, I instantly like it.

"It's very nice but what would I wear it with?" He has a kind smile on his face and I feel myself returning it. There's a strange feeling swirling in my stomach and I feel a little uncomfortable all of a sudden.

"Wear it with those silver heels I bought you. I want to see you in it." We stare at each other for a few seconds when Carolina gags, pointing to her mouth.

"Ugh, I can see the pink love hearts surrounding you two. I'm not going to give up Eisuke, I will make you fall for me in this black dress!" She storms off towards the fitting room and I see that Eisuke is a little intimidated by how she comes across when she flares up like that, I find myself feeling for him; he almost seems human looking like that. I'm shaken from my thoughts when he suddenly takes my hand.

"Try this platinum ring on." I give him a quizzical look, raising my eyebrow slightly.

"I do like silver more." I say nonchalantly.

"You have very neat hands from your job. A simple design with no jewels looks better on you." He smiles to himself, admiring my hands and I realise the smile is different from all of the smiles I've seen on him, he looks almost pleased as he slides the ring onto my right ring finger. "I was right. I'll take this one." The employee nods and I realise that this is the first thing he has bought me not because he has to or to show off in front of someone but because he wanted to, it both surprises me and warms my heart. I watch as he smiles proudly while he admires the ring on my slender finger. "I like it. Keep it on and never take it of."

"What do you think?" Our small moment is ruined by Carolina barreling out of the fitting room.

EISUKE

I admire the ring on Alice's finger and I am surprised with myself for actually buying it with no other intention other than I thought it would look good on her.

"What do you think?" Carolina comes out, loud and interrupting and I don't look away from the ring or Alice.

"It's not bad." I reply, I wish I didn't have to deal with this nonsense and normally I wouldn't put up with it but if I want this deal to go through, I have to keep Carolina happy.

"Come here and pick another one." She squeals enthusiastically, grabbing my arm and I sigh, letting go of Alice's hand.

"Tch, whatever." I allow myself to be dragged away, constantly reminding myself that this is to keep her happy. Carolina goes through a rack of dresses, pursing her lips at each one.

"Hm, I guess even Eisuke has his troubles." My ears prick up at the sound of my name.

"This isn't trouble for him at all, this is just another card to play in the game of business." I can hear them whispering, a gentle giggle comes from Alice.

"Soryu? I was talking to myself." I peer over my shoulder quickly and see her smiling, I feel slightly pissed off that it's Soryu she's smiling at and realise even though I can make her body react however I want it to, she seems more at ease when she's with him. Even though Soryu hates woman, he's kind towards her and she doesn't have to pretend around him. So who am I really pissed off with? I shake my head and focus on Carolina, these emotions today are getting to become a nuisance. "So does this business deal have to do with the hotel?" I can hear the pushing tone in her voice. She's trying to find things out and I know he won't answer, a good quality of Soryu's is he doesn't involve himself if he doesn't need to.

"I can't tell you that." I can almost see him crossing his arms, closing her off. "But he has more than one goal in mind, he never does anything without a reason."

"What other reason would there be other than growing the hotel?" She sounds confused, I look over my shoulder again while Carolina digs through another rack and see Soryu shrug.

"Who knows? Maybe it's something different." Her eyebrows knit together, I can tell she's getting frustrated with his vague answers.

"Come on man, give me a bloody clue." She hisses at him.

"Have you ever asked Eisuke why he holds the auctions?" I look back to Carolina and vaguely nod at the dress she is showing me, I'm more interested in the conversation going on behind me.

"No, I haven't. I don't know if you notice but other than him ordering me around, we don't talk much." Her tone is getting more and more aggressive.

"Oh, well then I can't tell you but when you find out the reason, then you will understand." I smile at his answer, Alice understanding my reasons for holding the auctions? She will never fully understand why.

ALICE

While Soryu and I whisper to each other, I stare at Eisuke's back and can tell immediately that he's listening to us. Even though his back is turned, every now and again his head turns slightly in our direction. How can I ever understand someone like him? He's cold, conceited, egotistical and controlling; I don't know anything about him really, I know he isn't the slightest bit interested in Carolina and that he distances himself from anyone.

"Oh, I just can't decide! I'll take it all!" Carolina's loud voice pulls me back to reality and I go to help the employees pile all the dresses she just bought into the car so we can head back to the hotel. Once we arrive at Tres Spades, Carolina suggests that we go to the V.I.P lounge to have something to drink while all her new clothes are taken to her room. "I bought so many great things today, thanks to you, Eisuke." Ugh, she is such a pain!

"I'm glad you are happy." He gives her his fake, empty smile.

"Oops, sorry but Daddy's calling. I won't be long." She stands up and blows Eisuke a kiss as she skips off. I clench my fists tightly, even if I'm pretending to be his girlfriend, I hate women like her; women who think that they can have anything they want even if they belong to someone else. Eisuke and Soryu notice that I'm shaking and I try to calm myself.

"I think she's finally cracked." Soryu jokes, both of them chuckle at my expense.

"Don't worry, you're doing well." Eisuke says. I close my eyes to take a couple of deep breaths.

"Here's your coffee." I open my eyes as our drinks arrive and I automatically put sugar in both Eisuke's coffee and my own. Eisuke looks surprised when he narrows his eyes at me. Shit, I just did it because we have our coffees the same.

"Sorry, I noticed yesterday that you like your coffee how I do so just thought I would do it." I shrug. "Because, you know, that's what girlfriends do." I lamely add. He raises an eyebrow.

"You are perceptive of the most strangest things." I can't help but laugh.

"Boy, you have absolutely no clue. Did you want to do it yourself?"

"Hand it over." Eisuke grabs the cup from me and Soryu lets out a low chuckle.

"Eisuke likes three sugar cubes or two sugar packets in his coffee, with lots of milk." He glares at Soryu, the slightest bit of colour touching his cheeks.

"Shut up. No-one asked you." I laugh a little more.

"I guess Ota was right about you two." I remember Ota's earlier comment about how close they really are when they both look at me with the same look on their faces, but my laugh dies short when I see Carolina returning.

EISUKE

As she laughs at us, I can't help but feel relaxed inside, Alice surprises me with the strangest little things that she finds amusing. Her face drops when Carolina sits back down beside me, a glare replacing the smile she had before.

"Daddy complimented you on the amount of fun I had today, he was super impressed so I asked him to let you handle it." I ignore my previous thoughts to focus my attention on Carolina.

"I appreciate it, Carolina." I smile at her and cross my arms. "You know you are very different from normal women." She is delighted when I smile at her.

"I already knew that, silly. If you need anything, you can always ask me." She places her hand on my forearm. "I'll do anything for you." I hear a low growl coming from Alice's direction and there's a cruel smile on Carolina's lips. If she wasn't so annoying, I might actually enjoy my time with her. Carolina is in a very good mood as she flirts with me so I chalk the day up as a success but I know that we are not out of the woods yet, she will continue to be a thorn in my side until she is completely over me. I glance over at Alice, who is now staring out the window completely ignoring us; I can't see her eyes and I become frustrated as I don't know what she is thinking. I know she's just hoping for this to all be over. I sit back and look at Carolina, who is smiling as she throws an intense glare over at Alice now and again; both women are unaware of what the other is plotting and for the first time in a while, a shiver runs down my spine.

ALICE

"Hold up! I'm actually allowed to go home?" I start shaking with excitement as Eisuke drops the bombshell.

"Yes, it's contingent upon your success." He allowed me to go home after being in the V.I.P lounge and I couldn't wait so I basically ran out the door. It's the first time in several days that I've been in my own bed, I feel like I'm dreaming as I stand in front of the employee apartments. Of course, he had to use big words but fuck it, I'm here and I get to wear my own clothes and sleep in my own bed. I pinch myself before I walk in the doors when suddenly two men grab me from behind, gag me and try to tie me up. I manage to kick one in the balls and elbow the other in the face but before I can run, I'm grabbed again and hit on the back of the head; before I lose consciousness, I see one of their faces. Was he the one who had Fang at the airport? You evil bitch. I awake shortly after to darkness and the slight shaking of a moving car, I start to feel truly afraid for my life and know that I need to look like brave because the moment they see how scared I am, that's when she's won. The car stops after a short while and I'm thrown out of the car onto cold, hard concrete. I try to listen to what's around me but I hear nothing but footsteps; I can smell salt though.

"Take off her blindfold." I immediately recognise the voice and the moment I see her face, she starts laughing. Carolina stands imposingly in front of me, while her two lackeys stand on either side of me, holding my arms. My fear turns into anger and blind hate.

"Oh, I get it. Your a mob boss's daughter, I can smell salt so I assume you expect me to sleep with the fishes." I put on my best Godfather voice and laugh.

"Can you just shut up! I wanted you here because nobody will be able to find you, I wanted to talk to you alone." Her face twists into an ugly expression as she yells at me.

"Yeah right, you could have gone about that in a better way than kidnapping me." I yell back at her. Carolina takes a dramatic breath before replying.

"I want you to break up with Eisuke." She says as calmly as she can but I'm too wound up from the last few days to calm myself down.

"What? So you have to intimidate people to get what you fucken want? 'How can I get what I want. I know let's KIDNAP SOMEONE.'" She glares at me.

"This way there would be no interruptions. You don't deserve him at all, the way he looks at you and all the things he buys you, I want you out of his life." I laugh at her, it was more out of disbelief than anything else.

"Ha ha, you are going to have to do more than this to get that. I love him." The words fall out of my mouth as I'm caught up in the moment.

"Why you snotty, little bitch! You love him? Even now, when your life is in danger?" I nod, knowing I can't back out now.

"No matter what you do to me, you can't change how I feel and you can't get what you want. Even if you do kill me, I'll go happy knowing you still wouldn't get what you want." I don't care how mad I make her or what she does to me, that bitch isn't getting him. Her lips contort into a smile.

"What about Soryu?" My facade flatters a little.

"What about him?" She can smell fear, I can see it in her eyes.

"If you love Eisuke, what about Soryu?" I glare at her, her smile is making my blood boil and I realise I have to keep saying whatever I need to to buy me time, it's what Eisuke would want and if I survive this, he might just set me free.

"Are you that narrow-minded that you couldn't love more than one person?" It's her turn to be surprised and I give her a cold smile, a trick I learnt off Eisuke. I calm my racing heart and look her in the eyes, before me; the mask of a beautiful Italian woman crumbles into the ugly person it hides underneath and when I don't avert my eyes she screams.

"That is it! BOYS!" I look to both sides and notice one is supporting a black eye, their grip tightens painfully. "Teach her a lesson!" I try to steel myself against them even when they reach into their pockets, I stand there afraid but willing to take whatever they give; I don't look away from Carolina. I can hear footsteps approaching fast over my frantically beating heart. "Eisuke! Soryu!" Before I know it both of the men who were holding me, are on the ground. I breath a sigh of relief. I really thought I was a goner.