Chapter 29 ~ In Spite of Everything
Hey. Do you want to go somewhere today?
What's this, all of a sudden...
I don't know. I just felt like it.
You're incomprehensible.
And you aren't?
He gave a long sigh.
Well, I can't today.
Why?
There's an important meeting going on at the company.
Is that so...
Did I forget to mention that this guy started his own company simply because he was bored and wanted to play a game. (I would rather think he wanted to make some legitimate money.) In a couple of months, his company went from a meager start-up company to the leading firm in the financial services industry. I repeat: a couple of months. I know that's not physically possible, but it is HIM we're talking about here.
Hearing the disappointment in my voice, he tried to compromise.
How about tomorrow?
I have a mission with Lexaeus tomorrow, remember?
Was that tomorrow?
Did you forget?
Sorry, I've got a lot on my mind recently.
Me too...
It was the last couple of days of school before exams and we were sitting in ethics class as usual, except our teacher decided to shuffle our seats around for a change of pace, or so he said. I'm sure he just wanted to spread out his best students around the classroom for the teaching evaluation. In any case, Zexion somehow ended up in a corner seat in the back row and I was in the opposite end of the room, in the front. We couldn't really afford to carry out a physical conversation in these conditions, so I wasn't able to see his face expression or anything, but he sounded almost...depressed.
I shook off the thought. As if a Nobody could be depressed, right?
So why the sudden request?
I told you already. I just...felt like it.
Are you sure you don't need to tell me something?
What makes you think that?
All of the clues point toward it, but I could still be wrong.
Sometimes, he could be so annoying, what with his deductive reasoning and his arrogant attitude.
I thought you said you weren't going to pry.
He stopped pressing me at this, but I could still feel his suspicious gaze fixed on my back. It was quite uncomfortable, mind you, so I was glad when the teacher called on him to answer a question, thus interrupting his one-sided staring contest.
The teacher beamed at him for giving yet another flawless answer in front of the person who was going around to classes and evaluating the teachers. I think he was supposed to be the vice-principal or something. I turned around quickly to see him jot down notes, looking rather impressed. He had no reason not to be.
My gaze then shifted to Zexion who was sitting in the corner, pretending to be reading through the textbook.
"Ino, what do you think?" the teacher asked suddenly.
I turned around with a start. I don't understand why the teacher called on me when I wasn't paying attention. Was he trying to get a failing grade on his evaluation?
"Um..." I started, not too sure what to respond with.
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you," I repeated.
"Good answer," the teacher admitted.
Thanks.
Pay attention yourself next time.
Thankfully, the rest of the class went by without incident. After class was over, we decided to walk home together for the first time in a long while. It was about a half an hour walk, but neither of us complained. We even took a detour to drop Nina by her apartment.
"Thanks," she said as she walked in the front door and disappeared out of our sights.
After Nina was gone, neither of us said a word: me because I didn't know what to say and him because...well, I wouldn't know.
"I might be able to finish early today," he said all of a sudden. "I'll see. Maybe we can go somewhere tonight. Where do you want to go? France? Italy? Antarctica?"
I cracked up at that.
"What, and go ice fishing? That's not romantic at all," I said, restraining my laughter.
"Is it supposed to be romantic?" he asked sarcastically.
I just laughed it off.
"Somewhere local is fine," I responded.
"All right then, you make the reservations," he agreed.
As soon as we got home, he changed into a suit and tie and went straight to work.
On the other hand, I did some studying like a good girl. When it was almost five, I figured I should make the reservations, so I pulled out my laptop and looked up the phone number of that 100-story newly constructed hotel which supposedly had an excellent restaurant on its top floor. I checked out some images and a couple of reviews too. It all looked pretty good, to the eye at least, so I called them up.
"Hello, this is Josie's Diner. How may I help you?" a waitress asked over the phone.
"Hi, I'd like to make a reservation for two please," I said.
"What time?" she asked.
"Um..." I started.
Good question. I didn't know exactly when he would be coming back. Better make a generous estimate.
"Make that 7:30 please," I responded. "Oh, and do you have any window seats?"
"I'm sorry, but all our window seats are booked for tonight, I do have a good spot close to the window though," she said. "Would that be all right?"
I guess I'm going to have to settle for that.
"Yes, that'd be fine," I replied.
"Could I get your name please?" she asked.
I thought about it for a moment.
"Rion. Rion Schneider," I said.
"Okay then, that's all set. 7:30 at Josie's Diner for two," she confirmed. "I look forward to seeing you."
"Thanks," I said before I hung up.
Now, to get changed. I couldn't very well waltz into an upscale restaurant in a sweater and jeans, could I?
I made my way to my room and ransacked the wardrobe again, trying to find something suitable for the night.
"Master, do you need any help?" Kanon asked from behind, startling me.
"No, I'm fine," I said.
I already had a rather nightmarish experience with Kanon helping me get ready for the previous event. I didn't need to go through that a second time.
"And ask for people's permission before entering their rooms!" I shouted.
"My apologies Master, I'll remember that next time," he said.
And with that, he was gone as quickly as he had come.
I managed to find myself a nice, plain, white dress and a belt going through the center. I couldn't find any really nice dress shoes, so I decided to make do with flats. As a finishing touch, I found a nice headband that I forgot I even had.
There, I thought to myself as I looked into the mirror. Simple and clean.
I exited my room and stared across the hallway to his study. Closed as usual, and also giving off a "you shouldn't come in here" vibe as usual.
I ignored the strange sensation and simply made my way to the bottom of the staircase, sitting on one of the lowest steps. I looked up at the gigantic clock over the main entrance. It was 7:00 already.
It would take us half an hour to get there by limo, which means that we would be late even if he were to get back right now. I thought about calling the restaurant to postpone the reservation, but I was too lazy to. Well, there's that, but I also had a feeling that he would be even later than I expected.
By 7:30, my stomach was rumbling gently. I'm accustomed to eating dinner early, you see. I usually go for meals at 6, and never later than 7. The clock ticked louder with each passing second, as if it was mocking me. By 8:00, my stomach was growling.
I nearly fell asleep until I heard a familiar chuckle. When I looked up at the clock, it was nearly 9:00.
"You look like you've been sitting there for hours," he said.
I got up with a start, brushing the dust off my dress.
"Not really, just a couple of minutes," I responded coolly.
"Actually, she's been there from 7:00," Kanon's voice sounded from behind me.
That butler's personality kind of reminds me of Zexion. In a bad way.
Zexion frowned at me.
"It must've been uncomfortable, sitting there for that long," he said. "Well, let's just go."
I walked to the door and we proceeded down the steps together. At the limo, Kanon escorted Zexion inside first, followed by me. I made sure to shoot him my "I'll kill you later" glare as I walked past him. I don't think he paid me any attention though. Either that, or he just didn't care.
"Where are we headed?" Subaru asked as he took the driver's seat.
"That new hotel," I responded. "I think it was called the Empress?"
"Josie's Diner?" Zexion asked me.
I nodded.
As we were riding in the car, Zexion pulled out a book from his briefcase and started to flip through its contents.
"Could you have been any later?" I asked. "I made the reservation for 7:30 you know."
"Is that so?" he said without looking up. "Well, we'll just work it out when we get there."
I slouched back in my seat, annoyed at his indifference.
I made a pretty accurate estimate in that it would take us about 30 minutes by limo to get to the restaurant. It was 9:30 when we got there, and it crossed my mind that they may have closed already. Bright lights at the top of the tower told me otherwise.
Who eats dinner at this time?
We do.
Even though I accurately estimated the time it took to get to the hotel, I forgot about the 5 minute elevator ride to the 100th floor. It lasted forever though.
The elevator finally opened, and a waitress greeted us as soon as we stepped off. I'm pretty sure she was the one I spoke with on the phone.
"Welcome to Josie's Diner," she said. "Do you have a reservation?"
"Yes," I answered. "For two."
"Name?" she inquired as she went over to her list.
"Rion. Rion Schneider," I said.
She scrolled down her list, looking at the reservations, until she finally found it.
"It was for 7:30, right?" she asked.
"Yes, but-"
"I'm sorry, but we already gave your spot to somebody else," she responded. "We only hold reservations for 10 minutes, unless the customer calls to notify us of some delay."
"I-"
Zexion brushed me aside as he passed me.
"Do you have a seat for two right now?" he asked.
"I'm sorry, but all the seats are currently taken," she responded.
There's no way. It's 9:30! I wouldn't be surprised if there was hardly anyone left.
"I find that highly improbable," Zexion retorted.
Actually, he knows it, but he can't prove it without any actual evidence.
"I'm sorry sir, but there are no seats at the moment, and besides, we close at 11:00, so I'm afraid you wouldn't have time to enjoy your meal," she defended.
"There is a seat," Zexion insisted.
At that moment, an older couple exited the restaurant, and the waitress greeted them.
"There's a seat now, isn't there?" he asked, smirking.
"My apologies good sir, but it's a store policy. In order for us to ensure that we provide the best service to all our customers, we don't admit customers after 9:00," a voice came from the side.
"Oh. And who might you be?" Zexion asked.
"I'm the manager," the man said.
I could tell that he wasn't lying.
"It's fine. Let's go," I whispered, as I gently nudged his arm.
He flicked me aside.
"That's a severely flawed policy, in more ways than one," Zexion said coldly.
"I'm not one to question the decisions of the executives," the manager responded, equally coldly.
"And if I change that policy?" Zexion asked, enjoying the drama.
"Who are you to say such a thing?" the manager asked with a puzzled look on his face.
"Ask her," he said, pointing at the waitress while he got out his cellphone and pretended to make a phone call.
I watched as the waitress pointed to a name on the reservation list, and the manager's eyes opened wide in horror.
"You're Rion Schneider?" the manager asked in disbelief.
"Do you have a problem with that?" Zexion asked, clearly amused. "I can show you I.D."
"But you're just a kid!" the manager countered. "You're the President and CEO of that Schneider Group?"
"Of course. That reminds me, I was thinking about expanding into the hospitality sector sometime soon, so we decided to buy an upscale hotel chain just recently," he said. "Of course, the deal hasn't been made public yet, but it's quite set in stone."
"Which hotel chain?" the manager asked.
"Why...the Empress of course," he said, "which would make me your boss, wouldn't it?"
Zexion merely stared at him with expectant eyes.
"I just struck a huge deal with a client overseas today," he said with a rather creepy smile. "I'm in what you would call a good mood right now. Please don't ruin it."
It amuses me that I couldn't tell if the lady was charmed by him or frightened to death. She looked at her manager, who gave a curt nod. It was more like he jerked his head, but I'm not one to complain.
"R-Right this way please," she said, motioning for us to follow her into the restaurant.
The restaurant was still quite lively, contrary to my expectations, but there were quite a few empty seats. She showed us to a table, and it was a window seat to boot.
I told you I would take care of it.
You're a devil.
Thank you for the compliment.
I think you took the bluff a bit far, with the acquisition and all.
I wasn't bluffing.
What?
We're finalizing the deal now. It's going to be made public soon.
Hey, I didn't know your business was expanding so fast.
You're forgetting who's running it.
I felt a bit unsettled while I was eating because of that earlier skirmish with the manager, but my stomach overpowered my brain and I gobbled down everything in sight anyways.
"This is scrumptious," I exclaimed.
"Is it now?" he asked.
"You don't think so?" I questioned.
"Hm...I don't really know, is this what you call tasty?" he asked again.
"You're joking, right?"
He looked at me, dead serious. This would be one of those facepalm moments.
"Well at least, I think it tastes really good," I replied.
We were halfway through the main course when Zexion made the weirdest comment.
"You seem to be lost in thought," he started cautiously.
I sighed.
"It's just, I was reflecting on how lucky I am to be able to eat dinner with you right now," I said, gazing at the magnificent city scenery through the window.
He raised his eyebrows as I turned around and met his eyes.
"Nothing! Forget I said anything," I said hastily. "Let's go for dessert too."
I shifted uncomfortably in my seat as I felt him staring at me, without a break, for the rest of the meal.
After we were done, Zexion paid them a generous tip for their efforts, and we left the restaurant. I suggested taking a stroll through the nearby park, so we did. I got thirsty from walking really quickly, so we bought some soft drinks at the vending machine and sat on the park bench, taking in the beautiful lake in front of us, the beautiful trees around us, and the beautiful stars above us.
I'm not sure why, but I felt exhausted. I nearly fell over into his lap, but thankfully, I caught myself before I did. Instead, he shifted closer to me, allowing me to lean my head against his shoulder. It was soft.
"I saw a couple do this in a movie once, so I thought I would try it," he said. "I seem to have garnered a good response."
That last line was completely unnecessary. Seeing as how I refused to comment, he continued.
"Tired already?" he asked. "The night's still young."
I simply glared at him.
"Let's keep this PG-13 now," I warned.
Well, even though I say that... He may make rude remarks from time to time, and he's almost always incredibly annoying, but whatever happens, how I feel about him probably won't change.
He coughed, interrupting my train of thought.
"What?" I asked.
"Thinking too loudly," he said.
I can't remember what happened after that, but I'm pretty sure I smacked him.
"What did you tell her?" Zexion demanded.
"Nothing you need to know," Saix responded coolly.
"She hasn't been acting the same ever since she got back from her little 'talk' with you," Zexion retorted.
Saix sighed, turning around to face the unwelcome visitor in his room.
"And what of it?" Saix asked.
Zexion found himself at a loss for words. He asked a good question. He had no evidence that whatever Saix told her was the direct cause of her change in behaviour, but he had an ominous feeling about the whole situation which nagged at him constantly and refused to leave him alone. He almost lost it.
"Stop screwing with me," Zexion said in an abnormally low tone, banging his fist against the wall.
"My, my. It's been a while since I've heard you use such foul language," Saix said, clearly amused.
Zexion looked to the side, trying to avoid Saix' piercing gaze.
"Why don't you ask her yourself?" Saix taunted.
That was it. Even though he had plenty he still wanted to ask Saix, he left the room in a fit of frustration, slamming the door behind him.
Back in the room, Saix turned around, staring at the moon intently.
"This is turning out even better than I thought," Saix thought to himself quietly.
