DISCLAMER; I DO NOT OWN GHOST HUNT!
THIS IS A RATED M CHAPTER…. PLEASE BE AWARE! NOTHING EXPLICIT, BUT BE WARNED!
Without further ado this is…
Chapter 10 of; 'Uneven Odds'
Jubilant
Part Two
The ride home was silent.
Not a word uttered from either of the S.P.R lead members.
He was angry. Even she could see that.
Mai shivered against the cold digging herself deeper into her coat basking in the slight warmth it provided. It wasn't a big coat… but she wasn't expecting this much from fall weather.
"Maybe you should have chosen pants instead of shorts." He all but spit the words out at her.
She snapped turning to face him, "The weatherman said nothing about a drop in temperature. Last I recalled you told me that it would be 80 degrees all day. Besides I'm wearing leggings under them…""
He snorted, "And yet here you are shivering."
She glared at him, "I wasn't asking for your sympathy."
"I wasn't sympathizing you… I was pitying you."
She glared, "No one asked for your pity either."
"Are you sure… it was practically radiating off of your shivering shoulders."
"What the hell is wrong with you today!?"
"Absolutely nothing. It's you has been acting questionable all day."
"What do you mean questionable? We've hardly spoken to each other"
He sighed, "Do you think I can't hear the discussions that go on between you and Yasu?"
"Are you implying something?"
"I am implying nothing… I'm stating the fact that I can hear every noise that comes out of your lips… even the ones you try not to let out."
She was quiet and for a moment he thought he had won, "I don't understand..."
Neither did he.
…
Naru stopped at a red light hands tapping the steering wheel both impatiently and violently.
She couldn't help the anger that seemed to surge through her veins. She had seen him upset before but it was usually for good reason…. But this… this was just pathetic.
She had done nothing for him all day but bring in cup after cup of tea and file HIS paper work.
When Yasu had come in it was to pick up a text book that she had borrowed and then they debated for a moment about a birthday celebration that was coming up.
At the very least a bit of compassion or maybe even a 'thank you Mai' would suffice.
But no.
Of course not.
When had he ever summed up the courage to thank her for anything she had ever done?
What had he even done something nice for her!?
Instead he'd simply insult her intelligence and work ethic and demand the project be redone before he was forced to doc her pay.
He made it sound as if paying her was an option.
She tightened her grip on the edge of her shorts digging her nails into the skin drawing crescents.
He had done nothing but yell profanities at her all week.
When he would threaten to doc her pay it was usually noting but a threat, but this week he had actually docked her pay by a whole $50.
She had had enough.
She had taken his bullshit for far too long.
And she was sick of it.
Quickly unclipping her seatbelt she pushed the car door stepping out and slamming the door before he could say anything.
She buried her hands into her pockets walking down the block to nowhere in particular… all she wanted was to be away from him.
Away from his smart ass attitude and superiority complex.
Running down the block she ignored his calls and beeps.
She slid down the street going down a clearly unsafe ally way all in her efforts to get away from him.
She could only imagine what she looked like to someone like him.
Pathetic?
Childish?
Ignorant?
For a moment all she could think of what all that he did… all that he said… and all that he refused to acknowledge.
The thoughts swarmed in her head causing her nothing but anger.
And for a moment… she hated him.
…
Naru pushed their front door open ignoring the sound it made as it collided against the wall behind him. Throwing his coat onto the couch he ignored the cat attempting to snuggle up against his leg before running into his office and slamming the door close.
Collapsing into his leather chair he placed his palms against his eyes breathing in and out slowly.
That girl…
She was always causing him trouble.
There wasn't a day that she did anything right.
Always screwing up and making matters far worse than he could have ever anticipated.
She had walked out of a moving vehicle for Christ's sake.
Granted the vehicle wasn't moving when she had walked out, but still.
Had she no idea the severity of her actions.
What if he had pressed the gas?!
Her head would have collided with the edge of the door which had slide back due to the impact, cutting off not only her air supply but scarring a limb or two.
If that hadn't happened then, knowing her lack of balance, she would have fallen, skidded on the ground and got her head not only smashed into the asphalt but the car door and maybe even by the wheels of another car. If she had managed to survive that, while the chances were slim at best, she would no doubt suffer multiple concussions. Not to mention the fact that she could severely damage her hypothalamus with could intern result in the malfunctioning of her hippocampus resulting in amnesia…
The man shook his head refusing to delve any deeper into the possible outcomes of her stupid decision.
He glanced up at the clock, it was still 6…. He decided it would be best not to worry.
As soon as she cleared her head she'd come home.
Or at least he hoped she would.
Sighing at the thought the older man stood up pulling the door open wincing at the feeling of claws digging into his skin.
He knew he deserved it.
Chuckling lightly he leaned down picking up the furry animal before carrying it into the kitchen where he proceeded to prepare dinner.
He owed her an apology.
It wasn't her fault his mind had decided to submerge itself into the gutter.
To think, for a moment he was actually imagining Mai with Yasu… he chuckled.
As if.
He knew Mai well and while Yasu was a kind young man he had NONE of the requirements on her seemingly endless list.
Sighing he pulled open the fridge door open, "What should we make for mommy today?"
He winced… paused… then smiled.
He'd never admit it but he rather liked the way the name when associated with the brunette sounded.
She'd make a great mother someday…. That he was sure of.
And he, of course would love to be a father.
Sooner rather than later.
But children meant marriage first and foremost.
There was no way in hell Mai would participated in… extracurricular activities with him without the marriage papers to back her up…
He smirked.
To think that the master of persuasion had already given up… he knew that he could easily persuade her into anything he wanted her to do… even if it meant sex… but the more he thought about it the more he realized that sex wasn't something he'd EVER want to push or pressure the brunette into.
But he'd undoubtedly love to have her… pressed against him…
"Stir fry it is."
…
The brunet fondled her straw mixing it clock wise then counter clock wise anything to get her mind off of her oh-so-gorgeous- boss- slash- boyfriend.
He was SO many things at once and it drover her insane.
But she couldn't help but feel guilty.
For what she had done… no… for what she had thought.
How could she hate him…?
He had given her a home and love and a family… but still… he was an ass hole.
She sighed leaning back as the waiter approached her table placing a cup of tea in front of her and a bowel of mochi.
"You okay there?"
The girl looked up smiling sadly at the man, "Yeah."
He caught her bluff before shuffling into the seat in front of her, "I've got 15 minutes to burn, want to talk about it?"
She smiled at the man, "I appreciate it but I don't know…"
He shook his head, "If I've learned anything in this world… I know that it's always great to talk… especially when it's to a complete stranger."
She chuckled, "You've got a point."
"Exactly, so spill."
"It's my boss… he's my boyfriend…"
"Mistake number one."
She looked up, "Excuse me."
He smirked, "You know as well as I do office romances never work."
She giggled sipping her tea, "You're right about that. Anyways… he's famous and I'm an orphan…."
"Mistake number two. You shouldn't pity yourself… who gives a fuck about fame when you could tell your future children a bomb ass story about how you survived alone."
This time she threw her head back laughing.
Wiping a tear off the corners of her eyes she breathed in, "He's been acting weird for quite a while. I thought he was stressed because of work."
"What do you do?"
She cringed, "We… are… we are paranormal researchers."
He lifted a brow, "What do you mean."
"We… we hunt ghosts."
He smiled, "Keep going."
"He's a narcissist. Arrogant. Ignorant. And has this superiority complex. He angers me to no end but I… I love him."
"Why?"
"He's given me so much and asked so little return. We live together… and he's given me a house and a family… he's my life and I love him immensely but I don't know how to deal with him… it's so aggravating."
"It seems to me that this love of your just doesn't know how to express himself."
"What do you mean?"
"Let me let you in on a guy's secret…. They're mean to the girls they like… because they have no idea how to deal with the feeling of being in love."
She backed away eyes wide, "You know what…"
"What?"
"You've hit the nail on its head."
Pushing her fork into a block of mochi she smiled before shoving it into her mouth.
"We haven't even been introduced, my name is Mai."
He smiled shaking her outstretched hand, "Alex."
"You wouldn't happen to know the time would you Alex?"
He nodded pulling his watch, "9:48"
The girl dropped her fork, "Shit! He's going to kill me."
Alex laughed, "Let me guess your boyfriend."
She nodded fishing though her purse for change, "How much do I owe you."
He shook his head standing up, "Wait here for a minute." He stood up disappearing into the back before reappearing only moments later with a bag in hand, "I've put some mochi inside… nothing like a sweet treat to calm someone down."
She smiled at him softly, "Thank you Alex honestly you have no idea how much you've helped me."
He shook his head, "This one is on me."
She bowed, "Thank you."
"Now stop wasting time and get home!"
"Right!"
…
She opened the door to silence.
The cat that usually welcomed her home was nowhere in sight.
She walked in closing and locking the door behind her before taking off her jacket and placing it on the coat rack, "Naru…?"
She walked into his office.
Empty.
Even the usual lamp wasn't on.
She narrowed her eyes in concern… where was he?
Then all of a sudden she could feel breath against the back of her neck before hands grabbed her arms turning her around painfully before roughly pushing her up against the wall.
"Where the hell were you!?"
She opened her eyes staring straight into an ocean of anger.
She knew that this was to be expected.
He'd be concerned for her… if not worried.
But she didn't expect anger.
Naru was never truly angry.
Disappointed, concerned maybe, but angry hardly ever.
He tightened his grip on her wrists when she refused to answer drawing her attention back to him.
"Where were you, Mai…?"
He spoke each word slowly.
"The café across from the bank."
"And just what were you doing there… for three fucking hours?"
She glared at him prying her hands from his grasp, "I don't ever remember it being your call where and when I go out."
"You are obligated to tell me."
"I'm not obligated to do anything! I'm an adult Naru!"
He lowered his gaze clenching his fists, "I… I was worried."
He glare, while it remained, softened, "Then why didn't you call me?"
"I figured you'd want some space."
She breathed out," Fair enough."
"I made dinner."
She raised a brow, 'You… you made dinner?
"Stir fry. It's cold though."
She chuckled, "I bought mochi."
"I'm sorry. It's, been a rough day at work."
She laced her arms around his neck bringing him to her, "And why is that?"
He shook his head a slight blush working its way up his cheeks if it weren't for him putting all the power he had into keeping it down, "Never mind that."