Kunzite was furious. He told himself it was only that any decent person would be after having dealings with Sumiyoshi. It didn't help that he was still ticked at that... girl... and the games she'd been playing last night. Still, she didn't deserve to have to deal with that SOB and his clique of empty-headed bully boys. No one did.
That didn't mean that between the two of them, he was the one boiling. And it was ALL. THEIR. FAULT.
He threw himself onto his bed and flung his arm over his eyes with a groan. A scene from the night before rose up in his subconscious.
She was sparkling. That was the only way to describe it. He didn't know what she'd done to become the bosom buddy of every girl in the room, but it had worked. They were all giggling in the corner. Eventually he went to retrieve her, so he could introduce her to his boss. Also, having to make business related small talk was a more appropriate punishment for his uncomfortable situation at work. She wouldn't be able to giggle then!
However, he began to rethink the intelligence of his plan when he approached and overheard her telling all the women in his office, "... size of his hands. You know the old phrase. It's true, in this case."
At this point, however, they'd noticed him and scattered like a bevy of frightened quail, blushing and chortling.
"Having fun?" He asked as he lead her to his boss, steel underlying the velvet of his voice.
"Oh, some." She replied, her innocent smile belayed by the malicious twinkle in her eyes.
"Ah. And exactly what were you telling them?" He asked, eyebrow raised.
"How hard it is for you to find shoes, of course. Why, what did you think?"
He had to concede that she'd one that round. The thought was not helping him relax, so he headed to the kitchen, thinking something to drink might help him settle.
Virtuously, he poured himself nothing stronger than some orange juice. Not to say he didn't look at the vodka, but he promised himself that she wasn't worth that.
She delicately clasped her hands, pushing her chest into further prominence. Even just from watching the footage, he feels anger at the look that creep is using on her.
"Well, that was certainly effective." Zoi said dryly, exchanging a look with Mamoru as Neph choked on his water. "She sure knows how to handle men."
"No doubt." Neph said, his eyes glued to the screen despite his obvious attraction to her friend.
Fools! He had wanted to scream at them. She's doing it on purpose! Even to you! He snarled internally, watching her flirt so easily, and effectively, with that creep.
He saw her glance down, affecting sweetness so cloying he could feel it through the screen. He swallowed, attributing the thickness in his throat to disgust at both of them, those people in the video.
He shook his head, back in his kitchen again. He stared at his juice for a moment before deciding Sumiyoshi was worth adding vodka. He needed something to wash the taste of that creep out of his mouth.
She cooed over his story, praising his nobility and kindness. It made Kunzite nauseous to even watch it. It felt like a betrayal, even knowing she didn't mean it.
Yes, he was mad because she looked so much like she was betraying his trust. Everyone's trust. Everyone's mission. Yes, she looked like she was betraying the mission. That was why he saw a red film over his eyes.
He stared at the suddenly empty glass, wondering where his drink had gone. He mixed himself another, not caring that the proportions were near 50-50.
He grinned then, suddenly realizing how close the colour of his drink was to the dress she'd worn to the cocktail party the night before.
Most of the people here were wearing black. She stood out among them like a dove in a flock of crows.
It made it easier for Kunzite to keep track of her. It enabled him to catch most of the condescending smiles, not to mention the time his boss had actually reached out to pat her on the head like a child. Still, he had to give her credit. She never broke character. Despite the anger he could see in her slightly jerky movements and the slight edge to her voice, she looked perfectly sweet to everyone else.
Only someone like him, watching her every move and knowing the duplicity she was capable of, would see the temper seething under her cheerful exterior.
He did catch her making a couple 'innocent' remarks that had some of the worst offenders beet red and the others laughing. She just looked confused, and no one caught on.
Yes, it was worth it to bring her here.
She is so bloody indiscriminate in her flirting! Has she ever actually cared for any man in her life? She's a bigger player that anyone I know! Kunzite carefully ignored the part of him that mentioned that he'd never cared, not really, for any of his girlfriends or bedmates. And the part that berated him for his double standard in condemning her for this.
She was more than just an annoyance. His crazy ex had been an annoyance. This girl, on the other hand... She's a sneaky, uncaring, conniving brat that expects to get her way all the time. And she's crazy! As if she needs that kicker to make me know she's bad news!
They were finally saying their farewells. The night was winding down, and Kunzite was quite sure both of them were very happy about that.
However, she couldn't leave without at least one parting shot.
"Don't worry." She assured his boss, quite seriously. "He's modest, so I didn't realize how veryimportant he is to the company. He obviously needs sleep, more than... anything else. I'll make sure that he gets enough from now on. I'll make sure to remind him not to stay out late with the boys of anything."
The poor old man had almost choked at that comment, and the light blush on her cheeks as she made it.
Kunzite was carefully keeping his face blank, but inwardly he wasn't sure if he was more embarrassed or angry.
Even her annoyance didn't make it worth it to bring her here.
He looked at the glass in his hand, surprised to find it empty yet again. He went to refill it, then noticed the vodka was all gone too.
I didn't drink that much, did I? He thought, blearily. I must be madder at her...him. Him. Madder at him than I thought. That's why I'm so overwrought. It's from being that close to a sleazeball like that guy and not pummelling him.
He threw himself into bed again, then curled up on his side, fingers digging into his pillow. He felt the sandman calling as his body started to relax. The entire time he kept his thoughts focused on how much he despised Sumiyoshi.
His last thought, lost in the morning to the edge of sleep and alcohol, was of her face, eyes dancing with the trouble she'd made for him. Not him. Not his. Mine.