A/N: Hi ya'll, sorry for posting the same chapter! I was rushing to class and meant to post this one lol. Thanks for understanding and reading~ Enjoy!
Takumi sipped his champagne, letting the delicate notes of fruit, sweet and bitterness roll over his tongue. He appreciated this fine wine, just like he was currently appreciating Ayuzawa Misaki's subtle beauty.
He had been drastically bored at the charity banquet, meeting the people he needed and networking as needed. Once or twice, he thought he saw Maria, which made him slip into crowds to avoid any encounters. He even saw that Igarashi brat, surrounded by a gaggle of stunning women. Takumi once had such a crowd of women around him, for they understood that he just wanted companionship in his bed and they were willing to provide for financial compensation.
Perhaps they were why Ayuzawa stood out like a scarlet rose among common daisies. Takumi had thought of how to approach her for the longest while. She was different than his other Subs, that was for sure. And, she might even reject him in the end. He would be prepared for that, making sure that she would never speak to the media about his particular taste in bedroom activities. Ayuzawa didn't seem like the type of woman to do such a thing, but just in case.
And if she did reject him, no harm, no foul. That would be quite the experience for him, as he had never been rejected before.
Then Ayuzawa stepped into view among the crowd, and he was caught breathless for a moment. Among all the bright colors or the usual black hue of the dresses that the other women wear, Ayuzawa was a breath of fresh air.
Her white dress clung to her body like a second skin, as though intricate ice-white flowers were blooming up her body. The white lace accentuated the light tan color of her skin as well as her delicate curves. Speaking of curves, Takumi accidentally took a large gulp of his champagne when Ayuzawa turned his way, revealing just a hint of soft cleavage normally covered by her sensible and plain pant suits. She was a huntress of the moon, a wild wood nymph, a siren masquerading as a human. But it was the light beauty of her face that captured his attention more.
Soft black waves were pinned back with a platinum and diamond flower barrette, her amber eyes lightly emphasized by some soft eyeshadow and brown eyeliner that added definition. Besides a rose-pink stain on her lips, Ayuzawa wore nothing else on her face. Her nose was dainty and aristocratic, formed by the fountain of youth and beauty. Perfectly understated, but never out shined. It suited her, the dress and makeup, like whoever had made the dress had captured Ayuzawa's very pureness in her soul and put it in a canvas of lace fabric.
As she walked, he caught a glimpse of her bandaged feet, yet she was still daringly wearing high heels. That woman really didn't have self-awareness or a thought for her own safety and health, didn't she, running after motorcycles and pushing her body to the limits on Sports Day?
Takumi's throat hitched. Would it be all right for him to pursue her, this being of purity, to be corrupted with his dark fantasies?
Then she turned his way and their eyes met. Takumi felt the corners of his lips raise as he gave her a natural smirk. Ayuzawa's eyes widened and her lips parted. Then she flushed, a characteristic reaction he was starting to learn. She quickly turned away from him after giving a small nod of acknowledgement paired with a small flustered smile. She really was quite stunning when she smiled.
Yes, this inordinary woman, he wanted her. To capture her in his net until he could see every expression on her face.
Then Hyoudo Aoi appeared by her side. Aoi leaned down towards her to whisper something at her ear. The pair looked cozy, Takumi observed with a small note of jealousy. At first, he had thought Aoi was just a friend of hers. But now seeing Ayuzawa link her arms with Aoi, perhaps they were something more than just friends. Was the information he requested on her false? Never had his people fail him before. He felt his smile leave him.
"If you look like that, you'll scare all the people away."
Takumi turned around at the voice. "Gerard. What are you doing here?"
His half-brother nodded at him, plucking the empty champagne glass out of Takumi's hand and placing it on a server's tray. "The patriarch sent me to check on your progress. I told them that you were doing just fine, but they wouldn't take my word for it unless I actually saw it with my own eyes." Gerard rolled his eyes, accepting a new flute of wine. "Ah, Raven Castle's specialty wine. Good job in getting good wine imports into Japan. I hear the American expansion has also done splendid."
Takumi snorted. "Grandfather is controlling and demanding as always then." Gerard and he were never the closest of siblings, particularly as Takumi was an illegitimate child, but they bonded over mutual dislike of their grandfather, Duke Richard Rachester. Maybe that was why Gerard and he shared more similarities other than their similar facial structures.
"At least you're far away in Japan. Ah, I don't see your typical date tonight." Usually Takumi's Sub would be by his side, but after Maria's indiscretions, he usually came to formal events alone.
"I could say the same for you."
Gerard wagged his finger at him. "That would be over two years ago, but now I'm married. Why were you glaring anyways?"
"I wasn't glaring." Takumi glanced back at where Ayuzawa and Aoi were, but the pair had disappeared into the banquet crowd.
"Whatever you say. Will you be attending tonight's special event?"
Takumi's eyebrow raised. He had almost forgotten those special events that only VIPs had access to. Once upon a time, he would have been happy to attend, but not anymore. "No, but it seems like you're going to attend. I thought you were married, Gerard."
A slim young woman approached, wearing an exquisite lavender dress that complimented her chestnut hair, and linked her arms with Gerard's. "Gerard, dear, there you are. Ah, Takumi. So nice to see you. How have you been?"
Takumi bowed to his sister-in-law. "Sophia, you look wonderful as always. I have been quite well." Gerard's wife was a sophisticated and serene woman, her cornflower blue eyes much darker than Gerard's lighter blue eyes. Still the pair made quite a pretty picture, with many of the banquet attendees staring at the stunning European pair.
Gerard placed a gentle kiss on Sophia's cheek, surprising Takumi as the pair had an arranged marriage. Sophia was far from the type of women Gerard preferred, or at least what Usui thought he preferred. Either both were extremely versatile actors, or Gerard was quite tender with his wife. Yet, Gerard was still planning on going to tonight's unique event.
"My dear, the princess of Japan wanted to speak with us," Sophia murmured.
Takumi bid adieu to his family, then went back to his task to locate Ayuzawa. His mood soured when he found a certain Igarashi brat headed towards Ayuzawa's way.
Aoi soon went to converse with some potential clients. Not wanting to join the conversation, as she knew next to nothing about fashion, Misaki wandered off to the side of the hall, greeting the people she did know. She took a dish of creme brulee, wandering if it was considered inappropriate etiquette to take some home for Shintani. Certainly, he could have devoured nearly everything on this banquet table with his voracious appetite within minutes.
Perhaps her eating was only to calm her nervousness when Usui's and her eyes had connected. Something akin to electricity had jolted across her skin, though there was at least thirty feet between them.
He had looked posh, as expected. His black tuxedo had been accented by gold cufflinks, capturing his lean and muscular frame. His broad shoulders stood out impeccably. And his golden hair was neatly combed, perfectly coiffed to show off his strong forehead and sleek cut of his jawline. And the way he was holding his champagne glass. A real Gatsby come to life or a modern-day duke or prince straight out of those romance novels Satsuki liked to read. There were other men around Usui, but they seemed to pale in comparison. And the glance he had sent her, full of admiration.
Misaki knew that Aoi designed some of the world's most beautiful clothing, so perhaps even a plain, average dandelion like her could look something like a cherry blossom with the right trimmings here and there.
Could it be that he found her attractive, her? Plain, boring, considered too masculine Ayuzawa Misaki? Was that why it seemed like he was about to kiss her the other day? No. That was impossible. Surely he had been looking at someone behind her.
"Well, well, well, look who we have here. I suppose even a weed such as a dandelion can be called a flower once in a while."
Misaki stiffened. She didn't even need to turn around to know who the voice belonged to.
"Vice President Igarashi." Misaki dipped her head slightly in acknowledgement. "It has been a while."
Igarashi Tora, her former team leader stood smirking down at her. His eyes flitted obviously to her chest, scanning down the rest of her body before lasciviously leering back towards her face. Unlike most men, he didn't even flinch to her scowl.
He'd only been able to reach his VP position after claiming all her team's hard work. And even whistleblowing barely damaged his reputation, and he was still promoted to such a high position. She supposed being the only child and son of the Igarashi Chairman helped pull some strings. How she hated his sneering smug face. She knew that Usui Takumi smirked, too, but Igarashi's just made her want to smash his face in.
"It's President Igarashi now."
"Oh, is it now? I suppose congratulations is in order. You must have worked very hard to be named President. But of course, you've never worked hard for anything in your life, have you?" Misaki smiled, but behind her smile were very pointed daggers of hatred. Men like Igarashi were exactly why she disliked the company of most men.
Igarashi's smile hardened. "Now see here you little bi-"
"Tora," a high pitched female voice whined. "You promised you'd pay more attention to me." The woman who appeared wrapped her arms around Igarashi like an octopus, rubbing herself on him like a cat. Misaki resisted the urge to laugh at the thought of a cat-octopus hybrid. An im-pawsible thought. The woman's breasts nearly popped out of the tight corset-like dress she was wearing, and Misaki thought of perhaps giving the woman a jacket before she gave everyone a free show. The short blonde sniffed her dainty nose arrogantly at Misaki before tugging at Igarashi's arm. "Tora-kun," she pouted again.
She succeeded in gaining Igarashi's attention, who not too subtly squeezed his date's ass. "Very well. I hear your company isn't doing too well, Ayuzawa. You've downgraded," Igarashi scoffed. "You'll certainly lose the Walker's case as well. I'll enjoy it when you come crawling back on your knees, begging for a job." He turned to his date. "Come along then, pet. No need to talk to scum any further. Let's go, Maria."
Misaki swallowed down bile and disgust in her throat, resisting the urge to slam her former boss into the floor. He was calling her scum? He was one to talk, the piece of trash that wasn't even worth recycling. The crowd parted for the nasty couple to leave, but even then Igarashi's date haughtily knocked into one poor gentleman who wasn't able to move aside fast enough.
As she sent one last glare at the Igarashi's bastard's back, she noticed that a small piece of paper had fallen from the gentleman's pocket, with no one else seemingly noticing. Misaki sighed and went to pick up the piece of paper.
"Sir, your...," Misaki said. She turned around, looking for the gentleman from earlier, but he was nowhere in sight. What did he look like again?
Perhaps the card mentioned his name so she could return it. The white card felt like expensive heavy paper, emblazoned with golden text. Nope, nothing but the phrase 'S S Club'. Both S's were designed to look like little golden snakes. She flipped the card around, but there were also only symbols instead of a name. Misaki squinted at the card, trying to make sense of the English letters.
W S B. There was a half moon shape in between the S and B.
Not a business card, huh. But the symbols seemed so familiar. Where had she seen these characters before, and recently too? Misaki bit her lip, rummaging through her thoughts. Hmm, didn't Aoi have this card earlier? He had given it to Honoka, his personal assistant working in his fashion boutique. Maybe she should ask Aoi what it was all about.
Her eyes then spotted someone familiar.
Usui Takumi.
Yet not Usui Takumi?
His hair was definitely the wrong color, unless Usui decided to dye his hair black in the middle of the banquet. No, she had most definitely seen Usui and his pure golden hair ten minutes ago. The man turned his head slightly, and Misaki was able to get a better view of him. His eyes were the wrong color. Instead of a clear emerald green, this man had a much lighter blue.
Her curiosity piqued, she instinctively followed the Usui-look alike and the woman out of the banquet hall.
A/N: Anyone guess what the symbols stand for?