Looking around, Misaki Ayuzawa realized that maybe, after all, the entertainment industry wasn't as easy as it had always seemed to her.

As she stood at the side wearing an elaborate 18th century gown- correction, morning gown, her brain couldn't fathom what really was going on amongst all the chaos. The stage crew was sprinting across the room at the same time the lighting crew was setting up their equipment and they barely managed to not bump into each other. The makeup artists were busily primping the hosts who were more focused on the script than their appearance as they went over all they had to say and do during the first live broadcast of their show.

To the raven haired Attorney, the entertainment industry had always seemed like the polar opposite of the it's business counterpart. She simply didn't think the two went together. But they did. The magazines and tabloids and gossip columns were just as interested in Chief Executive Officers as they were in Actors or Singers. If any of it was taken into consideration, Misaki and Takumi were the Nanase Aikawa and Mamoru Miyano of the business industry, respectively.

Like always, Satsuki led the show.

"Good evening, Ladies and Gentlemen and welcome to the first live broadcast of Cafe d' Latte!" Her cheery tone was almost infectious as Sakura tightly clutched Misaki's hand, very clearly trying her hardest not to squeal "Well, usually we love scripts, retakes, goofing around and driving the camera crew nuts but today we have a very special guest who we've not only known for over a decade but who is also a part of this family"

Ericka cut in "A huge part actually. Back when Cafe D' Latte was an actual cafe, half our female customers used to come back only to ogle our part-timer who has now built a multi-million corporation!" She looked straight at the camera "We could tell you things about him you would never have thought related to him" Then she smiled, proudly "Give it up for Takumi Walker!"

What was usually artificial cheering that was added by the Sound team was now jaw-droppingly real as the whole studio cheered when Takumi walked onto the set after pressing his fiancee's arm in a reassuring manner.

The set had the backdrop of an 18th century english morning room complete with its flowered wallpapers, floral sofas, persian carpet, a teapoy with snacks and other assortments. A delicate kettle and expensive china was laid out next to them. In a complete switch of their normal routine, the four hosts were seated on either side of a loveseat on floral seater which indicated more familiarity than courteousness.

When Takumi walked into the scene and politely exchanged hugs and cheek kisses with the hosts, he looked like a rare wildflower among pretty daffodils in his black tailcoat, fitted trousers, leather shoes with his hair gelled back and out of his face for once. How, Misaki wondered, did he manage to look like he was straight out of an 18th century Judith McNaught novel, as at ease in the middle of a talk show as he had been while cooking her dinner.

Takumi sat right in the middle of the loveseat to avoid any idea the audience must have about someone accompanying him. The bomb, namely Misaki, wasn't to join them until after the commercial break. Takumi had lessened her burden as much as he could and the ravenette was thankful for that.

"So" Subaru was the first to speak as she linked her hand and leaned a little forward, smiling affectionately "Firstly, how are you?"

"Quite good" Takumi replied "And you?"

"Good, and you?" Her eyes twinkled.

"Spectacularly wonderful, and yourself?" Takumi retorted, trying his best not to smile.

"Oh! Stop it!" She lightly slapped his arm finally making him laugh "He's as incorrigible as we remember and he'll never let you have the last say"

"He's also as devilishly handsome as always" Honoka cut in "Though, I would like to ask the ladies; is his attitude still the very 'Devil may care' as he always displays?"

"Ma'am, if it was I wouldn't have remembered to gift you VVIP tickets to Coachella on your birthday last month" Takumi pointed out as the camera zoomed in on Honoka who was sticking her tongue out at him but laughed.

"Well, what brought about the change?" She asked.

"A month of seclusion in the Himalayas doing Yoga with the saints there brought about the worldly changes in me" He said it with such a straight face in such a cheekily annoying manner all the while looking right at the camera as if he were speaking nothing but the truth and not lying straight through his teeth made the entire studio burst out laughing.

After the uproar subsided, Ericka finally spoke "If there's one thing I'm one hundred percent sure of, it's this; Takumi Walker hates cold places"

Misaki blinked at that piece of information as she watched Takumi hold up a finger "Only when I'm going by myself"

Honoka grinned evilly "So, did you take someone with you?"

"I asked Gerard, my brother, if he would come but when I landed in New Delhi, he called to tell me he had forgotten to tell me something came up"

"And then?"

Takumi smiled sweetly, the smile reaching his eyes "I made his company's stock drop by three points"

Loud laughter filled the studio once again and Misaki found herself smiling. Mysteriously alluring Takumi Walker had a side to him which he used best - his charm. He could sit across a room and seduce you witless by just looking your way and smiling if he wanted to. His every move exuded charm and charisma and he didn't lack either when he cared to use it.

Thank God, Misaki was immune to charm.

Having grown up in a society where they were introduced to one young man after another with every single one of them trying to woo you, Misaki had long ago become immune to men who flirted relentlessly with her but didn't consider her smart enough to hold an intelligent conversation with them. Which was also one of the reasons she'd decided to become a lawyer. A profession which required you to be one of the smartest.

But in all the conversations she'd had with Takumi Walker, he had never considered her his inferior. Often, when she talked to him, she could feel his delight in conversing with a girl about topics that didn't border on polite society talk. Throughout the week that had led up to this interview, he had brought her around to meet the co-hosts several times. All of them had been very warm in welcoming them so much that the guilt of deceiving them had momentarily plagued her. Takumi, on the other hand, didn't look any more comfortable with the farce than she was but together they had managed to look convincing. To Misaki's infinite surprise.

The first time they had met the young hosts, both of them had been sitting next to each other, close but still a safe distance between them. Misaki had come up with the idea of letting Takumi do all the talking and permitted him to invent stories if he needed to and Misaki would play along. A half hour into the meeting, Honoka had turned her pointed gaze to Misaki in the middle of Takumi answering something Satsuki had asked him "You're not really the talkative type, are you?"

Beneath her cute facade, Misaki had been informed by Takumi already that Honoka could have a ruthlessly sadistic side so she only smiled at the blond "No, I'm not" She agreed.

"That's a surprise" Honoka's brows lifted "Takumi is not the talkative type either. How exactly did the two of you manage to get along for one year before you, er, went your separate ways?"

Misaki saw the sadistic streak right there but instead of falling for the bait, she let it dangle over a chasm as she serenely smiled "What gives you the impression that in the time we spent together, Takumi and I haven't conversed?"

"Well, for starters-" She gestured to the distance between them "Are you sure you're both as familiar with each other as you claim?"

Misaki looked down at the area of sofa lying barren between Takumi and herself before raising cool eyes at the blond host "Personal space is your reasoning?"

Everyone had quietened down by now. Ericka was nervously shifting in her seat, Subaru moved forward to pour herself more tea and Satsuki and Takumi had halted their conversation to listen in on what was happening as Honoka returned Misaki's smile with one of her own "Keep that up and people might call it a farce before the interview concludes"

That threw Misaki off for a second and Honoka saw it in the way she blinked, letting her composed facade slip. Misaki could feel Takumi getting ready to come to her rescue and so she slid sideways, her thighs brushing against Takumi's as she sat flushed up against him "You'd much rather we indulge in public display of affection?"

"Don't you?" Honoka challenged.

Misaki was unnerved but she trailed a finger mindlessly over Takumi's thigh, slowly till his knee, not realizing what she was doing as she turned to Honoka "Not much. We respect each other's space"

"Excuses-"

"-Besides," Misaki cut in before Honoka had a chance to say another word "I did not know that something as simple as sitting apart could give one the impression that we are not familiar with each other"

"Then again" Honoka gestured between the two of them "I suppose that's what makes you well suited for each other. Like attracts like" Misaki's eyebrows raised at that so the blond sneered "He-" She flicked her wrist at Takumi "-was never much of a talker so I suppose he'd attract someone similar for marriage"

"Well, seeing as to what Takumi and I do in the time we spend together does not require much talking, I am bound to agree that it has never been an issue between us"

There was complete silence before Honoka threw her head back and howled with laughter which caused a small smile to adorn Misaki's face as she looked toward Takumi, peering at him through her lashes and wishing he didn't think she'd gone too far but he was smiling down at her. He pinched her side before turning back to Satsuki who was also grinning at her.

On more than one more occasion, Misaki had felt that everything was happening too fast and that she should put a leash on it, get it under control but then Takumi would smile reassuringly at her and her worries would evaporate.

"Lately you were caught indulging in a ..ah troubling situation that we hear did not end well for you. What was that about?"

Misaki gulped, this was it. Takumi merely smiled at the camera before cheekily asking "Are you asking about the situation with the man I'd helpfully assisted or are you asking about how the other situation is doing?"

"I plead guilty for being more curious about the latter than the former" Subaru laughed.

"In that case," Takumi's smile widened "that situation is doing wonderful and gives you her warmest regards" The mischief in his eyes was unmistakable as the four hosts feigned surprise in a very satisfactory manner.

"So, it wasn't a coincidence?" Ericka asked with her heart in her eyes. Misaki recalled that among the four hosts, Ericka had a romantic heart and had openly swooned when they had regaled their tale to them.

"Not really. But I would never have imagined I'd see them in the very place I'd gone to forget them"

"How's that working out for you?"

Takumi paused, longer than needed but then smiled and softly said "It's working better than a miracle"

At this point, Misaki couldn't tell if he was feigning his emotions completely. Either way, her treacherous heart wouldn't stop thundering against her ribs, the color on her face refusing to die down.

Honoka had switched and given in to her darker tendencies as she asked him "Well then, do put us out of our misery and pray tell who this mystery woman is"

"I could bring her around for a chat later on"

"That's a given. But do give us a name, I believe everyone here is as curious as we are" Satsuki whined, gesturing toward the rest of the studio and beckoning them to agree with her.

In the moment that the sound of cheering erupted, Misaki sincerely and dearly wished that they could somehow do this without her as the dread reached her nerves, jolting her into cold sweat and she barely heard what Takumi said next "They," He flicked a wrist at all the four hosts "have always been very, very unrelenting. Which is why, I brought her with me today"

"No!" Ericka looked around, doing a very convincing job of pretending she didn't see Misaki in the crowd "Where is she?"

"Here-" He stood up and Misaki knew it was her cue to walk onto the set but even as she stepped beneath the blinding lights, her palms sweating and walked toward Takumi with her back to the camera on wooden legs, Misaki felt her stomach coil up with dread. No camera had captured her face yet, they had all agreed on stretching the suspense as much as they could manage.

When she extended her gloved hand to Takumi and he smiled into her eyes as he took it and pulled her closer, he leaned down to press a kiss on the cheek hidden from the camera's view and whispered "At ease, soldier"

The absurdity of that one sentence brought an easy smile on her lips as she fully turned to the camera, now turning to greet her hosts and exchange pleasantries before sitting next to Takumi and looking at the camera with twinkling eyes as she turned to the hosts.

"Her name" Takumi put in teasingly "is Misaki Ayuzawa"

"You cheeky boy" Satsuki laughed "We know" She turned to Misaki "Welcome! It's a pleasure to finally meet Takumi Walker's mystery girlfriend"

"Fiancee" Misaki gently corrected, smiling like she hadn't dropped the bomb on the whole studio.

It was because the interview was live, Takumi and Misaki had agreed not to mention that they were engaged to anyone until it was D-day. Takumi had seen all the questions, smartly switched them up in a way that despite the announcement there would be no need to switch them up. But they couldn't be too sure that it wouldn't cause utter commotion and so Honoka was the only one they had given a heads up.

Satsuki looked like she had been hit with a lightning bolt before she recovered her composure and broke into a squeal "Allow me to offer you our sincerest congratulations"

"Thank you"

Honoka, who wasn't as shook as the others were, asked "Pray tell. How did this happen?"

Misaki feigned innocence as she blinked and held up her left finger where the ring Takumi had chosen adorned her ring finger above the glove "Like it always does. He put a ring on it" She lamented before smiling and looking at the camera with a conspiratorial look "Though I suppose the attention lies in the detail, doesn't it?"

She caught Sakura's eye who was nodding, giving her a thumbs up with both hands making her ease a little better into her role "Indeed it does" Ericka agreed, throwing an amazed glance between Takumi and Misaki "Well, everyone here will sleep fitfully if we don't hear it tonight"

Misaki almost laughed. They had not made much changes to the story Sakura and Tora had come up with for them but simply twisted it to suit them better "We met at an auction" She shot a sidelong glance at Takumi who was starting to smile "where Mr. Walker here beat me into buying the Porsche 918 Spyder"

"And before she charms everyone into believing her a Saintess, I will break it to the World that Ms. Ayuzawa here got back at me by buying the Ferrari Pininfarina Sergio the month after that" Misaki opened her mouth to counterattack but Takumi wasn't done "Even after I bought her dinner after the initial auction"

"Which I repaid by taking him out for dinner after I bought the Sergio. I even paid for the four pieces of cake it took to finally get him to stop sulking"

"But the lady won't let me buy the Ferrari from her"

Misaki put a look of mock horror before turning to the hosts "What exactly is the point of letting him take the car from me if he is going to use it to drive me around, anyway?"

"Ma'am," Takumi turned in his seat and looked at his affianced "you have the car and you didn't pick me up in the Sergio once"

The studio burst with laughter and the camera zoomed in on the twinkling glint Misaki's eyes held as she discreetly slipped her gloved hand in Takumi's for reassurance. In response, he squeezed once.

"So, that's how you got acquainted?" Ericka laughed.

"Yes, she was in it for the car. I was in it because, honestly.." He looked at Misaki's smiling face before shrugging "it's Misaki Ayuzawa. Which man with a pair of good eyes and high IQ would not want to acquaint themselves with her?"

"Totally" Misaki agreed, shamelessly "Once I get my hands on his car, it's over for him" A second later, her smile dropped and she revealed "After that second dinner, we met up quite a few times before we started seeing each other officially" When Subaru raised her eyebrows, Misaki waved her off by laughing "Discreetly, yes"

The hosts asked more questions which Takumi and Misaki alternated between answering. Sometimes they improvised and before answering, both of them were careful not to contradict what the other had said. Takumi had switched from holding her hand to gently rubbing the top of her hand with his thumb every time he felt she was about to falter. Especially since they were nearing the end and the most unpredictable host asked a question that hadn't been on the script.

"When did you fall in love?"

Honoka didn't direct it toward either of them particularly but had asked them both. Takumi felt Misaki's hand squeezing and he shot a carefully masked glare toward the shorter blond who had put them in that situation. The answer was rolling out of his tongue, cliche and predictable when Misaki cut in, surprising him.

"When he asked me what was the one thing I wanted most in the World" Her voice was quiet, she didn't falter as she gently smiled "In that moment it struck that the answer was him"

Takumi knew she was remembering the first night where they had made those bucket lists together and he squeezed her hand softly making her turn the full force of her smile at him. He would have continued smiling into her dazzling amber eyes if he had not caught Honoka looking at him from the corner of his eye "I'm sorry, Honoka. I'm in it for the Sergio"

When Misaki slapped his arm with her free hand, he laughed before sobering "It was when I first danced with her, one magical evening" Misaki's smile didn't falter but he knew she was confused with his answer as he added "She looked very close to what one might call 'The Princess of every man's dream'"

"Like a fairytale?" Ericka probed.

"Precisely" Takumi confirmed "Actually, even better"

The answer seemed to satisfy everyone except Misaki because she wondered if she had actually heard the underlying meaning of Takumi's lie or if she was hearing things. She kept her composure up throughout the conclusion of the meeting that followed before the show wrapped up even if she couldn't shake off the feeling of foreboding overtaking her. Even as Sakura gleefully embraced her and whispered to her about a job done "damn well".

An hour later, as they exited the building and got into Takumi's car, he received a call from Tora who asked to be put on speaker so he could speak to Misaki as well.

"In the one week you guys were together, did something happen?" He asked, his voice not giving anything away.

Takumi and Misaki shared a long look before a chorus of denial from their side.

"Well then, if I didn't know any better, I'd say the both of you are playing a master game of duping because there was no way you can be that convincing" When neither Takumi or Misaki said anything, Tora continued "Guys? I'm congratulating you"

Takumi snorted "You need to work on that" the same time Misaki remembered herself and graciously replied "Thank you"

Tora felt the awkwardness on the other side of the phone and laughed "Yes, now that's more like it" He paused for breath before saying "Takumi , you'll have to go on without me tomorrow, I had to push a board meeting ahead of schedule"

"I'll see you directly on site then?"

"Yeah"

"Will Kenneth be coming? Did he confirm?"

"Not yet but I know the old bastard likes to keep everyone on their toes. I'm mostly sure he'll be there in all his pompous glory"

"I asked Chiyo to confirm it for us nonetheless" There was a pause on Tora's side, as if he had stopped breathing at all "You can never be too sure with the old man, we're already offering him more than we had decided on but he knows how much value that land and how much we want it"

Tora sighed in response "If he asks for one more dollar, I might forget all the lessons on "Respect the Elderly"" Takumi looked at Misaki who was still listening and had smiled at the quip. He smiled in response before sobering and telling his friend.

"The Sakurai's and him go way back, you know it. If someone can get the confirmation and the deal signed and sealed, it's Chiyo"

"He was going to do it anyway"

"Doesn't hurt to be sure. I don't want to waste more months bickering back and forth, he should've handed us his land the first time we named our price"

Tora hummed in response "Anyway, I'll have someone call and at least confirm his presence at the scene tomorrow. You need to go out and celebrate. Congratulations, Ayuzawa-san"

She thanked him before Takumi hung up and turned to her "Well then, what would you like for dinner?"

Misaki tried to concentrate but her thoughts were astray "I know I'm intruding and I can't help but do so" When Takumi raised his eyebrows and started the car, pulling out of the parking lot, Misaki questioned further "What exactly is the issue between them?"

Takumi was silent for so long that Misaki was convinced he didn't plan on answering her "We were bestfriends, the three of us. Since, middle school. Tora and Chiyo knew each other from elementary, their families are very close"

Misaki didn't say anything, waited for him to continue at his pace or stop altogether. She was almost openly relieved when he spoke again "In a group circle of three, we always think there's one who would walk behind the others on the pavement but with the three of us, I doubted that was ever the case. My family estate was next to Chiyo's and the three of us were tutored together a lot. I didn't want anything to do with them but both of them had different plans. They were such adamant, annoying little children who did not understand the concept of personal distance or privacy. Tora and I hated each other's guts but Chiyo wanted us to be friends so Tora beared with me. Over the years, we became good friends, the three of us. We got into the same boarding school for our last two years of highschool and that was when things went potentially haywire"

Counting back on her fingers, Misaki noted that he was talking about a time at least 7-8 years back "What happened?" She asked, unable to help herself.

"It was an unspoken rule. Chiyo Sakurai was off limits to any of the boys in our school mainly because Tora and I wouldn't allow it" Misaki shot a long, amused glance at him and he shrugged "I had my reasons for protecting her, she was like a little sister to me and no guy in our school would have been worthy of her anyway"

"What were Tora-san's reasons?"

"I cannot be too sure. He used to tell us that we should cut the problem at the root which meant we won't have to nurse a broken-hearted Chiyo's heart if she never broke it on some "douchebag" in the first place. It didn't matter. Chiyo didn't really care for any of the guy's in our school anyway"

It clicked at the same time, Takumi revealed it. The familiarity with which they spoke to one another, why her fiance and Chiyo were so close and comfortable was because "Chiyo has been in love with Tora all her life"

Suddenly, it made sense. Why she would let him treat her however he pleased and stick by his side anyway. But it seemed like they had all been good friends once so she wondered why would Tora treat her so harshly. Before she could ask any further, Takumi cut in "The rest of the story is theirs to share"

"I apologize. It was not my place to ask"

Takumi looked at her and shook his head "You were wonderful today" He said instead, dismissing their previous conversation.

"As were you" She admitted, turning to look out the window so he didn't catch her blushing.

The brief knock on his office door made Tora look up from his correspondence as he called for the person to enter. He was expecting his secretary who had gone downstairs to get some papers reviewed by an executive but when his wife entered, it was safe to say he was beyond surprised.

Her face gave nothing away as she nodded at him in greeting and made her way across the spacious room and toward his desk. Chiyo never visited him in his office. He had assumed it was because she thought she wasn't welcome. Which she wasn't.

He raised an eyebrow at her when she was close enough. She placed a single envelope - an invitation on the corner of the desk closer to her "Your Mother called"

And he understood. The reason she would need to make this trip to his Office herself instead of calling or catching him at home. This matter was the singular most private matter they shared, she couldn't leave this message with his secretary and the chance of finding him at home was less.

"What did she say?"

"She was admitted in the hospital for 2 days"

That statement half brought Tora out of his chair but Chiyo was still talking "She had slipped on the wet marble and sprained her ankle terribly. That was last week"

Tora made a mental note to call the Head butler at his family home and demand why he wasn't informed of this. Chiyo correctly guessed the very same because her next statement made him dismiss the idea "She ordered the entire staff to not let anyone know. If your Father found out, he wouldn't let her wear heels next week and she would much rather stay in her room than host an entire party wearing flats"

A ghost of a smile graced Tora's lips as he looked around his desk to locate his phone and talk to his Mother nonetheless. The summation of his Mother's reasoning was very typical. His Mother was very proud about being the mistress of the Igarashi household and she would live up to the role all the way till her grave, he knew. But, that was not why Chiyo was here.

He looked up once again and she opened her mouth to speak. His heart constricted uncomfortably at the way he treated her, like she was only allowed to speak when he allowed. He noticed that he hadn't offered her a seat and he knew she was too well-bred to invite herself and take a chair. As he stared up at her, he was also well-aware that she would leave right after she was done telling him what she came to say. He had made her feel unwelcome on all occasions, there was no way she would pretend otherwise.

"She wants us to spend a week with them before their anniversary ball"

Despite all their personal problems and differences, Tora and Chiyo had always put up a facade for the sake of their parents. To the World, they were an imperfect couple; an unfaithful husband and a powerless wife who put up with everything her husband did. But to their own parents; there couldn't be a better match than the both of them together. For their parents, the couple had always behaved civilly with one another. They would only indulge in proper conversation and in the company of one another when their parents were around.

"I told her it would be difficult for you to get away. Instead, I'll go a week in advance by myself" Chiyo finished "If there is.." She trailed off before inhaling "If you can get away as well, you can let Yura know and she'll have your bags packed as well"

Tora noted how she carefully avoided saying things like "going together" and his eyes narrowed "I will let her know" He bit out.

Satisfied, Chiyo turned to leave but her eyes fell on the photo frame adorning one side of his desk, partially faced toward her. She noticed the picture and he saw her composed facade slip and get replaced by one of such profound grief that his heart lurched. She looked like she couldn't believe he had that on his desk before her expression froze and she turned completely, walking toward the door. He understood what she had realized.

The photo frame on his desk with her picture in it was there strictly for decoration purposes.

"And why did you go separate ways?"

The old man watched with narrowed eyes as his bastard Grandson looked lovingly at his supposed fiancee "We might be greatly suited for one another but even then sometimes things can go awry"

His fiancee shrugged but softly said "Sometimes you need to stay apart to understand the simpler things we are usually blinded to"

Richard Walker turned his heavy gaze toward his butler who understood his silent command and switched the television off. The Duke couldn't believe the audacity of his younger Grandson. While he had been looking at potential wives for him, he had gone ahead and gotten engaged to another woman, a lawyer no less. Richard knew it was his way of irritating him which was why he didn't believe what farce he was putting up with this no-name lawyer.

Gabriel placed a file on his desk, next to his bed and Richard reached for it immediately, well aware of what it was. The old butler bowed and retreated as Richard flipped through the papers. He had gotten a background investigation done on Takumi's fiancee and his surprise at the fact that she was an Ayuzawa came in the form of a constriction in his air passageway. He coughed and Gabriel was instantly by his side, offering him a glass of water that Richard declined.

"Does Gerard know?" He finally asked Gabriel, shutting the file and tossing it on the table.

"Yes, he only recently found out as well" Gabriel's gravelly voice turned pensive "Shall I send for him to return at once?"

Richard shook his head. Gerard, like himself, was unlucky enough to suffer with their genetic ailment and needed the vacation. Despite the antics of both his Grandsons, they were the only blood family he had left and he had come to love both the troublesome boys "Send for Takumi instead"

"The Young Master asked me to inform you that he will make an appearance next week with the company of his betrothed"

Richard shot a glare toward his butler "Why didn't you tell me before?!"

"The Master asked me to mention only after you demand- er, request for his presence"

So, Takumi had known. Just as surely as he knew that Richard would not bless the marriage.

"Start the preparations then" He dismissed his butler "Get ready to welcome my grandson's bride"

Hello my louves!

No excuses whatsoever, this chapter has been due for over half an year and I finally managed to complete it, phew.

Once again, AMAZED by the support you guys show and give me, thank you so very much!

Thanks for reading!