Chapter 2 Where's Squall when you Need Him?!
Author's note: Chapter 2? I must be going nuts. Pray I won't drain out of ideas people, because I'm beginning to like this story!
Disclaimers? As you wish.
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
Ellone threw her hands up in the air in exasperation. "Shizuka! What have you done now, you stupid girl?!"
The teary-eyed brunette was tugging at her handkerchief, sniffing in self- pity. "But Madame, I was only having dinner - "
"And you accidentally followed him back to his room and slept with him?! Do you expect me to believe that?!" Ellone's eyes flashed angrily. Shizuka pouted but kept her mouth shut. When Madame Ellone is in one of her fits, it's best to keep quiet.
Ellone was muttering to herself. "At least the wife had agreed not to press charges,,, imagine the publicity it would create if she did! My models will be ruined! My career would be in disgrace!" She thought for a moment, still fuming. Reaching a decision, she reached into her pocket and pulled out her cell phone. Glaring at the terrified model, she dialed a number. "You may go! I won't terminate your contract, but you'll be out of action for two weeks to make up for your misbehavior! And get yourself checked!" She snapped icily and the model gratefully burst into tears. "Thank you, Madame!"
She stared at the model's retreating back while waiting for the person at the other end to pick up. Finally the dialing tone ended. "Hello?"
"Squall!" Ellone almost shouted. "Where are you?!"
"I'm in Esthar... at the Air station already. What's wrong?"
Ellone sighed in relief. "Thank Hyne! Things are getting out of control without you, dear! They're not afraid of me!"
"Really?" he seemed mildly surprised. "Hang on, I'll be there in an hour." He cut the line before she could say another word. That threw Ellone into a further fit. "Of all the beasts~!"
"Is Master coming back, Madame?" Their family butler, Martine asked delicately. Ellone sighed. Squall was the lifeline of Garden - the man who made things run smoothly. Not only in the administration sense, but because the female models all adore and fear him - he was firm in his decisions and made sure no girl toed the line. Ellone had to make sure he didn't know of Shizuka or she'll be out faster than you can say 'hotdog'.
"Have his room ready," She sighed. "He's going to have his hands full when he returns."
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
Squall rushed through the Airstation, muttering indistinctly to himself as he joined the throng of life that moved within the walls. Maybe he should have looked where he was going...
"Ow!"
Squall bumped into someone the someone fell down with a thump. Realizing he was in the fault, but not wanting to miss the elevator, he quickly bent down to gather the person's things.
"Here." He handed the papers and such to the girl, and as he handed them over, he noticed they were pictures - advertisements, all showing the same female. A portfolio? He wondered and his gaze drifted to her face.
Rinoa felt a shiver run down her spine when his eyes leveled on hers. They were an intense icy color, and so sharp she felt them see right through her. "...sorry?" She managed to squeak, and the owner of those eyes nodded. "Please watch where're you're going." He said simply and Rinoa frowned. Was it her or was it him who walked while staring at the floor?! But there was no time to argue, because he had disappeared in the crowd.
"Rinoa!!"
She turned around and grinned at her blonde companion, trying to squeeze his way through. He was tall enough to be spotted anyway, and his shock of blonde hair was enough for her. He grinned back at Rinoa. "I assure you, the rest of Esthar isn't this crowded."
Rinoa shrugged, looking back in the direction of the man who bumped into her earlier. "I wouldn't mind anyway," I wouldn't mind, she thought; if it means bumping into him again.
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
Why is it so hard to find an apartment in this city? She had been walking for so long her legs were aching. "Room to let... 400 Gil a month?!" She muttered indignantly. She had a little in her savings, and if she didn't find a job fast, she'd be bone-dry in a week. Unfortunately, she needed a flexible job to fit with her class schedule...
She also realized her stomach was rumbling. She stopped outside a posh looking restaurant and looked longingly inside. It was the did she realized a notice was taped to the glass front:
WAITRESS WANTED. FLEXIBLE HOURS. WALK-IN INTERVIEW.
She sighed. This is so typically Esthar. Everything has an interview.
"Why not?" she grinned and pushed the door open, letting the air- conditioned air cool her down.
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
"Squall dear, you're missing the pancakes." Ellone gently reminded her brother and he blinked in confusion.
True enough, his fork was poking air. He turned slightly red and quickly speared his pancake. That made Ellone frown. "What is the matter with you? Are you feverish, Squall?"
"No." He said flatly and avoided her hand. "Just... tired."
She cocked her head slightly. Her usually stony brother was actually blushing? "Are you upset about her?" She asked after a moment.
Squall chewed on his pancakes. "Not her. Not Edea."
"Well something is wrong." She huffed. "Did anything happen when you went to Winhill, dear?"
Help me please...
Eyes filled with hurt and sadness, and fear. The one time when a human cry reached his ears, and he couldn't resist...
Squall blinked. "There you go, acting like Mother again. Are you beginning to act your age, sis?" He teased and she pouted in indignation. But she had to admit he was right. Lately she had become rather bossy... maybe it was because of her divorce... or maybe it was just the fact that they had lost their parents at an early age. Mother and Father was involved in a car accident when she was fourteen - and she had to look after Squall then, who was just a little over two years old. It was amazing how he survived the crash - Laguna and Raine died instantly, but she had managed to protect her son...
"Our family seems to have a bad attraction to divorces," she sighed. "First me, then you..."
"Well..." He grinned. "At least you and Zone parted on good terms."
"Yes." She laughingly recalled. Zone was frank about his feelings, and both agreed it didn't work. But he wasn't the kind to hold a grudge - he had remarried and even invited her. She got along fine with him now, and it was also thanks to him that she opened her fashion career, Garden; and established her very own modeling agency. She hated to just pick and choose models for her designs - she made sure each outfit was put on the best model for it. And because of her picky attitude, not many can pride in being a SeeD model. SeeDs were considered the cream of the crop, and SeeD models enjoyed the popularity of superstars.
"Have a good day," He kissed her forehead and left for work. She watched him go with a heavy heart. It was she who introduced Edea to Squall, believing the girl to be... 'perfect'. And she was, in her own way. Her seduction was perfect; Her figure, her face... but after the marriage, she had shown her true nature and Squall won't have it. He was the one who divorced her, and Ellone felt terribly guilty.
She sighed. The divorce created a huge wave... and for a while it seems like her career was on a rocky point. But with patience and perseverance, she was back on her feet.
"Let him choose his own wife next time." She mumbled as she finished her toast.
Just then, Martine slid into the room, looking pained. "Madame, Miss Xu is here - "
Ellone sweat-dropped. Xu?
Author's note: Teehee... I love my life. But I'll love you all more if you review! Pretty please?
Author's note: Chapter 2? I must be going nuts. Pray I won't drain out of ideas people, because I'm beginning to like this story!
Disclaimers? As you wish.
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
Ellone threw her hands up in the air in exasperation. "Shizuka! What have you done now, you stupid girl?!"
The teary-eyed brunette was tugging at her handkerchief, sniffing in self- pity. "But Madame, I was only having dinner - "
"And you accidentally followed him back to his room and slept with him?! Do you expect me to believe that?!" Ellone's eyes flashed angrily. Shizuka pouted but kept her mouth shut. When Madame Ellone is in one of her fits, it's best to keep quiet.
Ellone was muttering to herself. "At least the wife had agreed not to press charges,,, imagine the publicity it would create if she did! My models will be ruined! My career would be in disgrace!" She thought for a moment, still fuming. Reaching a decision, she reached into her pocket and pulled out her cell phone. Glaring at the terrified model, she dialed a number. "You may go! I won't terminate your contract, but you'll be out of action for two weeks to make up for your misbehavior! And get yourself checked!" She snapped icily and the model gratefully burst into tears. "Thank you, Madame!"
She stared at the model's retreating back while waiting for the person at the other end to pick up. Finally the dialing tone ended. "Hello?"
"Squall!" Ellone almost shouted. "Where are you?!"
"I'm in Esthar... at the Air station already. What's wrong?"
Ellone sighed in relief. "Thank Hyne! Things are getting out of control without you, dear! They're not afraid of me!"
"Really?" he seemed mildly surprised. "Hang on, I'll be there in an hour." He cut the line before she could say another word. That threw Ellone into a further fit. "Of all the beasts~!"
"Is Master coming back, Madame?" Their family butler, Martine asked delicately. Ellone sighed. Squall was the lifeline of Garden - the man who made things run smoothly. Not only in the administration sense, but because the female models all adore and fear him - he was firm in his decisions and made sure no girl toed the line. Ellone had to make sure he didn't know of Shizuka or she'll be out faster than you can say 'hotdog'.
"Have his room ready," She sighed. "He's going to have his hands full when he returns."
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
Squall rushed through the Airstation, muttering indistinctly to himself as he joined the throng of life that moved within the walls. Maybe he should have looked where he was going...
"Ow!"
Squall bumped into someone the someone fell down with a thump. Realizing he was in the fault, but not wanting to miss the elevator, he quickly bent down to gather the person's things.
"Here." He handed the papers and such to the girl, and as he handed them over, he noticed they were pictures - advertisements, all showing the same female. A portfolio? He wondered and his gaze drifted to her face.
Rinoa felt a shiver run down her spine when his eyes leveled on hers. They were an intense icy color, and so sharp she felt them see right through her. "...sorry?" She managed to squeak, and the owner of those eyes nodded. "Please watch where're you're going." He said simply and Rinoa frowned. Was it her or was it him who walked while staring at the floor?! But there was no time to argue, because he had disappeared in the crowd.
"Rinoa!!"
She turned around and grinned at her blonde companion, trying to squeeze his way through. He was tall enough to be spotted anyway, and his shock of blonde hair was enough for her. He grinned back at Rinoa. "I assure you, the rest of Esthar isn't this crowded."
Rinoa shrugged, looking back in the direction of the man who bumped into her earlier. "I wouldn't mind anyway," I wouldn't mind, she thought; if it means bumping into him again.
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
Why is it so hard to find an apartment in this city? She had been walking for so long her legs were aching. "Room to let... 400 Gil a month?!" She muttered indignantly. She had a little in her savings, and if she didn't find a job fast, she'd be bone-dry in a week. Unfortunately, she needed a flexible job to fit with her class schedule...
She also realized her stomach was rumbling. She stopped outside a posh looking restaurant and looked longingly inside. It was the did she realized a notice was taped to the glass front:
WAITRESS WANTED. FLEXIBLE HOURS. WALK-IN INTERVIEW.
She sighed. This is so typically Esthar. Everything has an interview.
"Why not?" she grinned and pushed the door open, letting the air- conditioned air cool her down.
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
"Squall dear, you're missing the pancakes." Ellone gently reminded her brother and he blinked in confusion.
True enough, his fork was poking air. He turned slightly red and quickly speared his pancake. That made Ellone frown. "What is the matter with you? Are you feverish, Squall?"
"No." He said flatly and avoided her hand. "Just... tired."
She cocked her head slightly. Her usually stony brother was actually blushing? "Are you upset about her?" She asked after a moment.
Squall chewed on his pancakes. "Not her. Not Edea."
"Well something is wrong." She huffed. "Did anything happen when you went to Winhill, dear?"
Help me please...
Eyes filled with hurt and sadness, and fear. The one time when a human cry reached his ears, and he couldn't resist...
Squall blinked. "There you go, acting like Mother again. Are you beginning to act your age, sis?" He teased and she pouted in indignation. But she had to admit he was right. Lately she had become rather bossy... maybe it was because of her divorce... or maybe it was just the fact that they had lost their parents at an early age. Mother and Father was involved in a car accident when she was fourteen - and she had to look after Squall then, who was just a little over two years old. It was amazing how he survived the crash - Laguna and Raine died instantly, but she had managed to protect her son...
"Our family seems to have a bad attraction to divorces," she sighed. "First me, then you..."
"Well..." He grinned. "At least you and Zone parted on good terms."
"Yes." She laughingly recalled. Zone was frank about his feelings, and both agreed it didn't work. But he wasn't the kind to hold a grudge - he had remarried and even invited her. She got along fine with him now, and it was also thanks to him that she opened her fashion career, Garden; and established her very own modeling agency. She hated to just pick and choose models for her designs - she made sure each outfit was put on the best model for it. And because of her picky attitude, not many can pride in being a SeeD model. SeeDs were considered the cream of the crop, and SeeD models enjoyed the popularity of superstars.
"Have a good day," He kissed her forehead and left for work. She watched him go with a heavy heart. It was she who introduced Edea to Squall, believing the girl to be... 'perfect'. And she was, in her own way. Her seduction was perfect; Her figure, her face... but after the marriage, she had shown her true nature and Squall won't have it. He was the one who divorced her, and Ellone felt terribly guilty.
She sighed. The divorce created a huge wave... and for a while it seems like her career was on a rocky point. But with patience and perseverance, she was back on her feet.
"Let him choose his own wife next time." She mumbled as she finished her toast.
Just then, Martine slid into the room, looking pained. "Madame, Miss Xu is here - "
Ellone sweat-dropped. Xu?
Author's note: Teehee... I love my life. But I'll love you all more if you review! Pretty please?
