A/N HAPPY FRIDAY THE 13TH! Hope you guys enjoy the chapter :)

The week was passing by in leaps and bounds. Soon enough, Lara found herself being wired to make her television appearance.

Natsumi had confirmed the appearance for the week just as Lara had asked her to and now she stood by, ready to assist with anything that Lara may need help with. She held onto the car keys, the four interlinked rings clutched safely in her hand, just in case she needed to fetch the spare outfit that was brought along.

Lara was ready. She wore a knee-length sapphire blue tailored shift dress with a low square neckline knowing it was the perfect choice for them to attach the lapel microphone and hide the transmitter around her thigh with no hassle. The colour was chosen purely because it looked good on camera, but the link to Kaiba was a nice bonus. Since this exercise was all about getting people to like her and Kaiba, she wore her hair down and slightly curled so she would appear softer.

Everything she learned and all her experience at MIM was coming in handy now.

Once she was ready, both Lara and Natsumi were shown to the green room where her makeup was touched up while she waited. The host came by to greet her before they could meet on stage.

"Ms von Schroeder, Kei Tanaka, it's a pleasure to meet you." The tall, though Lara noticed it was only because of her shoes, beautiful black-haired woman shook Lara's hand pleasantly.

"Pleasure's all mine. Please, call me Lara," she replied.

"How are you feeling?"

"Pretty good."

"Not nervous at all?" Kei enquired.

"No." She laughed. "Should I be?"

"No, no. Of course not," she said amiably. "It's just since we were low on time we couldn't do the pre-interview, but your assistant said that you aren't disallowing any line of questioning."

"That's correct but I would prefer keeping focussed on current events rather than past ones."

"That's fine. Are you ready to begin?"

"Yeah."

"Great. Have a seat and my producer will fetch you once we're good to go," she informed Lara. "Mike have we done with checks?"

"All ready Kei."

The host walked away from the room, talking animatedly to the man on her right until she entered the stage area.

Lara was patient. She watched on the monitor as the host interacted with the audience before sitting down. A woman with a headset appeared at the door and she quickly spoke into the mic before indicating that Lara should follow her. They waited at the doorway or rather, curtain-way to the stage, listening to the host introduce Lara and once the applause began, Lara walked out with a warm smile, looking every bit the elegant executive she was.

Kei stood up greeting Lara with air kisses before they took their seats in the white single sofas that faced each other. She crossed her legs elegantly and placed her arms on the soft rests, looking happy and relaxed.

The ambience on stage was quite warm with the raised platform covered in warm wooden flooring. There was a small table between them with glasses of water and a large screen behind with the name of the show boldly displayed; but the first thing that Lara really noticed, was the audience. The seats rose like an auditorium and curled around the front of the studio. There was not an open seat to be seen.

"Welcome Lara," Kei greeted her warmly as the cameras rolled.

"Thank you Kei." Lara smiled broadly.

"That was quite an entrance, seems like you're pretty popular."

Lara chuckled. "Yeah, the people of Domino have been so wonderful to me. It feels like home now."

"That's good to hear. I think it's the best city in the world." Kei was brilliant. She was genial with a winning smile and utterly comfortable in front of the cameras.

"I might have to agree with you."

"So you've been busy," Kei started, "and recently engaged!" The screen behind them came to life showing a camera angle of Lara's ring on her finger. She raised it so they could get a better view. "Tell us about that. How does it feel to be engaged?"

"Honestly, it feels a little surreal. I actually can't believe how lucky I am. I have the most amazing fiancé," Lara gushed.

"Not just any fiancé, the most powerful man in Domino, Seto Kaiba," the host said, raising her eyebrows.

"You know when you say it like that he sounds like this overlord but he's not that to me. I'm extremely proud of his accomplishments but he's so much more than the things he's created."

"Spoken like a woman in love."

"Oh absolutely! We are just a young couple in love," a bubbly Lara said.

"I think that's hard to picture for a lot of people in Domino. He is quite an imposing figure."

"He is and he's tough, but he's also fair, determined and insanely intelligent. The intelligence is very sexy but it can be inconvenient, like whenever I try to make a point, he always has a counter ready. It keeps me on my toes." She laughed. There were a few light chuckles from the audience.

"It sounds like it." Kei grinned.

"It's always good to keep things interesting and we have a lot of fun together which is important."

"Absolutely, but I think we all want to know how it began. It seemed like a whirlwind to all of us." There were nods in the crowd.

"Seto and I knew of each other for a long time. He knew my older brother Zigfried from the time they were kids, but we only really met last year. We became fast friends and I know that must seem strange…" Lara waved her hand towards the audience, "but it was easy being around him and we began our relationship last August."

"You two kept things under wraps for a long time. That could not have been easy."

"It really wasn't, but the thing is we wanted to explore this away from the world watching, we also had to be sensitive to the fact that the companies were merging and we worked together."

Kei nodded in understanding. "A complicated situation. So what led to you going public?"

"I guess we knew how serious we were and it just felt like the right time."

"Well, we're glad you finally let us all in on the secret." Kei laughed superficially. The screen began showing a slideshow of the various pictures Lara had posted online, starting with the announcement she had made. It sold the tale she was telling beautifully. Both Lara and Kei looked at the large display.

"That picture with the tower in the background is actually my favourite. I'm sure it's no surprise that he isn't a selfie person, but for once he was okay with it and we took that just after dinner."

"So how did he propose? Was it romantic?" she asked curiously.

Lara did not really want to let the world in on that precious moment but she knew it would be important to give them an answer.

"It was." She smiled fondly. "He surprised me with a trip to Tokyo for my birthday and popped the question after a private dinner on the balcony." There was a collective 'aww' from the audience. "I know, he's the perfect man." She grinned at the audience who all laughed.

"You are smitten." Kei observed.

"Can you tell? It's just been a very happy time for us."

"And by us I'm assuming you're including Mokuba Kaiba. You two have been pictured together a lot."

"Mokuba is such a special person and he's definitely become my closest friend since moving to Domino. It's so important to surround yourself with positivity and he is just that. An enormously positive force."

Kei murmured her agreement. "Unfortunately it hasn't been all smooth sailing since you arrived. You've had some backlash from a picture."

"Ah yes, the invitation." Lara nodded.

"Can you tell us about that?"

"Well, it really was just a few people but I guess they were quite loud on the internet." Lara laughed.

"What happened? It had something to do with your gift request." Kei prompted.

"Yes. When we were designing the invitation, we left out the gift line entirely but it was brought to our attention that if we did that, people may choose to bring a gift and that's not what we wanted. So instead we thought we could use the opportunity for a little fundraising. As you know the orphanage is always in need of supplies, they do good work with very little and with both Seto's and my background, understandably, we have a soft spot for them. On the invitation, we said in lieu of gifts we'd rather people make a donation to the orphanage."

"And that didn't go down well." Kei stated.

"Actually, I didn't want it to go anywhere but it was posted online and most people had very kind things to say, unfortunately, others thought it was a tasteless publicity stunt that I had come up with."

"And all that negativity seemed to be focused on you."

"Yes. Seto is popular so I expected it. I just didn't expect it over an invitation. Sadly, the internet offers people a way to remain somewhat anonymous so they feel brave enough to say things they never would in person. They can question my motives, I just don't pay any real attention to it. What I know is that the orphanage received a substantial donation and that's all that's important."

"Would you do it again?"

"In a heartbeat," Lara replied.

"That's really noble. Unfortunately, it's not the only difficulty you've experienced recently. Tell us about your brother's court case. How did that affect you?"

Lara's expression turned solemn. "You know I am thankful every day for such an immense support structure in Seto and Mokuba." She placed her hand on her chest. "That was a very stressful and dark time for my family. I was just shocked when the allegations first came out."

"I can imagine. Was that instrumental in you voting him off the board of Schroeder Corp.?"

"Ultimately yes. We had to think about what was best for the company. We couldn't have the scandal loom over it and the shares were in freefall. When you have so many people dependent on you for their livelihoods, you have to put emotion aside and do what's right. Believe me that was difficult," Lara said convincingly.

"I'm sure it was. Leon leaving must have made that all the more difficult."

"Absolutely, but he had reservations about the rescue and saw the opportunity to strike out on his own."

"How does one come away from that?" Lara could hear the sympathy in Kei's tone.

"Not without many bruises." Lara chuckled without mirth. "You learn your real strength in those times. I also don't think I would have survived nearly as well without Seto. He kept me strong and Kaiba Corp. has kept Schroeder strong."

"Yes, that buyout shook the industry."

"It did. People are always nervous when two titans merge like that but it has changed both companies for the better," Lara said confidently.

"As I understand it, Schroeder no longer operates independently."

"It doesn't. The Schroeder Corporation has become Schroeder Gaming, a division of the Kaiba Corporation. We've altered focus somewhat so we can now have a truly well-rounded company offering a host of services in addition to the gaming, tech, hospitality and all of that. It really is a very exciting time in the history of both companies."

"Are there any interesting tidbits you can give us?" Kei asked hopefully.

Lara closed her eyes in pretense that she was thinking of exactly what she should say.

"Well let's see, we are releasing a MOBA, that is a multiplayer online battle arena for those who are unfamiliar with gaming. The teasers will be released shortly and we're planning to release all sorts of merch and in game purchases and rewards. It's really spectacular. In fact, Seto recently tested it and even he was impressed."

"That sounds amazing! When can we expect that?" Kei oozed excitement.

Lara chuckled. "Now now. I can't give away all our secrets, you're going to have to wait for the announcement."

"Such a tease," Kei accused lightheartedly.

"I know, I know. In the meantime there are lots of other games being released. In a couple weeks we have our Game of The Year edition hitting the shelves. It's been a busy year at Kaiba Corp., I think there's something for everyone to enjoy."

The interview continued for a while longer, peppered with breaks and touch ups. Lara charmed the audience, answering questions that ranged from her growing up to her job at Kaiba Corp., and the shattering of glass ceilings. She fielded all of them with aplomb redirecting attention as inconspicuously as possible to the company and Kaiba. All in all, it was a successful interview with there being enough material from what she said for many other publications to run.

She created hype around the company, what it would be offering, but more importantly for her, she managed to show the world how unshakeable a team she and Kaiba were.

At the end of the taping Lara thanked Kei who in turn assured her that she would keep in touch. Lara believed her whole-heartedly. After confirming that the show would air the next day, Lara and Natsumi left the studio. She dropped the best PA she had ever had at home and then rushed back to the Kaiba mansion where her instructor was already waiting.

After a hurried apology for her tardiness, she changed and rejoined Kenji who took no pity on her.

By the end of the hour, she was exhausted. Her grey top had turned dark with the sweat of her exertions. Once Kenji left, she flopped down onto the floor, closing her eyes and taking deep breaths. It was just a moment for herself after a very busy day.

The next few days were hectic and when Saturday morning rolled around, Lara was ready for the weekend. She opened her eyes, barely able to see much in the darkened room but she could tell it was morning by the bleeding light around the dark curtains. Glancing at her phone she saw that it was a little after six thirty.

Lara turned over and watched Kaiba sleep. Breathing deeply, he looked completely relaxed. Quietly as she could, Lara slipped out of bed and pulled the covers over him.

She tiptoed to the bathroom where she brushed her teeth and changed into a bikini. A robe was hastily tied in place to keep the invading chill at bay and she quietly went down to the pool.

Lara tossed the towel and her robe onto the chaise then kneeled down at the side of the pool, dipping her hand into the water to feel how cool it was. She was always thankful that Kaiba had the good sense to have a heated pool.

She padded over to the deep end and splashed water on her arms to get used to the temperature before gracefully leaping off the edge, diving into the water. With long strokes, she swam the length of the pool, flipping over and kicking off the wall as she reached the end.

She swam many laps and it felt good to start her day this way. When she reached the deep end after losing count of how many laps she had actually done, she noticed Kaiba, barefoot and bare-chested, sitting on his haunches wearing that crooked smile that made Lara's heart beat a little faster.

"Good morning handsome," she smiled as she pulled herself up, leaning on the tiled edge with crossed arms.

"You were up early."

"Yeah, I couldn't sleep any longer." Lara noticed that Kaiba wore his swim shorts. He stood up, moving to the edge and effortlessly dived in, creating a small splash. She watched him glide through the water as he did his laps. It was a treat to behold, the way his muscles rippled as his arms completed their strokes, watching the water lap over his body.

Once he was done, he swam over to her, caging her in. She ran her fingers through his wet hair, brushing it back and away from his face. He leaned in and she closed the distance between their lips, kissing him sweetly.

She pulled away but he deepened the kiss, not quite ready to let her go.

"Seto, someone could walk in on us." Her voice was muffled against his lips.

"I don't care," he said in between kisses.

Lara laughed but she still closed her eyes allowing him to suck and nibble at her neck. "And I have to go soon."

Kaiba glanced at the fitness watch on his wrist. "We've got time."

"Not much."

"Do you really want to go on a shopping expedition?" He cocked his brow.

"No, but I have to do it. It's still part of the planning which someone said they're too busy to deal with." She poked his chest playfully. Kaiba shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly.

"Come on, let's go take a shower." She pulled herself out of the water and grabbed the towel off the chaise which she wrapped around her body before holding one up for Kaiba. They dried off and padded quickly to the bedroom trying not to leave a trail of water droplets on the floor.

With sudden ferocity, jets of water spurted from the large shower head as Lara turned on the faucet. She stripped off the wet bikini and stepped under the water, enjoying the warmth that enveloped her. Her eyes were closed and she was about done rinsing the shampoo from her hair when she felt Kaiba's body brush against hers.

She turned around and pulled him under the water with her. Cradling her face in his hands, he leaned in and kissed her gently. It felt like they were in their own little rainy bubble with droplets of water cascading down their bodies and dripping off the ends of their hair.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and he pulled her tightly against his hard body. His lips grew more insistent. Their tongues danced together unleashing a flight of butterflies in her belly. His powerful kisses betrayed his need and made her erupt in goosebumps. She felt a shiver pass through her despite the warmth pouring over them.

His heart beat frantically in his chest. He pushed her against the tiled wall, impatient to have his way with her. She let out a gasp as her warm back met the cold surface.

Fingers digging into her skin, his rough ministrations had them both panting.

Lara could feel that pleasurable ache deep within her, and with it could feel her slickness building. All she could think of was how much she wanted him right now. She returned every hungry, fervent kiss with her own fire.

She skimmed her hands down his rippling body, wrapping it around his hardness. He let out a harsh breath as she ran her hand along his length. Her firm, slow strokes causing him to suck hard on her shoulder, muffling the moan that escaped him.

He could wait no more. Kaiba hoisted her up allowing her to wrap her legs around his waist. She mumbled incoherently as his lips closed around her nipple, sucking hard. He bared his teeth, grating it along the over-sensitized flesh making Lara squirm but she was pinned and was unable to move much at all.

"Oh fuck, Seto!" Her voice was a harsh whisper. That response set his blood ablaze. He wanted her now. Without any preamble at all, he thrust deeply into her making her moan loudly. He set a hard, relentless pace, feeling sheer exhilaration with every thrust.

Lara liked the fact that she was often the most powerful woman in a room. She loved the control she had over everything but there was nothing in the world that turned her on more than Kaiba taking control when they were together like this. Little did she know that she had the ultimate control over him, for there would never be anyone who could affect him like she did.

His guttural groans were a jolt to her core. She raked her nails across back wanting more of everything he had to give. They were both glad the water muffled the sounds that would surely have escaped the bathroom.

Kaiba could feel her walls start to clench and he knew she was close. Lara could feel the warmth radiate from her core to her extremities. It was as if the heat was chased by ecstasy. She closed her eyes and threw her head back as she came, cursing in harsh breaths. Her warm, slick walls clamped down on him, the sensation throwing him over the edge.

"Ah, Lara," he moaned, a strangled sound caught in his throat as he found his release, his body pushing her against the tiles. He leaned his forehead on her chest but did not let her go. He could still feel the aftershocks pass through her body.

Kaiba looked up at her through his lashes. She was glorious in her afterglow. Her eyes closed with her head against the wall, exposing her elegant neck. The way her wet hair clung to the tiles and her shoulder. The way her bosom rose and fell after her euphoria. He loved her more than he could say.

When she finally opened her eyes, she caught him still staring and bathed him in a glorious smile. He gently pulled out and set her on her feet. Coming back to their senses, they realised the water was still running and he tugged her under the jets.

"You sure you have to go?" he asked after kissing her passionately.

She laughed. "Yes." Standing on tiptoes, she kissed him lightly, rinsed off and stepped out of the cubicle. She examined her appearance in the large mirror and noticed that her pink lips were swollen from Kaiba's ravenous kisses. She smiled to herself while tinkering with her beauty products on the counter and when she looked up, he was standing behind her. The look in his eyes made her heart flutter.