Chapter Seven-Intentional Deception

"Victoria,come on. We're gonna be late again." Mokuba Kaiba called out urgently. He glanced back at the Roba brothers. "You guys go on. She's in one of those moods."

"Okay." Chris frowned. "She's been like this for a week. I wonder what's going on." He stared at the Ishtar house worriedly. "Maybe I should go in and talk to her."

"You heard what Mr. Shank said. We're not allowed to be late anymore." Jonathan pulled on his younger brother's arm. "Come on."

Christien bit his lower lip. "I think I should stay. She might need me." He pulled himself free of Jonathan,heading up the walk. "Mokuba, you guys go on. I want to talk to Victoria."

"Alright." The young Kaiba headed down to the curb, and he and Jonathan left. He was really worried about Victoria too. The youngest Ishtar had been avoiding them a lot as of late,and that just wasn't like her.

When Christien was let in by Rishid, the eldest Ishtar seemed very concerned. "What is it,Rishid? Is Victoria all right?"

"I do not know. She won't come out of her room."

"Let me go talk to her then. Maybe I can help." But Christien was worried. If Marik, Victoria's other best friend couldn't get through to her. How would he? Rishid nodded his consent,and the young Roba headed up to Victoria's room. He knocked softly. "Tori?"

"Go away....please." Victoria's soft voice replied. She sounded really upset.

"What's the matter with you,Tori? We've to get to the theater..." Christien pointed out. "We've got call backs,remember?"

"Doesn't matter. I'm not going to get the part anyway." Came the bored reply.

"Victoria! That's not true! You're one of the best singers that's auditioned!" Christien sighed in frustration. "What's been going on with you?!"

Suddenly the door opened, and Victoria was standing there,looking destroyed. "I've got a big problem, Christien."

"What? Is it stage fright? Don't worry about it. I get scared up there too."He put a gentle hand on Tori's shoulder.

"Duke....."

"Duke Devlin? What about him?" Christien frowned. Everyone knew Duke, the creator of Dungeon Dice Monsters, was known to be manipulative. Most people were cautious of him for that reason. Yet,Christien knew for a fact that Victoria had a crush on the dice master,and that had been worrying him,as well as Marik for quite sometime.

"He asked me to work for him, Christien. "

"But?" Christien asked softly. He no longer cared about being on time for the call backs. He was very interested in this turn of affairs.

"Marik,Rishid and Ishizu won't let me. They say he's going to exploit me, and over work me. They won't even call him."

Christien sighed. He agreed with the elder Ishtars, actually, but since Victoria was his girlfriend, he couldn't see how he could make her listen any better. "Well, he is known for being less than honest."

"He's not like that with me though. He seems to genuinely like me. I'm not like his "cheerleaders". I wouldn't want to be. But...he knows that. He wouldn't take advantage of me..
"

"That's not our main concern with Duke. He does seem to like you a lot. And while he might not make you do anything you don't want to do, he may well convince to do what he wants to do." Marik spoke up from the doorway. He'd been listening for a while, and though he felt bad about denying his sister what she wanted, he wasn't sure working for Duke was a good idea for Victoria.

"Do you really think he'd hurt me?" Victoria asked now.

"I'm quite sure he would. He loves his fan-girls, Victoria, and he takes advantage of their admiration." Marik replied, by way of warning his little sister. He came to sit beside her on the bed. "I advise you to stick with helping Bakura."

"But......" Victoria sighed. She really wanted to work with Duke. He'd offered to help her improve her Dungeon Dice Monsters strategies.

"It really is for your own good, Victoria. I know Duke. He can be very thoughtless with a girl's heart." Marik explained softly. He didn't want to be the one to tell Victoria what she could, and could not do, but in this type of situation, he felt it necessary.

"You don't know that he'd hurt me..." Victoria disagreed. "He might not. And if he doesn't plan on it, and I don't take the job, I could've missed out on a lot."

"You don't know that he won't." Christien retorted, beginning to feel a bit jealous over the fact she'd spent so much time thinking about this. "Come on. Put Duke Devlin out of your head, and let's just go to the auditions. Besides, you can't legally work for him. You're only thirteen. "

"That's right." Marik nodded. He hoped Christien would be able to talk her out of this nonsense. "You're already twenty minutes late. You'd better get a move on."

Victoria sighed deeply. "You're right. Both of you."

Christien laughed out loud now. "Come on, Tori." The two friends walked out of the Ishtars' house, while Marik watched. The Egyptian boy shook his head. He knew for certain the Duke Devlin subject would not be dropped so easily, and he wasn't looking forward to the arguments that would eventually occur.

"Do you think she's going to show up, Duke?" Cassidra asked. She was Duke's assistant manager while she was on spring break.

"She should. I know Victoria Ishtar. I've been keeping an eye on her from day one." The dice master replied. "She was practically groveling at my feet last week. She wants to have every chance to be near me she can get."

Cassidra merely shrugged. "Maybe you shouldn't be setting her up for a fall. She's only a kid, after all. I mean, I'm sure her brother Marik has told her all about your reputation by now."

"I don't pay you for your opinions. Besides, this is different from my usual plans. I don't want a fan girl. I'm well aware that she knows about my reputation,but Marik didn't tell her. "Duke snapped, going into his office. "Buzz me when Victoria shows up." He was right. This was not a normal scheme. He wanted to keep Victoria for himself. So far, everything was going according to plan. It had been his experience that the Ishtars generally would've denied Victoria any chance of being close to him for an extended period of time. As expected, this was the case now. He'd been waiting for a call after Marik's meeting with him last week, but had gotten none. Victoria had then called to say she would meet with him regardless, to prove to Marik and her other siblings that nothing would happen. Or so she thinks. Before she knows it, she'll be mine, and liking it.

Victoria stood outside of Duke's shop, silently. She knew she'd promised to forget about the whole job thing, but something still told her she needed to go in an explain why she couldn't do it to Duke. Why can't I? Marik doesn't have to know I'm doing this. Besides, it's my life. I'm old enough to decide what I want. She opened the door, and walked into the large shop.

"Victoria, you're just the person Mr. Devlin was looking for. " Cassidra greeted her

"I know. I had to lose my friends. They're all going on about how this was going to be a bad idea. Is he upstairs?" She asked now.

"Of course. Let me get him for you." Cassie buzzed Duke in his office, and then grinned brightly at Victoria. "Go on now. Relax, explore. Mr. Devlin will be out in a minute."

Victoria nodded, feeling knots in her stomach, as she went to explore some more of the store. She'd been in there plenty of times, but Duke always had new things to look at every week. Why does this feel so wrong? It's not like I've never lied to Marik before.... She hadn't, that was the problem. There was the time when she and Christien had told Marik they were only going to Kaibaland, but they'd actually gone to an all night park outside of Domino. That was only one time of hundreds! She walked over to the demonstration table, and watched as two other customers began a game. She was so into the game, she didn't notice Duke come up behind her.

"Victoria. Will you come with me please?" Duke spoke up behind her. He smirked a little when the young girl jumped.

"S-sure, Duke." She followed him, feeling clammy. Don't do this, Victoria! Don't destroy the little bit of trust in you Marik has left! A part of her screamed. It'll all be okay! Just be careful of what you say around the others! the other replied in frustration.

"How are you today, Victoria?" Duke asked, once they were safely in his office upstairs.

"I'm okay, I guess...." The girl studied her feet.

"I like it when people look at me when they're talking to me." Duke scolded softly. When Tori refused to look up at him, he reached across his desk, and cupped her chin in his hand. "Humor me, all right? Abide by my rules in my presence."

Victoria felt herself melting with his touch, and she nodded slowly. "Okay. I'm sorry."

"Let's try again. How are you today?"

"Good." Victoria replied. "Duke, I've to......."

"Let me talk first, then you talk,unless I ask you a question. That's how business is done here." Duke interrupted. He watched his latest project sink back in her chair, and nodded in satisfaction. "Now. I've got your permanent schedule fixed. You're expected to work every day you're scheduled, and whenever I require your assistance. If you get sick, I want a note from a doctor, and no one else. And this is very important. You are required to attend my DDM classes every month. I can't have anyone less than the best in my store, and though you are pretty good, you do need to be trained up a bit more." He laced his fingers together, glinting at her. "Any questions?"
Run,Girl! Get out of there, before you regret this entire deal! She heard the little voice in her head, but Victoria ignored it. "But what if i can't work but I'm not sick? I'm doing the play over at the community theater at least until September."

"I tell you what. Get me a copy of your rehearsal schedule, and until the play is over, I'll schedule around those hours. How does that sound?" Duke smiled kindly. If he rolled his dice right, he'd have Victoria right where he needed her to be in no time. Maybe he wouldn't have to be so manipulative.

"Really? Thanks, Duke.." Victoria told him softly. She felt herself trembling.

Duke nodded. "No problem, Victoria. That's what friends do for each other. You're going to help me,so I need to be able to bend a little, right? "

"I guess so. I should probably head home now, before they get worried. " Victoria left the office, and before going downstairs, she leaned against the wall,sighing deeply. How am I going to explain this to Marik? He won't understand at all! She shook her head in confusion after a minute, and headed out.

She didn't notice Duke watching her, with a knowing smirk on his face. The dice master wins again. Duke thought to himself in satisfaction. She'lll see soon enough. I'm better for her than Marik Ishtar will ever be. Soon enough. I just have to be patient.