*yes, mokuba is a central plot point now. if not for him, there would be no dinner. in turn, there would be no hook-up between celeste and seto. and it's not like i'm spoiling anything here, you all knew that was coming. which it is. just not yet.*

Chapter 12—Surprise, Surprise—Again.

"M-Mokuba?!" I stammered. "What are you doing--" I stopped, sneezed. "—here?"

"I need to talk to you," he said.

"Um. Okay. Uh, how'd you find me?" I said, awkwardly.

"Oh!" He laughed. "Andrew helped me. I thought, since it's Saturday, you'd be at work, but your friend told me where to find you."

I smiled, but seethed inside. Goddamn you, Andrew, I thought. I'd get him back on Monday.

"Come on in," I said, standing aside to let him pass.

"Actually, I was hoping we could talk fast, out here."

I leaned in the doorframe, crossed my arms uncomfortably over my chest. "Okay. Shoot."

"Seto's been acting...off lately," he began slowly. "And I don't know why, exactly. I just know that it started a couple weeks ago, after he got home from a dance at Domino High. It was a masquerade... He danced with some girl. Nobody even noticed her at first, not until he took her out on the dance floor. But then he was so comfortable with her...and he kissed her. Seto doesn't do that kinda thing! There's something up..." He frowned.

"H-how do you know all that?!" I stuttered, shock overpowering my eloquence. "You're not in high school yet! You weren't there, were you?"

"No." He grinned evilly. "But I had a few spies that I paid off to keep an eye on my nii-sama."

"Okay. Why are you telling me this?"

"Celeste, did you go to that dance?"

"Yes. I went with Yugi Muto."

"And what did you wear?"

I swallowed hard, blushing. "A green dress."

"I knew it! Seto kissed you!" He pumped his fist in triumph, then stopped and glanced nervously over his shoulder, back towards the limousine far down the driveway.

"Umm... well, I told you that Seto fired our last couple PR managers, right?"

"Yeah. You did. Just what are you up to, Mokuba?"

He smiled derisively. "I'll be back. You can close the door if you want. This may take a little while..." He turned and jogged back to the car.

I stared after him in confusion, then closed the door and stifled yet another sneeze.

I was waiting in bewildered anticipation for a minute or so, and then there was a gentle knock. I opened the door back up and found Kaiba times two—Mokuba and Seto.

"H-hello," I squeaked. Of all the times to choose not to wear a bra, this has to be it.

"Hello," Kaiba echoed, an eyebrow barely lifted, the only sign of any amount of surprise. He glared at Mokuba. "How are you this morning, Miss Dawson?"

"A little under the weather," I answered honestly. "And you?"

"Fine. Now, I'm actually not quite sure why Mokuba dragged me here...." His gaze flickered to my chosen apparel, and, again, I cursed myself for not covering upor slipping on a brassiere.

Mokuba perked up and elbowed his brother in the ribs. "You're here to ask her to be the new PR manager for Kaiba Corporation."

Kaiba and I stared at Mokuba, and then at each other. "WHAT?!"

Then we simultaneously started our own separate arguments—Kaiba saying there was no way in hell he'd hire me, of all people, and me protesting that I couldn't do that sort of work.

"Hey, hey, wait a minute!" Mokuba cried, stopping the both of us. "Celeste, you'd be great. You already know what kind of stuff the public looks for, which would boost KaibaCorp's image. And Seto, she's perfect with the PR crap. She can handle the people, and you can worry about the tech. With both combined, sales will go up, and we'll be on top again!"

Kaiba and I exchanged an indisposed glance.

"I don't know...," I said. "I've got school to worry about."

"So does Seto," Mokuba pointed out. "He's a senior, so he really has to get his work done. We'll make your schedule flexible, just like his, and we'll just page you if we need anything taken care of while you're in class."

"Mokuba." Kaiba frowned down at him. "Are you sure about this?"

"I'm sure. We can trust Celeste with this. I mean, just read her story! She puts you in a whole different light." He held up the Domino Star, which he'd apparently retrieved while he was at the car, convincing his brother to come up the walk.

Mokuba handed the paper to Kaiba, who quickly scanned it over. He actually gave a partial smile as his eyes fell upon the photos of himself. "Beyond the Blue Eyes: An In-Depth Look at KaibaCorp's Young CEO," he said, reading the headline. "Not bad, Miss Dawson. Not bad."

I managed a smile. "Thank you, Mr. Kaiba."

He looked me over carefully, then nudged Mokuba's foot with his own. Mokuba looked up, his expression hopeful.

"I suppose I could see how she would fit in...."

I simply gaped at Kaiba, while Mokuba flung his arms around him. "Thank you! Thankyouthankyouthankyou!"

"I won't let you down, Mr. Kaiba," I promised, standing a little straighter.

He nodded. "Meet with me on Monday, in my office, right after you get off of school. I'll let Kate know to expect you. We'll discuss hours and payment."

Payment. Oh holy crap... I started to drift into the fantasy of the typical teenage girl: shopping spree. However, I forced myself out of the reverie to acknowledge Kaiba.

"All right then. Until Monday, then."

"Until Monday." He turned, the newspaper still in hand, and went back to the car.

"Bye, Celeste! I told you it would work out! See you Monday!" Mokuba waved to me before racing after his brother.

I stood in the doorway, amazed, watching my new boss drive away.

****

"See, I told you, Seto, she'll be great!" Mokuba grinned from his seat, lifting a Coke from the cooler beside him.

"You better hope so," Kaiba warned. "If she fails, I'll blame you. How can you drink that shit so early in the morning? It's not good for you."

Mokuba shrugged and popped the top. "Whatever. I'm not worried."

"You're not worried? Mokuba, I can't afford to fire another PR manager. Not only is it stressful for me, it's bad for business as well."

"No, I'm not worried. 'Cause I know she's not gonna mess up." He beamed. "She'll be just fine. Really. You might even start to like her, you never know!"

"Don't get your hopes up, kid," he muttered. "Just don't."

Mokuba rolled his eyes dramatically. "I will anyway. Nothing you can do about it. Get over it, bro."

He sighed and stared out the window, at the passing houses. This was a fairly nice neighborhood. Could be better, but not bad. Perhaps he should ask what her parents did for a living that they could afford to live in a place like this.

Wait, what?

Now he was thinking of actually getting to know the girl. Christ. She was an employee, for God's sake! He didn't care about trivial shit like that. Mokuba was really starting to get to him. She wasn't there for conversation, she was there to make sure his company remained intact—and she wasn't even on the job yet!

Something was wrong with him, very wrong. He began going over his schedule in his mind. Updating sales receipts for the rest of the day today. Then a quick dinner, and a movie, if Mokuba decided to push it. Sunday was for relaxation, at least. Then Monday he'd be back in school, and then to work directly after, where he'd wait in his office for her to show up, and he'd be forced to show her around the place, direct her to her new office—just down the hall from his, conveniently...

Where the hell did that come from? he thought, disgusted. There's something really wrong here if I'm starting to think about having the scum of the press infiltrating my corporation. It's about time I cleansed the place entirely of their stain. But how long will that girl last? Not long, if you ask me. However, she may yet prove some worth. She's smart; I'll give her that. And Mokuba seems quite taken to her. I suppose that can be considered a good sign.

He allowed a small smile to turn the corners of his mouth upward. A good sign. Now I'm starting to sound like Yugi and the geek squad. Kate's right. I need a vacation.