*you guys out there really are great! i am so touched by all the reviews, ur awesome! and sorry i havent updated in a while, havent had net for a bit... here we go... dinner with kaiba... and yeah, i would love to be celeste in this case, too. seriously. if only this crap could come to life.... a girl can dream.*

Chapter 10—This Date Is A Secret—Even From Me

On Thursday, Mom and Dad decided to give a crap and ask why I was pawing obsessively through my closet.

I rolled my eyes. "Just...looking for a sweater I lost a while back." I lied only because something told me they wouldn't approve of my dinner-date at the Kaibas' mansion; after all, despite his high position in society, Kaiba was an older man—and older men can never be trusted.

And, as for their sudden interest in my affairs, I was irritated based on several solid reasons:

Dad supported me in a career in journalism, and not much else.

Mom wanted me to find a nice boy—with a fat wallet. So why would she care about some random guy?

Both would easily throw out any guy I picked for personality instead of paycheck.

And, most importantly:

It was my business. My life—and, for that matter, the whole mess—was mine to deal with, and not theirs.

I decided, at last, on a slim-fitting green dress that nicely showed off my curves. Holding it up to my body in front of the mirror, I smiled as I remembered the call I'd gotten from Mokuba this morning.

"Seto doesn't know it's you," he'd explained. "But he's a bit crabby about the whole thing, so don't be surprised if he's a rude host. I can everything ready for you by six-thirty. It'll be fun. Seto just needs to give you a chance."

Maybe I need to do the same, I thought, and packed the dress carefully into a duffel bag, which I'd also be packing with overnight clothes for when I spent the night at Becca's after dinner.

I resisted the compulsive urge to pack my tape recorder, too. This was a social visit, not a professional one. Mokuba invited me for dinner, not a conference. I made sure my makeup was inside as well; I'd definitely need that.

My fluffy brown cat, Louie, hopped up on the bed and meowed pitifully, in search of a belly rub, if I was correct. I sighed and tweaked one of his ears.

"I'm growing up too fast, aren't I, Louie?"

Louie simply stared at me, as if saying, Sure. Where's my dinner?

"Well, thanks. Thanks a lot."

***

Yes, he was angry that he wouldn't be able to relax on his Friday evening at home, but it was difficult to say no to Mokuba when he put on that soulful puppy-dog face. So he was in the kitchen, wearing gray slacks and a pale blue shirt with the sleeves rolled up to the elbow, while he messily prepared chicken Bolognese. Why? Who knew.

Mokuba hadn't even told him who this mystery guest was, anyhow. "It's a surprise," was all he would reveal.

He didn't hear the knock at the door, but he heard Mokuba flying down the stairs to answer it.

"Hi!" he said, his voice echoing. "Come on in!"

"T-thank you," a female voice stammered. She was probably taking in the splendor of the mansion.

"Come on, Seto's in the kitchen, finishing up dinner," he said, and then muttered, "Or he better be."

Kaiba smirked. Typical Mokuba.

"Seto! Hey, big bro! Our guest is here!" In his button down and jeans, Mokuba came bursting into the kitchen, holding a pretty blond girl firmly by the hand.

She smiled sheepishly, her green eyes flashing. Kaiba almost forgot to close his mouth, and then he was struggling to control his anger.

Mokuba grinned. "Seto, this is—"

"Celeste Dawson," Kaiba interrupted with a light snarl in his tone. "Domino Star."

Mokuba's eyes widened. "You two already know each other?"

Kaiba glared down at him. Don't try and play dumb, kid, he thought furiously.

"You remembered," Celeste said, a bit of amused. "I'm flattered."

He grimaced. "Mokuba, I need to talk with you, in private."

"But, Seto—"

His fingers easily snagged the back of his little brother's collar. "Now."

After dragging him to a different room, he demanded, "What were you thinking? She's a reporter! Do you know what kind of bad publicity she can put out there?! She could ruin me, the company!"

"You're paranoid," Mokuba sighed. "She's nice, and not like that. I don't think she'd do that."

"Those people are scummy, Mokuba, they'll fake anything to sucker you in, then they spin the truth."

"Not her. She's not faking anything, I know it. I can see it in her eyes."

Her eyes... Kaiba was suddenly distracted by the memory of her twin emeralds, glinting when he insulted her in his office...

He shook his head quickly. "We can't—"

"Please let her stay, nii-sama, please. Just get to know her. She's a good person."

Kaiba sighed heavily. "Fine. I'll attempt to put up with her. But only for tonight."

"Yay! Thanks, Seto!" He hurried out.

Kaiba followed more slowly, wiping his hands on his pants. For the strangest reason, they'd become sweaty after seeing her. He hadn't felt so confused since that night at the fucking dance, where he decided to sweep some random girl off her feet. Even now, he couldn't explain why.

Celeste smiled at him as he returned to the kitchen. Those eyes that had just begun to haunt his mind were alight with humor, like she and Mokuba had shared a joke that he wasn't in on.

"Seto's almost done with dinner," Mokuba announced. "I'll show you around while he finishes."

Ten minutes later, the dining room was set for three with the whole spread of the dinner he fixed. Mokuba and Celeste returned, and they ate relatively quietly.

"So, Celeste," Mokuba said as he shoved his empty plate away. "You're in high school, right?"

"Yes. I'm sixteen. No car, though." She smiled wryly.

"Where do you go to school? You're obviously not at Domino High with Seto."

Kaiba rolled his eyes.

"Right. I'm at West Point Academy, for journalism, obviously."

"What about in your spare time? What do you like to do?"

"Mokuba, that's personal," Kaiba scolded.

"It's fine. It's just a question." She gave a placating smile. "I like sports. Mostly basketball, though."

Mokuba smiled. "That's fun. You want me to take your plate?"

"That would be wonderful. Thank you."

He grabbed all three of their plates and left.

Celeste looked over at Kaiba, smirked. "Your little brother is really cute. And polite. Are you sure you're related?"

Great. what was she up to now? "Thanks. I have to make sure he minds his manners. He needs to be ready to keep up the image of KaibaCorp when I can't."

She nodded in understanding. "All about image, isn't it?"

"What's all about image?" Mokuba asked, sitting back down.

"Mokuba!"

She held up her hands, laughing. "It's okay, really. The business world, and the journalism world. You have to keep up the perfect facade, or everybody else rips you to shreds, one way or another."

"Your image is really nice..." Mokuba grinned.

A light pink blush colored her cheeks. "Thank you."

"Don'tcha think, Seto?"

Kaiba sent him a dark look, then sighed. "You do look nice, Miss Dawson."

"Celeste, please." Her smile wasn't the one full of arrogance he remembered from the interview. It was sweet, full of mirth.

She checked her phone. "Oh, shoot. I really ought to be going."

"Aww, but I have a movie..." Mokuba's face fell.

"Maybe some other time," she said gently.

He brightened suddenly. "Okay!"

They all stood and walked to the large front door.

"Come visit soon," Mokuba told her. "Bye, Celeste."

She knelt and gave him a quick hug. "Soon as I can, if that's okay with you." She flashed Kaiba a meaningful look. She was asking his permission.

"Bye," he muttered, and she was off, a fading spot in the night.

"She's nice, huh?" Mokuba said, grinning rather smugly.

"I suppose she can be decent."

"More than that! She's awesome!"

"Mokuba, are you trying to get me on a date with her or something?"

He flinched. "No!" Then he stared down and shuffled his feet. "Okay maybe..."

"Mokuba." Kaiba stopped and crossed his arms, his firm defense against anything that happened to come his way. In this case, his little brother trying to get him a date. "I'm not gonna ask her out, okay?"

"You should, thought. She's really pretty, right? And smart, and nice, and funny..."

"Mokuba, no."

"Seto—"

"Under. No. Circumstances."

Mokuba scowled, rolled his eyes and started to trudge up the stairs to his room. "Just you wait," Kaiba heard him mutter.