Kaiba looked over to the night stand and saw it flashing 3:00. Téa was going to be arriving home in about 20 minutes. He pushed himself off the bed and hobbled down the stairs. He sat on the sofa and carefully thought about what he wanted to tell her. He finally realized that he wanted to have a real relationship, not something that was forced. He finally came to the realization that the only way he could have a true and meaningful relationship would be to release her from the contract. So he sat and waited. His palms were sweating and his heart was pounding. What if she decided to leave? After all, she never wanted to be there to begin with.
The door opened and Kaiba looked up. "Hey Seto. I didn't expect you to be up. Are you feeling any better?" she asked as she walked over to where he was sitting. She sat next to him and examined his face. Things looked like they were healing. Téa looked him over, unable to read his face, "Seto, I asked you if you were feeling any better?"
Kaiba shook his head and replied, "I am fine." He then braced himself for the truth. He pulled out a folded piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to Téa. She opened it and saw a check for 5 million dollars. She looked up confused and he said, "I am releasing you from your contract. You can stay, or you can go. It is entirely up to you."
Téa sat there for a moment, trying to read into what he had told her. Finally, she reacted in the most unexpected way. She bent over and let out a sob. Kaiba watched her carefully, uncertain of what to make of her reaction. She then stood up and tore the check to pieces and screamed, "You are no better than my parents, just throwing me away like an old toy when you're done with me. Do you honestly think that I am interested in your money Kaiba? After all this time? No." She started to dig in her purse and threw the credit card he gave her on the floor. "Keep your money, keep your card, and keep your ring," she said as she pulled it off her finger and placed it on the coffee table, "I can't believe I actually thought you felt something for me!" She ran out the front door crying.
"No, Téa wait!" Seto screamed as he tried to stand. His legs gave out on him and he landed hard on the floor. Unable to push himself off the floor, he laid there and looked at the ring. She threw the check and the cards on the ground, but she placed the ring on the table. That has to mean something!
After he healed, for days he drove from one place to another trying to find her. He had checked everyone he knew she spent time with. But she was nowhere to be found. He then checked the hospitals, the airport, and ran old credit cards, still not a trace. It was as if she didn't want to be found.
He even went to see if she had gone home to her parents. They screamed at him, that it was his own fault she left.
Finally, he got a clue a few weeks later from a tabloid magazine. The cover read, "Oh, How the Mighty Have Fallen!" It showed a picture of Téa dressed in a waitress uniform, pulling out the keys to her apartment. He recognized the apartment complex as one on the dangerous side of town. Immediately, he grabbed his keys and drove there. There were about twenty different apartments in one building. He looked down to the picture for a clue and noticed her apartment had a few plant pots in front of it. That narrowed it down to five possible doors. He knocked one of the doors and an elderly woman answered, "Can I help you son?"
"I am looking for a friend," he pulled out a picture, "Have you seen her?"
The old woman smiled and replied, "That is the nice young lady who lives next door. She waters my flower pots every day, and helps me with my groceries."
Kaiba let out a sigh of relief and thanked the woman. He knocked on the next door when she said, "She is not home right now sonny. And, I don't know what time she will return home today."
Kaiba nodded and walked to his car. He was going to wait for her.
…
Today was a long day at work. The little restaurant she worked at constantly had her on her feet and it was rare when she ever got a tip. She was just barely making it…but she was making it and to her that was all that mattered. As she approached the apartment complex, she saw a man out the corner of her eye. He was wearing a navy blue hoodie and appeared to be following her. She started to pick up the pace until he caught her. He pushed her into a brick wall, pulled out a knife, and demanded her money. She handed him the purse and silently prayed he would leave. Téa closed her eyes as she saw him raised his knife high. He was about to attack when something stopped him. When Téa didn't feel anything, she opened up her eyes and was surprised to see Seto had caught the knife. "Run," he said through gritted teeth.
Téa quickly ran into her apartment and grabbed her gun. She had gotten one shortly after moving into this neighborhood alone. She ran back outside and saw Kaiba trying to fight the thief off. Téa cocked the gun and screamed, "Drop the knife!" The thief heard the cocking of the gun and quickly took off, leaving Téa's purse behind. Téa bent down to pick up the purse and asked, "What are you doing here Kaiba?"
"We need to talk," he replied.
"I am pretty sure you made your decision loud and clear the last time we spoke," she angrily barked back.
Kaiba grabbed her hand and said, "No, Téa you don't understand. I wasn't trying to get rid of you. The truth is I wanted you to stay more than anything. But, I wanted you to do it on your own terms, not just because of some contract. The reason I handed you the check was in case you did decide to leave. I didn't want you to end up…well in a place like this. I wanted you to be happy and safe no matter what decision you made."
"You didn't want me to leave?" she asked.
He shook his head no and replied, "I just wanted you to have a choice. That way I would know how you truly felt about me." He then knelt down on one knee and said, "You don't have to answer now, but I love you and I would be honored if you would be my wife." Téa paused she didn't know what to say. Kaiba let out a sigh and stood up, "Look, I want you back in my life Téa; I miss you. And, if you need time to think, then I will give you that time. Next Friday, Kaiba Corp is holding a charity ball and I would very much like you to be my date. I will send you a dress and a limo to pick you up. If you decide not to come, I promise not to bother you again. Just know that this is a proposal not a proposition."
She smiled softly and nodded. Uncertain of how she felt, she gave him a hug and bid him goodnight. Kaiba walked back to his car and pulled out the driveway. As he was driving, he was becoming more and more anxious. It bothered him that she was living in such deplorable conditions. He wanted her home, that way he knew she was safe. But, he also knew that she needed time. When he arrived home, he dragged himself up the stairs and flopped in his bed. Work could wait until tomorrow.
...
Téa paced back and forth, he seemed sincere in what he said, but her trust had been shattered in the alleged misunderstanding. She knew that she loved him, but could she trust him? She looked down at the ring on her hand and let out a sigh. The truth is her hand felt bare without her engagement ring and her heart felt empty without Seto.
She changed into her pajamas and was about to go to bed when she heard a knock on the door. She opened the door and found Yugi standing on her doorstep. "Yugi, how did you know where I was?" she asked suspiciously.
"I asked around," was all he could think of as a reply.
She crossed her arms, still angry over the pizza incident and asked, "What do you want Yugi?"
"I know that you and Kaiba broke up, and although this may not be the time or place, I want you to know that I have always loved you."
Téa leaned against the door frame and replied, "I love you too Yugi…but not in that way. I love you as if you were my little brother, not my lover. I am sorry Yugi; I am just not attracted to you in that way."
Yugi's eyes started to tear up. He wiped his eyes and answered, "Fine, I hope you are happy with your decision."
Téa shut the door when he left and crawled into bed. She couldn't sleep that night though. There were just too many questions in her mind.
…
Téa looked back and forth between the clock and her gown which had just arrived. It was a floor-length strapless ball gown, with crystals on the bodice. The color was a light yellow, which would nicely compliment the color of her ring. She still hadn't come to a decision. She knew she loved him, but was her love going to be enough for him? She knew she had to go, whether it be to start or end their relationship.
…
Although there were over 100 people in the room, Seto only had one person that night he really wished to be with. He scanned the crowd in between conversations with other business men. There were people giving him weird looks and whispering amongst themselves. He knew it was about the video. His nerves were getting the best of him, so he decided to get a glass of scotch from the bar. As he stood near the bar, he felt a gentle tap on his shoulder. He turned around excitedly and was disappointed to find Airey standing in front of him.
"What do you want?" he snarled.
She bat her eyelashes and answered, "I was just wondering if you were up for another rendezvous. We sure had fun last time."
"Not a chance in hell," he replied, "Do you honestly think that after you released that video, ruining both my relationship and reputation, that I would want anything to do with you?"
She pouted and said, "But Seto, she was of cheap quality. Wouldn't you rather a woman who could look good by your side and stroke your…ego. Téa was a second-rate girl at best, I bet you two never even made it in the bedroom."
Kaiba was about to reply when he heard a feminine voice behind him. "I'm sorry Airey, but did you say second-rate? The last time I checked, I was wearing the engagement ring and your hands look bare. I think I would reevaluate who is second-rate in this group."
Kaiba took Téa's hands and pulled her towards him. He gave her a chaste kiss on the lips and whispered, "You look beautiful! I'm glad you came."
She smiled replied, "Me too. I love you Seto."
She wrapped her arms around him for a second kiss. There was another tap on his shoulder, but this time it was a man. He smirked and said to Kaiba, "I will pass on the kiss, but it is your time to speak."
Kaiba nodded and Téa followed him backstage. She stood behind the curtain while he started to deliver his speech. She looked at the crowd as he was speaking. They seemed entranced by his words…all except one.
There was one man who had just entered in the very back of the room, near the kitchen. He didn't look like he belonged there since he was wearing blue jeans and a black jacket with a hood that covered his face. Téa found his appearance strange, so she watched him closely. He sat a duffle bag on the ground and started to dig through it. It looked like he was trying to put something together in the bag. He then pulled his hand out of the bag revealing a black object.
Téa's eyes got wide and she ran on stage screaming, "SETO, LOOK OUT!" Seto narrowly missed being shot and his security team quickly chased the hooded man out the mansion. Seto sat up in shock and felt Téa land on him. He looked down at her and panicked when he realized she was bleeding. "Téa!" He screamed as the reality of the situation started crashing down on him, "Somebody get an ambulance!" She was hit twice: once in the arm and one was in her abdomen. Quickly he pulled off his tie and wrapped it around her arm like a tourniquet. She screamed as he applied pressure to the bullet in her stomach.
Quickly, losing consciousness, she whispered, "Seto…"
"Don't talk. Save your strength Téa." He instructed her.
She shook her head and started to gasp between phrases, "No, there is something you must know… I love you Seto… and I am sorry… that I won't make it to our wedding." Her eyes rolled in the back of her head and she no longer could feel anything.
Kaiba yelled, "Téa! Stay with me! TEA!"
