Out of the Country
I woke up late the morning after the exhibit. It's fortunate that Natsu woke up earlier than me so he was able to buy breakfast for the both of us.
I ate breakfast after taking a bath and fixing myself. Natsu drove me to the Dreyar building too.
I turned to him to say goodbye when the fact the he slept in my condo sinked in. He comforted me when I needed it. He felt my loneliness...
I switched my weight to the other leg. I should stop overthinking. I know what we are and I don't need to put other ideas
into it.
My phone rang in the middle of work. It displayed mommy's name so I quickly answered it. I was thirsty for her opinion of what happened last night.
"Hello?" I greeted.
"Lucy, I'm sorry for what happened last night. Sorry for Ashley too."
I closed my eyes with force. Even this means a lot to me, I'm glad that my mom apologised.
"It's fine, mom. I just hope you realize that I care about you two."
"Thanks, Lucy. I'm really sorry, darling. Let's talk again soon. We're fixing Ashley's paintings right now.. Are you at work?"
"Yes, mom... Okay. Take care."
"Take care too."
She dropped the call. I stared blankly at the monitor in front of me. I went back to tonight's event but the only thing that remained in my mind is the heat which Natsu's body provided last night. Crap! I should just go back to work.
It hasn't been 5 minuted when my phone rang for another call. To my fear that my supervisor would scold me, I answered it without looking at the caller.
"Hello?"
"Lucy..." It's dad!
My heart jumped. I'm scared at what he has to say. He doesn't usually call me for nothing.
"I have a meeting with a client later. Sting and your uncle are coming. Loke will be there too. You need to come with us too."
I but my lip. Later tonight?
"Do I really need to? I'm not involved with you business — "
"Sting will be there. Just come with us!" Daddy ordered.
I sighed, "Is this a private company or it's the Fiore Forces?"
"It's a private company. Seven PM later, okay? Sting will pick you up."
Before I can even protest, dad already cut the call. I almost cursed. Well, it won't hurt right? Besides, Natsu and I haven't made plans for today yet.
He didn't text while I'm working. He's probably busy and I should really stop thinking about this. It's toxic. This is not good for our arrangement.
"You did not bring your car... again?" Sting said when we met at the parking lot.
I could just lie at him and tell him that I didn't park it at my usual spot so he didn't see it. But what if he's checked the whole basement for my car? Then I'm screwed?
"Nope. Left it at my condo."
His eyes squinted. I looked away. The fact that we've known each other for so long scared me. Sting knows me well. He knows when I'm lying.
So I was shocked when he just sighed and went inside his car. I also entered and fixed the seatbelts. He threw me another glare. I didn't look at him. Nervousness slowly crept into me. Crap!
"Do you always leave your car in your condo? Do you commute every time?" he asked in a cold voice.
Crap! My face remained unbothered. I don't want him to see that I'm already panicking.
"Sometimes."
"Why? Is there something wrong with it? Why don't you have it checked, Lucy?" he's still doubting me.
"It's fine. I'm just really tired of using it every morning-"
"Then how do you get home?" Sting's persistent question.
I'm starting to feel annoyed but then I have to remind myself to answer him properly. "Hitch with Levy," I calmly said.
He didn't reply but he occasionally glances at me every time we've got stuck in the traffic. I never glanced back at him.
I started a conversation we I noticed the familiar front of the hotel, "Who's the client of dad and uncle?"
"Some private agency..." he replied, eyes still on the road.
"Private agency? For what?"
"They want our firearms to supply them," he answered.
My father's business is all about firearms, like Sting's dad and they plan on merging the two companies later. That's also the reason why they forced us to stay in our relationship even when we both wanted to break up.
"What agency is it?" I asked.
"It's the Drakes," he glanced at me.
My eyes widened and no words came out from my mouth. My throat dried. We're meeting with Natsu's brother?
"Dad doesn't want to have a deal with them but we need bigger deals."
"Why doesn't he want to?" I managed to ask even when my throat feels rough.
He didn't answer me. He parked the car on the basement. My stomach hurts because of nervousness. Natsu's brother! They're my father's client.
"Sting, can't you just go without me? You can do it better without me," I said.
I wanted to go back to the office. I wanted to go home. What if Natsu's also here?
"That's what you daddy wants. And besides, Lucy, we're here. What's your problem?" he said with a frown, "Is this because of us again?"
I quickly disagreed. I almost forgot that Sting is still my boyfriend in the eyes of other people.
"Good!" he said before holding my hand.
He placed my hand in his arm. I stiffened. He ignored my awkwardness and continued on walking. He's used in me being disgusted with his touch ever since our relationship became tainted.
"Sting, we shouldn't-" I said.
"What's your problem, Lucy?" he turned to me. He's now angry.
"Why are you even asking me that? I am tired of our relationship! If only my dad would allow me, I've broken up with you already!" I said, irritated. I don't want him to think that this is all okay with me.
"Fine! Then you're doing this for your dad! At least do it properly! If you want your dad to see we're still together, show it!"
I gritted my teeth. When would I be free from daddy's orders? I wonder.
"You're taking advantage!" I shouted.
"I'm not! We were always like this before, Lucy! Why protest now?" he stopped walking to turn to me.
"Obviously, I got fed up with your thirst issues! I'm not up with you anymore!"
I pursed my lips. Crap!
Sting's eyes squinted, "Why? Are you with someone else?"
"No! I'm not with someone else! Can't I just want to free myself from you?"
He took a step towards me. His eyes are filled with doubt. I badly wanted to slap him. He has no right to be angry when he's the one who's cheating on me ever since!
He grabbed my hand and hooked it again with his arm. He said nothing as he dragged me inside.
A girl quickly assisted us when we entered the hotel where businessmen frequently visit to gamble.
"Here, Sir... Madame," the girl gestured the private room. She opened the red doors towards the private room with a long dining table.
Sitting in that long dining table are Loke, Virgo, daddy, uncle, two men that I'm not familiar with, and Natsu. I almost cursed.
All men in the room are wearing a suit. Natsu adjusted his necktie while averting his eyes from my form.
"Sting..." daddy said while looking at us, "Lucy..."
"General Dragneel, this is my daughter and Mr. Eucliffe's son. Lucy and Sting..." daddy said to a middle aged man in front of him.
Natsu's brother stood up and presented a hand to Sting. The older Dragneel looks younger than I expected. He's even more youthful than Natsu! Well, maybe because General Dragneel has a light aura and is always sporting a kind smile unlike his brother who's whole being is intimidating.
"This is General Dragneel, and here is his brother, Mr. Natsu Dragneel, and one of their associates, Mr. Mard Geer."
I shook hands with the older Dragneel, he smiled at me while nodding his head to acknowledge my presence. I smiled back. The last one who stood up is Natsu. His eyes met Sting's. I don't even know if I should shake hands with him
"Natsu..." he said while extending his hand.
I nodded and accepted his hand. "Let's take a seat?" daddy asked.
Sting grabbed my waist which made Natsu to break out handshake. He guided me to our designated chairs while daddy started to talk to the Dragneels.
"We can provide your agency the most advanced firearms..." said daddy," We have the newest hand guns and long guns in Fiore. What's our newest collection again, Loke?"
"We both have the Polymer 1911 and Caracal 1911 both in their newest versions."
"We have Polymer 1911. How about long guns?" Natsu asked my brother.
"We have new rifles and pocket snipers..." Sting answered. Natsu turned to him. He raised his eyebrow.
My heart jumped because of nervousness. Crap! Why does this have to happen?
"What kind of rifles do you have?" I don't know why Natsu said this in a sarcastic tone.
"We have the newest Mossberg. I'm sure you don't have that yet," Sting said in a confident voice.
"That's not what we want. Do you have the Diamondback?" Natsu said in a more sarcastic tone.
Loke and Sting looked at each other. Daddy laughed and looked at Natsu
"Young man, we can order what you want. Just say what you need for your people and we'll give it to you. If we close the deal, we assure you that we'll provide whatever you need," ani daddy.
I felt the Sting's tension. He cleared his throat and leaned in the backrest of the mahogany chair. He put his arm in my shoulders. I know it's his way to calm down. I saw how Natsu's eyes shifted from my dad to Sting's arm which is resting in my shoulders.
"We don't want to waste our time, Mr. Heartfilia. Our company has big time clients. The clients we have usually face large cases. If we settle for a company with a low caliber firearms, we're screwed."
"We can talk about how fast we can provide you with what you need when we close the deal, Mr. Dragneel," Sting's dad said.
Natsu's eyes shifter to the older Eucliffe, "We're here to talk about that. Why are we going to schedule another meeting for it? Didn't we went here to talk precisely about that — "
"Natsu, that's enough..." the older Dragneel said.
Natsu clenched his jaw, eyes still in Sting's dad.
"My brother is right. We need you to provide us as soon as possible. It's not about our company. This is about the safety of our clients. The more advance our tools are, the more we can execute our operations better. I know the Heartfilias are the best when it comes to this, so I'm hoping you can meet our expectations, Mr. Heartfilia?" the older Dragneel said.
Sting held my hand and turned to me. His action made me look at him. His face went to my ear as if he's going to whisper something.
"I hate that young Dragneel," he whispered.
I saw how Natsu's jaw clenched. He looked so damn frustrated and I know it's because of the deal. I can't understand their transactions but I can see how important this is for him.
"If you want, Mr. Dragneel. I can give you the list of the latest guns we have along with their description tomorrow so as early as next week, we can order the firearms you need," Loke told Natsu.
"I'll be gone for business tomorrow. You can give the list to my brother," Natsu said with hardness.
"The next day, then?" Natsu's brother asked.
"I'll be out the next three days, Zeref. I'll be out of the country."
"On the weekends?" Zeref asked. "I'll be in Enca... that time."
Natsu looked at me. He'll be gone for a week? Why didn't he tell me?
I almost threw up because of what I'm thinking. Why would he tell me? What for, right?
"Then hand it to me tomorrow, Mr. Heartfilia. I'll check it myself," the older Dragneel said.
Sting out his arm in my shoulders again. I felt his fingers in my arm. He pulled me closer to him and I hate how it felt.
Natsu looked at the both of us again. I saw how his expression hardened.
They served the food after that. I excused myself to go to the comfort room. I couldn't stand it.
When I got near the bathroom, I quickly typed a message.
Me:
Why didn't you tell me you'll be out of the country tomorrow?
Crap! I wasn't able to stop myself! I went inside the bathroom to fix myself. I received no reply even when I got out.. His phone is probably out of his reach because of the meeting.
I went out and returned to the table. I clearly saw how he put his phone down when I got back. He continued eating. I checked my phone and saw no notifications.
My tummy felt cold. I slowly went to my seat. My plate is now filled with food. I glanced at Virgo who's busy talking to Loke. When she saw me looking at her, she slightly smiled and nodded as a greeting. I smiled back and started eating.
"Take care of Touka when you two are out of the country, Natsu..." the man beside Natsu's brother said.
My throat dries at what I've heard. So Touka's always with Natsu when he's out of the country then?
"You don't have to remind me, Mard..." was Natsu's short reply to the man.
The deal was closed after we finished eating. Natsu immediately stood up and fixed his suit. I looked at him. Daddy shook his hand and Natsu went out of the private room first, leaving his brother and his associate behind.
I checked my phone again but found no texts from him.
"Who are you texting?" Sting asked when he noticed me looking at my phone constantly.
I shook my head, "I'm just checking the time..."
I'm now staring the the door where Natsu left. Damn it! Fine! If he doesn't want to answer me, then don't! That's probably because he's going to be with Touka tomorrow and maybe for the rest of the week! There wouldn't be Lucy! There wouldn't be me in his life for a mean time! My chest hurts. Crap!
