Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh! it rightfully belongs to Kazuki Takahashi. I only claim ownership of Kiara Katsuhiko and Lily Katsuhiko as well as some shareholders of Kaiba Corps. The idea of this fanfiction was inspired from the manga Midnight Secretary.
Chapter 11 - Snow
Delicate fingers with white tipped nails flew over the keyboard, shimmering pale pink lips were pulled into a small smile, sapphire eyes danced between the lines on the paper, and slim square lenses were on the tip of her nose. One hand paused momentarily to push the glasses up before it was returned to its rightful place on the keyboard once more. It had been weeks since she took care of her employer, rumors were spread, she was asked questions, and she took everything in stride while not giving out one bit of detail. Currently she had pushed those thoughts from her mind as she focused on the document in front of her, it had been some time since she had this kind of work, and she was smiling to herself as she finished the last line. The papers were neatly put together, then placed inside a binder on her desk, she turned to look around, and realized it was quiet.
"Odd." She listened intently but all she heard was the hum of the air conditioner, she looked down at her cellular phone for the time, and noticed that it was only half past four. Her eyes narrowed, "Normally no one leaves until six and then I leave at seven. So...where did everyone go?" Kiara wanted to investigate but she thought better of it, instead she continued on the next item on her agenda. Once that was finished, she stood up, and noticed that every one was huddled by the glass; instead of leaving her station, she glanced out the nearest window and saw the white flakes falling. "Ah, that's what it is. First snow of the season." Kiara sat down once more, completed the next task on the written list, and ignored the others who had become fascinated by the early onset of the snow. She opened the door to her employer's office, "I'm finished for the day." He nodded, "Don't stay too late sir." Kiara closed the door behind her then sauntered towards the elevator. Just as she was halfway there, she heard the door click behind, a smirk appeared briefly before disappearing, and she pushed the lobby button.
"You work hard." She shrugged, "I mean it." Kiara shrugged again, "Don't you ever get tired of doing what I ask?" The woman shook her head, the doors opened, and she entered first then he followed suit. The lobby button was pushed and he asked, "Are you going to tell me how I made an impression on you when you were small?"
"Perhaps but not yet."
"When?"
"The new year. I'll tell you then."
"How do I know that you won't back out?"
Their eyes connected, her dazzling sapphires and his steely cobalts, "I keep to my word Mister Kaiba and I have never gone back on it. Have I ever given you reason to doubt what I've said in the past?" He shook his head, "Good. Then don't doubt me now. At the new year, I'll tell you." He nodded and they both returned to silence.
"Book a business trip for five days to Hokkaido. We have to go by train and be sure to have a contract ready for a site plan for the second Kaiba World just in case I find something suitable." She nodded, "We leave in three weeks."
"I'll make sure to have other sites planned as well while we're there."
"Why?"
"In case you don't like that one then there will be others to look at and it won't be a complete waste of time."
"Good." Although it wouldn't be a waste if you're there. She nodded while they continued in silence, "Bring something to make coffee in. I don't want a repeat of Germany." Kiara chuckled and nodded while he thought about whatever else he might want her to do, "One room with two beds, possible sites, coffee..." his list ended there as he thought about other business matters.
"One room with two beds, possible site locations, coffee, massage oil, vitamin supplements, ginseng supplements, and maybe some fuzzy handcuffs."
Kaiba looked down at her while she smiled to herself, "Don't joke about those cuffs if you're not serious."
"I'll bring them."
"Why?" She shrugged while he sighed, "I see you didn't catch my cold."
"Nope! I took pre-emptive measures the moment that you were feeling better." He continued to look at her, "I made sure to drink lots of green tea, oolong tea, rosehip tea, and Vitamin C. No way I was going to get what you had. I would have been out of work for a week like you and I wasn't going to have that. You need me here."
He looked away and sighed, "That I do." Kaiba could tell that she nodded to herself, the doors opened, she exited, and thanked him for his hard work. He only watched as she did the same to Jiro and Satsuki, they returned it cheerfully, and she disappeared into the falling snow.
-::::::-
The following day she was organizing their trip, finding rooms was a problem for her because the falling snow had brought out a lot of people to Hokkaido for vacation. She thanked the person on the phone, hung up, sighed, and crossed off another name on her list. "Let's see who's next?" Irises danced across the paper, searching for the next available name on the list, there was one on the bottom, she looked at it, "Huh? A small town inn. That sounds cozy. Let's give it a try." She dialed the number and waited for the other person, just as it was picked up, Kiara put on her professional voice. She was asking about their availability to which there were still a few rooms left. "That's wonderful! I'll need a single room with two beds." It was then that she was told the only rooms left available were the queen, king, and honeymoon suites, "Well, it will have to do on such short notice. I'll take the queen suite please." As all the arrangements were being made, Kiara was telling the other person how they would need to stay for five days and five nights as well as be supplied with a hot water kettle. The other person was more than happy to accommodate her requests, she thanked the person, and stated, "It will be under the name Kiba. Thank you again!" They parted their conversation, she placed the phone in its cradle, and shook her head, she circled the name of the inn, and nodded while beginning to type up the itinerary for those five days. She e-mailed it to Kaiba with all the instructions of where they will be staying, what room, the sites she had chosen and made appointments with, and what the reservation name was under as well as a separate e-mail stating that she had something for him at lunch.
It was that time for lunch, she grabbed her items, shut down her computer, and was about to head to the break room when Kaiba opened his door. "Inside now." She slipped inside, he closed the door behind her, and locked it. Then he motioned for her to have a seat, Kiara did so, "What was that e-mail about? You wrote that you had something for me." He waited for her while she pulled out two bento boxes, one was blue, the other a simple bamboo one, and she nudged the blue one towards him. Both were wrapped with bandanas that matched their motif. "What is this?"
"For you." He unwrapped it, separated the boxes, and only stared at the food that was laid out so beautifully; and with such care that he could tell she enjoyed making these things. Cobalt irises stared at her while she smiled, "You told me in Germany that you wanted more food like what I had brought you. So, instead of you going to eat whatever it is that you eat, I decided to make a boxed lunch for you once a week."
"You're irritating."
"Why?"
"Because you're perfect."
"I know." He only shook his head while he ate his food and she ate hers, he noticed that there was far more protein in his box than her own but she took her supplements, and even texted her mother to ask about the kittens. She chuckled when there was a picture sent to her, she texted back once more, and put her phone away. Their lunch progressed quietly, the boxes were packed up, she replaced them in her bag, and left her employer's office to return to work. He rubbed his face once the door closed and leaned back in his chair.
"Hmm...what if she just wants me? What if the feelings are mutual? But...would she even consider just being a-" he cut himself off and shook his head. "No way she'd go for that. Katsuhiko is a committed person, that much I do know, and it most likely extends to her personal life as well." He sighed, "What am I to do?" He opened his laptop and began his work once more while his trusty secretary worked on the opposite side of the door.
Kiara finished her work for the day, she opened his door, said her farewells, and left. The moment that the doors opened, Kaiba entered first then she did. Although she was a little surprised that he had moved that fast, she pushed the lobby button, and took her respective spot. "You're silent Mister Kaiba. Did you learn some ninja training?"
He only huffed while she chuckled, "Katsuhiko." She looked up at him over the rims of her glasses, "Other than the answer that it's your job, why do you go the extra mile for me?"
"I told you, you made an impression on me when I was younger."
"What was that exactly?"
"I guess I can share it before the new year although I was hoping to wait but I guess I can tell you since you're so impatient. If I tell you then you have to promise not to look at me any differently." He only nodded to her as she turned her deep blue irises onto the steel doors of the elevator. "When I was younger, my parents put me in private school, it just so happened that it was across the street from an orphanage." Kaiba kept silent as she told her story, "Every day I would wait for my mother to pick me up and I would imagine what it would be like to be an orphan. At least there would be someone to be my friend yes? I was lonely, no one ever talked to me, the other children simply made fun of me, and I was left to my imagination." She was silent for a few moments while looking up at the dwindling floor lights, "One day, while I was waiting for my mother, I saw a young boy with a smaller boy demand that his brother be taken with him or else he wasn't going to leave the orphanage. The man took both," Kaiba stared at her, "I was so moved by this that I told myself I would make a relationship like that when I was older. Whether it was with another person or an entity such as a corporation, I would have that bond no matter what because then it meant that I had someone to be with. Someone to care about that deeply even if it was just a corporation." She was silent once more and smiled, "I worked harder than ever, the staff members noticed, my mother noticed, but the other children didn't and I honestly didn't care. I worked as hard as I could, I even pushed myself to the point of exhaustion just so that I could gain enough leverage that would put me in an executive secretary position." Once more she turned silent and thought for a moment before the elevator doors opened on the lobby, she looked up at him and stated with a smile, "Here I am today. Living out the goal that I wanted to earn when I was younger. Thank you for the hard work Mister Kaiba." She left it at that, the CEO exited the elevator, she said the same thing to the security guards, who repeated it to her, and she disappeared through the doors while the snow began to fall again.
-::::::-
Three weeks passed uneventfully, Kaiba never spoke to her about her revelation although she did tell her mother about it and even made sure to download Skype applications onto their phones so she could video chat with her little kittens. She was waiting for him in the lobby, she had one suitcase on wheels, her trusty messenger bag, and another luggage bag in her hand. Kiara had been texting her mother that they were about to leave the building, Kaiba exited the elevators with his things as well, Kiara turned to Jiro and Satsuki. She smiled at them, "Watch the fort while I'm away!"
They both grinned and in unison stated, "We will!" The three of them laughed as she followed Kaiba out of the lobby, she helped Roland put her bags in the trunk of the limo, then she climbed in after Kaiba. Once inside, she wrapped her arms around herself and rubbed her biceps fervently, this made the male stare at her, and Kiara chuckled.
"It's cold outside."
"Don't you have warmer clothes?"
"I do and I'm wearing them but there's another reason why."
"What is it?"
Kiara blinked at him, "I'm not telling you. It's personal." He huffed and she only laughed while leaning back once the heat was able to get to her, she looked out the window, the divider was up, and she knew that her employer wasn't particularly talkative so she let her mind drift to her little kittens back home. "I miss Griggi and Kuri, I wish I could have taken them with me but I'll make it up to them when I get back."
"Who?"
"Griggi and Kuri are my kittens. They were so sad when I had to tell them I was going away for five days but I made sure to give them some old laundry to sleep on." Kaiba only stared at her while her eyes turned onto him and she laughed. "I take it that you never had any pets." He shook his head, "Well the next time you decide to visit me then you'll get to meet them."
They were silent once more and he said, "Griggi and Kuri. As in, Griggle and Kuriboh."
Kiara laughed, "My mother got it too! Their personalities seemed to match those two Duel Monsters so well that I couldn't help it. My mother named hers Creampuff and Rollcake. She's addicted to sweets and I to Duel Monsters." Kaiba smirked as she smiled at him and returned to staring out the window, once more her mind was busy with the various contracts that she had printed up without Kaiba's prior knowledge. It was always best to be prepared and if he wanted to know, she knew all he had to was ask and she would provide. "I hope it doesn't turn into a blizzard while we're there."
"It better not."
"If I could control the weather then I would Mister Kaiba but I don't so you're going to have to deal with whatever Mother Nature throws at you. It's a challenge, it'll be fun." She smirked at him while he only shook his head and looked away. The ride was continued in silence, once at the train station, Roland said his farewells to them, and Kiara did the same. "The moment we get back and have some free time, we're definitely going to play Grand Theft Auto or at least I'll watch." He laughed and agreed to it, she nodded, "Very good Mister Roland! I'll let you know with updates." He nodded once more while Kiara handed the tickets over to the conductor, they boarded, and headed for the area that she had reserved for them. It was a private room, with a sliding door that closed and separated them from others as well as curtains to hide the occupants. Their luggage was put down on either side of the bench, Kiara closed the curtains, closed the door, and watched as Kaiba flopped onto the bench. "You haven't been sleeping much."
"No."
"You work very hard Mister Kaiba but you also need to rest."
"I don't have time to rest."
"If you don't rest then you're going to wear yourself out and end up ill again. Do you want that?" It was clear that he was thinking about it. Kiara smiled and shook her head, "I should have known better than to ask but whatever your answer, you don't need to tell me." Instead she opened her carry on luggage bag, she pulled out a thermos, "This is for you." He took it, screwed the cap off, and instantly recognized the scent of the coffee that he so loved. Cobalt irises locked with sapphires, "I made a batch before I left home. I felt you might need it." He nodded, took a sip of the hot liquid, then capped it once more. She noticed that her employer kept the thermos in his hand while his gaze was moved towards the window, she smiled, and removed her glasses, she placed them on her blouse, while opening her phone. She looked through it for any messages but there were none so she replaced it in her pocket. The train whistled, signaling that they were getting ready to leave, and she pulled out the tickets for the conductor. Kaiba had been staring out the window but glanced at Kiara whenever she was busy with something else.
So that's what she knows about me, she saw me demand that Gozoboro take my brother and myself, that was enough of a inspiration for her to get this high up on the corporate ladder...interesting. She truly is fascinating but that still doesn't explain why it influenced her so much. She told me but that doesn't mean I understand it fully. The more he watched her gather things together for their business trip, the more he began to realize that she had inserted herself into his life by simply telling him to give her a trial run. She's a constant, like Mokuba, no one's ever been this much of a constant in my life except for Mokuba and Roland. No one else... Cobalt orbs continued to watch his perfect secretary shuffle papers around while keeping the tickets close at hand so that they wouldn't get lost. The portfolio she had created for the sites was open, she replaced her glasses, and began to move around the locations in order of closest to furthest from their hotel location. He hadn't realized it but a small smile slid onto his face as he watched her work, his eyes softened as well, and he continued to watch her move papers around. Once it was complete, the portfolio was closed, it was replaced in her messenger bag, she moved some more things around, and picked up the tickets when there was a knock on their door. She got up, slid it open, handed the tickets over, and she thanked the man before taking her tickets, and placing them safely away but not before she closed the door once more.
Kiara sat down, put the tickets in her bag then looked over her rims at Kaiba, "What are you smiling about?"
"Nothing."
"It's not nothing Mister Kaiba. The curtains are closed and we're alone but this is unusual even for you. So what is it?"
"I told you, nothing."
"Uh-huh." She ended the conversation there while fixing things and leaning back against the cushions, she could tell that he was still looking at her even though she wasn't focused on him, finally she locked her sapphire irises onto his own cobalt ones. "What is it?" Still he was silent so she continued to stare at him until he looked away but that smile never faltered on his face as he watched the scenery begin to lurch. "Fascinating," she whispered and the ride was completed in the silence that she knew her employer loved so much.
-::::::-
Kiara was staring at the queen suite of the inn, there was a queen size bed in the far corner that over looked the surrounding landscape, the curtains were pulled back to show off the scenery, the antique furniture suited the cozy air of the inn, and there was even a desk and a tiny refrigerator inside with a dining table. On top of that table was the water kettle that she had requested along with a toaster and a small radio. Kiara sighed, she moved her things into the room, her bags went under the bed as usual, and her messenger bag with the documents was placed on the large wooden desk. Kaiba entered, he smirked, placed his things on the opposite side of the bed, and watched as she went about rearranging things to make it easier for her. He noticed the water kettle, "Why is there an electric kettle here?"
"I requested one to be in the room so that I can make that coffee you love so much," she replied without missing a beat. She opened up her carry bag, removed a french coffee press, placed it next to the kettle, then removed a can of coffee. She looked over her shoulder at her employer, removed the powdered soy creamer, sugar was removed from her bag as well, and she stated, "Breakfast of the corporate world." Kaiba was sitting on the bed and smirked while she grinned and finished removing the other delicate items in her bag which included two durable ceramic mugs. Once that was finished, she sauntered to the desk, pulled out the portfolio, and opened it up once more, she picked up her phone, and dialed the first site to arrange an appointment.
"Always the diligent one," he whispered, he laid down on the bed, and closed his eyes from the train ride but all he saw in his mind was Kiara's bare neck from Germany. Eyes snapped open, he sighed, and simply listened to her on the phone, she was making an appointment for tomorrow since this day was going to be snowed in, and she wrote down the time on the sheet that had the location printed on it. Kiara placed everything away, she looked over at Kaiba, he was staring at her as he propped himself up on his elbows, she raised a single eyebrow at him, before hearing her phone beep. She opened it, replied to the text, and returned to looking at her employer. "Come here."
Kiara wandered to the bed, she sat down, and looked at him, "If there is something that you want to do then I don't reccommend it this week." He tilted his head, "I'm warning you in a very vague manner and I hope that you'll figure it out because it's the nicest way." Kaiba's gaze turned onto the comforters before snapping to her face, she nodded, "That's right. This week I'm closed for maintenance but maybe another time. You'll get a rain check but I did bring something for you." She reached into her bag and pulled out those pink fuzzy handcuffs, she winked at him, "Maybe we can have a bit of kinky fun that doesn't involve what you really want to do." He smirked and shook his head while she put them away, "I said I'd bring them."
"That you did." She nodded once more while he added, "You're always so prepared." Kiara nodded once more and he sighed while laying on his back, Kiara joined him, and he stated, "You're a constant Katsuhiko." The secretary knew that he wanted to say more so she kept silent while his voice fell a few octaves, "I've never had someone like you in my life, only Mokuba and then Roland. Finding people that are trust worthy and reliable seem to be a problem with me. I've been betrayed by many people through my life and, yet, Mokuba was always there and Roland was always there. Now..." He paused and his voice fell lower, "There's you now. It's not something that I can get used to and there's still that fleeting notion that you're going to leave like a lot of the other people in my life."
"Are you referring to women or people in general, sir?" There was a smirk, "Because I can assure you that as far as women go, I'm not going any where, and as far as people in general well..I like to think that I'm not most people. You know, being a vegetarian has its merits since it makes me an outcast in a sense." A quiet chuckle, "I also like to think I'm a little weird too. Sure you and I have a very strange relationship to others but that's not how I see it. I like to think our relationship is the norm and it's the others that are plain weird and if they want to think like that then that's fine too because it takes one to know one." Louder chuckles so she continued, "I said before that I'm a weird vegetarian secretary that plays Duel Monsters, picks up stray kittens, ventures into the night to give her employer massages when he demands it, and cares for him when he's ill; let's add to that list that I'm also a Capricorn so I'm more loving than most and welcome the new year with open arms. I have no judgements on others...not yet anyway." Her voice faded away but it was his laughter that gained volume, she chuckled with him, but his laughter wouldn't subside, and she couldn't help but join in. Kiara sat up and looked at him, "IT'S NOT THAT FUNNY!" She kept laughing as did he, eventually minutes passed, and he camled down, Kaiba was taking in deep breaths while she did the same. "Why was it that funny?"
"I have no idea. It just was."
Kiara only shrugged while she laid down as well, their heads were touching, and she pointed to the ceiling, "That cloud looks like a mushroom..." Kaiba smirked while she made the motion with her hands of a mushroom, "Now I want some soup...and that one looks like a squash, ah! Squash pudding..."
"Is it good? Your pudding?"
"Maybe. Depends on who you ask."
"Why?"
"I like it, my mother likes it, but no one else likes it."
"Why?"
"No one else has tried it."
He chuckled, "Bring me some."
"Okay but I'll make something better."
"What?"
"Pumpkin spice pudding sounds more delightful for some reason. Maybe with a dash of cinnamon." They were silent for a bit, "Now I just want to cook. See what you did Mister Kaiba!" He chuckled in response to her humor and simply looked up at the ceiling, they were silent for a bit, and she said quietly, "No matter what any one says, you're still my quirky executive."
He laughed, "You're still my perfect secretary."
"I wouldn't have it any other way."
"Nor would I."
-::::::-
The following day was full of adventure for them, Kaiba was standing at the possible site, he growled in the cold air, and he looked at Kiara, she wore a heavier coat than usual but seemed fine at the moment. His cobalt eyes turned to look at the area, the real estate agent that was with them was always on the phone, Kiara noted this on the sheet of paper she had, and decided to tell Kaiba. She tugged on his sleeve, he leaned over, and she whispered something in his ear, he nodded, and surveyed the area once more. "Go on Katushiko. Examine." She stepped into the area, her eyes roamed around the ground, she looked up at the sky then at the different areas from the middle. Sapphire eyes glanced around one more time before looking down at the papers she had, the history of the location that she had gathered that morning, she returned to his side. Once more he leaned down and she whispered something else in his ear, he nodded, "We're done here." The agent took them to the car, they both got in, and he drove them back to the inn; they exited the car, Kiara thanked the man for his time but he drove off angrily; she only sighed and shook her head. When they were inside the lobby, they took a seat, Kiara ordered a bowl of tomato soup with a grilled cheese sandwich; Kaiba raised a brow at her while he ordered a tuna melt.
Their food arrived, she smiled, removed her gloves, and took her grilled cheese slice, dipped it in the tomato soup, and took a bite. Kaiba watched as she relished it and only shook his head, "You wouldn't understand. This is the best thing in the world."
"I thought you couldn't have cheese."
"My mother and I can eat cheese, the properties to make cheese are different, and therefore we can eat it. But I don't make a lot of food with cheese, it's hard to find a cheese that we both agree on otherwise there will be so many different cheeses in the refrigerator that we wouldn't know what to do with them and there's only so many recipes I can make using just cheese." He nodded while he ate his sandwich and she continued to dip hers in the soup. They both had water, he noticed that she never took a sip until she was completely finished. She drank her water and sighed happily, "That hit the spot."
"What about the location?"
"There is major piping under that area so if you were to use it for Kaiba World Two then you would run into some problems and the land might become useless since that piping would need to be moved, and I highly doubt the city would allow it." He grumbled, "Well I've got four more spots for us to look at while we're here so don't despair too much." Kaiba nodded, he paid the bill, and they headed up to their room, when they were in the elevator, she sighed. He looked at her, "I'm going to apologize in advance if I'm not overly energetic when we're alone. My energy is sapped after all that running around but I'll do my best to get everything done that I've promised you or that you demand of me. I have reserves for that."
Kaiba chuckled, "What about your supplements and ginseng?"
"They help but it's mainly for health reasons."
"I see." She nodded, they were silent the rest of the way, they entered their room, and he watched as she announced that she was going to take a shower. "Sure." Kiara entered the room with her pajamas and Kaiba opened up his laptop so that he could mark the land off limits with a note about the piping. When he took a seat at the desk, he looked at her phone that was carelessly laid there, he picked it up, and unlocked it. There was no password on it, so he flipped through the photos of her kittens, he smirked at them, until he came up on the text message section. "I'm not a snooper." He put the phone down and returned to his work on the laptop.
However her phone buzzed signaling that there was a new text message and he stopped in his work, his eyes glared at the phone, as if it was taunting him that he couldn't look inside. The more he stared at the phone, the more tempted he became to see who had messaged her, and what the contents of conversation were; so he pushed the phone aside to the edge of the desk, and focused on the work at hand. Again the phone buzzed, he glared at it, and heard the door to the bathroom open; he glanced over his shoulder at his secretary. Kiara had her hair wrapped up in a towel, her plaid pajamas hugged her body more than he remembered, and he looked at her face; there was no make up to cover it and, yet, he found himself drawn to her even more. Kiara picked up her glasses that had also been on the desk, she put them on her face, and slid the phone off the surface of the wood. "Feel better?"
"Yes, thank you."
"Good. Your phone buzzed."
"Thank you." He grumbled something while she chuckled, Kiara took a seat on the edge of the bed, she unlocked her phone, and looked at her new messages. Immediately she replied to them while murmuring some parts of conversation.
"Hm?"
Kiara looked at Kaiba who had turned in his seat, "It's Mister Nezami. He's keeping me updated on the new security system that they've installed, both hardware and software."
"Why?"
"I asked him to let me know how the system works so I won't be lost when we return and I could show you how it works."
"You're too close with Nezami and the others, I don't like it."
Kiara stared at him, smiled, and stated, "Mister Nezami has a fiancée, Mister Kaiba. The others are simply making sure that I'm alright when we play video games. It's fun to have work colleagues with the same interest as myself since the other secretaries only like to go out drinking. " She paused, she smirked at him, and added, "No need to get jealous."
"I'm not jealous."
"Then why are you so concerned if we're 'close' to one another or if I'm 'close' with the others?" He didn't reply, only turned back around, and grumbled under his breath. Kiara smirked, she got up, placed her phone on the end table, and snuck up behind her employer. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders, he stiffened, and her lips were near his ear. She whispered, "I told you before that you didn't need to date any women since you have a perfectly good secretary waiting for you every day. You need only make the first move, otherwise I'm just going to tease you." Kiara let him go as he whipped around in his chair, cobalt eyes glared at her, and she only chuckled while sauntering to the bathroom to return the towel, she emerged with her hair pulled over one shoulder, and reached into her bag for the hair dryer. She plugged it in, sat on the floor by the outlet, and began to dry her hair from the roots while the rest of it was pulled over her head, to obscure her view.
Kaiba had watched her, he rubbed a hand over his face, closed his laptop, and went to take his own shower after the day's ordeal. Quickly he grabbed his pajama bottoms and boxers then headed to the bathroom. He cleaned himself off but allowed the water to sluice over his body, his mind was on his secretary in the other room who was drying her hair. Kaiba ground his teeth together, finished his shower, and exited wearing only his pajama pants. The towel was wrapped around his neck, he noticed that she was still drying her hair, and a sly smirk slid onto his face. Kaiba walked behind her, sat down, and wrapped his arms around her waist.
"Mister Kaiba?"
She stiffened in her movements while he whispered, "Just dry your hair." She gave him an affirmative and continued while she stated that it would be awhile, "I don't mind." Kiara shrugged while continuing to dry her long tresses, Kaiba moved her slightly so that she was closer to him, he placed his lips on her bare neck, she stiffened once more, but she didn't pause in her movements. His lips moved along her bare spine to the middle of her shoulder blades before returning to their original spot on the back of her neck. When he reached that area, he moved his face so that it rested between her shoulder blades on her upper back but he noted that she still continued to dry her hair.
He stayed like that for a time before lifting his head, she stopped the dryer, removed it from the wall, set it aside, and gently moved her hair to one side. Kaiba watched as she leaned back, still he didn't move from his position, instead he leaned back towards the bed, he stretched out his legs so that his feet were touching the wall. Kiara kept her legs crossed while she placed a hair tie in her mouth, her skilled fingers ran through her long hair, and began to part it while Kaiba kept his arms around her waist. Cobalt irises watched as her hands braided those long pieces, when it reached the end, she tied it off skillfully, and was about to get up but he kept his firm grip on her. He gently pulled her back, she placed her back on his chest, and moved to focus on sapphire eye onto him. "Sir?"
"Can't you just let me enjoy this?"
"I didn't know you were so romantic."
"I'm not."
"This is romantic."
"I wanted to do it. Is that a problem?"
"No, sir, not at all. I am yours to do what you want with."
"Is that so?"
"Yes."
"You don't let me do what I want to you."
"Yes I do but you're not ready for that."
"Why?"
"Are you ready to commit?" He was silent as he stared at her one dazzling sapphire, "I thought so. You're not ready to commit to a relationship therefore you're not allowed to do that with me. You can do it with others if you want since they're also looking for a good time but I won't jeopardize our professional and personal relationship on something that you're not ready for."
"Did your mother teach you that?"
"No, I decided for myself that was the kind of person I wanted to be. Wholly committed to something, in it for the long haul which is why I would never leave Kaiba Corps unless you found a good reason to fire me."
"I see."
"Yes." He leaned forward, kissed the crook of her neck, and released her, "Thank you for understanding Mister Kaiba." He only huffed as she got up, her hair dryer was placed back into her bag, she took a seat at the desk with her phone, and began to work on the next day's itinerary.
-::::::-
A plaid scarf was wrapped around her face, sapphire orbs glared behind square lenses at the man before them, he was thirty minutes late to the second site, and she was grumpy. Kaiba had noted that she was a bit testy that morning when she nearly cut her hair because it wouldn't behave the way she wanted it to. He had kept his mouth shut that whole morning and allowed her to do all the talking since she seemed to need it but he couldn't get past that sweet venomous voice that he loved. "You are thirty minutes late, sir. Do you honestly think that we want to hear your excuses when I have already confirmed with you yesterday and this morning? You knew about the appointment and yet you still lack the common courtesy of calling to say that you'll be late."
"It's snowing!"
"I don't care what the reason is, I know it's snowing but that doesn't excuse you from common courtesy especially when a potential sale of this magnitude is at stake." The man was flabbergasted at her audacity, he looked to Kaiba, he glared at him, and the man returned to looking at Kiara; for some reason he was more frightened of the secretary than the actual CEO. "We have been here in the cold for a half hour waiting for you, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to investigate the land." She stalked past him while writing notes down on the paper that had the location they were currently looking at. Kaiba only watched her, she looked around, made some notes, walked to another part of the area, but stopped. She knelt down, reached her gloved hand into the ground, pulled out some dirt, and squinted her eyes at it. The dirt was dropped, she moved aside the dirt more, and discovered a piece of granite that had writing on it. Kiara got up, stormed towards the man, and got as close as she could to him, she stood on her tip toes in the dirt, and stated flatly. "This used to be a cemetary!"
"Yes."
"You didn't disclose that pertinent information."
"I don't have to."
"Oh?" Kiara flipped through some papers, "When considering the next building site of Kaiba World Two, I take everything into consideration and will always do my research on the history of that particular location but I never discovered this information. Someone removed it from the database that I had accessed and I don't take kindly to being lied to."
"Your point?"
Her voice lowered dangerously, "Kaiba Corps will not deface nor dishonor those that have passed on! Nor do we conduct business with liars. We are leaving and will not consider this site or you for any business now or ever!" Kiara stormed passed the man, this time Kaiba followed her while the man stood shocked at her. Kaiba climbed into the taxi then Kiara, and she gave him the address to the next site. He glanced at her a few times while she fumed in her seat, she texted the agent to meet them at the site, still he knew better than to speak so he stayed silent while she jotted something down on the sheet of paper, and switched it with the new location. The taxi arrived, both exited, and Kiara saw the woman standing there. She smiled at her, "Thank you for coming on such short notice."
"No trouble Miss Katsuhiko. Take your time." Kiara nodded and began to inspect the area while her employer stayed by the agent's side. "You're not going to help?" He shook his head, "Why?"
Kaiba looked down at the smaller woman, "Not a good week to get on her bad side."
She laughed, "I see now!" Kaiba turned to watch her, she seemed to actually like the location which was good for him, she made some notes once more, and returned to them. "You can give me a call any time. I'll be happy to answer any questions you have for me about the site."
"Thank you so much."
"We should all get inside within the hour, there's going to be a bad snow storm." Kiara thanked the woman, "No trouble."
They parted ways, the pair were at the hotel once more, Kiara was in the elevator with Kaiba, when they entered the room, she let out a sigh. He watched as she reached into her bag, drank her supplement, and ginseng bottle, then placed her items on the desk. "Shower." She nodded, grabbed her pajamas, extra undergarments, and something wrapped in a package, he shook his head while he waited for her. When she exited, he watched as her hair was simply braided and dry, "Sit." Kiara took a seat on the bed while putting her clothes on the floor, Kaiba removed his shoes and most of his outer wear, he slid behind her, and put his hands on her shoulders. He began to move them firmly but gently, she sighed in contentment, "You're tense too Katsuhiko."
"So you noticed." He nodded, "But I'm more relaxed than you."
He chuckled, "That's true. Care to explain why you're frazzled today?"
"Mood swings this week are common for me."
"I see. It's good that you didn't take it out on me."
"I would never do that. I direct it towards the people that most deserve it."
"Like that agent."
"Yes."
He leaned forward, "You know one thing I really enjoy about you?" She turned her head slightly, "That sweet venomous tone you take with people that make you angry is very sexy." Immediately, she turned her upper body towards him, Kaiba wrapped one arm around her lower back, and pulled her close while putting his lips onto hers roughly. Immediately she stiffened and he held her firmly against him while he kissed her. When he leaned back, she was panting for breath, and her face was pink, "That voice of yours really drives me insane. Especially when you glare at them while you do it."
"Are you drunk?"
"No." He smirked at her, he leaned down, kissed her hard once more, and moved back just a little to give her some air. Kaiba said quietly, "If you ever take that tone with me, closed for maintenance or not, you're going to have a hard time getting away from me; especially if it's in a hotel room." When he leaned back, he could tell that she was genuinely dumbfounded by his words, "Consider that a warning." Kiara nodded timidly while he let her go, "I'm going to shower, I'd like some coffee, if you're up for it."
"Yes sir," she squeaked out. Kaiba left with his clothes while she went to work to make the coffee that he so loved, her face was still pink, and she had a hard time breathing properly while making said hot beverage. Kiara began to heat up the water that she obtained from the bottles that they had purchased on the way inside the hotel. Her mind focused on what he had said to her as he left to take his shower while she prepared everything else, Perhaps this is his first move? I'm unsure but I'll keep watching and maybe I'll ask him. Once the water was just boiling, she turned it off, the coffee was already in the press, it was instant since she didn't want the trouble of actually disposing of the coffee grinds, and poured it in slowly. Then she added the powdered creamer, waited a few minutes, Kaiba exited the shower wearing only his pajama bottoms once more, and his cobalt eyes watched her as she spooned the sugar into the cups while waiting for the coffee to finish.
It exuded in the suite, she pushed the plunger down then poured the coffee gently into each cup, she stirred them, let them sit for a little bit, then added a small spoonful of sugar to each cup, and then stirred again. Kiara took the cups, she looked to see Kaiba standing there, she handed one to him, and she took the other; both of them made their way to the bed. They sat down and sipped their hot beverage, the CEO sighed happily, and the secretary smirked.
Kaiba finished before she did, the woman felt eyes on her, she glanced at him, he was staring at her, so she gave him her cup, he looked at it then her, she nodded. Kaiba took it, finished it off, then she placed both cups onto the table that held the water kettle. Kiara was walking past Kaiba, he grabbed her at the waist, pulled her on the bed, and she giggled from the surprise. His face was near hers, she adjusted so that she could look at him, "Yes?" He was silent so she looked towards the ceiling, he kept his eyes on her while hers remained on the ceiling, and for a fleeting moment she felt she was in a dream but the notion passed so she looked at him once more. "Yes?"
"You're too good."
"I make sure that I am perfect."
"I know."
"Is there a problem?"
"No, that's the problem."
She chuckled, "I assure you sir that I have issues but they are mine to deal with."
"When you're open for maintenance again, invite me to your home."
"Of course sir."
"Good."
-::::::-
The fourth and fifth days were the same, Kaiba had already chosen a site, it was the second one they saw on the third day, Kiara had faxed the contract over, it was returned to them signed, and agreed upon. She nodded, kept everything in order, and they were on the train ride back to their home city; Kiara was leaning back against the cushions, Kaiba watched as she slept, he could tell that she was tired, and only smiled as she slept. He got up, moved next to her, and watched the scenery pass by the window where the curtains were pulled back. It was a nice ride, the conductor had come by earlier so Kiara was able to sleep at the moment, Kaiba stared down at her, and wondered what it was about her that made him drawn to her.
Moronic question, she's a strong woman, truthful, and full of flaws but she does her best to be perfect in her work; it's admirable. Devotion is a quality that I regard highly in a person and I know that she'll never betray me no matter what. She's too committed for that and I doubt that she would do that to herself after promising to build a relationship that was that devoted. Kaiba continued to watch her sleep and smiled. She's almost too perfect. It was many hours later but he woke her up, she rubbed her eyes, apologized, and he only shrugged. "Don't worry about it Katsuhiko, you deserve a rest." She smiled at him, it brightened those groggy blue eyes of hers, and they left the train. When she saw Roland, he waved to her, and she did the same.
Roland dropped her off at her home, she told Kaiba to have a good rest as they were needed back on Monday, he chuckled, and she left. Roland took Kaiba to the mansion, and the CEO put the divider down. "It was enjoyable Roland."
"Oh? I wish I could have joined you."
"It's private."
The chauffeur chuckled, "I know sir. Would it be alright if she came by the mansion to play games again?"
"It's fine."
"Very good sir."
He smirked, "What is it about her that you like?"
"She's a woman who plays espionage games, it's truly fascinating."
"Yeah."
"The broadest term that I can come up with is that she's unique and it's a wonderful change; for the company and for you."
"I know."
"It's good that you know because I'm sure if I told her that you didn't then she would come up with something to let you know."
He chuckled, "That she would."
"What else is on your mind sir?"
"She wants me to commit to something that I'm not ready for until she'll let me have her."
"Ah, she's a very stubborn woman who knows what she wants." Kaiba nodded, "But she's also the type that's doing her best to make you realize that you have a life and need someone there for you." At this his gaze turned from the road to Roland. "When she took care of you when you were ill, she knew that you needed someone to help you even if you didn't say anything. Miss Katsuhiko has a sixth sense about you, about what you need, how to relax you, and how to make you laugh. She's intriguing to me as a colleague but for you..."
"Go on."
"Perhaps you should consider her for something more when you're done having a good time."
He glanced out the window once more, "How do you know when you're done having fun and want to settle down with someone?"
"It's not something that you decide, it happens on its own."
"You should have been a counselor Roland."
"Perhaps in another life I was or in the next one I shall be but I hope not."
"Why?"
"I don't think I could help with every one's petty problems. Miss Katsuhiko can but I don't think I'd be able to listen for more than a minute before wanting to gouge my eyes out. No, I prefer to stick with the shadows."
Kaiba laughed, "Maybe you were a ninja once."
"Maybe I was and maybe you were a prince who married a peasant girl for love." Kaiba's laughter stopped abruptly as he stared at his driver, "Think about it sir. Past lives are a myth, you and I both know this but what you can do is look at the present and think about your future and the future of your company." Kaiba was still staring at the driver as the divider went up, when it closed, it lowered once more, "On another note, you can't fire me."
He glared at him, "Why not?"
"Because Miss Katsuhiko would figure out a way to convince you otherwise so you're stuck with myself and her." Kaiba could see that he was smiling, "Also, you'd be hard pressed to find someone like the two of us."
"I guess I am stuck with you two."
"Yes, sir. For life."
Kaiba laughed, "Thank you Roland. What would I do without you?"
"Probably be bald, sir." With that the divider went up and Kaiba chortled laughter inside the privacy of his limo.
