Seto rubbed his face tiredly.
"Welcome aboard flight 213…."
The attendant droned on with the usual pre flight spiel. Laying his head back against the seat, he let it flop to the side and stared out the window. His body jerked slightly as the plane was trolleyed out and straightened for taxiing. At least he was alone he had time to think now. Rose and Oswald had left on the earlier flight. The flight he should have been on; would have been on with Mokuba if she hadn't come that morning. Still the untimely visit had provided some definite advantages. He was now free from the confines that a child creates. Free to pursue his goals without the worry of Mokuba hanging like a dark cloud over his head.
He felt the tipping of the plane as it banked right, setting course for their destination.
"When did we take off? How could I have not noticed?"
The gong of the intercom cut through his thoughts.
"Ladies and gentleman, this is your Captain. We will soon be turning off the safety belt signs, but ask that unless you require to move about, please remain seated with them on. Our lovely attendants will shortly be making their way through with refreshments, and with a bit of luck Scotty and I'll get some too. That's a white tea with one, and a scotch on the rocks please. Getting back to business though, the flight to New York should be smooth with little to no turbulence, as we can expect fine weather all the way. Enjoy your flight and thank you for flying."
It must be part of the job description to be a clown these days. He turned back to his own thoughts.
At least Mokuba would be safe. "And happy." Seto unconsciously nodded agreement.
"So what would you like then?"
"Huh!" He was startled by the sudden voice beside him.
The attendant smiled. "I'm sorry I asked if you would like anything, I took the nod of your head to mean yes."
"Oh, right, just a coffee. Thanks!"
"Your welcome." She smiled again and moved on.
The smile played on his mind. It was sincere, something he was not used to in his world. In business no-one's smile was sincere. There was always some hidden agenda. Ruefully he thought over all the people he had contact with. Even Rose's smile never reached her eyes like that. He knew of only one other whom did. And it was unlikely that he would ever see it again. At least not directed at him. He'd made sure of that last night.
"But that can be remedied" he murmured, sipping the coffee. He closed his eyes in pure bliss. For once someone had got it right. Not only was it the right strength and flavour, it was hot, winding down and pushing the stress out through the pores of his skin.
Putting the cup down on the tray, he pulled out his laptop to begin work. His hands paused over the keyboard. The contract had to be air tight, he wasn't going to let anything stand between him and the ultimate end that this deal would give him. Of course they would counter and seek their own clauses, and to some degree he would allow for that. But only so far as it suited him.
Fifteen minutes passed and he still hadn't written a thing.
"Concentrate, Kaiba. You're losing focus."
The same attendant as before reappeared.
"Can I take your cup now?"
"Could I possibly get another, please?"
That smile!
"Of course, I'll just get the pot and be right back."
The flight now became an obsession. An obsession with doing all that he could to see that smile. For the first time ever Seto Kaiba had let down his defences and willingly talked with someone. In between seeing to passengers and completing on flight tasks she would return and the thread of the conversation would pick up immediately where it ended before. He'd long put the laptop away deciding he'd do it when he reached the hotel. His mind and heart weren't up to the task at the present time he was far too interested with the distraction.
Regretfully the flight ended. Collecting his briefcase from the overhead compartment he made his way towards the exit, deliberately choosing the one at the back. She stood with her colleague thanking passengers and wishing them a good stay. He stepped aside to let others go before him. He wanted her undivided attention when he departed.
"Thank you. This was without a doubt the most pleasurable flight I've been on."
That Smile again.
"The pleasure was mine Mr Kaiba, though I don't think you were able to complete a lot of work."
A tinkle of laughter this time.
"The fault was mine in that regards, and please my name is Seto."
"Well Seto, I'm Angela, and it was a privilege to have made your acquaintance. I hope we meet again."
"So do I." He smiled. Leaving the aircraft he made his way through the terminus.
Angela's colleague hurried after her as they also alighted.
"How do you do that?" She smirked. "You get all the good looking ones."
Angela laughed. "What makes you think that I caught that fish?"
"Oh c'mon you can't fool me. Talking with him the entire flight. Call me Seto, I hope to meet you again. He's hooked and you've just got to reel him in."
Angela stopped still. Gripping her vanity case in both hands, she twisted coyly towards her companion. "It's the smile." She said cheekily and walked off.
"Angela wait up."
Seto watched the bustling millions safely behind tinted glass.
"We're here Mr Kaiba. If you make your way through I'll arrange your luggage."
Seto nodded acknowledgment. Stepping from the hire care he walked through the lobby to the reception desk. Within minutes he was whisked to his room, where the usual niceties awaited him. Closing the door after the bellboy, he loosened his collar and allowed himself to fallback on the soft bed. His laptop sat accusingly on the desk where he'd placed it.
"All right I'm coming." He said heaving himself up.
By morning he had completed the first draft, his lawyer would be joining him later in the day to smooth out the edges for presentation to Oswald and his backers.
Now that this task was completed the morning was his own to do with as he pleased. Sleep seemed the most attractive activity at the present. Lying atop the bed Seto's eyes began drift close, the shrill noise of his mobile causing them to fly open. Wearily he rolled towards the bedside table and picked it up.
"Kaiba here."
"My we are grouchy this morning, I hope I didn't wake you." Roses purr filtered through the earpiece.
Widening his eyes a few times to try and stay awake, he assured her that she hadn't.
"I just wanted to know that you had arrived safely, and were okay." She continued. "I mean after all the trouble you experienced before leaving. It did all work out?"
Seto didn't answer.
"Anyway we're having a dinner tonight, my father would very much like to meet you I sure hope you can spare us some of y'r precious time. I just don't know what I'd do with myself if you didn't come though."
"Where is it and how do I get there."
"Marvellous, we'll send the driver to pick you up. Dinners at eight" A pause, "Oh and Seto!"
"Yes?"
"I missed you."
With a click the call was over. So it had only been one day and she'd missed him.
Rolling over he drifted towards sleep again, his dreams full of plans and strategies and shadowing it all. That smile!
Awaking at noon, he readied himself for the meeting with his lawyer. As always well before time. The meeting was not until 3, but there were things he needed, no wanted to do first.
The phone reverberated loudly through the hall.
"I'll get it." Yelled an overexcited Mokuba, racing down the stairs. The caller receiving an extremely loud, "I got it."
"I think," came the dry reply, "That the whole of Domino knows that."
"Seto, at last. I knew you wouldn't forget me."
Mokuba could almost see the frown through the handset.
"Not that anyone said you would." He put in quickly
"I should hope not."
Mokuba talked animatedly about his first night with Anzu. The object of the conversation sitting comfortably a room away. She could hear the conversation and could only guess at what was being said the other end.
"Hello, earth to Anzu." Mai started waving her arms wildly. "Houston we have a problem."
"Ah, what?" Anzu snapped her attention back towards Mai, being greeted with a smirk and raised eyebrow.
"Oh boy," said Mai with a low whistle. "You are in a bad way."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means my dear, that if a certain brown haired blue eyed spectacularly built CEO said there's a cliff, you'd beat the lemmings to it."
Anzu's expression was pure incredulity. "I would not."
"Oh really. So why is it that you came to my house the other night instead of going home, and then took yourself off at some ridiculous hour, for no better reason than to walk all the way out here."
"I was wrong, and I had to apologise." Defended Anzu.
"Oh my fat aunt, you could have done that later."
"No I couldn't they were leaving."
Mai's smirk widened. The look pure evil.
"Ah yes the next point I wanted to discuss."
Anzu groaned. "If I say here and now, 'no comment', will this interrogation end?"
"Not a chance."
"Then do your worst."
Mai raised her hand to her chest, with a mock "Moi! You wound me, you truly do."
a/n - apologies to those who were confused by last chapter. Sometimes what is clear in the mind of the author does not always translate well. Hope this one makes up for it. :)