Natalie was so shocked when she saw the size of the design studio that apparently was "all hers" now. She was frightened as she stood with her tiny suitcase, with her heavily bruised arm still sore from the accident. She put her suitcase down at the side of the door and walked in, her jaw hanging up at the exquisitie style of the room. It was the perfect place for designers with an incredibly inspiring ceiling made, with a beautiful painted ceiling of the heavens. The only thing she didn't like about the room was the weird looking painting of a French clown hanging on the wall, facing her. Feeling incredibly freaked out, she impulsively walked to the painting and lifted it directly off the wall, turning it around and hid it behind the drapes. It was truly the most disturbing thing in the world. She was about to turn her attention to the most beautiful chestnut wardrobe, assumably late 18th century which had her heart a flutter when her new mobile phone (once again, curtesy of the generous Miss Pegasus) started vibrating. She nervously pried it from her coat pocket and swiped across the touch screen, her eyes reading the new and very first message from her new employer, Charlotte Pegasus.

Hello Natalie,

Sorry I couldn't be there to welcome you to your new "home away from home". Work calls unfortunately. I know you'd love the design suite, my old designer loved everything about it. Though, word for the wise, you may want to ditch that freaky clown on the hall. It always gave me nightmares. Anyways, I have an assignment for you…and it's a big one. I've just been informed of a charity ball which is being held…next week!... which I'm afraid is perhaps a bit last minute. I'll be needing a new dress. I hope this isn't too much over your depth but I am confident you can do anything. You're a talented girl Natalie. If there's anything you need, please ask me or the seemstress's at your disposal if do anything you wish. You're the designer. Go crazy…though not too crazy haha!
Speak to you soon and again, sorry for the accident!
Charlotte Pegasus.

"Personal seemstress's?" she wondered to herself as she put her phone away. And sure enough after she had thought that, a soft voice came from the doorway.
"Mistress Natalie, do you require any assistance?
Natalie looked up to see two women, one young and the other much more older. They shared an identical face, which Natalie deemed to be family resemblance, mother and daughter most likely. Natalie felt awkward having people at her 'disposal'. She had never had that luxury. She played with her orange hair which she thought needed a trim, especially if she was officially going to a 'designer'. She loved when she heard herself say that. She eyed the hair scissors nearby and reached out slowly taking them. She smirked, clipping them open. She smirked, getting an idea.
"First things first: a haircut."

It was good being back at work. She had a great time despite having nearly been involved in a dangerous car crash but she was ready to do some serious damage. So far in her first day back after her weekend with Seto, she had fired 5 people, who were all extremely incompetent idiots. One of them she was definitely going to press charges against because he was an absolute sexist pig. The way he looked at her and the secretary, Jenna was pure filth. She wondered how he even managed to stay here and reminded herself, her father had got obsessed with Duelist Kingdom, therefore his company had fallen in standards. She was going to sort that instantly. However, Jenna was no innocent angel by any measure.

She left her office, heading down to hire her latest employee: Jenna. She walked slowly, sorting her stuffy office suit, so excited for when Natalie could get working on new clothes for work. Today was such a productive day. She had triumphantly got rid of her French designer, fist pumping the air with so much happiness when her annoyingly small and bright pink car drove away. Then, the sexist executive. The canteen worker who she watched wearing no gloves while touching and serving food as well as picking their nose. She went to the bathroom, was violently sick and then fired their ass quicker than someone could say "could I get a bogey burger please?"

The 4th employee to get let go was someone that she had already forgotten about. They weren't anything bad, but incredibly forgettable…which was not the right kind of personality a main seller for the company should have. She shook her head as she remembered the dull, boring face the man had worn on his face she had told him he had to go. No fire, no passion, no drive.

She finished fixing herself and entered the lobby. She screwed up her face when she saw Jenna, completely ignoring the incoming phone calls and failing to greet the important clients that were coming into the lobby, instead choosing to pain her nails a completely horrid flureousent yellow colour. She decided sarcasm who would be the best cause for action.

"Oh honey, that's so not your colour…"
She turned round to look at her, her clear "bitch" look written all over her face. A ghost white look swept across her face and she jumped, knocking over the pot of vanish all over the dust gathering keyboard. Charlotte simply blinked, folding her arms over her chest as Jenna got to her feet.

"Miss Pegasus. I didn't know you would be paying me a visit today…"
"Well, I like to pay people unexpected ones whenever I can Miss Hope. I see you're…very busy" she walked round, her heels clicking. She gestured her hands to the pile of folders, picking up a bundle and stoney faced began looking through it.
"You DO know that Mr Jenkings is one of our most valued and beloved customers right?" she sarcastically said, raising her eyebrow to the bumbling girl who was busy trying to make sure no nail vanish had dripped onto her ridiculously puffy short skirt.

"Of course Miss Pegasus…"
"Then, why prey-tell is his folder, sitting unattended to one your desk? The simpliest of tasks would be run it through the computer the minute you get it wouldn't it?" she slammed the folder down and folded her arms again, done with the sarcasm and getting down to the heat.
"I thought I'd been quite patient with you Miss Hope…"
"You have…"
"I don't know whether I've not been clear enough then or whether your just insanely stupid" she said, her lips pursed as her patience ground to a halt. She got angry, hating the thought of anyone taking advantaged of her relatively good nature. Which Jenna clearly was.

"I don't know what you're talking about…" she said, her voice quieter than her usual 'louder than life' exterior.

"Let me make it clear as crystal…" she raised a hand, pointed a small finger and quietly said "get your things, you'll receive a reasonable leaving pay check and leave. Your contract is terminated. Understand?"

Jennas mouth hit the floor, her spider legged eyelashes blinking rapidly like she couldn't believe what she was hearing. Charlotte rolled her eyes and repeated herself.

"Miss Hope… . ?"

Her face turned sour and in that moment, Charlotte saw the true face of Jenna Hope. And it wasn't pretty. She was lucky that Billiard was standing at the doorway as when Jenna flung herself over the desk, her nails like sharp knifes as they reached towards her, desperately trying to claw her eyes out. She yelled, louder than Charlotte a human could possibly yell and climbed up on her knees on the desk, forgetting about her dignity. Her skirt rided right up, exposing the slight fabric of her lacey underwear but Charlotte didn't care. She swatted her hands away as they reached for her hair, yanking her strands. The bodyguards zoned in but Charlotte was determined that someone this demonic deserved to pay the price for attacking her. Swiftly, she drew back her hand and lifted it to her, making a screerching voice as it made contact with her face. She flew backwards, shaking as she touched her face, her eyes wild.

"How DARE you…" she howled, her hands balling fists. She yet again tried flying at Charlotte but was lifted off her feet by the team of bodyguards who carried her out. She put up one hell of a fight but her scrawny body couldn't fight back the muscle. Charlotte swatted the hair that the maniac had managed to pull, catching sight of herself in the lobby mirror. In fact, the messy bun kind of rocked. She smirked, hands on her hips, facing Jenna. She whistled and the bodyguards halted, turning Jenna who was the colour of a tomato.

"I take back my offer of any leaving pay wage. You obviously don't deserve it…I will suggest some intense Psycho-analysis. A good dosage of therapy may help…maybe" she winked and snapped her fingers, finishing talking to the girl who was now furiously enraged. She waved mockingly goodbye to her as she was carried out the door, seen to be still resisting the bodyguards halfway down the road. She shivered as she could her bone curdling howls, especially at what she was yelling.

"YOU BITCH, I'LL GET YOU! I'LL GET YOU IF IT IT'S THE LAST THING I DO, YOU BIIIITCH!"

"I guess we'll be needed a new receptionist huh, Billiard?" she said, watching from the window as the blinds slowly started descending, shutting Charlotte off from the crazy outside world.

"I think so Charlotte. How about that girl that you ran into the other day? The one you nearly ran over?"

"Natalie? I couldn't possible. She's probably up to her ears with things to do, I better check in with her. Catch you la…" she began and then thought of something as she turned around. How did Billiard know about that? She hadn't checked in with him for days, having been too wrapped up in own little world or rather, the world of a certain blue eyed man. She was going to ask him but then she saw him walk off, possibly on duty to patrol the area. She ignored the nagging feeling and took the elevator up to Christopher's office. It was located across from hers which she found weird. As the CEO she assumed she'd have the floor to herself. She got the impression he also had a weird aura about him. He clearly thought he had it worked out and was running the show. By the way he jumped and busily pretended to be working on his computer when she walked in, not knocking of course.

"MISS PEGASUS! Afternoon, I trust you're…"

"No, I'm not…" she avoided his attempt to kiss her cheek, repulsed at the man who thought he was god's gift to woman. She stepped back from him, clasping her hands behind her back but keeping a firm dominant posture. The way Jenna had gone for her made her weary of just about anybody now.

"Is there anything I can do for you? Would you like a refreshment? A cool beverage? A nicely buttered…scone?"

"Am I funding this little tray of deserts?" she spoke pointing a finger to the overflowing tray of drinks and cakes. She rolled her eyes as he slid it away, sensing she was unimpressed. She could see through him so easily. Obviously that was there to impress any women who ventured in. Maybe he should focus more on his own woman, she thought bitterly looking at his wedding band which she noticed was absent from his finger, instead sitting on the table.

"So, Christopher, how is your wife?"

"She's just peachy Miss Pegasus" he blinked, batting his charming eyelashes. She listened as he babbled on about some nonsense, about the possabiltiy of children or something. She walked slowly over to the window, wondering why he got such a spectator view of Domino, especially the water front. She looked around the room, the diamond shape of the room suddenly standing out. It struck a cord and then she gasped. This used to be her father's office. She remembered pressing herself against the glass, awing at how far she could see across the deep blue sea and then running around the outline of the room, the diamond shape focused in her mind. So somehow, this weasel had got this lovely little office, at the expense of her father? Seems like someone had been running this company all along and it wasn't her father. She leaned against the desk with one hand.

"I just had to fire the receptionist. I need you to…"
"Jenna?" he abruptly said, setting down the bottle he was pouring glass from. He turned to her, with his mouth open and she wondered why he was so affected by that.

"Eh, yes?"

"Miss Pegasus, I suggest you don't be so harsh with Jenna. She's a wonderful worker really. She's done good for this company since her time here and I'm sure if…"

"She just tried to freaking attack me!" she rose her voice, cutting him off right there and then.

"And as for the work ethic, I doubt painting your nails and being a completely useless secretary counts. Do you know I got Billiard to tape the lobby phone? She's avoided so many phonecalls, taking the weirdest ones. The only one's she takes are coming from within the building, the useless girl…"

"Ah, right…" he wondered off, shaking his head. She raised her eyebrow, thinking something weird was definitely going on.

She continueed on with how she needed him to arrange for a replacement for Jenna when she looked down and clocked something sticking out of the bottom draw. It was open ajar, not enough for anyone who wasn't looking to notice. It was the fluffy material that was hanging over the side that caught her attention.

When she knew he was looking away, his cool demeanour replaced with a slightly sweaty one, she bent down and pulled it out, her mouth falling open at the sight of what she found.

"I'll arrange interviews immediately. I can assure you we'll have someone in to replace Jenna in…"

"Who does this belong to? Enlighten me Christopher?"

She held it up to the light, stepping forward and pressing it into his face which had turned ghostly white. She automatically drew the conclusion it didn't belong to his wife for a number of reasons. 1) She was no longer twenty therefore, would never have the courage to indulge in something so sultry and daring. Especially not to work. 2) It was padded, something that she knew the older woman would not wear. She was already bulging out in her white shirt. And finally 3) she knew it was Jenna's. The fact she had seen it so strongly through Jenna's white shirt not long ago confirmed it. She blinked, waiting for an answer.

"I don't know what you're talking about…" he held his hands up defensively, pathetically trying to cover his tracks like the dog he so truly was.

"Oh, I think you do…" she whispered, throwing the flimsy material at him. He was about to protest but she silenced him, finishing off by storming out of the office, slamming the door shut. Employee number 6-toast!

And all before lunch!

An incredibly busy day at the office, she thought as she hit send on her keyboard and lay her head down on the table. She thought 5 minutes rest couldn't do harm as she let her eyelids flutter softly closed and she smiled, dozying happily. She opened them up, yawning and rubbing her eyes with the back of her hand. She was so busy waking herself up, she failed to hear the familiar velvety voice purr her name from the couch in the corner.

"My, my, my. Someone's been a busy bee today…"

She jumped and looked in the direction of the voice. She smiled.

"How did you get in here?"

"Better question…" he said, the silky smooth direction of his voice changing as he got up from his comfortable seat, striding over to tower next to her. She stood up, almost automatically and was still so much smaller than him. Still, she stood near him, bathing in that slight musky smell that was his scent. She shivered. She'd craved him so much.

"Why are you hiring my ex-employees?"

She looked down at the palm he had just landed on the table, watching how he revealed today's headlines. She saw a picture of Natalie leaving the hospital, getting into a car. She shook her head. How did anyone know this was happening? She'd been completely discreet about it. She'd even ensured that neither the limo or her car was near the hospital, it was an ordinary car with one of her most unrecognised drivers. And on one knew she was doing this…she was doing it all her own. Could the driver have sold the story?

"Seto…"

"Are you attempting to steal my companys ideas?" he accused. His tone was neither rising or in any way threatening, yet somehow the raspy tone that usually came with Seto's voice made her feel nervous and she hated how his stare seemed to melt her down. She felt like a child being scoulded.

"I would never. Besides, she's your assistant and…"

"An assistant who worked closely for me for years and therefore, has learned a great deal of Kaiba Corporations must valued secrets" he dryly remarked.

"You don't need to speak so blandly" she said, trying to make him not look at her like that.

"It is me who you're talking to…"

"And who exactly are you?" he said and she took a sharp inhale of breath.

"You knew exactly who I was yesterday" she shot back, her comment unmoving the frosty man.

"Perhaps…but now I'm unsure"

"Unsure about what?" she asked, watching him intently. She felt an icy barrier come up between them and she gripped her fists, putting her own protective force field up. This time, protecting her heart.

"How can I be sure you're trustworthy? How do I know you're not out to damage my company?"

"What? Why would I…"

"Hiring one of my ex-employees, so soon after her contract was terminated only suggests that Miss Pegasus…"

"Charlotte…"

"No one in the sane mind would see a reason to. You hardly have the best track record, with who you are…"

"Which is?" she stood firmly.

He shrugged. "A Pegasus"

She bit her bottom lip, turning her head to the side, letting her blonde hair drape across her face, masking the pain. What did he not trust her? Better yet, why did not trust her…because of her name?

"Seto, you've had it out for my family name since the very moment I met you…" she began. She didn't let him speak, instead holding up a perfectly manicured fingernail.

"…but you've never told me why. You know if anything I could bring up your family name but I don't…"

His calm attitude melted and the barrier got stronger than ever as she felt a new sense of tense emerge.

"What do you know about my family name?"

"Your father, Gozza Boro…"

"MY STEP FATHER…" he spat, his lips curling in great disgust. She dabbed her mouth, feeling bits of his spit splatter on her face.

"Yes, well your step father, hardly was the best role model."

"I take NOTHING to do with my step-father."

"But you see Seto…you so clearly do…" she spoke softly and took a deep inhale of breath. Could she say it?

"And how is that?" he responded, taking a menancing step towards her. She gulped. All day long, she'd thought of him, longed for him, dreaming of having him surround her, kiss her, make her escape the dullness and invite her into his world. But now, she was terrified as his eyes, to her seemed to glow red, like a demon from hell as he waited for her to say what she was petrified to say. But her family pride boiled up and she eventually, opened her mouth and shouted the words that would sting Seto Kaiba forever.

"YOU'RE JUST LIKE GOZZA BORO KAIBA!

SMACK!