"Miss Heartfilia, what a pleasant surprise." Jose stands as he speaks, his voice sounding like arsenic to me. He holds out his hand to me as he continues. "I was not expecting to see you today."
"The feeling is mutual," I replied, taking his hand to shake. I have to fight the desire to gag - or vomit outright - when he yanks me closer so that he could kiss the back of my hand. As if this disgusting piece of garbage would pass as a gentleman.
You're just playing a part, Lucy, do not break character, I remind myself as I gently pull my hand away so that I can seat myself in a plush chair that is far enough from him that he cannot touch me again, but close enough not to be taken that way. Natsu and Capricorn stand behind me, one on each side of the chair I've placed myself in.
"Is your father available? I was hoping for a chance to speak to him today."
"I…I'm sorry, he can't speak at the moment." I allow my voice to crack as I send up a quick prayer. Please let this work…
Memories of all that I have been through these past few years are forced to the forefront of my mind - the more heart-wrenching the better. Burning tears are allowed to cloud my vision, and one even slips down my cheek. Though it was never discussed he did so, Capricorn pulls a handkerchief from his coat and hands it to me.
"My dear," Jose says while leaning closer, reaching for me. "Whatever is the matter?"
The gag I cannot repress at the thought of him touching me sounds like a sob, and I use it to pull my hand out of his reach, covering my face in my only-slightly-feigned distress.
"Jude has fallen ill." Natsu's voice brings me comfort, though his tone when speaking to the snake in front of me carries nothing of the warmth I know. Knowing he is behind me - both literally and figuratively - bolsters my confidence that this will play out the way I want it to.
"I'm so sorry to hear that." If those words had come from anyone else, I may have believed. Jose, however, had the same inflection as his piece of shit son uses, and it's something I know all too well. "What is the diagnosis? Is it something serious?"
"H-he had…he had a stroke." I sniffle as I say the words. "A few days ago; he's in a coma."
Though he wears a mask of sympathy, I watch as Jose's lips twitch upwards for just a moment. And at that moment, I wanted to kill him.
"Miss, sorry," Aries interrupts. Right on time, she enters the room with a tray for afternoon tea. Not that I ever really indulge in afternoon tea anymore, but if I want to portray a certain image, this is a good addition. "Tea for you and your guests," she says, setting the tray down and promptly leaving the room.
I don't miss the appraising look Jose gives her, and after witnessing her skills more than once, I'd love to see the bastard try something and get his ass handed to him.
"Please join us," I say to the men behind me. Capricorn takes a seat near mine, but Natsu just gives a small shake of his head and stays where he is. I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from smiling at him when I turn to face my 'guests' again. "I'm so sorry, where are my manners? This is Kazla, one of my father's business advisors," I say, motioning to Capricorn. "And the man behind me is Balaur, my personal bodyguard."
Jose greets both with a nod, but does not introduce the man sitting next to him. Not that I'm surprised, but I am a little irritated.
"Since you've come all this way, is there anything I can do for you today?" Even though I've composed myself, I know my eyes are still a little red from the show I put on a few minutes ago.
"Well," Jose starts, pausing to take a sip of his tea. "I was hoping to speak with Jude about the railway expansion to Pergrande. We've been meeting several times a year to discuss our standing contracts and I wanted to give him the new projected profit reports."
Really, I deserve an award for holding my shit together instead of jumping over the table and beating this man to death; there are plenty of weapons within reach that I could use for this. But that's not part of the plan, so I resist. I know my father never would have worked with Jose; the man just radiates 'I'm deep into illegal shit that you want no part of' and knowing my father, he could keep someone at bay for years without directly turning them down.
"I don't really know much about business, but I am in charge of running things until father recovers." I study the contents of my cup for a moment, contemplating the best way to word what I want to say. "I'm sure I could understand the nuances of the contract and all that stuff if you would be patient enough to explain it to me."
I peek up at him through my lashes as I drink some of my tea, making a mental note to thank whoever made it today, as I usually don't like the flavor. My attention returns to the matter at hand, and another self-satisfied twitch of Jose's lips lets me know that I've got him right where I want him.
"It would be an absolute pleasure to do business with you, Miss Heartfilia," he tells me.
Gods, but it's difficult not to vomit every time he speaks. Those of us who were drinking finished our tea, then I led the way to my office. I seat myself behind the desk, Natsu standing just behind my chair to the right; Jose and his companion sit across from me, while Capricorn stays standing near the door.
It takes nearly an hour for Jose to 'explain' all the paperwork to me. This man obviously has no idea that women have brains at all, which was made abundantly clear as he tried to pass off obviously false data. I nod along like the good, attentive, naive girl I was pretending to be, throwing out an, 'oh, that makes sense,' every once in a while.
The fifth man in the office hardly moved to breathe during this charade, but I did make note of the intense stares in Natsu's direction every few minutes. That was the only thing making me nervous; did this man recognize Natsu, even with the dyed hair and brilliant makeup job? I hope not, because if he does, that could seriously fuck my plans to take down Jose and PLG in one fell swoop.
"So," Jose says when he finally finishes degrading my intelligence, "does this sound like something you would be interested in? With one of Jude's advisors here, I'm sure we could draw up a contract today."
"Actually, I don't know if I will be able to today. I'm sorry, but my lawyer will be here soon to discuss the trial."
"Trial? Are you in some sort of legal trouble?"
As if this ass doesn't know which trial I'm talking about. His son has been on house arrest pending trial since just after he'd been released from the hospital. Jury selection is coming next week, and who knows how long the actual trial will last.
"I'm not," I say meekly. "It's a personal matter."
My eyes flick to the man sitting next to him, and Jose takes the hint, sending the man to wait in the hall. Capricorn exits as well, but Natsu hangs back. I know he has reservations about leaving me in a room alone with Jose, as do I, but my mind is made up.
"You as well," I turned in my chair to tell him. I beg him with my eyes to play along, just a little longer.
"I'm your bodyguard, and am not supposed to leave your side," Natsu replies sharply, to which I merely glare.
"You work for me, and you will do as I say."
"Not when it affects your safety," he practically snarls at me.
"I'm perfectly safe in this office with my father's friend," I snapped back at him.
"Spoiled brats like you never take their safety seriously until it's too late."
"A fact you have told me many times, Balaur. Now, please leave the room so I may have a private conversation, or you can leave the estate and seek employment elsewhere. The choice is yours."
The door slams behind Natsu after he exits, and I hope I don't have to beg for forgiveness when today is over.
"I'm sorry about him; it can be difficult to find a good bodyguard who isn't completely overbearing."
"Yes, I've had that problem over the years. If you need a replacement, let me know. I have many men I'm certain would suit your needs."
"That is very kind of you," I assure him, again resisting the urge to vomit. After a few moments pass, I breathe deep and tell Jose all about the trouble I've had with Bora, never once giving away that I know their relationship, and sparing only the details which would give away my new connections. This part of my plan is more than a little dangerous, and I know it; Jose can be unpredictable, and I don't know enough about him to even begin to think of how he will react to this information.
At this point, the only thing I know for certain is that I have two men just outside the door who will step in to defend me at the first sign of distress.
"That sounds like quite the harrowing experience, Miss Heartfilia." He tries so hard to sound genuine, it's nearly laughable. "If I had known this was going on, I would have intervened before now."
"What do you mean?" I ask, hoping he will reveal what I already know, and praying my reaction is neither too over-the-top or too unsurprised.
"Bora is," Jose pauses, watching me carefully before finishing his sentence, "my son."
"What?" I gasp out the word, one hand flying up to my mouth as I push myself out of my seat faster than intended, the chair slamming into the wall behind me. The door flies open just after the impact sounds through the office, Natsu grasping the handle with enough pressure to turn his knuckles white.
"What's wrong?" He demands.
"It's nothing, Balaur. I-I'm fine, honest. Just some… shocking news." I turn my eyes back to Jose. "I'm so sorry, with the history between your son and I, I don't know that I would feel comfortable entering into a business agreement with you."
"Are you certain, my dear?" Jose's face remains passive, but his eyes turn hard and his tone cold.
"The proposal looks wonderful, truly, but I would fear retaliation if Bora were sent to prison. And if he is not, I fear for my safety if he is free."
"Hmm." Jose strokes his ridiculous moustache with the thumb and forefinger of his left hand, seemingly deep in thought. "What if I were to assure you that no retaliation would come if he loses his trial? And that he would stay away from you permanently should he win?"
My teeth pull at my lower lip as I think about his offer. This is more than I had hoped for for this meeting, and if I take him up on it, it will likely make me seem vulnerable and easy to manipulate. Perfect.
"That would ease my mind more than a little, Mr. Porla," I tell him, keeping my voice low. "I would be willing to meet at a later date to discuss the shipping contracts if I could have those assurances in writing."
"In that case, my dear Lucy, I will have that written up and have the paperwork in your hands within the next few days." He stands from his position, extending his right hand out to me. "Once you are satisfied, we can arrange a meeting. Does that sound good?"
"Yes," I say, standing and shaking his hand while pushing down every ounce of disgust I felt at the slimy touch of his skin on mine. Somehow, I managed to smile at him. "I look forward to working with you on this."
Natsu has not left his position at the door, though his grip eased from the handle. My eyes met his, and I am relieved that this is almost over - for today.
"Balaur, would you please see Mr. Porla and his companion to the door?"
"I'm not your fucking butler," he grumbles, but motions for Jose and the other man to follow.
"You did well, Miss Lucy," Capricorn praises my performance as he enters the office.
"Do you think he bought it?"
"You were quite believable, even to someone who knows what you're capable of," he says as he smiles at me. "This is quite the clever plan you've come up with, and I'm glad you are allowing me to be part of it."
"Thanks, Cap. And thank you for believing in me."
After giving a gentle pat to my shoulder, Capricorn leaves the office to make sure everything outside this room also went smoothly. I walk around the desk and rest myself against it facing the door, my eyes closing as I take a moment to breathe. It worked; I was able to set my plan in motion, but there are still things drawing at my mind that require my attention.
A pair of familiar arms wraps around me, and I can't help but smile now that Natsu's with me again.
"You were absolutely brilliant today." Natsu's forehead rests on mine for a few moments, and I relax against him. "I've never seen someone manipulate Jose the way you did, and you made it seem so easy."
"I can assure you, it was not easy. Do you know how difficult it was not to throw up every time he called me 'my dear'? Or when I had to shake his hand? They were slimy, Natsu… not sweaty… slimy. It was gross."
We both laugh, and I hold him tighter. The mood seems light, but my heart is heavy thinking about how mean I had to be to Natsu.
"You alright? I know the past few hours were a lot; do you need to get some rest, or a light snack? How can I help?"
"I'm sorry I was so harsh to you," I whisper, a lump forming in my throat as I consider that he may have taken anything that was said personally. "Will you forgive me?"
"Let's get you to your room," he says, not answering my question. "It'd probably be good for you to rest a bit, then we'll get something to eat once you're feeling better."
"Natsu…"
"There's nothing to forgive, Lucy. You asked me to trust you and to be there for you, and that's what I did." He ran a hand through his hair, allowing it to loosen some of his currently-brown locks from the massive amount of product holding it in place. "As far as I'm concerned, everything from the moment that bastard arrived to the moment he left was not you. Just as it was not me. Unless I need to ask forgiveness for the things I said while he was here?"
His question hung in the air between us, and I shook my head in reply.
"Do you…um…do you need help getting the makeup off?" I ask as he slides his hand in mine and we walk out of the office towards my room.
"I wouldn't turn down some assistance." Natsu smiles and it fills me with warmth.
"I can get your hair, too, while I'm at it."
I sit Natsu on the chair in my bathroom vanity while I grab what I need. He removes his button-down shirt so I don't have to work around it and I sit on the countertop in front of him so I can gently swipe away the contouring and shading that made him look so unlike my Natsu. A flush makes its way up my face when I think of him in such a possessive way; it still hasn't been discussed, but I hope he is mine as much as I know I am his.
"You alright up there?"
"What? Oh, um… mmhmm, yep. I'm fine."
Well that was really fucking eloquent, Lucy. Good job! I mentally scold myself.
Natsu raises an eyebrow, but doesn't comment further as I finish cleaning off his face and neck.
"All done?"
"With that part, yes. Now I just need to get your hair taken care of." I run my fingers through his hair, making a face at how stiff it is. "It should only take a few washes to get your weird pink color back."
"I could always keep it brown," Natsu says, his voice filled with insecurity. "You know, if you'd prefer a more normal color."
"Oh, Natsu, normal doesn't suit you." I plant a soft kiss on his nose. "The brown is fine, I guess, but I much prefer the real you. Now, let's get that crap out of your hair so I can have the real you back. Okay?"
I head to my closet to change, throwing on some shorts and a tank top, since I don't have a salon sink in my bathroom. I just know this is going to end up with me getting wet. By the time I return, Natsu is sitting in the vanity chair again - which has been moved into my shower - clad only in his boxers. As much as I'm tempted to ogle every inch of skin my eyes have been blessed to see, instead my gaze is drawn to the scar just above his left hip.
"It really only hurts when someone presses on it," Natsu comments before my thoughts have a chance to spiral into dark depths. "Or when some dumbass decides to slap it. I'll be fine as long as I can avoid either of those things."
Giggling, I make my way into the shower with him. I pull down the shower head and turn on the water to the perfect temperature so I can get to work.
Five washes and one deep conditioning treatment later, Natsu's eyebrows are the right color again, but his hair is a slightly muddied-pink color. I would do more, but my feet hurt from standing on the hard tiles for so long. My prediction for this endeavor has also proven true, as I'm pretty sure I got more water on myself while trying to wash the products and temporary color out of Natsu's hair than I did on him. What little clothes we are wearing clings to our skin, and I have to consciously not stare when he stands from the chair.
I wring some of the water out of my top before grabbing myself a towel; I hand another to Natsu, drying myself off as best I can before I head back to the closet for what I think is my fourth wardrobe change of the day. When I emerge, it is to find Natsu laying in my bed, his hair still damp, but hopefully he at least put on something dry as well before sliding himself under the covers.
"What are you doing?"
"We're going to take a nap?"
It's more than a little cute that he poses that as a question instead of making it a statement. Since I have no desire to argue with him at the moment, I climb into bed next to him.
"Hey, Natsu?" I ask after I settle into a comfortable position.
"Yeah?"
"That man who came with Jose… I don't know how, but I think he recognized you." I can't help feeling nervous remembering the way he had studied Natsu, taking in every detail, and a shiver runs down my spine at the thought.
Natsu holds me just a little closer, sliding a hand through my hair several times before answering my not-quite question.
"Yeah, he recognized me. Try not to worry, he won't say anything."
I want to believe him, but the man is working in an unknown capacity for someone who is categorically evil. My doubts must be written all over my face; either that, or Natsu can read me like a children's book, because he speaks again before I have a chance to contradict his statement.
"You have your doubts because you don't know him, but you know me. Trust me when I tell you that he will not say anything."
"Will I get an explanation later?" Part of me wants to stay awake to find out, to demand he give me the answers I want, but the warmth radiating from Natsu paired with the emotional exhaustion of dealing with a psychopath has me drifting off a bit. Maybe a nap is just what I need right now.
"Yeah, I'll explain everything later," he assures me while his fingers slip through my hair again. "But that's later. You deserve some rest after that performance earlier, and I have earned some cuddle time for not taking him out as soon as his hand came into contact with yours."
"So possessive," I say with a slight giggle. "You really are a dragon, aren't you?"
"Damn straight I am." Natsu lets out a soft chuckle. "Now try to get some sleep, brave princess."
"If you insist, my sweet dragon."
Well this got done faster than expected. I hope you all enjoyed the chapter.
Kazla: 'goat' in Belarusian
Balaur: 'dragon' in Romanian
Thanks for all the new faves/follows. And special thanks to my reviewers (though y'all didn't get much time between chapters, lol): RequiemMage, galactiaconstella, Copperreign12, and anneryoko.
As always, I have no fucking clue when the next chapter will come out, but as soon as it's written, y'all will know.
TTFN, Lovelies!