"No, it's none of your business. You have your dirty little secrets, so leave mine alone."
Seto was taken aback by the forthrightness behind the reply.
"I'm warning you, if this in any way damages me or that which belongs to me, you'll wish the earth was a larger place."
Anzu swallowed back her fear, trying to recoup her equanimity. The whole event had rattled her, and she could neither hide nor deny it. But her answer for Jack Price shone as clear as the bright neon lights on Broadway. She would accept his offer.
"It won't, I promise." Her voice rose barely above the gentle hum of his laptop. "I think I'll check on Mokuba and go to bed, goodnight Seto."
She edged around him fleeing for the exit. He slammed his fist hard on the desk.
"You can keep your little secret for now Anzu, but you will tell me." He muttered to the heavens above.
Waking next morning, Seto dressed lost in thought with his plans for the day. His eyes held a sinister glint, as he plotted the days order of events.
"You're very, Anzu what's the word I want?" asked Mokuba from his side of the dining table. He'd nearly fallen off his seat when Seto had entered.
Anzu looked up from her book. "Casual?"
"Yeah, No that's not it, there's another word."
"Relaxed?" Offered Seto.
"No, that's not it either." Mokuba started to stream off a list of synonyms for what he wanted.
Seeing that she would not be allowed to continue until Mokuba was appeased, Anzu closed her book, picking up a piece of toast she bit the corner off while observing the frustrated child. Chewing leisurely she swallowed and smiled at Mokuba.
"The phrase you want is laid-back."
Mokuba flew up in his seat pointing wildly at Anzu. "That's it, that's the one. I knew you'd understand."
Anzu chuckled and shook her head. The entire thought was absurd, since when did the words laid-back and Seto Kaiba ever come together in the same sentence. Though, stealing a glance sideways, she had to admit that his attire was certainly out of the ordinary. Gorgeous and definitely not for the image of a hardnosed CEO, more like playboy extraordinaire.
"I'm taking the day off." Seto said simply.
Mokuba choked on the bit of toast he'd inhaled at the announcement. Anzu sprang into action, rushed to his side and pounded firmly on his back until the coughing abated. Deducing that Seto was about to carry on she pushed Mokuba's plate and glass from his grasp.
"I do take days off, you know, it's not some strange occurrence."
Mokuba shot a disbelieving look to Anzu. His eye's begging to know where the real Seto was and who'd taken him.
"Name me one time, big brother." Mokuba's voice was hoarse from his throats recent ordeal.
Elements of Seto's natural self, reared up to greet the boys question.
Anzu blinked as she saw the trademark Kaiba smirk grace the angelic face of the younger brother.
"Now there's the big brother I know and love."
"Don't push your luck." Seto warned in low tones, returning to his food.
Trying to allay the outbreak of world war three and possible blood spillage, Anzu politely enquired what he would be doing with his day off.
"Spending it with you." Was the nonchalant reply, eyes firmly on the plate in front of him.
The slice of toast she had been holding slid through her now lax grip landing butter side down on Mokuba's head.
"ANZU!" Screeched the boy, pulling the offending item out. "Now I gotta have another shower."
This brought Seto's attention from his breakfast casting his gaze to one then the other. "I severely doubt you've had the first anyway."
"That's it, I'm calling Dr Yamoto, you're too weird. You and humour don't exist first thing in the morning, particularly when you haven't even finished that." Said Mokuba, pointing accusingly at the full cup of coffee seated in front of Seto's plate. Mokuba warily eyeing his brother continued muttering under his breath as left to clean the butter from his unruly hair.
Seto shrugged and resumed eating. Anzu slid into Mokuba's now vacant seat unsure how to cope with the new identity before her.
She rose slightly to reach for her book; about to return to the other side of the table, as it was just beyond her fingertips she let out a gasp as Seto placed it in her hands.
"Thank you." She mumbled.
He gave no sign of having heard her. Opening the book and then closing it again she spoke directly to Seto.
"What will the three of us be doing? You obviously have something planned."
"Three?"
"Yes, you said you would be spending it with us."
"Two plus two Anzu." He said wiping his hands on his serviette.
"Pardon?"
"You're making five again. I said you; I would be spending the day with you. And don't say that you hadn't calculated that, Mokuba's new hair style gives you away."
Anzu's mouth opened and then closed again, too flustered for any sort of coherent reply to issue forth. The idea of Dr Yamoto, whatever he/she does, seeming highly attractive.
The day had been great, no fantastic. As she entered the hall she could hardly think of a word in the human language to adequately describe how she felt. Seto took the lapels of her coat and slid it off her shoulders and down her arms, handing it to the butler.
"Mr Kaiba, Master Kaiba said to tell you that he will be spending the night with Mr Mouto."
If Seto was surprised or angered by this, it was not apparent. Anzu frowned.
"Did he tell you he was going?"
"No, but it doesn't surprise me, there was something at the game shop which caught his eye. I suppose he wanted a more in depth look."
Anzu stalked towards Seto's office and reached for the phone. Seto rested his hand on top of hers and pushed the receiver back down.
"I was just….
"I know what you were about to do. It's not necessary. He won't come to any harm with Yugi."
"He should have told you, that he was going." Her voice started to rise in pitch.
"Yes, but he did leave a message. We can check on him in the morning."
Her look was sceptical. "What sort of Doctor is Yamoto?"
Seto smiled. "Shall I make you an appointment to find out?"
"Make yourself one, whatever they do could be vital for Kaiba Corporation."
He burst out laughing. "Come on, there's something I want to show you."
Offering his arm he led the way back to the corridors of that night when he'd returned from America. They could hear the phone ringing.
"Unless it's Mokuba, we're not here." He called back.
"And if it is Mokuba?" queried Anzu.
"I'm going to chew his scrawny little neck off." He smirked.
"Oh I live to see the day."
"You should live to see many." He replied, a slight barb in his voice caused Anzu to doubt the pleasantness in the meaning behind, and her hackles to raise.
As she always did when uncertain the bottom lip became pinned by her well-attended bite.
"You'd never make it in business with that look, but strangely it's the expression I find most irresistible on you." Seto stated equably. "Maybe it's the honesty behind that makes it so?"
"I have no reason to be anything but."
"Don't you?"
The glossy sheen of the day shimmered some more allowing a little more of the underlying tension to seep through.
"Did you give Jack Price his answer yet?"
Anzu stood in place. Shaking her head, she gave a bitter laugh. "So this is why today happened. I should have known. You thought you could butter me up to find out what his proposal was. Well as a matter of fact Mr I know everything. Yes I have. I couldn't sleep last night so I rang him back and said yes."
Seto's eyes were dark and stony.
"Furthermore you have no right to look at me that way, what I've agreed to will benefit you and your stupid company."
His mouth tightened. "What have you agreed to?" came the question through gritted teeth.
"Weren't you listening? I just told you it wouldn't damage you or what you hold so precious."
"How dare you presume to know what I hold precious, you know nothing?"
"Don't I just. You have everything you want and need. You have Mokuba, your work, Angela. I.. I. Actually it doesn't matter what I do and don't have, I don't care anymore."
She tried to run, but the force of his hold pulled her backwards. Propelling her along the corridor, he grabbed the stiff door handle and wrenched it open, pushing her inside; he let his hand glide along the wall until he found what he was searching for. Within moments her vision was dazzled by the enormity and majesty of the room she now stood within. All thoughts of the argument evaporated; her mind was prisoner to the magnificent ballroom. Facing him, she asked the only question she could.
"Why?"
He took a moment to look around and then back to her. "Because I thought that of all people you would appreciate it."
She nodded dumbly.
"I'll leave you to it, do you remember the way back to the main section of the house." He was agitated beyond all methods of calming and wanted only to escape and be alone.
"Yes thank you."
a/n - well they've finished the upgrade at last. Have been waiting patiently (cough! cough!) to post the latest chapter/s. As you will see the rating has gone up, this is for adult content that may appear in future chapters. Once again thanks to all for reading.