Chapter Six
Relena waited outside the Majestueux. She had only heard of the restaurant and knew that it was an expensive French brasserie. She tried not to dress up too much, as it was only a business date, but the desire to add a little more makeup and something a little lower cut was too overwhelming. The only thing she wore that said business were her suit pants. Relena didn't give in to the urge to do something more with her hair. A simple twist and pin was all she was really willing to do. She knew how to do several things to her hair, but she hadn't felt the need since her father died and she was no longer forced to attend all of the political dinners.
She was ten minutes early, as usual. She didn't think Heero Yuy would be punctual at all and she even assumed him to run late. He didn't have the attitude of caring about other people's time all that much. Once the wind picked up, she decided it best to wait inside. It wasn't rude for her to want to take shelter.
The dim lighting and soft classical music set the mood she wasn't hoping for. She was here for business and nothing else. But she knew that wasn't the real reason she said yes. Hilde would be shaking her head disappointedly if she could see her now.
"Can I help you, ma'am?" The host asked from behind the podium.
"No, I'm waiting for someone."
"What's the name?" he asked as if he didn't hear her at all.
"Yuy."
"Right this way." The host said in a very bored tone.
To her surprise, Heero was there already, sitting at a candlelit table. He looked even more handsome in a suit instead of his pilot uniform. Relena felt her cheeks flush as she sat down across from him.
"Thanks for coming." Heero said deeply, not moving from his seat.
Relena smiled politely, laying her brief case on the table to extract a few files. She didn't look at Heero for even a second. She placed her brief case underneath her chair and started flipping through the papers. She wanted to keep this all as professional as possible.
"Mr. Yuy, I –"
"Heero."
She cleared her throat, "Heero, I just need to ask you a few questions so we can start. What kind of business are you hoping to establish?"
"No business. It's all personal. "
She scribbled on a piece of paper quickly, "Okay, what personal advice do you want?"
"Miss Darlian, let's at least order something to eat first. This can all wait until later."
She opened her mouth as if to dispute, but closed it when she finally looked up at him. There wasn't the hard, indecipherable expression she had seen him wear each time she'd been around him. This time, his eyes looked soft and his clenched jaw seemed to be slightly slacked, but she wasn't sure if the dim lighting had deceived her at all.
Only seconds later, their waiter showed up, dressed in black slacks and a white button down. He didn't even have to say anything before Heero spoke up, ordering a bottle of wine and their food. Relena, although had gone on several dates, never experienced a man taking charge. She almost didn't appreciate that he had ordered her own meal; however, she listened carefully and was surprised that he ordered the exact thing she had wanted.
She let her mouth drop open ever so slightly and watched the waiter walk away. Heero turned his attention back to her, looking smug.
"I hope you don't mind me ordering for you." He said, not sounding concerned at all. "Duo told me what kind of food you usually ate. I made sure this restaurant had something you'd like."
Her eyes widened in disbelief. He had asked about her? He had asked questions about her to Duo? She didn't find it necessary to actually respond to him so she averted her eyes back towards her paperwork. It was silly, but those pieces of paper held her strength. She could handle anyone when she was in business mode. No one ever saw her falter or lose confidence when she held those pieces of paper in her hand. It was in those moments that she understood how her father must have felt. In all of those tiresome business meetings and listening to all of the politicians debate back and forth, he must have been strong knowing he held power.
The waiter returned with two glasses and the bottle of wine. Relena could feel Heero's dark blue eyes stare at her, but she simply dismissed it and watched the waiter uncork the bottle and pour a small amount into each glass.
"So, Relena, Duo told me that you have known him for a few years now." Heero tried to start conversation.
She nodded, sipping the wine.
"How'd you meet?" The stoic man leaned onto the table slightly, peering at her closely.
"I met him the same day he met Hilde, actually. I was there to see the 'love at first sight' thing. He was so cheesy with all of his pickup lines, but Hilde fell for them." She sipped the wine again, looking away. His eyes were dark and the candle light was making them all too enticing that she knew she would end up starring and becoming unresponsive.
"How'd you meet Hilde?" he asked monotony.
"School."
Heero continued to stare, ignoring the wine that was resting right by his elbow. She could see a disaster waiting to happen. Wanting to break the tension and awkwardness, she attempted her own round of questions. "How'd you meet Duo?"
"School, as well."
"How long have you and Miss Catalonia been together?"
"A year."
She frowned, realizing he was much better at the questioning game than she was. "How long have the two of you been engaged?"
Suddenly, Heero laughed. It was a deep, guttural laugh which startled her. It almost sounded menacing coming from such an introverted man. "We're not engaged. I wouldn't ask her to marry me."
"Then why did she introduce you to me as her fiancé?"
"You've met Dorothy, right? She doesn't have to have a reason for anything. She just does things and says what she wants, regardless of the consequences." He was still leaning in across the table, scrutinizing her.
"Is that what made you fall in love with her?" She bit her bottom lip, hoping her tone didn't give her jealousy away.
"No," He said simply, "In all honesty, the reason I came to see you was to ask for your help. I need to budget my finances and stash them away from her. She has her own accounts, and, being an heir herself, she doesn't need to have her fingers in my money. I was hoping to save up and start my own private airline, but with her compulsive spending, I see more trouble coming."
"I think I was able to help her establish her own budgets so she wouldn't need any outside money."
Heero cocked an eyebrow at her, "It won't matter."
Nodding, Relena said, "I'll see what I can do, but that means you have to give me some information."
"I'll give you anything you want." Heero said. Before she could reply, however, their food was delivered.
:::
Relena was able to gather all of Heero's information throughout the week. Between phone calls and spontaneous meetings, she had everything she needed to help him. One time, he let it slip that Dorothy had no idea that he was meeting with her. The comment made her blush, but before she would allow her thoughts go anywhere she reminded herself that it was all business.
Although Heero was hiding his funds from his own girlfriend, Relena assumed he was happy with her and that getting her own hopes up would just batter her already tender heart. Instead, she filled her time with Trowa twice that week and Quatre once.
Although both pilots were entertaining and she enjoyed both of their company, she couldn't help but feel as if she was still missing something.
Friday, she sat in her office and enjoyed the quiet. She had cleared her mind of all pilots and all files and accounts. No numbers raced through her mind and she was able to simply enjoy that she was able to spend the weekend with Hilde and another date with Quatre.
Five minutes until it wasn't considered too early to leave the office, her door opened. No knock and no announcement of a visitor. Relena spun around in her chair to see Dorothy settling herself down in the chair opposite her. The blonde's usual flawless face was smeared with mascara and her bottom lip was protruding out further than Relena remembered.
"Heero has been lying to me." She said without waiting for Relena.
So, this was Dorothy Catalonia in distraught.
Relena couldn't find it in her to feel sympathetic towards her. She had been lying to him as well. She stiffened her back and forced words out of her mouth, "What do you mean?"
"He's been seeing someone else. I know he is."
"How do you know?"
"He's been acting very peculiar for the past week. I even saw him at the Majestueux with some other blonde the other night." Dorothy let out a small sob, "Funny thing is, the woman looked like you."
Okay, this should already be somewhat interesting, but wait until you see what I have in store for all of you!