Aomi yawned rubbing her eyes and tried to refocus on the computer screen. It didn't help. Her eyes were watery from lack of sleep and the words on the screen still looked blurry.
"Aomi, you don't look so good," David said leaning against the door jam of Aomi's office. "Not enough sleep?"
"How'd you guess?" Aomi asked sarcastically laying her head down on her desk.
"I've been working with you for five years now, I think I can tell," he answered smiling as he came into her office and took a seat in front of Aomi's desk. "What are you doing?"
"I'm trying to find some information on these markings," Aomi answered lifting her head off her desk. She reached down into a box sitting beside her chair and pulled out a very ugly bronze statue. "Mr. Connors just bought this and fell in love with it and wants more information on the artist."
David reached over and took the statue from Aomi and looked it over.
"Mr. Connors fell in love with this?" David asked incredulously. He knew their boss, and owner of the art gallery they worked in, had some "unique" taste in art, but this statue was not something Mr. Connors would waste money on. "This doesn't really fall in line with his taste."
"I know," Aomi said rolling her eyes. "He thinks it might be a lost Hikari piece from the Cultural Reformation. Anyways, I'm scouring the internet for any information about it."
"I'll take over for you, why don't you man the fort, it might keep you awake," David offered getting up and walking over to Aomi's seat. Aomi got up to relinquish her chair to David and stretched.
"Is anyone out there?" Aomi asked peeking out the door of her office.
"Yeah, some guy. Said he wanted to look around by himself first," David answered putting glasses on to examine the bronze statue.
Aomi sighed, not wanting to be at work that day and left the office to the main gallery. The gallery was full of unique works of art by local sculptors and painters. The owner of the gallery, Mr. Connors was a huge fan of up and coming artists and dedicated most of his art gallery to them. Aomi loved working here. She loved art and she figured that had something to do with her lineage. Plus, it was the most logical place for her to start her career as an art dealer and since her parents made it a very known fact that it was part of her job to keep an eye out on potential pieces of art for the Niwa family collection.
As Aomi was about to approach the guy David had mentioned someone else entered the gallery. She turned to greet the new comer as they entered and was met by a large bouquet of roses.
"Can I help you?" Aomi asked walking towards the delivery guy who was bringing in the rose to help him with the bouquet.
"Yes, if you're Aomi Niwa," the man behind the roses said. Aomi took the bouquet and set it down a stand that contained a guest book for gallery visitors.
"Thank you," the man said removing a clipboard he had tucked under his arm. He also had another package under his other. He glanced at the clipboard, made an "X" and handed it over to Aomi to sign. After Aomi signed he handed her the other package and with a nod left the gallery.
Aomi looked the package over wondering who could have sent it but soon realized she had an idea. She went over to the bouquet, removed the card and read the contents.
This is a little something to show my appreciation for your company last night.
- Dark
Aomi smiled to herself at the thought and opened the package. Inside was a beautiful gold bracelet. Aomi gasped when she saw it because she had never seen anything like it before. It was engraved with intricate markings and images that caught the light and reflected it back onto the walls sending little lights dancing around.
"It's very beautiful," a voice from behind Aomi said startling her out of her entrancement of the bracelet.
Aomi let out a small yelp of surprise and turned around quickly thinking it might have been David who had snuck up behind her, but instead it was the guy who had been wandering around the gallery.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you," the guy said with a worried look.
"No, it's okay. You just about gave me a heart attack is all," Aomi joked smiling at him.
The guy was very handsome, Aomi noticed. He was tall with a lean physique and light brown hair and dark eyes. He seemed very quiet, like he was more comfortable reading a good book or wandering idly around a museum or art gallery. Not someone Aomi was normally attracted to. She liked them loud and obnoxious, someone who could show her a good time and not make her worry so much about being polite or politically correct. But he was still good looking and that was enough to get Aomi's attention.
"Well, I'm glad I didn't end up giving you one," he smiled back. Then nodding down to the bracelet he asked, "From a boyfriend?"
"Oh," Aomi exclaimed looking down at the bracelet in her hand, "no, just a good friend," she explained feeling a slight twinge of guilt. Well, that's all we are, right? She thought to herself.
"A very generous friend, may I?" He asked holding his hand out for the bracelet.
"Sure," Aomi said handing it to him her fingers lightly brushing his hand. The gesture sent a giddy feeling down Aomi's spine.
"Wonderful workmanship," he murmured to himself, examining the bracelet. "Pure gold, no inscription or artist's mark, though, hmmmmm..." He continued examining it then froze staring at a spot in the middle of the intricate markings. He brought it closer to see if he was imagining things.
"What is it?" Aomi asked leaning in. "Did you find the artist's mark within the design?"
"Perhaps," he answered relaxing so he wouldn't alarm Aomi. "But not one I'm familiar with," he added quickly. He handed the bracelet back to Aomi reluctantly. "You should display it here. It's such a unique piece, I doubt anyone has seen anything like it."
Aomi thought it over and smiled. He did have a point. It was too beautiful to keep to her self. But knowing Dark, she thought, he'd want me to wear it whenever we go out together.
"So," Aomi said remembering she was at work and this was a potential customer, "was there anything here you had a question about?"
"I do, as a matter of fact," he said tearing his eyes away from the bracelet and leading Aomi to a painting that had caught his attention. "I'm hoping that perhaps you could tell me about it, perhaps over dinner tonight?"
Aomi was about to go into a long discussion about the artist but stopped herself when you realized he had just asked her to dinner. She was a little surprised by the request. Normally, the gallery was visited by serious art collectors who were either interested in the art or the investment it brought. She'd never been asked out before while working.
"I'd love too," she found herself saying without thinking it over. After she said it she felt that twinge of guilt she felt earlier when she had referred to Dark as a good friend but quickly pushed the feeling aside. "But I think I should know who I'm going to dinner with," she said remembering she didn't know his name.
"Eden Hikari," he answered smiling, "Nice to meet you..." he had held out his hand to shake Aomi's and was waiting to here her name when he noticed her pale a little and her eyes widen in what looked like mild horror.
"Is something wrong?" Eden asked putting his hand on her arm. "If I've offended you by asking you to dinner, I apologize," he added quickly.
"No," Aomi shook her head stiffly trying to compose herself. Eden Hikari! The name screamed in her head. It can't be! What do I do? I've already accepted. Rio and Dark would kill me if I go to dinner with him. And what would Eden think when he finds out I'm Rio's sister, she thought panicked by these strange turn of events She looked up at Eden and saw he was looking at her with a worried expression on his face. She about melted when she looked into his soft chocolate brown eyes. Then she didn't care anymore and her worries melted away too. She put out her hand.
"I'm Aomi, nice to meet you too," she said her face relaxing into a warm smile hoping he didn't notice she didn't mention her last name.
Eden took her hand and held it looking very relieved.
"Aomi, it's a beautiful name," he told her kissing the top of her hand gently. "How about I pick you up here when you get off?"
"Sure," Aomi whispered feeling a little flustered from Eden kissing her hand. "I get off at five."
