A/N- Thank you to the two people who reviewed (gosh that sounds pathetic). Here, have a treat for reviewing (hands out homemade chocolate cake). Many thanks. Ooo! I added chapter titles, because I was in a good mood! I guess I should mention for this chapter I fumbled with ages a little. Kaiba is 21, Mokuba 12.

Disclaimer: Same as chapter 1, except the vacuum cleaner sucked up one of my pens so now I only own two. (sob) Anybody wanna buy a dust bunny?

Desperate Deal

Chapter 2

"The information you requested on Ari Nieche, Mr. Kaiba."

Kaiba glanced at the disk placed on his desk and returned his eyes to his laptop. It'd been an afterthought to research Ari Nieche, but of little importance now. Nihm Fiber-optics no longer existed.

For three solid weeks the evening news dwelled on the complete liquidation of one of the most powerful hardware companies in Domino City. It would have been astonishing had he not known it would happen. Even a complete moron would have taken the money he offered, which made Ari Nieche something else entirely.

Why did she choose to destroy the company rather than sell out? Whatever Omaka knew must be incredible. Her act of defiance was to take Nihm down with her. Begrudgingly he admitted he admired her stubborn determination, but it was over now, no longer warranting his attention or time.

His cold eyes drifted to the disk for the eighth time in twenty minutes. Finally he picked it up and slid it into his laptop. For amusement.

No wonder it took so long to gather information on the nineteen year old woman. There was scarcely any to be had. In fact there were no details reaching further back than five years. She was a phantom. Intriguing, even as was the recollection of her words "my hard work." When he latched onto the words she showed fear for the first time, fear of being found out.

Until that moment her composure had been solid. For someone trapped between a rock and a hard place she had tremendous will power, or was that a façade too like everything else? He wanted to know and he wanted to see her break. It wasn't right for someone like her to taunt him and get away with it.

His lips curled up in a snarl. "Who are you really, Nieche?"

Chin up, stand tall, she told herself as she walked out of the building. It was becoming clear that Omaka was not going to make it easy on her. After twelve interviews, it was obvious no one in Domino City would even touch her. To compound her plight, Omaka was waiting for her outside.

"No luck?"

She glared heatedly. "I know this is your doing."

"So naïve. Come, Ari. I have a proposition for you."

"No thanks."

A firm hand gripped her arm and he pulled her towards the limo. "I insist."

Against all good sense, she climbed in.

"How are you enjoying the humble lifestyle?"

"Just fine."

Omaka grinned. "You don't look well. How long has it been now, three weeks? You must be running out of funds."

Ari crossed her arms and continued to glare. "What do you want?"

"I'm willing to overlook your childish act in denying me Nihm by hiring you as head of research and development."

"How generous of you," she said through clenched teeth.

"Come now, Ari. Why is there so much animosity between us? You need a job, I need your skills…this is business. It doesn't have to be personal."

"Personal?" She arched an eyebrow. "It may not be personal to you, but it is to me."

He chuckled. "Yet another reason you're not meant to run with the big dogs."

"You can let me off here," she said sternly.

"Stop the car," Omaka called to the driver. "Do give it some thought, Ari. I hate seeing you like this."

She slammed the car door and glared after him long after he was gone.

He's right. I'm out of options. I don't even have enough money to leave Domino. Her stomach complained and she turned to look where she was. The park, thankfully, with hot dog and pretzel vendors. She hadn't eaten since the day before.

"How much for a hot dog," she asked.

"Two bucks."

Ari reached into her pocket and counted her change with a frown. "What can I get for 56 cents?"

"A ketchup packet," the vendor said with mocking humor.

Ari frowned helplessly at the coins in her hand. I'm so hungry.

"Two hot dogs, please," a cheerful young voice spoke beside her. She glanced down at the twelve year old boy with big friendly eyes.

"Do you want anything to drink?" he asked her.

"No, I—."

"Thanks," the boy said as he accepted the food and handed her one.

"I can't accept this," she said.

The boy shrugged. "Suit yourself, but you look like you could use it."

He turned away and she stared after him for a moment. "Hey, wait," she called and hurried after him. "Thank you," she said. "I'll pay you back, okay?" Somehow.

"Don't worry about it. I'm Mokuba."

"Ari. Shouldn't you be in school?"

Mokuba slumped onto a bench. "I have private tutors. Shouldn't you be at work or something?"

"I just came from an interview and have another one," she glanced at her watch, "five minutes ago."

"You missed it?"

"No big deal." She swallowed the rest of the hot dog. "They wouldn't have hired me."

"Why not?"

She smiled into his blue-violet eyes. "It's complicated."

Mokuba shrugged and bit into his hot dog. Glancing sideways, he saw her brushing crumbs off her hands.

"Wow, you were hungry."

"I haven't eaten since yesterday," she admitted, folding her legs under her. "You really are a life saver, Mokuba."

"You must be really busy, huh?"

"No, I just…." She glanced at him and smiled again. "It's complicated."

"What kind of work are you looking for?"

She frowned at him thoughtfully. Why would a twelve year old boy ask that?

"Don't worry about me, Mokuba. I'll be fine." She stood and smiled reassuringly. "Thank you for lunch," she said as she hurried away.

Seto Kaiba didn't have to look up to know Mokuba had entered his office. His little brother was the only one who didn't have to knock.

"What are you working on, Seto?" Mokuba asked as he came around the desk to look at the laptop. "Hey, I know her! We just met in the park like ten minutes ago. She looks a lot better in that picture."

Kaiba smirked at his brother's observation.

"I mean, she looked like she was sick or something."

"What did you talk about?"

"I bought her a hot dog because she looked so hungry but didn't have enough money. She said she came from a job interview. I don't think it went well. Why? Who is she?"

Three weeks and still out of work? "She owned Nihm Fiber-optics."

"Didn't they dissolve a couple weeks ago?"

"Yes, by her choice. She had the chance to sell."

"I wonder why she didn't."

"Me too," Kaiba said softly. "You said she was in the park?"

Ari viciously kicked the soda can and it went sailing. "I can't even get a chump job in a taco stand! They didn't even give me a chance! If I ever get my hands on that man…." She could feel the noose tightening around her neck and Omaka reeling her in. There has to be some other way—.

A wave of nausea washed over her and she reached out to steady herself against a tree. She was getting weaker each day, literally starving as she tried to make her funds last. The hot dog Mokuba bought her was not sitting well in her usually empty stomach. One single act of kindness in her desperate world and it was rebelling against her.

Feeling cold scrutiny upon her, she looked up. And I didn't think it could get worse.

"Lunch revolting on you?" Kaiba asked. Mokuba was right, she doesn't look good.

"What do you want," she growled, lifting her chin a little higher.

"Why did Ashine leave Nihm to someone as unqualified as you? You're not even related."

"I don't have time for this," she muttered, turning away.

"Off to another job interview?" There was a knowing, taunting note in his voice that made her blood chill and her feet freeze.

"Omaka is intent on having you, even without the company. It makes me wonder why you're so important."

"What difference does it make," she snapped over her shoulder.

"It makes every difference where the competition is concerned." His voice dropped slightly and sent shivers down her spine.

Ari turned and met his unnerving stare. "Are you offering me a job, Kaiba?"

He pulled an envelope out and offered it to her. It was unsettling, how prepared he was as if he had known just where she would be and what she would need.

The contract was even more unsettling. She read it twice. No doubt Kaiba was covering all the bases, but what more did she have to lose?

"I'll think about it."

"I expect a decision by noon tomorrow."

Ari was not going to say yes. Ten minutes later she decided she would. At least it would be Kaiba and not Omaka, she told herself. Another ten minutes later she decided to say no, because it was Seto Kaiba, a different shark but still a shark. And another ten minutes after that she decided to say yes. A girl's gotta eat.

So her evening and morning went. Even as she stood outside Kaiba Corp, she didn't have an answer. Having no firm answer to give Seto Kaiba was disquieting, like going into a battle unarmed. At least with Omaka she knew what she didn't want, knew what he was after. Those things weren't so clear where Kaiba was concerned.

She felt like a slave given the choice of a master, but she was still a slave and that was what she didn't want. Desperate Ari tried to convince Logical Ari that playing head games with Kaiba would buy her some time. Common sense told her it would be a game quickly lost.

Glancing at the contract in hand, she wondered if she should have left it blank. All of her information was there, except the signature sealing the deal. She was applying for basic software programming, a field far beneath her abilities. I'll keep my secrets as long as possible.

With a reluctant sigh, she entered the building. Whatever happens, happens.

The secretary ushered her in and Kaiba glanced up from his laptop briefly, letting her stand in nervous silence for a few moments before he closed his computer and stood.

"You made your decision?" he asked and she got the feeling he was confident of her choice.

The arrogant jerk! Her pride got the best of her in that moment.

"I have decided not to take your offer."

Faint amusement lit his eyes and he snatched the papers from her before she could protest.

"You did everything but sign it. That doesn't look like a no to me." His eyes narrowed on the notation of software programming. Nothing spectacular so why does Omaka want her so bad?

"Where else do you plan to go? Omaka Enterprises?"

Ari turned on her heal and strode for the door. I won't stand for this! I've had enough!

His strides were longer, his steps faster, and his hand gripped the door handle just as she reached for it. She looked up startled at the man blocking her escape, his dark eyes stormy.

"I didn't say you could leave," he growled.

"You don't own me," she retorted, irritated to hear her voice shake as she took a step back.

His ominous expression told her it was a discrepancy he intended to remedy.

"You have nowhere else to go, Ari. You seem to have chosen a slow death to Omaka's offers." He continued to stalk towards her and she kept stepping back. "So be a good girl and accept the only option you have."

A chair caught her behind the knees and she stopped her retreat instinctively. Kaiba towered above her, far too close for comfort.

"Sit," he ordered and her body obeyed despite her mind's vicious retaliation.

Kaiba stifled a smile of pleasure at her quick obedience. He dropped the contract in her lap and held out a pen, which she took hesitantly.

She looked at the pen in her hand and then at the door, so far away and blocked by the man she now despised. He won't let me leave without signing my life to him. Ari was trapped and knew it.

Kaiba watched with amusement, knowing how her inner struggle would result. This is only the beginning, Ari Nieche. The harder you fight, the deeper you will fall.

Ari scribbled her name on the solid line and handed the paper up to him, eyes averted.

Kaiba checked the signature with satisfaction before pulling a small envelope from his pocket and dropping it in her lap. "An advance on your paycheck. Eat something before you collapse."

She looked up in surprise, but he had turned away and was returning to his desk. With an unsteady hand, she pushed herself out of the chair and headed for the door. Pausing with her hand on the handle, she glanced over her shoulder to find him watching her with one of his wickedly triumphant smiles.

"I'll make you regret this," she swore and was gone.