A barely perceptible look of shock flashed across Soryu's eyes, briefly before it was replaced with that emotionless cold again. He couldn't believe it, of all the people, why on earth would she choose him? Usually, people went out of their way to avoid him- they perceived him as terrifying and dangerous. Soryu was used to people judging him before they even got to know him, so the blind trust this girl was placing in him surprised him.
"Does she really believe I won't hurt her?" he wondered to himself.
"Are you serious?" asked Ota, voicing Soryu's own question.
"Soryu's a mobster. Are you sure?" Baba put in.
Everyone was shocked by Angel's decision.
"Y-Yes…" she said timidly.
"That's what she says, Soryu." Said Eisuke. "Well?" he questioned looking over to his best friend.
Soryu replied with a glare, ignoring everyone.
"Do whatever you want. Who knows what'll happen to you." He says, a threat underlying his casual words.
Although the girl seemed to be terrified, with her head hung humbly, refusing to meet his eyes, Soryu somehow doubted if she was as innocent as she looked. He sensed a fire lurking beneath that shy demeanour. Why did he feel as though this was just the calm before the storm?...
Soryu turned on his heel and walked away, Angel stood still unsure of what to do next. Did he just reject her, or is she supposed to follow him?
"That means it's okay with him." Baba explained, as though reading her mind. "Sor's kind of shy".
Angel suppressed a smile at the idea that such a fierce, defiant mobster could be described as "shy". She quickly followed him, chasing behind with her heels clacking rapidly on the marble floor. Soryu winced in annoyance as he heard her behind him.
"Is she going to be this noisy all the time?" he wondered as he let himself into his room without glancing back at the slave he'd just bought.
Angel followed Soryu into the room, only to find that he was on the phone.
"…Take care of it." Soryu ended.
Take care of it? What was he talking about? Angel cursed herself for being so slow. She couldn't afford to miss any details considering what was at stake. She crept forward, trying to be inconspicuous but Soryu glanced at her and quickly hung up. Dammit, she'd have to be more careful next time. She looked down at the floor, pretending as though she had no interest in his conversation when suddenly, he took off his shirt and approached her. Angel's eyes widened in surprise- she hadn't really pinned him as that sort of a man. As he got closer, the lean muscles on his torso bulging prominently, her heart began to beat faster. Her head went blurry and her entire body tensed up. What the hell was wrong with her? It wasn't as though she'd never seen a fit guy before. What was it about this man, that provoked such a reaction in her? However, Soryu walked straight past tossing the words "Don't get any weird ideas." Over his shoulder as he went. Angel blushed profusely, feeling like an idiot.
"Of course he isn't interested in me," she thought, self- deprecatingly "I mean, look at me, there isn't anything remotely attractive about me. I've got a job to do and I can't afford any sort of distraction."
Shaking her head to clear the absurd thoughts, she waited until the Soryu had disappeared into the bathroom and she could hear the shower before she headed towards the door to explore her surroundings. She knew well enough how volatile missions like this could be and if something went wrong she needed to know her way out of any situation. As she turned the door knob, droplets of water fell on her cheeks startling her. She turned around to see Soryu, hair dripping wet and with nothing but a towel around his waist. Her breath caught as she drank in the gorgeous sight. He was uncomfortably close and her heart was beating so fast she was sure he could hear it.
"You wanna be erased?" he asked quietly, but the menace that laced his voice was as sharp as a knife. His Japanese had a slight British accent, much like her own and she wondered if he'd lived in England before.
"N-n-no…" she stuttered, still struggling to concentrate with his body so close.
"Then be good. If you're good, then I won't do anything bad to you." He said, his voice softening. Angel blinked at the sudden change of tone. Was he really so benevolent?
"…Okay…" she replied adding fear in her voice.
Inside, however, she was laughing. Do anything bad to her? He could try…
In an inspired moment, she pretended to feel faint, collapsing by his feet. She was enjoying this far too much- she'd always wanted to fake a swoon! There was no better way to convince him that she was a helpless maid than collapsing dramatically. Well, maybe it was a bit over the top…
"W-What's going to happen to me?" She asked, a tremor in her voice.
"Who knows?" Soryu said, completely unaffected by her state.
"Boy, is this man cold." She thought to herself.
"Are you going to keep me here?" She asked. It would really help her cause if she could stay as close to him and Eisuke as possible, after all they seemed to be heading up this organization.
"I don't have to take care of you. You're going to have to earn that $20 million I paid for you."
"What do you want me to do…?" she asked hesitantly, wondering what she had set herself up for.
To her surprise he walked towards her, and she lifted her head to meet his gaze and jerked back as he tightly grasped her chin, bringing his face very close. Too close.
Instinctively, her eyes hardened subtly but it did not escape Soryu's perceptive scrutiny. There was that fire again. As much as she may try to play the vulnerable victim- and she was doing a good job at that- the defiance in her eyes betrayed her. He was very good at reading characters and he was sure that there was more to this girl than met the eye. Meeting her unflinching gaze, he warned her:
"Don't you dare tell anyone what you saw today. Telling anyone else is the same as signing your own death warrant. Yours, your friends' and your family's."
Angel remained silent, unamused by his threat. He could have gotten away with threatening her, but anyone who threatened the people she loved would be sorry.
"Got it?" He asked roughly, tightening his grip painfully on her chin.
"P-please don't drag everyone else into this. It's my problem." She said, pretending to be afraid, to hide the rage that was seething inside her.
"If you want to protect them, you'll keep your mouth shut."
Angel nodded, not trusting herself to speak.
Suddenly, the door burst open without warning and Ota came in.
"Hey Soryu! You already seducing her?" he asked teasingly. Disgusted Angel moved back and as she made to get up, bumped into Eisuke.
"You're in the way. Move." Eisuke demanded rudely. Oh how she wanted to teach this insolent man a lesson. However, all she said was,
"Sorry… excuse me."
The door opened again and the rest of the group came in, much to Soryu's displeasure.
"Need something?" He asked shortly.
"We were just wondering what you two were doing in here." Ota said.
"Wow, I've never seen you hit on a girl like this, Sor." Baba said in awe.
Angel scoffed inwardly. Hit on a girl? This guy didn't know the first thing about how to treat a lady.
"…As if I'd waste my time on this woman." Angel's eyes narrowed at that and she bit back a scornful retort.
"Uh-huh. Then where are your clothes?" Baba asked, with a smug smile.
"She tried to run away while I pretended to take a shower, so I caught her." Soryu said as he sat down on an armchair next to the window, glaring at her.
As the boys continued to tease him, Angel cut in,
"I wasn't trying to run away. I just wanted to have a look around." She piped up hesitantly. "I've never seen anything so extravagant before." She lied blatantly, feeling a little homesick for her own luxurious mansion in the English countryside.
"Looks like Soryu likes the innocent little girls." Teased Ota.
"What-"
"Yeah I've always known you were a closeted Perv." Grinned Baba.
Suddenly Soryu pulled something out from behind the chair and pointed it at the man in front of him.
"Will you stop pointing your gun at me- that's against the rules!" Exclaimed Baba, slightly shocked.
Angel was instantly more alert; though the sarcastic side of her couldn't help wondering "These people have rules now?".
The others looked slightly nervous and expressed their displeasure, though Soryu didn't care at all.
"You're too loud and this was the quickest way to shut you up." He said casually, but he laid his gun down on the table anyway as the men shut up.
"So he has guns hidden around here." Noted the ever observant Angel. Maybe she could appropriate one of them as her own…
Turning back to her, Baba asked:
"You said you wanted to have a look around. Let me take you pretty lady. I'll give you the full tour." He gave her a flirty wink and Angel refrained from rolling her eyes.
She reluctantly went with him- regardless of whether or not she could tolerate his constant innuendoes and flirting, she knew she had to be familiar with the security and layout of the penthouse. Wordlessly, she followed Baba as he walked out, chattering excitedly.
AN: constructive reviews are greatly appreciated. Hugs and kisses from your favourite bidder to all those who review/ favourite/ follow! ;)
