Hi guys! I'm back! Sorry for being gone forever, I guess my only excuse would be school and work. But don't worry, since winter break is here, I'll be able to update...and hopefully finish the story. I only have like five or six chapters left! Yay! College is really tough, specially when you're a full-time student and you have work. I still can't believe I survived college life...hehehe! Thank God my finals are over!

I've been getting so many e-mails saying that I should update this story and I kinda felt bad because it's been so long. I do hope you're not that disappointed in me. Anyways, this chapter will be my Christmas present for you guys. I know I owe you a lot for keeping you waiting, so I hope you enjoy this one.

Chapter Eleven: Matt's Plan

Matt slid his Porsche into his parking slot behind his office building just as Tai was stepping out of his BMW. Bad timing. He wasn't in the mood for any personal chat with Tai and he was sure what the topic will be. He switched off the engine and thought if he would get out or not. The urge to drive over to Mimi's appartment and confront her face to face had been burning through him ever since he woke up that morning and found her gone. It hurt.

If this was the revenge she intended all along, nothing was going to change her mind, and he would just be asking for more punishment. But then, if she really needed more time...time to think, to decide that she really did want him...time might be his friend. Either way, he hated the feeling that this was Judgement Day.

Tai knocked on the window. Expelling a sigh of deep frustration, Matt opened the door, determined not to answer his friend's curiosity. He had no answers anyway, none that he liked.

"Well, did the beautiful Maruko live up to your expectations?"

Matt glared at him. "Why don't you mind your own business, Tai?"

"I'm an interested party, remember?" Tai replied.

Caught up in his own dilemma, Matt had forgotten about Tai's interest in Sora Takenouchi. He closed the door, locked his car, thinking that Mimi's friend knew about this lie. And just where did that place Sora?

"She wasn't what you wanted after all?" Tai persisted.

"She's everything I want," Matt declared.

Tai glanced sceptically at him as they fell into step, heading to their offices. "So how come you're not bursting in happiness?"

"Because I'm not sure where she's at," he shot back. "Now drop it, Tai."

"You didn't rush her, did you?"

"I said drop it!"

"Yeah, right, just as long as Sora don't get mad at me for whatever you did."

The feisty little redhead was in on Mimi's game. She went along with the whole Maruko Iratioshi cover-up yesterday. Maybe both women were tkaing him and Tai for a ride. Matt held his tongue. No point in telling Tai until he knew exactly what the game was. He grimaced and carried on to his own office, boiling with resentment over being caught in this awkward situation. Why couldn't have Mimi been honest with him? And how in hell could she just walk away from what they had shared last night?

By the time he settled behind his desk, Matt knew he had to make a plan, one way or another. It wasn't just him affected here, Tai was involeved too. He picked up the phone book, found the number he needed, and dialed the numbers to his cell phone with determination. He heard the ringing at the other end and secretly hoped that someone will answer it.

"Surprises," Sora Takenouchi's voice announced. "How may we surprise you?"

Nothing can surprise me more than the whole truth to this lie, Matt thought. It was one the tip of his tongue to ask for Mimi Tachikawa, tempted to surprise her friend and partner in crime. But he really did want the truth to come from Mimi herself.

"This is Yamato Ishida. May I speak to...Maruko Iratoshi,please?" The false name tasted sour in his tongue.

"Maruko," Sora repeated as though it tasted sour to her, too. "Could you hold, please? I'll just go and get her for you."

"Thank you."

No sweet revenge from Sora. If that was on the agenda, she'd makeMimi to do it herself. It's possible she didn't like this deception any more than he did. If Sora was really attracted to Tai, it would be complicated with Matt being Tai's friend. She might be telling Mimi to tell the truth now. Matt prepared himself to play the conversation carefully. If there was a chance of winning, he didn't want to blow it.

"Wake up, sleepyhead! Rise and shine!"

Sora's voice woke Mimi's peaceful slumber. "What's up?" she asked groggily.

"You should be," came the terse reply from her friend who was standing against the doorjamb, eyeing Mimi's bleary confusion without the slightest trace of sympathy. "It's almost ten'oclock and loverboy is on the party line."

"Loverboy?"

"Yamato Ishida. Meems, let's get the personal stuff done and out of the way during business hours, okay?"

"Matt...on the phone..." Her heart started to beat faster.

"Asking for Maruko Iratoshi. So I guess you didn't tell him yet."

Mimi scrambled to her feet, struggling to clear her confused head. Matt may want answeres to why she left without telling him. How could she say that in the end, she didn't trust him to keep wanting her? After all, he didn't know who she was, and leading her to his bedroom on their first date was...well, does he do that to all the women he desired?

Once he'd gone to sleep, the bed-and-breakfast thing started haunting her, leaving her very uncertain about what the night meant to him. She couldn't stay, couldn't handle being faced with...less than what she wanted from him.

"I can't imagine what you guys talked about until three o'clock in the morning," Sora wondered. "It couldn't have been about Mimi Tachikawa. And I doubt any restaurant stays open to that hour either."

"Three?" Was it that late when she left Matt's place?

"It was almost four when I heard you come in," Sora stated. "Did he take you to a bar or club?"

"He's waiting on the phone," Mimi reminded her, cutting off her question. "And we agreed that this was my business, Sora."

"Right!" she mocked, stepping back from the door to let Mimi pass. "Go ahead, Mimi. Make a big mess."

Mimi winced knowing her friend won't be helping her clean up this mess. "Thanks for waking me up."

"I wish you would wake up," Sora muttered, turning away to go into her own bedroom. "And don't forget we've got a gig tonight," she said over her shoulder. "So don't make any other plans."

Mimi nodded, not really paying attention. Her mind was thinking of what to say to Matt. This call had to mean he wanted to continue the relationship with Maruko Iratoshi...or have more sex with her. Was is a terrible mistake to go to bed with him? The memory of their wild love making burned through her as she picked up the receiver. "Hi!"

"Hi to you, too." Matt replied. "I missed you this morning."

Her cheeks felt hot. "I thought it best that I go," she said. "I wasn't sure...I mean...I parked the car in the street and...and I couldn't remember how long that was legal for...and I knew Sora would be expecting me home...and..."

"And you didn't want to wake me to say goodbye," he helped her somewhat dryly.

She sighed, relieved he seemed to be accpeting her explanation. It was impossible to go into the emotional conflict he stirred because much of it was related to a history that still made her feel extremely vulnerable where he was concerened.

"I did wonder if last night was as special to you as it was to me," he went on.

"Yes, very special," she said, unable to help herself from admitting she had been a ery willing partner in their intimacy.

"So there's nothing...troubling you?"

There were lots of things troubling her, and it all concernd him. "I'm fine, Matt," she assured him. "I'm sorry I left without saying goodbye, but...it was late...and..."

"Yes, I understand. It just simply occured tome that talking was...limited...after we connected in other ways. If there's anything you want to say...anything at all...I do want to be with you again. Very much."

"I want that, too," she rushed out, but time will tell. She needed more time.

"Then what about tonight?"

She remembered Sora's warning. "I'm booked to work tonight, Matt. But I'm free tomorrow evening if that is okay with you."

"Sure! I'll pick you up from your place at seven."

"Here?" Mimi frowned, imagining Sora in the background laughing at her. "I don't mind meeting you in the city."

"Better not have problems with your car. I'm happy to take you home whenever you want to. All you have to do is tell me."

"Oh!" Guilt squeezed her heart. She felt bad for sneaking off last night, leaving him wondering how she felt the next day. "I'm sorry, Matt. I should have written a note or something. Come Wednesday night and I'll be ready at seven." And be off before Sora finds out. "You have my address?"

"Yes, from the phonebook. What's your appartment number?"

"Nine."

"Thanks. I'll look forward to seeing you."

"Me too," she said warmly & was smiling as she heard the disconnection and lowered her own receiver.

Matt was not smiling. He'd just given her another chance to open up but the game was still on and he still did not know if it was a revenge trip or a trial run towards a judgement on him. Now he had to wait two more days for the next move. Just how far did she want him to commit himself before the truth comes out? Was that an act on the phone? Or was she really glad and embarrassed that he called?

Matt shook his head, he couldn't take this bullshit game. It was dishonest on both sides, with her pretending to be someone else and him hiding the knowledge of it. It had to stop. It would be impossible for him to act normally towards her Wednesday night. He'd be grinding his teeth if she continued it, and she just indicated that she intended to. Nevertheless, confronting her about this deception would be very tricky. It might make her feel like a fool, realizing she's been recognized. She might even hold last night's intimacy against him, regardless of how good it turned out to be. He didn't want that twisted into soemthing bad.

He must find a way to get him out of this mess. What he needed was a plan, an outside intervention that will make her reveal the truth. Once he knew exactly what he was dealing with, he could win her around to have a future together. He couldn't believe she did what she did last night.

So what will his plan be? Tai? He instantly dismissed the idea of sharing his problem to his friend. Sora knew, but she had no reason to help him. He looked over at the shelves where the picture of his brother and his family stood. He remembered that Kari,TK's wife will have a party for the kids. If she booked the Singing Sunflowers...yes, Kari would certainly remember Mimi Tachikawa. The secret would have to come out, because Kari will surely tell her husband and brother-in-law.

Matt reached for his phone again. He didn't stop analyzing the plan in his mind. He wanted Mimi Tachikawa, not Maruko Iratoshi. Only Mimi Tachikawa...and he wanted her tomorrow night.

AN: Well...well...well, Mimi's made a big pile of mess all right.Will Matt's plan work?Tell me what you guys think? I'd love to read your reviews.

HAPPY HOLIDAY TO EVERYONE!