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Far From The Tree

Chapter 5


5 MONTHS LATER

HARUHI

My body seemed to be aware of the sound before my mind was, as I glared at the phone vibrating on my nightstand, prying my tired eyes open in the darkness. My gaze caught the clock beside me, before noting my phone screen.

It was 5.43am. And just from the time alone, I didn't need to check the screen to know who it was.

I yawned, my eyes falling shut as I pressed the phone to my ear, "Hello?"

"I need you in earlier this morning" Mr Hitachiin answered quickly, sounding wide awake despite the sun not having risen yet, "We need to get ready for lunch with the Nekozawa's "

I sighed, "I told you to stop calling me before 7"

"Is it before 7?"

"It's 5.45" I grumbled, "I told you before, I'm not your PA. I don't start work until 9"

"You're on my payroll"

"Right now I'm in bed. Not at work. Therefore, not being paid"

Mr Hitachiin grumbled something under his breath, something he did when he knew he was in the wrong but didn't want to admit it.

He cleared his throat, his husky voice echoing through the speaker in my quiet room, "Well, you're awake now. I need you here for 9"

"You could have called me at 7 to tell me that"

"I only just decided. I didn't want to forget"

"Don't you ever sleep Mr Hitachiin?" I yawned, wrapping myself further into my duvet.

"I woke up 10 minutes ago"

"And you decided to call me before you've even showered?"

"Time waits for no man"

"So profound for 5 o'clock in the morning" I drawled, "My alarm goes off in 45 minutes, you've ruined my morning"

A deep chuckle met my ear and I felt my stomach flip, "Most women would be flattered to know that they were the first person I called in the morning"

"I'm hanging up now" I groaned tiredly, "I have 43 minutes left to sleep"

"42 by the time we say goodbye"

I rolled my eyes, "Bye Mr Hitachiin" then hung up before he could respond.

Despite my deep efforts, I wasn't able to fall asleep again, and climbed into the shower at 6.

I'd worked as Mr Hitachiin's attorney for 5 months now, and during that time I'd been truly embraced by the Hitachiin company, including it seemed, but Mr Hitachiin himself. It had taken some time, but after a while he seemed to value my advice and company more and more, almost to a fault now it seemed. Because now he treated me more as a PA than an attorney, calling me at all hours and insisting on having me within the building for most of the week. It had gotten to a point where Mr Suoh had begun worrying that I planned to leave Ouran Legal to work for Hitachiin Corp full time as their executive attorney, since I seemed to spend most of my time dealing with Mr Hitachiin. It was the first time I'd ever had to tell a client to take a step back. But he was relentless. I don't think I'd ever worked with a CEO who was so driven to expand and develop their business. It seemed that almost daily he had a new deal or contract that needed my attention.

In the months I'd worked there I'd also gotten closer to his brother Kaoru, who had advised me pretty early on that all his brother's previous attorneys had left due to the work load and unpredictable phone calls at all hours of the night or weekends. At first I didn't believe him, but now as I stood in the shower heavy lidded, I could almost laugh at my naivety back then.

Mr Hitachiin was certainly a demanding client. It left me wondering if he truly had a life outside of his company.

"I'll pick you up at 4 later. I'll come straight from work and we'll grab something for dinner" I said to Emi as she and I ate our cereal at the kitchen table.

Her eyes lit up with a grin, "Can I choose dinner?"

"Of course" I chuckled, "What do you fancy?"

"Hmmm" she pursed her lips, "okonomiyaki!"

"Squid or prawn?"

"Prawn!"

I laughed, "Okay. First stop after Yochien we'll go to the store"

"Can we get chocolate milk too?"

"You want warm milk before bed?"

She nodded, "Yes please Mommy"

"Okay baby" I grinned, enjoying the excited little smile on her face.

I got to Hitachiin Corp at half 8, straight after stopping by the coffee shop and dropping Emi off at Yochien. She waved goodbye as she always did, beaming happily and hugging me tight before joining her friends. The whole journey to the office I endured the Disney CD that was still stuck in the player from when Emi sat beside me channeling her inner Elsa. The song was still in my head as I bypassed security in the foyer and waved to the familiar receptionist I saw more than 3 times a week, before entering the elevator and pressing the button for the top floor.

"Morning Haruhi" Hinako greeted brightly as I approached, jumping from her seat behind her desk outside Mr Hitachiin's office.

"Good morning" I grinned and passed her a coffee as well as a blueberry muffin from the 'Coffee Shack' bag I'd carried in, "I bet no one has gotten you one of these yet"

She looked so relieved I almost thought she would cry, "You're an angel" she replied, taking a grateful sip, "He's waiting for you in his office"

I exhaled, "Is he in a good mood?"

Hinako grimaced.

Great.

I couldn't stand him when he was in a bad mood. I swear Emi threw less dramatic tantrums than he did.

"Finally, you're here" Mr Hitachiin exhaled as I stepped into his office.

"Finally?" I raised a brow, "I'm here early"

He frowned and glanced at his watch, still pacing in front of the large window of his office wall. I rolled my eyes as I walked over to the desk, setting down the bag from the coffee shop as well as the 'americano' I'd gotten him.

"When did you get here?" I asked.

"7" he grumbled.

"Have you eaten?"

"Who are you? My Mother?"

"I'm just checking. You get 'snappy' when you skip breakfast" I sighed and pulled out his usual wrapped bagel from the paper bag, "Here"

Mr Hitachiin stared at the salmon bagel in my hand and pursed his lips.

Yup. Definitely skipped breakfast.

"Thanks" he mumbled, taking it from me before throwing himself down in his seat behind the desk. He practically tore into the packaging, taking a satisfied bite and sighing in relief, "Not poisoned right?"

I smirked, remembering the first day I'd brought him breakfast and I'd chosen some generic nut and seed bagel, thinking nothing of it. Only then to have it flung across the room back at me, as Mr Hitachiin grumpily explained he was allergic to nuts. Since then he often joked I'd been trying to poison him.

"No. Poison-free"

He nodded, "Thank you"

"Don't mention it" I lifted my own coffee to my lips.

"You not eating?" he asked, taking another bite.

I shook my head, "I already ate with Emi"

He hummed, staring at me questionably, "Just you and Emi?"

"Who else would there be?" I shrugged in confusion.

He paused for a moment, his hazel eyes meeting mine. Then he said with a shrug, "Just wondering"

and finished devouring his bagel.

Even after 5 months of working side by side with this man, I still wasn't used to the feeling of those eyes on me. Every time it felt like he was stripping me bare and really looking into me. It took a while before I could control my reactions to his gaze; the blushing, the butterflies, I still felt his affects, but now I knew how to keep them under wraps. Even now after I knew how stressed he felt, he still looked ready for the pages of a magazine. Truly he was stunning, and I was yet to find another man who made my body react the same way he did.

"So, lunch" I cleared my throat.

"The Nekozawa's" he clarified, sitting back in his seat, "You nervous?"

I shook my head, "Never"

He smirked, a look that still after all this time made my stomach flip. I crossed my legs.

"Good" he said, "I need your A game"

"When have I ever given you my B game?"

Once again, a smirk, "Never" he repeated, "We present the security program, hope he's interested and go from there"

"Are you nervous?" I asked.

He hesitated, those dark brows furrowing as he considered the question, "Not at all"

"Really? You seem stressed"

"I'm never stressed"

I raised a brow, "You're always stressed"

His eyes rolled at the comment.

"It'll be fine. You just need to be nice" I remarked.

"I am nice"

I gave him an unconvincing look.

"Sometimes I think I let you get away with too much" he murmured, taking the last bite of his bagel.

I chuckled, "Someone has to keep you in line"

"I have my brother for that"

"Your brother is far too busy with a new baby" I replied, "The job of controlling you has been handed over to me"

"Joy" he grumbled.

"I'm yet to hear any complaints"

The corner of his lip raised at my reply, and the way he looked at me made me want to groan. He must have been aware of how stunning he was. Such a dangerous, dangerous weapon.

We left for the restaurant a few hours later - after Mr Hitachiin went over the plan again and again, probably more for his benefit than my own. He made my role very clear. Let him do the talking, only answer questions and speak up if I disagree with any of their terms. This would be a standard meeting for a piece of Hitachiin developed software we wanted the Nekozawa's to contract within their hotels. It wasn't the first meeting like it, and it wouldn't be the last.

I offered to drive Mr Hitachiin and I to lunch, but one look at my reliable Toyota and Mr Hitachiin was dialling for a driver. It was probably for the best. Frozen was still in the music system and Emi's car seat was strapped into the passenger's side.

We arrived into the city around noon, and as I climbed out of the dark car outside the Nekozawa's hotel, my eyes went wide and my jaw tightened. It was a lot more impressive than I had envisioned in my mind. I knew it was a 5 star place, but I hadn't been prepared for the mile high glass windows, gold glistening gothic chandeliers in the lobby, and doormen dressed in black tie attire. I grumbled under my breath.

"What's wrong?" Mr Hitachiin questioned.

I looked down at my plain grey office dress, "I'm so underdressed"

"You look fine" He said as his eyes slowly trailed down my outfit.

"Did you know it was this fancy?"

"Fancy? I wouldn't call it anything special. Looks like any other hotel in the city"

Nothing special? Is he being serious?

"I thought you said you weren't nervous?" he smirked, leading us through the doors and towards the restaurant past the reception.

"I'm not" I replied, "I just would have appreciated some warning on the dress code"

"There is no 'dress code'"

"Says the man who lives in Armani"

"Actually my mother designed this suit"

We were led to our reserved table in a quiet corner of the restaurant by a man in a tux. There weren't too many people which surprised me, but I guessed it was more evening time when you'd probably struggle to get a table. Not being surrounded by a hundred millionaires and aristocrats seemed to ease my worries a little as we sat beside one another at the empty booth.

Mr Hitachiin ordered a bottle of wine, extortionately expensive I imagined but I resisted the urge to check the drinks menu.

"A little early isn't it?" I enquired.

"You know the routine by now" he replied.

Of course I did. Always order a bottle as a sign of good will before the client arrives. Then offer them the first glass.

I opted for a glass of water while we waited, whilst Mr Hitachiin settled on some fancy looking non alcoholic drink.

"Do you think they're watching us right now?" I lowered my voice.

"Oh no doubt" he breathed, a sly smile on his lips as he leaned closer to me, "The maƮtre d' ran off to tell them we were here the moment we stepped inside"

I tried to keep my breathing steady as his musky scent seemed to surround me.

"Are they sizing us up or something?"

"Of course they are. It's exactly what I would do"

"Not every CEO is like you you know?"

He grinned, his voice low and arrogant, "I'd hope not"

"One of you is enough" I rolled my eyes, and the conversation ended with a grin on Mr Hitachiin's smug face.


HIKARU

I hadn't expected the meeting to go on quite as long as it did. But from the moment we got down to business Nekozawa silently listened and barely said a word as I took the lead in explaining everything we had been working on and how I felt it would benefit him.

Umehito Nekozawa wasn't much younger than I when he took over his family's hotel chain. I didn't know an awful lot about him, although I vaguely remembered his cloaked form occupying the shadows back at Ouran Academy. Now he donned a fully black three piece suit, a gothic pocket-watch hanging from an ornate slit in the waistcoat. He still had the same unusual darkness about him, but at least he'd forgone the black wig and robes. He seemed more vampiric than a cult leader now. I suppose it somewhat suited his Russian half; the other half being Japanese.

It was strange. Back at school he didn't strike me as a future hotel CEO.

His grandfather had started the family business back in Russia many decades ago, before his father took over and moved them into Japan. The Nekozawa Hotel chain was worth millions and I was determined to nail this contract with them.

Since I took over Hitachiin Corp we'd developed so much software and computer tech we could almost rival most top companies. I had a security program in the works that could truly benefit places like Nekozawa's hotels. All I needed was his signature.

I wasn't worried about getting the best deal. Miss Fujioka would have that covered, and had beyond proven herself over the last 5 months, landing me more and more deals than I could have hoped for. Getting the best prices and agreements, making all previous Yabu's look like they had no idea what they were doing. What I was worried about was whether Nekozawa would see the benefit of signing a contract with me for this new security system. He may not want it. He may not agree that he needs it. He may not want to pay the price tag stuck to it. So many 'may not's.

Nekozawa had joined Miss Fujioka and I a few minutes after we arrived, with his own business attorney at his side. I'd tried not to snicker. Because I knew whole-heartedly this guy had nothing on my girl. From the moment she greeted herself to them she was professional as always, instantly turning the men to putty in her palm.

Overall what transpired over the next hour went well. He was interested enough to ask for a presentation meeting - where I could have my developers truly show him the security program and what it would mean in practice.

Miss Fujioka didn't even need to interject over pricing agreements or concerns. Everything went as well as it could have done.

As the conversation moved in a more casual direction, Nekozawa enjoyed another sip from the wine I'd selected and smiled, pointed pearly teeth flashing from behind his lips.

"I'd love to show you both around now all the important stuff is out of the way" he said.

I returned the smile politely, as I caught a glimpse of Miss Fujioka checking her watch.

I lowered my head towards her, ignoring how goddamn good she smelt as I caught the breeze of her shampoo, "Somewhere to be Miss Fujioka?" I teased.

She blinked up at me, biting her full bottom lip anxiously, "Well, it's Thursday"

"Yes? And?"

"On Thursday I finish at 3" she hissed in a low voice, "I have to pick Emi up at 4"

Dammit. Why the hell did I never remember that? Thursdays and Fridays Miss Fujioka left work early to collect her daughter from Yochien. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes in frustration.

"Who is Emi if you don't mind my asking?" Nekozawa spoke up.

Honestly since focusing all my senses on Miss Fujioka I'd almost forgotten he was here.

"My daughter" Miss Fujioka replied.

Nekozawa beamed in delight, "Oh how lovely! How old is she?"

"4 and a half"

"I have children myself" Nekozawa said, his attention now fully trained on Miss Fujioka, "My daughter just turned 7, and my two boys are 3 and 5" as he spoke fondly of his offspring he pulled out a photo from his wallet, sliding it over to Miss Fujioka and I. My lovely attorney took it, a bright smile lighting up her fair face as she studied the picture of 3 young children, all sharing similarities with each other and their father. I did my best to not look too disinterested. To me they just looked like any other children.

Miss Fujioka fawned over them as she pulled out her phone, bringing up a photo of herself and Emi on her lockscreen to show him in return.

I took a moment to lean in for a look. I'd only seen her daughter once before during our first meeting, when the small girl had thrown up all over Miss Fujioka. Since then I hadn't seen the child once. The photo was of Emi climbed onto Miss Fujioka's lap, grinning with arms wrapped around one another. I supposed Emi was somewhat...cute? She certainly looked a lot like her mother.

Nekozawa's expression changed to one of delighted surprise, "You two really must have your hands full! Working together as well as raising a child!"

I was pretty sure Miss Fujioka and I shared the same look of confusion and mortification as we glanced from Nekozawa to each other. Had he just assumed Miss Fujioka and I were together? And more than that, did he think I was the father of her child?! The idea was almost so absurd I could have laughed.

"No, no, you misunderstand. Emi is my daughter" Miss Fujioka waved her palms frantically.

Nekozawa's eyes went wide, realisation practically hitting him like a train, "My apologies" he gaped and looked at me, "I speak without thinking sometimes. I just assumed..."

"No harm done" I replied, swallowing back the lump in my throat. When I'd been stressed about this meeting, I hadn't considered this being the reason for it.

Nekozawa whooshed out a breath, as if embarrassed by his comment, "Although I suppose with your similar hair colours, one could easily mistake you for her father" he chuckled nervously.

"I'm sure a lot of people share the same hair colour without being related" I replied, more harshly than I'd intended. I cleared my throat, "Just a misunderstanding"

"Yes. Quite"

I felt Miss Fujioka shift anxiously beside me. I wondered if this would be a story she'd take home to Emi's actual father.

I ignored the thought and reached to pour myself some wine.