Disclaimer: Don't own IY
In Plain Sight
Chapter Seven
Once they were settled with Kouga sitting on a kitchen stool and Kagome on the couch, she got out her pad and pencil and looked up at him.
"Okay. I need you to tell me what happened. From the very beginning."
Kouga sighed and rubbed his hands wearily over his face, scrubbing at his stubble. He dropped his hands and stared at them.
"I work at a recording studio as one of the main producers. I started when I was eighteen. I had just gotten out of high school and college didn't seem very promising, so I asked around for any job. My two friends, Ginta and Hakkaku, you met them at my apartment that first day, said they knew someone who worked at this recording studio called Rite Recording. And I was in luck. One of the producer's assistance had just walked out not a week ago and they were still looking for a replacement. Turns out the producer was a total sleaze bag. The company had many complaints about sexual harassment but couldn't do anything because he was their best.
"He usually only hired women, but I decided to give a try. Why not? Well, I got the job. I wanted to strangle the man five minutes after meeting him. He was a total ass. He made crude comments to women's faces and then bragged about it when they cried. He even tried to get me to get Ayame to visit so he could 'have a look at her'." Kouga shook his head
"I stayed with him though. Thankfully, one of the oldest producers had been fired for some reason I can't recall and I got promoted. Then about a month ago I got a call…"
(Flashback)
Kouga nodded his head to the beat of the small band playing on the other side of the thick glass. After a few more notes, he pressed the button for the intercom.
"Okay, guys. That should be enough today. I'll see you tomorrow," he said, slipping off his headphones and waving to the band. He said causal hellos to co-workers in the hall as he headed to his office. (AN: I don't know if they have offices, but in mine, he will) He began to gather his things and call it a night when his phone rang. He sighed and reached for the receiver automatically.
"Kouga, it's Jackie. I need to speak to you. Are you free?" Startled, Kouga blinked.
"Jackie? Is something wrong?"
"No, no," she replied quickly. Almost too quickly. "Everything's fine. I just was hoping…you could see me after work today. Say six? At your place?"
"Yeah, sure. No problem. I'll see you then. Bye." He hung up and stared at the phone. Jackie McKenzie was one his company's best selling artist. She had a great voice and had started out as a snobby rich girl who could sing. But soon enough, the real world caught up with her and she matured quickly. Now she had a personality to match her husky voice.
I wonder what it's about, he thought as he closed and locked his office door behind him. She never has any problems.
He shrugged it off and decided to see what she had to say. When he reached his apartment parking lot he recognized the shiny new Porsche that gleamed in the sun. Jackie had beaten him there.
He reached his apartment and saw her leaning next to the stairwell door. Her honey blond hair fell messily around her beautiful face, giving her an innocent look. Her sharp green eyes took everything in and lit when they saw him. She straightened from the wall and strode quickly toward him, her lithe body moving gracefully.
"Kouga," she said, wrapping her arms around him. He smiled and returned her warm hug.
"Hey, Jackie. How have you been?" Her eyes flickered for a moment, before returning to normal. She smiled slightly.
"I'm fine. How's Ayame?"
"Oh, she's great. Just started seeing this guy. I'm not sure if I like him yet." Jackie laughed and linked arms with him.
"You wouldn't like him if he was the richest, nicest, most kind man in the world. No one's ever good enough for Ayame in your eyes." Kouga smirked.
"Well, she has bad taste in men. I just have yet to meet someone I approve of." She rolled her eyes as they began their way up the stairs.
"Yeah, right."
"So, what did you want to see me about?" he asked as they reached his door, pulling out his keys and unlocking it.
"Well…there's something I need to tell you." Kouga looked back at her with a raised eyebrow.
"Then spit it out."
"I can't work with Rite anymore," she blurted. He froze and looked at her carefully.
"Excuse me?"
"I'm sorry, Kouga. I really am. I just can't do it anymore. I have to move on, spread my wings, you know?" Kouga nodded and sighed.
"I've been waiting for this. Any particular reason as to why?"
Jackie smiled. But there was something behind her eyes, something that was off. "No particular reason." She was lying. He could always tell when she was lying. But he would let it go for now. But not without talking with Sam Rite, the founder of the company.
"Okay, Jackie. If that's what you want, I can't stop you."
She smiled brilliantly and hugged him. "I knew you'd understand. You always have. You don't know how much of a relief that is to me."
"No, but I might eventually," he muttered under his breath as Jackie left. Something was going on and he was going to find out what.
Kouga knocked briskly on the door before him and waited for the greeting until opening the door.
Behind the desk sat a bear of a man, his shoulders filling his suit nicely. His big hands were clasped in front of his on his pine desk. His handsome face broke out into a grin when he saw Kouga. His bald head glinted in the lights as he stood, his brown eyes dancing.
"Kouga! What brings you here?" Sam asked in his warm, booming voice.
"Well, Sam. There's something I want to run by you to see what you think."
"Okay then. Get on with it." Kouga felt his lips twitch, but he sat in the chair across from Sam.
"The other day, I got a call from Jackie McKenzie."
"How is she?"
"She's fine. Only she just wants to leave the company and go to another."
Sam frowned and straightened.
"Why would she do that?"
"I don't know Sam. But while I was talking to her, I knew she was lying about something. But when I asked her about it, she brushed it off. I think something's going on."
His boss's frown intensified. "Do you think it has to do with Naraku?"
Kouga scowled at the name of his old boss and Jackie's producer. "Well, I know it's not below the bastard to harass a woman to tears. I did work with the son of a bitch for three years."
"I trust your judgment. But what would cause her to leave? She's been with us for years!"
Kouga sighed. "I don't know, Sam. But I plan on finding out."
Sam nodded. "I'll talk to him about it, see what he says. I'll tell you my results." Kouga nodded and stood. He extended his hand and Sam shook it warmly.
"It was good to see you again, Kouga. And thank you for telling me."
"Anytime Sam. Anytime."
(End Flashback)
Kagome nodded and scribbled once more on her pad. Kouga watched as a wet piece of hair fell forward over her eyes to be brushed back. But unbeknownst to her, when she did that small motion, the shoulder of her robe slipped ever so slightly. His mouth dried up.
"What happened after that?" she asked. When he didn't answer, she looked up to see his fists were clenched tightly. She frowned in concern. "Are you in pain?"
He cleared his dry throat and shook his head mutely.
"After I talked to Sam," Kouga continued, his voice gruff and husky. "I few weeks later, I got a call to meet Jackie at a secluded place, the forest where you saw me. When I got there, there were only two men. They told me that if I didn't leave Jackie's situation alone, I'd regret it. I, of course, refused and paid the price for it, as you know. You know from there."
"Okay. Now, the producer, the one you worked with, his name was Naraku?" Kagome asked, writing quickly.
"Yeah."
"And your client, was named Jackie McKenzie and your boss Sam Rite?"
"Pretty much."
"Okay, well, I'll have to give this to my partners and discuss how to proceed. You'll be coming with me, if you want that is. It's not required."
Kouga watched as she stood, her robe slipping even farther down her shoulder. She pushed it back up impatiently, causing him to let out a breath of relief.
"I'll go. It's no problem. As soon as I call Ayame's father and tell him where to pick her up, we'll be on our way." Kagome nodded and gave him a small smile.
"You did good, Kouga." He tried to wave it away. "No, you saved her life. You can't do better."
"I could do better," he said, looking her in the eyes. Her heart sped up when she saw the warmth in his blue eyes, causing small jolts of electricity to go along her skin. She winked at him, trying to mask her awareness.
"Of course you could." Kouga smirked and took a step forward. Kagome held up a hand, her smile instantly falling.
"Kouga, I don't think we should do that again," she said softly. He scanned her eyes.
"Why not?"
"Because you're my client and I don't mix business with pleasure." He skimmed a finger up her neck and her breath shuddered. "No matter how much I want to. It was stupid of me to do it in the first place. And it won't happen again. Got it?" she asked, grabbing his wrist to stop his hand.
He sighed in disappointment, but knew he wouldn't let her off that easy.
"Whatever you say, Bambi."
Kagome narrowed her eyes at his easy tone. In the short week she'd known Kouga, she knew it was never that easy to persuade him to do something when he wanted it.
Maybe he's happy I let him off the hook. Could I have been mistaken by his reaction to the kiss?
She remembered the way he had pulled her against him and returned that kiss and shook her head.
It doesn't matter. I'm not going to throw this away. He's my client. Nothing more, nothing less. She looked up to see his eyes on her, a small, tender smile on his face. Her heart swelled. Now if only I can convince my heart of what my head knows...
(AN: Sorry for not updating sooner…but things happen, you know? Anyway, I hope you enjoyed reading this chapter. I enjoyed writing it. I'll update again soon! Thanks for reading!)
Jane
