Chapter 3
Suoh Mansion was every bit as lavish and extravagant as Ootori Mansion, if not slightly less modern. Phoebe was in such awe as she stepped out of the back of the car that had delivered her and Kyoya to the estate that she was speechless.
"Wow!" Was all she could manage to gasp out when she finally found her voice again.
"Don't gawk, it makes you look even lower class than you actually are," Kyoya quietly muttered into her ear as he walked around from the other side of the car. She immediately shut her mouth and checked her expression.
"How do you know what class I'm in?" she asked, somewhat defensively, trailing after him as he headed up the grand staircase to the front door.
"Please. You're my secretary, intended to replace my most trusted assistant and useful asset of my career. You honestly think I haven't found out everything I can about you?" He scoffed. Her silence and appalled stare was answer enough. "You'll come to expect it."
The door was promptly answered once he'd run the bell and they were escorted directly to the parlor where guests were gathered for the evenings celebration. It took literal seconds before Tamaki spotted his friend's arrival as he had no doubt been looking for him.
"Kyoya!"Tamaki shouted from across the room, weaving and dodging guests as quickly as he could until he stood before his friend. "You made it!"
"Prompltly at seven," Kyoya replied with smile.
"So you didn't bring Noriko after all?" Tamaki asked hopefully when he glanced behind his friend and found Phoebe instead of the infamous girlfriend.
"She had an important business meeting that ran late. She's coming late in a separate car," Kyoya explained.
"Oh," was Tamaki's only reply. His disappointment was evident in his expression but he quickly replaced it with a bright, contagious smile. "Well, we'll have to manage without her until then!"
"Tamaki, you know you don't have to pretend you like her when she's not around," Kyoya said.
Tamaki immediatley breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank god!" He said. "Kyoya, how can you date such a woman? She's a- a-"
"Bitch!"
Kyoya and Phoebe bothed turned to find Haruhi approaching. "I'm not sorry for calling her that, because it's true," she said when Tamaki gave her objecting look.
"Good evening, Haruhi, it's nice to see you, too," Kyoya said sarcastically.
"Kyoya-sempai, she's dreadful!" Haruhi exclaimed.
"The worst," Tamaki added. "She makes my grandmother look like a saint!"
"She's not that bad," Kyoya said.
Haruhi and Tamaki both nodded 'yes.'
"That's just how she is. Don't take it personally," Kyoya shrugged.
"Don't take it personally?" Haruhi said indignantly. "But it is personal! Everything she says to me is a personal attack."
"How long are you going to date her, Kyoya?" Tamaki asked, a pleading look in his eye.
Kyoya sighed. "I know you don't like her, but try to understand. She's a smart match for the Ootori family," he tried to explain.
"What about a smart match for you?" Haruhi asked.
"Haruhi-" Kyoya started.
"No. You deserve better," Haruhi said.
Kyoya smiled honestly at her. "I appreciate the sentiment, but you know I'm not a romantic," he said.
"Well, I certainly don't understand your choice, but if it's what you want I'll respect it," Tamaki sighed with a sigh. "Even if it's difficult."
"Impossible you mean!" Haruhi scoffed.
"Anyway, this is Phoebe Davis, my new secretary," Kyoya said, quickly changing the subject. "Phoebe, this is Tamaki and Haruhi, my friends and the couple of honor tonight."
Phoebe bowed politely, "It's nice to meet you. Congratulations," she said with a smile.
Tamaki returned the smile. "Thank you!"
"Thank you, nice to meet you!" Haruhi replied, bowing in return. "Your Japanese if very good."
"Oh, thank you!" Phoebe exclaimed, surprised by the complement but obviously pleased to hear it. "I've been working on my pronunciations and grammar for a while now. I'm glad it's paying off."
"How is it being Kyoya-sempai's secretary?" Haruhi asked, looking slightly concerned. "I hope he's not being too demanding. He was known as the Shadow King in high school."
Phoebe glanced uneasily at her boss, but managed to keep her smile. "Oh! Well, it is my first day-still," she replied, "But I'm figuring out what he expects of me." Then, leaning closer to Haruhi and lowering her voice, she added, "And learning that being an Ootori's 'secretary' really means personal, all day assistant."
"I heard that," Kyoya protested. "And Haruhi, don't share such dated information so willingly."
Phoebe bowed in apology but Haruhi merely grinned unapologetic. "She'd find out eventually," Haruhi retorted. She turned back to Phoebe, "But really, don't let his icy facade and domineering demeanor fool you. Kyoya-sempai is a really good person."
"Don't share such current opinions so freely, either," Kyoya scolded. "You'll ruin my reputation."
"It's not an opinion if it's true," Haruhi corrected.
"Ne, Haruhi, milord!" the perfectly harmonized voices were easily identified without seeing their owners.
"Congratulations and all that," Hikaru said, sidling up to Haruhi and draping is arm around her shoulders.
"Even though you've technically been engaged three months now and we already told you congrats multiple times," Kaoru added, slinking his arm around her waste, tilting his head to rest on top of hers.
"Hey! Get off of her!" Tamaki fumed, protectively reaching for Haruhi's hand to pull her free.
The twins shielded her from him though by stepping around in front of her, standing shoulder-to-shoulder between her and Tamaki. "But we'll always take any excuse to come to a party!" they chimed together, grinning from ear to ear while ignoring Tamaki's protests.
"Hikaru, Kaoru, you made it!" Haruhi exclaimed with delight. She threw her arms around their necks, pulling them both into a three-person hug. "I was afraid you would't be able to come."
"Haruhi! Would we let something as trivial as being nine thousand seven hundred six miles away prevent us from coming to your engagement party?" Hikaru gasped feigning offense.
"Our engagement party!" Tamaki corrected indignantly.
"We hopped a plain in Paris late last night so we could make it in time," Kaoru said with a big grin, ignoring him.
"I'm so glad you came!" Haruhi said ecstatically as she gave them another hug.
"Oh, yeah, we're happy for you, too, milord, or whatever," Hikaru offered in mock insincerity.
"Yeah, congrats, I guess," Kaoru played along, rolling his eyes and shrugged.
Tamaki started to protest, but the twins simultaneously looked at him with wry smirks and he laughed. "I'm glad you could make it, too. It wouldn't be a party without the Hitachiin twins!"
"Yeah!" they cheered, raising their fists into the air as Tamaki draped his arms around them, laughing.
"Hey, who's the little mouse?" Kaoru asked, suddenly taking notice of Phoebe, who had been standing quietly by taking in the scene as it played out.
Kyoya wasn't quite sure what she was thinking by her expression, but she seemed a little overwhelmed.
"My new secretary, Phoebe," Kyoya introduced. "Phoebe, this is Hitachiin Hikaru and Kaoru."
"Awww!" Hikaru cooed, tilting his head in pity.
"Your dress is so out dated!" Kaoru added.
"Hikaru! Kaoru! Don't be rude!" Haruhi scolded. She bowed low to Phoebe. "I'm so sorry for them."
"I-it's okay," Phoebe said sheepishly. "You two are designers, right? I really like fashion, but I'm afraid I can't afford a lot of 'in-style' pieces. I love your mother's work though!"
"You're familiar with the Hitachiin name?" they exclaimed, their eyes lighting up with excitement.
"Yes! Its so cute!" she raved, cupping her face with one hand.
"Then we'll send you some outfits!" Kaoru offered.
"What? N-no! I couldn't possibly afford-" Phoebe protested.
"It's free!" Hikaru said, winking.
Phoebe gaped at them in disbelief, baffled speechless by the sudden and unexpected offer. "N-no, I-I couldn't!"
"Please. If you're going to be Kyoya-sempai's secretary," Hikaru began, dismissing her refusal with the wave of a hand.
"You can't be seen dressed like that!" Kaoru finished, gesturing to the little black dress she was wearing with a cringe. "What's your address?"
Phoebe looked over whelmed. "No, that's entirely too generous, there's absolutely no way I can-"
"I'll send it to you," Kyoya interrupted. "Include some business appropriate attire, won't you?"
The twins gave him their wry grins and two thumbs up apiece.
Phoebe gawked in shocked silence, unable to say thank you or even object further.
Haruhi placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "It's okay. You've probably heard this today already, but, you'll get used to it," she assured with a sympathetic smile.
"Hitachiin originals? I'm so happy!" she said as she turned to look at Haruhi, tears in her eyes.
Haruhi laughed. "You really like their clothing, don't you?" she said. "It's a good thing for you then that Hikaru and Kaoru treat most woman as living dolls that they can't help but dress up."
"Kyoya-san, there you are!"
Everyone except Kyoya and Phoebe went rigged as soon as they heard the voice. As a perfectly manicured female hand with long, slender fingers snaked its way from behind Kyoya and up to his shoulder, it was evident that the owner of that voice, and hand, was the infamous Noriko herself.
Phoebe gasped when she saw her and it wasn't hard to see why. The woman was gorgeous. Her long,straight black hair was smooth as silk. Her make-up on point, accentuating her charcoal eyes and high cheek bones. The silver evening gown she wore hugged all of her curves and draped in all the right places, further complementing her shape and long legs. Her skin was flawlessly pale.
It was just a pity her personality was so- sour.
"I'm sorry I'm late. Sometimes business just can't wait. Oh, but you know that, Kyoya-san, don't you?" she cooed, twirling her finger on his chest as she clung to his arm.
Haruhi looked like she was going to puke. Or yell. Or maybe both.
"Oh, Tamaki! Congratulations on your engagement!" Noriko said as if she'd just noticed him standing there.
"Th-thank you, Noriko-san," Tamaki replied with an uneasy smile. "Haruhi and I-"
"Oh, your fiancee, right? Is she here?" Noriko asked, looking right passed Haruhi to make a show of scanning the crowd in search of her.
"I'm right here," Haruhi said through gritted teeth, forcing a smile.
"I'm sorry! I didn't see you. You're so small and unassuming, aren't you?" Noriko laughed. "You don't make much of a statement, that's for certain.
"Noriko-san, you remember the Hitachiin twins? Hikaru and Kaoru? They've just gotten back from their fashion show in Paris," Kyoya interjected, drawing her attention to the twins. "They launched their first clothing line a few weeks ago."
"Of course I remember them!" Noriko replied, immediately turning her attention to them, her eyes gleaming like a predator about to devour its prey. "You're Hitachiin Yuzuha-san's sons, aren't you?"
"Yes, that's right," Hikaru replied curtly as Noriko detached from Kyoya's arm and moved to stand next to him.
"I'd love to hear more about your line of clothing. I'm sure you're just as talented as your mother," she cooed, taking hold of his arm. "Why don't we go out onto the terrace for some fresh air, away from some of these lower class people."
She gestured to the room as if she was indicating certain guests among the crowd, but she looked directly at Haruhi when she said that last part.
As Noriko seized his unwilling brother by the arm and drug him off towards the terrace, Kaoru turned to glare at Kyoya. "Traitor!
Kyoya held his hands up helplessly and shrugged. "I had to deflect her attention from Haruhi somehow!"
Kaoru stuck his tongue out at him. As he turned to rally to his brother's aid he smirked mischievously, pointed to Haruhi and said, "You owe us one!"
"Great!" Haruhi groaned. "I wonder what they'll con me into doing this time?"
Tamaki shrugged, giving his fiancee's shoulders a sympathetic squeeze as he put his arm around her.
"Still," Haruhi added, "I feel sorry for Hikaru and Kaoru."
"They were thrown to the wolf!" Tamaki agreed.
"I better go with them," Kyoya said turning to follow. "Noriko get's agitated if weren't not together at functions."
"How-sweet?" Tamaki laughed awkwardly.
"How controlling," Haruhi said simultaneously.
Kyoya smiled before turning to walk away. "Phoebe! Come along," he called back over his shoulder.
Phoebe jumped, startled, but diligently follow after him.