Author's note:  I am soo sorry.  I am such an evil bad person.  I said I'd update but I didn't.  I've been busy with school and well, I'm lazy.  I'll try to update more often, but no promises.

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Section 9:  You Wanted to See Me?

Scarlet sat down at her desk and removed the potion from her purse.  The last thing she wanted was for it to spill in her purse.  She placed it on her desk where she could keep her eye on it.  When she got home, she planned on placing it in her hidden safe.  Actually, she needed a hidden safe in her office too.  She wondered why she hadn't put one in yet.  It would help protect the many confidential documents she had in her office, and would be perfect for times like these.  She made a mental note to find an expendable contractor to build a safe for her office.

An hour later Tseng entered her office.  He appeared distraught, which surprised Scarlet.  He was normally unflappable and emotionless.  Him showing emotions was a bad thing.  What did he want?  She could only think of two reasons for him visiting her.  Either he suspected she did something to Reno, or he came to see what she had wanted to talk about earlier.  She prayed that he didn't suspect anything. 

"Tseng, I had forgotten that I wanted to see you.  If this is about earlier, I solved my problem myself so I don't need your help.  I'm sorry that I forgot to tell you."

"I see," Tseng sighed, "Well, that wasn't my only reason for coming; I also have a couple of questions."

"Questions?"  She hoped that they weren't about Reno.  "Well, I have to meet the President in a couple of minutes.  If you don't mind, I can answer them while I prepare." 

"That's fine.  They shouldn't take long to answer."

"You don't mind if I get ready while you ask," Without waiting for a response, Scarlet walked over to her mirror and started to brush her hair, "Ask away."

"Was Reno acting," Tseng paused, "odd, when you were there?"

Scarlet felt a tremor of fear.  He was here about Reno, yet he didn't act like he suspected her.  But Turks were tricky like that.  He might be trying to lure her into a false sense of security.  She had to stay on her guard.  "Odd?  No more so than usual."

Tseng frowned.  "I see.  Are you certain?"

"Positive."

"Could you describe his actions when you left?"

"When I left the young woman, Elena, entered the room.  They started talking so I escorted myself out." 

"What did they talk about?"

"I wasn't listening.  What's with the questions?  Did Reno do something?"

"I had hoped you knew something about why Reno is acting strange.  You would be the last person who saw him other than Elena."

Scarlet almost sighed in relief.  Tseng didn't seem to suspect her of anything.  As long as she didn't confess, everything would be fine.  "As I said, I wasn't listening, so I can't tell you what they talked about.  Sorry."

Tseng sighed.  "I see.  Thanks for your help.  I'll leave you to prepare for your meeting."

"Close the door as you leave," Scarlet called.  It took Scarlet about a half hour to get ready.  She had to look her best for the President.  Unlike the other slobs, she cared about her looks.  As she prepared to leave Scarlet decided to place the potion in a more secure hiding spot, like in her desk.  She felt a sense of fear when she realized that the potion wasn't where she left it.  Panicked she looked around her office.  She couldn't find it.  Cursing softly she realized that she had to leave immediately or else she'd be late for the meeting.  She'd have to search for it when she returned.  She hoped that it had fallen off her desk and rolled under. 

During a lull in the meeting with the President, Heidegger asked her to meet him in his office.  He wanted to talk to her in private about an important matter, but he wouldn't say what.  The meeting had been so mind-numbingly dull that she forgot that she wanted to look for the potion.  Since she didn't remember that she had other more important matters to deal with, she agreed to see him. 

As Scarlet entered Heidegger's office, she wondered what he wanted to speak with her about.  She hoped it wasn't something stupid.  But knowing Heidegger, it probably was.  She grimaced in distaste as she looked around his room.  His office always annoyed her.  The walls were such a distasteful color of green, and the yellow of the carpet clashed horribly with the green on the walls.  But he must like the color because it was the same as the uniform he always wore.  He had such an atrocious sense of taste.  Fortunately he wasn't in charge of designing anything.  That was left to people with a sense of style.  She sat down in the chair in front of his desk and his secretary brought each a cup of coffee. 

"I'm sure you're wondering what I have to talk about."  Heidegger stated.

"That did cross my mind."

"Well, earlier today I had a talk with Tseng."  Heidegger laughed, "He has the ludicrous idea that you tried to drug Reno."

Scarlet started to take a sip of her coffee, and almost choked on it.  How could Tseng know?  He didn't act suspicious in her office.  She tried to recover her cool and asked, "Why would I drug Reno?"  She took a couple more sips of her coffee.  She needed something to calm her nerves.  Some sort of alcohol would have been preferable, but there wasn't any available.    

Heidegger shrugged, "He wouldn't explain what he meant."  He watched Scarlet carefully and waited until she had finished her coffee before asking, "So how's your coffee?"

Scarlet swallowed the last of her coffee.  She hadn't noticed before, but it had a strange aftertaste to it.  "It's a little strange.  Is this a new brand?  I'm not sure I like it."

Heidegger laughed, "That must be the potion I put in it."

"Potion?  Are you trying to poison me?"  Scarlet shrieked.

"Of course not.  It's a love potion." 

Scarlet paled, "Where did you get a love potion?"

"Tseng brought me the bottle of love potion from your desk."  Heidegger smiled sinisterly.  "And I'm the only one in the room.  You know what that means."

At this moment Scarlet started to panic.  The last thing she wanted to do was fall in love with Heidegger.  Breathing heavily she gasped, "It's all in the mind.  If I don't think it works then it won't."

Heidegger heard her and started to laugh.  "Think that all you want.  But you cannot resist."  He stood up and walked to Scarlet.  He touched her arm and Scarlet felt a chills at his touch.

"No it wasn't supposed to happen like this."  Scarlet shrieked.  She threw his hand off and ran from his office.  Tears started to fill her eyes as she ran.  She felt torn.  She wanted to return to Heidegger, but a small voice in her head kept on pushing her onward.  Heidegger attempted to follow her, but he could not keep up.  He stood panting at a doorway as he watched her dash away.  Scarlet's mind repeated over and over that she hated him.  But her heart, her heart told her that he was her one and only love.  Despite her determination not to give in, her heart slowly began to win her over.  It became harder and harder to run away from the Shinra Tower, away from Heidegger.  Some how she managed to get home, but Scarlet wasn't sure how. 

Scarlet lay on her bed and sobbed.  She wanted Heidegger to comfort her so much.  She wanted him to hold her and tell her that it would be all right.  Yet, that desire was the reason she was upset.  She wanted to hear his voice, and wished that he would call her.  At times her hand strayed to her phone and started to dial his number.  Every time she hung up before the call was completed.  Eventually she wore herself out and fell asleep.  Her dreams were filled with Heidegger and what she wished he would do to her. 

Groaning Scarlet woke up.  For some reason she had a nasty hangover.  She felt like she had been out drinking all night.  For a couple of seconds she could not remember what happened the previous night.  Then the memories flooded back.  Memories of the desire, of the longing, and of the sorrow.  She felt a sense of relief when she realized that it was just that, memories.  She no longer desired Heidegger.  Apparently the potion only lasted for a day.  Scarlet stood up and scowled.  Heidegger would pay for what he tried to do.  Yes he would.  But that would have to wait for another day.

The End

(Ending 10 will have Tseng's point of view)