Kaleido Star and its characters belongs to Gonzo and Jun'ichi Sato.
Thursday night, Layla was wandering in Cape Mery on her motorbike after she left their apartment. She was mad at Sora for using sex against her. She didn't mind the tease and the plays they used to have. But this was unacceptable! How could Sora cut her from any physical touch with no warning and the worst of it, after talking to her friends. She was really upset and beyond rage. She could not have stayed there with Sora or she might have done something she couldn't repair. She needed to calm herself.
Unconsciously she found herself in front the Smith's house. She hesitated. She feared of making a mistake. Yet, against all dangerous warnings, she stopped her bike and walked to the entrance door. It was already 10 p.m and lights were still on. She took a deep breathe and knock. A few seconds later, Macquarie opened the door.
Layla wasn't sure if her surprise was a good or a bad sign until she talked. "Miss Layla? What are doing here? I thought you would nev-"
"Who is it?" Asked a loud voice from the living room.
Macquarie turned towards the living room and stared back at Layla. "Come in." She stepped back to welcome Layla in the house.
Layla thanks her and followed her in the main room of the house.
"Oh my!" Margaret exclaimed when she saw Layla. "Come! Sit down. It been so long now." She showed an empty place next to her.
"Thanks." Layla said while sitting.
Macquarie sat next to them in the armchair. She was uncertain on the way to act towards Layla. She judged it will be better to let her mother make the conversation. And yet she couldn't prevent her heart to beat faster as soon as she saw Layla. She wanted to know how she was doing. Why she was there.
They were watching some shows on the T.V. until Layla arrived as a ritual before sleeping. It was part of her healing. But now that the object of her affection was there, she wanted to throw every progress she made and just shout her love. But she stayed silent.
"Did you eat something? We have some rests if you're hungry?" Margaret inquired with a serene smile Layla missed when they separate from each other.
"No thanks. I'm full." She only replied. She actually didn't why know she was here and what to do now.
Margaret kept her welcoming smile. "Then I hope you don't mind reality T.V shows? Macquarie became a big fan of this dance show."
"Mom!" The ancient maid glanced at Layla with an ashamed face. "I look for the dance not the celebrities." She didn't want Layla to think she became a groupie.
"Haha! Of course." Margaret agreed ironically.
But Layla wasn't listening. She was not used to watch TV shows. They didn't even have one with Sora. However, looking at that dance duo gave her an idea. She sent a message to Cathy before she forget. "They're not bad but there is a lack of symbiosis between the two of them. He's just following her. He should know her steps before she makes them. Did they not train?"
Margaret and Macquarie looked at each other with a knowing smile. Then Macquarie explained to Layla how the show worked.
"Hum. That's not a bad idea."
Macquarie felt that Layla was thinking about something related to the stage. She was lost in a world of possibilities but she won't share it with anyone until she tried it herself. She was just happy to be able to admire her, be in the same room, without the disappointed face she saw the last time they were together. She wondered if something happened but she wouldn't dare to ask. Layla was here and that was enough.
After the show ended Margaret proposed a bed to Layla.
She debated with herself about her options. Maybe she should go home and talk with Sora like an adult will do. Like her father advised her to do. But she was too proud to admit her burst was a little childish. At least not tonight. "I-"
Her phone vibrated. She glanced to it annoyed thinking it was Sora but it was her father. "I'm sorry I have to take this call."
"Don't mind us." Margaret stated with a benevolent smile.
"Yes what is it?" She asked listening to her interlocutor. "So he finally called?" It looked like a rhetorical question. "What?! Tomorrow? I don't understand! You told me it wa-" Her father interrupted her and she let him talking for a while. "I'll see you then." And she hung up brutally.
Layla stared at her hosts and said abruptly. "I have to go. Thanks for letting me in after everything."
"You will always be welcomed in this house. Right Macquarie?"
"Yes." Macquarie answered observing Layla. She knew exactly how she felt at that moment. More than Sora could. "I can come with you if you need me." She proposed.
Layla stared at her intensely biting her lips. She had two possible answers and one of them will be a dangerous mistake. But she was still mad at Sora and thought it will help to lessen her anger. "Tomorrow. I'll call you for help."
Macquarie couldn't believe her ears. "Yes! I'll wait for your call."
Then Layla turned to Margaret. "It was a pleasure. Have a good night."
"Take care of yourself Layla." Margaret replied with a smile.
And then she disappeared in the night.
Margaret turned towards her daughter while closing the door. "This time we'll see if you really heal. And I hope you do. For both of you."
Macquarie looked at her mother through the eyes. "Of course mom. I won't hope hopelessly." It technically wasn't a lie she said to herself. Tonight Layla gave her a reason to hope. She came because she missed her. Sora was not enough to satisfy her. Layla still needed her in her life.
It was past midnight. Layla, Archibald and her father were in the building of Hamilton Corp. Inside the main meeting room. The one where all the important shareholders could take big strategical decisions concerning the company. An extraordinary assembly will be held in the morning. They didn't have a lot of time to decide of their tactics in front the board.
They all sat at the end of the table and were looking at a laptop screen. "I don't see how he hope to fire you. You both have 20 percent shares and Layla 30 thanks to her mother shares. Even if he could convince all the other shareholders, he'll never make it to 51 percent." Archibald explained while analyzing the computer screen. "I guess the Herald bank that have 10 percent might go with him. You've always opposed to their wish to make a low cost brand."
"I'm not an expert but why would he ask for an extraordinary assembly if he wasn't certain to win?" Layla inquired a little apprehensive.
Richard Hamilton was studying all his options, elbows on the table, his hands sustaining his chin. Edward may be old now but he remembered how people used to fear his business skills. He succeeded in every market he entered and bought any company he aimed with little resistance. He used to admire the man. After all he married his daughter to get close to him. That's how he could build Hamilton Corp. And that why he might lose everything. Not just his company but also his daughter. Would Layla forgive him if he tells the truth? He knew he should tell the truth but decided otherwise. "He's just trying to frighten us. I used this tactic several times to weaken my competitors." He then quickly glanced at Layla and added. "If we both vote against his proposition, then it'll be over."
Layla was still doubtful and thought her father omitted some informations but let it go. Her father knew better when it comes to his company. She was still a junior and studying management skills. "If you say so." She stated while looking at her phone. Sora called again and sent several messages. "Do we still have a free room in our L.A palace?" She asked while standing up.
Her father glared at her exasperated. "Just go home and make up with Sora! She made a mistake but she can't make up for it if you refuse to talk."
"The old man is right." Archibald said with an amused smile.
Layla breathed heavily. "I will talk to her tomorrow. I'm too upset tonight. I don't want to yell or be enraged by talking to her now."
"Fine. Then why don't you sleep at the mansion?" Richard questioned.
"She will look there first." Layla said as if it was obvious.
"And now the little brat is right." Archibald commented while closing his laptop and getting up. His smile getting wider.
Richard sighed a little and took a card from his suit. "Last floor. Take the 5th elevator hidden on the right. It's the only one that can go there."
"Thanks." She took the card hastily and left the room.
When she quit the floor, Archibald spoke again. "You should have told the truth. He might use it against you tomorrow."
"He would have used it before. There is no way he can convince Layla during the meeting." Richard said more to persuade himself.
"When his flight is supposed to land?"
"9 a.m."
"Well with the meeting at 10 a.m, I guess you're right. He will just have the time to come from the airport." And yet until the meeting ends with his mentor as the only chairman of Hamilton Corp, he won't be at ease. Usually he would order a call-girl or call an old conquest but he didn't feel it tonight. "Would you mind my company tonight?"
Richard looked at him briefly before he answered. "You drive."
Friday afternoon, the main cast of the Kaleido was reunited in Kalos office for an important meeting.
"I don't understand." Léon started, sitting in a sofa near Mia who was looking at her phone, trying to contact Sora. "How are we concerned by a chairman change?"
"Because the Hamilton Foundation is funded by Hamilton Corp." Yuri explained consulting his phone to get news from Layla.
Kalos was next to him, sitting in his desk chair, arms crossed. "When it was just the Stage, M. Hamilton own funds were enough and we had M. Kenneth funds too. Now we also have the Cabaret that need big investments to start and we lost Kenneth Motors cash."
"Do I have to look for another job?" Cathy asked ironically from her long chair.
"Maybe. I can't fight for both the Stage and the Cabaret." Kalos stated in a neutral tone.
And yet, behind him, Sarah seemed unhappy. "Can't or don't want to?"
The Kaleido director just shrugged. "Does it matter?"
The Kaleido singer was too stupefied to answer.
"It will be a shame if we can't make Carmilla a reality" Mia said leaning her back on the sofa. She glanced at Léon who seemed thoughtful but didn't show any emotion. "Hey!" She pinched him in the cheek and laughed at his reaction.
"You hit me!" He told like an outraged old lady. Which made Mia's laugh higher.
"I put some feelings in your stoic face." She corrected pinching his cheek harder. "You can show your concern."
Léon was not amused at all and took her hand to stop the torture on his cheek. But he don't know why he started to pinch Mia on her both cheeks. Yet she just laughed harder. He felt challenged and got closer to-
"Excuse me youngsters. The situation is quite serious. No time to flirt." Yuri announced still anxious.
"Sorry." Mia reported while Léon stopped a little ashamed.
"I wasn't- I mean it's- I know you and A-"
"Stop. Don't take Yuri words seriously." Mia interrupted still amused. Then she felt her phone vibrating. "It's Sora!" She claimed in a high tone.
Finally some news. Everyone thought.
"She says to not worry for the 's coming with Layla. They just left Hamilton Corp." Mia let a sigh escaped. She didn't work for nothing with Cathy.
"Good." Cathy declared, relieved.
"Yeah. Good news indeed." Sarah added. "I mean I can't explain why her father was fired but at least the Kaleido Stage and the Cabaret are not in danger anymore." She made sure to accentuate on the word cabaret while looking at Kalos.
"Stop glaring at me like that. I'll do what I have to do to keep the Stage safe!" He proclaimed while he stood. He had enough. Lately any of his words seemed to upset Sarah. It was beyond their difference about the cabaret. "If you want to say something, just do it!"
"Ok. Maybe we should wait for Layla and Sora in the hall room." Cathy advised looking at the other participants.
Everyone agreed and soon they were alone.
Kalos put his hands on his desk, reflecting on their situation. He then stared at Sarah. "Are you hiding something from me?"
"I don't understand?" She asked a little lost.
"Yes you do. I'm not stupid. I see how he looks at you."
"I don'-"
"Think again before lying." He warned.
Sara sighed and gave up. "He's a little boy. I'm not seeing him that way."
"But he does. I can feel his envious stare every time we're together."
"Maybe. But it shouldn't be a problem if everything was fine between us." She admitted, sadder than she thought.
"What does that mean for us?"
"I dunno." She really didn't.
Sora was lying on a sofa, breathing heavily. She was still in Layla's father office.
Layla came a few minutes after her father left. In a better state than she expected. But before she could ask any explanation, Layla lower the blinds of the windows facing the interior of the building with a remote. Then she approached Sora and lay her down on the sofa.
"Layla, wha-"
"Shhh." Layla put a finger on her lips. "First, you show me how sorry you are." She said while slowly unbuttoning Sora's shirt.
Sora had some doubts and hesitated but Layla's hand on the back of her knee, stopped any thoughts about Richard and Hamilton Corp. It was another weak part and Layla knew it. She gave up on fighting and helped Layla to unwrap her blue bra from the front.
At first Layla wanted to go slow but impatience won her over. It was like weeks had passed since yesterday night. She directly kissed Sora's breasts with hunger. One by one, gaining pleasure sounds from the Japanese girl.
"Hmm-" Sora put her wrist on her mouth, afraid of shouting loudly.
Yet Layla didn't seem to fear getting caught as she kept going lower. It when she threw Sora's skirt and started to remove her panties that the lilac-haired girl spoke. "Layla I can't keep it low if you go there!"
Layla smirked and raised her head to face Sora. "It's soundproof. Free your voice."
"Wha-"
Layla kissed her before she could ask anything. Her hand starting to wander towards her most intimate zone. Layla's eagerness became uncontrollable as she insert the first finger. So were her movements while kissing Sora's neck.
Soon Sora couldn't hold her voice anymore while pleasure crossed her whole body. She felt ashamed and satisfied at the same time. She didn't know why she came so fast and so loud. She glanced at Layla who was resting on her stomach, eyes opened but preoccupied. Sora tried to breathe normally but it took her some times before she could speak without stuttering.
"Do you want to talk about it?" She asked slowly.
Silent invaded the room for a few minutes but Sora knew Layla just needed time.
"He didn't marry for love." Layla revealed. "He didn't love her when I was conceived. I was just a tool to help him building his empire. We both were." Then tears flowed on her cheeks. The blond woman closed her eyes and sought comfort from Sora's body.
Sora was shocked by her revelation. She understood now why Richard asked for forgiveness. But as for now she didn't see how she could tell Layla to forgive him. Maybe time will help. Because she knew Richard Hamilton loved his daughter deeply and it was the same for his wife. Even if he married for the worst reasons at start, he finally opened his heart. Layla will surely accept it one day. But how did he get fired? "But why did he get fired?" Sora dared to ask.
"My grandfather from my mother side slowly bought shares of the company and wait for my 21th birthday to ask for his demission." Layla made a pause with Sora slowly caressing her head. "He never forgot nor forgave unlike my mother and my grandmother is apparently dying which make him more revengeful."
"Oh my! I'm sorry. I didn't know."
"Neither do I." Layla whispered. "My grandfather is not better than my father. He's just here for revenge. And I'm the same."
"What! No. You're not lik-"
"I just fired my father." Layla interrupted. She wasn't proud of herself. She reacted hastily but she was mad at her father for lying when he had so much opportunities to tell the truth.
Sora felt a little uneasy. "Can't you take it back and-"
"No! And I don't want to! He had all the time to tell the truth but he let someone else do it before him." Layla thrust her face deeper on Sora's stomach. Both to hide her tears and consolation. "I'm sorry for leaving last night. I should have stayed and talked."
Her voice was very low but Sora heard her words distinctly. "I'm sorry too. I shouldn't have took a decision that concerned both of us, by myself."
Layla closed her eyes. She felt more at ease despite today's events. Because of Sora. "I love you." She declared simply.
An intense joy crossed Sora, especially in her heart. "I love you too. No I love you more. Much much more becaus-"
"Sora this is not a contest." Layla interrupted with a little smile.
"Sorry." Sora said while her gaze was again captivated by the painting in the opposite wall. "Are you still against going to your mother's island?"
Layla felt some irritation and got up a little and sustained herself above Sora, face to face. "I'll say it one last time. There is nothing but bad dust in this island. So now be a good girl and never talk about again!"
"O-okay." Sora was persuaded Layla was making a mistake by refusing to face her old memories but it wasn't the best time convince her.
Then Layla stood up to arrange her hair and her suit staring at Sora's exposed body. She bent over and whispered to Sora. "Your punishment is not over. If I was you I'll wouldn't be in hurry for Vegas."
After that she helped a bewildered Sora to get up and find the clothes they threw. Once in a presentable state, Layla opened the blinds. "Send a message to the Kaleido. Tell them we're coming. The news about my father might have reached them and worried them."
Sora immediately wrote a message to Mia but she still had some questions. "What will happen to you father? Who took his place?"
Layla came closer to Sora and stroke her head with love. "You don't have to worry for him. He deserves what he got and he's still a rich man."
Sora stopped Layla's hand on her face. Something started to annoy her. "Who replaced him?" She demanded.
Layla stared at her for a moment without saying a word. "Someone from the Herald bank." She finally admitted.
Sora's eyes grew as she considered the implications. "But what about you? Can you trust your father's company to a stranger?"
Layla took Sora's hand and interlaced their fingers. "My father was both a CEO and a chairman until last month. Archibald is the CEO since the debut of september. He'll be the one to represent the society. The chairman role is to ensure he's doing what the board allowed him to do. I don't want to work in this company right now."
When she finished her explanation, Layla put her hand on Sora's back, near the waist, to bring her closer but the Japanese girl put a resistance. "You didn't answer about the Kaleido?"
This time Layla sighed of exasperation. "I will manage the foundation but I don't think I'll stay for the cabaret!"
"But you promise! Ev-"
"I just agreed for one play. But after that…"
"After that?" Sora asked, encouraging Layla.
"I dunno Sora. I need time to think." The she put her forehead on Sora's one, eyes closed. "Please bear with me for a little while."
"What are you talking about! You and I its forever."
Layla just smiled. "Will you still think that way after I gained several pounds because of no activity and gluttony?"
Sora couldn't help a laugh, trying to imagine Layla with more pounds eating chocolate bars on a couch, in front of TV. "Well, if it's' not me, who will?" Then Sora kissed her tenderly, still laughing.
Hi, I hope you'll like this chapter. I'll just say one thing: the titles always have a meaning. Now the guest reviews:
Lali: Hi, thanks for your comment. Carmilla is a short story by Joseph Le Fanu about the fascination and repulsion Laura, a young lady, felt for Carmilla, a vampire. I hope this chapter answered some of your questions.
SoraLaylaFan: Hi, Thanks for your review. Yes, Sora should be wary when she talk with her friends about her relationship with Layla. As for Yuri and Sarah, this chapter may have answered some of your questions.
Rose: Hi, thanks for your review. I think this chapter answered some of your questions. Richard is good man for sure but it's his time to suffer a little.
See you all soon.