Author's Note: Chapter 2 here. Sorry it took so long.
Disclaimers Applied!!!
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Princess of Darkness and me, …, Butterfly Monkey Babe of Doom, Deidra2, Legolas19, chibi playing with fire
Deceive Me NotChapter 2: It All Started with…
Pan entered the hotel suite and after removing her shoes and setting her purse on the table, she fell on the bed and sighed, frustrated.
The day started out bad and it turned out worse within every passing hour. She could not believe the nerve of that…that jerk.
He had the nerve of smiling like that to her after groping her seconds ago? Did he think she's some sort of bimbo because she's wearing a short skirt? Ha! She had surely set him in his place after she slapped him – hard.
But still, she thought as she closed her eyes tightly that it hurts, this whole damn mess started with her mother –
*-*FLASHBACK*-*
She could not believe that the day she went home would be the day her life would end.
She was home at last. Pan Son, young and beautiful, had returned home with her college diploma after working her ass off for four years.
She was looking forward to some long days where she could sleep all day, eat and just be lazy. She didn't even consider the fact that she might gain weight because Dende knows how much weight she lost studying in college.
And, being naturally slender, the weight she lost made her look so skinny that even her daddy, who had always encouraged her to work out to keep her body fit, told her she could use some weight.
And she really intended to gain some by taking her vacation when her mother had planned something different for her. Something she never thought was even possible.
"Panny, sweetheart?" her mother began just as she had closed the refrigerator, carrying with her a carton of ice cream and a sandwich on the other hand.
"Yes, mom?"
"How would you like to own Capsule Corporation?"
She was sure that her mom was joking that she just rolled her eyes. "Yeah, right, mom. As if that would happen in my most fantastic dream."
"But I'm serious, hon."
Pan had just taken a bite of her sandwich but she swallowed it immediately because of what she heard. "Mom, do me a favor and tell me that you and dad didn't threatened the poor family so that they'll sell the CC to us."
Her mother looked at her sternly. "Now, don't be ridiculous, Pan," she scolded, then smiled brightly, "the Briefs have a very wonderful son –"
"Mom!" Pan interrupted, "I did not work myself to death just to seduce some business tycoon."
"Look, sweetheart, it's not really something like –"
"Forget it, mom. I won't –"
"But Pan, will you lis-"
"No, I'm not going –"
"Pan!" Videl bellowed. "Won't you listen to your mother?" she said in a tone that clearly told her that if she did not listen, she would surely get punished. And, adult as she is already, she still feared her mother's temper.
"Alright."
"Look, Vegeta asked your father some help –"
"Excuse me. But, who is Vegeta?" she asked as she munched on the rest of her sandwich.
Videl, her mother, looked at her in exasperation. "Are you sure your college diploma isn't fake? Because as far as I know, you can't graduate in college, majoring in business even, without knowing Vegeta Briefs!"
"And you call him Vegeta?" Pan asked incredulously.
"How should I call him then?" Videl asked, confused.
"Um, Mr. Briefs perhaps?" she said sheepishly.
Videl laughed and ruffled her daughter's hair. "You poor baby," she cooed, "Vegeta is a close friend of your father."
Pan was so surprised that she choked on her ice cream. "What?! How come I didn't know about that?"
"We forgot." Videl said sheepishly.
"You forgot? Mom, last time I checked, Capsule Corporation is the biggest corporation in Japan, in the world, even. And you don't simply forget that you're friends with the owner of CC," Pan said in exasperation.
"Well," Videl began. "What's done is done. At least you know that –"
"Um, mom. What was that to do again with me owning Capsule Corporation?"
"Oh, that." Videl said brightly. "You've got to marry TV!"
Her mother looked as if she'd just said the most logical thing in the world. "Um, who's that?" she asked, confused.
"Why, Vegeta's son, of course."
"And they named their son TV?" she asked, incredulous. "What kind of parents are they, anyway?"
"I think it stands for something, but I didn't know the lad's real name," Videl said thoughtfully, then, "So…"
"Why is it that I have to marry this television again?"
"Hon, it's not tele – oh, never mind," Videl sighed in exasperation. "Vegeta asked for your hand already."
"I thought I'll marry this TV guy?"
"Well, yeah, it's just that his father is the one who asked for you." Videl explained.
"Oh." Pan said thoughtfully. "And I've got to marry this guy because?"
"We owe everything we have to the Briefs."
When Pan looked at her in confusion, she explained. "Well, before you were born, your father and I were having a hard time with finances. So, Vegeta, after being urged by Bulma, helped us out by lending us some money. But that money had been paid already some time ago."
"Oh. Okay," Pan said.
"And Vegeta is having a problem now with his son," she said.
"Problem?"
"Well, you see, Capsule Corporation had been handed to their son already and, well, this TV is quite a playboy," Videl said and when she sensed that her daughter would say something, she hurriedly continued. "But he's a confirmed bachelor. And Vegeta is worried that he won't produce an heir for the Briefs."
"Okay," Pan said, though it really didn't make much sense to her. "So if I marry this TV, it will solve a lot of problems?"
"Exactly!" Videl said enthusiastically.
"How?" Pan asked, dumbfounded.
Videl ruffled her hair again in amusement. Her daughter seemed so silly sometimes. "Why, when you consummate your marriage, you would be able to produce an heir for the Briefs!"
"What?!" Pan asked, her eyes widening. "You really expect me to sleep with that television man?"
"Honey, it's not tele-"
"Forget it, mom. I won't marry the man. You said he's a womanizer, eh? Then make Vegeta choose one of his women to become his son's wife," Pan said and glared at her mom to prove her dislike on the idea.
"But Vegeta wants you," Videl insisted.
"Why me?" Pan grumbled as she stood up and picked up her trash to throw away.
"Because those other women only wanted to get hold of the CC. They don't really care about the Briefs," Videl said.
Pan snorted her disapproval. "And I do? Mom, I don't care about the Briefs, too. I want Capsule Corporation just like the rest of the world."
"But it's not enough to make you seduce TV to get hold of it," Videl pointed out. "And they're close friends of ours. Can't you at least consider it?"
"Mom, I haven't met the man. In fact –"
"TV is quite good-looking as far as I can remember," Videl said thoughtfully. "And he's quite a charmer."
"So, you've met him?" she asked, not really interested.
"Yeah, met him once. But you haven't been born yet at that time," Videl said.
"Isn't he a bit too young to run the whole CC by himself? The Briefs shouldn't have retired too early," Pan said.
"TV is already thirty," Videl said. "he's old enough to manage the company."
"Thirty," Pan yelled in surprise. "Mom, he's eight years older than me! And you want me to marry him and give him a child?"
"Panny, thirty is not that old if –"
"He's old enough to be my uncle, do you know that?" Pan asked again, but in a very loud voice that Videl cringed because she felt her ears ringing.
"Well, not really. He's twelve years younger than your father."
"Twelve?" Pan gaped at her mother. "But –"
"But he looked really young and I know you would find him really irresistible," Videl interrupted.
"But mom?" she whined. "Do you know how big that gap is? He's already studying and I'm not yet born. He's already in high school and I'm only starting my schooling. He's working already and I'm still in high school!"
"Yes, that's right, "Videl said and nodded in agreement. "But he's working now and you're about to work, too. That settled things."
"Mom!" Pan whined again like a four year old.
"Look, sweetheart, why don't you give this poor man a chance?"
"Poor man?" Pan gaped at her mother. "If that TV guy is poor, what on earth is our financial status?"
"Don't play smart on me, Panny," Videl lectured as she finally sat down on a chair next to Pan. Well, she had really been expecting a long discussion with her daughter considering how stubborn and difficult she could be at times.
"Mom, you're asking too much," Pan grumbled. "You're asking me to marry a man I haven't met who is eight years older than me, the richest womanizer in Japan, and give him a child."
"Yes, well, I know what I'm asking for is hard –"
"Mom, it's not just hard, it's so damn difficult!"
"Look, what can I do to convince you –"
"Nothing, mom. I'm not marrying this man. I want to enjoy my life, make the most of it; not settle down with a stranger, or anyone for that matter," Pan ranted.
"You're bound to marry and settle down sometime later, sweetheart," Videl pointed out. "You can't –"
Pan sighed, exasperated. "Mom, I've just graduated. I want to live my life, not settle down."
"Alright," Videl said, giving up. "If you don't want to, then it's okay. If you want to be selfish, then so be it."
Pan looked away guiltily. She hated it when her mother is being like this. Like she had been a very bad daughter to her.
True, her mom seldom asks for a favor, that's why refusing her is always out of the question. But this time, well –
"Alright, mom, I'll go and meet the guy," Pan said before she could stop herself. She knew her daddy would never forgive her if she upset her mom because of some silly things.
"Really?" Videl said, her eyes brightening. "I knew you are such a wonderful and understanding daughter."
"On one condition," Pan said and inwardly grimaced. She couldn't actually believe she's doing this. Going out to hunt for her future husband. Her college friends would die when they heard about this.
Pan, the tomboyish but drop-dead sexy girl who never got into a serious relationship in college because she hates commitment, is doing some husband-hunting. They would never let her live this down.
"Well, let's hear it," Videl said cheerfully.
"If I don't like the man, I won't marry him," Pan said and when her mother opened her mouth to say something, she beat her into it. "And nothing you say or do won't change my mind. Even if daddy got mad at me."
She expected her mom to nod at the most, or frown or shake her head, instead, she smiled and Pan swore tears almost filled her eyes. "Then I might as well look for a wedding dress for you. Because you would surely love TV Briefs."
"Uh, and one more thing, mom," Pan added, "If ever I happen to like the guy and we will marry," which is next to impossible, she almost added, "I'll be the one who'll set the date of the wedding and plan the whole occasion, alright?"
Videl immediately agreed. "Of course it's your wedding, you should be the one to plan it. And I'm sure it would be really lovely."
*-*END OF FLASHBACK*-*
Of course, she still didn't know that she's making a mistake by agreeing with her mom. All she had to do is meet the man, and put on as little effort as possible, to like the man, for her mom's sake, and tell she really couldn't marry him.
Her mother had agreed, after all, that it will all depend on her decision, that is, if she liked the guy or not.
But she didn't really expect herself to really seduce the man and make him fall in love with her. She only wanted to flirt a little, go out on a couple of dates, then return home to Daddy and tell them she couldn't do it. They would surely understand their only child, right?
But, no, her mom is just way ahead of her.
*-*FLASHBACK*-*
"Err, mom, honestly speaking," Pan began hesitantly, "don't you think I'm committing a big mistake by doing this?"
"Big mistake?" Videl gaped at her. "Of course not, sweetheart. The Briefs are all wonderful," she said the day after when Pan found her mom in the kitchen, cooking dinner.
"Yeah, whatever," Pan said then open the refrigerator and took an apple. "I'm not really concerned about the Briefs couple. It's not like they're the ones I'm trying to marry, but –"
"Look, sweetheart," Videl cut her off. "I'm sure TV is a wonderful man."
"Maybe, if he's a womanizer, he has to be charming and be really wonderful," she mumbled and when her mom looked at her sharply, she knew her mom heard her.
"Pan, how on earth would you like the guy when you're already forming these ridiculous conclusions when you haven't even met him?" Videl lectured and Pan blushed in shame.
"Mom, I told you, I'm going to try to really like the guy and make him like me and marry me. But I still think I'm making a mistake by even thinking of doing this."
Videl frowned and looked at her. Her daughter looked so serious about this and not just looking for a way to get out of their agreement. "Alright. Why do you think you're making a mistake?"
"Mom," Pan said, mildly exasperated. "If this TV guy is really a playboy, don't you think that after we marry, he'll – um, date behind my back?"
Videl's eyes widened, and Pan, for a brief moment, thought her mom had overlooked that fact. "Sweetheart, if the man loves you, no matter how much of playboy he is, he won't try to cheat on you."
"What? You want me to make him love me?" Pan asked, her eyes wide as saucers.
"Well, what do you expect?"
"Mom, I don't want a lovesick boy tailing me," Pan grumbled. That's the reason why she seldom dates. She didn't want boys who looked at her like a lovesick puppy. It made her want to puke.
"TV is not a boy, sweet, he's a man," Videl corrected and Pan had to fight the urge to glare at her mom for being a smart aleck.
"But –"
"Well, you already agreed to meet the man so do your best," Videl said and Pan groaned, defeated. Her mom is just too smart for her.
*-*FLASHBACK*-*
And that's when all these trouble began.
Author's Note: It's not my best, I know some lines are lousy, but I'll try to improve. Right now, why don't you guys be nice and drop me a review?
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